Everyone is well aware that the Flyers’ defense has been struggling lately. With the COVID-19 protocol, injuries, and some players not meeting expectations, Head Coach Alain Vigneault has been having to make some big decisions regarding the defense. With Justin Braun exiting COVID-19 protocol, it was a good idea to get him back on the ice to help him get his game back. However, with that comes one difficult decision, who should be benched?
To many fans’ dismay, Vigneault decided to bench Philippe Myers for the game against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. Many people, including myself, do not think that was the best choice.
For the past five games, Myers has averaged around 20 minutes ice time. Although he has not been putting up many points, he has been proving himself as a defensive player recently. Forcing turnovers, poke checking, stick lifting, and many other defensive plays that are not technically measured by numbers and statistics are where he thrives.
Myers’ play against the New York Rangers was not his best. While this is true, one bad game is not a correct measure of his talent, especially since he is a young player. No one is sure if he is dealing with a small injury, or if this move is just to give Braun some time back on the ice.
To allow Myers to return to the lineup, Justin Braun or Erik Gustafsson would need to be benched. Both of these players have been having their struggles recently, but as mentioned earlier, Braun needs to get a few games in to get back into the loop after exiting COVID-19 protocol this week. Gustafsson has been doing better offensively; he has one goal and has put up a couple points.
I think that benching Gustafsson, or even Robert Hägg, for the next game would be a better choice, especially since they are playing back-to-back games against Buffalo.
Some fans have been voicing their opinions on Twitter, saying that they think Vigneault is resting Myers to have him prepared for more difficult opponents, such as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. The Sabres are not much of a threat, especially without Jack Eichel in the lineup.
We will see tomorrow how Vigneault decides to pair the defensemen and who to play, as they face the Sabres again at 3:00PM.
The best defenseman on the ice yesterday, by far, was………………..Shayne Gostisbehere. It was so good to see his excellent play in the defensive end against Buffalo. However, if there is a weak spot on the Flyers roster, it’s the lack of another good right handed defenseman. At least the Flyers have some very good left handed defensemen in Provorov, Sanheim, Hagg and Gostisbehere. I’d like to see a trade for a righty, but cap restraints, the expansion draft and a lack of good right handed defensemen, makes an addition, nearly impossible. The Flyers are going to lose a good player in the expansion draft to Seattle and that player could easily be Hagg, or Gostisbehere. Thus, even if the Flyers traded for another good defenseman, they would lose him to Seattle. -Gregg L, Bucks County Pa