Bill Meltzer: Lehigh Valley Phantoms: Season-in-Review and Offseason Outlook

Compared to the penguins, the flyers are totally winning. Won all 4 head to head games, have at least two draft picks before they have one. Winning

Compared to the penguins, the flyers are totally winning. Won all 4 head to head games, have at least two draft picks before they have one. Winning
- flyerscup2011

You still have to pass them in the standings before you can make that claim. Having said that, I have no doubt it will happen in the next few years. Too bad your GM has proven to be all talk and no rock thus far in his tenure or it might happen more efficiently.

You still have to pass them in the standings before you can make that claim. Having said that, I have no doubt it will happen in the next few years. Too bad your GM has proven to be all talk and no rock thus far in his tenure or it might happen more efficiently.
- jeropotato

- WarriorHockey21

Oh yeah, I forgot, he gets a free pass until all homers long term poopty contracts expire. He can get a (frank) of a lot of fishing in Mexico done before Vinny and Amacs contracts are finished. It's a great gig if you can get it.

Oh yeah, I forgot, he gets a free pass until all homers long term poopty contracts expire. He can get a (frank) of a lot of fishing in Mexico done before Vinny and Amacs contracts are finished. It's a great gig if you can get it.
- Jeropotato

As long as Hextall ends the practice of the Flyers being a golden parachute factory, it's a positive step

He's tailor made for the Oilers. A former #1 overall draft pick, and now a ruined player. Your front office wouldn't even have to do the ruining themselves, that's called efficiency.
- jmatchett383

The hard part is already done!

Bill, you called Bardreau "steady." Combined with his size and numbers to date, that sounds like you're describing another Ben Holmstrom/Mike Testwuide/Jon Kalinski type. Is that how Bardreau is viewed within the organization.

He's tailor made for the Oilers. A former #1 overall draft pick, and now a ruined player. Your front office wouldn't even have to do the ruining themselves, that's called efficiency.
- jmatchett383

Who did the Oilers ruin?

Who did the Oilers ruin?
- Jeropotato

Their entire team. They have tons of young talent buried in a mountain of mismanagement. I'm sure McDavid is looking forward to putting up 100 point seasons on a perpetual 25th place team.

Their entire team. They have tons of young talent buried in a mountain of mismanagement. I'm sure McDavid is looking forward to putting up 100 point seasons on a perpetual 25th place team.
- jmatchett383

I see.....so what your saying is that Nicholson and PC have a bunch of terrible players with no upside ....and Connor McDavid? Nice. If only we had the Schenn brothers we would have a chance.

I see.....so what your saying is that Nicholson and PC have a bunch of terrible players with no upside ....and Connor McDavid? Nice. If only we had the Schenn brothers we would have a chance.
- Jeropotato

No...I'm saying the Oilers have a bunch of good young players who are going to waste on that poopshow being run up there. But I'm sure they'll be content adding the most defensive-lacking players they can to add to their hoard at this year's draft. Who needs to know how to play defense when you've got guys like Yakupov and Schultz as key fixtures?

I see.....so what your saying is that Nicholson and PC have a bunch of terrible players with no upside ....and Connor McDavid? Nice. If only we had the Schenn brothers we would have a chance.
- Jeropotato

For a team that has picked as high as the Oilers they should be in better position.

We would be ripping the Flyers if they picked in the top 5 and continued to piss away the talent.

No...I'm saying the Oilers have a bunch of good young players who are going to waste on that poopshow being run up there. But I'm sure they'll be content adding the most defensive-lacking players they can to add to their hoard at this year's draft. Who needs to know how to play defense when you've got guys like Yakupov and Schultz as key fixtures?
- jmatchett383

Well I don't know if you're aware of much in Edmonton, but Schultz isn't exactly a key fixture in the Oilers future. I'm sure he'll be around but expect him to slide down the Depth chart as Klefbom and Nurse develope.

Also, as far as management goes, Lowe andMacT are out, Bob Nicholson and Peter Chiarelli are in....so those are pretty big changes, and I suspect there will be more to come.

And as far as your comment about not having any defensive players, everyone knows it, it's just a matter of changing up the roster.hopefully PC and McDavid can appeal to some defensive free agents that will help that cause.

For a team that has picked as high as the Oilers they should be in better position.

We would be ripping the Flyers if they picked in the top 5 and continued to piss away the talent.
- J35Bacher

Ummm yeah....why do you thinks we just replaced our entire management group?

No...I'm saying the Oilers have a bunch of good young players who are going to waste on that poopshow being run up there. But I'm sure they'll be content adding the most defensive-lacking players they can to add to their hoard at this year's draft. Who needs to know how to play defense when you've got guys like Yakupov and Schultz as key fixtures?
- jmatchett383

The problem is, they hired Bob Nicholson from Hockey Canada and Peter Chiarelli, so now instead of Kevin Lowe, they have guys who have done something as management and not just as players.

