Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Week to Come

Briere is saying the 'right stuff' for this moon shot.
I have nothing to say until I see some outcomes.
Please try that, my fellow travelers. Give him a clean start.

Another good night of hockey for draft position. DET won. Going to be hard for them to catch the Flyers. AZ won and ANA picked up a point. The bottom of the league continues to bring the Flyers back into the top 5.

I have a feeling we're going to get sick of hearing "The Right Way". It ranks right up there "bias for action" and "aggressive retool". It's the talking point of the day by the PR people and doesn't mean anything specific. I'm sure Fletcher thought he was building the team "the right way" and David Scott agreed with him.

You look at not just the way we play, but talking also to players around the league, executives around the league, and they all say the same thing: The Flyers are tough to face. They might not have the most talent at this point. They might be a little inexperienced at this point. But man, it's tough to face you guys. We've heard that constantly over the year. I've been really proud of the players and our coaching staff, the way they enforce that and how tough they've made us to face the season.

I do find it concerning that Briere was echoing Fletcher talking points where they felt the Flyers were to easy to play against last season and everybody from across the league is raving about how tough the Flyers are to play against this year. It sounds like everyone wants to be like the Flyers. I want to know what makes it tough playing against the Flyers. It's certainly not hindering them on the scoreboard. It's certainly not tough playing against the Flyers when the opponent is on the power play since the team basically turtles around the goalie and allows the other team to pass at will.

It shows the Flyers are still obsessed with the "Flyer Way" in my opinion. Someone needs to ask him for names as to who says the Flyers are "hard to play against".

I have a feeling we're going to get sick of hearing "The Right Way". It ranks right up there "bias for action" and "aggressive retool". It's the talking point of the day by the PR people and doesn't mean anything specific. I'm sure Fletcher thought he was building the team "the right way" and David Scott agreed with him.

You look at not just the way we play, but talking also to players around the league, executives around the league, and they all say the same thing: The Flyers are tough to face. They might not have the most talent at this point. They might be a little inexperienced at this point. But man, it's tough to face you guys. We've heard that constantly over the year. I've been really proud of the players and our coaching staff, the way they enforce that and how tough they've made us to face the season.



I do find it concerning that Briere was echoing Fletcher talking points where they felt the Flyers were to easy to play against last season and everybody from across the league is raving about how tough the Flyers are to play against this year. It sounds like everyone wants to be like the Flyers. I want to know what makes it tough playing against the Flyers. It's certainly not hindering them on the scoreboard. It's certainly not tough playing against the Flyers when the opponent is on the power play since the team basically turtles around the goalie and allows the other team to pass at will.

It shows the Flyers are still obsessed with the "Flyer Way" in my opinion. Someone needs to ask him for names as to who says the Flyers are "hard to play against".
- Flyers_01

Briere's comments fall right into line with ownership and senior management. It's why he was hired in the first place and kept around. If he didn't tow the company line, he would've been fired. Plain and simple.

The collaborative comintern at Comcast is going to continue. Go ahead and point your sticks at me for not giving a guy a chance. I have nothing against Briere personally and there is still a chance they do the right thing and bring in a true outsider as President of Hockey Ops, but until they do I remain unmoved.

Show me action, not words.

I have a feeling we're going to get sick of hearing "The Right Way". It ranks right up there "bias for action" and "aggressive retool". It's the talking point of the day by the PR people and doesn't mean anything specific. I'm sure Fletcher thought he was building the team "the right way" and David Scott agreed with him.

You look at not just the way we play, but talking also to players around the league, executives around the league, and they all say the same thing: The Flyers are tough to face. They might not have the most talent at this point. They might be a little inexperienced at this point. But man, it's tough to face you guys. We've heard that constantly over the year. I've been really proud of the players and our coaching staff, the way they enforce that and how tough they've made us to face the season.

I do find it concerning that Briere was echoing Fletcher talking points where they felt the Flyers were to easy to play against last season and everybody from across the league is raving about how tough the Flyers are to play against this year. It sounds like everyone wants to be like the Flyers. I want to know what makes it tough playing against the Flyers. It's certainly not hindering them on the scoreboard. It's certainly not tough playing against the Flyers when the opponent is on the power play since the team basically turtles around the goalie and allows the other team to pass at will.

It shows the Flyers are still obsessed with the "Flyer Way" in my opinion. Someone needs to ask him for names as to who says the Flyers are "hard to play against".
- Flyers_01

I'm really curious who is saying the Flyers are tough to play against. I agree with you in that it's another line in the never-ending BS that is spewed from this organization's leadership. Did Vancouver really think they were tough to play against in that 6-2 game? How about Montreal after they won 5-2 despite missing like 800 players? What about good teams like Tampa or Jersey who beat the Flyers by a combined score of 12-2 recently?

This team is tied with Columbus for second to last in goals for (in one more game played I might add). They have the worst PP in the league (for the second year running) and a bottom 7 PK. Imagine how bad they would be if their team save percentage was simply 1 percentage point lower. But hey, I guess they are top 5 in the league in hits, which any opponent is going to take 10 times out of 10 because guess what, IT MEANS THEY NEVER HAVE THE PUCK.

Can Briere elaborate on what it means to be a team that's hard to play against? Do the internal analytics of the number of blocked shots by the crack analytics team back up this argument?

Did he not notice the smirks/giggles the other players/executives were showing when answering that question?

Do they still not have a clue on what modern hockey looks like?

