Flyers 2017 Training Camp Discussion Thread

[Striiker]

Giroux deserves a chance to bounce back before it's decided that he's no longer a center. Or are we forgetting the context of last year? Let him play there until he proves he can't.

 

[Ghosts Beer]

Most of the people in that thread said something to the effect of "eventually, but not now" and/or it making no sense when your other options are Filppula/Laughton/Lehtera. A few people were harsher than needed, so I guess you could specifically be pointing that out, but that's how the internet works.

To be clear, if Giroux starts out on the Wing, that means it's a worthy idea?

All it means is that the Flyers' braintrust themselves didn't think it was such nonsense to test the possibility of Giroux at wing as early as this season.

To me, that shows the thought probably isn't as stupid and far-fetched as many claimed.

However, some will insist it is still utterly idiotic and another example of Hakstol not having a clue. I understand that.

 

[Magua]

Clearly those 2 practices trumps the data gleaned over tons of actual games played. Just like a couple slip ups in a cluster**** of a rookie game and a players 1st preseason game of the year trumps a 50+ game span of excellent play in the AHL.

It all makes sense! It all makes sense!

Are you on Stage 2 of Sanheim Not Making Team Grief?

 

[Striiker]

All it means is that the Flyers' braintrust themselves didn't think it was such nonsense to test the possibility of Giroux at wing as early as this season.

To me, that shows the thought probably isn't as stupid and far-fetched as many claimed.

However, some will insist it is still utterly idiotic and another example of Hakstol not having a clue. I understand that.

Change the bold to "Haktsol".

And if we're going by quotes to the media then remember Hextall even shot down the idea.

 

[Curufinwe]

Whatever happens in camp is coming from both the GM and the coach. You can find them on the same page under the letter H.

“He can slide over,” general manager Ron Hextall said of Filppula last week. “He’s a really good centerman though, honestly. It’s gonna be interesting to see how it shakes out. Hak and I talk about it almost every day, talk about the different options.”

The biggest reason to doubt Giroux moving to LW on Couts line THIS year is you'd have your two best faceoff guys on the same line. Now once Patrick has some experience, Laughton shows he can win faceoffs and Vorobyev works on his skills in the AHL, that may change in a year.

Faceoffs are important, but being a strong possession player is more important for a center. A Giroux-Couturier-Voracek line would dominate possession, but I could see lines lead by a rookie, Filppula and Laughton struggling to stay above 50%.

 

[deadhead]

I think people tend to forget that it's about an hour and a half drive from Allentown to south Philadelphia. So that it makes a lot more sense to park a prospect in the AHL to play a regular shift than sit him on the bench. In the case of "break glass, bring up prospect" it's not a big deal to promote player for a couple games or an audition. And it's also pretty easy for Hextall to verify his scouting reports and coaches' scuttlebutt by sitting in for a couple games and watching the kids.

It's not like upstate New York, where in December you had to find a dog sled team to get to the locker room and evacuate a player if needed.

 

[Striiker]

Whatever happens in camp is coming from both the GM and the coach. You can find them on the same page under the letter H.

“He can slide over,†general manager Ron Hextall said of Filppula last week. “He’s a really good centerman though, honestly. It’s gonna be interesting to see how it shakes out. Hak and I talk about it almost every day, talk about the different options.â€Â

That doesn't mean they agree on every single thing though.

This isn't something major where you'd expect Hextall to step in and take control... this is preseason practice so of course he'll let Hakstol do whatever he wants, agree or disagree.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Sanheim got demoted from group 1 on Monday to group 2 on Tuesday. In my view, making it about Brennan is just a way to not pile on the kid in public.

I know it's mostly coach speak, I just find it a bit funny when I hear hockey coaches say something like that. Now if he starts saying TJ is reliable in all 3 zones, I'll start to wonder.

As for the demotion, why not put him in the group yesterday? I know Hextall has his ways of sending a message, but the timing is a little weird. The fact an offensive defenseman wasn't in the plans on the PP tells me more than what actually happened on the ice- he was always on the outside looking in.

 

[Stizzle]

Are you on Stage 2 of Sanheim Not Making Team Grief?

It appears that way. I'll just be pacing around muttering the words "reliable" and "steady" for the rest of the day.

 

[Striiker]

I know it's mostly coach speak, I just find it a bit funny when I hear hockey coaches say something like that. Now if he starts saying TJ is reliable in all 3 zones, I'll start to wonder.

As for the demotion, why not put him in the group yesterday? I know Hextall has his ways of sending a message, but the timing is a little weird. The fact an offensive defenseman wasn't in the plans on the PP tells me more than the what actually happened on the ice- he was always on the outside looking in.

