Bill Meltzer: 15 Flyers Quick Hits, Flyers Alumni at NE Skate Zone (9/30)

The following players really impressed me last night:

Morin
Laughton
Weal
Konecny

Most others were solid to good, but those 4 really stood out.

Since I missed the game, I really appreciate such an exhaustive wrap up.

Any thoughts on why Vecchione has only played one game all preseason but is still with the Flyers and not in Allentown?

TK looks like he had a great off season. He looks super fast!
Love the problems we face in next few days.
We have a lot of guys really making Hexy's decisions difficult again another good thing.

The following players really impressed me last night:

Morin
Laughton
Weal
Konecny

Most others were solid to good, but those 4 really stood out.
- BiggE

I thought Giroux had a really good game, Voracek seems to be like half a step off. Couturier really needs to gain some confidence in the offensive zone, the guy just really can't score.

A few things I noticed about Couturier last night.

He does have some pretty good hands and made some nifty stick handling moves to set up some plays.

For a guy who looks like he is skating in sand, he has really long strides and is moving faster than people think. Somehow he always ends up on the right side of the puck and wins his share of races due to his solid positioning.

He is a better player than WIP gives him credit for. One can look at the fancy stats to see that.

I see a guy with an astronomical hockey IQ.

Fancy stats say one thing but the score sheet says another regarding Couturier.

yes, the score sheet does say something about Couturier. Over the past few seasons, everyone who plays with him scores more.

I will need to go underwear shopping if the Flyers "4th" line is Leier, Laughton, and Raffl

yes, the score sheet does say something about Couturier. Over the past few seasons, everyone who plays with him scores more.
- MBFlyerfan

Exactly

yes, the score sheet does say something about Couturier. Over the past few seasons, everyone who plays with him scores more.
- MBFlyerfan

Please enlighten me on why his stats don't reflect this.

Considering Couturier had as many goals as Giroux did last year in 16 fewer games, I'd worry more about the captain getting the confidence in the OZ to score goals again.

He was also +12 to Giroux's -15. I'd use 5 on 5 GF% since it's a better statistic, but I'm worried it might be considered too "fancy".

You mean like Coots being the most productive player at 5v5 the last two years. Like that stat?

I personally have seen enough of the 3 rookie defenseman to make a final determination. Although I thought that Sanheim was just okay last night and has been better in previous games that I saw then he was last night. Nobody can tell me that Sanheim is any less prepared to play in the NHL than Hagg and Morin are. Different kinds of players for sure but all three are capable of playing in the NHL right now in my opinion.
So what does it come down to. For sure there will be growing pains for all three players at some point. That's going to happen whether they start in the NHL now, in the middle of the season, or next season. So let's deal with that now and get them the experience. Coaches are normally reluctant to rely heavily on rookie defenseman but that's just something they'll have to deal with.
I see Manning as a solid 7th defenseman candidate for a number of factors. Won't retard his development by not playing, good cap, and capable. So in my view it comes down to a choice between keeping Sanheim or MacDonald. No doubt that MacDonald is the more experienced player and a better defender in his own zone, shot blocker, etc. As I've said many times, MacDonald is a player that will only help you not to lose. He won't help you win a lot. That's just the kind of player he is. I don't want to get into a debate on MacDonald as a player. Been there, done that. So it comes down to balancing out who is going to make more of an impact in the final count to the team, Sanheim or MacDonald? I think it's Sanheim. With his skating and puck skills he has far more ability to make a positive impact on the game than MacDonald does. Sure there may be some bad stretches and some issues defensively from time to time but he is not a slouch defensively by any means. You would also expect him to get better as the season goes along. They can waive MacDonald and send him down without a threat of losing him. If one of the young kids falters, you can recall MacDonald and put him right into the lineup. That's what I would do anyway. We'll see what Hextall decides.

ttt

Fancy stats say one thing but the score sheet says another regarding Couturier.
- ClaudeFather

You aren't looking very closely.

Since I missed the game, I really appreciate such an exhaustive wrap up.

