Bill Meltzer: Quick Hit: Memorial Cup Final, Panthers, TIFH, Cup Droughts

But, but, Buffalo and Edmon..., oh.
- daddytc

Don't forget these guys!!! I believe collectively they've won 13 of the past 15 Stanley Cups.

Pittsburgh - Crosby 1st, Malkin 2nd, MAF 1st, Jordan Staal 2nd overall.
Chicago - Toews 3rd, Kane 1st overall.
Tampa Bay - Stamkos 1st, Hedman 2nd overall.
Colorado - MacKinnon 1st, Landeskog 2nd, Makar 4th, Rantanen 10th overall.
Washington - OV 1st, Backstrom 4th overall.
Los Angeles- - Doughty 2nd, Kopitar 11th, Brown 13th, Schenn 5th overall.

Yes I know Schenn was traded for Richards, he was 5th overall which meant he was valuable for the Kings and allowed them to trade him for a great young player.

Me personally I could care less about the “failures” of other NHL teams.

What is relevant and what matters is the Flyers failures.

Just a lot of excuse making from my point of view.

No doubt the Flyers are a long way away from contention right now and need to be bad to be good again. Hopefully they trade TK (and Laughts) for young assets and draft high next year resulting in the dismissal of Torts. By 26 they will have shed a lot of the dead weight salary they currently have on the books and can start adding pieces in UFA. If I had to guess, I’d say goaltending and continued lack of high end talent will be the main factors in why they will be bad in 24/25 and 25/26.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hit: Memorial Cup Final, Panthers, TIFH, Cup Droughts
- bmeltzer

So glad they hired chuckles over Zito. Bold move by the team that is the gold standard of the NHL

Me personally I could care less about the “failures” of other NHL teams.

What is relevant and what matters is the Flyers failures.

Just a lot of excuse making from my point of view.
- furio16

It's a lot of excuse making that literally EVERY team goes through it some point? Wrong! It's called reality. Things go in cycles. for everyone. It's as real as gravity. Don't like it? Find another sport.
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Me personally I could care less about the “failures” of other NHL teams.

What is relevant and what matters is the Flyers failures.

Just a lot of excuse making from my point of view.
- furio16

This!

It’s more than just how many years has it been since a Cup or SCF appearance. The Flyers have been a poorly managed club with zero chance of even competing for a Cup since 2012. Have a few other teams been worse during that stretch? Sure, and big whoop.

So instead of being the worst team in the league since 2012 we are what? 25 or 26 out of 32? How exciting, order the banner!

It's a lot of excuse making that literally EVERY team goes through it some point? Wrong! It's called reality. Things go in cycles. for everyone. It's as real as gravity. Don't like it? Find another sport.
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- bmeltzer

Oh please? From 1967-2012, they never had a consecutive stretch of down years longer than 5. Now, they’ve bounced between so-so and flat out bad for 12 years and counting. And, you might as well call it 13 because there is no way they are contending for a Cup in 2025.

Can you really not see that this team has been poorly managed for quite a long time?

It's a lot of excuse making that literally EVERY team goes through it some point? Wrong! It's called reality. Things go in cycles. for everyone. It's as real as gravity. Don't like it? Find another sport.
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- bmeltzer

Reality is the Flyers are an incompetent franchise. They are one of the worst in all of sports the last decade plus.

Not sure why you’re getting all salty and defensive with your last sentence.

So glad they hired chuckles over Zito. Bold move by the team that is the gold standard of the NHL
~Corduroy

That certainly is what jumped out at me from that article.

It would be nice to have a young Roo on this team. Imagine him playijg center to MM and (insert wing here)

Thanks Bill. Great work as always.

Perspective can be a good way to lessen the sting of not winning for so long. But it really doesn't. It still sucks. Especially our current incarnation, which hasn't won in forever and appears to have no idea how to win now. Stuck in a 50 year old mentality of how a team should be built.

This franchise is just like the city of Philadelphia itself. Stuck in the past.

Oh please? From 1967-2012, they never had a consecutive stretch of down years longer than 5. Now, they’ve bounced between so-so and flat out bad for 12 years and counting. And, you might as well call it 13 because there is no way they are contending for a Cup in 2025.

Can you really not see that this team has been poorly managed for quite a long time?
- BiggE

One thing I noticed, is that for the most part, every team that won got REALLY bad at some point. The Flyers refuse to get really bad. Dooming themselves to a perpetual state of mediocrity. They keep saying they reflect the city in toughness, work ethic etc. The Flyers fans live in the past as much as the franchise.

So glad they hired chuckles over Zito. Bold move by the team that is the gold standard of the NHL
- corduroy

Ugh, that caught my attention as well.

Florida drafted Barkov and Ekblad top 2 and Lundell at #12. They have been able to identify ascending players. Forsling, Montour, Luostarinen, Rinehart, Tkachuk, Bennett,etc were all ascending when they got them. They apparently don’t value descending types like Corey Perry, Zach Bogosian, and Marc Staal. Kulikov is an exception but he’s really elevated his game. They seem to have jettisoned the archaic thinking of getting guys good in the room opting for a balanced roster that can play.

Ugh, that caught my attention as well.
- MBFlyerfan

Dave Scott and chuck certainly set us back quite a bit.

Really hope db and the gang can move us forward

Florida drafted Barkov and Ekblad top 2 and Lundell at #12. They have been able to identify ascending players. Forsling, Montour, Luostarinen, Rinehart, Tkachuk, Bennett,etc were all ascending when they got them. They apparently don’t value descending types like Corey Perry, Zach Bogosian, and Marc Staal. Kulikov is an exception but he’s really elevated his game. They seem to have jettisoned the archaic thinking of getting guys good in the room opting for a balanced roster that can play.
- Minnyhock

Also drafted Huberdau (sp) 3rd overall which they used to get what's his name. As well as Weegar in the 7th rd.

Yeah, hiring Fletcher over Zito was horrible. I remember the interview process, feeling this Zito guy seems really interesting. Zito is definitely a GM that does not mind making risky moves, most have worked, not perfect.

If Bob wins a cup is he hall of fame worthy? Good
Resume

Also drafted Huberdau (sp) 3rd overall which they used to get what's his name. As well as Weegar in the 7th rd.
- furio16

I believe the most important pieces are 1C,1W,1D,2C and G in that order with complementary role players. Huberdeau was a 1W who they flipped for a much better 1W.

If Bob wins a cup is he hall of fame worthy? Good
Resume
- furio16

2 Vezinas, another Vezina nomination and a cup would be a pretty good resume. Even if he doesn't win the cup he would still have a pretty good case. He also only needs 4 wins for 400 career victories.

I cant believe he is 35.


Still one of the worst decisions this franchise ever made.

If Bob wins a cup is he hall of fame worthy? Good
Resume
- furio16

Ed Belfour is in the HOF. I think Bob compares favorably. I would think so.

Would never happen but would you trade Michkov for Lafreniere?

One thing I noticed, is that for the most part, every team that won got REALLY bad at some point. The Flyers refuse to get really bad. Dooming themselves to a perpetual state of mediocrity. They keep saying they reflect the city in toughness, work ethic etc. The Flyers fans live in the past as much as the franchise.
- MBFlyerfan

Yup, they’ve never been comfortable as an organization with rebuilding.

Would never happen but would you trade Michkov for Lafreniere?

I wouldn't do it, but that's just my opinion. I really want to see what Michkov has to offer.