Briere is saying the 'right stuff' for this moon shot.
I have nothing to say until I see some outcomes.
Please try that, my fellow travelers. Give him a clean start.
- Pompous

Chuck said a lot of the "right stuff" after he was hired too. Ditto Hexy. Ditto Homer.

Unless there's meaningful, structural change throughout the entire org, I'm not gonna believe a single word of this "rebuild" bullpoop.

What exactly does hard to play against mean? Everything is easy when you are winning.

So, IMO the Flyers are always easy to play against because they don't win.

Chuck said a lot of the "right stuff" after he was hired too. Ditto Hexy. Ditto Homer.

Unless there's meaningful, structural change throughout the entire org, I'm not gonna believe a single word of this "rebuild" bullpoop.
- Tomahawk

What happens first? Devils win Cup, Flyers become relevant?

What happens first? Devils win Cup, Flyers become relevant?
- PLindbergh31

Ill say neither. But If I was forced to choose, I would go with the Devils 100%.

Chuck said a lot of the "right stuff" after he was hired too. Ditto Hexy. Ditto Homer.

Unless there's meaningful, structural change throughout the entire org, I'm not gonna believe a single word of this "rebuild" bullpoop.
- Tomahawk

I said I'd await outcomes before I would measure. And I might even measure twice.

So many here feel a need to express displeasure if there is a wrinkle in the sheets.

Give it a rest, nothing has happened other than a press conference.

Listen to the first moments. https://podcasts.apple.co...496181176?i=1000603851287

What happens first? Devils win Cup, Flyers become relevant?
- PLindbergh31

Why do you keep brining up the Devils, we get it, they have turned into a good team

Don’t ask them “what it means to be hard to play against”. It just gives them/him the chance to say meaningless words in order to distract you from the fact that only one person was fired and the powers that be have not changed.

In fact, the uproar among the fans should be greater after Chuck was sacrificed so the others can try to stay.

There is no sane reason not to fire everyone now.

Not sure anything in the content of the Briere press conference requires discussion. Like everyone says, they don’t appear to be done revamping the front office, no president has been chosen, and we have to wait and see what really happens over the course of the next year plus. I will say that I liked his energy, confidence and fresh outlook. If not him, I still would want a young first time GM for this situation.

I see it only took the weekend for Flyers fans to turn on Briere... is that a new record?

I see it only took the weekend for Flyers fans to turn on Briere... is that a new record?
- BaronVonShiznit

I'm not sure if it's a record, but it is par for the course!

Not sure anything in the content of the Briere press conference requires discussion. Like everyone says, they don’t appear to be done revamping the front office, no president has been chosen, and we have to wait and see what really happens over the course of the next year plus. I will say that I liked his energy, confidence and fresh outlook. If not him, I still would want a young first time GM for this situation.
- NC Flyers Fan

Oh, there is much that requires discussion. It's just a press conference and actions mean far more than talk but there was much to be concerned about in that press conference.

Being hard to play against is the equivalent of talking about the fat chick and saying she has a nice personality.

No one is going to come out and say the Flyers suck.

I'm really curious who is saying the Flyers are tough to play against. I agree with you in that it's another line in the never-ending BS that is spewed from this organization's leadership. Did Vancouver really think they were tough to play against in that 6-2 game? How about Montreal after they won 5-2 despite missing like 800 players? What about good teams like Tampa or Jersey who beat the Flyers by a combined score of 12-2 recently?

This team is tied with Columbus for second to last in goals for (in one more game played I might add). They have the worst PP in the league (for the second year running) and a bottom 7 PK. Imagine how bad they would be if their team save percentage was simply 1 percentage point lower. But hey, I guess they are top 5 in the league in hits, which any opponent is going to take 10 times out of 10 because guess what, IT MEANS THEY NEVER HAVE THE PUCK.
- TobyFlenderson

I was thinking the same thing. They bleed shots and scoring chances. They sit back passively on defense and it's an open door into the Flyers zone for shots and scoring chances. On the PK, it's basically like warmups and taking shots on the goalie. They are no threat to anyone offensively or on the PP. If Danny Briere truly thinks the Flyers are tough to play against. The Flyers have the wrong guy.

Let's wait until the "interim" tag is removed.

Being hard to play against is the equivalent of talking about the fat chick and saying she has a nice personality.

No one is going to come out and say the Flyers suck.
- Pelle31Forever

I said I'd await outcomes before I would measure. And I might even measure twice.

So many here feel a need to express displeasure if there is a wrinkle in the sheets.

Give it a rest, nothing has happened other than a press conference.

Listen to the first moments. https://podcasts.apple.co...496181176?i=1000603851287
- Pompous

It is laughable to suggest with the level of incompetence of this organization that any fan should give it a rest. Yes, when it's this bad, anything and everything deserves scrutiny. Speaking of a wrinkle in the sheets. That is the bed that they made for themselves.

The Flyers organization does not deserve the benefit of the doubt or anything else for that matter other than scorn and derision.

They have been mismanaging the hockey team on almost every level for a decade now. Until they prove themselves with ACTIONS, they can take their words and shove them where the sun doesn’t shine.

If Danny Briere truly thinks the Flyers are tough to play against. The Flyers have the wrong guy.
-MJL

Is it possible the Briere meant tougher to play against as compared to last year? Clearly, no one inside or outside the organization would argue that the Flyers are nowhere near tough enough to play against to truly compete for a Cup. But I'm sure there is truth that teams woke up a bit as the season went along that playing the Flyers did not equate to an easy 2 points as it did last season.