Bill Meltzer: Flyers Black Friday Gameday: 11/24/23 vs. NYR

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Black Friday Gameday: 11/24/23 vs. NYR
- bmeltzer

Really good to see that frost is scratched again. Makes perfect sense.

Torts has managed to get 8 points combined out of Cates & Frost in 29 games. Two 24 year olds coming off pretty good seasons. Great rebuild, guys.

Throw in 21 year old Foerster and it's 12 points in 47 games.

Really good to see that frost is scratched again. Makes perfect sense.

The trick to scoring against the Rags is to to play Foerster and Poehling even more than the 17+ minutes they got in the last game. And to keep sending out line with three wings and no centers.

The trick to scoring against the Rags is to to play Foerster and Poehling even more than the 17+ minutes they got in the last game. And to keep sending out line with three wings and no centers.
- Feanor

Fml. I hope that they win but they’re not sending the best lineup that’s for sure.

The trick to scoring against the Rags is to to play Foerster and Poehling even more than the 17+ minutes they got in the last game. And to keep sending out line with three wings and no centers.
- Feanor

Ryan Poehling. Went from 4th line part time player to 2nd line NHL center in John Tortorella's world. "Have to get him going offensively". While with Frost, who actually has legit NHL offensive ability. Best way to get him going is to scratch him. Only in John Tortorella's world.

Its time for Frost to be traded. Torts is holding him to some mysterious and unique set of standards that do not apply to the other players on this team. Its become a joke at this point.

Ryan Poehling. Went from 4th line part time player to 2nd line NHL center in John Tortorella's world. "Have to get him going offensively". While with Frost, who actually has legit NHL offensive ability. Best way to get him going is to scratch him. Only in John Tortorella's world.
- MJL

I don’t like this narrative, but it may be best that he get traded later this year. The biggest issue with that is that you’d be trading low. You’ve scratched him and destroyed his confidence so we don’t really have an idea of his true potential. I don’t tend to critique lineups too much but this one just makes zero sense.

Its time for Frost to be traded. Torts is holding him to some mysterious and unique set of standards that do not apply to the other players on this team. Its become a joke at this point.
- MBFlyerfan

See my post below re: why I’d be worried about doing that.

Its time for Frost to be traded. Torts is holding him to some mysterious and unique set of standards that do not apply to the other players on this team. Its become a joke at this point.
- MBFlyerFan

Of course it's time for Frost to be traded. It should have happened in the off-season. Now, what market does Frost have? How can the Flyers maximize the return on the asset? It's short-sighted to bench Frost, he needs to play and then he will have value at the deadline. The Flyers IMO are not being smart here.

See my post below re: why I’d be worried about doing that.
- Hextall271

And how exactly is he going to build confidence or up his value? He’s not going to play. Just trade him.

Torts, for the love of all that is good, just put Frost back in at 3C centering Joel Farabee and Bobby Brink and either sit Cates, or move Cates to the 4th line and sit Nic Deslauriers. Just try it! What have you got to lose?

I actually think a 4th line of Cates Laughton and Hathaway has a chance to be very good, much more than a traditional energy line. They will get the team some goals. If anyone should be traded right now, Briere should trade Deslauriers just to take him off the table.

Torts, for the love of all that is good, just put Frost back in at 3C centering Joel Farabee and Bobby Brink and either sit Cates, or move Cates to the 4th line and sit Nic Deslauriers. Just try it! What have you got to lose?

I actually think a 4th line of Cates Laughton and Hathaway has a chance to be very good, much more than a traditional energy line. They will get the team some goals. If anyone should be traded right now, Briere should trade Deslauriers just to take him off the table.
- jd250

This is what many have already told you. Torts knows best. He doesn’t need logic, or stats, or anything. He’s going off his gut and will not be told otherwise.

And how exactly is he going to build confidence or up his value? He’s not going to play. Just trade him.
- ClaudeFather

The answer isn’t to trade him. He has to play or you’re pissing away assets in a rebuild.

