Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Gudas, Alumni, Tough Trivia and More

Forbes Kennedy, what a ruffian!


I like Gudas. As long as he doesn't get out of control, he is a very effective defenseman and not a bad skater either. If Provorov makes the team, he could be a nice partner for the kid.

Gudas Provorov 2016


Touch the kid.....you die on the ice.....

Gudas Provorov 2016


Touch the kid.....you die on the ice.....
- MBFlyerfan

Hopefully, we'll see by the end of the season:
Ghost-Morin

Hopefully, we'll see by the end of the season:
Ghost-Morin


- BiggE

Hopefully, we'll see by the end of the season:
Ghost-Morin


- BiggE

It will be nice to have a few Mcrimmon Howe type dynamics in our pairs.....

It will be nice to have a few Mcrimmon Howe type dynamics in our pairs.....

- MBFlyerfan

It really will be nice to see defensemen who look at the blue line as a line in the sand. Cross it and get smoked!

It really will be nice to see defensemen who look at the blue line as a line in the sand. Cross it and get smoked!
- dragonoffrost

I just want to see a Morin Ghost pair and what Morin does to the first guy who takes a run at the Bear........

I get the feeling Morin takes that kind of stuff personally.

I just want to see a Morin Ghost pair and what Morin does to the first guy who takes a run at the Bear........

I get the feeling Morin takes that kind of stuff personally.

- MBFlyerfan

I'm guessing his stare alone will be enough to keep most guys off of Ghost

I have found Gudas to be a pleasant surprise. At the time of the Coburn trade, I was completely satisfied with just getting the 1st for Konecny and knew very little about Gudas. All I really knew was that he could hit. If he can continue to progress and continue his effective mean presence, this trade will payoff even more for us.

I have found Gudas to be a pleasant surprise. At the time of the Coburn trade, I was completely satisfied with just getting the 1st for Konecny and knew very little about Gudas. All I really knew was that he could hit. If he can continue to progress and continue his effective mean presence, this trade will payoff even more for us.
- arichardson22

I think I referred to Gudas as "Blueline Rinaldo".

I might have been a tad off on that assessment.

I think I referred to Gudas as "Blueline Rinaldo".

I might have been a tad off on that assessment.
- johndewar

Yup, unlike Rinaldo, Gudas doesn't take himself way out of position to make a big hit, nor does he constantly take bad penalties for no reason whatsoever.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Gudas, Alumni, Tough Trivia and More
- bmeltzer

Bill will michael parks be back with the phantoms?

I have found Gudas to be a pleasant surprise. At the time of the Coburn trade, I was completely satisfied with just getting the 1st for Konecny and knew very little about Gudas. All I really knew was that he could hit. If he can continue to progress and continue his effective mean presence, this trade will payoff even more for us.
- arichardson22

Gudas did play a lot of minutes for the Lightning in 2013-14, when they were a 101 point team. So there was some signs that he could be a player. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how well Gudas played, especially in the second half of the season.

In the first half, he did well with MDZ, forming a pretty effective pair. Then around the AS break, he had that run of bad hits and undisciplined play. But after, when he was paired with Manning after MDZ got hurt, they formed a pretty effective pair, too. Even if Gudas did benefit from MDZ, he was able to benefit Manning late in the season.

Imma eat some crow here.

At the mid-point of last season I was not the biggest Gudas fan. He was reckless to say the least, was putting himself out of position a bunch looking for a big hit, and didnt bring anything in the O-zone. I likened him to a neanderthal quiet a bit... and lets be honest here...



Then he was suspended, looked like Hexy and Hak had a nice talk with him, and he reigned it in a bit, and boom a totally different player the second half.

He just turned 26, so age is on his side as well. Really hope he can bring what he showed the second half of the season.


As for MDZ, I said when we resigned him last season that I wanted a 4 year deal. Some people thought that was asinine. Imagine another 2 years beyond next year with MDZ. Perfect for the transitional period.

Gudas did play a lot of minutes for the Lightning in 2013-14, when they were a 101 point team. So there was some signs that he could be a player. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how well Gudas played, especially in the second half of the season.

In the first half, he did well with MDZ, forming a pretty effective pair. Then around the AS break, he had that run of bad hits and undisciplined play. But after, when he was paired with Manning after MDZ got hurt, they formed a pretty effective pair, too. Even if Gudas did benefit from MDZ, he was able to benefit Manning late in the season.
- Jsaquella

Exactly, Gudas and Schenn were 2 players that really stood out for me in the 2nd half. IF both can keep playing at that level, the Flyers will be in pretty good shape.

Imma eat some crow here.

At the mid-point of last season I was not the biggest Gudas fan. He was reckless to say the least, was putting himself out of position a bunch looking for a big hit, and didnt bring anything in the O-zone.

Then he was suspended, looked like Hexy and Hak had a nice talk with him, and he reigned it in a bit, and boom a totally different player the second half.

