Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Myers, WJC, Lake Tahoe, TIFH and More

Thanks Bill.

Thanks.

Interesting to hear lappy discuss the importance of having a guy like Morin in the lineup. Wish the best for the kid.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Myers, WJC, Lake Tahoe, TIFH and More
- bmeltzer

People are a little triggered by Sam Morin playing LW, as opposed to his natural position on defense. I think it’s interesting. I’m really happy the Flyers are giving him every opportunity to become an NHLer.

My concern is our mix on defense. I feel like Provorov, Sanheim and Myers are more than deserving of power play time. The problem is, by signing Gustafsson and not trading Gostisbehere, they’re going to eat that time Sanheim and Myers should get. To me, that sucks! This is what bugs me.

Hopefully by Morin being in the line up at all. The wing should be those first baby steps. Morin is an injury prone player to date. Get those short shifts at forward and hopefully make your way back to what’s natural to him.

For those who harp on speed. We need speed. We don’t need goons or physical players up front. (frank) that! Tom Wilson, Patrick Maroon, Martin Martin, Kyle Clutterbuck. Winning teams have those gritty, hard working players regardless if they fight or not. I wish we had a Lappy on this team still. I’m hoping Aube-Kubel really blossoms this year.

People are a little triggered by Sam Morin playing LW, as opposed to his natural position on defense. I think it’s interesting. I’m really happy the Flyers are giving him every opportunity to become an NHLer.

My concern is our mix on defense. I feel like Provorov, Sanheim and Myers are more than deserving of power play time. The problem is, by signing Gustafsson and not trading Gostisbehere, they’re going to eat that time Sanheim and Myers should get. To me, that sucks! This is what bugs me.

Hopefully by Morin being in the line up at all. The wing should be those first baby steps. Morin is an injury prone player to date. Get those short shifts at forward and hopefully make your way back to what’s natural to him.

For those who harp on speed. We need speed. We don’t need goons or physical players up front. (frank) that! Tom Wilson, Patrick Maroon, Martin Martin, Kyle Clutterbuck. Winning teams have those gritty, hard working players regardless if they fight or not. I wish we had a Lappy on this team still. I’m hoping Aube-Kubel really blossoms this year.
- SuperSchennBros

I agree for the most part.

I like the idea of a 6'7 forward, and don't like the mix on defense.

Ghost is not trash. If they cannot move him, it must mean they are asking for value in return. So I hope this is not a 'Wentz' lite situation at the cost of a coherent team.

I agree for the most part.

I like the idea of a 6'7 forward, and don't like the mix on defense.

Ghost is not trash. If they cannot move him, it must mean they are asking for value in return. So I hope this is not a 'Wentz' lite situation at the cost of a coherent team.
- DrMidnite

I just want to see players work to their strengths. Like, we can all agree that we want Patrick to return and be impactful. He’s not a speedy guy though. He’s a big kid who is gonna need to use his big frame to his advantage, and I think he will. We’re not a slow team and discounting what physical players can do is so weird to me. We just need that perfect balance.

I just want to see players work to their strengths. Like, we can all agree that we want Patrick to return and be impactful. He’s not a speedy guy though. He’s a big kid who is gonna need to use his big frame to his advantage, and I think he will. We’re not a slow team and discounting what physical players can do is so weird to me. We just need that perfect balance.
- SuperSchennBros

Having said what I said, I hope they DO move Ghost. So I look forward to the next phase of Fletcher's tenure.

He has an A so far but we will see how this year ends.

People are a little triggered by Sam Morin playing LW, as opposed to his natural position on defense. I think it’s interesting. I’m really happy the Flyers are giving him every opportunity to become an NHLer.

My concern is our mix on defense. I feel like Provorov, Sanheim and Myers are more than deserving of power play time. The problem is, by signing Gustafsson and not trading Gostisbehere, they’re going to eat that time Sanheim and Myers should get. To me, that sucks! This is what bugs me.

Hopefully by Morin being in the line up at all. The wing should be those first baby steps. Morin is an injury prone player to date. Get those short shifts at forward and hopefully make your way back to what’s natural to him.

