Flyers 2017 Training Camp Discussion Thread

[Hiesenberg]

I guess we'll have to deal with this until after Sunday's game. Not that we won't dissect that game's roster to death.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

You kind of missed the point that Lindblom can't play on PP1 for the Flyers if Hextall wants him on the Phantoms.

I get that, but what I'm saying is that I don't think Flip outplayed Lindblom that much and Lindblom certainly outplayed Raffl, Read, Weise and Lehtera. But nope...

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

I said that too. If Hextall goes out of his way to send down performing rooks over mediocre to bad vets, this is on him. 100% on him, if the team comes out and can't score and that bottom 6 gets corsi'd to death.

Then he can look into a mirror and see that the same shitty players don't work.

Hextall has a blind spot for those same shitty veterans too though. Filppula, Weise, MacDonald, Manning, Bellemare, VandeVelde, etc. He falls into that same trap of overvaluing guys because of their supposed intangibles.

 

[Magua]

If Hak is in charge of powerplay design and personnel, what exactly is Knoblauch's role on this team?

To be fair to him before we inevitably turn on him and slash his tires.....he's been with the team for a few months off ice and all of 2 weeks with the players . He's still a rookie coach who is familiarizing himself with the team. He also doesn't control who is on the overall roster. A lot of the personnel stuff I'm sure he gets some directive from coach/GM. If they want Flip on PP1, he will be on PP1. Evidence was there already before he was hired they could go that way. Design is probably more his impact.

 

[Lindberg]

Just going off with others have said about Lindblom, it seems to make perfect since to try him at 1LW with G and V. I thought preseason was all about experimenting but it really seems to be about just experimenting with what Hakstol considers his ideal line up. I've been on the soapbox saying Hakstol is a terrible coach for a long time and I still maintain that point of view.

Sidenote that MacDonald contract... yikes. We still have three years of him and that means 3 years of him being used by Hakstol.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

Hate to go all deadhead, but when Sanheim and Lindblom get sent down, that's on Hextall. Whatever Hakstol drools into his ear about his favorite little shitty veterans, it's on Hextall.

yup, I mean I get that Hak gets the input and opinion in. But dont put this on the HC if any of the kids get send down and do not deserve it.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Don't confuse a good rant on this board with facts.

And don't forget that ranting - venting and getting stuff off of your chest - is the secondary purpose of the internet in general.
The primary purpose being porn, obviously.

 

[Lindberg]

And don't forget that ranting - venting and getting stuff off of your chest - is the secondary purpose of the internet in general.
The primary purpose being porn, obviously.

 

[bauer]

does anyone think Hak is secretly a Killers fan and has this blasting in his office all day?

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

[/QUOTE]

 

[Curufinwe]

Schenn scored 17 goals last year, but he only scored 7 in 14-15 and PP1 was just as good. So it's not necessary for Filppula to be a goal machine for PP1 to be good again.

 

[deadhead]

It's fun watching y'all get your panties in a bunch over a few preseason games.
Like the lineup they field next week will be the same group that will be on the ice in April.

Somehow Hextall, who has an amazing string of trades and draft picks, lacks both the ability and scouts to adequately evaluate his own personnel.
And that a coach with his professional future on the line plays "favorites" because he likes certain players.

Or maybe you have to put a roster together, taking into account contracts, the salary cap, options, the readiness of young players, potential chemistry between players, starting the season on the road where you can't dictate matchups, etc.

I figure even Hextall doesn't know what this team will look like until game 20 or so.
Fortunately, he's not dealing with junior players where it's "either or," but AHL eligible players who are 2 hours from the Wells Fargo center.
So no decisions are writ in stone except waivers and trades.

 

[Hiesenberg]

What's kind of lost in all of this is Patrick seems to be a roster lock. Not that most of us didn't think he would be, but with Hextall's decision making, you never know.

 

[Curufinwe]

I always thought Patrick was as much of a lock this year as Provorov was last year. He's too developed to benefit from beating up kids in Junior, and if there were health concerns it's better to monitor those up close than to leave it to the Wheat Kings.

Sidenote that MacDonald contract... yikes. We still have three years of him and that means 3 years of him being used by Hakstol.

I don't think he will play for the Flyers in 19-20 even if that means Hextall has to buy out the final year. Too many players will need new contracts that starting year: Simmonds, Weal, Konecny, Provorov, Sanheim, and Laughton. Not all of them will stick around, but Provy and TK surely will, and they don't look like bridge guys to me.

And in 19-20 they will most likely need roster spots on D for Myers and Friedman.

