Digityman

I'm seeing a lot of Farabee and Atkinson, with Brassard following up the play (out of breath) and being more defensive allowing those two have more offensive freedom.    If my eyes aren't failing me and I'm not wrong, my concern is Hayes won't do that.  

But for now, it's great to watch for sure.

Let's face it, until the injured come back and until Hart figures it out (I still have faith) this team will struggle to be .500.  I'm really hoping Hart got the jitters out in the first game and those 2 he should have had were just anomalies because without him back to his usual self this team will lose 2 win 1 for a while.

Look at it this way, only the first line is a legit NHL line, after that: 

Line 2 - Brassard isn't a center anymore, let alone a 2nd line center.

Line 3 - I really like Laughton and Lindblom but Laughton excels on the 4th line and Lindblom isn't quite back yet.  JVR is better on another team.  

Line 4 - Willman & Thompson are no better than Chris Vandevelde & Dale Weiss.

Then on D, the same thing - after the first pairing it's a mess.

Braun really should be a 'player-coach' at this point but at the most, 3rd pairing/7th

Seeler - I appreciate his 'effort' but in the NHL, effort isn't enough.

The lineup looks completely different when the injured come back (and Frost comes up)

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny

Farabee-Hayes-JVR

Lindblom-Frost-Atkinson

Brassard-Laughton-NAK

Ivan Provorov-Ryan Ellis

Travis Sanheim-Risto

Keith Yandle-Braun

They are just going to have to grind out the first 15-20 games and hope they get better than average goaltending until then.  

Come on boys!  Don't suck completely!

Would have been nice for Hart to get the 1st but the other two aren't on him.  This isn't going to be good for his confidence.  

2 hours ago, radoran said:

Frost's game isn't suited from where I sit as a bottom six NHLer and would be better off playing offensive minutes in the AHL. He needs to be on the ice to get his game where it needs to be.

I think that's exactly the point.  Frost will not be known for his defense or checking.  If he doesn't produce points, he isn't doing his job.  He's the most offensively gifted player not on the Flyers today.  He didn't produce points in the preseason and he got sent down.   I think it's plain and simple. 

Do I think it was the right choice - meh.  This team needs to produce from the start because "they have something to prove" don't forget.  No doubt Frost will play himself into 'shape' and he'll be with the big club before the holiday break IMO.   Brassard isn't a center (self-admited) and will break down being played there. Frost needs to force their hand.  Plain and simple.

I mean if you think about it having a line play together for 50+ games before all of them being promoted wouldn't be such a bad thing.  
 

Frost , Foerester and Ratcliffe playing together in the AHL to prepare for the NHL is actual, legitimate planning.   I don't really understand why that's not done more honestly.   I get that you don't know if all 3 will be ready at the same time, but developing chemistry with players that they might play with down the road can't be bad in any sense.    I could care less if it's not what's best for the phantoms.

@OccamsRazor. Stream help?  I miss that guy on Reddit who would do YouTube streams

Black out?!  WTF

I agree.  I'm high on the kid.  He'd be NHL ready or close to it this year if he didn't have the setback last year and the covid year before.  He essentially missed 2 years of growth.  Give the kid a full AHL year this year and I bet he challenges for a job next year.  3rd line winger - JVR replacement?   Can see him in front of the goalie on PP.  Good hands, knows how to shoot.  Great reach for rebounds.

I'm pretty high on this team this year.  A decent amount of new blood, changed up locker room in combination with players wanting/needing to prove themselves (TK, OL, Hart, Frost, to some extent Risto....).   It *can* be a good combination to have and if everything comes together, this team can win some playoff rounds but they have to stay healthy and get off to a good start.

Frost -> JVR because he's just standing there hoping someone puts the puck off his stick. 

Things are getting back to normal friends.

Sorry, I'll clarify.  It's not that I don't think York might actually be better than Yandle at this point in his career, I just can't see Yandle not in the lineup because of coach choice.  If anything, I could see them make Braun the 7th because he would be a player/coach type.

1 hour ago, OccamsRazor said:

2 York: Potential to push Braun/Yandle to 7?

No way York pushing Yandle.  I'll eat my shoe if he does.  

Braun on the other hand....

On 9/21/2021 at 4:08 PM, OccamsRazor said:

JVR-Coots-Farabee

Giroux-Frost-Atkinson

Lindblom-Laughton-TK

Brassaed-Thompson-NAK

 

 

Till healthy....

