Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flight Gate, WJC Updates

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flight Gate, WJC Updates
- bmeltzer

Stupid rule, but an obvious violation. The funny part was Larry Brooks treating it as the NHL going soft on Ed Snider, because they didn't release the amount of the fine.

Adding insult to injury, the Flyers played like the flight landed 10 minutes before puck drop, and lasted 18 hours.

Stupid rule, but an obvious violation. The funny part was Larry Brooks treating it as the NHL going soft on Ed Snider, because they didn't release the amount of the fine.

Adding insult to injury, the Flyers played like the flight landed 10 minutes before puck drop, and lasted 18 hours.
- Jsaquella

I know some people on here keep thinking the Flyers can turn this around. Is it tim e to start figuring out what players might get us some picks or propects or players to get the future better?

I know some people on here keep thinking the Flyers can turn this around. Is it tim e to start figuring out what players might get us some picks or propects or players to get the future better?
- J35Bacher

Absolutely. This team has no life. No resemblance of last seasons team.....
Losing Timonen and Hartnell hurt worse than what was expected by most, but you have to plan for the future with those aging players at some point.

I know some people on here keep thinking the Flyers can turn this around. Is it tim e to start figuring out what players might get us some picks or propects or players to get the future better?
- J35Bacher

I think it's time to start selling, or at least seriously gauging the value of players on the roster and changing the mix to better evaluate some of the guys Berube has buried in the press box.

Seravalli posted this, in his latest article on the Flyers on Philly.com

http://www.philly.com/phi...ers_in_no-man_s_land.html

The numbers say the Flyers (14-18-7) need to go a sobering 28-11-4 for just a 50-50 shot at making the playoffs, according to SportsClubStats.com. Even that might not get them in.

How hard is it to make up ground in the standings? Ask the Blue Jackets. They were 12 points out of a playoff spot in November. After a 9-1-1 run, they were nine points back. Grabbing 19 out of an available 22 points got them a net of three points.

Does even a 9-1-1 run for a team that gave up four or more goals in five out of eight games on this road trip sound like one the Flyers are capable of making?


So, in other words, the Flyers basically have to win at a .750 clip for the rest of the season to even have a shot at the playoffs. I can't see it happening, can you?

Absolutely. This team has no life. No resemblance of last seasons team.....
Losing Timonen and Hartnell hurt worse than what was expected by most, but you have to plan for the future with those aging players at some point.
- GOA88

The biggest difference between this year and last year is that the PK is far worse than it was last season. This season they're basically allowing 1 PPG against per game. 34 PPGA in 39 games.

Last season they gave up 48 PPGA in 82 games.

I think it's time to start selling, or at least seriously gauging the value of players on the roster and changing the mix to better evaluate some of the guys Berube has buried in the press box.

Seravalli posted this, in his latest article on the Flyers on Philly.com

http://www.philly.com/phi...ers_in_no-man_s_land.html

The numbers say the Flyers (14-18-7) need to go a sobering 28-11-4 for just a 50-50 shot at making the playoffs, according to SportsClubStats.com. Even that might not get them in.

How hard is it to make up ground in the standings? Ask the Blue Jackets. They were 12 points out of a playoff spot in November. After a 9-1-1 run, they were nine points back. Grabbing 19 out of an available 22 points got them a net of three points.

Does even a 9-1-1 run for a team that gave up four or more goals in five out of eight games on this road trip sound like one the Flyers are capable of making?


So, in other words, the Flyers basically have to win at a .750 clip for the rest of the season to even have a shot at the playoffs. I can't see it happening, can you?
- Jsaquella

I'd be shocked if they played .500 hockey from here on in, this team is a mess.

The Flyer veteran store is open for business, get to work Hexy.

