There are 2 others who have been bad as well that you can remove from the lineup. All the talk about how much they like Freidman is total garbage then if he cant get into the lineup over one of those replacement level players.
- Striiker

Do you think the coaching staff is keeping a superior player in Friedman out of the lineup in favor of those replacement players? Why did Fletcher sign Gustafsson and re-sign Braun if Friedman is a bona fide full time NHL option?

The information being given, which isn't much.
- MJL

Nhl protocol requires 10 days of clean tests to return to play. Based on the timeline I agree he should be back hopefully by next week.

YORK! Is ready and better than Gustafsson and Ghost.
- MJL

Yea, bring him in

How long of a rope does the coach give Gus before this experiment puts him on the bench? He is flat out terrible in his own end. Braun and Hagg are pretty much replacement level players as well.

All Friedman has to do is perform better than one of them; the bar is set low. To not give him a shot is wrong. The 3 mentioned above will not improve overall.

Also does anyone think Ghost will get as long a leash as Gus has so far?
- Striiker

It's been 4 games. I think it's a pretty safe assumption that Ghost will get at least that long of a leash. Especially considering the coaches had him penciled in on the top pairing before the covid issue.

Nhl protocol requires 10 days of clean tests to return to play. Based on the timeline I agree he should be back hopefully by next week.
- Tfaehner

Do you want him on the ice tho??

I understand the frustration with the current defense unit, lots of parts that at first glance don’t stack easily. However, Ghost has been out due to COVID protocols and it’s possible he can slide into the top 4 if he has rebounded. We still don’t know the situation with Myers injury.

All along it has been a “wait and see what we have” on defense type year. I would have loved getting Pietrangelo, but that was a pipe dream. He would have to have had Philly as his preferred destination. They still haven’t tried Myers next to Provy (I assume because they don’t think Myers is ready for that.) and until they do that for a decent sample size, I’m not willing to say that the answer for the top pair isn’t in-house.

When we all look towards York and Zamula as up and coming prospects, I don’t think we can assume that they could immediately slot in the top 4 next season. We are probably looking at a stopgap at least on the second pairing for a little bit anyway.

The talk has been looking towards the trade deadline to fill any roster gaps this season, and I really don’t think that has changed.

Do you think the coaching staff is keeping a superior player in Friedman out of the lineup in favor of those replacement players? Why did Fletcher sign Gustafsson and re-sign Braun if Friedman is a bona fide full time NHL option?
- MJL

What I think is irrelevant. I never said he was superior; that is your words. All I said was he has to be better than those 3. Also didn't say he was a bona fide NHL option. I suggested it is time to find out; the organization has talked him up have they not? The way those 3 have played so far warrants Freidman getting into the lineup.

Coach's and GM's make mistake do they not? They get enamored with certain players for whatever reason. They play them come hell or high water.

They were going to let Braun walk until Niskannen retired. They panicked and reigned Braun. They signed Gus imo because they do not like Ghost. Looks like a mistake so far.

What was the cost?
- MJL

So you acknowledge they can be acquired. That is progress.

Do you want him on the ice tho??
- Flyers_1488

Yes I do. Ghost 3 year numbers and fancy stats show hes better than gus in pretty much every way. And thats not including ghost first 2 years. If he can get closer to that its not even a contest.

So you acknowledge they can be acquired. That is progress.
- Striiker

I think the issue right now is who is selling more than who would buy.

What I think is irrelevant. I never said he was superior; that is your words. All I said was he has to be better than those 3. Also didn't say he was a bona fide NHL option. I suggested it is time to find out; the organization has talked him up have they not? The way those 3 have played so far warrants Freidman getting into the lineup.

Coach's and GM's make mistake do they not? They get enamored with certain players for whatever reason. They play them come hell or high water.

They were going to let Braun walk until Niskannen retired. They panicked and reigned Braun. They signed Gus imo because they do not like Ghost. Looks like a mistake so far.
- Striiker

The questions asked were designed to get you to think about what the coaches and the GM think. They didn't panic in re-signing Braun. They re-signed him after the retirement of Niskanen because he was RH veteran depth.
Again, why didn't they just roll with Friedman if they didn't like Gostisbehere instead of signing Gustafsson. Far too early to call it a mistake.

So you acknowledge they can be acquired. That is progress.
- Striiker

Please point out where I stated that it was impossible to acquire a top 4 defenseman. I'll wait.

I think the issue right now is who is selling more than who would buy.
- Tfaehner

That is a fair point. With revenues down maybe there could be more players available then usual. Then you have the teams who will be out of it or just looking to sell period.

