Flyers 2017 Training Camp Discussion Thread

[Lindberg]

Giroux needs to be back at center next game or someone can kick Hakstol off the bus.

 

[VoiceOfTheFlyers]

If there was true justice in this world then..

Morin lock.
Hagg lock.
Sanheim lock.

Unfortunately for us, none of us understand Hakstol.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Lindblom - Giroux - Voracek
Raffl - Couturier - Konecny
Weal - Patrick - Simmonds
Filppula - Laughton - Weise
Read
Lehtera

Provorov - Hagg
Sanheim - Gudas
Morin - Gostisbehere
MacDonald

Elliott
Neuvirth

That would probably be the most ideal for roster/lineup for me. I doubt we see it though. They need to put Giroux back down the middle & spread their talent more around through the lineup. Right now it's pretty unbalanced.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Lindblom - Giroux - Voracek
Raffl - Couturier - Konecny
Weal - Patrick - Simmonds
Filppula - Laughton - Weise
Read
Lehtera

Provorov - Hagg
Sanheim - Gudas
Morin - Gostisbehere
MacDonald

Elliott
Neuvirth

That would probably be the most ideal for roster/lineup for me. I doubt we see it though. They need to put Giroux back down the middle & spread their talent more around through the lineup. Right now it's pretty unbalanced.

That looks just about perfect to me, too LoD

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

Giroux needs to be back at center next game or someone can kick Hakstol off the bus.

eh, I am fine with it in the preseason. He will be the number 1 C in San Jose on Wednesday. Who is slotted down the middle after that? Who the hell knows.

 

[Magua]

eh, I am fine with it in the preseason. He will be the number 1 C in San Jose on Wednesday. Who is slotted down the middle after that? Who the hell knows.

I'm really really skeptical he doesn't start the season at 1LW. If he does on Sunday, the dress rehearsal, it's a given. But they're doing it too much to quit now, especially since the top line is starting to play with more cohesion.

 

[BillDineen]

I'm really really skeptical he doesn't start the season at 1LW. If he does on Sunday, the dress rehearsal, it's a given. But they're doing it too much to quit now, especially since the top line is starting to play with more cohesion.

I agree. I think the top six starts as last night. That could potentially lead to Lindblom-Filppula-TK as the third line, but I fear Lindblom may be sent down.

 

[Hiesenberg]

I'm about 95% convinced Lindblom is sent down.

Hakstol/Hextall give way too much leash to under performing Vets. They can play average and it's ok, but rookies have to excel. This is why we miss playoffs, they are satisfied with mediocrity.

Lehtera/Filpula are being forced into this line up. Why? Contract, that's the only reason, they get paid, so they get the spots. And our bottom 6 will be back to trash again.

 

[Curufinwe]

Lehtera hasn't been used much in preseason and why would Hextall or Hakstol care what contract he is on? There's no issue with the cap so it's not like they need to try and showcase him for a trade. Hextall didn't care about MacDonald's contract when he waived him two years ago, and Hakstol didn't care about Weise's contract when he healthy scratched him 15 times last season.

Even this worst case bottom 6 is much better than what the Flyers used for most of last season.

Weise-Filppula-Konecny
Raffl-Laughton-Lehtera

 

[deadhead]

I'm about 95% convinced Lindblom is sent down.

Hakstol/Hextall give way too much leash to under performing Vets. They can play average and it's ok, but rookies have to excel. This is why we miss playoffs, they are satisfied with mediocrity.

Lehtera/Filpula are being forced into this line up. Why? Contract, that's the only reason, they get paid, so they get the spots. And our bottom 6 will be back to trash again.

This is wrong on so many levels.

1) this is their livelihood, and winning is the only measure of success, you may disagree with their decisions, but I doubt "they are satisfied with mediocrity."
2) Hextall is making the personnel decisions, and i wouldn't be surprised if the Giroux to LW was a mutual decision to both protect Giroux and to open up center for younger players over the next three years. Filppula is gone, but Couts, Patrick and Laughton seem to be set, Vorobyev is definitely a contender by spring, and Rubtsov and Frost are waiting in the wings. They've already moved MV to wing. It's a crowded position.
3) Lehtera and Filppula may not be stars, but they're certainly big upgrades over what we've been rolling out in the bottom six for the last five years.

