Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Fletcher/Flahr, Rookie Camp, European Prospects, TIFH

Loved hearing the 'Moooooose' shout at the Spectrum when Dupont moved the puck

Adam Ginning what a wasted pick.

Based on the GM's answers Brassard and Nate are locks, as if there was any doubt.

Clode
ex selke
JVR
Cam
Joel
Hayes
Laughton
Oscar
Brassard
Nate
TK
Allison

That is likely your top 12 players. Guess NAK will be the extra or hopefully traded for a 7th rd pick.

Last year, when things started to go awry and we lost our way a little bit, we didn't have what I thought was maybe enough veteran leadership, enough players that could maybe help the younger players get through that situation.
-Chuck Fletcher

CF can't be any clearer that last year this team had a BIG void in leadership. Hopefully this year we will see a much more stable team that starts strong, plays 60 minutes and doesn't get flustered when breaks go against them.

CF can't be any clearer that last year this team had a BIG void in leadership. Hopefully this year we will see a much more stable team that starts strong, plays 60 minutes and doesn't get flustered when breaks go against them.
- jd250

Captain Clode is on top of it, def expect different results.

They had plenty of vets last year. Maybe just not the right ones...

Captain Clode is on top of it, def expect different results.

They had plenty of vets last year. Maybe just not the right ones...
- hello it's me 2050

Yes, I think Claude is just not a vocal guy, and there was no one else that really stepped up last year, whether that be Hayes, Couts, JVR or Jake. This year they are clearly a veteran heavy team, so there should be no excuse now.

Yes, I think Claude is just not a vocal guy, and there was no one else that really stepped up last year, whether that be Hayes, JVR or Jake. This year they are clearly a veteran heavy team, so there should be no excuse now.
- jd250

Should have been no excuse prior. Not buying the vet nonsense. Lame excuse for the failure.

Should have been no excuse prior. Not buying the vet nonsense. Lame excuse for the failure.
- hello it's me 2050

I understand your frustration but when you look at last year game by game, we kept seeing the same things, poor starts, good one period awful the next, and the team completely breaking down when things went awry late in games. This underscores the lack of a good veteran presence on the team. What we saw last year is very typical of a younger team that didn't know or appreciate how to prepare to compete and compete hard for 60 minutes. Giroux mentioned this several times that when this team wins, its because they stick to the game plan and stay the course, they don't panic or get flustered and lose the game because of a bad 5 minutes. This to me, if you have read my past posts, was the number one thing CF had to fix this off season, and we'll see soon how he did. He at least acknowledged this problem and made significant changes to try to address it.

I understand your frustration but when you look at last year game by game, we kept seeing the same things, poor starts, good one period awful the next, and the team completely breaking down when things went awry late in games. This underscores the lack of a good veteran presence on the team. What we saw last year is very typical of a younger team that didn't know or appreciate how to prepare to compete and compete hard for 60 minutes. Giroux mentioned this several times that when this team wins, its because they stick to the game plan and stay the course, they don't panic or get flustered and lose the game because of a bad 5 minutes. This to me, if you have read my past posts, was the number one thing CF had to fix this off season, and we'll see soon how he did. He at least acknowledged this problem and made significant changes to try to address it.
- jd250

Last year, veteran players were also a big part of the problem. They were also responsible for a lot of the breakdowns of the team. It was a strange season. The question remains for the long term vision of the team, did they over correct or did they find the right balance. I think the leadership issue is over blown. They simply weren't a good team. Good teams seem to always have good leadership. Winning because you are a good team creates the illusion of good leadership.

I understand your frustration but when you look at last year game by game, we kept seeing the same things, poor starts, good one period awful the next, and the team completely breaking down when things went awry late in games. This underscores the lack of a good veteran presence on the team. What we saw last year is very typical of a younger team that didn't know or appreciate how to prepare to compete and compete hard for 60 minutes. Giroux mentioned this several times that when this team wins, its because they stick to the game plan and stay the course, they don't panic or get flustered and lose the game because of a bad 5 minutes. This to me, if you have read my past posts, was the number one thing CF had to fix this off season, and we'll see soon how he did. He at least acknowledged this problem and made significant changes to try to address it.
- jd250

The team wasnt /isnt that young in nhl experience. We shall see.

Things breaking down late in games, is that leadership though?

I think once a player gets in AV's doghouse, there's no coming back. GM has to trade him.

Adam Ginning what a wasted pick.

Based on the GM's answers Brassard and Nate are locks, as if there was any doubt.

Clode
ex selke
JVR
Cam
Joel
Hayes
Laughton
Oscar
Brassard
Nate
TK
Allison

That is likely your top 12 players. Guess NAK will be the extra or hopefully traded for a 7th rd pick.
- hello it's me 2050

Fletch and AV's jobs are at stake....They are not in development mode so you are right those will be the forwards and the D is set also . No jobs at stake unless someone gets hurt

CF can't be any clearer that last year this team had a BIG void in leadership. Hopefully this year we will see a much more stable team that starts strong, plays 60 minutes and doesn't get flustered when breaks go against them.
- jd250

Nonsense this team last year had lots of veterans and was not that young. They got rid of 5 players..Meyers..Hagg..Ghost..Vorachek..Patrick all of whom have been in the league 3 yrs or more...the team flat out quit last year when things got tough has nothing to do with age. Totally agree though they needed a locker room change you couldnt keep coming back with the same cast and maybe the new guys bring a different culture and hunger that Flyers have been missing. Expect team to be better but 50/50 on them even being a playoff team

Fletch and AV's jobs are at stake....They are not in development mode so you are right those will be the forwards and the D is set also . No jobs at stake unless someone gets hurt
- hfc355

I think fletch is safe unless the bottom completely falls out. He will get 1 more chance with a new coach. AV imo def 100% on the hot seat.

