I agree with the sentiment overall, but I do think ghost has taken a step back. But yeah, at 8 per long term to sign Hamilton Hed get skewered
- stayinthefnnet

He's been neutered by the repeated benchings over the years. He was actually playing much better this season, but was still getting benched from time to time. And now he's hurt. Pretty maddening.

For sure. He's not gonna fill that Chris Pronger-sized hole in our hearts. But he's what this team needs.

Honestly, we already have a pretty good solution in Ghost, but there's no appetite for his risk-taking by AV and the fanbase. I wonder if Hamilton would get more leeway. I have my doubts.
- Tomahawk

I’m not so critical of this point with the fans. If someone produces a lot of offense on a consistent basis, much of the risk taking gone bad is overlooked. For example, when Ghost has the good years, he was producing but still had the turnovers. He had an almost cult following.

If we end up with a high quality offensive d-men, as long as they are fairly consistent, it’s not a problem. I’m happy with landing the BPA to fill the void, whoever that may be. Getting nobody to fill the hole at RHD next to Provy, to me that is unacceptable.

He's been neutered by the repeated benchings over the years. He was actually playing much better this season, but was still getting benched from time to time. And now he's hurt. Pretty maddening.
- Tomahawk

For that kind of player you need to be in or out. If he’s playing conservative, he’s going to be bad at everything because that’s not his game. You need to give him large swaths of time and let him play his style and then make a decision if the good outweighs the bad overall. If yes then you take the lumps to accept the fruit, which you hope become lessened by the fact that he’s not constantly playing looking over his shoulder. Then if it doesn’t, you can at least completely sever ties knowing what you had/didn’t have.

He's been neutered by the repeated benchings over the years. He was actually playing much better this season, but was still getting benched from time to time. And now he's hurt. Pretty maddening.
- Tomahawk

when he was getting benched, there were other d that were as bad or worse and didnt get benched. You get some good and bad with ghost. Hagg cant even complete a pass out of his end without it getting picked off for a couple years now, and he gets a pass . Our d is awful anyway, might as well tell them to score as many as you can and outscore them. We're so f'ing timid. Needs to change prob 4 -5 players

Anyone notice yesterday meyers had the puck in his end and passed to jvr and jvr passed it back to him, then he passed to provy and then provy passed it back to him, and by that time, there was someone all over meyers. HAHAHA it was comical. Pass it around until you lose it. and didnt even make it out of our end, and we had time to at the beginning of the sequence

In no way saying Provy for Jones is a fix, however we do need a RHD in the system, Would rather it not be for Prov, as he is not the issue with this team. He makes some mistakes but his play outweighs them easily, He is as solid a top player currently as the later days of Desjardins - with room to grow. However there is alot of potential coming up the pipeline and I am high on York to be a top D, but we don't have alot of depth coming for RH side. Doesn't look like too many solid RH in Free agency this summer as well If we can swing a deal for Jones and have an idea he would reup here in Philly he could be a great part of the answer - and a player with the fire and emotion that is missing on some nights, some periods and some shifts. He has had a bad season and if Columbus thinks he won't reup there (a sad but common problem for them) they might be able to pry him away. Cant' tell me they're not looking for change over there just like we are.

Oilers owner gave him a chance to nix the trade before they announced it. He said no. He wanted to go to LA.
- Tomahawk

followed the kitty cat

Anyone notice yesterday meyers had the puck in his end and passed to jvr and jvr passed it back to him, then he passed to provy and then provy passed it back to him, and by that time, there was someone all over meyers. HAHAHA it was comical. Pass it around until you lose it. and didnt even make it out of our end, and we had time to at the beginning of the sequence
- bradster

Yes I noticed the suck

He's been neutered by the repeated benchings over the years. He was actually playing much better this season, but was still getting benched from time to time. And now he's hurt. Pretty maddening.
- Tomahawk

I don't know how Ghost can make this statement, I really don't! Ghost has always had the offense when healthy, but the guy can't play defense at all, at all, at all! He is not strong on the puck in his own end, is not good with his stick, and cannot cover the slot. For what offense he does generate, its not enough to cover the defensive mistakes and liabilities IMO. It would be good to get rid of him this off season.

