Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Roster Moves, Phantoms, Prospects

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Roster Moves, Phantoms, Prospects
- bmeltzer

Still have to make a move to maximize Pronger's LTIR. As i stands they are $16,022 over the cap if Hall and Gervais are claimed/sent to the AHL.

I'm still bothered that they risked Hall to waivers over Rosehill, but I guess the need to employ a goon trumps keeping a good faceoff guy and penalty killer, who might actually play in a playoff game, if the team makes it.

I'm also not a fan of the bottom six. I like Read and Couturier, but I'd prefer somebody other than Talbot there. A 4th line of Hall, with Talbot and Rinaldo would be great, but now that's not likely.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Roster Moves, Phantoms, Prospects
- bmeltzer

Good morning Bill
You always write with such authority and apparent insight.
You seem to go out of your way in putting Meszaros down and you declare that five spots on the blueline are wrapped up and Mez is battling for the sixth spot.
Is that your opinion or are you so informed?
It seems I have heard that Mez is a 'crucial part of this year's team' (Lavy), one of two (Grossmann the other) up for trade, and that Coburn is still being shopped.
You have him gone.

Still have to make a move to maximize Pronger's LTIR. As i stands they are $16,022 over the cap if Hall and Gervais are claimed/sent to the AHL.

I'm still bothered that they risked Hall to waivers over Rosehill, but I guess the need to employ a goon trumps keeping a good faceoff guy and penalty killer, who might actually play in a playoff game, if the team makes it.

I'm also not a fan of the bottom six. I like Read and Couturier, but I'd prefer somebody other than Talbot there. A 4th line of Hall, with Talbot and Rinaldo would be great, but now that's not likely.
- Jsaquella

It'd be nice if they could just make a hockey trade for Meszaros -- hey, we all understand that the guy has injury issues and is in the last year of his contract. But how in the world is there not one player in the league, a third-line forward, who doesn't have those same kind of issues, or is overpaid, or lost his job to a rookie or something like that?

That's what baffles me most about Meszaros -- I get that we're not going to get "Barry Ashbee Trophy Winner" value. But there has to be SOMEBODY out there in the league, some kind of third-liner, whose better than what we have AND is expendable to their organization AND could use a guy like Meszaros for one year -- it is amazing to me that there isn't ANY market for him.

It'd be nice if they could just make a hockey trade for Meszaros -- hey, we all understand that the guy has injury issues and is in the last year of his contract. But how in the world is there not one player in the league, a third-line forward, who doesn't have those same kind of issues, or is overpaid, or lost his job to a rookie or something like that?

That's what baffles me most about Meszaros -- I get that we're not going to get "Barry Ashbee Trophy Winner" value. But there has to be SOMEBODY out there in the league, some kind of third-liner, whose better than what we have AND is expendable to their organization AND could use a guy like Meszaros for one year -- it is amazing to me that there isn't ANY market for him.
- AllInForFlyers

The backloaded deal, along with the injury history, are huge burdens for any team to assume. Add to that, there's still productive dmen on the UFA market that any interested party could get for pennies on the dollar.

Will be interesting to see what the final roster will look like. Not sure of waiving Hall, I thought his play was solid for what his role is on this team. Hope he clears.

Once the roster is settled it will be onto bigger issues, like making this team a team. This team needs to come together. Lava has a short amount of time to get this done. If the team really likes playing for him this could make this team press too much. But I just get the feeling this team has shut out Lava.

The backloaded deal, along with the injury history, are huge burdens for any team to assume. Add to that, there's still productive dmen on the UFA market that any interested party could get for pennies on the dollar.
- Tomahawk

Let me ask you this:

Toronto's likely to want to move John-Michael Liles, or possibly bury him in the minors. He has two more years after this one on his deal, at about $3.9M per. He's about as healthy as any NHL veteran is who has played the number of games he had; he had a concussion last year, missed some time.

Now, my question is this: That's a bad contract, right? If you're a GM, you can't easily justify taking those extra years.

Where I am baffled is that Meszaros has just this year left. I understand everything you typed, and I still come out on, "Send the Flyers back a third-line/fourth-line winger whose contract we don't want. It's just for one year."

Meszaros' contract...wow. Of all the bad deals we see in the NHL, I'm baffled at how his just might be unmovable.

In a vacuum, does anyone think Laughton has done enough to hold down a regular NHL spot right now? Not me.

If you think that he has, beyond citing the untrue "he's done everything he can in juniors" argument, please enlighten me.

The backloaded deal, along with the injury history, are huge burdens for any team to assume. Add to that, there's still productive dmen on the UFA market that any interested party could get for pennies on the dollar.
- Tomahawk

The counterpoint is, that the contract comes off the books after this year.

In a vacuum, does anyone think Laughton has done enough to hold down a regular NHL spot right now? Not me.

If you think that he has, beyond citing the untrue "he's done everything he can in juniors" argument, please enlighten me.
- johndewar

I have not seen him play well enough to earn a spot to be honest. Cooter played himself onto the team when he was 18 but not Laughton so far. Wish the AHL was an option.

It'd be nice if they could just make a hockey trade for Meszaros -- hey, we all understand that the guy has injury issues and is in the last year of his contract. But how in the world is there not one player in the league, a third-line forward, who doesn't have those same kind of issues, or is overpaid, or lost his job to a rookie or something like that?

