Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Rookie Camp Preview - Goalies and Defensemen

For the first time in a long time I'm very excited about the Flyers defensive prospects, specifically Alt, Hagg, and Morin. Many of the other guys seem to max out in potential as 3rd pairing NHLers, but every team needs those guys too

Bill, Do you think any of the camp invitees could earn pro contracts from the Flyers whether they are two way deals or just AHL deals?

Bill, Do you think any of the camp invitees could earn pro contracts from the Flyers whether they are two way deals or just AHL deals?
- nastyflyergirl

All of the unaffiliated invitees at least have an outside shot but would really have to impress to get a contract. Harper or Hauf are both still slide-rule eligible if the Flyers would gamble on an ELC for one of them. I could see Ryan, MacDonald or Nemec getting minor league contracts.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Rookie Camp Preview - Goalies and Defensemen
- bmeltzer

if alt is really any good there has to be more to carolina letting him go than just a "hey, thanks", right??

Matt Konan (#34, 2nd Pro Season, NHL Contract): Signed last year as an undrafted WHL overager, the 22-year-old Californian
[/URL]

Back on point:

Has Ghost's college season started and that is why he is not listed? What will his role be in the junior championships this year?

Between Morin, Hagg, Ghost and Alt do they all have top 4 upside? What about top pairing?

I would still try to package Coots to get Jones. I think Nashville has overkill on D.

Off topic:
I know you did a piece on Cousins awhile back and where you would project him. What I was wondering was how would the projection for Patrick Sharp have read at the same age?

Thanks Bill.

Matt Konan (#34, 2nd Pro Season, NHL Contract): Signed last year as an undrafted WHL overager, the 22-year-old Californian

- GeorgeBailey[/URL]

Back on point:

Has Ghost's college season started and that is why he is not listed? What will his role be in the junior championships this year?

Between Morin, Hagg, Ghost and Alt do they all have top 4 upside? What about top pairing?

I would still try to package Coots to get Jones. I think Nashville has overkill on D.

Off topic:
I know you did a piece on Cousins awhile back and where you would project him. What I was wondering was how would the projection for Patrick Sharp have read at the same age?

Thanks Bill.

Nashville isn't going to give up Jones. And if they have overkill, they'll trade another defenseman, rather then deal a potential franchise defenseman they just drafted.

Thanks, Bill. It's fantastic reading about the Flyers sans drama and sensationalism. I look forward to another year of your articles covering the team the old-fashioned way: diligently and without resorting to hack work, gonzo journalism, or spin.

Thanks, Bill. It's fantastic reading about the Flyers sans drama and sensationalism. I look forward to another year of your articles covering the team the old-fashioned way: diligently and without resorting to hack work, gonzo journalism, or spin.
- Flyskippy

Yep, as posters we reserve the right to insert the drama, hahaha

Nashville isn't going to give up Jones. And if they have overkill, they'll trade another defenseman, rather then deal a potential franchise defenseman they just drafted.
- MJL

Not disagreeing with you on that. However, the key word in my sentence was 'try'. For all we know, they already have.

I would like Bill's opinion as to whether he feels either Coot's or Coburn's trade value was determined prior to the draft. Particularly Coburn's as it relates to the Edmonton rumors. Is it possible a deal was worked out but Coburn exercised what he could with his no movement clause? My gut tells me things never got that far but it would be interesting to know.

Has Ghost's college season started and that is why he is not listed? What will his role be in the junior championships this year?
- GeorgeBailey

Gostisbehere's college classes but not hockey season have already started. While collegiate players are allowed at camp without forfeiting NCAA eligibility if they pay their own way -- Ghost has been at the last two July development camps, for example -- it doesn't make sense to have him attend this camp until after he turns pro.

Gostisbehere will not be at the next WJC because he's aged out of eligibility.

Between Morin, Hagg, Ghost and Alt do they all have top 4 upside? What about top pairing?
- GeorgeBailey

I tend to be very conservative in projections and I am reluctant to say that Gostisbehere has top four upside right because he is still very frail -- that concerns me more than his height. But I do think he has NHL upside as an offensive-minded defenseman.

I think Alt could be anything from a 4 to 6. Top pairing seems like a stretch. We'll see how he develops this season.

It's still too soon to put projections on Morin or Hägg except that they have the tools to someday become NHL regulars.

I know you did a piece on Cousins awhile back and where you would project him. What I was wondering was how would the projection for Patrick Sharp have read at the same age?
- GeorgeBailey

Sharp at the same age was bigger, faster and a little better defensively than Cousins at his current point. Sharp's NHL offensive upside became apparent a little later (too late for the Flyers, as it turned out).

Not disagreeing with you on that. However, the key word in my sentence was 'try'. For all we know, they already have.

I would like Bill's opinion as to whether he feels either Coot's or Coburn's trade value was determined prior to the draft. Particularly Coburn's as it relates to the Edmonton rumors. Is it possible a deal was worked out but Coburn exercised what he could with his no movement clause? My gut tells me things never got that far but it would be interesting to know.
- GeorgeBailey

Teams leaguewide have asked for Couturier but the Flyers have thus far pretty much made him untouchable.

Re: Coburn, from what I understand, his NTC is only a partial no-trade and Edmonton was already a place he'd be willing to go. But I also think that there may have been a lot of talk between Holmgren and MacTavish but never anything that was agreeable to both sides.

In an era in which goalies standing 6-foot-4 and taller have become highly desired, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Chubak has to significantly outplay bigger counterparts to get noticed.

Good stuff - almost starting the season!

