Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Manning Signed, Bundy Gets TV Gig, Quick Hits

Great blog. I'm looking to make a Phantoms game in Nov as they appear to be very exciting on paper this year. Bill, how would you rank Manning versus Alt? Also, if one of these guys can play 6 or Manning can play 7 (not Alt as AHL time would be more benifical) it could make a Grossman or L Schenn more expendable with Shultz coming in? If Shultz could play #6 and Manning #7 could a trade be possible? I assume this would only be considered after training camp to evaluate the situation.

Switching from Coates to Bundy between the benches is a welcome change for me, but it could definitely get interesting quickly. When Therien gets a burr in his butt about a call/non-call on the ice, it can fester. In the radio booth, that's fine. At ice level...well, I guess we'll see if he can rein it in with the refs so close at hand.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Manning Signed, Bundy Gets TV Gig, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

On Manning: If he has a strong season in Allentown, I could see him filling the 7th dman role next year, but that's about his ceilng IMO

Switching from Coates to Bundy between the benches is a welcome change for me, but it could definitely get interesting quickly. When Therien gets a burr in his butt about a call/non-call on the ice, it can fester. In the radio booth, that's fine. At ice level...well, I guess we'll see if he can rein it in with the refs so close at hand.
- tangent_man

Phantoms have 2 games in AC this year, wanna go?

Phantoms have 2 games in AC this year, wanna go?
- BiggE

I'd be interested in that, sure.

Switching from Coates to Bundy between the benches is a welcome change for me, but it could definitely get interesting quickly. When Therien gets a burr in his butt about a call/non-call on the ice, it can fester. In the radio booth, that's fine. At ice level...well, I guess we'll see if he can rein it in with the refs so close at hand.
- tangent_man

He'll be spitting tobacco juice on the ice.

I will miss hearing Bundy and Saunders together, they were a treat on the radio.

Definitely going to a few Phantom games when they play in Hershey

I'd be interested in that, sure.
- tangent_man

Hot date

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Manning Signed, Bundy Gets TV Gig, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Two things I've noticed about Manning:

Firstly, he pours a LOT of rubber on net... almost 2.7 shots per contest... a bit crazy for a dman of his skillset. To put that number in perspective, that would have easily put him in the top-5 or so in the NHL, which includes guys like Karlsson, Giordano and Yandle.

Second, his PIMs have grown by a huge margin from year to year... from 1.7/game up to 3/game now (231PIM for 2013-14!). Any idea what the story on that is? A good number must be majors and misconducts, right? Either way, he must be a nasty piece of work to play against.

From an organizational depth standpoint, my hope for Manning is that he surprises the way Jordie Benn has in Dallas.

No one thought the "other" Benn was ever going to be more than an AHL defenseman or borderline number seven in the NHL. Over the last two years, he has improved just enough -- picking up his defensive game and simplifying things compared to his AHL style -- to have been a passable third-pairing defenseman in Dallas last year. On a truly deep NHL blueline, however, Benn would still be a number seven defenseman. But that's still an improvement from when he looked to be on the brink of getting the career AHLer label which is what Manning risks if he ends up spending full (or nearly full) season at the AHL level.

It would be nice if Manning plays well enough at camp to give the club some pause about keeping him in the AHL. I don't particularly expect that to happen but it also isn't totally out of the realm of possibility.

Hot date
- PhillySportsGuy

Jealous?

Can Manning play either side? I'm wondering if he will play with Ghost in the AHL if they keep Hagg and Alt together.

Can Manning play either side? I'm wondering if he will play with Ghost in the AHL if they keep Hagg and Alt together.
- Feanor

Yes, he can play the right side. Gostisbehere will play the left side and I would think Murray wants to keep the Hägg-Alt pairing from late last season.

From an organizational depth standpoint, my hope for Manning is that he surprises the way Jordie Benn has in Dallas.

No one thought the "other" Benn was ever going to be more than an AHL defenseman or borderline number seven in the NHL. Over the last two years, he has improved just enough -- picking up his defensive game and simplifying things compared to his AHL style -- to have been a passable third-pairing defenseman in Dallas last year. On a truly deep NHL blueline, however, Benn would still be a number seven defenseman. But that's still an improvement from when he looked to be on the brink of getting the career AHLer label which is what Manning risks if he ends up spending full (or nearly full) season at the AHL level.