The answer isn’t to trade him. He has to play or you’re pissing away assets in a rebuild.
- Hextall271

I agree with you but it’s very clear he is not going to play

This is what many have already told you. Torts knows best. He doesn’t need logic, or stats, or anything. He’s going off his gut and will not be told otherwise.
- ClaudeFather

Torts just doesn't like Frost. I would hope it's not personal but who knows at this point. The media has asked Torts about this but at this point I would like the media to be much more aggressive in their questioning. As a fan, I would like to know why Torts is got it out for Frost. Torts has been forthcoming with many other issues, he needs to be more transparent in regards to Frost.

I agree with you but it’s very clear he is not going to play
- ClaudeFather

I can’t even understand it. If I was db I’d do the moneyball thing. I’m going to force you to play him by send nd or poehling to the minors haha. I know that’s not going to happen.

Really good to see that frost is scratched again. Makes perfect sense.
- Hextall271

I don't know that he is scratched. They didn't practice yesterday. Again, as it says in the blog, the projected lineup is based off last game. I'll update it before the game.

I can’t even understand it. If I was db I’d do the moneyball thing. I’m going to force you to play him by send nd or poehling to the minors haha. I know that’s not going to happen.
- Hextall271

I was also thinking about Moneyball this morning!

Briere: "Torts, you can't play Nic in the lineup tonight"
Torts: "Well I am playing him, the lineup is mine"
Briere: "True, the lineup is yours. All I am saying is you can't play Nic in the lineup tonight"
Briere: "And why not?"
Torts: "Because he plays for the Canadiens now"
Torts: "You agree with this???"
MJL: "100% ... you want this door open?"

Of course it's time for Frost to be traded. It should have happened in the off-season. Now, what market does Frost have? How can the Flyers maximize the return on the asset? It's short-sighted to bench Frost, he needs to play and then he will have value at the deadline. The Flyers IMO are not being smart here.
- jd250

I posted this yesterday..

Five centers have played for the Flyers so far this year.

Amongst them, the leader in:

ExGF%: Frost (59.41%)
GF%: Frost (72.13%)
Goals/60: Frost (1.04)
Primary assists/60: Frost (1.04)
Points/60: Frost (2.08)

Hard to really put up much better numbers at 5v5.

Also leads in penalties drawn
Second in blocks.
Second best in fewest giveaways.
So far this season he has allowed the least goals against per minute while on ice of any Flyers center... (1.5 per 60)

and also has the lowest expected goals against of any Flyers center (2.08)

Hey jd...why is it time to trade him? or why is he sitting again?

To think that Quick was going for pretty much anything.
Goalies.

In the team's annual Black Friday home matinee, the Philadelphia Flyers (10-8-1) will host the New York Rangers (13-3-1) in a match between former Rangers head coach John Tortorella and former Flyers bench boss Peter Laviolette's current clubs.
- bmelzer

You're entering the season with a Cup-caliber roster... Torts and Lavi are both available hires for your vacant head coach position.... who would you trust?

You're entering the season with a Cup-caliber roster... Torts and Lavi are both available hires for your vacant head coach position.... who would you trust?
- Tomahawk

Need a little more offense? Lavy.
Need a little more structure? Torts.

Ryan Poehling. Went from 4th line part time player to 2nd line NHL center in John Tortorella's world. "Have to get him going offensively". While with Frost, who actually has legit NHL offensive ability. Best way to get him going is to scratch him. Only in John Tortorella's world.
- MJL

Also from Tortorella's world...
- AHL D-man Seeler is now top four
- AHL D-man Bi-Pedal is now, at 27, considered part of the youth movement
- Washed up Dinosaur, Stall is now an everyday player (and also part of the rebuild

The answer isn’t to trade him. He has to play or you’re pissing away assets in a rebuild.
- Hextall271

Yeah, he has to play. But that seems like it is not going to happen. So instead he will become a distraction.