Bill Meltzer: Labo(u)r Day Musings: Team Lunchpail,

I cant wait to look back in three years to see what player we passed over for Goulbourne.

Excellent work, Bill. We are truly spoiled to have you (and your creativity) as our blogger here. Please enjoy your Labor Day and relax a bit...you've earned it.

The "Minnesota Line" of Podein and Trent Klatt flanking Joel Otto was one of the NHL's most tenacious and strongest checking lines during their time together.
- bmeltzer

Amen. They could always be trusted to 'hold down the fort' when necessary.

Bill Meltzer: Labo(u)r Day Musings: Team Lunchpail,
- bmeltzer

FWIW, my all time Flyers lunchpail team, not too much diff than Bill's by the way:

1st Team
G: Ron Hextall
D: Barry Ashbee
D: Brad Marsh
LW: Shjon Podein
C: Bobby Clarke
RW: Gary Dornhoefer

2nd Team
G: Steve Mason
D: Kimmo Timonen
D: Jimmy Watson
C: Dave Poulin
LW: Bill Barber
RW: Sami Kapanen

I gave the edge to Mason over Esche cause I have been really impressed at how hard he has worked to turn his game around since coming to Philly. I went with Sami as a RW, cause IIRC, he usually played on the right side when he was here. Lappy just missed the cut at RW, I gave it to Dornhoefer and Kapanen over him mainly due to time of service as a Flyer. I also gave Poulin the slightest of edges over Brind'amour, but you really can't go wrong with either one.

I cant wait to look back in three years to see what player we passed over for Goulbourne.
- hereticpride

Was wondering what he was doing at Kelowna camp... didn't realize he's refusing to sign his AHL deal:

http://www.nj.com/flyers/...ccepted_ahl_contract.html

FWIW, my all time Flyers lunchpail team, not too much diff than Bill's by the way:

1st Team
G: Ron Hextall
D: Barry Ashbee
D: Brad Marsh
LW: Shjon Podein
C: Bobby Clarke
RW: Gary Dornhoefer

2nd Team
G: Steve Mason
D: Kimmo Timonen
D: Jimmy Watson
C: Dave Poulin
LW: Bill Barber
RW: Sami Kapanen

I gave the edge to Mason over Esche cause I have been really impressed at how hard he has worked to turn his game around since coming to Philly. I went with Sami as a RW, cause IIRC, he usually played on the right side when he was here. Lappy just missed the cut at RW, I gave it to Dornhoefer and Kapanen over him mainly due to time of service as a Flyer. I also gave Poulin the slightest of edges over Brind'amour, but you really can't go wrong with either one.
- BiggE

Yeah, I agree with Dorny over Tocchet. Not a knock on Tocchet, but at the end of his first stint, he was not exactly on par with his early years. He let his disenchantment leak into his play a bit.

Was wondering what he was doing at Kelowna camp... didn't realize he's refusing to sign his AHL deal:

http://www.nj.com/flyers/...ccepted_ahl_contract.html
- Tomahawk

Well, being such a stud of a player....

I get the rationale behind choosing him where they did. I just disagree with it. His ceiling, as seen by pretty much everyone, is energy line guy/agitator. I don't think that's a guy that teams should reach for.

Well, being such a stud of a player....

I get the rationale behind choosing him where they did. I just disagree with it. His ceiling, as seen by pretty much everyone, is energy line guy/agitator. I don't think that's a guy that teams should reach for.
- Jsaquella

Yup, 5th round or later, I'm fine with the pick. I'd rather take the risk of someone else drafting him, rather than use a 3rd rounder on him.

I cant wait to look back in three years to see what player we passed over for Goulbourne.
- hereticpride

OB had a hat trick last night

Well, being such a stud of a player....

I get the rationale behind choosing him where they did. I just disagree with it. His ceiling, as seen by pretty much everyone, is energy line guy/agitator. I don't think that's a guy that teams should reach for.
- Jsaquella

Ill be thinking of him fondly every time Duclair, Bjorkstrand and Janmark score goals against us.

Yup, 5th round or later, I'm fine with the pick. I'd rather take the risk of someone else drafting him, rather than use a 3rd rounder on him.
- BiggE

It's a combination of that and who was available when he was taken.

Oliver Bjorkstrand looks like he's going to be a good one, had a huge year and impressed the Jackets at their developmental/rookie camp. Others like Cole Cassels, Jimmy Lodge, Hudson Fasching, Anthony Duclair and Jordan Subban were on the board, too.

Goulbourne likely won't be as bad a pick as Garrett Klotz, and if he does make the NHL, it's a good result from a third rounder. But I'd rather have seen a guy with a higher ceiling taken an then a trade made to add a 4th rounder to snag Goulbourne if they liked him that much.