- Feanor

Yes - Bill is the man!

Considering Couturier had as many goals as Giroux did last year in 16 fewer games, I'd worry more about the captain getting the confidence in the OZ to score goals again.

He was also +12 to Giroux's -15. I'd use 5 on 5 GF% since it's a better statistic, but I'm worried it might be considered too "fancy".
- Feanor

The knack for giving up short handed and EN goals really clouds any judgement you can make from that stat

You aren't looking very closely.
- MJL

He needs to upgrade that most ancient optic device he's been using, the Mark I Eyeball.

The knack for giving up short handed and EN goals really clouds any judgement you can make from that stat
- YuenglingJagr

You're getting too fancy. Next thing you'll want to eat food on a plate with a knife and fork instead of just tossing it on the counter and gnawing at it.

I personally have seen enough of the 3 rookie defenseman to make a final determination. Although I thought that Sanheim was just okay last night and has been better in previous games that I saw then he was last night. Nobody can tell me that Sanheim is any less prepared to play in the NHL than Hagg and Morin are. Different kinds of players for sure but all three are capable of playing in the NHL right now in my opinion.
- MJL

Does this signal an end to the "fine tune his defensive game" posts?

I will need to go underwear shopping if the Flyers "4th" line is Leier, Laughton, and Raffl
- YuenglingJagr

I think Matt Read is gonna have to go apartment hunting in LHV.

I personally have seen enough of the 3 rookie defenseman to make a final determination. Although I thought that Sanheim was just okay last night and has been better in previous games that I saw then he was last night. Nobody can tell me that Sanheim is any less prepared to play in the NHL than Hagg and Morin are. Different kinds of players for sure but all three are capable of playing in the NHL right now in my opinion.
So what does it come down to. For sure there will be growing pains for all three players at some point. That's going to happen whether they start in the NHL now, in the middle of the season, or next season. So let's deal with that now and get them the experience. Coaches are normally reluctant to rely heavily on rookie defenseman but that's just something they'll have to deal with.
I see Manning as a solid 7th defenseman candidate for a number of factors. Won't retard his development by not playing, good cap, and capable. So in my view it comes down to a choice between keeping Sanheim or MacDonald. No doubt that MacDonald is the more experienced player and a better defender in his own zone, shot blocker, etc. As I've said many times, MacDonald is a player that will only help you not to lose. He won't help you win a lot. That's just the kind of player he is. I don't want to get into a debate on MacDonald as a player. Been there, done that. So it comes down to balancing out who is going to make more of an impact in the final count to the team, Sanheim or MacDonald? I think it's Sanheim. With his skating and puck skills he has far more ability to make a positive impact on the game than MacDonald does. Sure there may be some bad stretches and some issues defensively from time to time but he is not a slouch defensively by any means. You would also expect him to get better as the season goes along. They can waive MacDonald and send him down without a threat of losing him. If one of the young kids falters, you can recall MacDonald and put him right into the lineup. That's what I would do anyway. We'll see what Hextall decides.
- MJL

Agree 100%, with the difficulty this team has had generating offense at ES, Sanheim needs to be in the lineup. I can live with the mistakes, it's part of being an NHL rookie, but his talent and skill should be a huge plus for this team.

Considering Couturier had as many goals as Giroux did last year in 16 fewer games, I'd worry more about the captain getting the confidence in the OZ to score goals again.

He was also +12 to Giroux's -15. I'd use 5 on 5 GF% since it's a better statistic, but I'm worried it might be considered too "fancy".
- Feanor

Come on now, all fancy stats people claim +- is not a good stat to look at, you know better. The guy has never cracked 40 points but everyone keeps claiming he's driving play and making other better, why isn't he putting up points? did you see that shot on the breakaway last night, it literally had no chance of going in.

You're getting too fancy. Next thing you'll want to eat food on a plate with a knife and fork instead of just tossing it on the counter and gnawing at it.
- Feanor

Woah, look at Mr. Fancypants with his pre-killed food!