Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Potential Phantoms, Smithers Connections

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Potential Phantoms, Smithers Connections
- bmeltzer

Great read Bill! Amazing to think of how connected the Flyers are to such a little town in the middle of (really) nowhere.


I am anxious to see if a lockout can be avoided. I really wanna see the Schenn brothers in action.. together. Do you think this could be a good thing for their product on the ice?

Great read Bill! Amazing to think of how connected the Flyers are to such a little town in the middle of (really) nowhere.


I am anxious to see if a lockout can be avoided. I really wanna see the Schenn brothers in action.. together. Do you think this could be a good thing for their product on the ice?
- jak521

Having brothers on the same team isn't always a good thing, but I do think it will be positive for the Schenns and (as a result) for the Flyers.

Having brothers on the same team isn't always a good thing, but I do think it will be positive for the Schenns and (as a result) for the Flyers.
- bmeltzer

Hopefully they match the success of the Watson boys. I could live with the success of the Sutter twins, too

Nice write up on the Watsons. Jimmy is such a nice guy. When I spoke to him about being at the alumni game last year he was genuinely happy that I came to the game and spoke to him about it. Guys from that era are just so awesome.

oh the good old days

Great read Bill! I had some personal time with Joe when he was a member of a Flyers Alumni team that I faced in the 90s. Included with the actual game was a 3 session clinic held by Joe, The Hound, and the Boxcar. Between the stories, the knowledge/instruction, and just the aura of an ex-flyer from the cup years, Joe was an absolute pleasure to spend time with. That was one of my hockey highlights for sure. Getting whooped by a score of 9-3 by the alumni was almost as exciting.

I will look forward to this series, and thanks as always, Bill, for getting us through the long Summer!

A little off topic, but any news on the phantoms relocating to allentown?

Hopefully they match the success of the Watson boys. I could live with the success of the Sutter twins, too
- Jsaquella

or the Kostitsyn brother

or the Kostitsyn brother
- Symba007

I'd pass on that kind of success, if you catch my drift

Nice write up again, Bill. Any idea how many brothers played on the same defensive pairing in the nhl?

I will be so pissed if I have to watch AHL hockey to see couturier or b. schenn play this season.

Nice write up on the Watsons. Jimmy is such a nice guy. When I spoke to him about being at the alumni game last year he was genuinely happy that I came to the game and spoke to him about it. Guys from that era are just so awesome.
- nastyflyergirl

just get some new pants already, would 'ya?

Having brothers on the same team isn't always a good thing, but I do think it will be positive for the Schenns and (as a result) for the Flyers.
- bmeltzer

Let's cut to the chase and spice things up a little.

What is the over/under on Flyer brawls this year where both brothers get a 5 minute major for fighting (let's say within 30 seconds).

My over/under is 2 1/2.

Let's cut to the chase and spice things up a little.

What is the over/under on Flyer brawls this year where both brothers get a 5 minute major for fighting (let's say within 30 seconds).

My over/under is 2 1/2.
- Daman

over

A little off topic, but any news on the phantoms relocating to allentown?
- twotoekenn

http://www.phantomsarena.com/News.html
Everything you need to know.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Potential Phantoms, Smithers Connections
- bmeltzer

The Phantoms could be fun to watch... Schenn, Couts, Gus, Wellwood, and Rinaldo from the Flyers... Syvret, Hovinen, Johnston, Mangene, Heeter, Noebels and Konan scheduled to join the lineup... Manning, Harry Z, Ford, Akeson and Holmstrom as holdovers from the previous year... and Cousins and Laughton could be available for the playoffs... that's a lot of AHL firepower/starpower.

Under the owners' proposal, the players' share in revenue would be cut from 57 percent to 43 percent and would include a change to the way the salary cap is calculated. Instead of being set at $8 million above the midpoint, the upper limit would be reduced to $4 million above. As a result, the salary cap would drop to $50.8 million next season, which is below where the floor currently rests.
The league also called for the elimination of salary arbitration, contract limits of five years (with equal money paid each year, essentially eliminating signing bonuses) and 10 years of service before unrestricted free agency kicks in.

Is Bettman high?

