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Forums :: Blog World :: Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flight Plan, WJC Camp, Cechmanek, Coach of the 2000s
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Bill Meltzer
Editor
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 07.13.2006

Aug 6 @ 8:34 AM ET
Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flight Plan, WJC Camp, Cechmanek, Coach of the 2000s
-davies-
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: A medical emergency involving you.
Joined: 08.05.2013

Aug 6 @ 8:48 AM ET

morning, bill
feelingkettle
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: "No sir, I don't like it" Phil, PA
Joined: 11.13.2006

Aug 6 @ 8:50 AM ET
Top of the blog to you
johndewar
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: South Jersey, NJ
Joined: 01.16.2009

Aug 6 @ 8:51 AM ET
I know Lavvy's gonna get a ton of votes, but I'll go with Hitch.

I enjoyed how tough his team's played and thought he was pretty good when he actually talked hockey in interviews.

My only beef with Hitchcock was that he seemed less than nurturing with young kids (i.e.--Patrick Sharp, Mike Richards).

That said, however, both of the players I've mentioned have said (at least, publicly) that Hitch getting on them early did help them become better players.
MBFlyerfan
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Be nice from now on, NJ
Joined: 03.17.2006

Aug 6 @ 9:00 AM ET
I know Lavvy's gonna get a ton of votes, but I'll go with Hitch.

I enjoyed how tough his team's played and thought he was pretty good when he actually talked hockey in interviews.

My only beef with Hitchcock was that he seemed less than nurturing with young kids (i.e.--Patrick Sharp, Mike Richards).

That said, however, both of the players I've mentioned have said (at least, publicly) that Hitch getting on them early did help them become better players.

- johndewar


I also went with Hitch. And agree with your post and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Lavi, to me, is a little too married to his system and has repeatedly shown an inability (or stubborness) to adjust his system in game, per opponent, or out of necessity. I also have a big problem with the way he handles goalies.
BiggE
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: SELL THE DAMN TEAM!
Joined: 04.17.2012

Aug 6 @ 9:01 AM ET
I know Lavvy's gonna get a ton of votes, but I'll go with Hitch.

I enjoyed how tough his team's played and thought he was pretty good when he actually talked hockey in interviews.

My only beef with Hitchcock was that he seemed less than nurturing with young kids (i.e.--Patrick Sharp, Mike Richards).

That said, however, both of the players I've mentioned have said (at least, publicly) that Hitch getting on them early did help them become better players.

- johndewar


This
MBFlyerfan
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Be nice from now on, NJ
Joined: 03.17.2006

Aug 6 @ 9:03 AM ET
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=679625

Sad
Flyskippy
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Ignoreland, GA
Joined: 11.04.2005

Aug 6 @ 9:10 AM ET
Lava flows...

Laviolette may not be seen in the same light as when he was hired, even by me (and he was my candidate to replace John Stevens in the autumn of 2009), but he has accomplished more than the other coaches on the list. Of course, this is an opinion poll so no answer would be wrong unless one of the coaches coached the team to a dreadful season, missing the playoffs. Oh. Well, Lava only messed up a half-season that the NHL & NHLPA Seravallied up. I guess they should get more blame than anyone, especially since the lockout will not have fixed anything by the time the new CBA expires.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Aug 6 @ 9:18 AM ET
I know Lavvy's gonna get a ton of votes, but I'll go with Hitch.

I enjoyed how tough his team's played and thought he was pretty good when he actually talked hockey in interviews.

My only beef with Hitchcock was that he seemed less than nurturing with young kids (i.e.--Patrick Sharp, Mike Richards).

That said, however, both of the players I've mentioned have said (at least, publicly) that Hitch getting on them early did help them become better players.

- johndewar


Agreed. I like Lavi and all, but I had more faith in Hitch. Close, but he just seems like more a hockey guy. And:

"Tell Lindy to (frank) off."
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Aug 6 @ 9:26 AM ET
I'm sorry, I know this is a hockey blog, but I think I'm done with baseball. The MLBPA is basically saying they're totally cool with their players taking PEDs, and I just can't get behind that. The Phillies will not be getting one dollar more from me.
Feanor
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: DE
Joined: 02.13.2013

Aug 6 @ 9:26 AM ET
Lava flows...

Laviolette may not be seen in the same light as when he was hired, even by me (and he was my candidate to replace John Stevens in the autumn of 2009), but he has accomplished more than the other coaches on the list.

- Flyskippy


How has he accomplished more than Hitchcock?
johndewar
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: South Jersey, NJ
Joined: 01.16.2009

Aug 6 @ 9:31 AM ET
I'm sorry, I know this is a hockey blog, but I think I'm done with baseball. The MLBPA is basically saying they're totally cool with their players taking PEDs, and I just can't get behind that. The Phillies will not be getting one dollar more from me.
- jmatchett383


The MLBPA is just a union, doing what unions do. Protecting their members.

Especially members whose salaries helped drive up salaries for the rest of their members.

It's nothing personal; strictly business.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Aug 6 @ 9:32 AM ET
How has he accomplished more than Hitchcock?
- Feanor


More wins, better win %, 1 SCF appearance.