I like those lines OR.   You're in my head on this one.

1. The 1st line is a little concerning if JVR goes in a slump but Farabee and Coots can probably carry him for a while.
2. Giroux helps Frost get to his potential, Atkinson pots 30+.  Giroux finally gets a finisher on his line.
3. Lindblom came in healthier with more muscle.  He and TK have something to prove. 
4. That 4th line will be a b!tch to play against. 

Here's your (2nd) shot Morgan.

59 minutes ago, radoran said:

 

According to capfriendly, they could bury either of them in the AHL and get their full cap space.

So if that's the case, competition isn't a bad thing.  Not my money.  Put the best players available on the ice.  Period.  

Sad to lose life so early.   I'm assuming some kind of accident.  

46 minutes ago, radoran said:

Ol' Fletch: I am absolutely, positively not going to go for $4M per!

3.979.  No doubt Carter wanted #79 in there being the superstitious guy he is.

On 8/4/2021 at 2:01 PM, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

Couturier going to Colorado and the Flyers landing a package including Bowen Byram, Martin Kaut, and Alex Newhook (however, the Flyers would need to take a big contract item in return as well)

I'd honestly do this now if possible.

On 8/4/2021 at 2:01 PM, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

As for Giroux, he'd still hold significant value, especially if he became a third line winger and power play specialist for a team. I could easily see him landing in a place like Carolina. It wouldn't be improbable to see the Flyers end up with Martin Necas as part of the package. 

And this.  

In fact, do both now and I'd be fine with a last place finish to get Shane Wright with the #1 overall.  

Then, in 2-3 years (lol) they'll finally contend for a cup.

I guess I'm alone in this but I think they are a 4-5 seed going into the playoffs, outside chance of top 3.

I think the young guys all take a step in the right direction, Hart remembers he's a goalie and Frost shows he's Giroux 2.0.

22 minutes ago, elmatus said:

I bet Risto will get some chances and looks for the first 1/4 of the season or so, then AV will drop him down to third pairing minutes. He may play on the PP, but otherwise I expect he'll have Hagg-type minutes

I have a little more faith than you that he will provide more than Hagg but even if he doesn't, thankfully he's a UFA and he isn't albatross on the roster.  Low risk, high reward.

22 minutes ago, elmatus said:

I would have pushed for Fletch to get a much more established goalie, even if it meant cutting significantly into Hart's playing time.

I'm with you on this.  I really wanted Halak.  I assuming Bernier at 2y, 8.25m was too rich for Chuck.   Hart absolutely sucked last year but if you take a wide view at it, it should just be just a blip in what should be a long successful career.   Kinda like Carey Price's blips.    If it carries over to this year and he sucks again, they have a real problem with Jones/Hart as a tandem.  I'm hoping Chuck just grabbed Jones because there wasn't much left and then he's trying to work a trade with JVR as the bait.  

10 hours ago, tucson83 said:

center position is important you cant just throw anyone in that position, you have to be good with faceoffs, you also have to defend the slot, it's not something that's easy, that's why you see the blues in their cup year had experienced centers because you got to have good players in that positon, throwing anyone that doesnt know what their doing is throwing fuel to the fire, it backfired on us when we relied on patrick, he sucked at it.

Great points.  I'll forward this to all 31 GM's.  I'm sure they will thank you sincerely. 

He's an insurance piece that will pick popcorn out of his teeth until injuries happen.  

10 minutes ago, Howie58 said:

Signing Thompson keeps a youngin off the squad.  It worries me.

This exactly Howie.   I don't understand it really unless they think nobody is ready yet.  I guess he can serve popcorn until injuries happen? 

2 minutes ago, radoran said:

Fun Fact: Hayes actually has yet to score 50 as a Flyer

Is that a fun fact? 

1 hour ago, OccamsRazor said:

This is not true just checks the stats at the end of the year Farabee Hayes and Allison were on fire at the end of the year.

Who really looks at stats anyway?  /s     Fine, try them there and see if they can match their production from last year.   If they can, great I'll allow it. 

Giroux - Couturier - Atkinson

Farabee - Hayes - Allison

JVR - Frost - Konecny

Lindblom - Laughton - NAK

This is still my off the wall option:

Farabee - Couturier – Atkinson
Frost - Giroux –  Allison
JVR – Hayes – Konecny
Lindblom – Laughton - NAK