Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Hall of Fame, Bellows,KHL, Alumni and More

Time to make some trades

I think the Flyers had a fantastic weekend.

Like Jsaq said, starting with the Gudas (re-)signing. Perfect stop gap contract. He brings an element to the defense that we didnt have prior. Also, I think we will see him shooting the puck more often. He is a guy that just seems to be able to get the puck through traffic.


The draft was fantastic. I have read a lot of different comments here and elsewhere, where people are upset with the trade down to 22 and passing on Bellows. Welp, not only were they able to to get the guy they wanted at 22 in GR, but they also added Laberge. Thats a big haul. Pretty much every "draft grade" article I have seen has the Flyers as an "A/A+".

GR was a guy I had talked about them getting at 18, even a few months ago. I really like his total package. Of course you hear the "Datsyuk" comparisons, but stop that poop already. I think there will be a group of fans that will whine about him because he isnt an explosive offensive force. I still think he was the best all around player not selected in the top 5.

Hart was the top ranked goalie prospect. Adding him to our current crop of goalie prospects is amazing. Honestly wasnt sure what Hexy would do about goaltending at the draft, but when he selected Hart I was very very pleased.

Allison was one of the fastest risers (maybe the fastest) in the entire draft. Mid-term ranking of 192, final of 62. USHL playoff MVP. Guy just blew apart the league in the second half and playoffs. Interested to see what his next step is.

Laberge is going to be a heck of a player. Talk about overcoming hardships to go on and have a great year. Mom is diagnosed with MS. Dad with prostate cancer. Step-mom whom he was very close with passes away.

What does the kid do? Just goes out and puts up 68 points in 56 games (for all you Gauthier lovers out there, thats 11 more points in one fewer game). The kid is a very very solid player. Has scorers hands, but a playmakers touch. I think that the 18-22 might go down as one of Hexys better moves as of now.

Only time will truly tell, but I am really stoked about this past weekend.

Only an idiot would draft a guy for an immediate need when he won't even contribute for 3 years

I think the Flyers had a fantastic weekend.

Like Jsaq said, starting with the Gudas (re-)signing. Perfect stop gap contract. He brings an element to the defense that we didnt have prior. Also, I think we will see him shooting the puck more often. He is a guy that just seems to be able to get the puck through traffic.


The draft was fantastic. I have read a lot of different comments here and elsewhere, where people are upset with the trade down to 22 and passing on Bellows. Welp, not only were they able to to get the guy they wanted at 22 in GR, but they also added Laberge. Thats a big haul. Pretty much every "draft grade" article I have seen has the Flyers as an "A/A+".

GR was a guy I had talked about them getting at 18, even a few months ago. I really like his total package. Of course you hear the "Datsyuk" comparisons, but stop that poop already. I think there will be a group of fans that will whine about him because he isnt an explosive offensive force. I still think he was the best all around player not selected in the top 5.

Hart was the top ranked goalie prospect. Adding him to our current crop of goalie prospects is amazing. Honestly wasnt sure what Hexy would do about goaltending at the draft, but when he selected Hart I was very very pleased.

Allison was one of the fastest risers (maybe the fastest) in the entire draft. Mid-term ranking of 192, final of 62. USHL playoff MVP. Guy just blew apart the league in the second half and playoffs. Interested to see what his next step is.

Laberge is going to be a heck of a player. Talk about overcoming hardships to go on and have a great year. Mom is diagnosed with MS. Dad with prostate cancer. Step-mom whom he was very close with passes away.

What does the kid do? Just goes out and puts up 68 points in 56 games (for all you Gauthier lovers out there, thats 11 more points in one fewer game). The kid is a very very solid player. Has scorers hands, but a playmakers touch. I think that the 18-22 might go down as one of Hexys better moves as of now.

Only time will truly tell, but I am really stoked about this past weekend.
- jak521

General consensus among all the pundits.....

I think the Flyers had a fantastic weekend.

Like Jsaq said, starting with the Gudas (re-)signing. Perfect stop gap contract. He brings an element to the defense that we didnt have prior. Also, I think we will see him shooting the puck more often. He is a guy that just seems to be able to get the puck through traffic.


The draft was fantastic. I have read a lot of different comments here and elsewhere, where people are upset with the trade down to 22 and passing on Bellows. Welp, not only were they able to to get the guy they wanted at 22 in GR, but they also added Laberge. Thats a big haul. Pretty much every "draft grade" article I have seen has the Flyers as an "A/A+".

GR was a guy I had talked about them getting at 18, even a few months ago. I really like his total package. Of course you hear the "Datsyuk" comparisons, but stop that poop already. I think there will be a group of fans that will whine about him because he isnt an explosive offensive force. I still think he was the best all around player not selected in the top 5.

