Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Deconstructing Preseason Opener Debacle

Embarassment.

I don't think it was beneficial, at least in the short term, for all camp attendees to be put through four scrimmages apiece in a three-day period directly on the heels of John Tortorella's torturous skating test on the first day of camp.
- bmeltzer

You think that would be obvious, but I guess not. 🤷

These pre season games you want your NHL guys to look like NHL players, that was not the case for the Flyers. Especially frost and york

And here we go again.

First Atkinson will be day to day with a mild LBI

Then it will be, he’s gearing up to be ready for opening night

Followed by he’s gonna be out a few more weeks with an undisclosed injury

And finally, out indefinitely with a still undisclosed injury.

Lather, rinse, repeat…

Wow, I thought Frost looked great last night ...

Its pre-season, I wouldn't read too much into it. The Flyers really didn't have their collective legs. But regarding Frost, this is why he gets so much scrutiny, he lacks consistency which means you can't count on him.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Deconstructing Preseason Opener Debacle
- bmeltzer

when did ex selke win the selke 2x?

And here we go again.

First Atkinson will be day to day with a mild LBI

Then it will be, he’s gearing up to be ready for opening night

Followed by he’s gonna be out a few more weeks with an undisclosed injury

And finally, out indefinitely with a still undisclosed injury.

Lather, rinse, repeat…
- BiggE

Atkinson out with soreness….Colour me shocked.

Nothing to see here. Collectively, the team had no legs. Easy to overreact but the reality is that it was a split-squad scrimmage against a fresher team (and thankfully not televised locally!).

I understand Bill's perspective on the training camp structure but since we were still in year one of the rebuild (from the time that Fletch was fired), Torts' stress test is still useful to understand the character and resilience of the young players. Next year? Maybe not so much.

Wow, I thought Frost looked great last night ...

Its pre-season, I wouldn't read too much into it. The Flyers really didn't have their collective legs. But regarding Frost, this is why he gets so much scrutiny, he lacks consistency which means you can't count on him.
- jd250

It’s a big year for Frost. I thought he showed progress last year, but he does need to “progress” this year. He has the skill and ability….can he put it all together for a full season? I guess we’ll see.

These pre season games you want your NHL guys to look like NHL players, that was not the case for the Flyers. Especially frost and york
- ClaudeFather

I wouldn't go nearly that far. Both Frost and York have already shown they are viable NHL players. A rotten preseason opener doesn't change that. But, that said, it was brutal last night for those two and others.

when did ex selke win the selke 2x?
- hello it's me 2050

Bill probably meant to say, two time finalist... one time winner.

Wow, I thought Frost looked great last night ...

Its pre-season, I wouldn't read too much into it. The Flyers really didn't have their collective legs. But regarding Frost, this is why he gets so much scrutiny, he lacks consistency which means you can't count on him.
- jd250

So the whole team gets a pass... except for Frost. Got it.

Cal has clearly showed why he is not an NHL goalie. Flyers are gonna wish they got more back in that trade besides 1.5 cap dumps, couple picks, and suspect prospect.

when did ex selke win the selke 2x?
- hello it's me 2050

1) Do you refer to any other non-reigning trophy winner as ex-whatever? No. It implies that the award was undeserved. That's nonsense.

2) It should have said two-time Selke finalist. I corrected it.

Bill probably meant to say, two time finalist... one time winner.
- ForeverFlyer16

I know.

1) Do you refer to any other non-reigning trophy winner as ex-whatever? No. It implies that the award was undeserved. That's nonsense.

2) It should have said two-time Selke finalist. I corrected it.
- bmeltzer

since this is a flyers board I do not talk about other ex selke winners. Doesn't imply anything. Stating fact Bill is all.

If they get off to a slow start how long before they quit on the Coach?

I wouldn't go nearly that far. Both Frost and York have already shown they are viable NHL players. A rotten preseason opener doesn't change that. But, that said, it was brutal last night for those two and others.
- bmeltzer

I’m not saying they aren’t NHL players. Frost has an uphill battle as it is with the coach, a piss poor pre season game is the last thing he neeeed

So the whole team gets a pass... except for Frost. Got it.
- Tomahawk

hope the coach skates them hard today. no puck drills. all skating.....

Owned by the Devils for 3 decades.

And here we go again.

First Atkinson will be day to day with a mild LBI

Then it will be, he’s gearing up to be ready for opening night

Followed by he’s gonna be out a few more weeks with an undisclosed injury

And finally, out indefinitely with a still undisclosed injury.

Lather, rinse, repeat…
- BiggE

I haven’t paid much attention, because this team isn’t worthy of anyone’s time.

Atkinson is injured already? Can’t make it up. How is Ellis progressing?

I’m not saying they aren’t NHL players. Frost has an uphill battle as it is with the coach, a piss poor pre season game is the last thing he neeeed
- ClaudeFather

A piss-poor preseason game, which is definitely was, is no more or less than that. The whole team was lousy. Frost was among the worst culprits last night. He still took big positive steps over the final 2/3 of last season. And he was the best offensive player in Sunday's two scrimmages played by Team C (not that it meant much, either).

I just get tired of the double standards.

Farabee is coming off a rough year last season, for various reasons, and didn't have so much as an "assist" (such as goals and assists matter in those circumstances) in the four scrimmages. With the Flyers getting shut out last night, he obviously didn't score. Even so, it was a step in the right direction albeit quietly.

Tippett had 0G, 1A in the scrimmages and was a non-factor in three of them. Of his 27 goals last year, 16 were against bottom-feeder clubs (same thing Frost gets questioned for).

So I won't say Frost doesn't deserve flak four his early camp so far. He does (Sunday scrimmages aside). Hell, I went into the many things I didn't like about his play last night in today's blog. But let's not blow it out of proportion.

So the whole team gets a pass... except for Frost. Got it.
-Tomahawk

No, Frost went through the first 4 days of camp like everyone else so I am giving him the benefit of the doubt too. I am just pointing out that for Bill to highlight how poorly Frost played he must have stunk much worse than the rest of the players. Bill after all is one of Frost's biggest proponents. These are the things that happen with Frost that puts a black mark on him, whether you think it's fair or unfair.

Look, Frost has an uphill battle here. Torts clearly does not like Frost and wants Cates to win the 2C role. If that happens Frost will be expendable since they can always throw Laughton back to 3C. I for one want Frost to play really well this year regardless of how I feel about him as a player, since if Cates is ultimately the 2C on this team, the Flyers can get good value in a trade for Frost.

The correct term is former Selke winner. He won it, therefore he is a Selke winner but he’s not the latest winner so he is a former winner.

No, Frost went through the first 4 days of camp like everyone else so I am giving him the benefit of the doubt too. I am just pointing out that for Bill to highlight how poorly Frost played he must have stunk much worse than the rest of the players. Bill after all is one of Frost's biggest proponents. These are the things that happen with Frost that puts a black mark on him, whether you think it's fair or unfair.

Look, Frost has an uphill battle here. Torts clearly does not like Frost and wants Cates to win the 2C role. If that happens Frost will be expendable since they can always throw Laughton back to 3C. I for one want Frost to play really well this year regardless of how I feel about him as a player, since if Cates is ultimately the 2C on this team, the Flyers can get good value in a trade for Frost.
- jd250

There is no battle for 2C. Cates will get it. Just like he got 1C last season without any track record. Frost will NEVER win a h2h battle against Cates, no matter how well either of them plays. As you said, Torts has a clear favorite.