We’ve had summer after summer after summer of tweaking the roster, being patient with players who are not and never will be part of the solution to becoming a legit contender. This franchise has been patient to a fault. The fan base has been asked to be patient...enough with being patient. Fletch needs to sh*t or get off the pot.
- BroadSTmayhem

They need a massive shift not tweaks.

They need a massive shift not tweaks.
- login

Agree.

They need a massive shift not tweaks.
- login

I think we may see one coming.

Patrick's entire NHL career has been a non-stop string of gifts. Par for the course for a 2nd-overall pick, I suppose, but at some point he's gotta show that he can do more w/ all those opportunities.

You know he's currently dead last among forwards on the team in shot generation and scoring chances per 60. They're 20+ games in... and he's still struggling just to get a single look on net most nights. It's mind-boggling.
- Tomahawk

Patrick looked effective here...

https://www.nhl.com/video...7350912/c-7722874?q=Hayes

Is that the last PP goal?

Giroux - no points but 2 shots on goal. Jake - no points but 5 shots on goal. NoPa - no points and 0 shots on goal! His line had 7 shots on goal last night, what exactly was he doing out there?

15th game in a row that NoPa has no points, and this is the 8th game of this point drought where he has failed to register a single shot. And NoPa is on the the 2nd PP unit to boot! Only twice this season has NoPa registered more than 1 shot on goal in a game, both games against Pittsburgh, and the last time NoPa registered a point was Jan 26th against NJ!!

When I suggested he needs to sit I was lambasted on here, but maybe AV should have listened to me. I told you all "he is what he is".
- jd250

lambasted? there were people who agreed he might benefit from sitting a game or two.

Walking my dog this morning I noticed I was trudging through something - kind of felt like walking through deep snow. I was puzzled because it hasn't snowed in over a week. Coming to this thread I now realize what it was. It was the sky. The sky has fallen.

oh nos
- Scoob

Aah, to be young and optimistic....don't ever lose that

lambasted? there were people who agreed he might benefit from sitting a game or two.
- Ftown19125

True and everyone realizes the struggles, no one says it is fine as is.

Aah, to be young and optimistic....don't ever lose that
- DaveofYork

Yeah, it is horrible to realize you’re jaded.

I think we may see one coming.
- MBFlyerfan

I think the GM is scared to make a massive move. Now that may change come summer time. We shall see

lambasted? there were people who agreed he might benefit from sitting a game or two.
- Ftown19125

True, some agreed, but most said it would hurt Patrick to sit out, and it would be better even if Patrick played on the 4th line, where I argued keep Bunnaman in there since that line had chemistry. Anyway, the numbers don't lie, Patrick needs to sit out a few games and see if there is a way he can improve. I feel bad for Patrick and the Flyers, they get a gift number 2 pick in the draft and they get what seems to be a good person and hard working player, but for whatever reason he is just not working out here. I'm sure two hernia surgeries and a migraine disorder didn't help along the way either.

True, some agreed, but most said it would hurt Patrick to sit out, and it would be better even if Patrick played on the 4th line, where I argued keep Bunnaman in there since that line had chemistry. Anyway, the numbers don't lie, Patrick needs to sit out a few games and see if there is a way he can improve. I feel bad for Patrick and the Flyers, they get a gift number 2 pick in the draft and they get what seems to be a good person and hard working player, but for whatever reason he is just not working out here. I'm sure two hernia surgeries and a migraine disorder didn't help along the way either.
- jd250

fake an injury then send him to the phantoms for a conditioning stint. He isn't helping in any way.

True, some agreed, but most said it would hurt Patrick to sit out, and it would be better even if Patrick played on the 4th line, where I argued keep Bunnaman in there since that line had chemistry. Anyway, the numbers don't lie, Patrick needs to sit out a few games and see if there is a way he can improve. I feel bad for Patrick and the Flyers, they get a gift number 2 pick in the draft and they get what seems to be a good person and hard working player, but for whatever reason he is just not working out here. I'm sure two hernia surgeries and a migraine disorder didn't help along the way either.
- jd250

i think it's going to take all/most of this season to get back to normal. he was out for a really long time. i'm not sure what normal is though, is that a 30 point player or could he take the next step?

i'm not disagreeing that it's disappointing either.

