Bill Meltzer: Roundup: Optional Practice, Gostisbehere, Phantoms Win in OT, CHL Prospects

Bill, Hagg was on the third pairing and had some mistakes tonight. Is he regressing this year or did he look like a potential NHL prospect to get excited about?

Bill----Sanheim must have racked up a ton of flyer miles playing for Calgary and Ottawa tonight

No way do I want to see Laughton sent down. I don't care if he's getting 8-10 minutes, he never projected to be more than a 3rd line center anyway. He's practicing with NHLers and he's learning how to play at this level right now.

what was the vinny announcement?

Bill were you happy with AMac's play yesterday?

No way do I want to see Laughton sent down. I don't care if he's getting 8-10 minutes, he never projected to be more than a 3rd line center anyway. He's practicing with NHLers and he's learning how to play at this level right now.
- Just5

he's not really noticeable on the ice though

I'll continue the ask Bill theme:

What is the deal with Philippe Myers?

I know he's 6'5", very raw with 2-way potential, went undrafted, Flyers signed him to an entry contract. Shot in the dark type deal for a player with upside. Well, this season he's exceeding all expectations I would think. He's putting up better numbers than even Morin in his D+1 year. Hard to see him going undrafted in hindsight. But how much does this have to do with playing for a powerhouse team? Is he a product of the team and their record or is he a big contributor to said record? I'm trying to get a read on Myers and if there's some serious sleeper upside to him long term....because he's a bit of a mystery to me

what was the vinny announcement?
- 2Real

Ask again

he's not really noticeable on the ice though
- 2Real

He's noticeable for a few things: his speed which he doesn't use remotely enough, a surprisingly good quick shot, and his playing perhaps the worst forward defense on the team. Last part befuddles me more than anything given he had shutdown center projections. He's actually been scary bad defensively. I've said it before: I'd like to see him playing with defensively responsible wingers or else put him on the wing elsewhere. He just seems lost.

Ask again
- Nucker101

what was the vinny announcement?

He's noticeable for a few things: his speed which he doesn't use remotely enough, a surprisingly good quick shot, and his playing perhaps the worst forward defense on the team. Last part befuddles me more than anything given he had shutdown center projections. He's actually been scary bad defensively. I've said it before: I'd like to see him playing with defensively responsible wingers or else put him on the wing elsewhere. He just seems lost.
- Mononoke

if he projects to be nothing more than a shutdown center we should just trade him then Couturier already has the 3C locked down but we could always see if he can turn into a winger
it's a shame we need people that can score

if he projects to be nothing more than a shutdown center we should just trade him then Couturier already has the 3C locked down but we could always see if he can turn into a winger
it's a shame we need people that can score
- 2Real

I didn't mean shutdown as a pejorative. He has offense too. He was a good two way player in juniors who could be trusted defensively. He has shown he can score in his limited usage. But his good defense has been MIA. A lot of us were ecstatic that Laughts could make the team and take some usage off Coots. He's shown that he can't, for now at least. Coots was better defensively at 18 than Laughton is now. By a mile. He's been the polar opposite of a shutdown center. It's why he plays so little.

what was the vinny announcement?
- 2Real

I don't know

Bill----Sanheim must have racked up a ton of flyer miles playing for Calgary and Ottawa tonight
- KINGKENZO

Damn spell check

Bill, Hagg was on the third pairing and had some mistakes tonight. Is he regressing this year or did he look like a potential NHL prospect to get excited about?
- redcoat75

They have been preaching to him to play a very simple game. He seems to do better with a lot of structure. Hägg had a good training camp and a solid start to the season. He has been just OK since return from injury. But he is still just 20 years old. More patience is in order.

Bill were you happy with AMac's play yesterday?
- 2Real

Didn't like the first shift. But he was OK as the game moved along.

I didn't mean shutdown as a pejorative. He has offense too. He was a good two way player in juniors who could be trusted defensively. He has shown he can score in his limited usage. But his good defense has been MIA. A lot of us were ecstatic that Laughts could make the team and take some usage off Coots. He's shown that he can't, for now at least. Coots was better defensively at 18 than Laughton is now. By a mile. He's been the polar opposite of a shutdown center. It's why he plays so little.
- Mononoke

We were just discussing that very subject last night. He seems to be having trouble grasping defensive assignments at this level. The good news is that it is teachable.

I'll continue the ask Bill theme:

What is the deal with Philippe Myers?

I know he's 6'5", very raw with 2-way potential, went undrafted, Flyers signed him to an entry contract. Shot in the dark type deal for a player with upside. Well, this season he's exceeding all expectations I would think. He's putting up better numbers than even Morin in his D+1 year. Hard to see him going undrafted in hindsight. But how much does this have to do with playing for a powerhouse team? Is he a product of the team and their record or is he a big contributor to said record? I'm trying to get a read on Myers and if there's some serious sleeper upside to him long term....because he's a bit of a mystery to me
- Mononoke

An NHL scout at the Phantoms game against Providence a couple weeks ago said if there was a redraft now of the one in June, Myers would probably go late second round. So, yes, he is a legit contributor.

An NHL scout at the Phantoms game against Providence a couple weeks ago said if there was a redraft now of the one in June, Myers would probably go late second round. So, yes, he is a legit contributor.
- bmeltzer

Given that he's a big righty...music to my ears

Didn't like the first shift. But he was OK as the game moved along.
- bmeltzer

That's good to hear. I really think AMac can be a decent defender but I think the contract was weighing on him a bit last year.

Beyond that, there are players on the roster whom are tradable; it's just a matter of the Flyers not wanting to trade from a position of weakness under a salary-cap crunch.
- Bill Meltzer

From Friedman's latest 30 Thoughts column:

8. Since the puck dropped this season, not one player currently on an NHL roster has been traded. The only move was Tampa sending goalie Kevin Poulin to Calgary, and he was injured playing for AHL Stockton.

...

I went back about 20 years and couldn’t find another season like this one. It is total gridlock.
- Elliotte Friedman

More than a trade, they could go with the opening night roster and waive Manning to keep Ghost up. They'd have about $0 of space, but I think it would work.

More than a trade, they could go with the opening night roster and waive Manning to keep Ghost up. They'd have about $0 of space, but I think it would work.
- jmatchett383

I am probably in the minority but I think the pairing of Gostisbehere and Manning has been good. Seems to be a comfort thing with them.

I would like to see Voracek put back on the top line and Laughton used more. Since Laughton has been playing wing why not have Laughton - Bellemare - Raffl.

Lines:
Schenn - Giroux - Voracek
Read - Couturier - Simmonds
Laughton - Bellemare - Raffl
Vandevelde - White - Umberger.

I am probably in the minority but I think the pairing of Gostisbehere and Manning has been good. Seems to be a comfort thing with them.

I would like to see Voracek put back on the top line and Laughton used more. Since Laughton has been playing wing why not have Laughton - Bellemare - Raffl.

Lines:
Schenn - Giroux - Voracek
Read - Couturier - Simmonds
Laughton - Bellemare - Raffl
Vandevelde - White - Umberger.
- J35Bacher

I don't have a huge issue with the Manning-Ghost pair, just another option to keep Ghost up when Streit comes back.