Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Trap Games, Bryzgalov, Read

1st

The weight of the c

Well, on the bright side, when they make the playoffs, the roster should be healthy.

after watching the Panther broadcasters mock the Flyers I realized that this organization is never going to win anything with Holmgren as GM. He made 2 good trades getting Timonen, Hartnell and Coburn, trades JVR for a turnover machine, trades his 2 best players for promise and signs a wacky goalie for 9 years. Homer's drafting strategy is questionable? He could have drafted Carlson, Markstrom and Hamilton. I think Bozo the clown could do a better job.

This team refuses to get to .500

after watching the Panther broadcasters mock the Flyers I realized that this organization is never going to win anything with Holmgren as GM. He made 2 good trades getting Timonen, Hartnell and Coburn, trades JVR for a turnover machine, trades his 2 best players for promise and signs a wacky goalie for 9 years. Homer's drafting strategy is questionable? He could have drafted Carlson, Markstrom and Hamilton. I think Bozo the clown could do a better job.
- vejim

You know, just an idea here, we could wait until each of these young players develops before using the magical power of hindsight. I love the forward makeup of this team right now. Could they use another winger? Sure. But how many teams are saying the same thing?

Do they need a puck-moving d-man? Yeah, it is a glaring weakness. But who knows how things will turn out.

As well as Carter is doing in LA - you can't tell me that you don't like getting Voracek, Couturier, and Cousins in return. Great assets.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Trap Games, Bryzgalov, Read
- bmeltzer

Bryzgalov does need to get back on track quickly. If he can't get himself re-focused, it won't matter if the Flyers get healthy at all. It's vital that he returns to the form he showed the first 12 games or so.

after watching the Panther broadcasters mock the Flyers I realized that this organization is never going to win anything with Holmgren as GM. He made 2 good trades getting Timonen, Hartnell and Coburn, trades JVR for a turnover machine, trades his 2 best players for promise and signs a wacky goalie for 9 years. Homer's drafting strategy is questionable? He could have drafted Carlson, Markstrom and Hamilton. I think Bozo the clown could do a better job.
- vejim

You should call WIP. You'd fit right in.

I personally don't see the reason why they lost due to it being a trap game. The Flyers had plenty of energy last night in the game. They lost for the same reasons they've been losing all year. And it starts on the defensive side of the puck. Look at all the goals scored. Twice in the game, Mueller is allowed to just cruise down the slot unchecked waiting for a pass or a rebound opportunity, while a Flyers forward just glides and watches. Once by Rinaldo, and once by Talbot. Mueller literally skated right by Talbot as Talbot decided to become a fan. This has happened too many times with Talbot this year. He's a veteran player. . Another veteran, Timonen leaves a guy behind him at the net. Another goal, one defenseman changing behind the play. Gustafsson is up in the neutral zone, totally out of the play, with a man behind him. Like Bill says, attack, attack, attack. This team is on the wrong side of the puck far too often. A lot of it is on the players. But it's also on the Coach. Because that is what he preaches, and that is the mindset that he drives into the players. Florida won, because they played a structured game, and played well defensively. And they got good goaltending. No doubt Bryzgalov has not played well lately. But how about playing some sound defense and limiting the A rate chances? This team can't do it. They're not taught to do it. And same message isn't being driven into them to play well defensively.

Timonen needs to stop taking penalties on breakaways. The refs are desperate to call penalty shots, so Kimmo would be better off just letting the breakaway happen.

Bryz does not stand a chance on a penalty shot or in a shootout where a skilled player has all day to pick their move. Which is strange, because he was a decent shootout goalie in Phoenix.

Any positive spin on last night's game would be akin to putting icing on a cow pie.

At least I got to sit on the Flyers bench during warm ups, snap some cool pics & video, talk to Mike Knuble a bit, see Scott Hartnell in the hallway afterward, & see Nicklas Grossmann up close whilst wearing his sweater. That and the Campo's hoagie were the highlights of my night.

You know, just an idea here, we could wait until each of these young players develops before using the magical power of hindsight. I love the forward makeup of this team right now. Could they use another winger? Sure. But how many teams are saying the same thing?

Do they need a puck-moving d-man? Yeah, it is a glaring weakness. But who knows how things will turn out.

As well as Carter is doing in LA - you can't tell me that you don't like getting Voracek, Couturier, and Cousins in return. Great assets.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

Everyone knows I'm a Carter fan, and was one of his biggest supporters here. Looking at that trade, it's a no brainer. Great deal for the Flyers.

You should call WIP. You'd fit right in.
- Jsaquella

dont be a stepford

You should call WIP. You'd fit right in.
- Jsaquella

I guess I should be thankful for WIP -- it prevents a lot of people from going online to get their sports fix.

Bryzgalov's save % and GAA considerably worse currently than his numbers last year. The difference he's been consistent most of the year, as well as limiting the soft goals.

