Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Defense Prospects, Quick Hits

Great write up as usual Bill. Saw the EK buzz feed because you were on it. I don't mean to be disrespectful, instead complimentary, you should be somewhere more professional and higher profile. Only reason I come to this site is your articles, see twitter feeds collected by the masses and ask for links. Thanks for your hard work, I know a lot of people have said this before, but can't be said enough. Your work is appreciated.

Great write up as always Bill.
I also enjoyed seeing you on the podcast yesterday.

From your ranking it appears that Laurissden has fallen off/our of favor? Is he no longer seen as a viable NHLer or is he just no longer seen as one of the top choices? I had thought his athleticism for his size and his physical play were there it was more settling his stick work and play with the puck.

I will say it is nice to see so many potential blueliners that I have to ask "where is...."

nice to see amorosa is at least on the radar. a few picks in that draft had a lot of us thinking "who?" and he was one of them.

I found this recap of last night's Flyers town hall meeting.

http://www.hockeyforums.n...-sth-townhall-2014-recap/

There's some pretty interesting stuff from Berube and Hextall.

What makes you think the flyers have salary cap issues bill?

Talking to some posters here you'd never think its an issue

The assessment on Hagg sounds frustrating. Hopefully they can get him some sort of mentor or something to help him find his hockey identity? Maybe they can get him to spend some time around Streit? I know we've got Hatcher as a development coach which is going to be great for Morin, but I kind of worry about us bringing along these more mobile guys.

I found this recap of last night's Flyers town hall meeting.

http://www.hockeyforums.n...-sth-townhall-2014-recap/

There's some pretty interesting stuff from Berube and Hextall.
- Feanor

Thanks for the share. good reading.

I found this recap of last night's Flyers town hall meeting.

http://www.hockeyforums.n...-sth-townhall-2014-recap/

There's some pretty interesting stuff from Berube and Hextall.
- Feanor

Yes! Pryor doesn't think Laughton or ghost will be with the flyers next year! A new direction indeed!

Am I crazy for hoping Kevin Hayes doesn't sign with the Hawks and the Flyers make an offer? 6'4'', 210 pound winger with skill and skating. Could this be our shot to secure a young winger to help with our roster build? Seems like a perfect compliment to the 1st or 2nd line. Maybe makes us forget about JVR. I look at what Krieder did for the Rangers and think maybe this could be our shot if he doesn't sign.

Yes! Pryor doesn't think Laughton or ghost will be with the flyers next year! A new direction indeed!
- Just5

He also could be saying that to make sure if anyone is reading that they know they have to earn it and no one is penciled in. I think if they have great camps and push someone out then they will stay with the big club.

Am I crazy for hoping Kevin Hayes doesn't sign with the Hawks and the Flyers make an offer? 6'4'', 210 pound winger with skill and skating. Could this be our shot to secure a young winger to help with our roster build? Seems like a perfect compliment to the 1st or 2nd line. Maybe makes us forget about JVR. I look at what Krieder did for the Rangers and think maybe this could be our shot if he doesn't sign.
- J35Bacher

he's not resigning with them. he didn't show up for prospect camp either. he seems to be a bit of a pimmadonna. i wouldn't mind getting him, but buyer beware with kevin hayes.

I found this recap of last night's Flyers town hall meeting.

http://www.hockeyforums.n...-sth-townhall-2014-recap/

There's some pretty interesting stuff from Berube and Hextall.
- Feanor

great insight:

I liked this part (explains a lot):

"There were of course questions about Vinny and Berube said that his defensive style does not suit Vinny's game and that it was really hard for VLC last year. He also said that Vinny was injured for most of last year and that affected his game quite severely. He said that was a major reason why he was on the 4th line most of the time and that it was impressive that he actually got 20 goals for having such a crappy year. He also suggested that he will try and get him back to center."

Yes! Pryor doesn't think Laughton or ghost will be with the flyers next year! A new direction indeed!
- Just5

Hextall on the same topic:

Answering why bring in Schultz as a 7th Dman, will it be keeping a young player from getting a crack:

First of all, if young guy comes in and knocks us over the head, I’ll make a move. It’s easy to move a defenseman. I’m not concerned about that. What I was more concerned with was leaving that spot there, and HAVING to bring in a kid. I don’t want a kid sitting the bench….I want to develop these kids at the pace and the right time and bring em in when they’re ready. It’s a long season. Players get hurt and if a players gotta go to the minors, even for a month because we’ve got 7 defensemen, too damn bad.

He also could be saying that to make sure if anyone is reading that they know they have to earn it and no one is penciled in. I think if they have great camps and push someone out then they will stay with the big club.
- J35Bacher

My friend was there lastnight describing the questions people were asking, it made me pretty said at the lack of quality questions people were asking. I was hoping to hear some quotes about this years draft, especially about Jesper Pettersson.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Defense Prospects, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Like it, draft and develop

he's not resigning with them. he didn't show up for prospect camp either. he seems to be a bit of a pimmadonna. i wouldn't mind getting him, but buyer beware with kevin hayes.
- moylander

Why do you say primadonna? Because he sees he might not got a shot at playing? I consider that smart. Chicago has lots of roster spots already taken. He is 22 not 18. Myabe he just wants to look at a place where he can maybe get more of a role and more ice time. He isn't going to be making any different money because every team can offer the same amount.

