Bill Meltzer: Flyers 20 Questions (Part 1)

Bill Meltzer: Flyers 20 Questions (Part 1)
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill

First, I have no comment on Deslauriers. If Torts wanted him, or a player like him, there must be a reason. I think Provorov will do well playing for Torts no matter who he is partnered with. In my opinion, his year last year was the result of attempting to do too much and not having adequate direction from the coaching staff. I'd like to say that Konecny will have a better year but I think not. His play without the puck and sense of defensive responsibility is going to land him in the doghouse. I hope that is not the case.
Now to Coots, the Flyers are putting him in front of the press by himself and think that is a good sign he has done well in rehab and preparation for camp and the season. My guess is Ellis has not progressed well and apparently has had another setback. Not being an insider I have no idea why surgery was not done after initial attempts of rehab proved to not be the answer. My fears are that he will not be a productive member of this team.
Lastly, the GM is continuing the demonstrate he was the wrong choice when hired. His player acquisitions have not remade this team into a contender by any means. Cap management proves to be impossible for him. The trading for Risto was a desperate attempt to do something, anything, to improve the defense. Signing him to the contract extension, after his on ice performance should have been the ticket out of town for Fletcher. Comcast clearly does not care about putting a Cup contending team on the ice, only putting people in the seats. Significant change is needed from the top down!

First, I have no comment on Deslauriers. If Torts wanted him, or a player like him, there must be a reason. I think Provorov will do well playing for Torts no matter who he is partnered with. In my opinion, his year last year was the result of attempting to do too much and not having adequate direction from the coaching staff. I'd like to say that Konecny will have a better year but I think not. His play without the puck and sense of defensive responsibility is going to land him in the doghouse. I hope that is not the case.
Now to Coots, the Flyers are putting him in front of the press by himself and think that is a good sign he has done well in rehab and preparation for camp and the season. My guess is Ellis has not progressed well and apparently has had another setback. Not being an insider I have no idea why surgery was not done after initial attempts of rehab proved to not be the answer. My fears are that he will not be a productive member of this team.
Lastly, the GM is continuing the demonstrate he was the wrong choice when hired. His player acquisitions have not remade this team into a contender by any means. Cap management proves to be impossible for him. The trading for Risto was a desperate attempt to do something, anything, to improve the defense. Signing him to the contract extension, after his on ice performance should have been the ticket out of town for Fletcher. Comcast clearly does not care about putting a Cup contending team on the ice, only putting people in the seats. Significant change is needed from the top down!
- south texas hombre

I agree with most of what you state. I think though that Konecny will be a Tortorella favorite. Plays with emotion and fire. Surgery wasn't done with Ellis simply because it won't help him. There is no one target area such as a muscle tear or tendon issue to attack and fix surgically.

I agree with most of what you state. I think though that Konecny will be a Tortorella favorite. Plays with emotion and fire. Surgery wasn't done with Ellis simply because it won't help him. There is no one target area such as a muscle tear or tendon issue to attack and fix surgically.
- MJL

Pure speculation.

1. Nic D makes the team easy to play against. Not harder. IMO I do not see ND as a guy Torts wanted. Off the top of my head who has employed in his lineup over the years that is “fighter”? I am drawing a blank right now.

2. The team will have more wins based on better health, better coaching, and better special teams play. At the end of the day those extra wins will be meaningless and more harmful in the long term view. This sad sack GM has no plan or strategy. There is no short or long term view. Mind boggling how Scott saw what happened with the prior GM and is allowing it to happen again.


3. Couturier if healthy will be run into the ground by torts. He will probably play more minutes per game than at any time in his career imo. Will that be a good or bad thing seeing where this team is at currently.

I have some questions too:

Why should we have any faith whatsoever in Chuck Fletcher?

Does Dave Scott even have the slightest clue about what it takes to be a successful GM in today’s NHL?

Does Comcast have any grasp on how angry and dissatisfied much of the fanbase is with the organization and the people running it?

