Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Tuesday Quick Hits

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Tuesday Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

First????

Huzzah! With Burmistrov heading to the KHL and his contract extension no longer an issue, do you think it more likely Bogosian gets signed soon, maybe in the next 12-24 hours? I figure that once he's signed, he's off limits.

LaCavelier, Streit and Emery for $11.3m.

Roughly equivalent to Briere and Bryzgalov.

I think it is okay. Not sure it represents the opportunity for a major move in the standings.

First????

Huzzah! With Burmistrov heading to the KHL and his contract extension no longer an issue, do you think it more likely Bogosian gets signed soon, maybe in the next 12-24 hours? I figure that once he's signed, he's off limits.
- jmatchett383

I think it makes a Couturier-Bogosian swap look like a really good hockey trade. I thought we'd need to add more than Coots but out of fans from a few different teams, everyone but Winnipeg fans thought I'd be giving too much if it was Coots, Read, and Mez (for cap reasons) for Bogosian and maybe a pick.
Get it done Homer.

LaCavelier, Streit and Emery for $11.3m.

Roughly equivalent to Briere and Bryzgalov.

I think it is okay. Not sure it represents the opportunity for a major move in the standings.
- spatso

I already said this in the Tor. boards, but ya I attribute missing the playoffs much less to the players on our roster and much more to untimely injuries causing us to have 5 of our 6 starting Dmen injured at the end of the season, and bad coaching that was unable to adjust to that.

I think it makes a Couturier-Bogosian swap look like a really good hockey trade. I thought we'd need to add more than Coots but out of fans from a few different teams, everyone but Winnipeg fans thought I'd be giving too much if it was Coots, Read, and Mez (for cap reasons) for Bogosian and maybe a pick.
Get it done Homer.
- JAKEw1234

Bogosian is injury prone and hasn't lived up to his draft status yet. He still has a ton of potential but the injuries make him no way worth Couturier.

Bill,

Sorry to go off topic, but any thoughts on the Seguin mess?

LaCavelier, Streit and Emery for $11.3m.

Roughly equivalent to Briere and Bryzgalov.

I think it is okay. Not sure it represents the opportunity for a major move in the standings.
- spatso

LeCavalier gives the team size down the middle that Briere wasn't giving them. I don't think Lavvy is going to ask Vinny to be "the guy" at all. They're simply asking Vinny to be better than Briere. Not a dig at Danny, but given his recent regular season output and how he was used, that shouldn't be difficult.

I strongly doubt Emery/Mason post worse numbers than Bryz.

And Streit will help the 2nd PP unit which was pretty awful last year. If Streit can do what Carle did when he was here, he'll be fine.

LaCavelier, Streit and Emery for $11.3m.

Roughly equivalent to Briere and Bryzgalov.

I think it is okay. Not sure it represents the opportunity for a major move in the standings.
- spatso

Committing to team defense like they did at the latter part of last year will represent an opportunity for a major move in the standings.

Bogosian is injury prone and hasn't lived up to his draft status yet. He still has a ton of potential but the injuries make him no way worth Couturier.
- psuhockey

Here are his injury descriptions per Wikipedia:
"Eight games into the season, however, on October 28, Bogosian broke his left leg in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. "
"During a game against the Ottawa Senators on October 31, 2009, Bogosian fell behind his team's net; with his left hand lying on the net's iron frame along the ice, another player fell on top of him. The impact broke his left thumb and injured his wrist.[20] Though he did not miss any time from the injury, it had an effect on his offensive play;"
Those sound like freak injuries, not recurring or chronic injuries and not anything like pesky knee injuries or back problems or concussion history. I'm not worried about it. And Couturier hasn't reached his draft status yet, either...

Bogosian is injury prone and hasn't lived up to his draft status yet. He still has a ton of potential but the injuries make him no way worth Couturier.
- psuhockey

his game has picked up considerably. def worth pursuing

First????

Huzzah! With Burmistrov heading to the KHL and his contract extension no longer an issue, do you think it more likely Bogosian gets signed soon, maybe in the next 12-24 hours? I figure that once he's signed, he's off limits.
- jmatchett383

You can't really mess around with Winnipeg. The owner (Thompson) is far and away the wealthiest in the NHL. Flyers got badly tied up in the Weber caper last summer, lots of things happened while the Flyers were frozen by the offer sheet. They did not take into account that Wilson (another wealthy Canadian) would simply match the offer and use it as an opportunity to recapitalize the team.

Bogosian would be a great addition. I think the Jets might look favorably on a good package. But, it would be expensive, very expensive. A few teams would love a shot at Bogosian.

FWIW My top forwards in the Flyers system
1. Laughton
2. McGinn
3. Cousins
4. Straka
5. Akeson
6. Leier

unless I'm forgetting someone I don't see much beyond those 6. I also very much doubt that Akeson is ever any more than a call-up guy, nor Leier any more than a 4th liner.

For all the talk about the lack of D prospects, I think they are now much more lacking in wingers. On D they now have Morin, Hagg, Ghost, Lauridsen and Alt which is a pretty good top 5, on the wing though, they have NO real top prospects.

You can't really mess around with Winnipeg. The owner (Thompson) is far and away the wealthiest in the NHL. Flyers got badly tied up in the Weber caper last summer, lots of things happened while the Flyers were frozen by the offer sheet. They did not take into account that Wilson (another wealthy Canadian) would simply match the offer and use it as an opportunity to recapitalize the team.