For those who harp on speed. We need speed. We don’t need goons or physical players up front. (frank) that! Tom Wilson, Patrick Maroon, Martin Martin, Kyle Clutterbuck. Winning teams have those gritty, hard working players regardless if they fight or not. I wish we had a Lappy on this team still. I’m hoping Aube-Kubel really blossoms this year.
- SuperSchennBros

What winger is he going to play over in your humble opinion if he is in the lineup?

Forget that they already have full NHL caliber wingers in the lineup; what about the college players and other better prospects?

The thought of Sam in the lineup for any meaningful games is not a good thought. A 56 game schedule with a limited training camp with 0 games is not the time they should be experimenting.

Bill, I love your writings but it seems that the last few articles are intertwined with justification about what a great leader Claude is. Almost as if you are softening the blow on him not having a big season. No doubt Claude is an outstanding person and loved in the room but I, for one, really think that he should not be the one to wear the “C” anymore. I think this team needs a new voice. The coaches had an opportunity over the break to make it happen and it would have softened the blow on his ego. I think Coots or Provy would be outstanding choices. And let’s remember, even Bobby Clarke had a break in his captaincy! No offense to G, but I feel like it’s the same mantra with him. It’s time for new blood to take over.

Bill, I love your writings but it seems that the last few articles are intertwined with justification about what a great leader Claude is. Almost as if you are softening the blow on him not having a big season. No doubt Claude is an outstanding person and loved in the room but I, for one, really think that he should not be the one to wear the “C” anymore. I think this team needs a new voice. The coaches had an opportunity over the break to make it happen and it would have softened the blow on his ego. I think Coots or Provy would be outstanding choices. And let’s remember, even Bobby Clarke had a break in his captaincy! No offense to G, but I feel like it’s the same mantra with him. It’s time for new blood to take over.
- HockeyLifer

I gave my opinion regarding Giroux in one recent blog. The others are all transcripts from interviews done by teammates and Fletcher.

Clarke's captaincy break came because he was named an assistant coach, and it would have been a conflict of interests to be both captain and an assistant coach.

Bill, I love your writings but it seems that the last few articles are intertwined with justification about what a great leader Claude is. Almost as if you are softening the blow on him not having a big season. No doubt Claude is an outstanding person and loved in the room but I, for one, really think that he should not be the one to wear the “C” anymore. I think this team needs a new voice. The coaches had an opportunity over the break to make it happen and it would have softened the blow on his ego. I think Coots or Provy would be outstanding choices. And let’s remember, even Bobby Clarke had a break in his captaincy! No offense to G, but I feel like it’s the same mantra with him. It’s time for new blood to take over.
- HockeyLifer

So if G is wearing an A and Coots has the C what changes? Is Coots all of a sudden going to speak more? Highly doubtful. There is no problem with G wearing the C and he should, you can tell by all the comments over the years how much all the players look to him as an example of a great professional and a pretty damn good player. People have written him off before, I’m excited to see him get going this year.

What winger is he going to play over in your humble opinion if he is in the lineup?

Forget that they already have full NHL caliber wingers in the lineup; what about the college players and other better prospects?

The thought of Sam in the lineup for any meaningful games is not a good thought. A 56 game schedule with a limited training camp with 0 games is not the tie they should be experimenting.
- Striiker

Guy hasn’t played his own position in two years but people think he’s going to crack the lineup at wing?

Guy hasn’t played his own position in two years but people think he’s going to crack the lineup at wing?
- ClaudeFather

My own opinion is he has a much better chance of being a bottom pairing defense-man than a winger; even that chance is not so great.

This foolishness by AV is being overlooked.

Guy hasn’t played his own position in two years but people think he’s going to crack the lineup at wing?
- ClaudeFather

He has size and 'yep' speed when healthy.

And creates mis-matches all over the place with his size in an in-front-of-the-net capacity.