I’m sorry, but worrying about the powerplay or Provy’s ability to mesh with TDA is akin to worrying about the next evening’s dinner menu after the Titanic has struck the iceberg.

I have some questions too:

Why should we have any faith whatsoever in Chuck Fletcher?

Does Dave Scott even have the slightest clue about what it takes to be a successful GM in today’s NHL?

Does Comcast have any grasp on how angry and dissatisfied much of the fanbase is with the organization and the people running it?

I’m sorry, but worrying about the powerplay or Provy’s ability to mesh with TDA is akin to worrying about the next evening’s dinner menu after the Titanic has struck the iceberg.
- BiggE

Nope to all 3. Though #3 maybe just a tad in terms of the fanbase. IMO they still think all is well with the people running/ruining it.

Nope to all 3. Though #3 maybe just a tad in terms of the fanbase. IMO they still think all is well with the people running/ruining it.
- furio16

I think you are going to see a lot of empty seats this season, and, if they get off to a poor start, an alarming (to ownership) drop in attendance.

Honestly, I don’t think the corporate suits give a damn about wins and losses, however a big drop in revenue might just get their attention.

Pure speculation.
- furio16

Yes, but also very likely.

I think you are going to see a lot of empty seats this season, and, if they get off to a poor start, an alarming (to ownership) drop in attendance.

Honestly, I don’t think the corporate suits give a damn about wins and losses, however a big drop in revenue might just get their attention.
- BiggE

I hope so. Though I am not 100% sure. By January if they are were we all think they will be then yes it will drop. Guess it will come down to how much patience the fans have before they stop going.

To me the flyers are a small part of Corporate Comcast. Now clearly they do not want to lose money. Though imo the revenue part is overrated a little. A bad product will ensure you don’t grow your team or make money. I think they want to win. I also think they are just 100% incompetent. They have become a laughingstock. There is no other explanation than they think they are doing it properly.

Just a delusional and horrible management team.

Yes, but also very likely.
- MBFlyerfan

Disagree.

1. Nic D makes the team easy to play against. Not harder. IMO I do not see ND as a guy Torts wanted. Off the top of my head who has employed in his lineup over the years that is “fighter”? I am drawing a blank right now.

2. The team will have more wins based on better health, better coaching, and better special teams play. At the end of the day those extra wins will be meaningless and more harmful in the long term view. This sad sack GM has no plan or strategy. There is no short or long term view. Mind boggling how Scott saw what happened with the prior GM and is allowing it to happen again.


3. Couturier if healthy will be run into the ground by torts. He will probably play more minutes per game than at any time in his career imo. Will that be a good or bad thing seeing where this team is at currently.
- furio16

Will be very telling if ND is often a healthy scratch.

Pure speculation.
- furio16

Minus having the medical reports in your hand...everything is. However that being said, there is a bit of a roadmap to what may be occurring. It's highly probable he is suffering from some level of tendinosis and it's significantly impeding his ability to fully rehab the area.

Note: Tendinosis and tendinitis are different...Google is your friend here.

I think you are going to see a lot of empty seats this season, and, if they get off to a poor start, an alarming (to ownership) drop in attendance.

Honestly, I don’t think the corporate suits give a damn about wins and losses, however a big drop in revenue might just get their attention.
- BiggE

Not to worry! The Throwback nights and reverse retro jerseys, along with more Gritty antics/silliness will bring them back in

Minus having the medical reports in your hand...everything is. However that being said, there is a bit of a roadmap to what may be occurring. It's highly probable he is suffering from some level of tendinosis and it's significantly impeding his ability to fully rehab the area.

Note: Tendinosis and tendinitis are different...Google is your friend here.
- juiced

Thanks Doc

Disagree.
- furio16

Ok

Will be very telling if ND is often a healthy scratch.
- rayc16

You don’t do that role and continue to play in the the NHL with a limited amount of skill unless your the hardest worker on the team. I’m not in love with the signing but I get it it….he’s intense, he’s tough and unlike a lot of guys that have come through here the last few years he knows his (frank)ing roll. The Flyers lack elite talent…ND in no way answered that issue….but they also lack other intangibles that ND was probably signed for….

