The Metro is an absolute bloodbath

[Burke the Legend]

I don't know why people whine so much about seedings, it's not like it's the 80s where Leafs teams with 20 wins are making the playoffs so there's no freebie 1st round match ups. These days there's no bad teams coming in, they all have 75$ million in performing NHL talent (the teams with too much non-performing salary are shaken out by being the ones that don't make it). The difference in point standings generally comes down to one excess losing streak over some of their peers, poor play usually traced down to an injury situation. Making so much noise over a meaningless 3-5 points difference in this context now is so pedantic and outdated.

 

[BrockLobster]

Old news. Just won 4 straight and have a home game against buffalo Thursday.



They have a horrendous coach which people do not refer to when discussing philly. We have a top end top line. Decent center depth. Some good young players that are playing their worst now and will improve as is the nature of a rookie.



Elliot was third star of the week. Another good game last night. I think he’s been good.

With a win tomorrow night against buffalo we are 1 win away from a playoff spot. Pitt is ahead but has played two more games. Certainly will be very tough to get a playoff spot but we are a few more wins away from having one.

Not that this thread should be about the Flyers. Devils and islanders have been impressive. Rangers continue to push. The pens will certainly be pushing hard for a spot. Cbus is winning at a good clip obviously. Carolina is figuring things out and could do just that anytime. Flyers are a bubble team. I’m not sure too many teams would be thirilled at facing the flyers if they were good enough to make the playoffs.

They're 12-18 no matter how you slice and dice it

 

[TheKingPin]

They're 12-18 no matter how you slice and dice it

Thanks to the loser point they aren’t! I’ll take those extra 7 points all day long this year. Our coach loves them...

 

[PunkRockLocke]

They have a horrendous coach which people do not refer to when discussing philly. We have a top end top line. Decent center depth. Some good young players that are playing their worst now and will improve as is the nature of a rookie.

I can't say I know all the fine details of the way Hakstol is coaching, so I'll take your word there. I agree they aren't as bad as that 10 game losing streak showed - but I don't think they are a legit playoff team; I didn't have them making it at the start of the season.

I do agree the future has the potential to look very good in Philly. Good young D, Couturier still young enough, Patrick, etc. As it stands, however, I see very weak depth on the roster at all positions. Mainly forward. On D, that lack of depth is largely due to inexperience. Goaltending...well, I'm sure I don't need to tell a Flyers fan...same as it's been since your GM was in the net.

Top end talent at forward is certainly there, with Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Couturier. But without ttlhe proper depth the team can't succeed just on these guys. That also raises the bigger question -when the future comes and the team looks bright, will Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds still be effective? Still on the roster?

They are an interesting team to keep an eye on. Just not this year.

 

[Nordique]

I think the Metro is going to settle. The Devils have been slowly getting worse the last 2-3 weeks and their GF-GA along with the Isles and Columbus argues they all should be worse than their records. The defense of the Jackets concerned me from day 1 and the Isles D it goes without saying ain’t good. I would not be in awe if they Rangers or Caps still won this division despite the fact both teams are in marked decline and may be basement dwellers within 3-4 years

The defense of the Jackets concerns you? How so?

I have plenty of concerns as a CBJ fan...the PP, lack of balanced scoring, playoff goal tending, veteran "no shows" in 2017...but the defense is honestly the last thing that worries me.

 

[vanarchy]

The divisions should be used for scheduling purposes only. Playoff format should be top 8 from each side.

 

[TheKingPin]

I can't say I know all the fine details of the way Hakstol is coaching, so I'll take your word there. I agree they aren't as bad as that 10 game losing streak showed - but I don't think they are a legit playoff team; I didn't have them making it at the start of the season.

I do agree the future has the potential to look very good in Philly. Good young D, Couturier still young enough, Patrick, etc. As it stands, however, I see very weak depth on the roster at all positions. Mainly forward. On D, that lack of depth is largely due to inexperience. Goaltending...well, I'm sure I don't need to tell a Flyers fan...same as it's been since your GM was in the net.

Top end talent at forward is certainly there, with Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Couturier. But without ttlhe proper depth the team can't succeed just on these guys. That also raises the bigger question -when the future comes and the team looks bright, will Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds still be effective? Still on the roster?

They are an interesting team to keep an eye on. Just not this year.

There’s no question our future is where we are looking to. That’s said, this was supposed to be a year to challenge for a playoff spot. If we weren’t in the metro I’d say make the playoffs.

We do have depth at forward. Patrick was hurt for a lot of the streak and hasn’t recovered. That’s a big hit when you have Couts and G together. Patrick is closer to our 4th line center as of now with Laughton leier and Konecny being the new 3rd line and scoring twice. Raffl Filppula and Voracek make up the second line. Jake leads the league in assists. Raffl may be the hottest scorer in the league outside of Schenn since the promotion.

We have guys like Lindblom and Vecchione in the ahl alone with Martel. All three should be on the team soon enough. Hakstol like vets over talent so he keeps guys like Lehtera and wiese in over them. That is changing a bit now as his job was threatened and made changes. But either way hopefully a few of them make the team if we can trade filp and bench wiese.

