Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Finding Ways to Lose; Phantoms; The Dineens

True, the flyers need a Bob Beamon like leap in team identity but all we've gotten so far is the Fosbury Flop!

Great read Bill!

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Finding Ways to Lose; Phantoms; The Dineens
- bmeltzer

So long as the Devils and Rangers continue to lose there is hope and vise versa for Rangers and Devils fans

Nice read Bill.

On a side note, with about 8 minutes left in the third, and on the PP, Schenn got the puck to Timonen, who was wide open in front of Howard.

All he had to do was shoot, and get it on net, and we probably would have tied the game.

Instead, he chose to try and pass it to Giroux, which was intercepted by a Red Wing, and 2 minutes later, Detroit scores. Game over.

The lack of confidence is screaming at the fans while watching this team crumble.

With the team struggling, and behind one in the third...you take the shot.

Bad choice by Kimmo, and it cost us the game.

Not the only thing that cost the game, but it sure didn't help.

Maybe playing the Penguins will pump this team up and give them some life.

Nice read Bill.

On a side note, with about 8 minutes left in the third, and on the PP, Schenn got the puck to Timonen, who was wide open in front of Howard.

All he had to do was shoot, and get it on net, and we probably would have tied the game.

Instead, he chose to try and pass it to Giroux, which was intercepted by a Red Wing, and 2 minutes later, Detroit scores. Game over.

The lack of confidence is screaming at the fans while watching this team crumble.

With the team struggling, and behind one in the third...you take the shot.

Bad choice by Kimmo, and it cost us the game.

Not the only thing that cost the game, but it sure didn't help.
- meduser

The best players on this team have been terrible. Im glad hartnell is out he has been worthless.

I miss the halcyon days of last year where all we had to do was lose a few more games and would've most likely gotten the 4th overall pick. Instead the Flyers went on a meaningless win streak which took them out of 5th overall and slid the Flyers down several spots. That meaningless streak not only saved Laviolette's job but was touted as an important building block for this year.

We could have had Seth Jones playing in the lineup this year but instead we got a listless training camp and the earliest firing in league history (which should've been done in the offseason).

Maybe playing the Penguins will pump this team up and give them some life.
- idiotsallofu

There's plenty of fire in their game. Im glad to see their 5 on 5 to be where it is right now. They have prob had little time to practice the PP with the coaching change

I will continue to support the team on the ice but snider and holmer need to go

There's plenty of fire in their game. Im glad to see their 5 on 5 to be where it is right now. They have prob had little time to practice the PP with the coaching change

I will continue to support the team on the ice but snider and holmer need to go
- Just5

5on5 was really good lastnight. I just think if they get pumped up like they usually do when they play the penguins and get a win out of it, maybe that will be the start of something.

There's plenty of fire in their game. Im glad to see their 5 on 5 to be where it is right now. They have prob had little time to practice the PP with the coaching change

I will continue to support the team on the ice but snider and holmer need to go
- Just5

Is Snider the president or the owner ? or both

Is Snider the president or the owner ? or both
- blizzzard

Snider is the devil.

Is Snider the president or the owner ? or both
- blizzzard

Team president. He was the majority owner for decades but sold team to Comcast in the mid-1990s, with Snider's Spectacor company being absorbed into a subsidiary called Comcast-Spector, retaining management interest in the hockey team.

The best players on this team have been terrible. Im glad hartnell is out he has been worthless.
- Just5

He's an average player to me. Always has been. He has some worth, but I don't think he fits an offense type system. He did well under Lava, but he also got to play on the top line for the last 5 years. He's not a bad player, just an average power forward. One of the very few power forwards that can't skate at all.

It's crazy how many NTC's we have on this team. With that said, here is a list of players I'm putting on the trading block if I'm GM of the team.

Hartnell - No need for him AND Simmonds
Timonen - Love the guy, but he's not getting younger
Streit - Not even sure why they signed the guy
L. Schenn - Meh
B. Schenn - Playing very well of late, but still would rather trade him
Coutier - Meh

Rebuild the team. Rebuild the identity. Rebuild our hope.

Team president. He was the majority owner for decades but sold team to Comcast in the mid-1990s, with Snider's Spectacor company being absorbed into a subsidiary called Comcast-Spector, retaining management interest in the hockey team.
- bmeltzer

Oh ok thanks ! Is Jacob still injured from the pre season game with the Devils ? or has he been playing ?

