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Philadelphia Flyers: The Kids Are Going To Be Alright. Right?

By Tim Reilly

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Dave Hakstol is a proven developer of young talent. Let’s give the Philadelphia Flyers and their head coach some latitude in their approach to Shayne Gostisbehere and Travis Konecny.

The Philadelphia Flyers scored an impressive win on Thursday night, skating past the Montreal Canadiens by a 3-1 score. The Orange and Black played a solid checking game, blunting the speed and finesse of a superior Canadiens squad. In so doing, they rebounded nicely from a subpar outing against the Carolina Hurricanes.

However, there is some trepidation in Flyer land. Coach Hakstol decided to leave Shayne Gostisbehere and Travis Konecny out of the lineup, relegating them to the press box during a crucial game in the midst of a playoff race.

Gostisbehere has struggled mightily in his second year with the club. He has failed to rekindle the magic that propelled him to a stellar debut season. The reigning Rookie of the Year finalist and recent recipient of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s “Pro Athlete of the Year” award has looked overmatched at times.  To make matters worse, the offensive-minded defenseman has lost his scoring touch. Gostisbehere is currently mired in a 27-game scoreless streak. One wonders whether Ghost’s failure to find the back of the net has affected his ability to defend his own goal.

Konecny has experienced similar struggles in his rookie year for the Flyers. The 19-year-old winger has shown flashes of brilliance this season, but sloppy play and scoring slumps have impeded his progress.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ first goal of Tuesday night’s game has been cited as a microcosm of Gostisbehere’s and Konecny’s uneven performance during the season. On the play, Konecny made an ill-advised, no-look pass that was quickly intercepted by ‘Canes forward Jordan Staal. With the Flyers caught in transition, Staal slid the puck to teammate Sebastian Aho, who made a nifty move to beat Steve Mason.

Gostisbehere reacted slowly to Konecny’s turnover. A quicker, more assertive first stride toward the net may have allowed him to blunt Aho’s shot attempt. Instead, Ghost ended up in poor position and was only able to manage a weak, ultimately fruitless poke check attempt.

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Among casual fans and in some corners of the media, these goals tend to be unfairly pinned on the goalie. “Mason stinks. Can you believe he gave up 5 goals? What a bum! Put Neuvirth in!” is likely something one may have heard after the loss to the Hurricanes. However, a closer look at scoring plays often reveals the team failures that lead to goals.

Konecny should have made the simple play and chipped the puck along the boards. Gostisbehere needed to exhibit better defensive instincts and move more aggressively toward the attacking player.

An inability to adhere to fundamentals emerges as the principal reason for the benchings of Gostisbehere and Konecny. The best time to intervene when a player is scuffling is early in his career, before bad tendencies become bad habits.

There also is a more immediate, team-centric rationale for the temporary removal of Ghost and Konecny from the lineup.

"“It’s about winning hockey games,” Hakstol said when asked about his handling of his young players. “We’re in the middle of a playoff battle here.”"

It’s easy to caricature Hakstol as a stereotypical college coach whose managerial tactics are too heavy-handed to be effective in a professional setting. However, the Philadelphia Flyers’ coach has adapted well to the pro game. One might be tempted to blame the Flyers’ erratic play on Hakstol, but any Flyer fan who has been paying attention for the past eight years knows that inconsistency has embedded itself in the organization.

The following statement would have been anathema during the Snider Era, but here goes: it will take time to re-establish the Flyers as a consistent contender in the NHL. Right now, the Orange and Black cannot match the speed of the Pittsburgh Penguins or the clinical execution of the Washington Capitals. To be sure, there is talent in Philadelphia, and the squad certainly has the pieces to compete against the NHL’s elite on any given night. But on a regular basis? Not yet. If you don’t believe me, just look at the Flyers’ regular season record after the 2008-09 season.

In order to compete in the future, the Flyers need to inculcate in their young players a commitment to simple, smart, disciplined hockey. It’s no secret that the organization boasts a stable of promising prospects currently toiling in the minor leagues. A patient approach toward the development of these players today will pay dividends tomorrow.

Although they have made it to the NHL, Konecny and Gostisbehere are not immune from this long-term talent cultivation process. The fact they have been demoted to the press box should not be cause for alarm among Flyers fans. Hakstol has demonstrated in his long coaching career at the college level that he can develop young prospects. He deserves some latitude in his handling of Gostisbehere and Konecny.

A good coach like Hakstol recognizes the importance of individualizing player interactions. He knows when to resort to hard coaching and when to temper his criticism. Most importantly, he understands the duality that defines many highly-skilled individuals. Namely, the very ambition that drives them can just as easily morph into an insecurity that destroys them. For an example of this paradox in action, see Nelson Agholor’s interview after the Seattle Seahawks game.

Bottom line: let Hakstol coach. He knows what he’s doing.

Next: Flyers' Three-Game Winning Streak Snapped by 'Canes

The cognitive dissonance among some of those participating in the sports conversation can be jarring. In one breath, fans complain about the “Participation Trophy” generation and lambaste the mental fragility of youth. In the next, they are fretting about the shattered confidence of a professional hockey player who has been benched. If you are one of these folks, take comfort in a quote that Shayne Gostisbehere offered to Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post:

"I think me and TK took a long look in the mirror — I know I did — and I really do realize there are some things I can clean up. I can be better for my teammates and that’s what I’m going to do. We don’t feel sorry for ourselves because we’re out of the lineup. That’s the wrong thing to do. That’s not being a good teammate. We’re going to turn this into a positive and get it turned around."

Gostisbehere does not comport himself like a young man suffering from a crisis of confidence because he’s in the coach’s proverbial doghouse. He sounds more like a professional who realizes the mistakes he has made and is committed to correcting them. Take a cue from your peers who cheer for the 76ers, Philadelphia Flyers fans, and trust the process. It just might work.

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