Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: White, Morin, Goaltenders and More

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: White, Morin, Goaltenders and More
- bmeltzer

I think the trend to bigger goalies is part youth teams trying their best athletes in goal and part due to the revolution in technique and coaching that the position has undergone over the past twenty to thirty years.

Also, a big guy with good athleticism and technique covers more net than a little guy with the same qualities

Just a general thought:

Patience is easy to say, but hard to experience. After getting physically manhandled by the Blues in the 69 playoffs, Snider and Allen were determined to make the Flyers harder to play against. Five years later, that philosophy paid off with 2 consecutive Stanley Cups.

If they miss the playoffs in 2015, but go on to win a cup in 2018 or 19, is anyone going to say, but damn, we missed the playoffs 4 years ago?? Yeah, I didn't think so.

I, for one, am happy with offseason. I'd rather that they stay the course than overpay for a free agent or give up multiple young players and picks for a dman.

Patience

You may now return to the originally scheduled bickering

Apparently, the USA all together team is destroying the other teams. Does anyone know why Hanifin is not on their roster?

Interesting stuff on the goalies, Bill, and the Stars version is just as good!

An all cement head 4th line of White centering Rinaldo and Rosehill would be worth the price of admission.

An all cement head 4th line of White centering Rinaldo and Rosehill would be worth the price of admission.
- PLindbergh31

Friday night fights

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: White, Morin, Goaltenders and More
- bmeltzer

If the Flyers really want to be noncompetitive, they should bury Raffl as the 4th line center.

An all cement head 4th line of White centering Rinaldo and Rosehill would be worth the price of admission.
- PLindbergh31

That line would seriously increase my scotch consumption.

If the Flyers really want to be noncompetitive, they should bury Raffl as the 4th line center.
- bradleyc4

I don't think they'd be "burying him." If (big if) he was the 4C, he'd skate his 6-8 minutes a game on the 4th line, play PK time, and get spot duty on a 3W/3C and maybe get 2nd unit PP time. He'd likely be seeing 11-14 minutes per game.

If only Raffl didn't have Nodl hands, he'd be a perfect top-6 winger.

I don't think they'd be "burying him." If (big if) he was the 4C, he'd skate his 6-8 minutes a game on the 4th line, play PK time, and get spot duty on a 3W/3C and maybe get 2nd unit PP time. He'd likely be seeing 11-14 minutes per game.

If only Raffl didn't have Nodl hands, he'd be a perfect top-6 winger.
- jmatchett383

I think Raffl should play with Couts and Umberger on the 3rd line. Time for Read to play top 6.

I don't think they'd be "burying him." If (big if) he was the 4C, he'd skate his 6-8 minutes a game on the 4th line, play PK time, and get spot duty on a 3W/3C and maybe get 2nd unit PP time. He'd likely be seeing 11-14 minutes per game.

If only Raffl didn't have Nodl hands, he'd be a perfect top-6 winger.
- jmatchett383

I believe he's a top-6 forward on this team - especially when you consider the winger situation. So, in my opinion, they would be misusing him in that role.

I think Raffl should play with Couts and Umberger on the 3rd line. Time for Read to play top 6.
- GOA88

I think the addition of Umberger and the emergence of Raffl at least frees up the possibility of moving Read off of that line. I think one of Umberger/Read should play with the two of them. I'd be hesitant to do it, but it's a possibility now more so than before.

I believe he's a top-6 forward on this team - especially when you consider the winger situation. So, in my opinion, they would be misusing him in that role.
- bradleyc4

I don't want a top-6 winger who has problems finishing. He's a very good skater, has fair speed, can move the puck N-S well, and is a good 2-way player. Just can't bury the damn thing with any sort of consistency.

I don't think they'd be "burying him." If (big if) he was the 4C, he'd skate his 6-8 minutes a game on the 4th line, play PK time, and get spot duty on a 3W/3C and maybe get 2nd unit PP time. He'd likely be seeing 11-14 minutes per game.

If only Raffl didn't have Nodl hands, he'd be a perfect top-6 winger.
- jmatchett383

Raffl shouldn't be seeing 11-14 mins at all. More like 16-19 mins

I think the addition of Umberger and the emergence of Raffl at least frees up the possibility of moving Read off of that line. I think one of Umberger/Read should play with the two of them. I'd be hesitant to do it, but it's a possibility now more so than before.
- jmatchett383

Raffl did show some promise. Good skater, puck handler, strength, defense, passing, may be able to improve his shooting.

Raffl did show some promise. Good skater, puck handler, strength, defense, passing, may be able to improve his shooting.
- GOA88

He certainly did show promise. In his abbreviated play on the top line, he looked really good. Then again, so did Tye McGinn. That may be more a product of Giroux/Jake more than Raffl or McGinn.

I think there are winger and center spots to be had up and down the line up. Aside from Giroux as the 1C, I think everything is floating, to an extent.

He certainly did show promise. In his abbreviated play on the top line, he looked really good. Then again, so did Tye McGinn. That may be more a product of Giroux/Jake more than Raffl or McGinn.

I think there are winger and center spots to be had up and down the line up. Aside from Giroux as the 1C, I think everything is floating, to an extent.
- jmatchett383

Will be interesting to see what camps shows. I think everybody knows there is a job to be fighting for.... besides Giroux, Mason, Voracek, Couts, Coburn, Streit and Simmonds.

Does anyone know how Morin has looked in his 2 games for Canada? There has been no mention of his play only his near injury.

Raffl shouldn't be seeing 11-14 mins at all. More like 16-19 mins
- Just5

I agree. I don't think it's the best spot for him. I'm just pointing out that he wouldn't be "buried" on the 4th line like Rinaldo/Rosehill would be.

I believe he's a top-6 forward on this team - especially when you consider the winger situation. So, in my opinion, they would be misusing him in that role.
- bradleyc4

Do you think Raffl is a top 6 talent, in general, or are you more calling out the current makeup of the Flyers by calling Raffl a "top-6 forward"?

Does anyone know how Morin has looked in his 2 games for Canada? There has been no mention of his play only his near injury.
- 3flyerkids

He's played well, but with limited time. He has been used as a third pairing defenseman who takes the second shift on the penalty kill. He does a great job forcing dumps at the blue line and separating people from pucks, but hasn't brought a lot offensively.

I agree. I don't think it's the best spot for him. I'm just pointing out that he wouldn't be "buried" on the 4th line like Rinaldo/Rosehill would be.
- jmatchett383

I think Raffl's versatility is his best asset, period.

It seems to me he can move up and down the lineup.

I don't think we have enough data on him to say "Yeah, this guy, he's a top 6 forward".

Does anyone know how Morin has looked in his 2 games for Canada? There has been no mention of his play only his near injury.
- 3flyerkids

From what I saw, meh

Players have a real hard time getting around/through him on the rush, positions himself real well. He is not dominant along the wall at all for the size discrepancy. Moves the puck out of the d zone well. In the O zone, his teammates weren't looking for him at all on the point when they had possession. Took a hooking penalty in front of his own net. He needs time

I don't want a top-6 winger who has problems finishing. He's a very good skater, has fair speed, can move the puck N-S well, and is a good 2-way player. Just can't bury the damn thing with any sort of consistency.
- jmatchett383

I understand the trepidation about Raffl, because of guys like Nodl and Thor in the past.

But I think Raffl's a much better NHL player than them and would shine if given the proper icetime and linemates.

I'm not ready to corner him as a guy who can't finish based on his rookie season.