Bill Meltzer: Flyers Preseason Game Day: 9/25/14 vs. NJ; Roster Cuts and Quick Hits

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Preseason Game Day: 9/25/14 vs. NJ; Roster Cuts and Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Always wondered how smart it is to jam so many games into the preseason. Seems like an invite to injury & issues

Always wondered how smart it is to jam so many games into the preseason. Seems like an invite to injury & issues
- Jsaquella

Sounds like Berube is no fan of it and I don't blame him. I wonder how close the ghost is to cracking the lineup? I expect him to start in the A, but he's a bit older and from what others are saying is showing maturity at least during interviews. You never know.

Sounds like Berube is no fan of it and I don't blame him. I wonder how close the ghost is to cracking the lineup? I expect him to start in the A, but he's a bit older and from what others are saying is showing maturity at least during interviews. You never know.
- Hextall271

He will start the season in the AHL no matter what. They really want him to work on his play away from the puck. Murray has said Ghost is NHL ready when he has the puck on his stick -- and he doesn't want to stifle the player's aggressiveness and creativity --but if he plays 22 mins a game, he's not going to have the puck on his stick for north of 20 of those minutes. Those are the areas where he needs growth and refinement, which Murray said is his job as coach to teach.

Hey Bill,

Great update. Thanks!

Looks like you might be missing Morin though. He's still with the big club, right?

Hey Bill,

Great update. Thanks!

Looks like you might be missing Morin though. He's still with the big club, right?
- TheGreat28

Yes, Morin's still with them.

edit: Disclaimer: I am not Bill.

Hey Bill,

Great update. Thanks!

Looks like you might be missing Morin though. He's still with the big club, right?
- TheGreat28

Yes, but he's not a Phantoms candidate this season. Still, I should mention it. Will add to the blog.

Done. Added mention of Morin.

Yes, but he's not a Phantoms candidate this season. Still, I should mention it. Will add to the blog.
- bmeltzer

Bill, you think they're keeping Morin with an eye to getting him into a few NHL games? Or is it more that they want to take a longer look at him because he can't go to the AHL and work with Murray and the organizational coaches?

He will start the season in the AHL no matter what. They really want him to work on his play away from the puck. Murray has said Ghost is NHL ready when he has the puck on his stick -- and he doesn't want to stifle the player's aggressiveness and creativity --but if he plays 22 mins a game, he's not going to have the puck on his stick for north of 20 of those minutes. Those are the areas where he needs growth and refinement, which Murray said is his job as coach to teach.
- bmeltzer

Makes sense to me. I'd be fine if he spent the whole year in the A if it means he'll be better off.

Bill, you think they're keeping Morin with an eye to getting him into a few NHL games? Or is it more that they want to take a longer look at him because he can't go to the AHL and work with Murray and the organizational coaches?
- Jsaquella

I think both are a possibility. I suspect Hextall (from everything he's said publicly at least) prefers if Morin goes back to the Q but I also think some of the NHL coaches may want to take as long of a look as possible. Ultimately, I still think he goes back to Rimouski by NHL opening night.

Good to see Gus is doing well...he seemed to be a 2 steps forward 1 step back guy that always would make a mistake that cost us, but play pretty well overall otherwise...

Any chance he wears a Flyers Jersey again?

Bill, you think they're keeping Morin with an eye to getting him into a few NHL games? Or is it more that they want to take a longer look at him because he can't go to the AHL and work with Murray and the organizational coaches?
- Jsaquella

I was going to ask the same thing. Curious that they asked Morin to stay and not Sanheim. It sounds like Sanheim has had the better camp. Of course Morin is a year older so maybe they sent Sanheim down early due to his age.

Good to see Gus is doing well...he seemed to be a 2 steps forward 1 step back guy that always would make a mistake that cost us, but play pretty well overall otherwise...

Any chance he wears a Flyers Jersey again?
- JW98FlyerFan

Not much chance, unless he is willing to be a 6/7 bubble guy on the D depth chart.

