5 dozen donuts and 10 pizzs should do it
- KINGKENZO

What he fails to realize is that whether you want to use a 1-2-2 or a 2-1-2, you have to execute. You have to move your feet. For example on the one breakout for the Bruins with Hayes in the F3 spot, he's all the way over at the boards. It's bad spacing and positioning. It left the entire passing lane in the neutral zone open and an easy entry. Playing a 2-1-2, F1 has to get on the puck or a quick pass beats you. Flyers aren't moving their feet aggressively regardless of what forecheck they play.
- MJL

Yes, it's a matter execution more than strategy.

With that said, they could definitely use some minor adjustments, especially on breakouts and blueline defense.

Yeah.....just wish he was bigger. For a smaller guy he needs that one quality to stand out.
- Peter Richards

In Friedman's defense he does play hard and with an edge, but he has to learn how to control it so he doesn't take stupid penalties. He is always going to have the size disadvantage so he has to learn to use his positioning and speed to get the job done. Maybe he just needs more NHL games to learn that, and maybe the Flyers will be fine with giving him time to learn. On the flip side, its not his fault the Flyers couldn't kill those penalties he took, that's on Hart and the PK unit as a whole, which so far this year has taken a BIG step back! To me it starts with winning d-zone face off and clearing the zone, something that this year has proven to be quite difficult for the Flyers.

What he fails to realize is that whether you want to use a 1-2-2 or a 2-1-2, you have to execute. You have to move your feet. For example on the one breakout for the Bruins with Hayes in the F3 spot, he's all the way over at the boards. It's bad spacing and positioning. It left the entire passing lane in the neutral zone open and an easy entry. Playing a 2-1-2, F1 has to get on the puck or a quick pass beats you. Flyers aren't moving their feet aggressively regardless of what forecheck they play.
- MJL

If you mean Hayes getting frustrated and retaliating with a hit along the boards, which led to a goal. You nailed on the head. He’s a center abs he left the center spot. In fact it was way behind the play.

Jack Hughes is so innocent and cute! He probably going to be better than the flyers drafted garbage and mediocre no impact nobody's l.
- MJL

Word!

Why not? Yandle makes 6.5 mill for 3 years compared to Ghost at 4.5 cap hit. It would make sense for FLA to keep a little bit especially when Ghosts actual Salary is approx 2 mill less 3.25 mill x3 years compared to 5.75\5.25\5.2. They arent going to go crazy and keep 50% or anything but maybe like 500k to 1 mill.

Technically if Gus got moved we could keep some cap hit though I wouldnt want to

The other thing is whats reported might not be the whole picture. Could be a bigger deal involving multiple players.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

What exactly do you think you are getting in Yandle?

What is wrong with Niko H ?

The argument is not whether the Flyers are currently a soft team. The question is if this team is capable of being a hard team to play against and a quality team with the current personnel. It's pretty much the same team minus Niskanen and some injuries. Before the stoppage last year they were playing like one of the best teams in the league for a significant period of time. Then in the playoffs, they regressed and it has carried over to this year. What is the real team. Most likely somewhere between the two.
- MJL

With the shortened season and the divisional format, I would say this year's regular season will be played very close to playoff intensity, so I am not surprised that the Flyers this year so far closely resemble the team we saw in the playoffs just a few months ago. There is less open ice and less time to make a play, and this fact alone tends to separate the real contenders from the pretenders. I don't think the Flyers are any where near as bad as they have played lately, and getting Coots back will stabilize things. But I also do not believe they have the goods to be a serious contender. Couturier yesterday had an interesting quote, basically stating the team has some things to clean up but he feels confident they will do so and be a very good team this year, I hope he is right.

Do not think Zamula is the guy to look at to add a physical presence. Have you seen him? I think my wrist is thicker than his neck.
- Dkos

I really have not seen his play all that much, so that is why I was asking.

Really hope Gus never sees the ice again and that Giroux line could be a force!
- ShadowsX42

No, Line G plays on will be a force!

What is wrong with Niko H ?
- wcorvette

Leg injury

Leg injury
- MBFlyerfan

I bet he wouldn’t be injured if we just drafted him 2nd overall!