Provorov-Sanheim
Hagg-Gudas
Morin-Ghost
Friedman-Myers

 

[Lindberg]

I don't think he will play for the Flyers in 19-20 even if that means Hextall has to buy out the final year. Too many players will need new contracts that starting year: Simmonds, Weal, Konecny, Provorov, Sanheim, and Laughton. Not all of them will stick around, but Provy and TK surely will, and they don't look like bridge guys to me.

And in 19-20 they will most likely need roster spots on D for Myers and Friedman.

Provorov-Sanheim
Hagg-Gudas
Morin-Ghost
Friedman-Myers

I have no real issue believing MacDonald won't be here for his full contract. But it is incredible how damaging it was. It is nice to see how a competent D will work and having the ability to sell players for assets.

 

[FatTugboatFlahr]

Meltzer is going hard saying he thinks he will be sent down.

I'd say it's baffling how he could come off his best game of a pre-season where he was still respectable, then get scratched, then get sent down. Baffling how Weise or Filppula (both will be top 9 -- is there now no end in sight to Flip on PP1?) or Lehtera have looked to them better and more deserving. But yet I'm not that baffled.

Meltzer can go suffocate in his own ass with all these negative assumptions.

 

[wuf]

Yup. Once again coaching will do more harm than good.

Hextall is just as culpible.

I'm ready to get off the college hockey experiment ride that we're on.

 

[Curufinwe]

That's fine, but I guarantee that the next Flyers coach won't come directly from college, but will also do things you don't agree with. You should check out what Rags fans think about AV, and he's never been near a college.

https://bluelinestation.com/2017/09/15/new-york-rangers-important-season-for-alain-vigneault/

Coaching is a big part of any team in any league. The New York Rangers learned this the hard way as their coaching was a large reason why they lost in the second round of the playoffs.

Shortly after, the Rangers made a big splash behind the bench when they hired Lindy Ruff as an assistant coach. Was this done to light a fire under Alain Vigneault? Maybe so.

One thing is for sure; the Rangers hired him because there is a chance that Vigneault can be fired any time during this season.

The real conflict about Vigneault became evident when it came down to how his young players were utilized. We have seen recently many instances in which AV benched young and agile forwards and defenseman to play more experienced and banged up veterans.

 

[FLYguy3911]

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.

Meltzer is going hard saying he thinks he will be sent down.

Which is weird since just yesterday he said he'll be on the team.

 

[Beef Invictus]

A huge advantage Hakstok has over Berube is that he actually adapts. I mean, it takes a month. But he does it. I'll wait and see what the team does, and what he has them doing this year.

 

[OrangeAndBlackMetal]

This would be my final line-up

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

Provorov-Hagg
Morin-Gostisbehere
Sanheim-Gudas
Manning

Elliot
Neuvirth

PP1

Lindblom-Giroux-Simmonds
Gostisbehere-Voracek

PP2
Couturier-Patrick-Konecny
Sanheim-Provorov

 

[daynus]

I think Patrick will start off as a play maker. Lots of assists, but in the second half of the season his goals will increase. Guys like konecny and Lindblom will score more, they just let it rip. And we are gonna need the whole team combined to score more. I think our d will score lots. Guys like giroux and voracek need to stop passing and passing and just let it rip.

 

[Evergreen]

This would be my final line-up

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

Provorov-Hagg
Morin-Gostisbehere
Sanheim-Gudas
Manning

Elliot
Neuvirth

PP1

Lindblom-Giroux-Simmonds
Gostisbehere-Voracek

PP2
Couturier-Patrick-Konecny
Sanheim-Provorov

You have some guys playing on their off-wings. Simmonds at LW? Why break up Weal - Patrick - Simmonds?

 

[Magua]

I think Patrick will start off as a play maker. Lots of assists, but in the second half of the season his goals will increase. Guys like konecny and Lindblom will score more, they just let it rip. And we are gonna need the whole team combined to score more. I think our d will score lots. Guys like giroux and voracek need to stop passing and passing and just let it rip.

Part of why he's passing so much and isn't shooting is he's not really getting separation to get his shot off, so he's looking for open spaces with his equally good passes. He'll probably find that until he improves his skating, which will come, he's going to have to get more shots in tight and of the dirty variety. Or rely on his linemates -- probably more Weal than Simmonds -- to get him looks. But he could still probably stand to be a little more aggressive with the shots.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Patrick has a ton of upside. He is making a lot of great plays. He's reading everything so damned well.

He looks like someone who could eventually make the game go at his desired pace.