The Phantoms could be fun to watch... Schenn, Couts, Gus, Wellwood, and Rinaldo from the Flyers... Syvret, Hovinen, Johnston, Mangene, Heeter, Noebels and Konan scheduled to join the lineup... Manning, Harry Z, Ford, Akeson and Holmstrom as holdovers from the previous year... and Cousins and Laughton could be available for the playoffs... that's a lot of AHL firepower/starpower.
- Tomahawk

Absolutely! However, the drive from S. Jersey to Glens Falls, NY, will make it tough. The Flyers need to find a way to get the Phantoms back in the area. I propose basing the team in Trenton and creating an ECHL affiliate in Allentown or somewhere else nearby.

Absolutely! However, the drive from S. Jersey to Glens Falls, NY, will make it tough. The Flyers need to find a way to get the Phantoms back in the area. I propose basing the team in Trenton and creating an ECHL affiliate in Allentown or somewhere else nearby.
- BOSS_TWEED

They are going to be based in Allentown... starting next season.

Under the owners' proposal, the players' share in revenue would be cut from 57 percent to 43 percent and would include a change to the way the salary cap is calculated. Instead of being set at $8 million above the midpoint, the upper limit would be reduced to $4 million above. As a result, the salary cap would drop to $50.8 million next season, which is below where the floor currently rests.
The league also called for the elimination of salary arbitration, contract limits of five years (with equal money paid each year, essentially eliminating signing bonuses) and 10 years of service before unrestricted free agency kicks in.

Is Bettman high?
- jak521

Not really, he's just expecting the players to curl up and accept his terms, like they did in 2005.

Here's a story about how Bettman handled the talks with the CBC for the HNIC contract

http://www2.macleans.ca/2...s-nhl-goes-into-overtime/


Here's a good story on why it's not a split with the NHLPA that's the issue, but rather revenue sharing between teams that is the real problem facing the NHL

http://www.nationalpost.c...lks-meant-to-hurt-players

Sad thing is, according to the National Post article, a full third of the NHL's revenue losses were due to Phoenix and Columbus, and that the profits made by Montreal and Toronto eclipse the losses endured by all the other teams combined.

They are going to be based in Allentown... starting next season.
- jak521

Didn't know that. Well, that's a lot better than Glens Falls!

Not really, he's just expecting the players to curl up and accept his terms, like they did in 2005.

Here's a story about how Bettman handled the talks with the CBC for the HNIC contract

http://www2.macleans.ca/2...s-nhl-goes-into-overtime/


Here's a good story on why it's not a split with the NHLPA that's the issue, but rather revenue sharing between teams that is the real problem facing the NHL

http://www.nationalpost.c...lks-meant-to-hurt-players

Sad thing is, according to the National Post article, a full third of the NHL's revenue losses were due to Phoenix and Columbus, and that the profits made by Montreal and Toronto eclipse the losses endured by all the other teams combined.
- Jsaquella

I only read the second article the first one seemed to be more about yucking it up at sushi bars. Anyway that second one makes it seem like a lockout is coming. I don't blame the players if it happens. The owners cry poormouth then turn around and hand out mega-million contracts. IMO the problem with the league is there's too many teams, need to cut back by about 6. Eliminate the struggling teams, redistribute the talent thus having a less watered down product and get back to what matters.

I only read the second article the first one seemed to be more about yucking it up at sushi bars. Anyway that second one makes it seem like a lockout is coming. I don't blame the players if it happens. The owners cry poormouth then turn around and hand out mega-million contracts. IMO the problem with the league is there's too many teams, need to cut back by about 6. Eliminate the struggling teams, redistribute the talent thus having a less watered down product and get back to what matters.
- JoeRussomanno

The NHLPA would never agree to contraction. If you killed off 6 teams, you're losing at least 138 union jobs.

That said, I am all for contraction.

The NHLPA would never agree to contraction. If you killed off 6 teams, you're losing at least 138 union jobs.

That said, I am all for contraction.
- Jsaquella

I realize my suggestion would never happen but in the end I feel like I'm telling a crackhead to put down the glass pipe and get help when talking about both sides. Then again I firmly believe Bettman undoubtedly realizes this too but needs these other teams to keep losing money so he can squeeze more out of the players. Soooo... trying to figure out how I can afford that AHL package