Flyers postmortem episode of Stick 2 Hockey podcast

[Myrtman]

Shameless plug time from me. I have not posted here in a while. Have been checking in on the conversation on what was a controversial and much debated season. From Hakstol and his decisions with the lineup, line combinations like moving Konecny to the third line, decision to retain Lappy and much more. Here is a link to the latest episode of my podcast with Russ Cohen cohosting. Plus I got to speak with Ron Hextall and he gave some great insight. Russ and i go through all aspects of the organization, from current roster, prospects, potential upgrades and much much more. I hope you all enjoy it and hope it is a great offseason for the Flyers. Cheers to all.

Jason Myrtetus

Stick 2 Hockey by Wildfire Radio on Apple Podcasts

Click to read more...

 

[BrindamoursNose]

Shameless plug time from me. I have not posted here in a while. Have been checking in on the conversation on what was a controversial and much debated season. From Hakstol and his decisions with the lineup, line combinations like moving Konecny to the third line, decision to retain Lappy and much more. Here is a link to the latest episode of my podcast with Russ Cohen cohosting. Plus I got to speak with Ron Hextall and he gave some great insight. Russ and i go through all aspects of the organization, from current roster, prospects, potential upgrades and much much more. I hope you all enjoy it and hope it is a great offseason for the Flyers. Cheers to all.

Jason Myrtetus

Stick 2 Hockey by Wildfire Radio on Apple Podcasts

Oh don't worry -- we've already listened to it and discussed.

- Many are furious Hextall said he's leaving Lappy on staff despite having a poor PK
- Glad to hear he's looking at moving up at the draft

And as a side note: I've enjoyed listening to you on WIP for years, so nice to see you post here even if it is a shameless plug.

 

[Myrtman]

Oh don't worry -- we've already listened to it and discussed.

- Many are furious Hextall said he's leaving Lappy on staff despite having a poor PK
- Glad to hear he's looking at moving up at the draft

And as a side note: I've enjoyed listening to you on WIP for years, so nice to see you post here even if it is a shameless plug.

Thanks but i have not been at WIP since 2011. I have been at the Fanatic. But i appreciate the sentiment. Cheers.

 

[BrindamoursNose]

Thanks but i have not been at WIP since 2011. I have been at the Fanatic. But i appreciate the sentiment. Cheers.

I know you haven't -- I don't listen to the Fanatic unfortunately. Just commenting on joy of listening from the past. Cheers.

 

[Myrtman]

I know you haven't -- I don't listen to the Fanatic unfortunately. Just commenting on joy of listening from the past. Cheers.

Gotcha. I am trying to bring more conversation about the sport everyday. Just wish more of the people that did call about hockey were from an educated mindset like the people on this board. I see a lot of great commentary on here and some very sharp hockey minds. Good to know that their is a community that does know the game and how the NHL works and not the silly narrative that the Flyers should tank like the Sixers. Have a good one.

 

[Ruck Over]

Gotcha. I am trying to bring more conversation about the sport everyday. Just wish more of the people that did call about hockey were from an educated mindset like the people on this board. I see a lot of great commentary on here and some very sharp hockey minds. Good to know that their is a community that does know the game and how the NHL works and not the silly narrative that the Flyers should tank like the Sixers. Have a good one.

Heya,

I appreciate the fight you put up. Really don't get a chance to listen to your show as often as some others cause it's in the guts of the day for a desk jockey like myself. If there's one critique, it's the active sabotage by other radio personalities that reinforce this incorrect image that no one cares about hockey. E.g. Mike Miss does it to get a rise out of folks, but I remember as a kid listening to him and Steve Fredericks break down Flyers games at night (night being relative to a child's bedtime).

Canada is an unfair example, but there are many places in the US that are non-traditional markets where hockey is really embraced. The Flyers could do better on the ice by a lot, both by play and just presentation and fun. The Flyers don't need a mascot, but they do need to give the fans a reason to cheer. More kiss cam? Moar goals?! Something. Boston and Chicago had horrible ownership and those fan bases nearly died off, Detroit before Ilitch. There is apathy in the fan base, but we're not dead yet.

But in regards to hockey, what took you so long to come around that Hakstol is not a good coach? That hurt your cred more than anything else.

Will check out podcast.

 

[Myrtman]

Heya,

I appreciate the fight you put up. Really don't get a chance to listen to your show as often as some others cause it's in the guts of the day for a desk jockey like myself. If there's one critique, it's the active sabotage by other radio personalities that reinforce this incorrect image that no one cares about hockey. E.g. Mike Miss does it to get a rise out of folks, but I remember as a kid listening to him and Steve Fredericks break down Flyers games at night (night being relative to a child's bedtime).

Canada is an unfair example, but there are many places in the US that are non-traditional markets where hockey is really embraced. The Flyers could do better on the ice by a lot, both by play and just presentation and fun. The Flyers don't need a mascot, but they do need to give the fans a reason to cheer. More kiss cam? Moar goals?! Something. Boston and Chicago had horrible ownership and those fan bases nearly died off, Detroit before Ilitch. There is apathy in the fan base, but we're not dead yet.

