Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Tippett, Flyers Daily, Kessel, Lycksell, TIFH

Bill what makes them think Thompson is the answer to the PP? He has one year of NHL PP experience and that team finished 29th. Scott said there would be a “blank check” to improve the team. Why not just go out and overpay the best available PP guy to come here like Brunette or someone else with a track record of success?

A little info on Thompson’s PP philosophy, for what it’s worth:

https://sanjosehockeynow....arks-power-play-breakout/

Bill what makes them think Thompson is the answer to the PP? He has one year of NHL PP experience and that team finished 29th. Scott said there would be a “blank check” to improve the team. Why not just go out and overpay the best available PP guy to come here like Brunette or someone else with a track record of success?
- Djapana

What good is a blank check when the guy writing the checks is completely clueless?

That said there are no rules in place as far as I know to prevent franchises from offering big contracts to staff. Right or wrong as that may be the Flyers should absolutely be trying to pry top guys away from small markets. Coaches. Scouts. Analytics. Until they proofs otherwise this is their one great asset they have in the league. Might as well use it.

Bill what makes them think Thompson is the answer to the PP? He has one year of NHL PP experience and that team finished 29th. Scott said there would be a “blank check” to improve the team. Why not just go out and overpay the best available PP guy to come here like Brunette or someone else with a track record of success?
- Djapana

The same thing that still makes Kris Knoblauch a fast-riser despite flopping as the PP coach successor to Joey Mullen with the Flyers: success at lower levels and being an energetic, go-getting type. Thompson was a very highly sought-after coach just a couple years ago after the job he did in leading Chicago to the Calder Cup Final.

Will it work out? No idea. They did have interest in Brunette but he landed in a situation in New Jersey where he'd be the HC heir apparent to Lindy Ruff but also isn't the type to try to undercut the HC and angle to replace him -- something Mike Keenan still holds a grudge against Peter Laviolette for allegedly doing to him in Boston when Lavi was a young coach (he vehemently denies it to this day). Ruff and Brunette should get along well.

I kind of think it's a no-win situation for whomever the Flyers hired to run the PP. Hire Brunette and it's "Sure, anyone could run the Panthers' PP but look what happened in the playoffs... plus it's another case of Chuck re-hiring a guy he hired in Minnesota."

Hire a well-traveled assistant who has often run special teams (ala Yeo, who handled both PP and PK in Pittsburgh then PK here) and it's "Oh, look, another retread. Can't they ever hire a young coach with fresh ideas?"

Hire someone who had one unsuccessful kick at the can at running an NHL PP -- or hire a coach out of junior hockey as Hexy did originally with Knoblauch -- and it's "We need someone with a successful track record."

There is something freeing about watching a group of young players starting on a team with absolutely no expectations. There are some good veterans on the offensive side, but no real depth. Bringing in a guy like Kessel at this point in his career is the polar opposite of what they need. Time to reduce salary and look to the future.

Seems like been reading that same article for how many years now and nothing to very little changes!! Wish they purged more players who have the stink of losing etched into their souls. Have zero faith in this group of players who have been here for far to long.

Kessel would be the teams leading scorer. Let that sink in. Seems there is something left. Not that I want him on the team.

Dont want to hear about anymore underlying numbers when it comes to to tippet or Frost. time to actually start producing real numbers.

Be curious how much say the coach will have in the roster construction. He had to be on board with the Nic D signing I would imagine. However he doesn't appear to be a player he would want to play

The same thing that still makes Kris Knoblauch a fast-riser despite flopping as the PP coach successor to Joey Mullen with the Flyers: success at lower levels and being an energetic, go-getting type. Thompson was a very highly sought-after coach just a couple years ago after the job he did in leading Chicago to the Calder Cup Final.

Will it work out? No idea. They did have interest in Brunette but he landed in a situation in New Jersey where he'd be the HC heir apparent to Lindy Ruff but also isn't the type to try to undercut the HC and angle to replace him -- something Mike Keenan still holds a grudge against Peter Laviolette for allegedly doing to him in Boston when Lavi was a young coach (he vehemently denies it to this day). Ruff and Brunette should get along well.

I kind of think it's a no-win situation for whomever the Flyers hired to run the PP. Hire Brunette and it's "Sure, anyone could run the Panthers' PP but look what happened in the playoffs... plus it's another case of Chuck re-hiring a guy he hired in Minnesota."

Hire a well-traveled assistant who has often run special teams (ala Yeo, who handled both PP and PK in Pittsburgh then PK here) and it's "Oh, look, another retread. Can't they ever hire a young coach with fresh ideas?"

Hire someone who had one unsuccessful kick at the can at running an NHL PP -- or hire a coach out of junior hockey as Hexy did originally with Knoblauch -- and it's "We need someone with a successful track record."
- bmeltzer

Very shocked the Devils kept Ruff. Especially with all talent out there available.

