2019-20 Quest for the cup(The Carter Hart era begins)

[lasgop8]

On Giroux:

I'm the defender las was referring to .

Flyers 100% need more from him right now. The issue I see in his game, and it's been there a while, is that he no longer goes to the net. He's a perimeter player, but a damn good one when he's clicking. The problem is, that style often struggles in the playoffs. Especially against defensively sound teams or good goaltenders. And the 'rust' from 4 months off hurts that even more. And his drop in skating speed as he ages, also hurts that.

However, I maintain that he's still at the very least, better than average defensively. Perimeter player offensively, and probably your most skilled player, and pretty good defensively. And obviously quite good in the faceoff dot (though I do think Giroux and Couturier both have a little bloat in their numbers because they take the majority of their draws on their strong sides, when they play together at least).

The captain stuff to me is just something for fans/talk show hosts to yell about if you don't like the playing style of the captain of the team. We have no idea what he says on the bench, in the locker room, or at practice. Countless players have talked about G's work ethic, the way he interacts with young guys, the leadership he shows off the ice. Hockey fans like captains who drop the gloves and hit people. The 'C' is window dressing to me. You need a room full of guys pulling the same direction. Some of them need to fire up the troops when they're sleepwalking. Some of them need to encourage guys when they're gripping their stick too tight and can't buy a goal. Some of them need to skate a million miles an hour into someone and then fight whoever comes after them. And some of them need to step up and carry the team offensively when they need it. Hopefully you can find a single player to sew the 'C' on that does all of that, but who really fits that bill? Ovechkin? It's a team game. I don't think giving the C to someone else will make an ounce of difference.

I respect your opinion but couldn't disagree more.

 

[lasgop8]

After a loss like last night we usually come back and play well to get a win.

Lets go boys!!!!!!!

 

[awaz]

I respect your opinion but couldn't disagree more.

Wish I could give you a 'Funny' and a 'Like' for this one!

 

[awaz]

Ghost had 4 turnovers last night. I can understand why we keep sitting Hagg .Its mind boggling.

Meltzer also pointed out on Twitter last night that he had I think 8 shot attempts and only 1 got to the goalie.

Need offense though. I see the logic in playing anyone that has had a good offensive showing at some point in their careers.

 

[lasgop8]

Meltzer also pointed out on Twitter last night that he had I think 8 shot attempts and only 1 got to the goalie.

Need offense though. I see the logic in playing anyone that has had a good offensive showing at some point in their careers.

Ghost and his 2 playoff points aren't really tearing up the score sheet.

Not to mention Hagg had more points than Ghost this season.

 

[chy1127]

Well that sucked, but is only one game. To me, it looked like the Isles were purposely overplaying the pass. We kept looking for the perfect pass and it never made it through. They have to start shooting/throwing puck on net and crashing for rebounds or deflections.

 

[lasgop8]

Well that sucked, but is only one game. To me, it looked like the Isles were purposely overplaying the pass. We kept looking for the perfect pass and it never made it through. They have to start shooting/throwing puck on net and crashing for rebounds or deflections.

Gotta get a greasy one or two from the net front. Or maybe Hayes could score on a breakaway that would totally help us out.

 

[FlyerFinFan]

Ghost and his 2 playoff points aren't really tearing up the score sheet.

Not to mention Hagg had more points than Ghost this season.

It's not all about that Ghost can actually skate the puck out of his own end and makes great first passes. Hagg is a better PK and defender. Right now they can't score a goal so I'm leaning Ghost because of this. He's definitely playing better now than earlier in the year. Obviously nice to have options there...

 

[fightinfunbags]

Even though i hate Braun i thought he played well last night.

Braun and Ghost still had some chemistry issues going on with positioning but much much better than Game 2 of the Canadians series. They weren’t the problem last night. And we could really use Ghost getting pucks through right now. Varlomov is a streaky tender his whole career and he’s feeling it right now. He’s going to be tough to beat. It’s gonna take screens, deflections and dirty goals.

 

[fightinfunbags]

On Giroux:

I'm the defender las was referring to .

Flyers 100% need more from him right now. The issue I see in his game, and it's been there a while, is that he no longer goes to the net. He's a perimeter player, but a damn good one when he's clicking. The problem is, that style often struggles in the playoffs. Especially against defensively sound teams or good goaltenders. And the 'rust' from 4 months off hurts that even more. And his drop in skating speed as he ages, also hurts that.

However, I maintain that he's still at the very least, better than average defensively. Perimeter player offensively, and probably your most skilled player, and pretty good defensively. And obviously quite good in the faceoff dot (though I do think Giroux and Couturier both have a little bloat in their numbers because they take the majority of their draws on their strong sides, when they play together at least).

The captain stuff to me is just something for fans/talk show hosts to yell about if you don't like the playing style of the captain of the team. We have no idea what he says on the bench, in the locker room, or at practice. Countless players have talked about G's work ethic, the way he interacts with young guys, the leadership he shows off the ice. Hockey fans like captains who drop the gloves and hit people. The 'C' is window dressing to me. You need a room full of guys pulling the same direction. Some of them need to fire up the troops when they're sleepwalking. Some of them need to encourage guys when they're gripping their stick too tight and can't buy a goal. Some of them need to skate a million miles an hour into someone and then fight whoever comes after them. And some of them need to step up and carry the team offensively when they need it. Hopefully you can find a single player to sew the 'C' on that does all of that, but who really fits that bill? Ovechkin? It's a team game. I don't think giving the C to someone else will make an ounce of difference.