I am curious to see what the lineup is for tonight if it is going to be close to the real thing. Also I have been seeing a better commitment from forwars getting back on d. I know it is limited with only being three games and maybe has something to guys making a good showing but I feel the forwards have been getting lower in the zone and supporting the puck more. Seems like a lot of quick passes to gt out of the zone instead of just dumping it out

Good to see Gus is doing well...he seemed to be a 2 steps forward 1 step back guy that always would make a mistake that cost us, but play pretty well overall otherwise...

Any chance he wears a Flyers Jersey again?
- JW98FlyerFan

I always felt it was 1 step forward and a half step back..... to the bench for ten games.

I was going to ask the same thing. Curious that they asked Morin to stay and not Sanheim. It sounds like Sanheim has had the better camp. Of course Morin is a year older so maybe they sent Sanheim down early due to his age.
- TheGreat28

With Sanheim, there was likely no way he was making the team. In Morin's case, he's a guy that would probably benefit by heading to the AHL. This way the Flyers get extra coaching time with Morin before they ship him off to Rimouski.

I think both are a possibility. I suspect Hextall (from everything he's said publicly at least) prefers if Morin goes back to the Q but I also think some of the NHL coaches may want to take as long of a look as possible. Ultimately, I still think he goes back to Rimouski by NHL opening night.
- bmeltzer

were surprised alt and cousins were sentback so quickly as they seemed to play well? cant wait until they cut ties with manning. not an nhl caliber player.

VV is also a still no need for him to be around. just filler i guess though rather see a few young guys play the scrimmage games.

Bill, There has been a lot of discussion on the boards the last few days on a guy like Zack Stortini being on the roster. Why was he not sent down? Seems like an odd play unless the Flyers are giving him a chance to play in front of other scouts to see if he will be able to land a job someplace else...just curious move to keep him around, your thoughts?

I was going to ask the same thing. Curious that they asked Morin to stay and not Sanheim. It sounds like Sanheim has had the better camp. Of course Morin is a year older so maybe they sent Sanheim down early due to his age.
- TheGreat28

Sanheim really didn't have a shot at an NHL job this year because he is still very frail physically. The speed and hockey sense are clearly there, but the raw skills still need more development and experience.

Morin is at 224 pounds now, so he is at least physically ready even if his game needs another year (and I think it does) to be pro ready.

Good to see Gus is doing well...he seemed to be a 2 steps forward 1 step back guy that always would make a mistake that cost us, but play pretty well overall otherwise...

Any chance he wears a Flyers Jersey again?
- JW98FlyerFan

sure hope not as he is a bottom pairing guy at best.

Not much chance, unless he is willing to be a 6/7 bubble guy on the D depth chart.
- bmeltzer

That is what I thought...thanks!

Good to see Gus is doing well...he seemed to be a 2 steps forward 1 step back guy that always would make a mistake that cost us, but play pretty well overall otherwise...

Any chance he wears a Flyers Jersey again?
- JW98FlyerFan

Any issues he had got compounded because as soon as he made one, he found himself sitting in the press box. He was actually an overall effective player that never got the benefit of the doubt afforded to guys like Luke Schenn, Nick Grossmann or Andrej Meszaros when it came to paying for mistakes.

Bill, There has been a lot of discussion on the boards the last few days on a guy like Zack Stortini being on the roster. Why was he not sent down? Seems like an odd play unless the Flyers are giving him a chance to play in front of other scouts to see if he will be able to land a job someplace else...just curious move to keep him around, your thoughts?
- JW98FlyerFan

Think that they guys who stuck, outside of Laughton, Gostisbehere and Morin had to because of waiver rules. Tomahwak mentioned it in yesterday's blog.

With Sanheim, there was likely no way he was making the team. In Morin's case, he's a guy that would probably benefit by heading to the AHL. This way the Flyers get extra coaching time with Morin before they ship him off to Rimouski.
- Jsaquella

Good point. Still hate that under 20 ineligibility rule. But it sounds like Morin does some things well and needs to work on others. No way he sticks long term, so extra coaching makes sense.