No issue with Thompson. Will judge by results.

Bill, You mentioned that this past years team and several priors have lost they're way (which I absolutely agree with) When would you say was the last Flyers squad who really bought in to the coach for an extended amount of time.

Bill, You mentioned that this past years team and several priors have lost they're way (which I absolutely agree with) When would you say was the last Flyers squad who really bought in to the coach for an extended amount of time.
- GPerogie

Laviolette's group from 2010 to 2012. After that, when he was asked to tweak his system to be more D-zone safe after Pronger was lost, Lavi himself didn't fully embrace it. Hard to get your players to buy into something you are ambivalent/grudgingly accepting of.

Laviolette's group from 2010 to 2012. After that, when he was asked to tweak his system to be more D-zone safe after Pronger was lost, Lavi himself didn't fully embrace it. Hard to get your players to buy into something you are ambivalent/grudgingly accepting of.
- bmeltzer

Thank you sir. Lavi and Hitch to me were the 2 best "team unity" builders I had seen, though i only caught the hockey flu in the very late 90's, so I missed some great coaches prior. Always appreciate your insight. Though I missed MANY games this past season, which is rare for me, I never miss a Bill blog. Keep it up sir.

I wonder if Torts is getting any sleep these days/nights? Gotta think he is stayin up late these nights to figure out a way to utilize this untalented lineup. FIRE CHUCK! Thanks!

I wonder if Torts is getting any sleep these days/nights? Gotta think he is stayin up late these nights to figure out a way to utilize this untalented lineup. FIRE CHUCK! Thanks!
- Phillywhiteout

nah he is laughing saying cant believe they gave me 16 million when no one else wanted me.

When was the last time we had a coach adjust his system to the players we have rather than force the players to adapt to the coaches system?

Coaches are supposed to get the most out of their players. But it’s also a disconnect between the coach and gm that has been going on since Lavi. Laviolette needed fast defenders to carry the puck out of the d zone. But the gm got big pylons and Lavi got fired. Hak was the opposite, he needed big traditional defenseman and he tried to get skilled fast defensemen to play a stationary game.

What we need is a coach who uses a modern system based on speed, skill and pressure along with a gm who seeks out players who have a good statistical history in metrics that are proven to be useful by other teams that use similar systems.

Until this happens, which it hasn’t happened with our current gm coach combo, we are just wasting time. It killing the fan base. If you want to know what set Ed Snider apart from other people running hockey teams, it’s that he knew that the only things that matter to fans are wins. Right now the people running the team are chasing profits not wins.

I wonder if Torts is getting any sleep these days/nights? Gotta think he is stayin up late these nights to figure out a way to utilize this untalented lineup. FIRE CHUCK! Thanks!
- Phillywhiteout

No lose situation for Torts

nah he is laughing saying cant believe they gave me 16 million when no one else wanted me.
- hello it's me 2050

The first blank check by feltcher

What good is a blank check when the guy writing the checks is completely clueless?

That said there are no rules in place as far as I know to prevent franchises from offering big contracts to staff. Right or wrong as that may be the Flyers should absolutely be trying to pry top guys away from small markets. Coaches. Scouts. Analytics. Until they proofs otherwise this is their one great asset they have in the league. Might as well use it.
- hereticpride

I never understood this. It's the same way with the baseball team.

The Phillies made that academy in the Dominican Republic.

I will never understand why they don't just hire staff away from TB, LA, MIA offering cash & titles.

It's not like the ability to scout well & evaluate people is intellectual property, it's a skill.

I wonder if Torts is getting any sleep these days/nights? Gotta think he is stayin up late these nights to figure out a way to utilize this untalented lineup. FIRE CHUCK! Thanks!
- Phillywhiteout

Coaches like Tortorella who has had a lot of success relish situations like this. They are supremely confident in their abilities and believe that they an fix it.

When was the last time we had a coach adjust his system to the players we have rather than force the players to adapt to the coaches system?

Coaches are supposed to get the most out of their players. But it’s also a disconnect between the coach and gm that has been going on since Lavi. Laviolette needed fast defenders to carry the puck out of the d zone. But the gm got big pylons and Lavi got fired. Hak was the opposite, he needed big traditional defenseman and he tried to get skilled fast defensemen to play a stationary game.

What we need is a coach who uses a modern system based on speed, skill and pressure along with a gm who seeks out players who have a good statistical history in metrics that are proven to be useful by other teams that use similar systems.

Until this happens, which it hasn’t happened with our current gm coach combo, we are just wasting time. It killing the fan base. If you want to know what set Ed Snider apart from other people running hockey teams, it’s that he knew that the only things that matter to fans are wins. Right now the people running the team are chasing profits not wins.
- Shrike

Not quite true with Lavi. He was (still is) big into shot blocking -- constantly clashed with Bryz over it -- and having a couple big, physical defenders on top of the puck movers.

