There’s just not enough veteran presence to go around

I know it’s only 4 games but changes need to be made in the lines. Th d-pairings look fine but I would go

Giroux-Coots-TK
JVR-Hayes-Twarynski
Lindblom-Laughton-Voracek
Pitlick-Raffl-Stewart

PP1
Giroux-Coots-Voracek-JVR-Sanheim (switch G and Voracek on the halfwall$

PP2
Lindblom-Hayes-TK-Niskanen-Ghost

i'm still a huge fan of this post.
- Ftown19125

Professional athletes 4 games into a season. I don't buy that. They were just out of sync last night.
- MJL

You're discounting the effects of the travel whereas you shouldn't.

Time to scapegoat one player. Everyone else on PP1 was really good. Just held back by Gostisbehere.
- MJL

No doubt he’s not the only one. But he has been a pretty consistent train wreck

Hey man, I appreciate somebody actually speaking out. I get thrashed here no matter what I say as they gang up on me but I have to jump in and add my two cents. First off Hayes is not a first line center and is taking valuable ice time away from the true number one center Couturier. Hayes is border line second line but ideally is a third line shutdown center than can kill penalties as well. They normally do not make 7 plus million a year. He does not fit with 93 and 28, that is obvious. I like the 14-11-23 line as it is the only one with a pulse. However I would reunite Couturier, Giroux and Konecny for line one. Hayes can try his luck with Lindblom and Voracek. JVR is in no mans land, not good along the wall and is primarily a pp specialist. Lindblom is a better 200' player already. I think Farabee needs to be called up and tried withy JVR and Laughton on line 3. Signing Steward was really dumb imo, what can he possibly add other than the odd scrap. Another idea would be using Couturier, Giroux, Hayes and Laughton as the four centers, give Farabee a shot in the top 9. Plus Gostisbehere and Braun are brutal defensively and Gost is playing like a ghost, just plain dumb passes, errant passes, and the slashing penalty should have had him benched. I sure hope things change in a hurry, it is early but too many invisible stars out there that are totally lost.
- joegreif17

Joe, this is actually a good post by you, for the most part.....about time

Bill,

One the second Calgary goal, Laughton clearly had the Flames player beat to the puck on the preceding icing call. Usually when that is the case, the referees will convene and decide if the face-off should be had at center ice. I didn't even see any discussion even though there was no way Laughton wasn't going to get there first. Do you know why this was?

Also, even if the Flyers had the edge in PPs, I thought the officiating was way too tight early on, and then inconsistently loose thereafter.

It was 1 bad game. Relax. Everyone aside from Voracek has looked dangerous in previous games. Flyers got a poop schedule. I dont know whos bright idea it was to send them on a far western road trip after returning home from Prague. They should have played a few home games\games in their area first.

I’d like to know the leverage that Chris Stewart has to not sign for the league vet minimum.

Time to scapegoat one player. Everyone else on PP1 was really good. Just held back by Gostisbehere.
- MJL

I don't disagree, but Ghost has been really bad thus far. I'm a huge fan of his, and it's only been 4 games, but his decision making and plays with the puck are not indicative of his first 3 seasons, even the 16/17 "down" year.

I'm not saying he's terrible and trade him, and I know his bread and butter is being a PP QB, but right now he maybe could use a reset. Not a benching, but maybe just tell him that he needs to re-earn his PP time Something with him is not right.

Dear Philly enthusiasts, what is up with Voracek? I have him in a hockey pool and it's not working out so far. What's the deal? Your Leafy friend, Zezel

It was 1 bad game. Relax. Everyone aside from Voracek has looked dangerous in previous games. Flyers got a poop schedule. I dont know whos bright idea it was to send them on a far western road trip after returning home from Prague. They should have played a few home games\games in their area first.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I think has to be a part of the issue.

