Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Enter New Year in Style

Happy New Year

Happy new year guys.

Didn't get to catch the game last night, but I am simply amazed at how this season has turned out. If someone would tell me after eight games this season that we would be 1 points out of 2nd in our division(and 1 point out of one of the two wild card spots with a game in hand), I would have had a hard time believing it.

Just awesome.

If memory serves me well theyve been a strong road team for a while. At least the streit deal will be manageable going forward if he continues this kind of play.

If memory serves me well theyve been a strong road team for a while. At least the streit deal will be manageable going forward if he continues this kind of play.
- JoeRussomanno

If that is the Streit that shows up ever night I can live with it. But I don't see it happening.

If memory serves me well theyve been a strong road team for a while. At least the streit deal will be manageable going forward if he continues this kind of play.
- JoeRussomanno

Free agent signings almost always have an adjustment period. Briere and Hartnell both struggled when they first signed here and it has happened across the entire league. With these big money contracts, people sometimes expect immediate results while these guys have to get accustomed to new schemes and teammates.

If memory serves me well theyve been a strong road team for a while. At least the streit deal will be manageable going forward if he continues this kind of play.
- JoeRussomanno

The Flyers were excellent on the road two seasons ago but were awful on the road last season (8-15-7, compared to 15-7-2 at home). Until the current road trip, they've done much better at home this year as well.

If that is the Streit that shows up ever night I can live with it. But I don't see it happening.
- Bearintheforest

This is closer to the player he was on Long Island. He looks more comfortable and he's making better plays with the puck. The back end of that contract is still going to be a problem though.

Happy New Year! I hope it's a good year for all of you and our favorite team.

This is closer to the player he was on Long Island. He looks more comfortable and he's making better plays with the puck. The back end of that contract is still going to be a problem though.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I recon he will be a buyout candidate with 1 or 2 years remaining?

The Flyers were excellent on the road two seasons ago but were awful on the road last season (8-15-7, compared to 15-7-2 at home). Until the current road trip, they've done much better at home this year as well.
- bmeltzer

They ditched the doop song.

I recon he will be a buyout candidate with 1 or 2 years remaining?
- Bearintheforest

I doubt the NHLPA or NHL allows that get out of jail free card again any time soon.

I doubt the NHLPA or NHL allows that get out of jail free card again any time soon.
- MBFlyerfan

You can't do buyouts? Would like to know more about this. You can't buy him out and have parts of his former salary count against the cap?

You can't do buyouts? Would like to know more about this. You can't buy him out and have parts of his former salary count against the cap?
- Bearintheforest

You can, but I don't think the Flyers would want to eat that salary. We shall see. I mistakenly thought he was talking about amnesties.

Mark Streit buyout from CapGeek.com

2016-17: $2,583,333
2017-18: $1,333,333

You can, but I don't think the Flyers would want to eat that salary. We shall see. I mistakenly thought he was talking about amnesties.

Mark Streit buyout from CapGeek.com

2016-17: $2,583,333
2017-18: $1,333,333
- MBFlyerfan

Thanks for informing!

Another question: will the picks for this year be decided from position in the overall league standings?

Edit: Is this how it will work: http://proicehockey.about...w-The-Nhl-Draft-Works.htm

You can, but I don't think the Flyers would want to eat that salary. We shall see. I mistakenly thought he was talking about amnesties.

Mark Streit buyout from CapGeek.com

2016-17: $2,583,333
2017-18: $1,333,333
- MBFlyerfan

Why worry about how a guy is playing two years from now? He's playing well now -- enjoy the moment!

Happy New Year, everyone -- one point out of FIFTH PLACE in the conference and second place in the division! (Though, OK. We're two points clear of 10th place, but we've got at least one game in hand against those haters! But why be negative? It's a new year!)

Why worry about how a guy is playing two years from now? He's playing well now -- enjoy the moment!
- AllInForFlyers

Not now as in ''this season'', but now as in ''yesterday'' I presume.

Happy New Year, everyone -- one point out of FIFTH PLACE in the conference and second place in the division! (Though, OK. We're two points clear of 10th place, but we've got at least one game in hand against those haters! But why be negative? It's a new year!)

Agreed! Happy new year!

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Enter New Year in Style
- bmeltzer

Fun game to watch last night. I'm more impressed by the string of wins the team has piles together than just the single win last night. No disrespect to the Calgary Flames but that was a game we should have won before the park dropped in the first period.

Why worry about how a guy is playing two years from now? He's playing well now -- enjoy the moment!

Happy New Year, everyone -- one point out of FIFTH PLACE in the conference and second place in the division! (Though, OK. We're two points clear of 10th place, but we've got at least one game in hand against those haters! But why be negative? It's a new year!)
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed. Save the hate on Streit till the next time he doesn't play so great

If Read misses some games will Downie play with Couturier and Hartnell with Vinny moving back to center Schenn and Simmonds?

Agreed. Save the hate on Streit till the next time he doesn't play so great

If Read misses some games will Downie play with Couturier and Hartnell with Vinny moving back to center Schenn and Simmonds?
- Feanor

I guess we'll have to wait until its reported how long he'll be out.

It's a much happier time than it was when they were 1-7.

The team still needs some tweaks, but they're doing what good teams do-battling and overcoming adversity.

Hopefully, we can all start looking past the bad 15 games that Giroux had to start the season and recognize that over the last 4 seasons, he's been over a point per game player, and stop crying over his salary. Elite players get that kind of money, and Giroux is in that class.

It's a much happier time than it was when they were 1-7.

The team still needs some tweaks, but they're doing what good teams do-battling and overcoming adversity.

Hopefully, we can all start looking past the bad 15 games that Giroux had to start the season and recognize that over the last 4 seasons, he's been over a point per game player, and stop crying over his salary. Elite players get that kind of money, and Giroux is in that class.
- Jsaquella

I think it's safe to say that his poor start can be attributed to the hand injury and hes back to the player we know and love.

It's a much happier time than it was when they were 1-7.

The team still needs some tweaks, but they're doing what good teams do-battling and overcoming adversity.

Hopefully, we can all start looking past the bad 15 games that Giroux had to start the season and recognize that over the last 4 seasons, he's been over a point per game player, and stop crying over his salary. Elite players get that kind of money, and Giroux is in that class.
- Jsaquella

Giroux was the last thing I was worried about on this team -- OK. It's hard to do sometimes, when a guy is playing currently and the team isn't quite elite.

But I do wonder when all people, everyone who roots for this team, will take a deep breath and realize that Claude Giroux is one of the 10-15 best players in the NHL today, one of the best Flyers to put on a uniform in the last 30 years, deserves to be the captain of this franchise because he's the kind of player you win with, and is worth every penny of his $8.25 million salary, in today's NHL.

I get it: It's easier to look at other teams, other players, and want them while minimizing what your guys do well. I do it. I try not to, but I do it.

But not with Giroux. I wouldn't trade that guy, and I think, with a little luck, a solid hockey trade and maybe one more strong draft, he and Sean Couturier will lift a Cup for Philadelphia.

They're not that far away. There's some deadwood on the roster, and they do need another prospect or two to make it. But anyone can see that this team isn't that far away, and Claude Giroux is the guy who is driving this train.

Agreed. Save the hate on Streit till the next time he doesn't play so great

If Read misses some games will Downie play with Couturier and Hartnell with Vinny moving back to center Schenn and Simmonds?
- Feanor

That is exactly what I would do.

Happy New Year!

And here's to another Flyers win!