I think if there wasn't an expansion you'd have already seen fletcher be more aggressive and go for it. I think they felt they weren't far off and could run it back. And then year after put all chips in post expansion. Lets say we wanted a legit top 4 d man. The cost is likely a first a top prospect and a good player. Now we have one more player that needs to be protected so we must now sent a 1st and a 3rd to Seattle to protect them. So now we are down out next 2 first rounders. But we get our d man. Was it worth it ?
- Tfaehner

Fair point.

I agree about the stripping the C part. However, Giroux can say all the right things in the locker room, on the bench, at practice and to the media. Real true leadership happens on the ice in games. The Flyers best players for many games have not been good enough. Giroux except for the first Boston game, has not been good enough. He has not been a consistent offensive threat. He did not lead by example.
- MJL

It’s shocking how invisible he’s become since they came back from the pause. Pains me to say because he’s by far one of my favorite Flyers.

I think if there wasn't an expansion you'd have already seen fletcher be more aggressive and go for it. I think they felt they weren't far off and could run it back. And then year after put all chips in post expansion. Lets say we wanted a legit top 4 d man. The cost is likely a first a top prospect and a good player. Now we have one more player that needs to be protected so we must now sent a 1st and a 3rd to Seattle to protect them. So now we are down out next 2 first rounders. But we get our d man. Was it worth it ?
- Tfaehner

That's not even the main issue. A legit top 4 defenseman is simply not available now. If people want to know why they didn't replace Niskanen, it's because they couldn't. The Flyers were very fortunate to get Niskanen in the first place. Fletcher knew what the market was and who was available.

Dude... what is this...

At 5v5...
Raffl: 16:00
Hayes: 14:36
Laughton: 14:37
Giroux: 13:31
Voracek: 13:09
Patrick: 12:40
Konecny: 12:10
Lindblom: 11:43
Farabee: 11:42


Also...
Giroux with Laughton: 19.82 xGF% - small sample size right MJL
Giroux without Laughton: 80.50 xGF%
Time to stop the sabotage please.

I agree about the stripping the C part. However, Giroux can say all the right things in the locker room, on the bench, at practice and to the media. Real true leadership happens on the ice in games. The Flyers best players for many games have not been good enough. Giroux except for the first Boston game, has not been good enough. He has not been a consistent offensive threat. He did not lead by example.
-MJL

Where is that leader who knocked Crosby on his ass and then scored the game's first goal during the first shift of game 6? I have not seen that player in, what seems to be, a very long time.

Dude... what is this...

At 5v5...
Raffl: 16:00
Hayes: 14:36
Laughton: 14:37
Giroux: 13:31
Voracek: 13:09
Patrick: 12:40
Konecny: 12:10
Lindblom: 11:43
Farabee: 11:42


Also...
Giroux with Laughton: 19.82 xGF% - small sample size right MJL
Giroux without Laughton: 80.50 xGF%
Time to stop the sabotage please.
- Striiker

What is Laughton's xGF% without Giroux?

What is Laughton's xGF% without Giroux?
- MJL

That info is easily out there for you to find. Though that is irrelevant as the issue is playing Laughton with Giroux doesn't work.

Small sample size right? Lets give it a few more games. Why change it.

I agree about the stripping the C part. However, Giroux can say all the right things in the locker room, on the bench, at practice and to the media. Real true leadership happens on the ice in games. The Flyers best players for many games have not been good enough. Giroux except for the first Boston game, has not been good enough. He has not been a consistent offensive threat. He did not lead by example.
- MJL

Yes, players haven't been good enough, including Giroux.

Jake is the most noticeable on-ice leader right now, and he doesn't seem to have a lot of company.

Yes, players haven't been good enough, including Giroux.

Jake is the most noticeable on-ice leader right now, and he doesn't seem to have a lot of company.
- Tomahawk

TK was MIA last night, as much as I love Oskar he has been nowhere to be found on the offensive side of the puck. Farabee is still trying to find his footing in this league, Patrick still trying to get back. It’s really unfortunate Frost got hurt because he looked like he was ready to make an impact. We may have over estimated this “depth”

That info is easily out there for you to find. Though that is irrelevant as the issue is playing Laughton with Giroux doesn't work.

Small sample size right? Lets give it a few more games. Why change it.
- Striiker

There's a lot of things the Flyers need to change. Line combos are not the big issue.