Hart was the top ranked goalie prospect. Adding him to our current crop of goalie prospects is amazing. Honestly wasnt sure what Hexy would do about goaltending at the draft, but when he selected Hart I was very very pleased.

Allison was one of the fastest risers (maybe the fastest) in the entire draft. Mid-term ranking of 192, final of 62. USHL playoff MVP. Guy just blew apart the league in the second half and playoffs. Interested to see what his next step is.

Laberge is going to be a heck of a player. Talk about overcoming hardships to go on and have a great year. Mom is diagnosed with MS. Dad with prostate cancer. Step-mom whom he was very close with passes away.

What does the kid do? Just goes out and puts up 68 points in 56 games (for all you Gauthier lovers out there, thats 11 more points in one fewer game). The kid is a very very solid player. Has scorers hands, but a playmakers touch. I think that the 18-22 might go down as one of Hexys better moves as of now.

Only time will truly tell, but I am really stoked about this past weekend.
- jak521

I loved what he did too.

Last year was the sexy year with Provorov and Konecny. This year was substance. A lot of guys that play hard, smart two way games and had size. Hextall is trying to win the cup next season. He is building this team to be a contender 2018 and longer.

Very happy with the draft and I think Rubtsov will excel in Hakstol's system. If they can find a way to move AMac, Streit and/or Read during the summer and can pick up a solid C or LW in free agency, I think they will be in great shape. But even if they do nothing else this summer, I still think they will be fine.

Can someone please tell me if this is correct:

If Rubstov plays in the MHL/KHL next year and then comes over to the AHL, he can slide for the 2017/2018 season (much like Hagg did his first year). However, if he plays in the CHL this year, he is no longer eligible to play in the AHL during the 2017/2018 season.

Also, I love Brindy, but he should not be in the HHOF. He was a very good, very underrated player for the better part of his career. But, as Bill said, he was never among the elite players of the game opposed to guys like Kariya and Lindros. Maybe elite defensively, but to me, he is in the Hall of Very Good.

Can someone please tell me if this is correct:

If Rubstov plays in the MHL/KHL next year and then comes over to the AHL, he can slide for the 2017/2018 season (much like Hagg did his first year). However, if he plays in the CHL this year, he is no longer eligible to play in the AHL during the 2017/2018 season.
Also, I love Brindy, but he should not be in the HHOF. He was a very good, very underrated player for the better part of his career. But, as Bill said, he was never among the elite players of the game opposed to guys like Kariya and Lindros. Maybe elite defensively, but to me, he is in the Hall of Very Good.

Thats how I understand it to be as well..

Either way, CHL is the preferred route to me.

Carter Hart born on aug 13 same bday as one Bob Clarke.....he should be a good one

Can someone please tell me if this is correct:

If Rubstov plays in the MHL/KHL next year and then comes over to the AHL, he can slide for the 2017/2018 season (much like Hagg did his first year). However, if he plays in the CHL this year, he is no longer eligible to play in the AHL during the 2017/2018 season.

Also, I love Brindy, but he should not be in the HHOF. He was a very good, very underrated player for the better part of his career. But, as Bill said, he was never among the elite players of the game opposed to guys like Kariya and Lindros. Maybe elite defensively, but to me, he is in the Hall of Very Good.
- jmatchett383

I could be wrong but wasn't that what caused the confusion with HYka when they drafted him?

Also, I love Brindy, but he should not be in the HHOF. He was a very good, very underrated player for the better part of his career. But, as Bill said, he was never among the elite players of the game opposed to guys like Kariya and Lindros. Maybe elite defensively, but to me, he is in the Hall of Very Good.
- jmatchett383

This is not to slog Brind'Amour, who I think is awesome, but he wasn't even the best player on his own team most years, let alone a guy you think of as at the top of the NHL, in terms of league-wide stature during his era. He was one of the best two way players of his era, but I don't think that warrants a HoF nod.

Thats how I understand it to be as well..

Either way, CHL is the preferred route to me.
- jak521

Having Rubstov play in North America would be cool, if only so it's easier for the Flyers to keep tabs on his development.