But I voted for Hitch.
Bill Meltzer
Editor
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 07.13.2006

Aug 6 @ 9:34 AM ET
How has he accomplished more than Hitchcock?
- Feanor


Took the Flyers to the Cup Finals and an overtime goal away from forcing a Game 7 in Finals. Hitch got the Flyers within two goals of a Cup Final in a seven-game ECF, but not to the Finals. Both coaches have won a Stanley Cup elsewhere.

I personally would have voted for Hitchcock, because I think teams that play stronger defense generally match up more favorably to a wider array of opponents. But that's just a personal preference.

jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Aug 6 @ 9:38 AM ET
The MLBPA is just a union, doing what unions do. Protecting their members.

Especially members whose salaries helped drive up salaries for the rest of their members.

It's nothing personal; strictly business.

- johndewar


I'm fine with unions protecting players. But they do everything in their power to stop the MLB from testing the players, basically saying, "We know our members are cheating, and we're going to stop you from finding out." I just can't agree with that. Basically, they're protecting cheaters...multimillionaire cheaters...multimillionaire cheaters who young kids look up to.
PhillySportsGuy
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: any donut with a hole in the middle can get (frank)ed right in its hole, NJ
Joined: 04.08.2012

Aug 6 @ 9:39 AM ET
I went with Hitch because I simply think he did more with less talent. Lavi's system is meant for a team with good depth, two way play and mobility. He struggles when his teams don't possess above average talent.

Hitch can pretty much work with anything. His one terrible season had more to do with Clarkes inability to put together any kind of defense or depth scoring after the 12-21-22 line. Once Johnsson left and Forsberg couldn't play, NO coach could have saved that team.

The one thing I like about Lavi more than Hitch is his staying power. Hitch has a shelf life much shorter than Lavi. The Flyers weren't good last year, but they competed very hard in those final games, which shows they were still playing for their coach.
PhillySportsGuy
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: any donut with a hole in the middle can get (frank)ed right in its hole, NJ
Joined: 04.08.2012

Aug 6 @ 9:40 AM ET
Took the Flyers to the Cup Finals and an overtime goal away from forcing a Game 7 in Finals. Hitch got the Flyers within two goals of a Cup Final in a seven-game ECF, but not to the Finals. Both coaches have won a Stanley Cup elsewhere.

I personally would have voted for Hitchcock, because I think teams that play stronger defense generally match up more favorably to a wider array of opponents. But that's just a personal preference.

- bmeltzer



GOA88
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 08.02.2013

Aug 6 @ 9:42 AM ET
I'm going with Hitchcock cause I believe in 2004 that if half the team wasnt banged up and Roenick, Kapanen, Primeau werent playing with concussions and Kapanen playing on defense cause we lost quite a few defenders we would have beat TB and won the cup. Just bad luck, but Laviolette is reallllly close for me. If the goalie wasnt Leighton we would have won in 2010 also.
johndewar
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: South Jersey, NJ
Joined: 01.16.2009

Aug 6 @ 9:45 AM ET
I'm fine with unions protecting players. But they do everything in their power to stop the MLB from testing the players, basically saying, "We know our members are cheating, and we're going to stop you from finding out." I just can't agree with that. Basically, they're protecting cheaters...multimillionaire cheaters...multimillionaire cheaters who young kids look up to.
- jmatchett383


I can't argue with any of this.
isaiah520
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: "All train compartments smell vaguely of sh*t. It gets so you don't mind it"
Joined: 12.26.2006

Aug 6 @ 9:45 AM ET
beat writers were always more favorably disposed towards hitch than a guy like lavi and that certainly colors their assessments. hitch was a quote machine.

i think lavi has done more w/ less overall. hitch also inserted himself personnel wise to the detriment of the teams he coached in certain cases.
KGBflyers10
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: United States, PA
Joined: 10.28.2007

Aug 6 @ 9:46 AM ET
I'm going with Hitchcock cause I believe in 2004 that if half the team wasnt banged up and Roenick, Kapanen, Primeau werent playing with concussions and Kapanen playing on defense cause we lost quite a few defenders we would have beat TB and won the cup. Just bad luck, but Laviolette is reallllly close for me. If the goalie wasnt Leighton we would have won in 2010 also.
- GOA88


No one knows this for sure.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Aug 6 @ 9:47 AM ET
No one knows this for sure.
- KGBflyers10


Yeah, Boucher wasn't exactly stellar in his Game 1 appearance. Talk about taking yourself completely out of the play. At least Leighton was lights out against Montreal.
Pyzik
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Flemington, NJ
Joined: 01.18.2008

Aug 6 @ 9:47 AM ET
Capt Kangaroo gets my vote.....he always seemed ready for every team, he never lost he cool and even though players hated him, he had the gel to keep the locker room together until his gel left or had to retire (Recchi & Primeau)
Pyzik
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Flemington, NJ
Joined: 01.18.2008

Aug 6 @ 9:48 AM ET
Capt Kangaroo gets my vote.....he always seemed ready for every team, he never lost he cool and even though players hated him, he had the gel to keep the locker room together until his gel left or had to retire (Recchi & Primeau)
GOA88
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 08.02.2013

Aug 6 @ 9:48 AM ET
No one knows this for sure.
- KGBflyers10

Thats why I said I "Believe". Think about it..... all those injuries and lose by 1 goal in game 7.
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