Posts like this won't be around when the Flyers are winning. The Flyers started out 2-0 and this forum was a ghost town. They play one poor game and it's a chance to pounce.
- MJL

Sorry,MJL.....I've been saying this for years. Watch other teams play each other. They can skate, pass and score. They do not handle the puck like it is a grenade.
Dump it in, dump it out, ice the puck is our game

I think has to be a part of the issue.
- Hextall271

Niskanen looks pretty good out there

New team, new d partner, new coach, 32, same schedule

They need to go back to Giroux on the left and Jake on the right. They both scored a lot of PP goals from those positions.

They also need more skill in the top 9, so as soon as they get back tomorrow they should be demoting Bunnaman, and promoting Farabee to play on the 3rd line. Then send Fletcher's pet to the popcorn suite.
- Feanor

This x infinity.

Sorry,MJL.....I've been saying this for years. Watch other teams play each other. They can skate, pass and score. They do not handle the puck like it is a grenade.
Dump it in, dump it out, ice the puck is our game
- DaveofYork

Yes, the Flyers never ever and complete a nice pass or carry the puck into the offensive zone.

Never ever.

Dear Philly enthusiasts, what is up with Voracek? I have him in a hockey pool and it's not working out so far. What's the deal? Your Leafy friend, Zezel
- Zezel

We have him on our actual team. Imagine how we feel.

Dear Philly enthusiasts, what is up with Voracek? I have him in a hockey pool and it's not working out so far. What's the deal? Your Leafy friend, Zezel
- Zezel

He's doing his best 18/19 William Nylander impersonation.

Niskanen looks pretty good out there

New team, new d partner, new coach, 32, same schedule
- Just5

Is it lack of chemistry then? Niskanen has been solid, but I'd argue that Kony has been our best player so far.

Yes, the Flyers never ever and complete a nice pass or carry the puck into the offensive zone.

Never ever.
- jmatchett383

They are rare. I wish, for instance, there was a stat for failed 2 0n 1s

We have him on our actual team. Imagine how we feel.
- tangent_man

That's not encouraging. I want you guys to say he's just had a slow start but will soon rack up points and PP points and be a plus player.

I haven't watched any Flyers games. Is he losing it?

That's not encouraging. I want you guys to say he's just had a slow start but will soon rack up points and PP points and be a plus player.

I haven't watched any Flyers games. Is he losing it?
- Zezel

He’s a mimbo

He's doing his best 18/19 William Nylander impersonation.
- jmatchett383

Uh oh.

This x infinity.
- jmatchett383

I just don't get why they continue to keep him on the right side. It takes away his shot option. They are easier to defend with Giroux on the right side. I say put Ghost in Voracek's spot and put Sanheim as the QB at the top. Voracek to PP2.

Few thoughts about last night’s game. Take them for however you choose.

-I felt like if AV felt like we could tie it up in the dying moments of the third, he used our time out too soon. However, good job Utilizing the prefer players. I don’t agree with where they were positioned but getting Giroux, Voracek, JvR, Couturier, Konency and Provorov on the ice was the right call and they possessed the puck well.

-Good got AV for leaning heavily on Provorov. We had a 4-on-3 PP and chose Provorov, just like he chose Provorov at the end of the game to try and tie it up. While I think Niskanen has been our most sound defensive defender, Provorov has been head and shoulders our best defenseman all around this season. He’s eating the minutes, he’s been aggressive with his wrister in the offensive zone. He takes heat a 22 year old doesn’t deserve.

-Love or hate my views, I stand by them. We all have Kevin Hayes penciled in as our second line center, getting used on the second PP unit while killing penalties. Hayes is getting first line time with first unit PP time. I think he’s being asked to play above his head. Last summer two high profile UFA centers walked away with a huge payday. Matt Duchene and Kevin Hayes. Duchene has 9 points in 5 games. Hayes hasn’t been bad, he’s been good but he’s also doing things you can get from a third or fourth line center. At some point a 7.14 million dollar player has to put up the points to go along with that defensive play. You guys can say it’s only been 4 games but what happens after ten and he only has three points?

-Voracek....While JvR hasn’t put up the points, at least we’re seeing the hard work Voracek isn’t giving.
- SuperSchennBros

Kevin Hayes is on pace for 20.25 points this season.