Lavi loved Nick Grossmann, for example, after he came over from Dallas in 2011-12. Didn't need any prompting to praise the player.

But, yes, he loved puck movers, too, and wanted one on every pair.

When was the last time we had a coach adjust his system to the players we have rather than force the players to adapt to the coaches system?

Coaches are supposed to get the most out of their players. But it’s also a disconnect between the coach and gm that has been going on since Lavi. Laviolette needed fast defenders to carry the puck out of the d zone. But the gm got big pylons and Lavi got fired. Hak was the opposite, he needed big traditional defenseman and he tried to get skilled fast defensemen to play a stationary game.

What we need is a coach who uses a modern system based on speed, skill and pressure along with a gm who seeks out players who have a good statistical history in metrics that are proven to be useful by other teams that use similar systems.

Until this happens, which it hasn’t happened with our current gm coach combo, we are just wasting time. It killing the fan base. If you want to know what set Ed Snider apart from other people running hockey teams, it’s that he knew that the only things that matter to fans are wins. Right now the people running the team are chasing profits not wins.
- Shrike

Dave Hakstol. Wanted to play a 2-2 forecheck but once he realized he didn't have the players to play it, switched to a 1-2 forecheck. Moved Giroux to wing and started to use Couturier as a #1 center. Used Filppula in a checking role and really did a decent job. Got a team lacking talent into the playoffs twice. However was labeled a bad coach.

Dave Hakstol. Wanted to play a 2-2 forecheck but once he realized he didn't have the players to play it, switched to a 1-2 forecheck. Moved Giroux to wing and started to use Couturier as a #1 center. Used Filppula in a checking role and really did a decent job. Got a team lacking talent into the playoffs twice. However was labeled a bad coach.
- MJL

Hakstol had a team with enough talent to compete for division titles but purposefully chose less talented players for the lineup and consequently only scraped into 2 playoffs and didn’t win a series when we should have been competing for division titles and possibly reaching conference finals.

...Hire someone who had one unsuccessful kick at the can at running an NHL PP -- or hire a coach out of junior hockey as Hexy did originally with Knoblauch -- and it's "We need someone with a successful track record."

Bill,

Kudos to you for being forthright about having had so many coaches come in (good ones) and tried to apply common winning methods to this squad, but they never stuck around for a long period of time. And that Torts is another really good coach, who will likely see something similar. It underscores the problem that coaching is not the issue. It took me a long time to admit a reboot was in order, no fan wants to wait through one of those. But the way last season ended, along with the questionable off season - until we get a reboot (dumping big veteran contracts, bringing in mostly younger players ) this is likely to continue. NJ has done it. They started with number ones and have slowly been adding high profile veterans when the cap freed up. It is taking time, but they're getting there (I am not a NJ fan, just a hockey fan...) Our process in Philly hasn't even started yet.
- BluehorseShoe64

Expanding on subjects one and two above, let's look at what it would take for the Flyers to make a 180-degree turn on last season's debacle. In addition to breakout seasons from several younger players, the Flyers would need better production out of the top-six forward group. They'd need much-improved power play results however the units are composed (there's nowhere to go but up from dead last in the NHL and the lowest efficiency percentage since the inaugural 1967-68 season).

Beyond that, the Flyers would need collective team buy-in to John Tortorella's system at 5-on-5. They'd need new PK coach Brad Shaw to spur the penalty kill to do over a full season what it did pre-Christmas last year before a crash-and-burn in the second half. They also desperately healthy, consistent workhorse season from Carter Hart.

Overall, the club would need for the seemingly endless wave of bad injury news to end. They'll need some currently injured or rehabbing players to not only come back to the lineup but to play up to their top capabilities upon returning.

Here we are again, another season where the stars have to all align pefectly in order for the team to do anything -- requiring a threading of the needle.

For anybody who thinks they have already hit rock bottom, just imagine what this season could look like if a singular piece like Hart gets hurt or lays another egg.

Here we are again, another season where the stars have to all align pefectly in order for the team to do anything -- requiring a threading of the needle.

For anybody who thinks they have already hit rock bottom, just imagine what this season could look like if a singular piece like Hart gets hurt or lays another egg.
- Tomahawk

Wow you said it. A Hart injury would be devastating. No Jones to bail us out. Could get ugly. And what if Sandstrom gets injured ? Whoo boy. Then what ?

Hakstol had a team with enough talent to compete for division titles but purposefully chose less talented players for the lineup and consequently only scraped into 2 playoffs and didn’t win a series when we should have been competing for division titles and possibly reaching conference finals.
- Shrike

That's not true at all. His teams didn't have the talent to compete for division titles. Most of his teams had one line and one good defense pairing. There were a lot of young players in development at that point. Your read on the talent level of those teams is not correct. You don't go to the conference finals with one line basically.