But in regards to hockey, what took you so long to come around that Hakstol is not a good coach? That hurt your cred more than anything else.

Will check out podcast.

Thanks for the response. I don’t believe Hakstol is a horrible coach. I think he has certainly made some key mistakes. Especially not moving Knecny back up to the top line. I got why he tried it for more scoring balance but he should have recognized that it really limited the effect of TK. I believe he was managing a very flawed roster and an untenable goalie situation with all the injuries. All of that said. The use of Lehtera, Manning and others was a big issue. Coaches always favor veteran players but when those vets are a detriment you need to cut bait. He gets and does deserve some criticism. But he should also get credit for the Giroux to the wing move and how it affected Coots. He deserves credit for taking the handcuffs off of the D men to activate and score. He also deserves credit for the development of a bunch of kids. He is not perfect and needs to make some better decisions but I don’t believe that he is a disaster. Hextall has charged him with developing young talent and to do so while winning. Next season is a massively important season for Hakstol, offseason for Hextall and for many players. I believe with the feee agent moves they can make a significant jump and slot players where they should be and not be in a role above their skill set. That’s my 10 cent opinion. Be well

 

[Rebels57]

What will actually happen is nothing, and we will have all of the same issues next season

 

[Flyerfan4life]

What will actually happen is nothing, and we will have all of the same issues next season

sadly thats what im braced for... i really dont expect Hexy to make a real differnce maker singings at this point..

hes shown hes clearly happy with how things are..

 

[Rebels57]

sadly thats what im braced for... i really dont expect Hexy to make a real differnce maker singings at this point..

hes shown hes clearly happy with how things are..

He's got a lot to prove. That's for sure.

 

[deadhead]

Why should Hextall make drastic moves?

The team had 98 points with the worst (about the same as the Pens) goalies among all playoff teams, and he has the best goalie prospect in the NHL a year away.
This team doesn't need drastic moves, they should field two solid lines and 2 good defensive pairs (when Myers comes up to pair with Sanheim).

What this team needs next season is just to build solid young depth.
Morin on D, eventually Myers, and possibly Friedman, maybe a veteran upgrade to MacDonald or Gudas.
Frost, Vorobyev, maybe a veteran 3C patch who's an upgrade over Filppula, maybe Bardreau at 4C, Laughton and Simmonds on the 3rd line, maybe a FA PK guy for the 4th line, to go with Raffl, NAK and possibly MV.

So nothing drastic, veteran RHD, veteran 3C, veteran PK guy, short-term patches until the kids step in the next two seasons.
Basically upgrade the trash that's filled the bottom six the past two seasons, and replace some scrub defensemen.
Lyon to step in short-term when Neuvirth gets hurt, Hart to step in when ready.

Some minor deals combined with improvement by Patrick, TK, Lindblom, Laughton at LW, Sanheim should do the trick.
We're not winning the Cup in 2018-19, we should continue to improve.

 

[Ruck Over]

Thanks for the response. I don’t believe Hakstol is a horrible coach. I think he has certainly made some key mistakes. Especially not moving Knecny back up to the top line. I got why he tried it for more scoring balance but he should have recognized that it really limited the effect of TK. I believe he was managing a very flawed roster and an untenable goalie situation with all the injuries. All of that said. The use of Lehtera, Manning and others was a big issue. Coaches always favor veteran players but when those vets are a detriment you need to cut bait. He gets and does deserve some criticism. But he should also get credit for the Giroux to the wing move and how it affected Coots. He deserves credit for taking the handcuffs off of the D men to activate and score. He also deserves credit for the development of a bunch of kids. He is not perfect and needs to make some better decisions but I don’t believe that he is a disaster. Hextall has charged him with developing young talent and to do so while winning. Next season is a massively important season for Hakstol, offseason for Hextall and for many players. I believe with the feee agent moves they can make a significant jump and slot players where they should be and not be in a role above their skill set. That’s my 10 cent opinion. Be well

Thanks for your 10 cents. I liked you better before this reply though (solely based on your bad taek on Hakstol). Props for replying during your show though.

Spoiler: Psst

(Don't tell anyone, I am posting at work too.)

Agreed that this off-season, next season, will be a time when kid gloves come off and serious evaluations won't be able to be casually avoided.

 

[Ruck Over]

Why should Hextall make drastic moves?
...
We're not winning the Cup in 2018-19, we should continue to improve.

Not with a defeatist attitude like that we're not. What championship winning team in the cap era has won without making a drastic move?

 

[deadhead]

You make a drastic move when you're ready to compete.
This team is two years away from that point, you see Babcock panicking in Toronto?
The only way we compete for a Cup is a goalie miracle, Neuvirth goes to Lourdes, and plays 50 games and 20 playoff games at his career best. Wanna take bets on that? Elliott and Lyon are backup quality at best, and Hart is two years away.

So meantime keep making incremental improvements, add young players, build depth and accumulate trade chips.
Build a team that's good enough to make a run when we get even an average quality playoff goalie.

