Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Remembering Zezel
- bmeltzer

Thank you.

the best part of this clip, for me, is listening to gene hart. damn, do i miss him. there are/have been many terrific broadcasters over the years, but they broke the mold when they made him.

seeing pelle, mcrimmon, and zezel all on the ice together. oy.....
- hammarby31

dream team

the best part of this clip, for me, is listening to gene hart. damn, do i miss him. there are/have been many terrific broadcasters over the years, but they broke the mold when they made him.

seeing pelle, mcrimmon, and zezel all on the ice together. oy.....
- hammarby31

Yeah I didn't catch that Pelle & Beast were on the ice when I posted it. All lost far too soon

Bill, Great account of Zezel's story.

It's no coincidence your hit count on this site is consistently at the top.

Excellent blog today Mr. Meltzer. Literally, one of the best that I have read on this site in all of the years I have been frequenting here. I was extremely pleased when the Leafs acquired Peter. He helped so much during the Campbell Conference playoffs. Anyhow, that info concerning Brian Burke is ultra disturbing. That was so cruel on his behalf and those are the things that feed the Karmic wheel in a bad bad manner. Oh yeah, being a massive Rush fan for my whole life, I was super happy having Peter on the Leafs - he was Alex Lifeson's cousin.

Excellent blog today Mr. Meltzer. Literally, one of the best that I have read on this site in all of the years I have been frequenting here. I was extremely pleased when the Leafs acquired Peter. He helped so much during the Campbell Conference playoffs. Anyhow, that info concerning Brian Burke is ultra disturbing. That was so cruel on his behalf and those are the things that feed the Karmic wheel in a bad bad manner. Oh yeah, being a massive Rush fan for my whole life, I was super happy having Peter on the Leafs - he was Alex Lifeson's cousin.
- clintyboy

how did i not know this? wow.

how did i not know this? wow.
- hammarby31

Ya. I remember after LA eliminated Toronto, there was a picture of them together in the Sun downtown Toronto shaking hands or hugging and the caption underneath told that they were cousins. I believe that they were 2nd cousins.

good read Bill.. nice article.

Zezel was a favourite in Leafsland as well...

had the chance to meet him shortly before his passing.. nice guy. signed the bill of my Leafs hat.
- Rockhead_37

Zezel was before my time but being from the Southern Ontario area I do remember him most as a Leaf. It's the strangest thing. One summer I'm watching him live on Nick Kypros and Daren Millard's radio show that's televised at noon back in 08 (If I'm not mistaken), the next he was gone. He seemed fine.

Sorry to lose site on such an emotional subject but why would the Flyers add Dustin Byfuglien? He only adds to the frustrates that some fans already have with having a slow blue line. Luke Schenn, Nicolas Grossmann and now Dustin Byfuglien?

Sorry to lose site on such an emotional subject but why would the Flyers add Dustin Byfuglien? He only adds to the frustrates that some fans already have with having a slow blue line. Luke Schenn, Nicolas Grossmann and now Dustin Byfuglien?
- SuperSchennBros

Byfuglien is not as slow as either of those two. Don't forget he played forward at one point and neither Schenn nor Grossman could do that.

Im not opposed to Byfuglien as he pretty much becomes our number 1 dman as sad as that is.

Im 100% opposed to it if it involves moving Giroux, Jake or Couturier. I only move some combo of those 3 in a package to get a legit number 1 guy under 30..Weber, Subban, Peiterangelo, OEL and that isn't Buff.

Sorry to lose site on such an emotional subject but why would the Flyers add Dustin Byfuglien? He only adds to the frustrates that some fans already have with having a slow blue line. Luke Schenn, Nicolas Grossmann and now Dustin Byfuglien?
- SuperSchennBros

Eklunds been throwin that one out there since last spring, I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Byfuglien is not as slow as either of those two. Don't forget he played forward at one point and neither Schenn nor Grossman could do that.

Im not opposed to Byfuglien as he pretty much becomes our number 1 dman as sad as that is.

