Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 1/1/17 @ ANA

Thanks Bill and happy New Year to you.
It feels like a slow slide back to a .500 record.
Stolarz looked really good against the Sharks, which was a bright spot. Mase was good as well, before the injury.
2016 was a bad year all around, here's to a better '17.

FFS, is he scratching TK again?? Unless he's injured or ill, this is just flat out dumb.

Thanks Bill and happy New Year to you.
It feels like a slow slide back to a .500 record.
Stolarz looked really good against the Sharks, which was a bright spot. Mase was good as well, before the injury.
2016 was a bad year all around, here's to a better '17.
- Marc D

A good start to ending the slide might be to put TK back in the lineup and also shake up the lines and D pairs.

I'd like to see:

Raffl-G-Jake
Schenn-Coots-TK
Leier-Cousins-Simmonds
VDV-PEB-Lyubimov

Provorov-Gudas
MDZ-Ghost
AMac-Manning

Rather than worrying about line changes and defense pairings, the Flyers need to get back to what they were doing when they were winning games. They need to skate better, manage the puck better, and win more battles. Without that, line combos won't matter much. The Giroux line is going to face a tough challenge tonight facing Kesler, who is a physical horse and one of the best checking centers in hockey.

Only 11 games in the month of January for the Flyers. Better make them count. Hopefully they at least can make it competitive today unlike the last 3.

can we please beat the ducks

Hopefully I'll get a Flyers win tonight and the missus will get a Penn State Rose bowl win tomorrow! Then we can head back to Key West on Tuesday with big smiles on our faces!!

On 2nd thought, we're going to Key West. We'll be smiling no matter what!

Matchups against these west coast teams are just really tough for the Flyers right now. They don't have the size to go through them, nor the speed to go around them.

More speed and size throughout the lineup would really help.

I hope TK and Lyuby are back in the line up, I enjoy watching them play and think they give the team a better chance in the line up.

I hope TK and Lyuby are back in the line up, I enjoy watching them play and think they give the team a better chance in the line up.
- Marc D

If they're not in the lineup, I'd like to hear Hak's reason as to why.

can we please beat the ducks
- 2Real

No

I expect that konecny will be back in the lineup tonight but I do not know on which line. I will adjust the lineups later today.

Matchups against these west coast teams are just really tough for the Flyers right now. They don't have the size to go through them, nor the speed to go around them.

More speed and size throughout the lineup would really help.
- BiggE

Agree, but the only way the Flyers could add some speed and size right now is through trades. Is Hextall "gun shy" to make any trades? Who knows, but he really has not made one to improve the current on ice product. Well he did make a draft day move to steal TK....but no " in season" trades

Agree, but the only way the Flyers could add some speed and size right now is through trades. Is Hextall "gun shy" to make any trades? Who knows, but he really has not made one to improve the current on ice product. Well he did make a draft day move to steal TK....but no " in season" trades
- 3flyerkids

Honestly, unless he can move a contract for a future asset or to get out of one, I really wouldn't expect one. Never know, but with the phase the Flyers are in, it's pretty much draft and develop for a while.

I expect that konecny will be back in the lineup tonight but I do not know on which line. I will adjust the lineups later today.
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill

Matchups against these west coast teams are just really tough for the Flyers right now. They don't have the size to go through them, nor the speed to go around them.

More speed and size throughout the lineup would really help.
- BiggE

Exactly right. They can win the odd game vs them but they have to really be on. The ducks absolutely know the formula to beat us and we really struggle along the boards to win battles. If the special teams don't show up we're basically toast.

Agree, but the only way the Flyers could add some speed and size right now is through trades. Is Hextall "gun shy" to make any trades? Who knows, but he really has not made one to improve the current on ice product. Well he did make a draft day move to steal TK....but no " in season" trades
- 3flyerkids

I think hexy is in the spot now that he doesn't believe we're that close to contending so as to want to trade some of our young d prospects for forward help. If he thought this team was right there, I have full faith that he'd pull the trigger. Once more of the contracts come off the books, my guess is that more young d will make the squad on cheaper contracts. He can then use the money to sign a Ufa or surplus prospects to trade for forward help. Edmonton has shown that young solid d is more valuable than forwards. Hexy should be able to make it happen when the time is right.

Per GM Ron Hextall the #Flyers have loaned LW Taylor Leier to the Phantoms and activated LW Matt Read from Injured Reserve

Per GM Ron Hextall the #Flyers have loaned LW Taylor Leier to the Phantoms and activated LW Matt Read from Injured Reserve
- Feanor

Excellent.

Per GM Ron Hextall the #Flyers have loaned LW Taylor Leier to the Phantoms and activated LW Matt Read from Injured Reserve
- Feanor

Yay

A bit concerned about Meyers...
Concussion #2 in a short span.

Does anyone have a count on how many he has had in Juniors.

His long term Flyers future is definitely in jeopardy.

Excellent.
- MJL

For some reason I read this picturing Mr Burns

For some reason I read this picturing Mr Burns
- BiggE

You're in mid season form?

A bit concerned about Meyers...
Concussion #2 in a short span.

Does anyone have a count on how many he has had in Juniors.

His long term Flyers future is definitely in jeopardy.
- Konalover

That's an overreaction in my opinion.