You mean they don't use two preseason games to make decisions?!?!?!!?!?!?!

Well this is astounding news.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Are you on Stage 2 of Sanheim Not Making Team Grief?

I'm starting to get myself acclimated to the thought of MacDonald being used in a big role again this year.

 

[deadhead]

If MacDonald has a big role in January:
1) he's been resurrected, all praise to God
2) Hagg and Morin are disappointments

 

[bennysflyers16]

Maybe they are just seeing how G and Couts look for a day or 2 while Simmer is out ? I wonder if that is more reasonable than G being done as a NHL centerman ?

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

If MacDonald has a big role in January:
1) he's been resurrected, all praise to God
2) Hagg and Morin are disappointments

3) The coach is a moron.

 

[Striiker]

Option 3 is the correct answer.

 

[TCTC]

Maybe they are just seeing how G and Couts look for a day or 2 while Simmer is out ? I wonder if that is more reasonable than G being done as a NHL centerman ?

I hope so. Without Giroux at center our center depth wouldn't look so great all of a sudden. Unless they're expecting big things from Patrick.

But it's worth a try, I guess. I mean, Giroux and Couturier are pretty much the only two forwards on our team who never played together.

 

[Curufinwe]

As for the demotion, why not put him in the group yesterday? I know Hextall has his ways of sending a message, but the timing is a little weird. The fact an offensive defenseman wasn't in the plans on the PP tells me more than what actually happened on the ice- he was always on the outside looking in.

Realistically there only two open spots on defense so if they go to Morin and Hagg that's fine, even though I think Sanheim had a better AHL season than they did. If he had looked as solid as them defensively in camp I think he could have leapfrogged one of them even without being in the plans for the Flyers PP. He kills penalties and matches up against top lines in the AHL, so he's not viewed in the same way by management as Ghost is.

 

[Magua]

What I'm curious about is why Gudas has almost exclusively played with Manning, with the rest of the time being paired with Brennan. You'd think they'd try him with Hagg or Provorov or someone, just to experiment, but all camp he's been with the clear #7 and an AHLer, despite being our clear #2.

I'm starting to get myself acclimated to the thought of MacDonald being used in a big role again this year.

Anyone who thinks Top Pair MacDonald isn't returning are probably the same people who thought he'd get sent down after he hit the expansion game requirements.

 

[Alchemy]

I am so tired of Manning and MacDonald. I wouldn't mind Manning if he was the 7th D-man or an AHL callup but MacDonald just takes the cake. He gets big minutes and he isn't worth the salary he commands. The team would be so much better if a higher level player replaced those minutes..

 

[Stizzle]

The fact an offensive defenseman wasn't in the plans on the PP tells me more than what actually happened on the ice- he was always on the outside looking in.

Correct. This is very, very correct.

Now that Ghost is an upper classman, Sanheim is obviously the new freshman unreliable offensive defenseman in Hakstol's eyes.

Hak is so close-minded he wouldn't know what to do with a high end offensive defenseman even if Karlsson or Burns landed in his lap. Anything that threatens his precious structure haunts his dreams.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Anyone who thinks Top Pair MacDonald isn't returning are probably the same people who thought he'd get sent down after he hit the expansion game requirements.

 

[Rebels57]

What I'm curious about is why Gudas has almost exclusively played with Manning, with the rest of the time being paired with Brennan. You'd think they'd try him with Hagg or Provorov or someone, just to experiment, but all camp he's been with the clear #7 and an AHLer, despite being our clear #2.



Anyone who thinks Top Pair MacDonald isn't returning are probably the same people who thought he'd get sent down after he hit the expansion game requirements.

Pretty clear indication that Hakstol didn't learn much over the summer.

Thankfully he won't be here that much longer.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

 

[boxcar65]

What I'm curious about is why Gudas has almost exclusively played with Manning, with the rest of the time being paired with Brennan. You'd think they'd try him with Hagg or Provorov or someone, just to experiment, but all camp he's been with the clear #7 and an AHLer

Gudas and Manning have actually played well together the past couple of years. They drive play and challenge opposing forwards when they enter the zone. Of course I would rather see AMac in the #7 role, but I think Mandog will start the season in the lounge.

 

[Alchemy]

Just shows you how much they don't think Sanheim is ready. In most of the fans eyes Sanheim is better than Brennan which is true when looking at raw talent and upside vs what you all ready have. The guys in the front office and coaches think Brennan is more reliable right now. Sanheim needs to work on his decision making and other small details in his game. He will probably be a call up midseason if he continues to grow in the AHL. Right now it seems Brennan has that edge..