Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: All-Star Skills Competition, Flyers ASG Highlights, Phantoms

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: All-Star Skills Competition, Flyers ASG Highlights, Phantoms
- bmeltzer

Thaks as always for the interesting blog, Bill... It is somewhat interesting to note that there was not an ASG every year over the players tenures in O&B, so the percentage of participation is askew... also Clarke had to pull out due to injury in one game that was probably not counted... Also, there's the fact of more teams in the league and less slot openings as time went on; it was not unusual for the Flyers to have a few players selected when Clarke played.. FWIW

I would like to see people who didn't make the ASG be able to participate in the skills contests similar to the NBA.

If you're a fast skater. Sign up. Got a hard slapper? Sign up. Let's see who truly is the best of the best.

Would anyone miss the all star break and game itself?? I know I would prefer just to continue playing hockey, maybe with less back to back games, and ending the season much earlier than surf season!

Would anyone miss the all star break and game itself?? I know I would prefer just to continue playing hockey, maybe with less back to back games, and ending the season much earlier than surf season!
- jd250

I wouldn’t miss it as much as I think it’s a great way for young children to get to know hockey and learn the names of the stars. The All-Star get is how I learned who the players were growing up. I couldn’t believe when Eric Lindros was booed in Tampa Bay.

Gotta give props to Lappy for getting the Phantoms moving in the right direction with a lineup full of ECHLers and basically never knowing who was going to be playing night to night and week to week.

Gotta give props to Lappy for getting the Phantoms moving in the right direction with a lineup full of ECHLers and basically never knowing who was going to be playing night to night and week to week.
- MBFlyerfan

Wait! Didn’t we stake him to the cross three months ago?

Wait! Didn’t we stake him to the cross three months ago?
- SuperSchennBros

Yep, pretty much.

Gotta give props to Lappy for getting the Phantoms moving in the right direction with a lineup full of ECHLers and basically never knowing who was going to be playing night to night and week to week.
- MBFlyerfan

You're right. He was villified and ready to be launched into the sun but he really ahs put together a nice streak . The fact that the phantoms are even close to . 500 hockey after the start that they did is pretty impressive.
Maybe many of us were wrong about lappy after all.
Either wya he is currently doing a great job down there working with what he has got

Yep, pretty much.

- MBFlyerfan

You know, this fan base is unbelievable. There are certain things you give time and the benefit of the doubt. Lappy as a first time head coach in the AHL is one. I don’t care how bad the PK was under his watch was, nobody is fixing that mess. Lappy as head coach of the Phantoms is low risk.

Another thing to point out. Giroux being named Captain for his team in the All-Star game. Giroux has accomplished everything human possible as a Flyer outside of win a Cup and has been disrespected by the league his entire career. The guy gets a little respect and our response is to disrespect him? “Captain Comfort”. I feel like that guy barely smiles and when he does, he’s faking it by being Polite.

Wait! Didn’t we stake him to the cross three months ago?
- SuperSchennBros

We doublecrossed him?

Great Player not a great captain Schenn.

We doublecrossed him?
- PT21

The “Captain Comfort” comments. If we attack him for not being what he was 4 or 5 years ago, where’s the line? In my opinion, Giroux should be untouchable in terms of criticism as a leader.

Seriously?? Too many years of watching him individually coast around the ice for shifts, periods, games. The team has always followed his lead.

Seriously?? Too many years of watching him individually coast around the ice for shifts, periods, games. The team has always followed his lead.
- Quetzalcoatl

How does a player who for years coasts around the ice for shifts, periods, and game get to be the 2nd all time franchise points leader, all time PP point leader, 7 time all star, 2 time top 5 Hart trophy finalist?

The “Captain Comfort” comments. If we attack him for not being what he was 4 or 5 years ago, where’s the line? In my opinion, Giroux should be untouchable in terms of criticism as a leader.
- SuperSchennBros

Generally, people say "nailed him to the cross"; stake is itself a cross, and staked to a cross => cross+cross=doublecross.

Sorry, I will show myself out now.

EDIT: or should I say, stake could itself be a cross.

Generally, people say "nailed him to the cross"; stake is itself a cross, and staked to a cross => cross+cross=doublecross.

Sorry, I will show myself out now.
- PT21

Who cares! His point was understood.

How does a player who for years coasts around the ice for shifts, periods, and game get to be the 2nd all time franchise points leader, all time PP point leader, 7 time all star, 2 time top 5 Hart trophy finalist?
- MJL

i also think a lot of people seriously overstate the impact a single guy has in the room and the tangible output of whatever mythical "leadership" variable theyre searching for.

Neither crosby or OV were/are exactly Messier type bulletin board speech guys. They lead by their effort and dedication to their craft. Giroux has essentially done the same for the past decade. These guys are also professional adults. They dont need a cheerleader or father figure.

When you think of this team being how it is, just remember at least we aren't Chicago.......

For those who live under rocks, the Owner ripped journalists for asking questions relating to the 2010 incident in a completely tone deaf way. They are also interviewing Chiarelli for GM

i also think a lot of people seriously overstate the impact a single guy has in the room and the tangible output of whatever mythical "leadership" variable theyre searching for.

Neither crosby or OV were/are exactly Messier type bulletin board speech guys. They lead by their effort and dedication to their craft. Giroux has essentially done the same for the past decade. These guys are also professional adults. They dont need a cheerleader or father figure.
- stayinthefnnet

I couldn't agree more.

I think A Mac glad it isn't backskating speed contest 🤪

i also think a lot of people seriously overstate the impact a single guy has in the room and the tangible output of whatever mythical "leadership" variable theyre searching for.

Neither crosby or OV were/are exactly Messier type bulletin board speech guys. They lead by their effort and dedication to their craft. Giroux has essentially done the same for the past decade. These guys are also professional adults. They dont need a cheerleader or father figure.
- stayinthefnnet

Further, Simmonds provided exactly such "leadership" when he was here. They blew hot and cold during his best years. When that voice was gone, they had the best stretch of a few months during the season they had experienced in a decade.

Pat Riley transformed the fire and brimstone style exhortations to the infamous ice-bucket-head-dunking machismo. Didn't work for the Knicks. Did work for the Heat ...sometime around 15 years back.

Could be a psychological placebo.

Giroux with his cap backward forward! Pretty rad lol 😆

Further, Simmonds provided exactly such "leadership" when he was here. They blew hot and cold during his best years. When that voice was gone, they had the best stretch of a few months during the season they had experienced in a decade.

Pat Riley transformed the fire and brimstone style exhortations to the infamous ice-bucket-head-dunking machismo. Didn't work for the Knicks. Did work for the Heat ...sometime around 15 years back.

Could be a psychological placebo.
- PT21

Its something someone points to in the tealeaves as a reason AFTER theyve already won most of the time.

Toews was considering to be the greatest leader of this batch of players. Where did all that go all of a sudden?

How does a player who for years coasts around the ice for shifts, periods, and game get to be the 2nd all time franchise points leader, all time PP point leader, 7 time all star, 2 time top 5 Hart trophy finalist?
- MJL

Claude is one of the all time individual performing Flyers! I think most folks would agree.
Some of us would not rank him as high in the leadership category.
It’s a difference of analytics vs the eye test. This game is not always played on paper or spreadsheet.