Very happy with the draft and I think Rubtsov will excel in Hakstol's system. If they can find a way to move AMac, Streit and/or Read during the summer and can pick up a solid C or LW in free agency, I think they will be in great shape. But even if they do nothing else this summer, I still think they will be fine.
- BiggE

Hexy is the man

I think the main thing fans who are complaining about the Bellows decision are forgetting is that Rubstov will be coming up along side scoring wingers such as NAK and Lindblom. Konecny most likely arrives befor Rubstov but he too can be a potential winger with him down the line. I personally like the trend Hexy followed for our draft selections. I think the size and style of play will compliment these smaller speedier skaters that we have in the system such as NAK, Lindblom, and Konecny. It was mentioned throughout the season that it seemed our prospect wingers could he described as under sized. I trust Hexy and our scouting if they really weren't all that sold by Bellows. Plus, goal scoring can be addressed via free agency if needed in a year or two when we have even more cap to play with.

Having Rubstov play in North America would be cool, if only so it's easier for the Flyers to keep tabs on his development.
- johndewar

And make sure the Russians aren't injecting him with god knows what

I think the main thing fans who are complaining about the Bellows decision are forgetting is that Rubstov will be coming up along side scoring wingers such as NAK and Lindblom. Konecny most likely arrives befor Rubstov but he too can be a potential winger with him down the line. I personally like the trend Hexy followed for our draft selections. I think the size and style of play will compliment these smaller speedier skaters that we have in the system such as NAK, Lindblom, and Konecny. It was mentioned throughout the season that it seemed our prospect wingers could he described as under sized. I trust Hexy and our scouting if they really weren't all that sold by Bellows. Plus, goal scoring can be addressed via free agency if needed in a year or two when we have even more cap to play with.
- arichardson22

after watching the Flyers get slapped around by the Caps it was clear they need size

Having Rubstov play in North America would be cool, if only so it's easier for the Flyers to keep tabs on his development.
- johndewar

I just think that it would be good for him to get a head start on developing his North American game.

... I'm not sure why a segment of the fan base and my media colleagues cannot see that...
- bmeltzer

Want me to explain that? ;-)

Also, I love Brindy, but he should not be in the HHOF. He was a very good, very underrated player for the better part of his career. But, as Bill said, he was never among the elite players of the game opposed to guys like Kariya and Lindros. Maybe elite defensively, but to me, he is in the Hall of Very Good.
- jmatchett383

I don't disagree with the above, but the eye test (iTest) shows that he brought it hard every night and a lot of his contributions don't show up in the stats, #fancy or otherwise. In the end, I lean towards yes, he should be in.

after watching the Flyers get slapped around by the Caps it was clear they need size
- vejim

When you say "size", do you mean an effective way to kill penalties?

I could be wrong but wasn't that what caused the confusion with HYka when they drafted him?
- J35Bacher

The problem with Hyka was that he was drafted into the CHL after not being drafted. Therefore, Hyka was not a UFA, and had to go back into the draft for 2012. Had he played in the CHL prior to the 2011 draft, they could have signed him. Rubstov's situation is almost identical to Hagg's.

I don't disagree with the above, but the eye test (iTest) shows that he brought it hard every night and a lot of his contributions don't show up in the stats, #fancy or otherwise. In the end, I lean towards yes, he should be in.
- Scoob

iDon't disagree, but the Hockey Hall of Fame, to me, is for players who were elite. Heck, Rob DiMaio, Sami Kapanen, and Scottie Upshall played harder than most Flyers of recent memory, but I'm not putting them into the HOF. Granted, none of them were as good on either side of the puck as Brindy, but simply "bringing it" every night should not be enough to put someone in. This is arguably the weakest class in the last decade, and I can't see him beating out any of Kariya, Recchi, Roenick, Lindros, Mogilny, or Andreychuk. Love him as a player, great Flyer, deserved member of the Flyers HOF, but not the HHOF. To me.

after watching the Flyers get slapped around by the Caps it was clear they need size
- vejim

You must be thinking of specific match ups, because on the whole the teams are not significantly different.

iDon't disagree, but the Hockey Hall of Fame, to me, is for players who were elite. Heck, Rob DiMaio, Sami Kapanen, and Scottie Upshall played harder than most Flyers of recent memory, but I'm not putting them into the HOF. Granted, none of them were as good on either side of the puck as Brindy, but simply "bringing it" every night should not be enough to put someone in. This is arguably the weakest class in the last decade, and I can't see him beating out any of Kariya, Recchi, Roenick, Lindros, Mogilny, or Andreychuk. Love him as a player, great Flyer, deserved member of the Flyers HOF, but not the HHOF. To me.
- jmatchett383

Valid. He was a tremendous two-way player. Sure, I'd put in Kariya, Recchi, and Roenick before him. Andreychuk was a compiler from the mid-90s forward, and even before that he was a high 30 goal guy, aside from his one 53 goal season. I'd go with Brind Amour well before him. I don't remember much about Mogilny and I've always been on the fence with Lindros.