He hasn't been in a bonafide hockey game of any kind in 5 1/2 months. There's barely practice time in the bubble. The pre-bubble scrimmages (which are not a substitute for real games) are now a month ago. He had a bit of a rollercoaster first pro year (which is understandable and not cause for long-term alarm).

Right now, plain and simple, he is not a viable lineup candidate for a potential elimination game.
- bmeltzer

Rather take a chance on the unknown with upside then a known who provided very little at best. Clearly what has been playing isn’t remotely working

You did read where Bill Meltzer stated that Frost is not viable candidate for the lineup now, correct?
- MJL

Didn’t realize bill is the be all end all. If bill said it then damn it’s a fact

Didn’t realize bill is the be all end all. If bill said it then damn it’s a fact
- login

Pretty much yea!


It's also pretty much what myself and most of everybody else also knew.

I think if you are expecting big changes going into next season you are going to be disappointed. A lot of their high priced players have contracts that will be extremely difficult to move. Perhaps if they are willing to take a bad contract back as a change of scenery type deal.

The upgrades hopefully will be a healthy Lindblom and Patrick replacing Grant & Thompson.
- PLindbergh31

Next season will be changes for sure. I am glad our GM is not tied to any history with Flyers and will be making hockey and business decisions.
We have many options and I hope there are at least 4 guys coming in. The challenge is what to do with Giroux who is more suited to play for Alumni Flyers as of now.
And I do not buy any injuries BS. If you are injured then sit and do not hold up the spot on a team. It is speedy games for healthy folks. Experience and name doesn't buy you even icing anymore.

I would disagree on this. You score consistently on the rush when creating transition off of turnovers and quick puck movement. If you don't create that then you're constantly trying to score against a 5 man defensive unit. Creativity doesn't break that down. You don't get mismatches in that situation due to team puck support. You break that down by winning puck battles, playing high to low and getting pucks to the net while crashing the net. No line is going to break down a disciplined team defense consistently. That's why teams like the Isles have the low GA that they have. Think about the goals the Isles have scored and how? Off of turnovers resulting in blown coverages due to the disorganization is causes.
- MJL

Do you see Barzal making out like the second coming of Foppa against our set D? Plus, Marchand/Mackinnon/Point/Kucherov all make critical plays like that.

I do get what you are saying. You are giving what is essentially the team version of offense. But the individual version matters too, especially in playoffs when team versions often cancel out because of discipline and effort.

Tampa hardly got any off that turnover, counterattack kind of goal against CBJ. They won because their forwards have learned to walk the line between creativity and responsibility and commitment (something they could not do in previous years), and were able to beat a sound defensive oriented team.

Iotw, we need a game-breaking individual or line. Good luck getting that though.

Do you see Barzal making out like the second coming of Foppa against our set D?
- PT21

That guy is dangerous any and every time he's on the ice.

Changes will be extremely limited in the offseason due to cap constraints and the high cap hits/NMC for some of the older vets. Not that I agree with moving on from G and Jake. JVR I could care less if they jettison him. Same with Grant and Thompson. Can't really count on Lindblom, though I hope he's fully recovered or Patrick. Ghost will most likely want to or will be traded.
- aantny88

The bad news is your probably right about a bunch of help coming from the outside, but guys like Lindblom and Patrick are definitely high end talents that would and should be back..

Do you see Barzal making out like the second coming of Foppa against our set D? Plus, Marchand/Mackinnon/Point/Kucherov all make critical plays like that.

I do get what you are saying. You are giving what is essentially the team version of offense. But the individual version matters too, especially in playoffs when team versions often cancel out because of discipline and effort.

Tampa hardly got any off that turnover, counterattack kind of goal against CBJ. They won because their forwards have learned to walk the line between creativity and responsibility and commitment (something they could not do in previous years), and were able to beat a sound defensive oriented team.

Iotw, we need a game-breaking individual or line. Good luck getting that though.
- PT21

The Islanders are getting the puck off of turnovers and creating offense off of it and the Flyers are scrambling around off of it. It results in missed coverages and players not covered for wide open looks at the net. When the Flyers are aggressively playing in AV's overload puck support D zone system, they don't give up much. It comes down to puck management and discipline. One team is consistently trying to score against a tight 5 man unit and the other team is getting turnovers and quality offensive chances with good looks at the net off of the other teams mistakes. I'll leave it up to you as to which team is which.

Anyone see these “big boy pants” quotes from AV? First he said G and JVR need to put theirs on, then this:

"He (Nate Thompson) was a veteran player and established. I need him. He’s been wearing his big boy pants and I need him to continue to wear his big boy pants. We’ve got some experience."

Didn’t realize bill is the be all end all. If bill said it then damn it’s a fact
- login

Bill’s opinion does have a ton of merit, but that doesn’t mean that the Flyers might not go down that path.

The bad news is your probably right about a bunch of help coming from the outside, but guys like Lindblom and Patrick are definitely high end talents that would and should be back..
- landros 2

Lindblom for sure. I am sceptic on Patrick which is a big blow. Frost and others seasoned youngsters need to be given chance. We have Couturier and Giroux to play roles of Grant and Thomson. We need speed, hunger and youth upfront, who can keep up with other teams. Metro is gonna be tough next season!
I believe York has one more year for development as we should be good on defense next year.
They need to make a decision on Ghost now!. Either you play him or sell him. You do not scratch such player with his cap hit.

Anyone see these “big boy pants” quotes from AV? First he said G and JVR need to put theirs on, then this:

"He (Nate Thompson) was a veteran player and established. I need him. He’s been wearing his big boy pants and I need him to continue to wear his big boy pants. We’ve got some experience."
- arichardson22

It makes sense with Giroux and Van Riemsdyk. The love for Thompson I don't understand, sure he's a veteran but he's not doing anything. I guess because of the Raffl injury there is no one else Vigneault trusts to put in the lineup.