It doesn't make sense in many ways.
- MBFlyerfan

The rumor i saw today which i find to be more credible is that fletcher checked in with each gm on what players were available and at what cost. Hes giving the team more leash to see what happens and if he feels the need he knows what the cost will be to improve it. I think myers recovery and ghost play will go a long way in that decision making.

As someone that watches but has no real experience in the game plans of hockey...is this guy on target? Do these observations point towards needing to change personnel/systems or more along the lines of working out the kinks and that observational coaching should get them corrected?
- shekkie

In the examples shown in the videos, and thank you BTW for sharing this, it seemed to me the forecheckers were just way too deep in the o-zone creating a huge gap between them and the forward in the NZ and the two defenseman, allowing the opposing team to pick up speed in the NZ. Going to a 2-1-2 is done typically to generate more turnovers and offensive opportunities, but always increases the risk of odd man rushes the other way, which is exactly what we are seeing. A 1-2-2 is a more conservative forecheck which is designed to clog up the NZ and generate turnovers the other way. I personally prefer the 1-2-2 in today's game given the speed of the players, it gives the defending team more ability to recover.

I bet he wouldn’t be injured if we just drafted him 2nd overall!
- arichardson22

Only if our luck changes

The rumor i saw today which i find to be more credible is that fletcher checked in with each gm on what players were available and at what cost. Hes giving the team more leash to see what happens and if he feels the need he knows what the cost will be to improve it. I think myers recovery and ghost play will go a long way in that decision making.
- Tfaehner

How is this a rumor? I would expect every GM in the league to do this on a regular cadence, its their job after all.

Did we have it last year when we were arguably the best team in hockey with essentially the same team ?
- Tfaehner

Tampa was the best team in hockey last year . Way better than the Flyers. Not even close.

Tampa was the best team in hockey last year . Way better than the Flyers. Not even close.
- Angus4444

What seed were they again ?

What seed were they again ?
- Tfaehner

They were drinking beer out of the greatest trophy . That’s all that matters.

I wonder why Fletch used 3mill of precious Cap space on that turnover machine Gustafsson.

What he fails to realize is that whether you want to use a 1-2-2 or a 2-1-2, you have to execute. You have to move your feet. For example on the one breakout for the Bruins with Hayes in the F3 spot, he's all the way over at the boards. It's bad spacing and positioning. It left the entire passing lane in the neutral zone open and an easy entry. Playing a 2-1-2, F1 has to get on the puck or a quick pass beats you. Flyers aren't moving their feet aggressively regardless of what forecheck they play.
- MJL

Thanks for replying. Based on what you and overs have said here it appears the Flyers main issues are the players not executing properly. In a layman's view it makes sense to my own eye tests as the Flyers have a tendency to panic with the puck instead of taking an extra second or two. They also seem to be position-ally out of place now and then which looks like it leads to a lot of scrambling around. Hopefully AV and his staff can pull the player's collectively up to where they need to be.

How is this a rumor? I would expect every GM in the league to do this on a regular cadence, its their job after all.
- jd250

Every GM does not check in with every team regarding what is to be had at what price. The rumor seems to be Fletch was doing some serious window shopping.

I really have not seen his play all that much, so that is why I was asking.
- jd250

He still looks pretty skinny form the little I saw of him. He's listed as 6'3" at 177 on the Phantoms Site. The Flyers seem to think he needs to physically develop more before he's ready for the NHL. He also had back surgery (over the summer I think?). Maybe he needs more time to rehab that? Did Phantoms camp start?

Thanks for replying. Based on what you and overs have said here it appears the Flyers main issues are the players not executing properly. In a layman's view it makes sense to my own eye tests as the Flyers have a tendency to panic with the puck instead of taking an extra second or two. They also seem to be position-ally out of place now and then which looks like it leads to a lot of scrambling around. Hopefully AV and his staff can pull the player's collectively up to where they need to be.
- shekkie

weird that it would be a team-wide inability to execute. I understand an individual player having a bad game or a bunch of bad games, but how does most of a team fail to execute? Why is everybody playing poorly at the same time? It's a weird dynamic

I wonder why Fletch used 3mill of precious Cap space on that turnover machine Gustafsson.
- Landsbergfan

I hear Ya! Finally I thought a flyer GM with no flyer friendships and ties to the organization. His methods seems unsound and fluky. His behavior extremely catatonic