"The Roman Chorus"

That is great stuff. Hysterical.
Love your work Bill, keep it up.

G, Read, and Simmonds are starting to get a lot of good chances.
B Schenn continues to get good looks at the net.

I think if they keep skating, the scoring is going to come soon.
It's a process like you mentioned yesterday.

Snider is the devil.
- idiotsallofu

The Sniders want this team to succeed more then anyone.

The best players on this team have been terrible. Im glad hartnell is out he has been worthless.
- Just5

I said it before the game. Hartnell and Vinny going down is the best news this team has had. You call up 2-3 players and look what happens. The 2 goals scored last night were from players who were called up.

I'm not sure if that makes me feel sad and embarrassed for the core of this team, or excited that we have some depth (bot 6 depth but still).

"The Roman Chorus"

That is great stuff. Hysterical.
Love your work Bill, keep it up.

G, Read, and Simmonds are starting to get a lot of good chances.
B Schenn continues to get good looks at the net.

I think if they keep skating, the scoring is going to come soon.
It's a process like you mentioned yesterday.
- Marc D

I don't like Schenn at all, but he's been really the only player that's been noticeable throughout the season so far.

The Sniders want this team to succeed more then anyone.
- Marc D

And that sometimes blinds them to the problems the team has and how to go about fixing it with patience.

I miss the halcyon days of last year where all we had to do was lose a few more games and would've most likely gotten the 4th overall pick. Instead the Flyers went on a meaningless win streak which took them out of 5th overall and slid the Flyers down several spots. That meaningless streak not only saved Laviolette's job but was touted as an important building block for this year.

We could have had Seth Jones playing in the lineup this year but instead we got a listless training camp and the earliest firing in league history (which should've been done in the offseason).
- Flyers_01

One loss and we could of had Nichuskin.

I miss the halcyon days of last year where all we had to do was lose a few more games and would've most likely gotten the 4th overall pick. Instead the Flyers went on a meaningless win streak which took them out of 5th overall and slid the Flyers down several spots. That meaningless streak not only saved Laviolette's job but was touted as an important building block for this year.

We could have had Seth Jones playing in the lineup this year but instead we got a listless training camp and the earliest firing in league history (which should've been done in the offseason).
- Flyers_01

Dude, shut the (frank) up about the late season winning streak. It happened. Get over it. I'm so sick of hearing about it. Bill just wrote an entire blog about why this season cannot be blamed on one play or one thing so why are you complaining about one thing!?

Oh ok thanks ! Is Jacob still injured from the pre season game with the Devils ? or has he been playing ?
- blizzzard

He's been playing but noticeably in pain. Took a cross check to the back last night and caved to the ice. Still finished the game and won't admit to feeling bad.

He's an average player to me. Always has been. He has some worth, but I don't think he fits an offense type system. He did well under Lava, but he also got to play on the top line for the last 5 years. He's not a bad player, just an average power forward. One of the very few power forwards that can't skate at all.

It's crazy how many NTC's we have on this team. With that said, here is a list of players I'm putting on the trading block if I'm GM of the team.

Hartnell - No need for him AND Simmonds
Timonen - Love the guy, but he's not getting younger
Streit - Not even sure why they signed the guy
L. Schenn - Meh
B. Schenn - Playing very well of late, but still would rather trade him
Coutier - Meh


Maybe we can trade back for Richards and Carter
Rebuild the team. Rebuild the identity. Rebuild our hope.
- Flyersgod

Dude, shut the (frank) up about the late season winning streak. It happened. Get over it. I'm so sick of hearing about it. Bill just wrote an entire blog about why this season cannot be blamed on one play or one thing so why are you complaining about one thing!?
- PhillySportsGuy

If I complained about 5 things, then you would be telling me to shut up about criticizing everything would you not?

That one thing is not the cure all but it definately had a large impact on how this season has started.

And that sometimes blinds them to the problems the team has and how to go about fixing it with patience.
- ob18

Could be OB.
But that doesn't make Snider the devil.

Right now they are clearly rebuilding.
If they trade any youth for aging vets, or trade draft picks for vets I will be very upset.

The loss of the two first rounders in 09 and 10 in the Pronger deal is coming home to roost.
Those two players likely would be contributing on their entry level deals.
Not to rehash the whole debate, but I don't want to see them trade any more draft picks at this time. I'm guessing you would agree.