Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 11/23/2022 @ WSH

Thanks Bill, and happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Is this appropriate slotting for Frost?

Zach on the 1st line???? I didn't expect that, but I guess that desperate times deserve desperate measures....

Is this appropriate slotting for Frost?
- ClaudeFather

With Cates? I'm fine with it. Look, the whole 86-48-74 line was lousy in the Calgary game both individually and collectively (after being excellent in the game-plus they were together before that). No issue with the three players going to three different lines with the way it was going against Calgary. Tortorella said he might revisit the line as a trio again. As for tonight's game, there was no practice yesterday and the Flyers were the latter morning skate group today so the lines defaulted to what finished last game.

Thanks Bill, and happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
- Scoob

Thank you. Likewise.

With Cates? I'm fine with it. Look, the whole 86-48-74 line was lousy in the Calgary game both individually and collectively (after being excellent in the game-plus they were together before that). No issue with the three players going to three different lines with the way it was going against Calgary. Tortorella said he might revisit the line as a trio again. As for tonight's game, there was no practice yesterday and the Flyers were the latter morning skate group today so the lines defaulted to what finished last game.
- bmeltzer

So the first bump in the road for that line his solution is to break it up? What about developing chemistry and familiarity? Just reeks of no long term plan. Everything is a game by game basis.

Zach on the 1st line???? I didn't expect that, but I guess that desperate times deserve desperate measures....
- Thors-Hammer

I LOL'd reading that but in the same regard this isn't all that funny anymore.

JFC, the Phantoms have had teams that would smoke this lineup. Between Fletcher’s ineptitude and injury, we’ve sunk to the level of the 74-75 Kansas City Scouts.

So the first bump in the road for that line his solution is to break it up? What about developing chemistry and familiarity? Just reeks of no long term plan. Everything is a game by game basis.
- furio16

Not disagreeing. But the line -- all three of them -- whiffed on that Calgary game. They couldn't create a thing, got hemmed in most of their shifts and when they did get up ice it was either a turnover -- the failed give-and-go between Tippett and Frost that turned into a 2-on-1 goal against with Farabee not providing support -- or a one-and-done.

I'd like to see them be given an immediate chance to climb back on the horse as a line but I can understand why Tortorella changed things up last game -- Farabee replaced by Hayes on LW after the first period, Hayes moving to center and Frost going to Cates' line in the third period.

Not disagreeing. But the line -- all three of them -- whiffed on that Calgary game. They couldn't create a thing, got hemmed in most of their shifts and when they did get up ice it was either a turnover -- the failed give-and-go between Tippett and Frost that turned into a 2-on-1 goal against with Farabee not providing support -- or a one-and-done.

I'd like to see them be given an immediate chance to climb back on the horse as a line but I can understand why Tortorella changed things up last game -- Farabee replaced by Hayes on LW after the first period, Hayes moving to center and Frost going to Cates' line in the third period.
- bmeltzer

They were not good no argument in any way. To me you still do not break them up over that 1 game. It becomes a pattern then by all means.

This year is complete toast. Why cant they look towards the future in even a small way. Leave the few talented ones together. Just simply amazed how far this franchise has fallen and how far away they are to contention.

This may be where Frost need to be.
Playing center is maybe a bit too much responsibility up and down the ice shift in shift out for him.

Hope he can score a goal or an assist that would be awesome!

Giving thanks to you Bill for all you do for the crazies/weirdos called Flyer fans.

With Cates? I'm fine with it. Look, the whole 86-48-74 line was lousy in the Calgary game both individually and collectively (after being excellent in the game-plus they were together before that). No issue with the three players going to three different lines with the way it was going against Calgary. Tortorella said he might revisit the line as a trio again. As for tonight's game, there was no practice yesterday and the Flyers were the latter morning skate group today so the lines defaulted to what finished last game.
- bmeltzer

I'm fine with Cates also but Frost should be at center.

They were not good no argument in any way. To me you still do not break them up over that 1 game. It becomes a pattern then by all means.

This year is complete toast. Why cant they look towards the future in even a small way. Leave the few talented ones together. Just simply amazed how far this franchise has fallen and how far away they are to contention.
- furio16

Torts may be playing musical lines, hoping to stumble upon something,
anything, that is a reasonable facsimile of a Bona fide NHL scoring line.
One that can produce nightly shift after shift.

I'm fine with Cates also but Frost should be at center.
- MJL

Why?
Cates has way more puck hawk in him then Frost.
He has more desire to win battles that I just don't see in Frost.
If you are going to say playmaking, Frost can do that from the wing.

Cates' offense has been neutered playing at center.

Cates' offense has been neutered playing at center.
- Feanor

Tortorella is insistent on making him a center. His strength is as a forechecking winger.

Tortorella is insistent on making him a center. His strength is as a forechecking winger.
- MJL

He was a poor hire for a team that should be primarily focused on development.

Of course, he’d be the right candidate if all that team cares about is the appearance of effort on the ice. Instead of actual results.

The promotion of Torts as some sort of hockey mastermind in the summer is coming home to roost for the gullible. This is not a coach for young players in the current NHL.

This may be where Frost need to be.
Playing center is maybe a bit too much responsibility up and down the ice shift in shift out for him.

Hope he can score a goal or an assist that would be awesome!

Giving thanks to you Bill for all you do for the crazies/weirdos called Flyer fans.
- konalover711

Been saying since he was drafted that he would be better suited to wing than center in the NHL.

If anyone else is also into looking at the cap situation, it’s an interesting peek into the Flyers future.

A low talent team that’s maxed out in term, and salary. What’s exactly the thinking there?

Cates' offense has been neutered playing at center.
- Feanor

Actually in his last 8 games he has 2 goals and 4 assists. After having 1 goal and 0 assists in his first 11 games.

Not saying you are wrong as he started out pretty bad. But recently he has at least started getting checks in the scoring columns.

If anyone else is also into looking at the cap situation, it’s an interesting peek into the Flyers future.

A low talent team that’s maxed out in term, and salary. What’s exactly the thinking there?
- FlyerFan3260

it simplifiies any conflicts in Flyers fans' viewing schedules and helps the players avoid missing tee times in the spring

very considerate

Cates' offense has been neutered playing at center.
- Feanor

Maybe this experiment has more of a Center A and center B centering the line roles
?

Actually in his last 8 games he has 2 goals and 4 assists. After having 1 goal and 0 assists in his first 11 games.

Not saying you are wrong as he started out pretty bad. But recently he has at least started getting checks in the scoring columns.
- MBFlyerfan

It can’t be easy to learn center at the NHL level on a injury riddled team that is very thin at the position to begin with. This could never be a short experiment if it has a chance to succeed. It isn’t reasonable to think it could be. Not saying Cates is not a forechecking winger, but maybe he can also become a mid-six defensive center. It will take some patience. This is the best time for the organization to try things with these young players they already have here.

We all know that one game is a sufficient sample size.