That guy is dangerous any and every time he's on the ice.
- Scoob

Getting way too much space.

Yesterday, Marchand was coming at high speed and tried to do a spin-o-rama. I think it was that perennial all-star Bogosian who played the body perfectly and play went nowhere.

Lindblom for sure. I am sceptic on Patrick which is a big blow. Frost and others seasoned youngsters need to be given chance. We have Couturier and Giroux to play roles of Grant and Thomson. We need speed, hunger and youth upfront, who can keep up with other teams. Metro is gonna be tough next season!
I believe York has one more year for development as we should be good on defense next year.
They need to make a decision on Ghost now!. Either you play him or sell him. You do not scratch such player with his cap hit.
- Keith25

We're going to be a pretty good team with Couturier and Giroux as bottom 6 forwards.

Nope, didn't miss anything. You're free to elaborate though.
- MJL

As simple as I can put it. What offense has ghost provided over the last two years. Has he been a driver. No. The answer is no. People are hanging on to one or two good years. And that good year was bc of the forwards. He wasn’t a part of the big push the flyers had this year. This offensive player you are referring to doesn’t exist anymore.

Lindblom for sure. I am sceptic on Patrick which is a big blow. Frost and others seasoned youngsters need to be given chance. We have Couturier and Giroux to play roles of Grant and Thomson. We need speed, hunger and youth upfront, who can keep up with other teams. Metro is gonna be tough next season!
I believe York has one more year for development as we should be good on defense next year.
They need to make a decision on Ghost now!. Either you play him or sell him. You do not scratch such player with his cap hit.
- Keith25

1. Oxymoron
2. !!

Anyone see these “big boy pants” quotes from AV? First he said G and JVR need to put theirs on, then this:

"He (Nate Thompson) was a veteran player and established. I need him. He’s been wearing his big boy pants and I need him to continue to wear his big boy pants. We’ve got some experience."
- arichardson22

Unfortunately times a running out.

As simple as I can put it. What offense has ghost provided over the last two years. Has he been a driver. No. The answer is no. People are hanging on to one or two good years. And that good year was bc of the forwards. He wasn’t a part of the big push the flyers had this year. This offensive player you are referring to doesn’t exist anymore.
- Peter Richards

Wow, it's worse than I thought. Your reply to me was this

"Just like his description earlier of what ghost hasn’t brought. "

No it's not just like that. For these very simple reasons. Gostisbehere has been an established NHL player. Gostisbehere has actually played and been in the lineup very recently. Whereas Frost has never been an established NHL players and has not played an NHL game in 5 1/2 months.

Nobody is hanging on to one or two good year. At least not in my case. I've seen Gostisbehere play recently. I'm not expecting him to be the player that he was when he first came up. I have seen him still have the ability to beat a forechecker and move the puck quickly up to a forward. As well as being able to evade a forecheck and skate the puck up. He also has been a willing shooter of the puck. While we cannot guarantee how well Gostisbehere will play, we are badly in need of those elements to try and create transition play.

Unfortunately times a running out.
- landros 2

""What we did back then and what we're going to talk about with our group here is not looking at the big picture but looking at that one game that's ahead of you," Vigneault said. "This is a great opportunity, I think, for our leadership group to change the narrative, change their legacy here."

In other words, he is all but saying the legacy of Giroux-Voracek at least is 'weak sauce' come playoff times. Coaches often make references to recent play. But to use the word legacy like that? Wow.

Lindblom for sure. I am sceptic on Patrick which is a big blow. Frost and others seasoned youngsters need to be given chance. We have Couturier and Giroux to play roles of Grant and Thomson. We need speed, hunger and youth upfront, who can keep up with other teams. Metro is gonna be tough next season!
I believe York has one more year for development as we should be good on defense next year.
They need to make a decision on Ghost now!. Either you play him or sell him. You do not scratch such player with his cap hit.
- Keith25

G’s role may change a bit, if the can find a younger alternative to replace what he’s given over the las 7-8 years. Easier said then done...but you may be selling Coots a tad short.

""What we did back then and what we're going to talk about with our group here is not looking at the big picture but looking at that one game that's ahead of you," Vigneault said. "This is a great opportunity, I think, for our leadership group to change the narrative, change their legacy here."

In other words, he is all but saying the legacy of Giroux-Voracek at least is 'weak sauce' come playoff times. Coaches often make references to recent play. But to use the word legacy like that? Wow.
- PT21

What he's doing is he is challenging the top players on the team in a diplomatic way.

""What we did back then and what we're going to talk about with our group here is not looking at the big picture but looking at that one game that's ahead of you," Vigneault said. "This is a great opportunity, I think, for our leadership group to change the narrative, change their legacy here."

In other words, he is all but saying the legacy of Giroux-Voracek at least is 'weak sauce' come playoff times. Coaches often make references to recent play. But to use the word legacy like that? Wow.
- PT21

I love that he's saying things like that.

""What we did back then and what we're going to talk about with our group here is not looking at the big picture but looking at that one game that's ahead of you," Vigneault said. "This is a great opportunity, I think, for our leadership group to change the narrative, change their legacy here."

In other words, he is all but saying the legacy of Giroux-Voracek at least is 'weak sauce' come playoff times. Coaches often make references to recent play. But to use the word legacy like that? Wow.
- PT21

He definitely has a way with how he communicates with his players.....

Pretty much yea!


It's also pretty much what myself and most of everybody else also knew.
- MJL

No offense your a nobody on a hockey board with opinions like everyone else

No offense your a nobody on a hockey board with opinions like everyone else
- login