Luke Schenn has played well.
- ob18

Yes he has. Just didn't know if the Flyers would move him with Gust if Mez was back.

Cross checking players in the head is only worthy of a fine? Interesting. If he did the same thing to Crosby that he did to Rinaldo would he be suspended?
- PLindbergh31

He wouldn't have the stones to do it to Crosby!

Cross checking players in the head is only worthy of a fine? Interesting. If he did the same thing to Crosby that he did to Rinaldo would he be suspended?
- PLindbergh31

We're in agreement. I think it deserves at least a game.

Yes he has. Just didn't know if the Flyers would move him with Gust if Mez was back.
- stveshdy

Have to give Mez a chance to get his legs under him and get his game back.

I love Harry Z's energy, but it was obvious that he's flying around out of control. I would assume he's trying too hard. Or maybe Lava asked him to play like that. Who knows.

I also would rather see Wellwood in that spot than Harry Z. This all becomes moot when Read returns though.
- Tartan69

I agree. I have been saying for the last week, the last thing you need from a 4th line player is someone who takes undisciplined penalties in limited ice time. It just doesn't make sense to put Harry Z on the ice. He can not play under control.

I disagree with it being a moot point when Read returns. Read is probably at least a month away from returning. Do you think the Flyers will go the entire month of March without experiencing more injuries? Would be foolish to do so. Harry Z after his suspension is over, should be returned to Adirondack and not be an option anymore.

Have to give Mez a chance to get his legs under him and get his game back.
- MJL

I was thinking furthur down the road (if Mez stays in the lineup).

I guess most of that will be determined by play.

We're in agreement. I think it deserves at least a game.
- MJL

Yup. One game would suffice. The combination of Alfredsson being a Lady Byng type player, and the fact he did it to Rinaldo is why he won't be suspended. Sets a bad precedence. If another player used his stick and cross checks someone in the head how can Shanahan suspend them? You can't have different rules for different players.

I was thinking furthur down the road (if Mez stays in the lineup).

I guess most of that will be determined by play.
- stveshdy

Meszaros has missed 5 weeks already, still experiencing pain, and still not cleared for contact from the last update I saw. Doesn't sound like great signs to me. I just don't have much hope of Meszaros being able to stay healthy.

Meszaros is better in the 5-hole, IMO. Otherwise he gets to running around taking himself out of position too much. In the five-hole, he seems to play his best hockey.
- bmeltzer

I absolutel disagree.

Yup. One game would suffice. The combination of Alfredsson being a Lady Byng type player, and the fact he did it to Rinaldo is why he won't be suspended. Sets a bad precedence. If another player used his stick and cross checks someone in the head how can Shanahan suspend them? You can't have different rules for different players.
- PLindbergh31

A deliberate stick to the head should always result in a suspension. If they don't do so, then the NHL is dropping the ball. It says that it's okay to seek that retribution against a player because you don't like him, or like the way he plays. Rinaldo's hit was clean. The proper response is to hit him back with a clean check, or challenge him to a fight.

I absolutel disagree.
- strongsupporter

You may not agree that's where Meszaros belongs. But Bill is absolutely correct in that is where Meszaros plays his best Hcokey.

A deliberate stick to the head should always result in a suspension. If they don't do so, then the NHL is dropping the ball. It says that it's okay to seek that retribution against a player because you don't like him, or like the way he plays. Rinaldo's hit was clean. The proper response is to hit him back with a clean check, or challenge him to a fight.
- MJL

Agreed.

You may not agree that's where Meszaros belongs. But Bill is absolutely correct in that is where Meszaros plays his best Hcokey.
- MJL

Can you provide your stats to support that?

A deliberate stick to the head should always result in a suspension. If they don't do so, then the NHL is dropping the ball. It says that it's okay to seek that retribution against a player because you don't like him, or like the way he plays. Rinaldo's hit was clean. The proper response is to hit him back with a clean check, or challenge him to a fight.
- MJL

I'm betting that Alf gets away unscathed.

Meszaros has missed 5 weeks already, still experiencing pain, and still not cleared for contact from the last update I saw. Doesn't sound like great signs to me. I just don't have much hope of Meszaros being able to stay healthy.
- PLindbergh31

Andrej Meszaros (shoulder) may return to the Flyers' lineup this week. The blueliner has been sidelined since Jan. 24 with a shoulder injury but appears to be making some progress. He even participated in Friday's practice with the team. Meszaros had 25 points in 62 games last season and averaged 20:39 minutes per game but has only played four games in this shortened 2013 season.

