Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 2/2/13 vs. Hurricanes

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 2/2/13 vs. Hurricanes
- bmeltzer

Fist.. Please start winning Flyers..

I read the recap and it just said erski e leveled simmonds.. like wtf.. nhl.com is a propaganda machine

The natives are getting restless in Philly. I sure hope Homer/Snider keep their collective fingers off the panic button.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 2/2/13 vs. Hurricanes
- bmeltzer

How many games do you think Erskine will get Bill, and how in God's name did the refs completely miss it? A 5 minute major there for the head shot changes the game even with our sad PP.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 2/2/13 vs. Hurricanes
- bmeltzer

What more can be said? I'd love to see the Flyers be patient, not make changes and burn the team to the ground. A lot of the mistakes and issues are growing pains, similar to those experienced by the 2006-07 team. Carter, Richards and RJ Umberger were expected to step into bigger roles and were not ready to do so.

Richards had a 22 game goal drought. Umberger bounced up and down the line up. Carter managed his lone non 20 goal season as a NHLer. Joni Pitkanen regressed into a one trick pony as an offensive defenseman.

The difference now is, the Flyers have some veteran depth. Claude Giroux, Danny Briere, Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Kimmo Timonen & Braydon Coburn make this team deeper than the 2006-07 roster, which basically relied on Simon Gagne and a crippled Peter Forsberg for anything.

Despite the injuries to Hartnell, Meszaros and now Simmonds, the Flyers should not be as bad as they have been. Yet, poor execution and mental mistakes plague the entire lineup, be it a old vet like Timonen or a young vet like Voracek. They've played lethargically and stupidly at times. People joke about making another Recchi for Desjardins & LeClair trade, but ignore that our current Lindros is playing like poop.

As I said, I want patience. I want the young players to learn from this mess, like Carter and Richards learned. But I really feel like something is coming, and coming soon.

The natives are getting restless in Philly. I sure hope Homer/Snider keep their collective fingers off the panic button.
- Hop Head

Well, another two losses which can easily happen vs car and TB, and I can see changes. 2-8 start will essentially mean no playoffs. We started 3-7-1 in 95 but the big trade changed the team. I don't see this happening with the current group.

What more can be said? I'd love to see the Flyers be patient, not make changes and burn the team to the ground. A lot of the mistakes and issues are growing pains, similar to those experienced by the 2006-07 team. Carter, Richards and RJ Umberger were expected to step into bigger roles and were not ready to do so.

Richards had a 22 game goal drought. Umberger bounced up and down the line up. Carter managed his lone non 20 goal season as a NHLer. Joni Pitkanen regressed into a one trick pony as an offensive defenseman.

The difference now is, the Flyers have some veteran depth. Claude Giroux, Danny Briere, Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Kimmo Timonen & Braydon Coburn make this team deeper than the 2006-07 roster, which basically relied on Simon Gagne and a crippled Peter Forsberg for anything.

Despite the injuries to Hartnell, Meszaros and now Simmonds, the Flyers should not be as bad as they have been. Yet, poor execution and mental mistakes plague the entire lineup, be it a old vet like Timonen or a young vet like Voracek. They've played lethargically and stupidly at times. People joke about making another Recchi for Desjardins & LeClair trade, but ignore that our current Lindros is playing like poop.

As I said, I want patience. I want the young players to learn from this mess, like Carter and Richards learned. But I really feel like something is coming, and coming soon.
- Jsaquella

As you say, we might need to just suffer through this year. The vultures will circle, but we might need to trade any vets that have value and then hope for a high lottery pick. It sucks but if we are gonna lose, I really hope we completely tank.. not a 7-11 seed.

wow, 2 rebuilds in 7 years...does Homer get a flyer as GM?

wow, 2 rebuilds in 7 years...does Homer get a flyer as GM?
- vejim

I am not sure what Snider will think. I expect Lavi will get axed before that although I don't advocate that. Come in last, get a top pick.. A Mackinnon or Jones might really help us.

As you say, we might need to just suffer through this year. The vultures will circle, but we might need to trade any vets that have value and then hope for a high lottery pick. It sucks but if we are gonna lose, I really hope we completely tank.. not a 7-11 seed.
- Hextall271

If a move comes along, say Brayden Schenn for a 25 year old scoring winger, I'm fine with that. What I am against is a Schenn for a 32 year old winger move, or a Schenn for a 33 year old veteran defenseman move.

I'm ambivalent about a coaching change. I don't think Laviolette is why they have struggled, but I have concerns about his ability to adapt to what he has on the roster.

