Who do you play in his place? Simple is Not?
- Peter Richards

Bunnaman

Well, I hope the league is happy with what they got tomorrow. The healthy 1st place Boston Bruins play a special outdoor hockey game in quaint Lake Tahoe against the Flyers pre-season B squad. Sounds like a great television event that I am sure millions will be watching on the edge of their seats! All the league had to do is postpone this game for 1 week and then both teams can play a competitive game that will showcase the league, but nope, we'll do it this way instead. No wonder many people think the NHL is a joke league.
- jd250

You haven't thought this out very well. The logistics behind the entire situation does not support postponing this event.

I don't think he's playing poorly; just want to see him be a little more assertive -- on a consistent basis -- with the puck on his stick. His all-around game has been fine. But I will also say that Patrick went through significant offensive stretches of playing similar to his last seven games before he missed last season. I don't think it's just a matter of the time away, because he often played similarly in his rookie and 2nd seasons.
- bmeltzer

Why don't we just admit Patrick is what he is, and what he is, is not worthy of the number 2 pick in the draft!! His first two seasons in the league Patrick scored 0.4 points per game. This year he is currently right in the ball park at 0.35 points per game. The kid looks lost out there, plain and simple. He doesn't have the instincts nor skating ability to be much more offensively than he is right now. He takes no offensive initiative and we rarely see him shoot the puck. He is what he is.

I'm sure the injuries have had a lot to do with it, and I'm not just talking about the migraines. The abdominal tear he suffered during his draft year is a very serious hockey injury. Recall Michael Renberg had a similar injury and was never the same after that. I feel bad for Patrick and for the Flyers with their crap luck, but its better we face reality vs. wishing he magically becomes the player we had hoped he would be. He's not and its a bummer!

Bunnaman
- login

Why? NAK is a better rw

You haven't thought this out very well. The logistics behind the entire situation does not support postponing this event.
- MJL

What logistics? The ice is not going to melt. Its on a golf course in the middle of winter so we don't have to worry about any one teeing it up. Television always has flex time built in and can make it work if they need to. The teams can always move games around, they have done so already this season. There is NO reason I can think of they can't postpone this game one week.

Why? NAK is a better rw
- Peter Richards

It isn’t about who who is better. It’s about he can be replaced. Can you not see the difference?

So would you protect NAK in the expansion draft?

The point had nothing to do with who was better.
- MJL

So the point was we have a guy who played a ton of games. Who cares

It isn’t about who who is better. It’s about he can be replaced. Can you not see the difference?

So would you protect NAK in the expansion draft?
- login

Changing focus again.

No I do not protect NAK at the expansion draft. As there are better players. Same reason I don’t just replace him in the line up.

So using your reasoning anyone is replaceable. Why ice the best team you can. You just said it doesn’t matter who the better player is. It is whether they are replaceable.

So what’s your point.

Why would you not ice the beat team you can.

Why don't we just admit Patrick is what he is, and what he is, is not worthy of the number 2 pick in the draft!! His first two seasons in the league Patrick scored 0.4 points per game. This year he is currently right in the ball park at 0.35 points per game. The kid looks lost out there, plain and simple. He doesn't have the instincts nor skating ability to be much more offensively than he is right now. He takes no offensive initiative and we rarely see him shoot the puck. He is what he is.

I'm sure the injuries have had a lot to do with it, and I'm not just talking about the migraines. The abdominal tear he suffered during his draft year is a very serious hockey injury. Recall Michael Renberg had a similar injury and was never the same after that. I feel bad for Patrick and for the Flyers with their crap luck, but its better we face reality vs. wishing he magically becomes the player we had hoped he would be. He's not and its a bummer!
- jd250

Didn’t read the whole thing. He is young and coming off and injury. First two years each season he started a little slower and can one the second half. Is still young.

Now question to contemplate. Due to his health issues and uncertainty we signed Hayes. At the time they even discuss that Hayes could slide to wing. Coots and Hayes are the top two centers. So. Right now what do you expect from Patrick. Be hone with yourself.

Imo we only need him to be a third line center. He doesn’t need the pressure yet returning from what’s mentioned above. And just bc off his draft rank do you not expect any growth hiccups. Yea he is what he is. A player who missed significant time away from the game and who needs to finish developing. I am willin go to give him more time. And who knows. He may only ever be a third line center. Time will tell. Always could be worse. Yakupov

With Patrick, might it be better to admit that he could be about a year behind on his development due to missing time and move on from here. Meaning, have this conversation a year from now and see where he is then. He is young enough to continue to build on this.

You haven't thought this out very well. The logistics behind the entire situation does not support postponing this event.
- MJL

Lol why not just pay the entire staff an entire week to stay there and keep the ice going, change the schedule for a number of teams, it’s easy.

With Patrick, might it be better to admit that he could be about a year behind on his development due to missing time and move on from here. Meaning, have this conversation a year from now and see where he is then. He is young enough to continue to build on this.
- NC Flyers Fan

I agree with this. Imo his play now is similar to his first year. In good position, does a lot of little things right. Just needs the confidence to play his game. For his age his all around game is excellent. Seems like he takes a little bit to get comfortable with linemates as well. He can cycle well. Before I like how he was playing with g but can easily see him centering raff and NAK. Cycle that puck. And hope their aggressiveness is contagious.

Morin and Patrick need at least 1 full season to get back to themselves.
- Landsbergfan

And maybe Oscar too

Changing focus again.