While I have seen him start to get more involved physically, IMO he is still playing WAY too much on the perimeter. He doesn't seem to have the confidence to carry the puck or try to make anything other than the safe play.
- MBFlyerfan

In his junior days, he would constantly drive the net and then rip the puck as soon as it hit his stick. Saw glimpses of that before he got hurt. Not so much anymore.

Coaching staff must be on him about it. Move to wing, net-front on PP, put him with skill guys who can get him the puck.... not sure what else can be done to get him sorted out.

IMO, drop him to the 4th-line w/ Raffl and NAK and get him playing simple, north-south, and condition him to get to the (frank)ing net again.

I think the GM is scared to make a massive move. Now that may change come summer time. We shall see
- login

One move I would make right now is to relieve Michel Therrien of this duties and go find myself a special teams coach. Someone with a proven track record of recent success. I believe the problem with the Flyers special teams is their approach on both ends.

One the PK the Flyers seem to be playing a Diamond formation where the defenseman on the strong side of the puck floats up towards the face off dot and the weak side defenseman goes to the center of the slot. The advantage to this formation is you can more effectively defend cross zone passes and one timers from either circle. The downside is teams that can quickly move the puck down low can outman the slot defenseman, and we have seen the Flyers give up a lot of weak side goals this year.

On the PP, the Flyers zone entries are way too complicated IMO. Once in the zone the Flyers are stationary and way too predicable since they always try to get the puck to the points. The Flyers also do the opponents a huge favor by preferring to swing the pucks around the boards versus attacking the center of the zone. A good PP is a like a great QB / slot receiver combo in Football, where the receiver finds that soft area in the coverage and the QB puts the ball there before the defense can react. The Flyers forwards have to move around and find that soft area in the defensive coverage and get one timers to the net, and do so from the center of the zone instead of sharp angles. Right now the Flyers are predictable and reluctant to move and shoot.

One move I would make right now is to relieve Michel Therrien of this duties and go find myself a special teams coach. Someone with a proven track record of recent success. I believe the problem with the Flyers special teams is their approach on both ends.

One the PK the Flyers seem to be playing a Diamond formation where the defenseman on the strong side of the puck floats up towards the face off dot and the weak side defenseman goes to the center of the slot. The advantage to this formation is you can more effectively defend cross zone passes and one timers from either circle. The downside is teams that can quickly move the puck down low can outman the slot defenseman, and we have seen the Flyers give up a lot of weak side goals this year.

On the PP, the Flyers zone entries are way too complicated IMO. Once in the zone the Flyers are stationary and way too predicable since they always try to get the puck to the points. The Flyers also do the opponents a huge favor by preferring to swing the pucks around the boards versus attacking the center of the zone. A good PP is a like a great QB / slot receiver combo in Football, where the receiver finds that soft area in the coverage and the QB puts the ball there before the defense can react. The Flyers forwards have to move around and find that soft area in the defensive coverage and get one timers to the net, and do so from the center of the zone instead of sharp angles. Right now the Flyers are predictable and reluctant to move and shoot.
- jd250

I think they have the skill to improve the PP right now. I do not think they have the skill to correct the PK enough to make a difference. They need better d-men on the PK.

Need to get both corrected before the playoffs.

Aah, to be young and optimistic....don't ever lose that
- DaveofYork

thanks!

It’s days like this (when Bill hasn’t put up a new blog early in the morning) that I immediately think (hope) there is a trade or move coming, and he’s waiting to post.

Wishful thinking, but one can only hope, right?!