That being said the GM knew he was losing Niskannen. On the surface looks like he didn't do much to replace him.

Please point out where I stated that it was impossible to acquire a top 4 defenseman. I'll wait.
- MJL

You asked how they were going to get that defenseman. So why ask that question where surely you knew the answer; to your own question.

You asked how they were going to get that defenseman. So why ask that question where surely you knew the answer; to your own question.
- Striiker

😆🤣👍

That is a fair point. With revenues down maybe there could be more players available then usual. Then you have the teams who will be out of it or just looking to sell period.

That being said the GM knew he was losing Niskannen. On the surface looks like he didn't do much to replace him.
- Striiker

I think the niskanen plan was laid out as niskanen played this season and then retired at the end of it. At that time York coming off leading usa to a world juniors victory would come into the nhl. And zamula the following year.

When niskanen retired early I think fletch was looking at a number of right side d men. I think very few wanted to come here for a 1 season look knowing they were going to be replaced by a younger guy next year. I think most players wanted a shot at a future contract here and thats not going to happen. So we landed on Gus.

My Chicago friends told me repeatedly how bad gus is defensively and how sheltered he needs to be offensively and warned me I'd sour early and often on him. And so I did. He made a few good plays towards the end the game. But hes not a guy I am happy to see in the lineup.

Braun all camp leading up to ghost covid protocol was operating as 7th d man. I thought that role made sense for him. Lot of people have said what he means to a locker room as well. After losing niskanen I don't think we could afford to lose another voice and thus his signing.

That being said the GM knew he was losing Niskannen. On the surface looks like he didn't do much to replace him.
- Striiker

What does it tell you that Niskanen wasn't replace externally?

You are so right with the turnovers, I don't care what the stats might say, I trust my eyes more than the statisticians, and my eyes tell me the Flyers turn the puck over a lot! I don't know if they keep a stat for this, but I think the Flyers have more "failed D-zone clearing attempts" than any other team in the league, at least it seems that way to me.
- jd250

Oh my god! You nailed it! Absolutely horrid.

You asked how they were going to get that defenseman. So why ask that question where surely you knew the answer; to your own question.
- Striiker

To get you to think.

replay of the Provorov collision with Hutton:

https://twitter.com/Sabre...tatus/1351698689002250242

Ralph Krueger is either lying or dense if he's saying Provorov is at fault for anything here
- Coburns_Nose

Krueger should have been sent to the box no doubt. He’s also a coward for going after Provorov while he was down.

Sanheim was real good
- wcorvette

If we never drafted Provorov, Sanheim would be “the guy”. We should groom him this way regardless.

What does it tell you that Niskanen wasn't replace externally?
- MJL

I can speculate all day what it tells me. What does it tell you?

To get you to think.
- MJL

That question offered nothing to think about.

Buffalo out shot us 40 to 30. We gave away the puck 12 times to the Sabres’ 5. This was a game that could have easily gone the other way. I’m happy with the win but the Flyers had an ugly first half where they were very much outplayed. I thought Voracek, Hayes and Braun all sucked in that first half but redeemed themself late in the game.
- SuperSchennBros

It was a close game, both teams played pretty well.

The shot discrepancy was more about the Flyers sitting on their lead in the 3rd than it was being out-played for the game. Shots and chances were pretty even before that.

All three players mentioned actually played well, I thought. Hayes was guilty of a couple of soft plays early, but was really good in the 3rd. From what I saw, Braun played his most effective game of the young season -- lot of effective defensive plays, particularly eliminating sticks in front of Elliott. Jake was on the right side of the risk/reward ledger all night.

I understand the frustration with the current defense unit, lots of parts that at first glance don’t stack easily. However, Ghost has been out due to COVID protocols and it’s possible he can slide into the top 4 if he has rebounded. We still don’t know the situation with Myers injury.

All along it has been a “wait and see what we have” on defense type year. I would have loved getting Pietrangelo, but that was a pipe dream. He would have to have had Philly as his preferred destination. They still haven’t tried Myers next to Provy (I assume because they don’t think Myers is ready for that.) and until they do that for a decent sample size, I’m not willing to say that the answer for the top pair isn’t in-house.

When we all look towards York and Zamula as up and coming prospects, I don’t think we can assume that they could immediately slot in the top 4 next season. We are probably looking at a stopgap at least on the second pairing for a little bit anyway.

The talk has been looking towards the trade deadline to fill any roster gaps this season, and I really don’t think that has changed.
- NC Flyers Fan

Have watched several of York's games since he came back from worlds....most recently the sets against Michigan State and Ohio State. As much as we'd love him to be...he just isnt ready.