Bogosian would be a great addition. I think the Jets might look favorably on a good package. But, it would be expensive, very expensive. A few teams would love a shot at Bogosian.
- spatso

Again, Couturier and maybe a pick would be even value.

I already said this in the Tor. boards, but ya I attribute missing the playoffs much less to the players on our roster and much more to untimely injuries causing us to have 5 of our 6 starting Dmen injured at the end of the season, and bad coaching that was unable to adjust to that.
- JAKEw1234

This year will be tougher to make the playoffs in the East because Winnipeg was replaced by two better teams in Columbus and Detroit. I wonder if Snider will still be happy with this realignment if both those teams make the playoffs and the Flyers don't. It seemed like all he cared about was keeping us in the same division as Pittsburgh.

This year will be tougher to make the playoffs in the East because Winnipeg was replaced by two better teams in Columbus and Detroit. I wonder if Snider will still be happy with this realignment if both those teams make the playoffs and the Flyers don't. It seemed like all he cared about was keeping us in the same division as Pittsburgh.
- Feanor

I think the realignment is a bit unfair, because the same number of teams get in from both conferences, and the east divisions each have 1 more team. It makes it harder as an east team to make it.

FWIW My top forwards in the Flyers system
1. Laughton
2. McGinn
3. Cousins
4. Straka
5. Akeson
6. Leier

unless I'm forgetting someone I don't see much beyond those 6. I also very much doubt that Akeson is ever any more than a call-up guy, nor Leier any more than a 4th liner.

For all the talk about the lack of D prospects, I think they are now much more lacking in wingers. On D they now have Morin, Hagg, Ghost, Lauridsen and Alt which is a pretty good top 5, on the wing though, they have NO real top prospects.
- BiggE

They don't have a very deep talent pool below the NHL level, period.

I think the realignment is a bit unfair, because the same number of teams get in from both conferences, and the east divisions each have 1 more team. It makes it harder as an east team to make it.
- JAKEw1234

The counterpoint to this is that I believe travel is easier in the Eastern Conference than the West.

I think a regular offseason and a regular training camp will do the most to improving the Flyers record. Just seems last year with the lockout, a lot of players didn't get into hockey shape mentally or physically until it was too late and some never did. Same thing with the NJD. I expect both teams will make the PO's this coming season.

FWIW My top forwards in the Flyers system
1. Laughton
2. McGinn
3. Cousins
4. Straka
5. Akeson
6. Leier

unless I'm forgetting someone I don't see much beyond those 6. I also very much doubt that Akeson is ever any more than a call-up guy, nor Leier any more than a 4th liner.

For all the talk about the lack of D prospects, I think they are now much more lacking in wingers. On D they now have Morin, Hagg, Ghost, Lauridsen and Alt which is a pretty good top 5, on the wing though, they have NO real top prospects.
- BiggE

I think Noebels might be in there before Leier. Leier was on a STACKED Portland team last year, I'd like to see if he can replicate the #s this year, or at a higher level. I see a lot of their forwards as 3rd line guys/scoring-line call-ups, and I see most of their defenseman as 2nd/3rd pairing guys. Hopefully a few forwards and defense blossom and turn into top-6 regulars or top-pair defensemen.

I think a regular offseason and a regular training camp will do the most to improving the Flyers record. Just seems last year with the lockout, a lot of players didn't get into hockey shape mentally or physically until it was too late and some never did. Same thing with the NJD. I expect both teams will make the PO's this coming season.
- phillydentist

Yep, good point.

This year will be tougher to make the playoffs in the East because Winnipeg was replaced by two better teams in Columbus and Detroit. I wonder if Snider will still be happy with this realignment if both those teams make the playoffs and the Flyers don't. It seemed like all he cared about was keeping us in the same division as Pittsburgh.
- Feanor

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ x a billion. I'm sure he's fine.

They don't have a very deep talent pool below the NHL level, period.
- johndewar

Actually we do. We have prospect call ups that could fill in on a scoring line (Akeson, Straka), we have prospect call ups that could play on a checking like (Cousins, Holmstrom), and we have plenty of defensive prospects that can play decently at an NHL level, as proven by us winning 11 of our last 15 with our 7th dman and 3 or 4 call ups starting.

I think the realignment is a bit unfair, because the same number of teams get in from both conferences, and the east divisions each have 1 more team. It makes it harder as an east team to make it.
- JAKEw1234

Good point, I hate the new alignment. Yet another Bettman masterpiece.
It would have much simpler to just go with:
EASTERN CONF.
Flyers
Rangers
Devils All eastern time zone
Islanders
Penguins

Bruins
Canadiens
Senators All eastern time zone
Maple Leafs
Sabres

Capitals
Panthers
Blue Jackets All eastern time zone
Lightning
Hurricanes

WESTERN CONF
Red Wings
Blues
Stars 1 eastern, 4 central time zones
Predators
Black Hawks

Jets
Wild
Avalanche 2 central, 3 mountain time zones
Flames
Oilers

Canucks
Coyotes
Kings All pacific time zones
Ducks
Sharks


Keep the schedule as it had been and there you have it.

Bill,

Sorry to go off topic, but any thoughts on the Seguin mess?
- brubacca

Bill writes for the Stars on this site as well. If you go to their page and you can read all about his reaction.