That's what baffles me most about Meszaros -- I get that we're not going to get "Barry Ashbee Trophy Winner" value. But there has to be SOMEBODY out there in the league, some kind of third-liner, whose better than what we have AND is expendable to their organization AND could use a guy like Meszaros for one year -- it is amazing to me that there isn't ANY market for him.
- AllInForFlyers

The injuries combined with the $4mm cap hit and $5.5mm salary are killing him.

If he had played better in the pre-season, I could see some interest, maybe, but honestly, he looked terrible out there.

In a vacuum, does anyone think Laughton has done enough to hold down a regular NHL spot right now? Not me.

If you think that he has, beyond citing the untrue "he's done everything he can in juniors" argument, please enlighten me.
- johndewar

Man, I haven't. I said it a bit ago in the last blog comments from Bill, but I don't understand how it became with Scott Laughton, EITHER he stays OR he doesn't develop.

We've all followed this team for a long time, but for the life of me, I can't remember a single player who has broken camp with the Flyers at this age who apparently has this designation.

In a vacuum, does anyone think Laughton has done enough to hold down a regular NHL spot right now? Not me.

If you think that he has, beyond citing the untrue "he's done everything he can in juniors" argument, please enlighten me.
- johndewar

No. He has not done enough, IMO, to earn the spot. I feel Adam Hall and Michael Raffl outplayed him, at least in the games I watched.

I also don't buy the "he's done all he can in juniors" stuff. He wasn't even the best player at his position on his junior team. He can do a lot more at the OHL level.

hoping amorosa can find a roll...

In a vacuum, does anyone think Laughton has done enough to hold down a regular NHL spot right now? Not me.

If you think that he has, beyond citing the untrue "he's done everything he can in juniors" argument, please enlighten me.
- johndewar

I mean, they can always just give him his tryout, and then send him down and call Hall (barring he's claimed) back up, if Laughton isn't playing good by the end of the 9(?) games.

hoping amorosa can find a roll...
- isaiah520

Is he eating lunch at a buffet? I suspect he will find one. JK LOL

I'm sorry, I just had to!

I mean, they can always just give him his tryout, and then send him down and call Hall (barring he's claimed) back up, if Laughton isn't playing good by the end of the 9(?) games.
- JAKEw1234

Sure. What if Hall is claimed? Who is your 4th line center if Laughton is overmatched? I'd guess Ben Holmstrom or Max Talbot, neither of whom has Hall's faceoff abilities, which is a key thing for a 4th line center to possess.

I mean, they can always just give him his tryout, and then send him down and call Hall (barring he's claimed) back up, if Laughton isn't playing good by the end of the 9(?) games.
- JAKEw1234

The worry to me is that I don't see Hall not getting claimed.

No. He has not done enough, IMO, to earn the spot. I feel Adam Hall and Michael Raffl outplayed him, at least in the games I watched.

I also don't buy the "he's done all he can in juniors" stuff. He wasn't even the best player at his position on his junior team. He can do a lot more at the OHL level.
- Jsaquella

Exactly -- man, Boone Jenner was the man in Oshawa. It doesn't mean that Laughton wasn't a good player, but that extra year of development in Oshawa -- Jenner was an 2011 draftee -- look at what Jenner's doing in Columbus' camp. He won the first-line left-wing job. He's playing with Marian Gaborik!

That's the sign of a player who's ready to make the jump!

Sure. What if Hall is claimed? Who is your 4th line center if Laughton is overmatched? I'd guess Ben Holmstrom or Max Talbot, neither of whom has Hall's faceoff abilities, which is a key thing for a 4th line center to possess.
- Jsaquella

Exactly. I'm hoping there's a plan that hasn't been revealed yet a la Mesz and a second for Mitchell. Homer hates that second pick.

Is he eating lunch at a buffet? I suspect he will find one. JK LOL

I'm sorry, I just had to!
- Hextall271

well, I've heard he's competing against some guy named liscio, so...

The worry to me is that I don't see Hall not getting claimed.
- Hextall271

He's cheap, got some good assets to offer and he's an experienced guy with toughness.

Exactly -- man, Boone Jenner was the man in Oshawa. It doesn't mean that Laughton wasn't a good player, but that extra year of development in Oshawa -- Jenner was an 2011 draftee -- look at what Jenner's doing in Columbus' camp. He won the first-line left-wing job. He's playing with Marian Gaborik!

That's the sign of a player who's ready to make the jump!
- AllInForFlyers

can't wait...gotta start cashing the Laughton chips now!

Exactly. I'm hoping there's a plan that hasn't been revealed yet a la Mesz and a second for Mitchell. Homer hates that second pick.
- Hextall271

I'd rather hold the second.

Exactly -- man, Boone Jenner was the man in Oshawa. It doesn't mean that Laughton wasn't a good player, but that extra year of development in Oshawa -- Jenner was an 2011 draftee -- look at what Jenner's doing in Columbus' camp. He won the first-line left-wing job. He's playing with Marian Gaborik!

That's the sign of a player who's ready to make the jump!
- AllInForFlyers

Yup. Jenner is a higher rated prospect, but he clearly won a job. There was zero question about him the way that he played in camp. There are questions about whether Laughton was one of the 12 best guys in camp.