I don't know how Ghost can make this statement, I really don't! Ghost has always had the offense when healthy, but the guy can't play defense at all, at all, at all! He is not strong on the puck in his own end, is not good with his stick, and cannot cover the slot. For what offense he does generate, its not enough to cover the defensive mistakes and liabilities IMO. It would be good to get rid of him this off season.
- jd250

Totally agree with this! Ghost should have been traded a couple of years ago when he still had value. He is a one trick pony. He can't play the position he is paid millions to play. He needs to move on along with Voracek. This would be a good start to cleaning up the soft culture around here.

when he was getting benched, there were other d that were as bad or worse and didnt get benched. You get some good and bad with ghost. Hagg cant even complete a pass out of his end without it getting picked off for a couple years now, and he gets a pass . Our d is awful anyway, might as well tell them to score as many as you can and outscore them. We're so f'ing timid. Needs to change prob 4 -5 players
- bradster

You complain about them being timid and you want to bench the only defender that hits(Hagg)?

I don't know how Ghost can make this statement, I really don't! Ghost has always had the offense when healthy, but the guy can't play defense at all, at all, at all! He is not strong on the puck in his own end, is not good with his stick, and cannot cover the slot. For what offense he does generate, its not enough to cover the defensive mistakes and liabilities IMO. It would be good to get rid of him this off season.
- jd250

how are you measuring this, especially with a team that has such bad team D like the Flyers???

I think he is like a -4 which +- is not a great stat, I would believe his possession stats are pretty good, I still think he drives the play. I agree when in his zone he is at his worse but I do think he shuts down plays at the blue line and uses his quickness to break out of the D zone. Honestly with my eye test, the Flyers don't have another D that brings what Ghost brings. Once again it is down to mix, they need a really good shut down D next to him. I am all for trading him but just like moving a JVR they need to replace his skillset in someway. If not, this D will be very vanilla. With Provy struggling the O really doenst have much O coming from the D. In todays game you need activated D to win

You complain about them being timid and you want to bench the only defender that hits(Hagg)?
- Phillywhiteout

yes

I was agreeing with you and giving the kid a break... Head injuries are no joke. I'm sorry I agreed with you.



- atibus

I literally said I didn’t understand your point...

how are you measuring this, especially with a team that has such bad team D like the Flyers???

I think he is like a -4 which +- is not a great stat, I would believe his possession stats are pretty good, I still think he drives the play. I agree when in his zone he is at his worse but I do think he shuts down plays at the blue line and uses his quickness to break out of the D zone. Honestly with my eye test, the Flyers don't have another D that brings what Ghost brings. Once again it is down to mix, they need a really good shut down D next to him. I am all for trading him but just like moving a JVR they need to replace his skillset in someway. If not, this D will be very vanilla. With Provy struggling the O really doenst have much O coming from the D. In todays game you need activated D to win
- wcorvette

You make some good points, however my bias is a defenseman that first and foremost can play defense. I understand not every defenseman you have is going to be 6'6" 240lbs, but good offensive defenseman like Doughty, Keith, Ellis, these guys know how to position themselves and use their stick to play good defense in their own zone. Ghost gets beat time and time again to the outside, and gets outmuscled in the slot. The more minutes he plays, especially critical minutes, the more he gets exposed. I also do not think he is as good offensively as some give him credit for. I find his offensive game very predictable. We also saw a few games ago a sequence on a 5-3 PP that he quarterbacked where he was a complete disaster, giving up a break away chance. Imagine that, your team gives up a break away when you are up 2 players?? Sorry, I've seen enough of Ghost, Myers and Braun on this team, and am looking forward to seeing York, Zamula and maybe Attard along with Morin and what I hope are 2 veteran defenseman from FA and/or trade to augment Provey and Sanheim.