There's a lot of things the Flyers need to change. Line combos are not the big issue.
- MJL

Let’s start by putting Friedman in the press box

That's not even the main issue. A legit top 4 defenseman is simply not available now. If people want to know why they didn't replace Niskanen, it's because they couldn't. The Flyers were very fortunate to get Niskanen in the first place. Fletcher knew what the market was and who was available.
- MJL

Good points, I agree that right now no one is trading for a top 4 defenseman. Its possible at the deadline one or two might become available, however its going to cost you a lot. In the end I would do it for the right player, because currently you cannot have Provorov playing 30 minutes a night, you can see he is a shell of himself already. You can really see now the impact of Morin not working out.

Yes, players haven't been good enough, including Giroux.

Jake is the most noticeable on-ice leader right now, and he doesn't seem to have a lot of company.
- Tomahawk

How is Voracek showing leadership on the ice? Because he got pissed at a player? How was his leadership on the Coyle goal and to a lesser extent on the Craig Smith goal?

Let’s start by putting Friedman in the press box
- ClaudeFather

Friedman is what he is. I'd put Gustafsson there first.

Let’s start by putting Friedman in the press box
- ClaudeFather

Wait, I thought he was poised to save our season, that it was a travesty he was not in the starting 6 already?

Friedman is what he is. I'd put Gustafsson there first.
- MJL

Friedman was horrible, the game was coming way too fast for him. Gus is awful in his own right, I can’t stand his lackadaisical crap play.

Wait, I thought he was poised to save our season, that it was a travesty he was not in the starting 6 already?

- jd250

Yea that was a good laugh, some folks are actually saying it was because he was paired with lmaooo. No it’s because he’s not an NHL man player.

Friedman was horrible, the game was coming way too fast for him. Gus is awful in his own right, I can’t stand his lackadaisical crap play.
- ClaudeFather

Friedman is not an NHL top 6 defenseman in my opinion but at least he is competitive. Gustafsson's level of fight and competitiveness on Bergeron on the first Marchand goal was pathetic and unacceptable. The turnovers are one thing, that is another.

Friedman is not an NHL top 6 defenseman in my opinion but at least he is competitive. Gustafsson's level of fight and competitiveness on Bergeron on the first Marchand goal was pathetic and unacceptable. The turnovers are one thing, that is another.
- MJL

It’s like he’s out for a Sunday skate every game, get him off the roster ASAP.

Friedman is not an NHL top 6 defenseman in my opinion but at least he is competitive. Gustafsson's level of fight and competitiveness on Bergeron on the first Marchand goal was pathetic and unacceptable. The turnovers are one thing, that is another.
- MJL

Gus was out there looking like Pierre Luc Dubois on some shifts. Just aimlessly skating around and looking disengaged.

Not a fan so far.

Friedman was horrible, the game was coming way too fast for him. Gus is awful in his own right, I can’t stand his lackadaisical crap play.
- ClaudeFather

All the D were exposed last night, Sanheim was bad covering the slot on the PK. I noticed this last year even with Niskanen, the Flyers D lacked strength to clear the slot. That is why I was hoping they would sign Chara, get Morin back, or trade for a Dman like Ian Cole. Myers and Sanheim are big players, but they don't play big and get knocked off the puck way to easy.

That's not even the main issue. A legit top 4 defenseman is simply not available now. If people want to know why they didn't replace Niskanen, it's because they couldn't. The Flyers were very fortunate to get Niskanen in the first place. Fletcher knew what the market was and who was available.
- MJL

I dont think that there is ever nobody available. The price is just more than whats prudent for good business. Do we truly believe not 1 top 4 defenseman out there could be had?

I agree with a lot of what you say here but I also see a contradiction. Are they in a funk that every team, even the good ones go through or are they in a state of mediocrity?
- MJL

Yes

Why is it that Fletch and AV cannot see fit to inject toughness into the lineup? EVERY other team in the league has at least one (if not two or more) players dressed that opponents have to answer to if someone gets tripped and face plants on the ice, against the boards, etc. As it stands now, we are one of if not the easiest team in the league to take liberties with. I never have and never will buy into the “we have team toughness” crap...skilled teams like the NYI and Caps manage to combine their skill with sandpaper and grit.

Tired of watching listless Flyers hockey. There are games when you need to send the other team a message. This lineup is just not built to be able to do that.

Games like the one last night made me wish Sam Morin was in the lineup.

We're not going to get many goals out of him, but we're not going to get bullied either.

Might even want to try him back on D. I mean....why not?
If we're going to suck, at least show some spirit.

I would have loved to see Morin hit somebody hard last night.
We got pushed around all over the ice.