Im 100% opposed to it if it involves moving Giroux, Jake or Couturier. I only move some combo of those 3 in a package to get a legit number 1 guy under 30..Weber, Subban, Peiterangelo, OEL and that isn't Buff.
- opeth_pa

Byfuglien is slow. He often comes to camp out of shape. The fact the he can play forward on either wing shouldn't mean much to the Flyers, especially if he would be expected to be our number one defenseman, which I also disagree with because he's not great defensively either. Even if Big Buff is faster then Schenn or Grossmann, it isn't saying much.

I personally believe Braydon Coburn is our number one defenseman. I know it sounds crazy but I do.

Peter Zezel to Dustin Byfuglien? Jesus that's a harsh transition.

Thanks Bill.

Peter Zezel was my favorite Flyer when I was growing up. I had the awesome luck to meet him in the Philadelphia Airport when I was about 8 years old. He was incredibly nice. Though he was out of the area for many years, it really hurt to lose one of my childhood idols, especially at his young age.

I personally believe Braydon Coburn is our number one defenseman. I know it sounds crazy but I do.
- SuperSchennBros

Think this is both true and hugely problematic.

Byfuglien is slow. He often comes to camp out of shape. The fact the he can play forward on either wing shouldn't mean much to the Flyers, especially if he would be expected to be our number one defenseman, which I also disagree with because he's not great defensively either. Even if Big Buff is faster then Schenn or Grossmann, it isn't saying much.

I personally believe Braydon Coburn is our number one defenseman. I know it sounds crazy but I do.
- SuperSchennBros

that's laughably awful we're better off with boyle for 1-2 years than coburn

Byfuglien is slow.
- SuperSchennBros

Big = Slow:

Byfuglien is slow. He often comes to camp out of shape. The fact the he can play forward on either wing shouldn't mean much to the Flyers, especially if he would be expected to be our number one defenseman, which I also disagree with because he's not great defensively either. Even if Big Buff is faster then Schenn or Grossmann, it isn't saying much.

I personally believe Braydon Coburn is our number one defenseman. I know it sounds crazy but I do.
- SuperSchennBros

Jake has allegedly come to the last two camps out of shape also.


Is Buff a Webber\Subban\Keith\OEL\Peterangelo level dman? Nope.
Is he more dynamic than what we currently have, yes.

the best part of this clip, for me, is listening to gene hart. damn, do i miss him. there are/have been many terrific broadcasters over the years, but they broke the mold when they made him.

seeing pelle, mcrimmon, and zezel all on the ice together. oy.....
- hammarby31

Totally agree with all of this!!!

Byfuglien is slow. He often comes to camp out of shape. The fact the he can play forward on either wing shouldn't mean much to the Flyers, especially if he would be expected to be our number one defenseman, which I also disagree with because he's not great defensively either. Even if Big Buff is faster then Schenn or Grossmann, it isn't saying much.

I personally believe Braydon Coburn is our number one defenseman. I know it sounds crazy but I do.
- SuperSchennBros

While I don't agree that Byfuglien is slow, he isn't slow. He actually skates well for a man his size. I share in the premise of not having any interest whatsoever in Byfyuglien. Especially with having to trade for him. Not the player that the Flyers should be investing in.

And yes, with Timonen currently in limbo, the argument can be made that Coburn in the team's #1 defenseman.

Big = Slow:




- Tomahawk

Great clip! Now show me one of him getting on his horse and defending.

Gino Reda
@GinoRedaTSN
Breaking- Caps promote Brian Maclellan to GM and name Barry Trotz as coach - from Caps

While I don't agree that Byfuglien is slow, he isn't slow. He actually skates well for a man his size. I share in the premise of not having any interest whatsoever in Byfyuglien. Especially with having to trade for him. Not the player that the Flyers should be investing in.

And yes, with Timonen currently in limbo, the argument can be made that Coburn in the team's #1 defacto defenseman.
- MJL

While Tomahawk has found a clip on Byfuglien showcasing his impressive speed, one of the knocks on him is that he gives up on plays defensively and stops moving his legs. Many are so impressed that he plays wing too, except he gets switched to wing when he isn't cutting it on defense.