Mar 3 - 9:16 AM
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News

Can you provide your stats to support that?
- strongsupporter

My stats? I don't own any stats. You said you completely disagree with Bill, but offered nothing to support it.

I'm betting that Alf gets away unscathed.
- 77rams

He's lucky he got away unscathed physically... if the ref didn't jump in, along with 3 other Senators player, and considering how Alfie jumped him... Rinaldo would have bloodied his face with nasty right hooks.

Alfie needs to try that crap straight up next time and see how it turns out for him.

Can you provide your stats to support that?
- strongsupporter

The positioning of Mez in the 'five hole' is a reporter's position.
When all are healthy , they all play about the same number of shifts but Mez's shifts are a couple of seconds shorter than the others.
I have been saying for some time that Mez is the one who never has a long time partner. When Coburn was forced to play that way, the concensus was he played his worst hockey.
With great respect to Bill, he has a fixation on Mez being out of position from time to time as he finishes checks.
A broadcaster yesterday on the game with Ottawa had the Ottawa colour commentator saying that Coburn and Grossman were always out of position.

Its no wonder Howson lost his job in Columbus.....That team lost Carter, Voracek, Couts, and Nash what do they have to show? Jack Johnson, Dubinsky and Ansemov

The positioning of Mez in the 'five hole' is a reporter's position.
When all are healthy , they all play about the same number of shifts but Mez's shifts are a couple of seconds shorter than the others.
I have been saying for some time that Mez is the one who never has a long time partner. When Coburn was forced to play that way, the concensus was he played his worst hockey.
With great respect to Bill, he has a fixation on Mez being out of position from time to time as he finishes checks.
A broadcaster yesterday on the game with Ottawa had the Ottawa colour commentator saying that Coburn and Grossman were always out of position.
- strongsupporter

None of the above refutes Bill's position. Meszaros played his best Hockey for the Flyers in the 10/11 Season when he was on the 3rd pair with Sean O'Donnell, as the team's 5th defenseman. Bill's point was simple. Meszaros tries to do too much and overplays when moved up in the lineup. So put him with Gustafsson and let him play his way back into shape.

Why hasn't a hearing for Daniel Alfredsson been scheduled yet?
- PLindbergh31

if you use NHL Tonight as a barometer Alfie wont be getting anything. 50% of the Flyers-Sens highlights is the harry Z hit and how he'll be suspended and how eveything about that hit was wrong. its even shown in the 5 sec recaps. The Alfie incident was "captain sticking up for his teamate" and wont get a call from the league. they never showed the Rinaldo hit again to show it was clean and no close ups or replay of the high crosschecks to show what Alfie really did. the league of double standards.

None of the above refutes Bill's position. Meszaros played his best Hockey for the Flyers in the 10/11 Season when he was on the 3rd pair with Sean O'Donnell, as the team's 5th defenseman. Bill's point was simple. Meszaros tries to do too much and overplays when moved up in the lineup. So put him with Gustafsson and let him play his way back into shape.
- MJL

I think that will be the case in the beginning. Depending on the play of all defenseman will determine if Mez moves up the lineup.

None of the above refutes Bill's position. Meszaros played his best Hockey for the Flyers in the 10/11 Season when he was on the 3rd pair with Sean O'Donnell, as the team's 5th defenseman. Bill's point was simple. Meszaros tries to do too much and overplays when moved up in the lineup. So put him with Gustafsson and let him play his way back into shape.
- MJL

My thoughts on Harry Z.
He brings speed to the forecheck and uses his skating ability to create offensive chances, which is good. He has to learn to be better as a two way player and not take penalties. If he can do those things, he may have a role as a grinder in the NHL. I see Wellwood as a similar player offensively, maybe not as reckless right now as Z. If they want ice time they have to be better in the defensive zone where the coach trusts them.

None of the above refutes Bill's position. Meszaros played his best Hockey for the Flyers in the 10/11 Season when he was on the 3rd pair with Sean O'Donnell, as the team's 5th defenseman. Bill's point was simple. Meszaros tries to do too much and overplays when moved up in the lineup. So put him with Gustafsson and let him play his way back into shape.
- MJL

For fun, I went to the stats for that year. Mez played 28 poops per game , the same as Carle, Timmonen, Coburn and Pronger. O'Donnell played 21 per game.
Mez was the top scorer with 8 goals and second in points with 42.
Mes was plus 30, O'Donnell was plus 8.
Mez had 189 hits, tops on the team.
O'Donnell was his partner for a good part of the season but not all.
Your turn.