I know some people on here keep thinking the Flyers can turn this around. Is it tim e to start figuring out what players might get us some picks or propects or players to get the future better?
- J35Bacher

Here's the problem: Short of a blockbuster trade, the Flyers won't get picks or prospects of any significance for the names people keep putting out there as trade targets. They won't get current NHL roster players of any significance back, either. Meanwhile, the FA markets have becoming increasingly mediocre -- yet overpriced -- because of teams signing guys to pre-emptive extensions.

I am all for acquiring draft picks in volume and hanging onto your own picks when possible but I also know the odds of a pick panning out into an impact NHL player are not great and even when you do hit a home run, the player is almost always going to need multiple years from his draft year to start making that impact. Hell, even most first-round picks need several years.

I think the best course of action here is patience, which includes not holding a fire sale strictly for the sake of change. Do the remake slowly as moves make sense.

The biggest difference between this year and last year is that the PK is far worse than it was last season. This season they're basically allowing 1 PPG against per game. 34 PPGA in 39 games.

Last season they gave up 48 PPGA in 82 games.
- Jsaquella

Agreed
The loss of Timonen, Hall and last year's Matt Read have torpedoed the pk

Here's the problem: Short of a blockbuster trade, the Flyers won't get picks or prospects of any significance for the names people keep putting out there as trade targets. They won't get current NHL roster players of any significance back, either. Meanwhile, the FA markets have becoming increasingly mediocre -- yet overpriced -- because of teams signing guys to pre-emptive extensions.

I am all for acquiring draft picks in volume and hanging onto your own picks when possible but I also know the odds of a pick panning out into an impact NHL player are not great and even when you do hit a home run, the player is almost always going to need multiple years from his draft year to start making that impact. Hell, even most first-round picks need several years.

I think the best course of action here is patience, which includes not holding a fire sale strictly for the sake of change. Do the remake slowly as moves make sense.
- bmeltzer

I'm not advocating a fire sale, but I do think a couple of vets need to be moved at the deadline. Grossmann and a 4th should be enough to land a 2nd from a contender and Coburn hopefully a late 1st from another.

Those are moves I would look to make.

Here's the problem: Short of a blockbuster trade, the Flyers won't get picks or prospects of any significance for the names people keep putting out there as trade targets. They won't get current NHL roster players of any significance back, either. Meanwhile, the FA markets have becoming increasingly mediocre -- yet overpriced -- because of teams signing guys to pre-emptive extensions.

I am all for acquiring draft picks in volume and hanging onto your own picks when possible but I also know the odds of a pick panning out into an impact NHL player are not great and even when you do hit a home run, the player is almost always going to need multiple years from his draft year to start making that impact. Hell, even most first-round picks need several years.

I think the best course of action here is patience, which includes not holding a fire sale strictly for the sake of change. Do the remake slowly as moves make sense.
- bmeltzer

Agree 100% Bill. A fire sale would be a big mistake. Don't just make moves, make smart moves.

Agreed
The loss of Timonen, Hall and last year's Matt Read have torpedoed the pk
- BiggE

Timonen has been missed in a lot of ways for sure, and Read is having an awful season.

Hall won a lot of faceoffs for sure -- and is a hell of a bright guy who was good in the room -- but I don't think his departure is a big factor.

Actually, the Flyers' PK at home this season has been acceptable except for a couple games. It's been on the road where they've been atrocious.

Agreed
The loss of Timonen, Hall and last year's Matt Read have torpedoed the pk
- BiggE

I believe that's part of it, but the players who are here and playing, are more then capable and should be better at it then they are. This team as a whole is drastically underachieving.

I'm not advocating a fire sale, but I do think a couple of vets need to be moved at the deadline. Grossmann and a 4th should be enough to land a 2nd from a contender and Coburn hopefully a late 1st from another.

Those are moves I would look to make.
- BiggE

Agreed. I also think that Hextall should be conferring with the coaches on which players on this team are lacking the heart and effort that is required to be a Flyer. It has been a disgrace and it's embarrassing to the organization. IMO.