That’s a fair argument. I don’t see the C as a fighter at all. Or even a willingness to drop the gloves to spark a rally. I’m talking about a guy who can sense his room and knows when he has to completely sell out and lead by example. I just don’t think I’ve seen enough of that from G in his career. He has exceptional ability but he doesn’t have the “come hop on my back and I’ll carry you through this until you rise your level of play” gene that great captains have. That’s Toews. That’s what Stevie Y was. That’s what Clarke was. etc... That’s just not G. When the going gets tough, he tends to pucker. He’s a point a game talent and in his last 25 playoff games he has 8 points. Not good enough. At the end of the day you’re judged on what you are not what you can be.

 

[awaz]

That’s a fair argument. I don’t see the C as a fighter at all. Or even a willingness to drop the gloves to spark a rally. I’m talking about a guy who can sense his room and knows when he has to completely sell out and lead by example. I just don’t think I’ve seen enough of that from G in his career. He has exceptional ability but he doesn’t have the “come hop on my back and I’ll carry you through this until you rise your level of play” gene that great captains have. That’s Toews. That’s what Stevie Y was. That’s what Clarke was. etc... That’s just not G. When the going gets tough, he tends to pucker. He’s a point a game talent and in his last 25 playoff games he has 8 points. Not good enough. At the end of the day you’re judged on what you are not what you can be.

I don't want to go crazy on this point today, but to me, there hasn't been very many opportunities for that to happen. You hit on it in your first post about this, the Flyers roster has been mediocre at best for 10 years. Tough to say he's one thing or another when he hasn't had a supporting cast.

This year he does though. And this year he's not doing enough. I agree with you guys there.

 

[fightinfunbags]

I don't want to go crazy on this point today, but to me, there hasn't been very many opportunities for that to happen. You hit on it in your first post about this, the Flyers roster has been mediocre at best for 10 years. Tough to say he's one thing or another when he hasn't had a supporting cast.

This year he does though. And this year he's not doing enough. I agree with you guys there.

At the end of the day, we’re all rooting for the same outcome. I’m hoping we get the best G possible going forward.

 

[Chris p Bacon]

Gotta get a greasy one or two from the net front. Or maybe Hayes could score on a breakaway that would totally help us out.

What is he like 0 for 5? He's been JVRisk to say the least.

 

[lasgop8]

It's not all about that Ghost can actually skate the puck out of his own end and makes great first passes. Hagg is a better PK and defender. Right now they can't score a goal so I'm leaning Ghost because of this. He's definitely playing better now than earlier in the year. Obviously nice to have options there...

Hagg has played 6 playoff games and we are 5-1. Maybe we need less skating out of the zone and more PK and defense.

Only gave up 9 goals in those 6 games and 5 came in one game. Just sayin.

 

[lasgop8]

What is he like 0 for 5? He's been JVRisk to say the least.

To be JVR like you would have to stink at every phase of hockey except standing in front of the net in the offensive zone.

 

[purdue81]

Flyers have to score 1st --- PERIOD !

No need to beat a dead horse.... G has skills.... he has no fire. He is what he is.

I would put JVR on the ice. Task him with standing in front of the net... and on "D" retreating to the Blue line and just stand there - maybe stick your stick out if someone is close enough.

I am likely the least schooled hockey person that tries to regularly post.... BUT last night I saw a whole lot of rebounds going off Varlymov and just sitting in front of the net. Not a Flyer to be seen. I nearly fell off the couch on the one where Voracek shot... G was cruising down the right side... and kept on going right to the corner. Rebound was just sitting there in front of the net. If I'm calling the shots, I'm sending everyone to the net... let Ghost and Provy launch shots from the points and let's see how that goes. I didn't think Valymov had superhuman rebound control.

I played a lot of basketball in my time as an under sized and limited ability forward. BUT I always followed my shot, and crashed the boards. Picked up a lot of garbage points that way. Would love to see Flyers (other than the 4th line who are the only ones doing it) do more of this.

Nearing the ledge again !

 

[Chris p Bacon]

Here's my 2 cents on this teams leadership. As we all know, I wasn't really on board with the Hayes signing or the Niskanen(sp) signing. That being said, both have been a very pleasant surprise and have played great hockey this season. Both of these guys are vets and should also be leading on this team. Couts isn't a rookie, nor is Raffl or laughton. All these guys need to bring veteran leadership and help the younger kids grow. Provy was 200% better player this season with Nisky. Hayes has generated lots of chances just been snake bit. I see a team playing with no desire to do the dirty work to get things going. No one in front of the net, no one crashing the boards and the ridiculous chip out of our zone to the red line and then bail for a line change while the new line has to scramble to defend a rush. If leadership on this team is lacking then G has some good company. You gotta have heart, lots and lots of heart- Jimmy McGinty

 

[Maverick426h]

For whatever reason, this team just feels the need to be completely embarrassed every five games. I'm not going to read into it anymore than that at this point.

 

[fightinfunbags]

For whatever reason, this team just feels the need to be completely embarrassed every five games. I'm not going to read into it anymore than that at this point.

And I’m all in on that stat of us being 10-0 off a loss since January. I’m positive and hopeful that this time tomorrow we’re looking at 1-1 in the series. If not...well that’s why God made alcohol and weed.

 

[Maverick426h]

And I’m all in on that stat of us being 10-0 off a loss since January. I’m positive and hopeful that this time tomorrow we’re looking at 1-1 in the series. If not...well that’s why God made alcohol and weed.

If we win 3 of the next 4 games after each embarrassment, we will continue to make it through each and every series, so I'm not truly concerned right now. We are definitely owed some puck luck after a game one where everything went wrong and guys like Konecny, Couturier, Giroux and Hayes have come about as close as humanly possible to scoring goals.

I also trust AV to make the right tweaks to the roster and say the right things to the team moving forward.

Game on tomorrow. I'm glad I have the night off because the afternoon start is definitely some BS.