Gus is far from perfect. you live with ihs mistakes if he gets the PP going. Comes down to the coach utilizing him properly. Av needs to earn his money.
- login

Sounds good if your other 5 day are decent. Ours are not. Maybe they need to make a tough decision on Sanheim or Myers.. move one in a trade for Eckholm or move something else for Savard. Something needs to change. There is not one d pairing that is effective right now and ghost on the top pairing playing against the big line on the other side just does not work. It never will. Also you cant hide both ghost and guss from dzone draws all the time. Something needs to give here.. how the heck do you lose niskanen well before free agency and end up w guss?

I think the GM is scared to make a massive move. Now that may change come summer time. We shall see
- login

There is so much to think about with who you would have to protect/lose in the expansion draft. You have to make sure who you trade assets for can be protected, but does that leave another player open? And if you don't protect them, are you trading important assets for essentially a rental?

There is so much to think about with who you would have to protect/lose in the expansion draft. You have to make sure who you trade assets for can be protected, but does that leave another player open? And if you don't protect them, are you trading important assets for essentially a rental?
- MBFlyerfan

I don't see them making any major moves until the offseason. Too many unknowns to doing it beforehand. If they fail to make the POs, they will need to look hard at the overall makeup of the team and maybe consider moving some of their younger assets.

Sounds good if your other 5 day are decent. Ours are not. Maybe they need to make a tough decision on Sanheim or Myers.. move one in a trade for Eckholm or move something else for Savard. Something needs to change. There is not one d pairing that is effective right now and ghost on the top pairing playing against the big line on the other side just does not work. It never will. Also you cant hide both ghost and guss from dzone draws all the time. Something needs to give here.. how the heck do you lose niskanen well before free agency and end up w guss?
- Joe Nardone

If they move Myers or Sanheim they better be getting a true top pairing d-man. Eckholm is not that. I am not against moving either. However, it has to be for a player that is a Norris Trophy level player. Otherwise it makes no sense.

If they move Myers or Sanheim they better be getting a true top pairing d-man. Eckholm is not that. I am not against moving either. However, it has to be for a player that is a Norris Trophy level player. Otherwise it makes no sense.
- mickel25

I am just hoping for a solid veteran Top 3 guy like Niskanen was. Nisky was hardly a Norris candidate.

But yes, if you are moving one of those two you need someone a level up from Niskanen for sure. Otherwise you are cancelling out the reason for making the trade in the first place.

I am just hoping for a solid veteran Top 3 guy like Niskanen was. Nisky was hardly a Norris candidate.

But yes, if you are moving one of those two you need someone a level up from Niskanen for sure. Otherwise you are cancelling out the reason for making the trade in the first place.
- MBFlyerfan

I think Savard makes sense. Probably can get him for Gus (money) and a pick. There are a few other vets that are an upgrade to the bottom pairing that can be had pretty cheaply.

There is so much to think about with who you would have to protect/lose in the expansion draft. You have to make sure who you trade assets for can be protected, but does that leave another player open? And if you don't protect them, are you trading important assets for essentially a rental?
- MBFlyerfan

Disagree there is something to think about; not too much. They are going to lose a solid forward more than likely in the ED. It wont be crippling to the team or organization in any way imo. You lose one of Jake JVR "Patty" Oscar or NAK. Protecting 4 d isn't a big deal to me. I do what I can to try to get Seattle to take Jake.

Acquiring a 2/3rd line forward is easier than a top 4 dman. If they acquire a top 4 guy I hope he has term left and can be part of the solution going forward. If it is a rental then I do not overpay and wait to until the summer.

Disagree there is something to think about; not too much. They are going to lose a solid forward more than likely in the ED. It wont be crippling to the team or organization in any way imo. You lose one of Jake JVR "Patty" Oscar or NAK. Protecting 4 d isn't a big deal to me. I do what I can to try to get Seattle to take Jake.

Acquiring a 2/3rd line forward is easier than a top 4 dman. If they acquire a top 4 guy I hope he has term left and can be part of the solution going forward. If it is a rental then I do not overpay and wait to until the summer.
- login

This makes complete sense. If it is the right player I am fine with committing to that player beyond this year.