Bill Meltzer: Wrapup: Caps 1-0 Win in Game 6 Ends Flyers' Season

Bill, thanks for all your blobs this year. Exemplary work from you, sir.

Good progress this year. Can't wait to see what Hexy has up his sleeve for the draft.

Thanks Bill for always being excellent. It's a privilege to be able to read your work every day.

Great job as always, Bill. You the real MVP.

This season was very entertaining, I'm glad they put up a fight in the last month or so and tested the Caps.

I wonder what magic Hexy will work next

No one is surprised by this outcome. Caps are a great team. I am thankful that the Flyers were able to give us some more fun for a few more games. That said, Hextall please make some changes to get the Flyers out of the mushy middle. Also thanks Bill for all the great coverage all year. Great stuff.

I was a little choked up at the end of the game, not from disappointment, but with pride. In October I was whining to my STH account rep about how brutal watching this team was going to be. And it was not that at all. What an amazing ride the drive to the playoffs was. And you know, the goal in game 5 may have been a fluke, but you make your luck. Ryan White never stops working and sometimes it's just that that allows luck to happen. Same with the team.

The crowd was FABULOUS in the third period. And all standing for the empty net play. And so many stayed for the line. I'm glad I did, because I'm glad the Flyers came out and saluted. Needed that goodbye to end an amazing season of development.

Did they show Neuvy at the end of the line? He went over to the Caps bench to find one of the trainers for a hug. It was so cool that in his disappointment he didn't overlook that one guy who wasn't in the handshake line. And then Carlson came over to give him some love.

I am satisfied. And that hasn't been true many seasons, I'll admit.

Some moves to make, and some of those will be tricky

But this was a great run to the playoffs and everybody got a feel for just how hard it is to take the next step

Really glad they made it and excited for what is to come

Best sports blogger on the interwebs: Bill Meltzer.

A great surge by the boys to make the playoffs, a possibility I had long-ago written off. Obviously, they were outmatched by a much deeper and skilled Caps team in the series, but they put up a valiant effort.

We all know there's more work to do. Drafting some bigger centers and wingers, perhaps making a smart free-agent signing for more balanced scoring. Add some size. Replace the PP and PK coaches (duh).

But there's also plenty of good stuff: Great young D and promising goalies in the system. A smart coach who was able to get a patchwork defense to play pretty well. A GM with a strategic plan. Brayden Schenn having a breakthrough and becoming an impact player.

My biggest concern is finding and developing a #1 center to slowly take over as Giroux enters his 30s. This is why, despite the number of centers in the system, I'd still be grabbing as many as I can in the draft in the hopes that one turns out to be a star. At this point, Philly is unlikely to be drafting in the top 10 for a while, so they're going to have to be smart and find some hidden gems in later rounds.

Go Flyers.

While I'm happy this team made it to the playoffs and pushed the best team in the league to 6 games, it is incredibly frustrating to not score a single goal in an elimination game.

While I believe the future is bright, and cannot wait until September, the Flyers need to find some scoring depth somehow, somewhere.

They've really focused on defense the last few drafts. Hopefully apart from Konecny they can find some other forwards. Forwards with size would be a bonus.

Go Flyers!!!

My first playoff game that I attended, and while the outcome sucked, what an electrifying atmosphere.

I don't think Holtby faced one shot that was hard all day. Just a real anemic offensive output. In typical Flyers fashion they wait until the final 5 minutes to try and knot things up.

Overall I am happy with the season. Tweaks to the top 9 and here's hoping to seeing Provorov and Sanheim next year.

Fine season boys, the future is bright!

My biggest concern is finding and developing a #1 center to slowly take over as Giroux enters his 30s. This is why, despite the number of centers in the system, I'd still be grabbing as many as I can in the draft in the hopes that one turns out to be a star. At this point, Philly is unlikely to be drafting in the top 10 for a while, so they're going to have to be smart and find some hidden gems in later rounds
- ChoclitLeClair

This is my biggest concern, even if G has many productive years left. Flyers have an immediate need for a center in their present day lineup, let alone their lineup 4-5 years from now when G may no longer be THE guy. And they have no real center prospects besides Cousins and Vorobyov. They have neither quality nor quantity.

