Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Meszaros, Gustafsson and Blueline Options; Quick Hits

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Meszaros, Gustafsson and Blueline Options; Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

I'd be open to adding Gonchar for one year, depending on the cost to acquire him. He played well in the KHL, which might cause Ottawa to decide to keep him.

Bill, any thoughts on Paul Ranger? He's been playing for the Marlies, and putting up solid numbers. I have concerns about his comitment level, given that he basically quit hockey for a couple/few years, but he's got talent.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Meszaros, Gustafsson and Blueline Options; Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Forwards with Couturier's skill set -- a young and already playoff-proven shutdown center with decent offensive upside to boot -- are very hard to come by. In fact, they are every bit as tough to find as young NHL defensemen who are already pretty good at the top level but could get significantly better in the near future. I would've been willing to see the Flyers part with Couturier-plus to land Weber; a true franchise defenseman in the prime of his career. Short of being the centerpiece for a deal for a franchise defenseman, Couturier should be untouchable.

I'd be open to Gonchar or Visnovsky, preferably the latter given that he should be cheaper. I also think giving Cam Barker a shot at camp wouldn't be a bad thing. Not too long ago he was very highly toted.

I'd be open to adding Gonchar for one year, depending on the cost to acquire him. He played well in the KHL, which might cause Ottawa to decide to keep him.

Bill, any thoughts on Paul Ranger? He's been playing for the Marlies, and putting up solid numbers. I have concerns about his comitment level, given that he basically quit hockey for a couple/few years, but he's got talent.
- Jsaquella

now you've got me fixated on him

now you've got me fixated on him
- Don'tForgetTocchet

I'm just trying to get Bill's take....but given what's out there in the FA market, I'm kind of fixated, too

Bill, any thoughts on Paul Ranger? He's been playing for the Marlies, and putting up solid numbers. I have concerns about his comitment level, given that he basically quit hockey for a couple/few years, but he's got talent.
- Jsaquella

Worth a look.

Sorry if this was already posted. Per ASF:

Who Could Be Coming to Camp?


A lot of people have been asking me who the Flyers are going to bring to camp, if there are a couple roster spots that might be available for a camp battle, no matter how abbreviated, and who the organization is going to turn to to replace injured players.

So, I thought it best to provide a breakdown, by position, of the players who should be in camp next week and who might be fighting for a spot in the lineup.

Forwards

The Flyers will likely bring 15 forwards to camp with 12 starting spots and likely two reserve spots available on the roster.

The guys you know will be there are easy:

Scott Hartnell

Claude Giroux

Jake Voracek

Brayden Schenn

Danny Briere ***

Wayne Simmonds

Matt Read

Sean Couturier

Max Talbot

Ruslan Fedotenko

- Briere has the asterisks next to his name because he has an injured wrist and could miss time in camp and the beginning of the season.

The next seven names are where things get interesting:

Eric Wellwood

Zac Rinaldo

Jody Shelley

Tom Sestito

Harry Zolnierczyk

Tye McGinn

Scott Laughton

Yes, you read Laughton's name there. I know G.M. Paul Holmgren told the media it was unlikely that he'd bring in a junior player with camp being so short, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Laughton there.

In talking with people in the organization who have watched Laughton play at Oshawa in the OHL this season, they are really impressed with his game and they think he could be NHL ready right now.

With that said, I think Laughton, the Flyers first round pick in last year's draft, has a shot to not only be at camp, but, much like Couturier last season, win a job on the team. People have asked me for a roster surprise, well, that's it in my opinion. Laughton makes the team.

Wellwood and Rinaldo should both make the team as well and Shelley will probably be in the same boat he was often last season - a healthy scratch who can fill out the roster in case of injury or be inserted when a game looks like it might get particularly physical.

McGinn is an interesting name.. He has impressed the Flyers brass with his growth into the role of a power forward this season with the Phantoms, and he'll get a look with the big club.

Sestito is a victim of bad luck once again - last year he looked like he was going to make the team out of camp, then was suspended for a hit in a preseason game and never really got a long look in the NHL.

This year, he is laid up with the mumps. That's right, the mumps. I haven't heard of anyone having the mumps since 1979. Maybe it's just me though.

Anyway, the mumps might keep him out of camp as well, which is where Zolnierczyk might get his chance.

Zolnierczyk has had a good season so far for the Phantoms in the AHL and because of that, he is likely the first call up from that team to replace a forward. With Briere's status uncertain and Sestito sick, he'll likely get the call to be here for camp, but I still think if everyone's healthy, he's the odd man out back to Adirondack.

Defense

The Flyers have depth at this position, but they are banged up. As such, the situation is tenuous at best as the Flyers hope to stay healthy on the back end so things don't go south quickly.

Here are the locks for the lineup:

Braydon Coburn

Nick Grossmann

Kimmo Timonen

Luke Schenn

Andrej Meszaros ***

Meszaros was cleared by doctors for full participation yesterday after offseason surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon. Holmgren believes Meszaros has to learn to trust the tendon now, which could take right up until the opener, which appears to be slated for Jan. 19. However barring a setback, I'd expect Meszaros in the lineup for the opener.

The Flyers will probably have three other defenseman in camp who will battle for the final starting spot:

Andreas Lilja

Bruno Gervais

Brandon Manning

Despite an up-and-down season so far for the Phantoms, I'd expect Manning will still be given a shot with the Flyers if, for no other reason, Erik Gustafsson continues to suffer from a bone bruise in his foot (although it sounds like it may be worse than originally diagnosed and he could be out for a bit) and Marc-Andre Bourdon hasn't been on the ice in over a month dealing with issues related to a concussion he suffered last season with the Flyers.