He just turned 26, so age is on his side as well. Really hope he can bring what he showed the second half of the season.


As for MDZ, I said when we resigned him last season that I wanted a 4 year deal. Some people thought that was asinine. Imagine another 2 years beyond next year with MDZ. Perfect for the transitional period.
- jak521

If they want MDZ, they will get a deal done this year. With Streit and Schultz completely off the books at the end of the season, it won't be that difficult.

If they want MDZ, they will get a deal done this year. With Streit and Schultz completely off the books at the end of the season, it won't be that difficult.
- BiggE

What kinda deal though? I could totally see him looking for 5-6 years at around 5.5 a year.

If they want MDZ, they will get a deal done this year. With Streit and Schultz completely off the books at the end of the season, it won't be that difficult.
- BiggE

I wonder if they'll wait until after the expansion draft to sign MDZ. Frees up a protected slot, but also runs the risk of losing him (a la Carle) if a similar guy gets a huge payday from another team either before or after hitting free agency

If they want MDZ, they will get a deal done this year. With Streit and Schultz completely off the books at the end of the season, it won't be that difficult.
- BiggE

This is a big year or MDZ. We have to see how he recovers from the wrist injury, and also see if he can take that next step and get back some of the offense he lost when transitioning in to a more all situations defender.

If he can maintain the improvements he made on the D side and increase his offense a bit, the Flyers will want to keep him. We will need a veteran presence on the blueline.

I wonder if they'll wait until after the expansion draft to sign MDZ. Frees up a protected slot, but also runs the risk of losing him (a la Carle) if a similar guy gets a huge payday from another team either before or after hitting free agency
- Jsaquella

Not sure they will need another D spot to protect. With the 3 they have, they can protect Gudas, MDZ and Ghost. Morin, Provorov, Haag, and Sanheim are exempt. So unless they acquire someone else between now and then, there really is no one else to worry about.

Not sure they will need another D spot to protect. With the 3 they have, they can protect Gudas, MDZ and Ghost. Morin, Provorov, Haag, and Sanheim are exempt. So unless they acquire someone else between now and then, there really is no one else to worry about.
- BiggE

Never know what could happen...I'd like to see MDZ back. I think he's played very well as a Flyer, and fits in well with the team's core. Granted cost is a concern. But if he plays like he has the past couple seasons, I'd be OK with a deal like Brayden Schenn's or even a tad higher in terms of AAV.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Gudas, Alumni, Tough Trivia and More
- bmeltzer

I think you need a player like Gudas on the second or third pair on any team looking to win. I'm hoping with the raise of certain players, his role because more limited, between the 15 and 18 minute rage, if it isn't already. The legitimate intimidation factor I don't really see. While PK Subban is a wild character in terms of personality and voicing opinions, I wouldn't called "tough" compared most players with this reputation. Subban had no issues with mixing up and calling out Gudas in an early February game. If players play scared due to an opposing player, I have to question what they're doing out there. Players could lightly take a hit on any given shift or crushed into the boards at any moment of a game. Playing scared is likely to increase those chances.

Maybe I'm way off but I think we've all come across a lot more scary players. Keep in mind I am the type who welcomes the prototypical Broad Street Bully.

Never know what could happen...I'd like to see MDZ back. I think he's played very well as a Flyer, and fits in well with the team's core. Granted cost is a concern. But if he plays like he has the past couple seasons, I'd be OK with a deal like Brayden Schenn's or even a tad higher in terms of AAV.
- Jsaquella

Agreed, if MDZ continues to play a good 2 way game, I'd have no problem locking him long term with Schenn like numbers.

I think you need a player like Gudas on the second or third pair on any team looking to win. I'm hoping with the raise of certain players, his role because more limited, between the 15 and 18 minute rage, if it isn't already. The legitimate intimidation factor I don't really see. While PK Subban is a wild character in terms of personality and voicing opinions, I wouldn't called "tough" compared most players with this reputation. Subban had no issues with mixing up and calling out Gudas in an early February game. If players play scared due to an opposing player, I have to question what they're doing out there. Players could lightly take a hit on any given shift or crushed into the boards at any moment of a game. Playing scared is likely to increase those chances.

Maybe I'm way off but I think we've all come across a lot more scary players. Keep in mind I am the type who welcomes the prototypical Broad Street Bully.
- roenick97

I think scared is a bad description. However, what Dmen like Gudas often cause is a forward will rush his play just a bit and perhaps the shot goes wide or the pass is just a bit off. Forwards are aware of guys like Gudas when they are on the ice and they don't want to get crushed by those type of Dmen while in the middle of making a play.

When it comes to "old school" intimidation, you are 100% correct, in the past the Flyers have had MUCH scarier guys than Gudas. However in today's game, intimidation mainly comes from the guys that throw hard punishing hits and Gudas hits as hard as pretty much anyone.