My friend was there lastnight describing the questions people were asking, it made me pretty said at the lack of quality questions people were asking. I was hoping to hear some quotes about this years draft, especially about Jesper Pettersson.
- flyers4487

Yeah. I think a lot of STH aren't really hockey educated. They have money to spend and just think hockey is shoot, score, hit.

Like it, draft and develop
- ob18

Absolutely, because at some point, if you keep throwing draft picks and development time at this problem, we're gonna get a PK Subban or Mike Green or John Carlson or Ryan McDonagh. Someone will exceed what they thought they were.

They're doing it right, and it is so refreshing

Great job, Bill. Thanks for the analysis of all those players.

I was thrilled to hear Hextall talk about the need to find an NHL veteran for a 7th man, because he didn't want to have a young player constantly sitting in the press box during games. This was something a lot of people here, myself included, were really bothered by with the organization in the past couple years. You have guys like Gus sitting in the box, while its obvious he wouldn't hurt the defense any more than it already was, but they also weren't giving him time to play in the AHL either. I'm glad to see they are taking a serious approach to developing defense with this team.

Am I crazy for hoping Kevin Hayes doesn't sign with the Hawks and the Flyers make an offer? 6'4'', 210 pound winger with skill and skating. Could this be our shot to secure a young winger to help with our roster build? Seems like a perfect compliment to the 1st or 2nd line. Maybe makes us forget about JVR. I look at what Krieder did for the Rangers and think maybe this could be our shot if he doesn't sign.
- J35Bacher

It'll be the Flyers and 28 other teams

What makes you think the flyers have salary cap issues bill?

Talking to some posters here you'd never think its an issue
- Just5

Name which posters think that the salary cap is never an issue!

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Defense Prospects, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Part of the issue is/was in the wake of the Pronger injury and after the Carter/Richards deals, Holmgren tried to keep the team as competitive as possible and spent a lot of draft picks, as well as money, to do so.

The rub some of us have with the defense is that the process the Flyers use generally is to run out and set the market, rather than be patient and see what falls through. For example, they signed MacDonald long before UFA opened, and as a result they didn't even really utilize the week of "legal" talks to negotiate with other pending UFAs to get a feel for what they were seeking or worth.

I feel there were several pending UFAs that were similar to MacDonald and a lot of them, if not all, signed for either less AAV or term or both. Some may say that MacDonald got market price, which is fair, but it was also akin to the Flyers deciding that they would set the market and decided this guy was so much better than all the other options, that he had to be paid.

Trouble is, while MacDonald is definitely better than some of the options, he's not so much better that he's worth the extra years or money. Given the crop of UFAs it's definitely possible had they waited they could still have gotten a decent guy for a better price.

Yes, that last sentence is opinion, just because "somebody else" may have a different opinion, mine is not automatically incorrect.

Absolutely, because at some point, if you keep throwing draft picks and development time at this problem, we're gonna get a PK Subban or Mike Green or John Carlson or Ryan McDonagh. Someone will exceed what they thought they were.

They're doing it right, and it is so refreshing
- AllInForFlyers

I just hope that if they have a playoff run, like in 2008, they realize what it is and don't double down and trade kids or other assets to immediately make the team "stronger".

Part of the issue is/was in the wake of the Pronger injury and after the Carter/Richards deals, Holmgren tried to keep the team as competitive as possible and spent a lot of draft picks, as well as money, to do so.

The rub some of us have with the defense is that the process the Flyers use generally is to run out and set the market, rather than be patient and see what falls through. For example, they signed MacDonald long before UFA opened, and as a result they didn't even really utilize the week of "legal" talks to negotiate with other pending UFAs to get a feel for what they were seeking or worth.

I feel there were several pending UFAs that were similar to MacDonald and a lot of them, if not all, signed for either less AAV or term or both. Some may say that MacDonald got market price, which is fair, but it was also akin to the Flyers deciding that they would set the market and decided this guy was so much better than all the other options, that he had to be paid.

Trouble is, while MacDonald is definitely better than some of the options, he's not so much better that he's worth the extra years or money. Given the crop of UFAs it's definitely possible had they waited they could still have gotten a decent guy for a better price.

Yes, that last sentence is opinion, just because "somebody else" may have a different opinion, mine is not automatically incorrect.
- Jsaquella

Really all that matter is what the Flyers opinion is. And if they felt that MacDonald was the right fit for them, then they made the right decision. If he's overpaid, it's only slightly. And as the cap goes up, his cap hit will get cheaper and cheaper as salaries escalate.