Totally agree with this! Ghost should have been traded a couple of years ago when he still had value. He is a one trick pony. He can't play the position he is paid millions to play. He needs to move on along with Voracek. This would be a good start to cleaning up the soft culture around here.
- Phillywhiteout

Spot on! Especially the culture part! The nerve of Ghost to contradict his coach when his coach criticizes another player on the team. That is the problem with this team right there in a nutshell. An outside coach comes in and questions someone's work ethic, and players like Ghost circle the wagons and attack the coach. No wonder nothing ever changes around here. Ghost is a loser IMO, its time to move on from him and Jake.

You complain about them being timid and you want to bench the only defender that hits(Hagg)?
- Phillywhiteout

I would take Haag over Ghost any day of the week! What does it tell you that Ghost gets benched when this team's defense is awful overall? It should tell you Ghost is a big part of the problem.

For sure. He's not gonna fill that Chris Pronger-sized hole in our hearts. But he's what this team needs.

Honestly, we already have a pretty good solution in Ghost, but there's no appetite for his risk-taking by AV and the fanbase. I wonder if Hamilton would get more leeway. I have my doubts.
- Tomahawk

My problem with Hamilton is I don't think he likes the play for a team with a passionate fan base and media. He didn't like it in Boston so got shipped to Calgary, who are passionate to a point, then he moves to Caroline who are again passionate to a point. Would Hamilton want to sign into a market like Philly, that takes passionate to a whole other level? I would love the Flyers to sign him because they need his overall game, especially on the PP. Not sure he would want to leave Carolina though.

You make some good points, however my bias is a defenseman that first and foremost can play defense. I understand not every defenseman you have is going to be 6'6" 240lbs, but good offensive defenseman like Doughty, Keith, Ellis, these guys know how to position themselves and use their stick to play good defense in their own zone. Ghost gets beat time and time again to the outside, and gets outmuscled in the slot. The more minutes he plays, especially critical minutes, the more he gets exposed. I also do not think he is as good offensively as some give him credit for. I find his offensive game very predictable. We also saw a few games ago a sequence on a 5-3 PP that he quarterbacked where he was a complete disaster, giving up a break away chance. Imagine that, your team gives up a break away when you are up 2 players?? Sorry, I've seen enough of Ghost, Myers and Braun on this team, and am looking forward to seeing York, Zamula and maybe Attard along with Morin and what I hope are 2 veteran defenseman from FA and/or trade to augment Provey and Sanheim.
- jd250

there is a case to move on from Ghost but he makes plays at the Blue line to keep the puck that others can't, if the rest of the PP was better Ghost would have a lot more points. He gets beat so much but is a -4 ? I think he was a -4 last season also. He may be getting beat but there is balance in the goals. Myers, this is his 2nd season, both part Covid seasons, one where he played well and this season which is a TEAM poop show. He has been a poop show. Giving up on a D with his attributes is just silly. If someone wants to make a good hockey trade, sure, but as a sweetener, EL PASO.

Braun has played well until the last month, I am sure he is breaking down from playing 4 spots up from where he should. I would be ok with him as a 6-7 D but agree would love to upgrade. Hagg, pretty much the same as Braun.

The Flyers need to pay the price for the right top 2 D, if it is a long term solution then yes Myers being part of it is ok with me but I don't want to dump Myers for a Band-aid

Spot on! Especially the culture part! The nerve of Ghost to contradict his coach when his coach criticizes another player on the team. That is the problem with this team right there in a nutshell. An outside coach comes in and questions someone's work ethic, and players like Ghost circle the wagons and attack the coach. No wonder nothing ever changes around here. Ghost is a loser IMO, its time to move on from him and Jake.
- jd250

Maybe the question should be why would Ghost have to defend a teammate from a coach's unfounded allegations. Bill is on record of saying not a single person has ever questioned Hart's work ethic, until AV. Ghost did the right thing, your anger should be directed towards AV, not Ghost IMO