As you say, we might need to just suffer through this year. The vultures will circle, but we might need to trade any vets that have value and then hope for a high lottery pick. It sucks but if we are gonna lose, I really hope we completely tank.. not a 7-11 seed.
- Hextall271

You will notice that Matt Read played defense during a 5 on 5 situation towards the end of the game. This tells you everything you need to know about the deficiencies in the on ice presence of the Flyers. They need a #1 Dman. The price is high but the Flyers have the assets to get a deal done.

This is not something that will fix itself. It takes a few years for a top Dman to develop. I think Holmgren pays the price and sends Couturier to his place of birth in exchange for a top Dman.

You will notice that Matt Read played defense during a 5 on 5 situation towards the end of the game. This tells you everything you need to know about the deficiencies in the on ice presence of the Flyers. They need a #1 Dman. The price is high but the Flyers have the assets to get a deal done.

This is not something that will fix itself. It takes a few years for a top Dman to develop. I think Holmgren pays the price and sends Couturier to his place of birth in exchange for a top Dman.
- spatso

Homer has had his chances to pick D men in the first round but passes every year

You will notice that Matt Read played defense during a 5 on 5 situation towards the end of the game. This tells you everything you need to know about the deficiencies in the on ice presence of the Flyers. They need a #1 Dman. The price is high but the Flyers have the assets to get a deal done.

This is not something that will fix itself. It takes a few years for a top Dman to develop. I think Holmgren pays the price and sends Couturier to his place of birth in exchange for a top Dman.
- spatso

I agree.. I was in the camp of if it took Cooter/Schenn/ 1st pick sort of Combo for Weber to ensure he came here..make the deal. You just don't get that kind of player cheap and it is a huge need. One thing I notice is that all of the PP offense they are trying to create is from the points. Timonen and a forward on D is not cutting it, and I don't think other teams respect the points.

Homer has had his chances to pick D men in the first round but passes every year
- vejim

I think that has to change this year.. pick a Dman with the first, and also sign or trade for a 25-30 ish puck moving dman.

You will notice that Matt Read played defense during a 5 on 5 situation towards the end of the game. This tells you everything you need to know about the deficiencies in the on ice presence of the Flyers. They need a #1 Dman. The price is high but the Flyers have the assets to get a deal done.

This is not something that will fix itself. It takes a few years for a top Dman to develop. I think Holmgren pays the price and sends Couturier to his place of birth in exchange for a top Dman.
- spatso

You keep repeatedly stating that this is all about not having a #1 defenseman. And it is certainly true, that they need that player. But it is far from the only issue with this team right now. And you keep intimating that getting that player will miraculously change how the team is playing. That simply is not the case. This team has the players as it is currently constituted to be much better then they're currently playing.

Tell me what top defenseman you think might be available to the Flyers in a trade right now?

You keep repeatedly stating that this is all about not having a #1 defenseman. And it is certainly true, that they need that player. But it is far from the only issue with this team right now. And you keep intimating that getting that player will miraculously change how the team is playing. That simply is not the case. This team has the players as it is currently constituted to be much better then they're currently playing.

Tell me what top defenseman you think might be available to the Flyers in a trade right now?
- MJL

We shouldn't be a 2-6 team..but it's true we don't have a championship calibre d corps.

You keep repeatedly stating that this is all about not having a #1 defenseman. And it is certainly true, that they need that player. But it is far from the only issue with this team right now. And you keep intimating that getting that player will miraculously change how the team is playing. That simply is not the case. This team has the players as it is currently constituted to be much better then they're currently playing.

Tell me what top defenseman you think might be available to the Flyers in a trade right now?
- MJL

I already gave you a wonderful clue. Send Couturier ti his place of birth in exchange for a #1 D.

I already gave you a wonderful clue. Send Couturier ti his place of birth in exchange for a #1 D.
- spatso

Yandle?

I think that has to change this year.. pick a Dman with the first, and also sign or trade for a 25-30 ish puck moving dman.
- Hextall271

I just hope Homer doesnt trade Coots, he is their best all around player

Yandle?
- Hextall271

I think so. OEL is developing into a superstar, a Karlsson type player. Yendle is very good. You might get him for less than Couturier, but probably not.

I already gave you a wonderful clue. Send Couturier ti his place of birth in exchange for a #1 D.
- spatso

Subban a #1 D man?

I just hope Homer doesnt trade Coots, he is their best all around player
- vejim

I don't know.. have to give to get here. The worst part of this is we are now dealing from a position of weakness and the org doesn't have a track record of patience. I can see some panic moves.

We shouldn't be a 2-6 team..but it's true we don't have a championship calibre d corps.
- Hextall271

And if the Flyers were 7-1, that still might be true. I've made this point before. NJ Devils went to the Cup Finals last year with Salvador, Volcenkov, Fayne, Zidlicky, Greene, Harrold, Tallinder. Tell me if that is a championship caliber d corps on paper?

Subban a #1 D man?
- vejim

Wasn't cooter born in Phoenix?