I was thinking about this after I read the above-quoted paragraph: is it possibler to get a very large goalie in goal? He would cover alot more of the net. Two conditions must be met for this obese goalie to be successfull:

1) He must be able to stand up. Getting down would not be a problem, I am guessing gravity would do the trick.

2) He must be able to move sideways 3-4 inches(the part of the net not covered).

If this individual is very well fed and trained for this purpose, we could for example grow his upper arms and torso, while keeping muscles in his legs.

Edit: He will not be a butterfly goalie.

Matt Konan (#34, 2nd Pro Season, NHL Contract): Signed last year as an undrafted WHL overager, the 22-year-old Californian

- GeorgeBailey[/URL]

Back on point:

Has Ghost's college season started and that is why he is not listed? What will his role be in the junior championships this year?

Between Morin, Hagg, Ghost and Alt do they all have top 4 upside? What about top pairing?

I would still try to package Coots to get Jones. I think Nashville has overkill on D.

Off topic:
I know you did a piece on Cousins awhile back and where you would project him. What I was wondering was how would the projection for Patrick Sharp have read at the same age?

Thanks Bill.

Personally I think Morin will be a number 2 guy, Hagg will be a 2B guy. Gostisbere and Alt will be about a 4 or 5. All this is within about 4-5 years. It usually takes that long to hit thier strides. By then Gustefsson should be a 3 and Schenn will still be a number 2. So really you still need to find that outstanding number 1 guy to have a balanced average defense with what we have in the future.

No way this line-up will happen because of trades and disapointments, but..

Morin-Schenn
Hagg-Gustefsson
Alt-Gostisbere

Good stuff - almost starting the season!

I was thinking about this after I read the above-quoted paragraph: is it possibler to get a very large goalie in goal? He would cover alot more of the net. Two conditions must be met for this obese goalie to be successfull:

1) He must be able to stand up. Getting down would not be a problem, I am guessing gravity would do the trick.

2) He must be able to move sideways 3-4 inches(the part of the net not covered).

If this individual is very well fed and trained for this purpose, we could for example grow his upper arms and torso, while keeping muscles in his legs.

Edit: He will not be a butterfly goalie.
- Bearintheforest

Here is a better idea. Score 1 goal, then doggie pile all 6 players infront of the net for the rest of the game. DUH!

Not disagreeing with you on that. However, the key word in my sentence was 'try'. For all we know, they already have.


- GeorgeBailey

Any discussion between the Flyers and Nashville, "trying" to get Jones, would probably start with Nashville asking for Giroux.

Here is a better idea. Score 1 goal, then doggie pile all 6 players infront of the net for the rest of the game. DUH!
- youarewrong

I am actually being a little serious about this. I am guessing this individual would be awesome when it comes to slapshots. 1 on 1 I think he might have an agility problem.

Good stuff - almost starting the season!

I was thinking about this after I read the above-quoted paragraph: is it possibler to get a very large goalie in goal? He would cover alot more of the net. Two conditions must be met for this obese goalie to be successfull:

1) He must be able to stand up. Getting down would not be a problem, I am guessing gravity would do the trick.

2) He must be able to move sideways 3-4 inches(the part of the net not covered).

If this individual is very well fed and trained for this purpose, we could for example grow his upper arms and torso, while keeping muscles in his legs.

Edit: He will not be a butterfly goalie.
- Bearintheforest

[/URL]

Strap 'em on!!


I remember Seinfeld's routine:



Thank you for the responses, Bill. For some reason, I thought Ghost was still 19.

I did look up the size differential for Cousins and Sharp - the 2 inches in height is a given but wasn't sure if Sharp had filled out to 200 lbs at that age, not that Cousins will pack on an additional 20. Thanks for pointing out the skating and defensive differential.

How many teams can Coburn say no to? I was just guessing that, perhaps, Edmonton may have been one of those teams.

Thanks again.

So my team won the Mens League championship last night in thrilling fashion.. It only needed triple OT.

So my team won the Mens League championship last night in thrilling fashion.. It only needed triple OT.
- jak521

A good team would've won in regulation!


Congrats.

A good team would of won in regulation!


Congrats.
- MJL

ftfy

Good stuff - almost starting the season!

I was thinking about this after I read the above-quoted paragraph: is it possibler to get a very large goalie in goal? He would cover alot more of the net. Two conditions must be met for this obese goalie to be successfull:

1) He must be able to stand up. Getting down would not be a problem, I am guessing gravity would do the trick.

2) He must be able to move sideways 3-4 inches(the part of the net not covered).

If this individual is very well fed and trained for this purpose, we could for example grow his upper arms and torso, while keeping muscles in his legs.

Edit: He will not be a butterfly goalie.
- Bearintheforest

Philadelphia's own Atom & His Package has covered this issue:

http://www.lyricstime.com...ackage-goalie-lyrics.html

I am actually being a little serious about this. I am guessing this individual would be awesome when it comes to slapshots. 1 on 1 I think he might have an agility problem.
- Bearintheforest

http://www.aolnews.com/20...he-fat-goalie-experiment/

"Unfortunately, the NHL appears to have standards on padding (really?), and any guy put in this situation would likely get severely bruised and injured. That is if the d00d could even pass the physical, which is highly unlikely."

Good luck Hostetter!

Any discussion between the Flyers and Nashville, "trying" to get Jones, would probably start with Nashville asking for Giroux.
- MJL

I agree.

I'm also unclear as to why Nashville would even entertain an offer to move Jones.

"We have too many good defensemen!" - Said no NHL team ever.