Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Monday Quick Hits

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Monday Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Good morning!

What's your take on the VL situation, Bill? Do you think they have a deal in place just waiting for after his bonus is paid on the 1st?

I honestly cant see the flyers upgrading this team much at all. Even dumping Vinny takes a rifle off of the PP and who replaces that? So all in all. Pretty much the same team as last season. They battle hard, scrap out some goals, Mason makes a million saves, team is slow. Better hope Giroux doesnt get hurt.

Good morning!

What's your take on the VL situation, Bill? Do you think they have a deal in place just waiting for after his bonus is paid on the 1st?
- BiggE

Talked about VL at length in yesterday's blog

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...uly-Draft-Wrapup/45/60993

I honestly cant see the flyers upgrading this team much at all. Even dumping Vinny takes a rifle off of the PP and who replaces that? So all in all. Pretty much the same team as last season. They battle hard, scrap out some goals, Mason makes a million saves, team is slow. Better hope Giroux doesnt get hurt.
- GOA88

If Vinnie get's traded then i think the upgrade is allowing the younger players greater roles on the team (ie. Schenn and Couterier). It may not payoff big this year but it should pay off down the road. At some point they have to be given the opportunity to show they can do more.

I honestly cant see the flyers upgrading this team much at all. Even dumping Vinny takes a rifle off of the PP and who replaces that? So all in all. Pretty much the same team as last season. They battle hard, scrap out some goals, Mason makes a million saves, team is slow. Better hope Giroux doesnt get hurt.
- GOA88

Dumping Vinny also gives them cap room, removes a guy who doesn't really help at 5 on 5, & allows them to keep a young developing Brayden Schenn at center

I understand your theory here but didnt Brayden Schenn play at least 60 games at center last year? He didnt do all that much better than Vinny did. Couts will play the same role no matter what. So I'm not seeing much of a positive this season. Only cap relief in the following seasons. Holmgren really put Hextall in a bad spot. I mean what was Holmgren thinking was gonna happen the following season?? Did he just go for broke cause his foot was already half way out the door?

The only way I see this team getting better is if Hextall starts making moves like that crafty Stevie Y in Tampa. Now that guy knows how to dump cap. Scrap this defense a little. Bring a kid up. I honestly can see Ghost making the team. I know Ed Snider wants him too. lol

Dumping Vinny also gives them cap room, removes a guy who doesn't really help at 5 on 5, & allows them to keep a young developing Brayden Schenn at center
- Jsaquella

I do think its time to give Matt Read a long hard look at the top 6. I think he has earned it.

I understand your theory here but didnt Brayden Schenn play at least 60 games at center last year? He didnt do all that much better than Vinny did. Couts will play the same role no matter what. So I'm not seeing much of a positive this season. Only cap relief in the following seasons. Holmgren really put Hextall in a bad spot. I mean what was Holmgren thinking was gonna happen the following season?? Did he just go for broke cause his foot was already half way out the door?

The only way I see this team getting better is if Hextall starts making moves like that crafty Stevie Y in Tampa. Now that guy knows how to dump cap. Scrap this defense a little. Bring a kid up. I honestly can see Ghost making the team. I know Ed Snider wants him too. lol
- GOA88

Schenn is 22 and developing. Vinny is 34 and declining.

I do think its time to give Matt Read a long hard look at the top 6. I think he has earned it.
- GOA88

Matt Read def has the speed to really make that 1st line zip around the ice.

I can only hope Hexy has some cap dumping moves up his sleeve. Stevie Y has shown he is a crafty sob at dumping cap like an animal

Schenn is 22 and developing. Vinny is 34 and declining.
- Jsaquella

Yes I get that. I am one of the many that doesnt think too highly of Schenn. His skill set is more of a glorified grinder. He doesnt have a great shot, or pass, and skating is average. Basic puck skills. Hopefully I am proven wrong. I just cant see the upside.

Yes I get that. I am one of the many that doesnt think too highly of Schenn. His skill set is more of a glorified grinder. He doesnt have a great shot, or pass, and skating is average. Basic puck skills. Hopefully I am proven wrong. I just cant see the upside.
- GOA88

I see skill, but I do have concerns about him. That said, I'd trade Vinny for basically nothing, because he's a bad fit for the scheme and system that the Flyers seem to want to use.

He can still score goals, but they have 6 other 20 goal scores. They need better skating, better two way players. Sadly, Vinny isn't that.

