Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Captaincy, System Adjustments

GM Bill!

Thanks so much for keeping us sane during the lockout. Your blog was the only thing to look forward to each day on the hockey front.

I'm starting to get excited. Bring it on!

i think it's clear that there is somewhat of a divide here. if the flyers stumble and their troubles are perceived to be schematic, there are already 2 coaches with nhl experience ready to take over.

i think it's clear that there is somewhat of a divide here. if the flyers stumble and their troubles are perceived to be schematic, there are already 2 coaches with nhl experience ready to take over.
- isaiah520

I think where the real divide is, is in the Flyers front office. If everyone remember's, when the Flyers removed Stevens, Holmgren wanted a Coach and a style of play that "hunts the puck"! Well he got that in Laviolette. Now just a few Season later, they want to put the reins on that a little, and play more conservatively. Seems as though they can't make up their mind. They need to identify a course, and stick to it. And build the team along that style of play. The inconsistency is coming from upstairs.

Great post Bill...
3 days to go...

I think where the real divide is, is in the Flyers front office. If everyone remember's, when the Flyers removed Stevens, Holmgren wanted a Coach and a style of play that "hunts the puck"! Well he got that in Laviolette. Now just a few Season later, they want to put the reins on that a little, and play more conservatively. Seems as though they can't make up their mind. They need to identify a course, and stick to it. And build the team along that style of play. The inconsistency is coming from upstairs.
- MJL

it's clear how snider feels, but if lavy makes some of the adjustments that bill referred to, we should be ok and then it will be up to bryz to do his job.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Captaincy, System Adjustments
- bmeltzer

You make a lot of excellent points, Bill. Bryzgalov's inconsistency was a factor, but hopefully he is serious when he says he knows what it takes to shrug off the aspects of the Philly market that affected him last season.

But more important is the play in front of him, as well as Bryzgalov himself avoiding the poorly timed soft goal. Obviously, if Bryzgalov battles consistency in the short season, he's a very likely buyout option. There's a few good goalies who would be available in FA this summer-Niklas Backstrom, Jimmy Howard & Mike Smith heading the list. Also it's possible that other goalies could be amnesty buyouts themselves.

In terms of adjustments, Laviolette may well have to make some. If he can't do so to get the most out of the personnel, he may be a goner. It's little surprise that Snider would back Holmgren if it came down to Laviolette being unwilling or unable to make adjustments. That's been how Snider handles things-the coach pays first.

I think where the real divide is, is in the Flyers front office. If everyone remember's, when the Flyers removed Stevens, Holmgren wanted a Coach and a style of play that "hunts the puck"! Well he got that in Laviolette. Now just a few Season later, they want to put the reins on that a little, and play more conservatively. Seems as though they can't make up their mind. They need to identify a course, and stick to it. And build the team along that style of play. The inconsistency is coming from upstairs.
- MJL

I agree. It's a bit reactionary rather than proactive. As I wrote in today's blog, the Flyers' style as well as personnel made them uniquely qualified to match up well to Pittsburgh last year. But no team matches up well to everyone. There is no such thing as a perfect system.

If the changes the Flyers want are to find ways to maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of the blueline and goaltender, I think it's both desirable and downright necessary with some suspect mobility among at least half the starting defense.

But if this another case of trying to win last year's Cup this year -- which was what management was too guilty of every year from 1995 until 2009-10 -- then I think a little too much blame is being pinned on the coach they hired to implement exactly what he's preached during his tenure thus far.

I really think with the Flyers lack of mobility overall on the defense, they'll have to make changes to the forecheck scheme. I just can't see Schenn, Grossmann, and Foster being very effective in the way the Flyers have tried to play recently. Terry Murray installed and coached the base that LA used in winning the Cup. Sutter came in and tweaked it. When Murray coached the Flyers, they were very strong defensively. Of course it helped to have Otto and Brind'Amour.

I think if the team can back check player and, like you said Bill, take it down a notch, the defense will not be as big of an issue as people think. With all the stay at home guys, Bryzgalov should benefit as well. Laviolette is far too smart to run the same system as he did in the playoffs with this personnel.

I really think with the Flyers lack of mobility overall on the defense, they'll have to make changes to the forecheck scheme. I just can't see Schenn, Grossmann, and Foster being very effective in the way the Flyers have tried to play recently. Terry Murray installed and coached the base that LA used in winning the Cup. Sutter came in and tweaked it. When Murray coached the Flyers, they were very strong defensively. Of course it helped to have Otto and Brind'Amour.
- MJL

They have a good number of forwards that play good 2-way games. Couturier, Talbot, Read, Voracek, Fedotenko, etc. all would make it easy for the Flyers to turn down the O and turn up the D.

HUNT THAT PUCK!!!

Bill if you had to make a guess right now on Mez playing Saturday what would it be?