Though if he is canned who do you replace him with Therien or Yeo? Doesn't really seem like much would change.

Adam Ginning what a wasted pick.

Based on the GM's answers Brassard and Nate are locks, as if there was any doubt.

Clode
ex selke
JVR
Cam
Joel
Hayes
Laughton
Oscar
Brassard
Nate
TK
Allison

That is likely your top 12 players. Guess NAK will be the extra or hopefully traded for a 7th rd pick.
- hello it's me 2050

Who would you have picked to make it not a wasted pick?


https://www.eliteprospect...raft/nhl-entry-draft/2018

To be fair, you can only choose someone chosen after him to make it a non wasted pick.

Quotes not working for me this am

"I think fletch is safe unless the bottom completely falls out. He will get 1 more chance with a new coach. AV imo def 100% on the hot seat.

Though if he is canned who do you replace him with Therien or Yeo? Doesn't really seem like much would change. "

I wouldn't take any of that lot. I was friendly with someone on the Pens staff and the stories I heard about Therien back in the 06-08 era were not good. I dont think that old dog learned any new tricks. Yeo, nope to him as well.

Quotes not working for me this am

"I think fletch is safe unless the bottom completely falls out. He will get 1 more chance with a new coach. AV imo def 100% on the hot seat.

Though if he is canned who do you replace him with Therien or Yeo? Doesn't really seem like much would change. "

I wouldn't take any of that lot. I was friendly with someone on the Pens staff and the stories I heard about Therien back in the 06-08 era were not good. I dont think that old dog learned any new tricks. Yeo, nope to him as well.
- RajaAmpat

I don’t see how anyone is safe, if they fall on their face this year how do you not clean house? It would mean that the players that were brought in weren’t part of the solution and the coach failed as well.

Who would you have picked to make it not a wasted pick?


https://www.eliteprospect...raft/nhl-entry-draft/2018

To be fair, you can only choose someone chosen after him to make it a non wasted pick.
- MBFlyerfan

He looks like a bust does he not?

For better or worse the flyers are in “win now” mode. So will the coach ice his best lineup? Will he let a younger player take a few lumps knowing the upside down the line may pay off and help this team win. Or will he trot out the Thompsons and Brassards of the world because he feels comfortable with them even though they will very likely have zero effect on this team’s success, if they have any. I myself do not have much faith in this coaching staff.

For Frost, Patrick really messed up his chances imo. They saw firsthand what the long layoff did to him. Now every player is different. That being said they will be gun shy on having him start with the Flyers unless he really forces their hand. I hope he does as then we will see AV’s true colors. He is a critical piece to the future of this team if they are to “contend”. At some point after a month in the AHL (he needs some games) he needs to be put into the 3rd line center spot. Laughton isn’t any long term answer there nor is Brassard. Will that happen? IMO I am very hesitant it will.

Fletch and AV's jobs are at stake....They are not in development mode so you are right those will be the forwards and the D is set also . No jobs at stake unless someone gets hurt
- hfc355

They should be in development mode. Is continuity of a team and a lineup important? If we project that Brassard is the 3rd line center and Thompson is the 4th line center, that would be 2 out of 4 centers who are not signed past 1 year. Are they also part of the future?

They should be in development mode. Is continuity of a team and a lineup important? If we project that Brassard is the 3rd line center and Thompson is the 4th line center, that would be 2 out of 4 centers who are not signed past 1 year. Are they also part of the future?
- MJL

Agree...but unfortunately they are in "MUST MAKE THE PLAYOFF MODE".....thats their main goal for this year. Good chance guys like Brassard..Thompson break down sometime during the year and someone like Frost gets a shot...good chance AV grows tired of Yandles poor defensive play and York gets a shot this year. They arent making the team out of camp but there are roads to making the roster later in year

He looks like a bust does he not?
- hello it's me 2050

As compared to who? All the other players drafted after him?

Agree...but unfortunately they are in "MUST MAKE THE PLAYOFF MODE".....thats their main goal for this year. Good chance guys like Brassard..Thompson break down sometime during the year and someone like Frost gets a shot...good chance AV grows tired of Yandles poor defensive play and York gets a shot this year. They arent making the team out of camp but there are roads to making the roster later in year
- hfc355

Frost and York will get games for sure this year. Id bet frost plays more than 40, and york gets more than 20 games this year.

Agree...but unfortunately they are in "MUST MAKE THE PLAYOFF MODE".....thats their main goal for this year. Good chance guys like Brassard..Thompson break down sometime during the year and someone like Frost gets a shot...good chance AV grows tired of Yandles poor defensive play and York gets a shot this year. They arent making the team out of camp but there are roads to making the roster later in year
- hfc355

it really is mind boggling they signed Nate. He just flat out fn stinks and should not be on any nhl team that has playoff aspirations. He adds zero value. Do not want to hear the pk or he plays physical nonsense - not directed at you.

As compared to who? All the other players drafted after him?
- MBFlyerfan

It was a simple question. No need to try to complicate it.