This is a good draft early, and I think there's potential 1C's for the taking that slip outside the top 10. I would really really think about pulling the trigger on a trade up. Their prospect depth in d, goaltending, wing is solid. They can afford to bite on a trade for someone they view as a long term game changer. With the way their pool is set up, 1 key player may indeed be more vital than 2-3 complimentary pieces. Those they have.

Great season. Caps showed a lot of class.

Go Caps.

As a fan, this doesn't even feel like an elimination. It feels like the start of a beautiful thing.

My first playoff game that I attended, and while the outcome sucked, what an electrifying atmosphere.

I don't think Holtby faced one shot that was hard all day. Just a real anemic offensive output. In typical Flyers fashion they wait until the final 5 minutes to try and knot things up.

Overall I am happy with the season. Tweaks to the top 9 and here's hoping to seeing Provorov and Sanheim next year.
- Pelle31Forever

Sanhiem isn't very likely. Morin hopefully.

Sanhiem isn't very likely. Morin hopefully.
- hereticpride

I'm OK with that too. Thought Sanheim was doing well in LV?

It was fun going to the game. This season was a pleasant surprise, really was concerned for the first few months. As the season moved along the team became a team and found an identity. That had been lacking all last season and the first few months of this season.

I was a little disappointed in the lack of effort the first two periods. Happily surprised they made the playoffs, but disappointed in their effort for most of the series.

Excited to see what the team looks like next season.

Good showing by the boys.Honestly I thought they would be picking top ten again this yr.Amac has shown he is a nhl d man.I do hope hexy goes all out picking forwards this yr who have size and speed.I do think voracek will be better next yr.Depending on what the flyers could get back I wouldn't be opposed to trading giroux. I like G but not at 8 mill.I think the flyers could really set themselves up nicely if they traded him.The only reason I keep voracek over g is because he has size speed and skill.Just my 2 cents.Let's go flyers.Can't wait for some of the young guns to get here

Great season, great blogs and one more playoff win than the rags.

I'll take it

Streit, Gagner, Read and Umberger will NOT be back next season, mark my words. Time to get some speed to that 3rd line and possibly a threat that can play the top or 2nd line. The new NHL calls for a 3rd line that can score. Not sold that any of the players currently occupying those spots are capable of that.

As a fan, this doesn't even feel like an elimination. It feels like the start of a beautiful thing.
- Mononoke

Oh, it feels like elimination. I won't be "looking ahead" and "happy" until tomorrow.

(frank) that. Elimination game on home ice and they lose 1-0. Come on

Good showing by the boys.Honestly I thought they would be picking top ten again this yr.Amac has shown he is a nhl d man.I do hope hexy goes all out picking forwards this yr who have size and speed.I do think voracek will be better next yr.Depending on what the flyers could get back I wouldn't be opposed to trading giroux. I like G but not at 8 mill.I think the flyers could really set themselves up nicely if they traded him.The only reason I keep voracek over g is because he has size speed and skill.Just my 2 cents.Let's go flyers.Can't wait for some of the young guns to get here
- flyers1987

you put either one or two spaces after a period, bro.

Bill Meltzer: Wrapup: Caps 1-0 Win in Game 6 Ends Flyers' Season
- bmeltzer

Look forward to the draft themed & all off-season blogs.

The Schenn negotiation will be interesting. Go with the bridge deal to UFA or buy a few years of free agency? I don't think Hexy will take a shot at a high dollar UFA like Stamkos or Lucic. However, maybe a player like Troy Brouwer if he could be signed for a couple of years to play on the third line and be bumped up into the top 6 if needed.