Hextall may well send someone with options to Allentown for a week or two while he sorts out his veterans, he's not reluctant to send a veteran down and eat a contract, but I think he'd prefer to work out a trade to relieve the logjam, both to avoid an unhappy player on the AHL team and to clear some cap space for the trade deadline. He's still playing the long game as the Schenn trade demonstrated, this team is improved, but probably two years away from being a serious contender so he won't make short-sided moves just to please fans.

 

[Hiesenberg]

It's me being angry and irrational

 

[BernieParent]

This is wrong on so many levels.

1) this is their livelihood, and winning is the only measure of success, you may disagree with their decisions, but I doubt "they are satisfied with mediocrity."

I see your point about the semantics of "satisfied with mediocrity". I read it as being willing to not put the absolute best lineup out every game as long as they are progressing. If that means sitting a prospect to challenge them to beat out a veteran for a position -- and I'm trying to take Hextall / Hakstol's perspective on this -- they will. I think it galls Hextall to lose and have a team that missed the playoffs last season and bowed out meekly in the first round the season before. But we know Hextall is playing the tortoise role in slowly and surely winning the race to Cup contention.

I can't penetrate the mind of Dave Hakstol to know if he truly values mediocre veterans. All of the evidence points to yes but is he playing the long game, too?

I'd put on my Editor cap and replace "satisfied with" with "tolerant of".

 

[Hiesenberg]

Also, you have to look at the fact that Hextall/Hakstol let that shit combo of VDV/PEB go all last year. It seems to me, they clearly are ok with mediocrity/failures. *notable mention MacDonald*

 

[Rebels57]

If Lindblom is not in the lineup in our next game, he will start in in LHV.

I really don't understand it.

He was one of their best forwards on Tuesday IMO..and will only continue to improve as he adapts to NHL speed and rink size (it's been a while since he played those AHL games).

He has EASILY outplayed Filppula, Lehtera, Read, Weise, and arguably Raffl (who has played well this camp).

Is the only reason because he is waiver exempt and they don't want to sent a vet down or risk losing Leier for nothing just yet?

Either way, it's dookie.

 

[deadhead]

Cousins, Luby and Leier all got shots at winning jobs, all are gone.
Weal got a shot at winning a job, he took full advantage of his opportunity.
VdV wasn't resigned, PEB was exposed to the ED, that tells you all you need to know.

Hextall is playing a long game, and Hakstol was hired because of his college experience (patience and a firm hand with young players).
We're just now getting the young players that are the product of Hextall's strategy.
Two years down the road all the guys people will complain about this year (Lehtera, Read, Filppula, Manning, MacDonald) will be gone.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

It's me being angry and irrational

But wouldnt that explain many of us on this board HAHA

 

[Rebels57]

This all being said, if Hakstok decides to continue this grotesque Giroux-LW experiment, this is probably our best lineup:

Line 1: Giroux - Couturier - Voracek
Line 2: Weal - Patrick - Simmonds
Line 3: Lindblom - Filppula - Konecny
Line 4: Raffl - Laughton - Weise

Lehtera, Read/Leier (odd-man out waived)

Without Lindblom:

Line 1: Giroux - Couturier - Voracek
Line 2: Weal - Patrick - Simmonds
Line 3: Raffl - Filppula - Konecny
Line 4: Weise - Laughton - Lehtera

Read, Leier

Can anyone honestly look at these lines and tell me they look better than with Giroux down the middle? Our bottom 6 lines are going to struggle against lines like the Bergeron one.

 

[deadhead]

If Lindblom is not in the lineup in our next game, he will start in in LHV.

I really don't understand it.

He was one of their best forwards on Tuesday IMO..and will only continue to improve as he adapts to NHL speed and rink size (it's been a while since he played those AHL games).

He has EASILY outplayed Filppula, Lehtera, Read, Weise, and arguably Raffl (who has played well this camp).

Is the only reason because he is waiver exempt and they don't want to sent a vet down or risk losing Leier for nothing just yet?