So if G is wearing an A and Coots has the C what changes? Is Coots all of a sudden going to speak more? Highly doubtful. There is no problem with G wearing the C and he should, you can tell by all the comments over the years how much all the players look to him as an example of a great professional and a pretty damn good player. People have written him off before, I’m excited to see him get going this year.
- ClaudeFather

Exactly my point! I know he’s respected! It’s not about speaking more, brother! From what we read, G doesn’t speak much , leads by example and I ordinarily am fine with that. Don’t take my opinion personally. This is not me bashing Claude. I think I make a good point and knew that I would take some heat but Claude has been our captain for a while now, under several coaches and I think this team is too comfortable at times. Honestly, I’m not sure if the captain is on this team yet as I mentioned on this blog after we got knocked out in game7. It’s not personal and he might actually play better without the weight of the captaincy.

Guy hasn’t played his own position in two years but people think he’s going to crack the lineup at wing?
- ClaudeFather

He has nothing to lose which makes for an underdog story. Simple as that. He is doing what was asked/proposed. Even he said he sees himself as a d man but is willing to do anything to play. Man has been through a lot the last two three years. His contract is up this year. So why not?

What time are physicals supposed to be wrapped up so we can see the training camp roster? Do we need a warm goalie body for camp?

He has size and 'yep' speed when healthy.

And creates mis-matches all over the place with his size in an in-front-of-the-net capacity.
- DrMidnite

In 2015?

My own opinion is he has a much better chance of being a bottom pairing defense-man than a winger; even that chance is not so great.

This foolishness by AV is being overlooked.
- Striiker

Was this AVs idea? Any chance of him being an NHL player would be a miracle at this point so either way it really doesn’t matter.

Exactly my point! I know he’s respected! It’s not about speaking more, brother! From what we read, G doesn’t speak much , leads by example and I ordinarily am fine with that. Don’t take my opinion personally. This is not me bashing Claude. I think I make a good point and knew that I would take some heat but Claude has been our captain for a while now, under several coaches and I think this team is too comfortable at times. Honestly, I’m not sure if the captain is on this team yet as I mentioned on this blog after we got knocked out in game7. It’s not personal and he might actually play better without the weight of the captaincy.
- HockeyLifer

Haven’t thought of it in that aspect but knowing what kind of competitor he is I don’t think he’d take the demotion in a positive way. The time to do that I think would be when his current deal is up and he is resigned, no longer face of the franchise and a guy like Coots/Provy are cemented as the core guys. Right now we still have that mix of old and young with Jake and G and then the others. Not saying Coots/Provy aren’t already core guys.

Was this AVs idea? Any chance of him being an NHL player would be a miracle at this point so either way it really doesn’t matter.
- ClaudeFather

I read somewhere, cant remember where, the GM said this was all AV and the coaching staffs idea; I didn't have anything to do with it.

Agree it is much adieu about nothing. That being said I wont be shocked 1 bit if he plays several games with this staff in place.

He has nothing to lose which makes for an underdog story. Simple as that. He is doing what was asked/proposed. Even he said he sees himself as a d man but is willing to do anything to play. Man has been through a lot the last two three years. His contract is up this year. So why not?
- Peter Richards

And that’s fine but folks are acting like he’s going to make the lineup lol. We already have a logjam at forward.

Haven’t thought of it in that aspect but knowing what kind of competitor he is I don’t think he’d take the demotion in a positive way. The time to do that I think would be when his current deal is up and he is resigned, no longer face of the franchise and a guy like Coots/Provy are cemented as the core guys. Right now we still have that mix of old and young with Jake and G and then the others. Not saying Coots/Provy aren’t already core guys.
- ClaudeFather

I love your point about him not taking it a positive way, and that’s something that might also work in his favor in terms of playing with a little more of” I’ll show them” kinda way. Either way, this is a big year for the team and you and I want the same thing; a Stanley Cup!

And that’s fine but folks are acting like he’s going to make the lineup lol. We already have a logjam at forward.
- ClaudeFather

Why not dress him as a hybrid 7D and have him just be a decoy on the PP

At work and bored. When are the rosters being released.