exactly....tank & tank hard to get Seth Jones lol
- Philly1980

Seth Jones will be the RG3 of hockey

I was thinking the same thing. Wouldn't be terrible to suck this year given how many good prospects there are in the draft. I'd love to have a shot at Seth Jones. Doubt they'll be that bad though.
- NickTheKid87

Every non playoff team has a shot at picking number 1 overall. They got rid of the rule saying that the most a team could climb is 4 spots

Seth Jones will be the RG3 of hockey
- vejim

Or the JaMarcus Russell

exactly....tank & tank hard to get Seth Jones lol
- Philly1980

lets draft Darnell Nurse and send a group of 30 idiots to boo the pick

Every non playoff team has a shot at picking number 1 overall. They got rid of the rule saying that the most a team could climb is 4 spots
- Jsaquella

Really? Did not know that. Still, what are the chances that the 17th best team in the league wins the lottery?

Or the JaMarcus Russell
- NickTheKid87

then we trade for Subban

Every non playoff team has a shot at picking number 1 overall. They got rid of the rule saying that the most a team could climb is 4 spots
- Jsaquella

I like it. I'd also like to have the lottery done live so you can actually watch the ping pong balls selected.

Every non playoff team has a shot at picking number 1 overall. They got rid of the rule saying that the most a team could climb is 4 spots
- Jsaquella

But they still keep the weighting so the teams with the poorest record still retain the highest probability of getting the #1 pick.

I really thought the Flyers were going to get the Weber deal done. I thought they would put together a compelling package that would have won Nashville over. Not getting Weber and the loss of Carle was a very substantial hit. The Flyers will play 50% of their games against the Penguins, Devils, Rangers and a much improved Islander team. The weighting of the division scheduling makes it almost mathematically impossible for four teams from one division to make the playoffs. Unless the Flyers do something dramatic to improve their back end they may not make it into the top three in the Division and find themselves missing the playoffs.
- spatso

i agree with you unless they change somethings my gut is telling philly may miss the playoffs this year. second year players tend to struggle and bryz scares me.rangers and pens are the class of the east.dont see philly as a contender this year,would like to see them draft some d or maybe trade read and someone else for an above average d man.

But they still keep the weighting so the teams with the poorest record still retain the highest probability of getting the #1 pick.
- spatso

the weighting is the hardest part

Really? Did not know that. Still, what are the chances that the 17th best team in the league wins the lottery?
- NickTheKid87

14th best

the weighting is the hardest part
- vejim

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers 20 Questions; Injury Updates
- bmeltzer

Bill, while your blogs never disappoint, I feel some of these questions were a bit of a stretch to stretch the blog. My biggest question is, where do the flyers match up with other division rivals. As it stands for me, the Rangers are the team to beat. Great Coaching, top goaltending and overall talent should put the blue shirts over the top. With this said, you still have to play the games. In my mind, the flyers are a wild card team. Good enough to beat the pens in the first round, just to get out worked by the devils in the second round.

I like it. I'd also like to have the lottery done live so you can actually watch the ping pong balls selected.
- nastyflyergirl

My view is that all 30 teams should be in the lottery, every year. I don't like rewarding mediocrity or poor play with a guaranteed top pick.

Seth Jones will be the RG3 of hockey
- vejim

agreed

My view is that all 30 teams should be in the lottery, every year. I don't like rewarding mediocrity or poor play with a guaranteed top pick.
- Jsaquella

I like that even more. Of course I wouldn't trust the NHL as far as I can throw them so I would really want to see the drawing live.

I know, I'm just pulling your leg.
- BulliesPhan87

I know.... just sayin!!

Bill just wondering if you had a chance to see Laughton play this year?Would like your opinion on him.i have watched him a couple of times.

So many things can still go wrong here...

@mirtle Wow - hearing ratification process and legal work on CBA may take a while. Could even be five or six more days.
- tangent_man

I think they want the season to start Jan 19th to have a full day of hockey and generate buzz rather than starting ona Tuesday night.

Way too many "ifs" on the blue line for this Flyers team on paper, but let's see how it works when they actually play. If Gustaffson can hold down a top 6 role and play some PP, I think they'll be "just OK" enough on the blue line to be competitive.

And I agree with what someone mentioned before. The Islanders are going to be better than anyone expects.

Another inconsistent year from Bryz and some fumbling around on the blue line and the Flyers could be on the outside looking in, come playoff time.

i agree with you unless they change somethings my gut is telling philly may miss the playoffs this year. second year players tend to struggle and bryz scares me.rangers and pens are the class of the east.dont see philly as a contender this year,would like to see them draft some d or maybe trade read and someone else for an above average d man.
- richiewinthecup

The trouble is, nobody can guess who will do what.

The Bruins look good on paper, but reporters in Boston has been saying that Milan Lucic showed up fat and out of shape for the skate today. There's guys who have been playing overseas or in the AHL busting their asses, who will be in shape and ready to go and others who did minimal work and will struggle, at least in the early going.

Also, the guys that haven't been working out are more likely to have injury issues, especially groin pulls and stuff of that nature, which could really derail a team. The other issue is goalies. Not many veterans have played much, and could easily struggle at the start of the year.

I like that even more. Of course I wouldn't trust the NHL as far as I can throw them so I would really want to see the drawing live.
- nastyflyergirl

Yeah, I'd prefer that, too...why not? You can hype it up, draw more attention to the league and get more fans involved.

Plus it'd make deadline dealings really interesting.

I think they want the season to start Jan 19th to have a full day of hockey and generate buzz rather than starting ona Tuesday night.
- mrhattrick27

With football winding down, starting on the weekend of the 19th is probably ideal.

James Mirtle is reporting that he "can 100% confirm the new CBA will include the cap benefit recapture formula. It will apply to existing deals "in excess of six years." "

The cap benefit recapture formula means that if a player signed a deal longer than six years, and retires prior to it's expiration, then teams will be penalized with a cap hit based on the remaining amount due to the player.

Here's Mirtle's column explaining the CBRF

http://www.theglobeandmai...erm-deals/article6251627/

i agree with you unless they change somethings my gut is telling philly may miss the playoffs this year. second year players tend to struggle and bryz scares me.rangers and pens are the class of the east.dont see philly as a contender this year,would like to see them draft some d or maybe trade read and someone else for an above average d man.
- richiewinthecup

I like the Flyers as underdogs. Usually it goes a long way in motivating them.