Juiced is Doc Emrick?

Bill Meltzer: Flyers 20 Questions (Part 1)
- bmeltzer

I think Provorov will have an improved season under Torts over Konency but I don’t think DeAngelo is the solution as a partner.

I think Couturier’s health is irrelevant to the success of this team. He’ll help but I don’t think he’ll have the same Giroux impact.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the signing of Deslauriers was driven by Torts but either way, it wasn’t a smart signing. To answer two questions at once, I think this signing will be the reason we don’t see Cates as a regular this season. I think Farabee, JvR, Laughton and Deslauriers will likely regular time on the left side.

Juiced is Doc Emrick?
- hockeylover

Doc Holliday....Huckleberry

You don’t do that role and continue to play in the the NHL with a limited amount of skill unless your the hardest worker on the team. I’m not in love with the signing but I get it it….he’s intense, he’s tough and unlike a lot of guys that have come through here the last few years he knows his (frank)ing roll. The Flyers lack elite talent…ND in no way answered that issue….but they also lack other intangibles that ND was probably signed for….
-Landros 2

I get the signing to, but it doesn't mean I don't hate it. I understand the Flyers want to build an identity, one that matches what I believe is now an antiquated view of the people of Philadelphia. You have heard it a hundred times, Philly is made up of blue collar workers that appreciate a tough team that stands up and over-achieves. Its a comforting and familiar identity but not one that I believe accurately represents the city any longer, and certainly not one that I think can win in today's NHL. The path for the Flyers after the past two seasons was to stock up for the 2023 draft, accumulate the high-end talent the franchise desperately needs to begin to build a consistent winner here. Torts could certainly be part of this, teaching these young players how to play the right way, and then eventually, a few years down the road that is the time to augment these high end young and dynamic players with a ND and Tony DeAngelo type of player. But not now, and not even next year. Sure, it will be fun to watch ND and Tony slam an opposing player, but in the end, when they are in the box all they will be doing is watching the other team, who has those high end players, scoring goals on their resulting PP, nothing more!

Doc Holliday....Huckleberry
- juiced

I'd settle for Doc Emmett Brown. Go back in time and select Makar instead of Patrick.

I get the signing to, but it doesn't mean I don't hate it. I understand the Flyers want to build an identity, one that matches what I believe is now an antiquated view of the people of Philadelphia. You have heard it a hundred times, Philly is made up of blue collar workers that appreciate a tough team that stands up and over-achieves. Its a comforting and familiar identity but not one that I believe accurately represents the city any longer, and certainly not one that I think can win in today's NHL. The path for the Flyers after the past two seasons was to stock up for the 2023 draft, accumulate the high-end talent the franchise desperately needs to begin to build a consistent winner here. Torts could certainly be part of this, teaching these young players how to play the right way, and then eventually, a few years down the road that is the time to augment these high end young and dynamic players with a ND and Tony DeAngelo type of player. But not now, and not even next year. Sure, it will be fun to watch ND and Tony slam an opposing player, but in the end, when they are in the box all they will be doing is watching the other team, who has those high end players, scoring goals on their resulting PP, nothing more!
- jd250

Building an identity around ND is why the franchise is in the shape it is in currently.

Is teaching them to play the right way blocking shots? Being more defensive focused? Taking the offense out of players? Just asking as what is playing the right way in 2022?

It really is unconscionable to give ND a 4 year deal. With a semi NTC to boot. Just flat out horrible. Talks about the team needing elite talent and he goes and does the opposite.

Pure speculation.
- furio16

Don’t you think that is a reasonable inference to draw? Typically, injured athletes get surgery where it will help them recover and play again. Since none has been discussed or proposed, this seems like a fair inference to me.