He hasn't been as good lately, but he's been hung out to dry a bunch by this awful commitment to team defense.

after watching the Panther broadcasters mock the Flyers I realized that this organization is never going to win anything with Holmgren as GM. He made 2 good trades getting Timonen, Hartnell and Coburn, trades JVR for a turnover machine, trades his 2 best players for promise and signs a wacky goalie for 9 years. Homer's drafting strategy is questionable? He could have drafted Carlson, Markstrom and Hamilton. I think Bozo the clown could do a better job.
- vejim

Dude, it was one game. Relax. Young teams are going to have their ups and downs.Homer is up there as one of the better GMs for sure.

after watching the Panther broadcasters mock the Flyers I realized that this organization is never going to win anything with Holmgren as GM. He made 2 good trades getting Timonen, Hartnell and Coburn, trades JVR for a turnover machine, trades his 2 best players for promise and signs a wacky goalie for 9 years. Homer's drafting strategy is questionable? He could have drafted Carlson, Markstrom and Hamilton. I think Bozo the clown could do a better job.
- vejim

This board keeps getting wackier and wackier

I personally don't see the reason why they lost due to it being a trap game. The Flyers had plenty of energy last night in the game. They lost for the same reasons they've been losing all year. And it starts on the defensive side of the puck. Look at all the goals scored. Twice in the game, Mueller is allowed to just cruise down the slot unchecked waiting for a pass or a rebound opportunity, while a Flyers forward just glides and watches. Once by Rinaldo, and once by Talbot. Mueller literally skated right by Talbot as Talbot decided to become a fan. This has happened too many times with Talbot this year. He's a veteran player. . Another veteran, Timonen leaves a guy behind him at the net. Another goal, one defenseman changing behind the play. Gustafsson is up in the neutral zone, totally out of the play, with a man behind him. Like Bill says, attack, attack, attack. This team is on the wrong side of the puck far too often. A lot of it is on the players. But it's also on the Coach. Because that is what he preaches, and that is the mindset that he drives into the players. Florida won, because they played a structured game, and played well defensively. And they got good goaltending. No doubt Bryzgalov has not played well lately. But how about playing some sound defense and limiting the A rate chances? This team can't do it. They're not taught to do it. And same message isn't being driven into them to play well defensively.
- MJL

In the broader picture, I agree with you. Last night's game was like too many the Flyers play, in terms of team D lacking. In the small window of a single game, though, I fully expected last night's game to be a struggle unless the Flyers went ahead early and the Panthers sagged.

Everyone knows I'm a Carter fan, and was one of his biggest supporters here. Looking at that trade, it's a no brainer. Great deal for the Flyers.
- MJL

I loved Carter, too, but hell, Voracek and Couturier would have been a great return. The way Cousins is developing is a bonus, and a big one at that.

I personally don't see the reason why they lost due to it being a trap game. The Flyers had plenty of energy last night in the game. They lost for the same reasons they've been losing all year. And it starts on the defensive side of the puck. Look at all the goals scored. Twice in the game, Mueller is allowed to just cruise down the slot unchecked waiting for a pass or a rebound opportunity, while a Flyers forward just glides and watches. Once by Rinaldo, and once by Talbot. Mueller literally skated right by Talbot as Talbot decided to become a fan. This has happened too many times with Talbot this year. He's a veteran player. . Another veteran, Timonen leaves a guy behind him at the net. Another goal, one defenseman changing behind the play. Gustafsson is up in the neutral zone, totally out of the play, with a man behind him. Like Bill says, attack, attack, attack. This team is on the wrong side of the puck far too often. A lot of it is on the players. But it's also on the Coach. Because that is what he preaches, and that is the mindset that he drives into the players. Florida won, because they played a structured game, and played well defensively. And they got good goaltending. No doubt Bryzgalov has not played well lately. But how about playing some sound defense and limiting the A rate chances? This team can't do it. They're not taught to do it. And same message isn't being driven into them to play well defensively.
- MJL

Talbot has struggled defensively, at least he's making up for it by filling the back of the net.

He was banging his stick, giving off frustrated vibes. He left plenty of holes to shoot at by being not only slow to react but sloppy in his positioning.
- bmeltzer

The throwing up the arms after a goal was the first sign that Bryz was seriously frustrated, but when he tossed his stick, I knew he was mentally done.

Jsaq brought up Coburn looking lost last night, too, so Bryz wasn't alone (and they weren't the only two).

dont be a stepford
- vejim

Gonna need popcorn early today...

dont be a stepford
- vejim

I'm not a stepford. I'm somebody that realizes when you trade two 26 year old, in their prime stars players for guys who are 20 and 22 years of age, plus draft picks, there will be growing pains. I realize that there would be bad games.

I definitely lean to the glass being half full side of things, but I'm also a realist.

Bryzgalov's save % and GAA considerably worse currently than his numbers last year. The difference he's been consistent most of the year, as well as limiting the soft goals.

He hasn't been as good lately, but he's been hung out to dry a bunch by this awful commitment to team defense.
- PLindbergh31

That's the key word, commitment. It's not there, and it certainly doesn't look like the Coaching staff is demanding the same commitment to Team Defense as they do to attacking and pressuring the puck. The mindset is aggressively attack and favor the offensive side of the puck in every situation. For defenseman to move up on the play without caution.