Timonen has been missed in a lot of ways for sure, and Read is having an awful season.

Hall won a lot of faceoffs for sure -- and is a hell of a bright guy who was good in the room -- but I don't think his departure is a big factor.

Actually, the Flyers' PK at home this season has been acceptable except for a couple games. It's been on the road where they've been atrocious.
- bmeltzer

This has to be a mental thing

This has to be a mental thing
- GOA88

I think so. I think a lot of the Flyers issues this season are mental.

Timonen has been missed in a lot of ways for sure, and Read is having an awful season.

Hall won a lot of faceoffs for sure -- and is a hell of a bright guy who was good in the room -- but I don't think his departure is a big factor.

Actually, the Flyers' PK at home this season has been acceptable except for a couple games. It's been on the road where they've been atrocious.
- bmeltzer

Where they miss Hall, IMO, is winning that opening faceoff on the pk leading to an easy clear

Not even sure where to begin with that CBA ruling, especially given the teams that held "informal" practice. Its ok to be on the ice, but not on a plane?
Given this teams current state it isnt even worth it for Timonen to come back if he could. Hopefully we can shed some cap without taking much back when the time comes

Not even sure where to begin with that CBA ruling, especially given the teams that held "informal" practice. Its ok to be on the ice, but not on a plane?
Given this teams current state it isnt even worth it for Timonen to come back if he could. Hopefully we can shed some cap without taking much back when the time comes
- Trainfellow

Timonen is toast bro...

Timonen has been missed in a lot of ways for sure, and Read is having an awful season.

Hall won a lot of faceoffs for sure -- and is a hell of a bright guy who was good in the room -- but I don't think his departure is a big factor.

Actually, the Flyers' PK at home this season has been acceptable except for a couple games. It's been on the road where they've been atrocious.
- bmeltzer

Everything has been worse on the road. When you lack skill throughout the lineup and overall depth, the matchup game won't be in your favor. That'll kill you on the road

Not even sure where to begin with that CBA ruling, especially given the teams that held "informal" practice. Its ok to be on the ice, but not on a plane?
Given this teams current state it isnt even worth it for Timonen to come back if he could. Hopefully we can shed some cap without taking much back when the time comes
- Trainfellow

Basically it's okay for a bunch of players to just get together and have a skate, with no coaches involved. The entire thing is silly, but it's what was negotiated.

Everything has been worse on the road. When you lack skill throughout the lineup and overall depth, the matchup game won't be in your favor. That'll kill you on the road
- BiggE

It's so much more then just lacking skill. Read is having a very bad season, and is in a real mental funk, but the skill is still there. Lots of factors affecting this team. If it was about the skill level of this team, they'd be in the playoff hunt now. They are playing well below their skill level, as a team.

Stupid rule, but an obvious violation. The funny part was Larry Brooks treating it as the NHL going soft on Ed Snider, because they didn't release the amount of the fine.

Adding insult to injury, the Flyers played like the flight landed 10 minutes before puck drop, and lasted 18 hours.
- Jsaquella

I was not expecting the Flyers to win in Nashville but those back-to-back goals on the 5-on-3 PK punctured the balloon. They never recovered or came close to recovering, which was disappointing to watch.

Re: Brooks, what I will say is that he sounds the alarm bell so frequently that he does himself no favors. Even when he does have something legit, it gets dismissed as the rantings of a crackpot.

Why did the players approach Hexstall about traveling early. Shouldn't they have approached Berube first, and then HE goes to Hex. No chain of command???

It's so much more then just lacking skill. Read is having a very bad season, and is in a real mental funk, but the skill is still there. Lots of factors affecting this team. If it was about the skill level of this team, they'd be in the playoff hunt now. They are playing well below their skill level, as a team.
- MJL

Who's fault is that? The coach has to take some responsibility. Isn't it part of his job to get the best out of his players?
A new coach will be needed...at least to start next year.
P. DeBoer!