It would be nice if Manning plays well enough at camp to give the club some pause about keeping him in the AHL. I don't particularly expect that to happen but it also isn't totally out of the realm of possibility.
- bmeltzer

It'd be great if he could end up as a 6th or 7th guy. To get that from an undrafted free agent is great. I'd love to see Alt, Manning and Lauridsen really push for spots and possibly allow the Flyers to move guys like Grossmann or Schultz at the TDL for picks and also free up a bit of cap.

Switching from Coates to Bundy between the benches is a welcome change for me, but it could definitely get interesting quickly. When Therien gets a burr in his butt about a call/non-call on the ice, it can fester. In the radio booth, that's fine. At ice level...well, I guess we'll see if he can rein it in with the refs so close at hand.
- tangent_man

yeah, I've definitely heard him keep harping on a call (or non call) on radio, or sometimes he gets that sarcastic edge to his voice. Hopefully he's a bit more professional on ice.

Coasty obviously belonged back in the radio booth ... I'm just surprised it took them so long to do it.

Can't wait for camp/pre-season to start, a lot of interesting stuff to watch:

Will Laughton earn a spot?

Will there be camp invites and will one of them make the roster?

How does MDZ look?

Is VLC healthy, and if so, where does he fit in?

Can a young dman earn a spot, and if so, will a veteran be traded?

Has Couturier continued to get stronger?

Is everyone in tip top shape?

Yup, gonna be fun!

I'm assuming we might get a report on Timonen today at some point? Isn't he supposed to meet with Flyers doctors?

I will be interested in seeing how Luke Schenn does. I think he will see an increase in minutes and I actually think it will help.

Also I want to see how the 4th line in put together. i think a stronger fourth line will help in taking some of the harder minutes off Couturier and Read. I know it's just the 4th line but look how teams like Dallas, Anaheim, LA and Boston get production out of their 4th lines

I live in Round Rock, tx. .....right outside Austin, tx. I want to see the phantoms play the Texas stars(Dallas stars minor league team) which is located right next to round rock.....that said, Bill do ever get down to cedar park center to watch the texas stars?

From an organizational depth standpoint, my hope for Manning is that he surprises the way Jordie Benn has in Dallas.

No one thought the "other" Benn was ever going to be more than an AHL defenseman or borderline number seven in the NHL. Over the last two years, he has improved just enough -- picking up his defensive game and simplifying things compared to his AHL style -- to have been a passable third-pairing defenseman in Dallas last year. On a truly deep NHL blueline, however, Benn would still be a number seven defenseman. But that's still an improvement from when he looked to be on the brink of getting the career AHLer label which is what Manning risks if he ends up spending full (or nearly full) season at the AHL level.

It would be nice if Manning plays well enough at camp to give the club some pause about keeping him in the AHL. I don't particularly expect that to happen but it also isn't totally out of the realm of possibility.
- bmeltzer

Absolutely -- I'm always of the mind that no player should ever be ruled out of contention for an NHL roster, particularly if they are relatively young.

To my mind, Manning is still young enough to make enough progression to find his way into the NHL. Because he is putting in the work. It's not that he has to be a star. Just give yourself a chance to play in the league, much like Jason Akeson has. You can't have a future if you don't do all the things that have to happen to give yourself a chance.

Jealous?
- BiggE

I've become very transparent

Latal scored a goal in his 1st game as a Flyer.

I've become very transparent
- PhillySportsGuy

You can come too, we can make it a hockey buzz road trip to AC!

Also I want to see how the 4th line in put together. i think a stronger fourth line will help in taking some of the harder minutes off Couturier and Read. I know it's just the 4th line but look how teams like Dallas, Anaheim, LA and Boston get production out of their 4th lines
- J35Bacher

The Flyers certainly have a lot more bottom-6 players to choose from this season. I'm excited to see how it shakes out in camp with guys like Laughton, White and PEB all desperate to make the team.