They have a good number of forwards that play good 2-way games. Couturier, Talbot, Read, Voracek, Fedotenko, etc. all would make it easy for the Flyers to turn down the O and turn up the D.
- NickTheKid87

Brayden Schenn has been a good two way guy through his junior and minor pro career, but he had some glaring breakdowns as a rookie. Giroux is a better two way player than he showed at times last season, too.

The entire team, as well as coaching staff will need to make adjustments. I agree with what both Bill & MJL say about the front office being too reactionary, but that part won't change. So the coach and player will have to.

I think where the real divide is, is in the Flyers front office. If everyone remember's, when the Flyers removed Stevens, Holmgren wanted a Coach and a style of play that "hunts the puck"! Well he got that in Laviolette. Now just a few Season later, they want to put the reins on that a little, and play more conservatively. Seems as though they can't make up their mind. They need to identify a course, and stick to it. And build the team along that style of play. The inconsistency is coming from upstairs.
- MJL

I've always felt that the Flyers were all over the place. First they draft/sign big guys, then when they lost to a faster team, they spent a draft on small mobile fast players (remember the draft with Ratchuk, etc). They had a horrible season and swore they would get back to their roots of drafting and keeping their kids/picks. that lasted maybe 2 years? etc etc etc

HUNT THAT PUCK!!!
- Ripped Fuel

Your comments in these troubling times sooth me. Thank you for that.

Robyn regehr, luke adam, 3rd round pick for Danny Briere?

Robyn regehr, luke adam, 3rd round pick for Danny Briere?
- qcstudios

I like Regher, but they need a guy who can move the puck, not another bigger, defense first guy with average or worse mobility

I like Adam and the third

Brayden Schenn has been a good two way guy through his junior and minor pro career, but he had some glaring breakdowns as a rookie. Giroux is a better two way player than he showed at times last season, too.

The entire team, as well as coaching staff will need to make adjustments. I agree with what both Bill & MJL say about the front office being too reactionary, but that part won't change. So the coach and player will have to.
- Jsaquella

The one thing that I love about Laviolette is that he seems to put his pride after his drive to win. A lot of coaches might be extremely upset by the owner & GM both saying the system must change (the same system Lavy used to win a Cup in Carolina & take the Flyers within 2 games of winning another) as well as additionally slighted by the appointment of John Paddock in his new position. Seems to me that Lavy just wants whatever will put the team in the best position to win. He realizes that he doesn't know everything & he's willing to change. The exact opposite of this was Andy Reid' downfall.

Robyn regehr, luke adam, 3rd round pick for Danny Briere?
- qcstudios

Would definitely consider this. Or at least it's something to build off.

The one thing that I love about Laviolette is that he seems to put his pride after his drive to win. A lot of coaches might be extremely upset by the owner & GM both saying the system must change (the same system Lavy used to win a Cup in Carolina & take the Flyers within 2 games of winning another) as well as additionally slighted by the appointment of John Paddock in his new position. Seems to me that Lavy just wants whatever will put the team in the best position to win. He realizes that he doesn't know everything & he's willing to change. The exact opposite of this was Andy Reid' downfall.
- NickTheKid87

I agree with you on Laviolette. I just hope that the communication goes up the chain as well as down.

Bill if you had to make a guess right now on Mez playing Saturday what would it be?
- Buzzo

I would venture to guess that he WILL play. The way they are running him through regular reps and, on a daily basis, second power play unit point work leads me to think he will start come Saturday.

It seems to me if the team is going to play this aggressive style it makes it all the more important that they stay responsible defensively. Many times they were on their way out of the zone before they should have been, committed a turnover, and left the goalie hung out to dry.

Always thinking about going the other way contributed to certain players being a bit non committal in their own zone, hence all the slam dunk, wide open backside chances they seemed to give up almost every game.

It didn't help that Bryz seemed to be over compensating and losing concentration because of this. (chicken or the egg?)

The whole system is predicated on a good first pass out of the zone. Missing Pronger and losing Carle really kills them in this aspect. Something is going to have to be adjusted now because they simply don't have the right personnel on the back end to play the system to its full capacity. We saw how horrible the system can be exploited when that first pass is non existent, against the Devils.

I agree. It's a bit reactionary rather than proactive. As I wrote in today's blog, the Flyers' style as well as personnel made them uniquely qualified to match up well to Pittsburgh last year. But no team matches up well to everyone. There is no such thing as a perfect system.

If the changes the Flyers want are to find ways to maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of the blueline and goaltender, I think it's both desirable and downright necessary with some suspect mobility among at least half the starting defense.

But if this another case of trying to win last year's Cup this year -- which was what management was too guilty of every year from 1995 until 2009-10 -- then I think a little too much blame is being pinned on the coach they hired to implement exactly what he's preached during his tenure thus far.
- bmeltzer

ugh you're making me worried

I would venture to guess that he WILL play. The way they are running him through regular reps and, on a daily basis, second power play unit point work leads me to think he will start come Saturday.
- bmeltzer