That's sort of like going from Grossmann and MacDonald as your top pair to Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo

I see.....so what your saying is that Nicholson and PC have a bunch of terrible players with no upside ....and Connor McDavid? Nice. If only we had the Schenn brothers we would have a chance.
- Jeropotato

You've had the #1 pick enough the past few years, combined with other picks... you had your "chance" and haven't improved barely at all. I mean, let's go back here and look at all of their 1st rounders since 2007..

2007 Gagner
2007 Plante
2007 Nash
2008 Eberle
2009 Svensson
2010 Hall
2011 RNH
2011 Klefbom
2012 Yakupov
2013 Nurse
2014 Draisaitl

So you're saying Edmonton has no management issue here? All of those picks were either bad, or they turned out to be players stuck in the black hole of Edmonton, wasting away. By now, Edmonton should be able to have an entire playoff team drafted... But hey.. maybe a few more token 1st rounders will turn things around for them...

I feel bad for McDavid.. kid deserves better...

The problem is, they hired Bob Nicholson from Hockey Canada and Peter Chiarelli, so now instead of Kevin Lowe, they have guys who have done something as management and not just as players.

That's sort of like going Grossmann and MacDonald as your top pair to Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo
- Jsaquella

Get your gender-changing, Regicidal sledgeomatic out of here.

No, I totally understand it. They're finally realizing that the former management group was a disaster. I am a bit shocked that it took so long to do something proactive about it.

Get your gender-changing, Regicidal sledgeomatic out of here.

No, I totally understand it. They're finally realizing that the former management group was a disaster. I am a bit shocked that it took so long to do something proactive about it.
- jmatchett383

Look at the Phillies and Amaro..

You've had the #1 pick enough the past few years, combined with other picks... you had your "chance" and haven't improved barely at all. I mean, let's go back here and look at all of their 1st rounders since 2007..

2007 Gagner
2007 Plante
2007 Nash
2008 Eberle
2009 Svensson
2010 Hall
2011 RNH
2011 Klefbom
2012 Yakupov
2013 Nurse
2014 Draisaitl

So you're saying Edmonton has no management issue here? All of those picks were either bad, or they turned out to be players stuck in the black hole of Edmonton, wasting away. By now, Edmonton should be able to have an entire playoff team drafted... But hey.. maybe a few more token 1st rounders will turn things around for them...

I feel bad for McDavid.. kid deserves better...
- WarriorHockey21

You are aware that the Oilers hired Peter Chiarelli as GM, right? The guy who helped build the Bruins into a Cup winner? And they hired the highly respected Bob Nicholson to serve as team president?

They have a whole new management team in place.

Well I don't know if you're aware of much in Edmonton, but Schultz isn't exactly a key fixture in the Oilers future. I'm sure he'll be around but expect him to slide down the Depth chart as Klefbom and Nurse develope.

Also, as far as management goes, Lowe andMacT are out, Bob Nicholson and Peter Chiarelli are in....so those are pretty big changes, and I suspect there will be more to come.

And as far as your comment about not having any defensive players, everyone knows it, it's just a matter of changing up the roster.hopefully PC and McDavid can appeal to some defensive free agents that will help that cause.
- Jeropotato

Is Klefbom still a viable prospect? Nurse looked good at the WJC so I'll give him a nod, but it seems like Klefbom needs to start making a claim. I know he played 60 games last year, but I just get the feeling that his ship has sailed.

Compared to the penguins, the flyers are totally winning. Won all 4 head to head games, have at least two draft picks before they have one. Winning
- flyerscup2011

Get your gender-changing, Regicidal sledgeomatic out of here.

No, I totally understand it. They're finally realizing that the former management group was a disaster. I am a bit shocked that it took so long to do something proactive about it.
- jmatchett383

Absolutely, Watermelon King of the British Realm.

Lowe's run as head of their hockey ops department is staggering...almost Milbury-esque

You are aware that the Oilers hired Peter Chiarelli as GM, right? The guy who helped build the Bruins into a Cup winner? And they hired the highly respected Bob Nicholson to serve as team president?

They have a whole new management team in place.
- Jsaquella

Think PC could pull another Kessel with one of Hall/RNH/Eberle?

You are aware that the Oilers hired Peter Chiarelli as GM, right? The guy who helped build the Bruins into a Cup winner? And they hired the highly respected Bob Nicholson to serve as team president?

They have a whole new management team in place.
- Jsaquella

Yes.. That happened in 2015. The events I posted have all been 2014 and prior. I don't care about their future outlook, their recent past is enough to make me sick, especially how they slugged out yet another #1 pick this draft.