Bill Meltzer: Labo(u)r Day Musings: Team Lunchpail,
- bmeltzer

Tyrell Goulbourne -

i thought september would never arrive...getting closer.

i thought september would never arrive...getting closer.
- hammarby31

Man I love October, the Flyers get started and I head down to Key West for my first trip of the season! Hurry up and end, September!

Not very many guys make the NHL without putting forward a maximum physical effort. Sidney Crosby is an example of great talent, yet every night he shows up as one of the hardest working players on his team.

It puts in perspective just how inspiring Bobby Clarke could be for his team mates. Lots of guys work hard. But he had a tenacity and dedication, a fierce determination to make a difference on every check or challenge he made as a defensive player. He would never give up on the play. It pushed all of his team mates to play at a higher level.

As good as Crosby is and as hard as he plays he does not seem to lift the other guys the way Bobby Clarke was able to inspire the Flyers.

Goulbourne likely won't be as bad a pick as Garrett Klotz, and if he does make the NHL, it's a good result from a third rounder. But I'd rather have seen a guy with a higher ceiling taken an then a trade made to add a 4th rounder to snag Goulbourne if they liked him that much.
- Jsaquella

Not having a 4th because of Pavel Kubina was bad enough. Seeing that lack of a 4th-rounder cited by Pryor as the impetus for stepping up to take Z2? Talk a bout a kick in the nuts.

i thought september would never arrive...getting closer.
- hammarby31

the best thing about the NFL starting is.... Hockey is only a month behind.

Not having a 4th because of Pavel Kubina was bad enough. Seeing that lack of a 4th-rounder cited by Pryor as the impetus for stepping up to take Z2? Talk a bout a kick in the nuts.
- Tomahawk

The sad thing is, you can get guys like Z and Z 2.0 off the scrap heap. You don't even need to draft and develop them.

Not very many guys make the NHL without putting forward a maximum physical effort. Sidney Crosby is an example of great talent, yet every night he shows up as one of the hardest working players on his team.

It puts in perspective just how inspiring Bobby Clarke could be for his team mates. Lots of guys work hard. But he had a tenacity and dedication, a fierce determination to make a difference on every check or challenge he made as a defensive player. He would never give up on the play. It pushed all of his team mates to play at a higher level.

As good as Crosby is and as hard as he plays he does not seem to lift the other guys the way Bobby Clarke was able to inspire the Flyers.
- spatso

This is a great post.

It's always great to see guys work hard. In Crosby's case, he just worked and worked on faceoffs because that was one of the only knocks on him.

Our first round pick 2 drafts ago, Sam Morin, gets criticisized a lot for his slapshot. Well, the big boy takes like 200 good one timers from the point after every practice.

I love stories like that. But, the Clarkes and Lappy's of the world... They bring something different to the table. It's remarkable.

This is a great post.

It's always great to see guys work hard. In Crosby's case, he just worked and worked on faceoffs because that was one of the only knocks on him.

Our first round pick 2 drafts ago, Sam Morin, gets criticisized a lot for his slapshot. Well, the big boy takes like 200 good one timers from the point after every practice.

I love stories like that. But, the Clarkes and Lappy's of the world... They bring something different to the table. It's remarkable.
- Giroux_Is_God

Clarke was, hands down, the hardest working player I ever saw in any sport. Watching him play was just a treat. He went all out, every second of every shift and what makes it even more impressive is, that in his heyday, he often played upwards of 25 minutes per game. Just unreal!

i thought september would never arrive...getting closer.
- hammarby31

There is something about the fall and the leaves dropping ( not referring to the TML) the crisp cool hopefully clean air and the start of hockey season.

We used to always do minor league road trips around Halloween to the old Chesapeake Icebreakers and after they folded to Wheeling/Johnstown and then started to throw some other teams in the mix ( Reading/Hershey/Wilkes Barre/Scranton/Binghamton/AC)

The Royals are having a media and public press conference this week at 1 PM, lets see what else is in the affiliate pipeline

Was wondering what he was doing at Kelowna camp... didn't realize he's refusing to sign his AHL deal:

http://www.nj.com/flyers/...ccepted_ahl_contract.html
- Tomahawk

Mehh, aside from the waste of the draft pick maybe they are not wanting to waste a contract spot on him, which is sensible. Wow something logical from the GM, who would have expected that, oh thats right we have a new sheriff in town.

There is something about the fall and the leaves dropping ( not referring to the TML) the crisp cool hopefully clean air and the start of hockey season.
- Steelmanpa

Not having a 4th because of Pavel Kubina was bad enough. Seeing that lack of a 4th-rounder cited by Pryor as the impetus for stepping up to take Z2? Talk a bout a kick in the nuts.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, mistake made, then compounded.

Yeah, mistake made, then compounded.
- Jsaquella

Well, I don't think you'll see Hextall make moves like that