Bill Meltzer: Flyers Preseason Gameday: 9/17/13 vs. NYR PLUS Split-Squad Recap

Thanks for the updates Bill. I watched the Caps game off and on, saw none of the Toronto game.

Hope the Rangers dress a lot of regulars, would be a nice game to go to tonight.

You could definitely see lots of good stuff in Morin's game. He definitely needs to go back to junior, etc, but most of the time when I noticed Morin, it was in a positive way.

The good news is the game is on the NHL Network tonight. Hope the blackout restrictions don't apply.

The good news is the game is on the NHL Network tonight. Hope the blackout restrictions don't apply.
- tangent_man

I think the game is on CSN tonight too.

Bill,
How does raffl's game compare to a guy like nodl?

also, i've read that his name is actually pronounced more like rofle, so prepare for a lot of ROFL comments about him, i guess.

I think the game is on CSN tonight too.
- johndewar

Just checked - TCN. Nice.

Bill,
How does raffl's game compare to a guy like nodl?

also, i've read that his name is actually pronounced more like rofle, so prepare for a lot of ROFL comments about him, i guess.
- isaiah520

A little bit similar to Nödl in that he has decent size/good skating and two-way awareness. Hopefully he will convert more of his scoring chances than Nödl or Mika Pyörälä.

His last name pronunciation is closer to rhyming with "waffle" than being pronounced raffle (as in raffle ticket).

Just checked - TCN. Nice.
- tangent_man

You could definitely see lots of good stuff in Morin's game. He definitely needs to go back to junior, etc, but most of the time when I noticed Morin, it was in a positive way.
- johndewar

Morin played fairly well last night. I enjoyed how we wouldn't back down from anyone. I think that he needs to work on his release when shooting from the point. He takes a really long time to wind up and that is giving the other team time to get in front of the shot.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Preseason Gameday: 9/17/13 vs. NYR PLUS Split-Squad Recap
- bmeltzer

Bill,
I couldn't help but notice when I was at the game last night that Simmonds has major issues turning the puck over in the neutral zone and with his passing. It seemed to be a big problem last year, and I realize it is only preseason, but do you see the same thing?

Bill,
I couldn't help but notice when I was at the game last night that Simmonds has major issues turning the puck over in the neutral zone and with his passing. It seemed to be a big problem last year, and I realize it is only preseason, but do you see the same thing?
- aantny88

Wayne Simmonds had kind of a rough night all around, I thought.

Bill,
I couldn't help but notice when I was at the game last night that Simmonds has major issues turning the puck over in the neutral zone and with his passing. It seemed to be a big problem last year, and I realize it is only preseason, but do you see the same thing?
- aantny88

He also gets out of position in his own end quite a bit. He always seems to be running around making the effort. If he stayed disciplined, he wouldn't need to do so much skating.

aside from the goal, how did vinny look?

is there anyone else who would entertain the idea of moving Vinny to top line RW and Jake to the second line RW and Schenn to 2C?

is there anyone else who would entertain the idea of moving Vinny to top line RW and Jake to the second line RW and Schenn to 2C?
- PhillySportsGuy

One of the team's problems last year was winning faceoffs. Vinny is expected to help in that regard, so I'd prefer him at C. I'd entertain the idea of moving Schenn up though.

A little bit similar to Nödl in that he has decent size/good skating and two-way awareness. Hopefully he will convert more of his scoring chances than Nödl or Mika Pyörälä.

His last name pronunciation is closer to rhyming with "waffle" than being pronounced raffle (as in raffle ticket).
- bmeltzer

Come on Bill. We all know that he will change how is name is pronounced about 4 times in his career.

Come on Bill. We all know that he will change how is name is pronounced about 4 times in his career.
- youarewrong

Michael Raffle
Michael Raffel
Michel Rafl
Michael Roffle
Tony Amonte

Wayne Simmonds had kind of a rough night all around, I thought.
- johndewar

Agreed. Not one of his better nights. He did have a near-goal on a nice feed by Raffl. Would have been a tap in if Simmonds were a left-handed shot.

aside from the goal, how did vinny look?
- hammarby31

Pretty good but mostly like a veteran just trying to get his game legs under him.

is there anyone else who would entertain the idea of moving Vinny to top line RW and Jake to the second line RW and Schenn to 2C?
- PhillySportsGuy

What I would consider is moving Akeson to top line LW. I know you guys are going to jump on this like stink on poop, but they played well together last season. Giroux has connections with Akeson, and Voracek just said how well he likes playing with him.

Akeson-Giroux-Voracek
Hartnell-Lecavalier-Read
Schenn-Couturier-Simmonds
Talbot-Hall-Rinaldo

Come on Bill. We all know that he will change how is name is pronounced about 4 times in his career.
- youarewrong

Michael Raffln

One of the team's problems last year was winning faceoffs. Vinny is expected to help in that regard, so I'd prefer him at C. I'd entertain the idea of moving Schenn up though.
- jmatchett383

Adam Hall will help with that too. The assumption is also that Couts and Schenn will get better. Faceoffs are something every young centerman struggles with. It usually takes a few years.

Giroux had his best season when playing with a veteran RW. I think Vinny playing the right side with a left handed sniping shot would score at least 30 goals playing with G.

Voracek would also provide great depth to the second line. He showed good chemistry with Schenn last season (before being bumped up to the top line).

Michael Raffln
- BulliesPhan87

Yup, then 6 years later you find out there is a missing double "L" in his name.

Mikael Raffll.

What I would consider is moving Akeson to top line LW. I know you guys are going to jump on this like stink on poop, but they played well together last season. Giroux has connections with Akeson, and Voracek just said how well he likes playing with him.

Akeson-Giroux-Voracek
Hartnell-Lecavalier-Read
Schenn-Couturier-Simmonds
Talbot-Hall-Rinaldo
- youarewrong

I'd be a little nervous about playing Akeson that many minutes. Playing the top line means matching up against the best players on almost every shift.