I see skill, but I do have concerns about him. That said, I'd trade Vinny for basically nothing, because he's a bad fit for the scheme and system that the Flyers seem to want to use.

He can still score goals, but they have 6 other 20 goal scores. They need better skating, better two way players. Sadly, Vinny isn't that.
- Jsaquella

You are absolutely correct. While at this point I think Vinny is a better 2nd line center, his tank is about empty if it isnt already. The team is dead set at playing Schenn in that spot. So yes, Vinny basically has no role with this team. It would have been sweet if he could have learned to take a Giroux pass on the RW.

With needing to clear cap space. I was thinking about something like this. Calgary needs back end help. You can move MacDonald to Calgary for Sven Baertschi, who seems to have fallen out of favor there. He is a low risk option on the wing. Also get some cap space. Then you Move Vinny to NSH for Del Zotto who NSH already said doesn't fit into plans. That should open up cap and gives you a young offensive dmen in return and a winger. Del Zotto doesn't have MacDonalds All-around game but these moves open space and gice us some felxibility moving forward.

You are absolutely correct. While at this point I think Vinny is a better 2nd line center, his tank is about empty if it isnt already. The team is dead set at playing Schenn in that spot. So yes, Vinny basically has no role with this team. It would have been sweet if he could have learned to take a Giroux pass on the RW.
- GOA88

I personally think that Lecavalier can bounce back if he's healthy and doesn't have a chronic back issue. But if they aren't going to commit to playing Lecavalier at center on a scoring line, then they should look to move him.
And as far as Schenn is concerned, decide what he's going to be a leave him there. Is he a winger or a center?

With needing to clear cap space. I was thinking about something like this. Calgary needs back end help. You can move MacDonald to Calgary for Sven Baertschi, who seems to have fallen out of favor there. He is a low risk option on the wing. Also get some cap space. Then you Move Vinny to NSH for Del Zotto who NSH already said doesn't fit into plans. That should open up cap and gives you a young offensive dmen in return and a winger. Del Zotto doesn't have MacDonalds All-around game but these moves open space and gice us some felxibility moving forward.
- J35Bacher

Not a move I would make.

You are absolutely correct. While at this point I think Vinny is a better 2nd line center, his tank is about empty if it isnt already. The team is dead set at playing Schenn in that spot. So yes, Vinny basically has no role with this team. It would have been sweet if he could have learned to take a Giroux pass on the RW.
- GOA88

It sucks, because I like Vinny, and was excited to have him join the team. Unfortunately, the results were not very good. Even if he rebounds, I don't see a great fit for what Berube says he wants to do

I see skill, but I do have concerns about him. That said, I'd trade Vinny for basically nothing, because he's a bad fit for the scheme and system that the Flyers seem to want to use.

He can still score goals, but they have 6 other 20 goal scores. They need better skating, better two way players. Sadly, Vinny isn't that.
- Jsaquella

It's a good thing there are a few teams that need a 2nd line center

With needing to clear cap space. I was thinking about something like this. Calgary needs back end help. You can move MacDonald to Calgary for Sven Baertschi, who seems to have fallen out of favor there. He is a low risk option on the wing. Also get some cap space. Then you Move Vinny to NSH for Del Zotto who NSH already said doesn't fit into plans. That should open up cap and gives you a young offensive dmen in return and a winger. Del Zotto doesn't have MacDonalds All-around game but these moves open space and gice us some felxibility moving forward.
- J35Bacher

I'm not the biggest MacDonald fan, but I wouldn't do that. MDZ is interesting as a reclamation project, but in this scenario, you'd be counting heavily on him to fill a top 6 role.

Not a move I would make.
- MJL

AGREED

It sucks, because I like Vinny, and was excited to have him join the team. Unfortunately, the results were not very good. Even if he rebounds, I don't see a great fit for what Berube says he wants to do
- Jsaquella

It's the opposite of Ebony and Ivory

It's a good thing there are a few teams that need a 2nd line center
- bigmookalookie

Or 20 goals. If the Flyers didn't have so many guys capable of scoring 20, I'd be trying to find a fit for Vinny, rather than trading him.

It's the opposite of Ebony and Ivory

- bigmookalookie

I thought that "The Girl is Mine" was the opposite of ebony & ivory

I'm not the biggest MacDonald fan, but I wouldn't do that. MDZ is interesting as a reclamation project, but in this scenario, you'd be counting heavily on him to fill a top 6 role.
- Jsaquella

On a side note I wouldn't mind seeing MDZ as part of a VL trade. It would be interesting to see how he would play in Berube's system