Unless Manning really impresses and wins that No. 6 spot, I think the Flyers would rather have him playing games than being a healthy scratch and will send him back to Adirondack, leaving the battle between Gervais and Lilja for playing time until Gustafsson is healthy.

Gustafsson is in town though and will be seen by Flyers doctors, which means the team probably plans on keeping him here the whole time and not send him back to Adirondack, unless it's for a rehab stint.

Goalies (2)

There's not much drama here. Ilya Bryzgalov is the starter. Michael Leighton is the backup. The Flyers won't bring in a third goalie for such a short camp. The only question that needs to play out here is just how many games Bryzgalov starts in a shortened, compacted schedule. If there's an injury, the first call up would likely be veteran Scott Munroe.

What do you guys think of Kurtis Foster? I don't really like him at all but he is a decent puck mover.

I'd be open to Gonchar or Visnovsky, preferably the latter given that he should be cheaper. I also think giving Cam Barker a shot at camp wouldn't be a bad thing. Not too long ago he was very highly toted.
- NickTheKid87

The Dallas Stars were prepared to take a flier on Barker this year. But his play for the Texas Stars during the lockout was awful -- despite the 3 goals and 8 points in 23 games, which is OK offensively -- and he was already released from his contract.

The Dallas Stars were prepared to take a flier on Barker this year. But his play for the Texas Stars during the lockout was awful -- despite the 3 goals and 8 points in 23 games, which is OK offensively -- and he was already released from his contract.
- bmeltzer

Can't help but feel sorry for a guy like Barker. All that potential and nothing to show for it.

What do you guys think of Kurtis Foster? I don't really like him at all but he is a decent puck mover.
- NickTheKid87

He's not really a puck mover, more of a PP howitzer. Limited mobility and not overly physical for his size. Also, gets hurt a lot.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Meszaros, Gustafsson and Blueline Options; Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

it's nice to read this kind of news. even if the news basically sucks.

What do you guys think of Kurtis Foster? I don't really like him at all but he is a decent puck mover.
- NickTheKid87

I'd ordinarily say "I'll pass on Foster" but he's better than the in-house options, especially with Gustafsson out several more weeks and MAB out indefinitely.But all Foster really brings is a heavy shot. Not overly mobile or a good passer, not very good defensively and not physical.

Sorry if this was already posted. Per ASF:

Who Could Be Coming to Camp?



- nastyflyergirl

There's a few people who feel Laughton could make the team. I'm a little leery of giving him early UFA status, but if he is indeed ready, and can help the team, I'm all for keeping him.

That said, there's a few CHL guys who I follow that know their stuff who feel he's not ready.

He's not really a puck mover, more of a PP howitzer. Limited mobility and not overly physical for his size. Also, gets hurt a lot.
- Jsaquella

great! sign him to an immediate 7 year deal.

He's not really a puck mover, more of a PP howitzer. Limited mobility and not overly physical for his size. Also, gets hurt a lot.
- Jsaquella

So he'll fit right in!

Can't help but feel sorry for a guy like Barker. All that potential and nothing to show for it.
- NickTheKid87

Ranking of the NHL's #1 tenders.

Can't say that I agree with it. No way Rask is #2. I'd go with Rinne.



http://www.sportsnet.ca/f...tasy_nhl_goalie_rankings/

Great read as always. The best and most reliable source of information both durning the lockout and now after (thank god!)!!!

Ranking of the NHL's #1 tenders.

Can't say that I agree with it. No way Rask is #2. I'd go with Rinne.



http://www.sportsnet.ca/f...tasy_nhl_goalie_rankings/
- Hextall271

It's fantasy rankings...Rask should be a very valuable fantasy goalie.

Bill,

* Sestito will miss the start of camp. He was recently diagnosed with a case of the mumps.

I know there is an incubation period but from the time being sick can be 12 to 24 days.... So Depending on when he got sick we might not see him till end of Jan


Do you know when he came down with this??

Thanks for all the hard work Bill

Worth a look.
- bmeltzer

Thanks for the deep analysis, Bill

great! sign him to an immediate 7 year deal.
- hammarby31

Free agent d-men


Clark, Brett - 36
Campoli, Chris - 28
Eaton, Mark - 35
Foster, Kurtis - 31
Huskins, Kent - 33
White, Colin - 35
Jones, Randy - 31
Mottau, Mike -34
O'Donnell, Sean - 41
Rodney, Bryan - 28
Commodore, Mike - 33
Bell, Brendan - 29
Vandermeer, Jim - 32

There's a few people who feel Laughton could make the team. I'm a little leery of giving him early UFA status, but if he is indeed ready, and can help the team, I'm all for keeping him.

That said, there's a few CHL guys who I follow that know their stuff who feel he's not ready.
- Jsaquella

Biggest thing is that, as least as of July, he didn't look close to physically mature yet. Still very thin. For a guy whose bread and butter is a physical, gritty game, he's going to need more strength.

He's been putting up points lately -- especially while Jenner and Biggs were away for the WJC -- but I just don't see him ever being more than about a 12-goal per year player in the NHL. His shot and shot release are unremarkable and he's not a high-end playmaker either.

Free agent d-men


Clark, Brett - 36
Campoli, Chris - 28
Eaton, Mark - 35
Foster, Kurtis - 31
Huskins, Kent - 33
White, Colin - 35
Jones, Randy - 31
Mottau, Mike -34
O'Donnell, Sean - 41
Rodney, Bryan - 28
Commodore, Mike - 33
Bell, Brendan - 29
Vandermeer, Jim - 32
- nastyflyergirl