I'll be overjoyed if next year's team garners 105 regular season points and gets to the 2nd rd of the playoffs, while adding NAK, Bardreau, Morin and Myers and Vorobyev in January.
Then in 2019 add Frost, maybe Ratcliffe out of juniors, and a couple of this year's prospects getting AHL seasons and maybe Friedman. Sign Allison and Laczynski out of college.
Summer of 2020, if the 2019 team is among the top 8 in the league and Hart is ready to start, then make a big splash for 1 or 2 players that can finish out the lineup.

 

[Ruck Over]

• Hextall has said that he believes there's enough talent on the team now to compete.
  
• The Flyers are in a lot better salary situation than Toronto. They do not have the ability to add without trading said touted youth and cap dumps, currently letting talented players walk due to financial considerations (JvR, Bozak).
  
• Have you recently listened to the latest 31 Thoughts podcast? 2nd reference to the waters of Lourdes, weird.
  
• As implied, the majority of the roster is returning, with potentially few added youth (which Hakstol has not previously expressed interest in leaning on) will result in a 7 pt team performance improvement? Really? What is your realistic prediction instead of the overjoyed prediction?
  
• Adding an impact player now, does not diminish that players ability to impact in the future. Nor does adding now mean further roster adjustments cannot be made in the future.

 

[deadhead]

105 points is realistic.

At some point goalies have to regress to mediocrity, Lyon is showing in AHL playoffs he can play better than his callup, and Neuvirth might last an extra couple weeks. .905, .907 S% last two years, just improve to .910 and that's 8 fewer goals.
The biggest improvement needed is to get the PK goal tending from putrid to mediocre.

Giroux and Couts will regress somewhat, but Patrick should make a huge leap (from 30 to 70-80 points, that's what most elite forwards do in their 2nd full NHL season, and Patrick will be in NHL shape next fall), TK will make a leap playing on a top 6 line all season, Lindblom will be better than Raffl, etc. on the 2nd line, Laughton if we find a 3C will be more productive at LW.
On defense, Sanheim should make a jump, and when Myers comes up he's going to give them a boost as well.

Bottom six can't be worse than the last two years, and could be much better.
Defense bottom four should be better.
Depth will allow Giroux and Couts to play fewer minutes and stay fresh.
Adding speed to the bottom six (and hopefully a PK specialist) should improve talent on the PK.

Guys like NAK, Morin, Bardreau, MV, Knight aren't major improvements, but should be able to push 2-3 veteran scrubs out of the starting lineup. Myers and Vorobyev will be up at some point, Frost may start the season in the NHL. With a couple trade/FA moves, this should mean a much deeper team.

Flyers didn't luck into 98 points, it took a goalie meltdown to keep them from 100+.
So it shouldn't take major improvements to get to 105 points, just incremental upgrades at multiple positions.

 

[Ruck Over]

I'll be overjoyed if next year's team garners 105 regular season points...

105 points is realistic.
...
Flyers didn't luck into 98 points, it took a goalie meltdown to keep them from 100+.
So it shouldn't take major improvements to get to 105 points, just incremental upgrades at multiple positions.

Suffice to say, we see the world differently.

 

[Striiker]

Just wish more of the people that did call about hockey were from an educated mindset like the people on this board. I see a lot of great commentary on here and some very sharp hockey minds. Good to know that their is a community that does know the game and how the NHL works and not the silly narrative that the Flyers should tank like the Sixers. Have a good one.

 

[PALE PWNR]

Gotcha. I am trying to bring more conversation about the sport everyday. Just wish more of the people that did call about hockey were from an educated mindset like the people on this board. I see a lot of great commentary on here and some very sharp hockey minds. Good to know that their is a community that does know the game and how the NHL works and not the silly narrative that the Flyers should tank like the Sixers. Have a good one.

Why call in when you'll just be ridiculed by Missanelli for nothing but being a fan and wanting to talk about the sport? He'll spit out some facebook-comment-like trope about anything your talking about without letting you finish and cut you off before any actual commentary can happen. You can hear it in his voice when someone calls to talk about the Flyers it's like he's already mocking them before he even brings them on the line.

 

[Rebels57]

Missanelli is a f***ing loser.

 

[Myrtman]

Why call in when you'll just be ridiculed by Missanelli for nothing but being a fan and wanting to talk about the sport? He'll spit out some facebook-comment-like trope about anything your talking about without letting you finish and cut you off before any actual commentary can happen. You can hear it in his voice when someone calls to talk about the Flyers it's like he's already mocking them before he even brings them on the line.

I don’t work with Mike anymore. My show is from 10a-2p with Harry and we talk more hockey than all of the other shows in the market combined. I refuse to square the Eagles peg into a round hole. It is so tired and predicatable. Even after they won the Super Bowl. Obviously we talk a out of football but we refuse to ignore any of the other sports. The lack of hockey talk on the radio is also exactly why i started the podcast. Allowed me to stretch my legs and really go in depth in ways we can’t on the air and really geek out.