No I do not protect NAK at the expansion draft. As there are better players. Same reason I don’t just replace him in the line up.

So using your reasoning anyone is replaceable. Why ice the best team you can. You just said it doesn’t matter who the better player is. It is whether they are replaceable.

So what’s your point.

Why would you not ice the beat team you can.
- Peter Richards

not changing anything. He is a replaceable player. Removing him from the lineup will not have any effect on the teams success. Simple as that. You disagree that's great

No anyone isnt replaceable and said that earlier.

And maybe Oscar too
- Peter Richards

For sure. I give him that at least. Cancer and then possibly COVID. Horrible time for him. Remember how well he was playing right before the cancer diagnosis? I hope he gets back to that but he may not ever. Regardless, I’m glad the org supported him with an extension and is giving him time.

not changing anything. He is a replaceable player. Removing him from the lineup will not have any effect on the teams success. Simple as that. You disagree that's great

No anyone isnt replaceable and said that earlier.
- login

Ywa it’s wonderful.

Well, I hope the league is happy with what they got tomorrow. The healthy 1st place Boston Bruins play a special outdoor hockey game in quaint Lake Tahoe against the Flyers pre-season B squad. Sounds like a great television event that I am sure millions will be watching on the edge of their seats! All the league had to do is postpone this game for 1 week and then both teams can play a competitive game that will showcase the league, but nope, we'll do it this way instead. No wonder many people think the NHL is a joke league.
- jd250

It’s called life. They will get over it. I for one will be watching on the edge of my bar stool.

If I was the league I would have substituted another team in, but whatever. Issue is that there were so many in protocol. Not wise to have them fly across the country. The team mentality seems correct. Next man up and do your best to stay competitive in this game. 1 pt would be massive.

Bruins are missing a centre and have had a lot of time off between games before losing to NJ. Every team has issues to deal with.
- Hextall271

True, the Flyers team attitude has been great throughout all of this from what I can tell.

With Patrick, might it be better to admit that he could be about a year behind on his development due to missing time and move on from here. Meaning, have this conversation a year from now and see where he is then. He is young enough to continue to build on this.
- NC Flyers Fan

Say Patrick is a year behind in his development, is he demonstrating that he is right where he needs to be based on being a year behind? In my opinion, its more than being a year behind, he's just not the player we had hoped he would be. Look at the impacts the other top 5 picks in that draft year have had on their respective teams; granted they have not suffered the injuries Patrick has.

Say Patrick is a year behind in his development, is he demonstrating that he is right where he needs to be based on being a year behind? In my opinion, its more than being a year behind, he's just not the player we had hoped he would be. Look at the impacts the other top 5 picks in that draft year have had on their respective teams; granted they have not suffered the injuries Patrick has.
- jd250

I just looks a year behind to me.

It’s called life. They will get over it. I for one will be watching on the edge of my bar stool.
- Angus4444

I’ll watch, but I’m worried they’re gonna get caved in this game. Hope Im wrong, but this is going to be a matchup nightmare. As far as I can tell Boston is the home team. Can’t wait to see bergerons like out vs one of the all phantoms lines.

I think that the key to this game and the best chance to come away with 2 points is to go back to a kid’s game mentality.

What have you got to do?
Listen, to my coach.
And?
Have fun.
Also?
Do my best.

Later...questions don’t involve the score or win/loss. Was this a good game? Did you have fun, listen and do your very best? Yes, that’s a good game.

It’s not an ordinary game, and it’s a rare outdoor experience. Hopefully, the Bruins take themselves too seriously or have an off day. Hopefully, our guys enjoy this opportunity to the fullest.

Why don't we just admit Patrick is what he is, and what he is, is not worthy of the number 2 pick in the draft!! His first two seasons in the league Patrick scored 0.4 points per game. This year he is currently right in the ball park at 0.35 points per game. The kid looks lost out there, plain and simple. He doesn't have the instincts nor skating ability to be much more offensively than he is right now. He takes no offensive initiative and we rarely see him shoot the puck. He is what he is.

I'm sure the injuries have had a lot to do with it, and I'm not just talking about the migraines. The abdominal tear he suffered during his draft year is a very serious hockey injury. Recall Michael Renberg had a similar injury and was never the same after that. I feel bad for Patrick and for the Flyers with their crap luck, but its better we face reality vs. wishing he magically becomes the player we had hoped he would be. He's not and its a bummer!
- jd250

Your post is not in the correct context in my opinion. The issue at this point isn't whether he was worth the 2nd pick in the draft. That is irrelevant at this point. The conversation and the question is what does Patrick have to do to be better, to be more of a factor offensively? Skating ability is not an issue with Patrick. It seems to me you have a real issue with properly assessing skating ability with players. The issue is where Patrick is skating to on the ice. Is he around the puck, is he at the net. Is he getting to the scoring areas around the net?
Here you again with " he is what he is". I guess it's another young player who can't improve. I guess we have to have that conversation again! Absurd

If Patrick can become a 20-20 two way center, than that is a valuable player for the team as a center behind Couturier and Hayes. It's about the big picture. It's about the team. It's about center depth.

So the point was we have a guy who played a ton of games. Who cares
- ClaudeFather

Another miss.

Lol why not just pay the entire staff an entire week to stay there and keep the ice going, change the schedule for a number of teams, it’s easy.
- ClaudeFather