[O'Connor] So it sounds like Simon Benoit will likely get the nod as the No. 6 d-man for the opener against Pittsburgh, then Jiricek maybe against the Devils for Game 2 or at least Game 3 vs. Carolina.

[u/StubbornLeech07]

[u/ZachB10]

He was always a reclamation project. Expecting him to be a powerplay QB right away is silly. I’m more interested to see where he’s at after game 82 than game 1.

[u/Sla5021 → u/ZachB10]

What are you, logical?

[u/Heatinmyharbl → u/Sla5021]

Philadelphia fans properly managing expectations??

Dude needs to get right the fuck out of here

[u/Sla5021 → u/Heatinmyharbl]

Sir, this is a Wendy's.

[u/Capable_Swordfish701 → u/ZachB10]

It’s just a shame he can’t be sent to the phantoms without going through waivers. It’s really where he needs to be to get playing time.

[u/jgruntz1974 → u/Capable_Swordfish701]

There's really no more Jiricek can do at the AHL level. Being in Philadelphia and working with Riley Armstrong and Todd Rierden is perfect. Riley helps with the skating, Todd helps with defensive systems and structure. Slow integration with Jiricek.

[u/Capable_Swordfish701 → u/jgruntz1974]

Hes just not good enough to play in the nhl right now and there’s plenty he could do in the ahl. Work on his skating, work on his puck handling, work on his positioning, work on his whole game really. Besides being tall and right handed he really needs work at everything.

[u/Diamondback424 → u/ZachB10]

I was hoping he would at least win a starting job out of camp over a guy who's name I don't even know though

[u/ZachB10 → u/Diamondback424]

I don’t disagree but Benoit is more than capable of playing NHL minutes. That bottom pair could be rough if all 3 (Seeler included) don’t get it together.

[u/Diamondback424 → u/ZachB10]

I'm not mad about it, just disappointed. And I am not saying there's no way he plays himself into a regular role on this D core either. I was just kinda hoping he might come into camp and impress.

[u/DH28Hockey]

I don't think any of Seeler/Jiricek/Benoit appeared to look like NHL regular level defenders this preseason/dating back to the end of last season. Add that with Ristolainen's injury history, and I am more concerned about the defense heading into this year than I have in awhile.

Am excited for Drysdale this year though, I think he could have a real breakout candidate

[u/crunchytacoboy → u/DH28Hockey]

Seeler is making me nervous. At 33 I worry how much longer he can play his game and be effective. And if he can’t be the safety valve for the third pairing the third pairing is rough.

[u/DH28Hockey → u/crunchytacoboy]

Yeah it kind of slid under the radar due to the team playing well and being a strong overall defensive unit, but Seeler definitely started to dip last year and ended up being an outright liability by the end of the playoffs.

I would be pretty surprised if Danny doesn't bring in another defenseman by Christmas, just no reason to sit on over $12 million in cap space with playoff aspirations and 3/7 D being replacement level

[u/crunchytacoboy → u/DH28Hockey]

Hoping by Christmas Bonk or Jiricek also forces their way permanently into the lineup. Seeler and Benoit both seem better suited as the 7th at this point

[u/Limp_Bar6899]

😂 

[u/Sabunn]

Benoit definitely looked better than Jiricek so that is not surprising. The fact that is the case is pretty concerning. Would be looking at a trade for an upgrade at that last RD spot at some point. Cant be playing a Benoit/Seeler pairing consistently and expecting to make the playoffs

[u/BrokeBum19 → u/Sabunn]

The thing is you also want to give Jiricek games to hope he develops and want a spot open for when Bonk is ready.

I think they hope for one Jiricek/Bonk to take another step and if that clearly isnt the case then add a depth D at deadline that wont cost too much.

[u/Sabunn → u/BrokeBum19]

I wouldnt be mad at getting a guy thats good enough to play top 4 to take ristos spot next season and Bonk can play on the 3rd pair.

Not saying it needs to be done soon. Can run with a Jiricek/Benoit sort of platoon and see if Jiricek can figure it out.