The D is young but been hit with injuries. We were playing alt, O’Neil and manning at one point. They are all healthy and kept the leafs to 2 goals.

Elliot is playing great actually. Third star of the week. He gives up some bad goals and then makes a lot of great ones so I guess we will take it.

Overall it’s tough to say we will make the playoffs. It will have to come down to staying close and and winning big matchups and going on a run at the end. We have played something like 80% of our games so far against the West. We have a lot left against the metro.

 

[Bladerunner]

I think the Metro is going to settle. The Devils have been slowly getting worse the last 2-3 weeks and their GF-GA along with the Isles and Columbus argues they all should be worse than their records. The defense of the Jackets concerned me from day 1 and the Isles D it goes without saying ain’t good. I would not be in awe if they Rangers or Caps still won this division despite the fact both teams are in marked decline and may be basement dwellers within 3-4 years

Yes, it's going to settle above the Atlantic The 7 team Central will be another matter.

 

[glenwo2]

I don't think NJ makes it.

Philadelphia was also a "great" team last year-- but burned out at the 2nd half. I see the same thing happening to New Jersey this year.

I think Pittsburgh and NYR take the Wild card spots.

The Devils aren't the Flyers and every year is different. Come on now....

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Probably the best division in the league, will be a fun division to watch going down the stretch.

It's not probably, it is the best division in the NHL and has been for a while.

 

[Tryblot]

It's not probably, it is the best division in the NHL and has been for a while.

Is it? The top three in the central all have more points than first place in the metro.

 

[KCC]

It's not probably, it is the best division in the NHL and has been for a while.

What? Only last year. This year it’s the central.

 

[StatisticsAddict99]

Metro is nothing compared to the Central right now..

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

Crazy that Carolina has the best XGF% in the NHL by a wide margin and they're not even in that race.

 

[Bladerunner]

Metro is nothing compared to the Central right now..

Nothing?

Then the Atlantic and Pacific must be black holes where even light can't escape !

 

[Tryblot]

Nothing?

Then the Atlantic and Pacific must be black holes where even light can't escape !

Well to be fair, the metro is closer to Atlantic and pacific than it is to the central right now.

 

[Fatty McLardy]

Metro is nothing compared to the Central right now..

Pittsburgh,WSH, CBJ are all better than the Jets, Dallas and on par with St.louis. 30 games won't change that.

 

[Rebels57]

Philly just lost 10 straight. Obviously a good team....

Got points in 5 of those games and then just won 4 straight afterwards and are above .500.

 

[C0DITH]

Philly lost most of those games in OT/SO (after have 1-2 goal leads). They could easily be in a playoff spot right now if they held on to only two of those games. The fact that they are in the hunt with such a young defensive core, shines bright on what this team will bring in 2-3 years when all those kids have time under their belt.

That is a lot of potential (you only need a few to actually become decent players). Frost could potentially be #1 in points in the OHL by season end, 3 from the list below are top10 in scoring in the NCAA, others are near PPG in the AHL, top goalie in the entire CHL. Plus 10 draft picks this year (2 firsts) - Which I would think they could package to move up for a top 5 pick (if they don't land it via lottery.

Lindblom
Allison
Martel
Vecchione
Vorybov
Frost
Kubel
Bunnaman
Marody
Laczynski
Ratcliffe
Strome
Myers
Morin
Hart

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Well to be fair, the metro is closer to Atlantic and pacific than it is to the central right now.

To be fair, the central has a lot of solid teams but i'd be surprised if any of them won the cup. Maybe Nashville.

 

[BrockLobster]

Got points in 5 of those games and then just won 4 straight afterwards and are above .500.

Gotta love the NHL. Where a team that wins 12 of 30 is "over 500"

 

[Bladerunner]

Gotta love the NHL. Where a team that wins 12 of 30 is "over 500"

Make reg wins equal to 3 pts and .500 means you're earning half the points. Same as when every game was worth 2 pts.

The current game pts system is a gimmick.

 

[Magic Mittens]

Pittsburgh,WSH, CBJ are all better than the Jets, Dallas and on par with St.louis. 30 games won't change that.

Nashville says hey

I'd take STL, NSH and the Jets right over any metro team in a 7 game series. Although Pitts always steps it up in the playoffs. They'd be the one team id be worried about

 

[GoCanes2015]

Crazy that Carolina has the best XGF% in the NHL by a wide margin and they're not even in that race.

Data Source?

 

[Mats13]

Nothing?

Then the Atlantic and Pacific must be black holes where even light can't escape !

The 1st place team in the mighty Metro would be 3rd in the lowly Atlantic.

The Lightning and Leafs would both be tops of the Metro and Pittsburgh couldn't hold a spot in the Atlantic either (3 pts up on Boston with 5 extra games played).

Get off your high horse. Your division isn't half as good as it what last year.

Now the Central, that's a scary good division.