Either way, it's dookie.

Lindblom hasn't out played anyone, nor should it be expected, he's adjusting to NA ice
He's been solid, but hasn't stood out so far. He is good along the boards and plays older than his age, but hasn't shown his SHL skills yet.
But I doubt that affects Hextall's decision making, he knows Lindblom is NHL ready.
The only reason he'll be sent down is due to the options, and only for a short time, until Hextall exhausts other options to deal with his roster logjam.

Everybody has outplayed Read.
Lehtera is tougher, I think he's adjusting to being a power forward at LW, he's certainly stronger than last year.
Filppula makes the team regardless of any decision involving Lindblom as the "5th center" option.
Leier may be the one who sends Lindblom down temporarily, if Hextall is afraid he'll be claimed on waivers.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

I honestly don't think they brought Lindblom over to be in the AHL. I think he stays up. Doing well at both levels already (smaller sample in AHL, but still) and he's shown off some good skill and strength up with the Flyers. I don't think there's any need to send him back down. Not like we're in a cap bind right now.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

it certainly is not a easy situation with this roster. The kids have really forced Hextall's hand this training camp. I really dont know what happens honestly.
I guess you just have to figure out are all these kids ready for the grind of a 82 game season? training camp and playing against random pre season lineups is one thing. I mean I think that most of them are ready, But I am not making that decision.

 

[Rebels57]

I honestly don't think they brought Lindblom over to be in the AHL. I think he stays up. Doing well at both levels already (smaller sample in AHL, but still) and he's shown off some good skill and strength up with the Flyers. I don't think there's any need to send him back down. Not like we're in a cap bind right now.

I hope you're right. Going from the SHL to the AHL you could argue is actually a reduction in competition. Depends on who you ask but I personally think the SHL is a more difficult league.

I just worry about his usage so far. Could it be that they already have him penciled in and want to evaluate other players?

I sure hope so.

 

[deadhead]

This all being said, if Hakstok decides to continue this grotesque Giroux-LW experiment, this is probably our best lineup:

Without Lindblom:

Line 1: Giroux - Couturier - Voracek
Line 2: Weal - Patrick - Simmonds
Line 3: Weise - Filppula - Konecny
Line 4: Raffl - Laughton - Leier

Read, Lehtera

Can anyone honestly look at these lines and tell me they look better than with Giroux down the middle? Our bottom 6 lines are going to struggle against lines like the Bergeron one.

Actually, this group has looked pretty good.
The new G-C-V line looked good against Boston, I think Hakstol told them to shoot the damn puck and they did!
The second line has a lot of potential and seems like a good fit of skills
The third line hasn't look bad, Weise can do the dirty work for them and Filp can feed Konency the puck.
The fourth line has looked very good as a checking line.
Certainly, this is a better set of 4 lines than we rolled out last season.

 

[Curufinwe]

This all being said, if Hakstok decides to continue this grotesque Giroux-LW experiment, this is probably our best lineup:

Line 1: Giroux - Couturier - Voracek
Line 2: Weal - Patrick - Simmonds
Line 3: Lindblom - Filppula - Konecny
Line 4: Raffl - Laughton - Weise

Lehtera, Read/Leier (odd-man out waived)

Without Lindblom:

Line 1: Giroux - Couturier - Voracek
Line 2: Weal - Patrick - Simmonds
Line 3: Raffl - Filppula - Konecny
Line 4: Weise - Laughton - Lehtera

Read, Leier

Can anyone honestly look at these lines and tell me they look better than with Giroux down the middle? Our bottom 6 lines are going to struggle against lines like the Bergeron one.

Giroux-Couturier-Patrick down the middle definitely gives the team the best chance of winning the top 9 possession battle.

 

[ChiefWiggum]

I really liked the Couts, Giroux, Voracek line. Voracek and Giroux can have a guy play with them who has a bit more creativity and skill tahn past linemates like Raffl, Couturier's defensive prowess can help improve G and Jake's brutal +/- last year and lastly, maybe paying with G and Jake will help Couturier to blossom his offensive game

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

If Lindblom isn’t on the team our foward situation gets worse.