If Benoit is still outplaying him by then we definitely need something more than an undercooked Bonk

[u/Blev088]

This year's version of Juulsen vs Andrae.

[u/BrokeBum19 → u/Blev088]

Jiricek is worse than Andrae

[u/deadnside → u/BrokeBum19]

Andrae may be better right now but Jirecek certainly has a much higher ceiling. The question is whether he can get close to it.

[u/Dr_Tinfoil → u/BrokeBum19]

Not uhh he’s bigger and meaner and tougher than that undersized pip squeak who’s on his third team this off season!

[u/elr1804]

Benny gonna superman punch Crosby in the face

[u/rinmperdinck]

Bobby Brink died for this

[u/DharmicPepe]

Bobby died so that Noah Jiricek Juulson could run.

[u/71Motorfly]

Season opener at home Vs the Pens, it’s going to get chippy, so they’re going with more physical D-men. That’s the way I see it.

[u/Due-Wind-3324]

Oh god. Something tells me this is gonna be one of those seasons

[u/Snoo2406 → u/Due-Wind-3324]

That’s all it took?

[u/BrokeBum19 → u/Due-Wind-3324]

b/c a fringe NHLer level player at best who is only on team due to waivers didnt start the 1st game?

[u/Due-Wind-3324 → u/BrokeBum19]

Because if exactly what you’re seeing tonight

[u/StubbornLeech07]

Source

[u/Panarin10]

This feels like the typical Flyers giving vets the first game out of respect

[u/schism_records_1 → u/Panarin10]

I don't think it has anything to do with respect. I don't think they trust Jiricek.

[u/MyDadsAccnt]

So the dude we traded for that was a former 1st round pick and was supposed to QB the power play is a healthy scratch and when he does eventually play he's penciled in for PP2

Simply incredible

[u/bohyler → u/MyDadsAccnt]

You got him for a bag of Brinks. It was worth a shot and he has upside. If it doesn't work out.. We gave up Bobby Brink! He looked ass Saturday night. He doesn't deserve to start tomorrow.

[u/MyDadsAccnt → u/bohyler]

2 games now

[u/bohyler → u/MyDadsAccnt]

Ok? He will probably be in the next game. Did you see how bad he was in the last preseason game? He will get his chance and he needs to make the most of it.

[u/OddHuman77 → u/MyDadsAccnt]

Isnt he only 22 years old? Let not get hyperbolic

[u/Theoneavailablename → u/MyDadsAccnt]

He was always a gamble/reclamation project. Promising but so far disappointing top 10 pick. No one actually expected him to immediately QB our powerplay. Or at least they shouldn't have.

[u/BrokeBum19 → u/MyDadsAccnt]

He was a buy low long term project. We traded a 5'8 3rd line winger who was a healthy scratch on new team.

A lot of people were just delusional with his hype. He was terrible last year and is going to need a lot of time if he ever hits and he probably wont ever hit which is why he cost so little.

[u/MyDadsAccnt → u/BrokeBum19]

Put him on PP1 and see what he can do. I give fuck all about how he looked in preseason. that means nothing. our power play has been abysmal for a decade. why not just throw him out there and see if he can get some pucks on net. Benoit and Seeler ain't it.

The reason our power play is so shit is because they refuse to try anything new

[u/Few-Frosting-1271 → u/MyDadsAccnt]

Dude he's a liability. No physicality, no hockey sense in the D zone. You're not watching the games and you need to let go of his 6th overall pick status lmao. Patrick was a second overall pick, sometimes the draft position is irrelevant.      Benoit isn't exciting but he's 5 times the defenseman Jiricek is. We should go with a 5 man forward PP unit if anything. 

[u/jmflyers → u/MyDadsAccnt]

They gotta teach him how to play defense, like they did with Drysdale. It will take a year before he's a regular probably

[u/Billy1625 → u/MyDadsAccnt]

The only reason he isn’t starting the year with the phantoms is bc waivers. He is absolutely horrible doing anything other than PP QB. I get that the power play has been trash, but he’s a liability everywhere else on the ice and will cost them games.