Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: West Coast Trip, WJC, Barber and More

Bill, Happy holidays to you and your family!
Thank you for knowledgeable writings throughout the years.

Zamula looks good. Nice mobility and seems to move the puck with ease. Looking forward to Canada/US.

Holidays are over, let’s smack the https://thehockeywriters....s-success-hayes-niskanen/

Ridiculous - the fact the NHL doesn't have exemptions available for situations like this where the Flyers are already up against the schedule, then to say "screw you, rules say you gotta play jet-lagged"

Also, Kevin Hayes is great on defense and the PK.

Ridiculous - the fact the NHL doesn't have exemptions available for situations like this where the Flyers are already up against the schedule, then to say "screw you, rules say you gotta play jet-lagged"

Also, Kevin Hayes is great on defense and the PK.
- GrittySauce

Does seem like some poor scheduling at the least.

Zamula...scores again.

Yegor Zamula gets his second goal of the game for Russia!

Zamula with 2 goals...kids a player. Hes gonna be Myers 2.0

Holidays are over, let’s smack the https://thehockeywriters....s-success-hayes-niskanen/
- wcorvette

Pitlick has looked solid since he got fully healthy. He's a good example of a player who didn't really find his game and become an NHL regular till age 25.

https://www.eliteprospect...layer/40064/tyler-pitlick

Let's go, Flyers! Some great hockey these past few weeks!

Holidays are over, let’s smack the https://thehockeywriters....s-success-hayes-niskanen/
- wcorvette

https://www.nhl.com/news/...6-december-25/c-313068502

Response to grittysauce -

Hayes is worth every penny of his 7.14m contract thus far. If he do tunes to play at this level then he will be a solid acquisition!

I've compiled a list of notable players playing in the WJC that are eligible to be drafted in the 2020 draft.

Canada
Alexis Lafrenière (LW) *****
Quinton Byfield (C) *****
Jamie Drysdale (D) ****
Dawson Mercer (RW) ****
Nico Daws (G) ***

Czech Republic
Jan Mysak (LW) ****
Jaromir Pytlik (C) ***
Nick Malik (G) ***
Adam Raska (LW) **
Karel Klikorka (D) **
Simon Kubicek (D) **
Radek Kucerik (D) *
Jan Mlcak (D) *

Finland
Kari Piiroinen (G) *
Mikko Petman (RW) **
Aatu Räty (2021) (C) *****

Germany
Tobias Ancicka (G) **
Maximilian Glötzl (D) ***
Nino Kinder (LW) **
John-Jason Peterka (F) ***
Lukas Reichel (F) ***
Tim Stützle (F) ****

Russia
Yaroslav Askarov (G) ****
Maxim Groshev (F) ***
Yegor Sokolov (RW) ***

Slovakia
Oliver Okuliar (LW) ***
Samuel Knazko (D) ***
Samuel Hlavaj (G) ***
Marko Stacha (D) **

Sweden
Lucas Raymond (F) *****
Alexander Holtz (F) ****

Switzerland
Simon Knak (RW)  **

USA
Parker Ford (C) ***

Happy Holidays, Bill! Your written work and tireless dedication to your craft never goes unnoticed.

I understand if you’d rather not comment on this, one way or the other, but what’s your take on the JR thing? Do you think NBC Sports will bring him back?

Response to grittysauce -

Hayes is worth every penny of his 7.14m contract thus far. If he do tunes to play at this level then he will be a solid acquisition!
- sILKAsSINASALO

I'm hopeful his offensive production will continue to climb! It would appear he's just now entering his prime, but pro sports aren't an exact science. Good time to be a Flyers fan though!

I've compiled a list of notable players playing in the WJC that are eligible to be drafted in the 2020 draft.

Canada
Alexis Lafrenière (LW) *****
Quinton Byfield (C) *****
Jamie Drysdale (D) ****
Dawson Mercer (RW) ****

Czech Republic
Jan Mysak (LW) ****
Jaromir Pytlik (C) ***
Nick Malik (G) ***
Adam Raska (LW) **
Karel Klikorka (D) **
Simon Kubicek (D) **
Radek Kucerik (D) *
Jan Mlcak (D) *

Finland
Kari Piiroinen (G) *
Mikko Petman (RW) **
Aatu Räty (2021) (C) *****

Germany
Tobias Ancicka (G) **
Maximilian Glötzl (D) ***
Nino Kinder (LW) **
John-Jason Peterka (F) ***
Lukas Reichel (F) ***
Tim Stützle (F) ****

Russia
Yaroslav Askarov (G) ****
Maxim Groshev (F) ***
Yegor Sokolov (RW) ***

Slovakia
Oliver Okuliar (LW) ***
Samuel Knazko (D) ***
Samuel Hlavaj (G) ***
Marko Stacha (D) **

Sweden
Lucas Raymond (F) *****
Alexander Holtz (F) ****

Switzerland
Simon Knak (RW)  **

USA
Parker Ford (C) ***
- dubc55

Thanks for this! I'm always late to having a grasp on upcoming draft prospects.

Is it right to assume your *s are out of 5 for ratings?

Thanks for this! I'm always late to having a grasp on upcoming draft prospects.

Is it right to assume your *s are out of 5 for ratings?
- GrittySauce

No problem.
Yeah the *'s are a skill rating and kind of a guideline on who to pay more attention to.

Response to grittysauce -

Hayes is worth every penny of his 7.14m contract thus far. If he do tunes to play at this level then he will be a solid acquisition!
- sILKAsSINASALO

To Hayes’ credit, he has great hands for a big man, great a takeaways and defensively sound but a 7 million dollar player means slam junk offensive production and basically being paid like a first line center. Kevin Hayes isn’t a first line center.

5 goals, 9 assists, 15 games and a Plus 4 is what Kevin Hayes has done in his last 15 games, which I admit is really good.

However, Hayes was a minus 5 with two assists on the last 0-3 road trip. Plus Hayes went goal less from December 3rd to December 19th. So basically he hasn’t scored all of December until his last two games.

So on the surface, he does look good but if you dive a little deeper, he’s doing just OK.

To Hayes’ credit, he has great hands for a big man, great a takeaways and defensively sound but a 7 million dollar player means slam junk offensive production and basically being paid like a first line center. Kevin Hayes isn’t a first line center.

5 goals, 9 assists, 15 games and a Plus 4 is what Kevin Hayes has done in his last 15 games, which I admit is really good.

However, Hayes was a minus 5 with two assists on the last 0-3 road trip. Plus Hayes went goal less from December 3rd to December 19th. So basically he hasn’t scored all of December until his last two games.

So on the surface, he does look good but if you dive a little deeper, he’s doing just OK.
- SuperSchennBros

7 million dollars isn't being paid like a first line center.

Happy Boxing Day

Here’s to hoping we pound the Canadian team today 🇺🇸

7 million dollars isn't being paid like a first line center.
- Ftown19125

Yes, it is.

Yes, it is.
- SuperSchennBros

right now, point producing centers are making like 10 million. he's not being paid like a first line center. you think couturier is going to be getting paid 7 million when his deal is up?

7 million dollars isn't being paid like a first line center.
- Ftown19125

Correct. If he was a first line center, they wouldn't have gotten him for that price.

Yes, it is.
- SuperSchennBros

Just out of curiosity I’d like to see what first line centers make around the league, ones not on entry level contracts and signed in the past three years. To make a fair comparison.

As I said yesterday, Hayes is NOT a $7 million dollar player in my opinion, but it’d be interesting to see. I’ll research it.