Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Memorial Cup Final, NHL Combine, TIFH

Thanks, Bill! Question, how important do you think the combine is this year in light of so much uncertainty?

Bill,
been reading different reports on Michkov coming over this season. How likely is this?

Bill,
been reading different reports on Michkov coming over this season. How likely is this?
- kennygarcon

That's totally up to Roman Rotenberg.

Thanks, Bill! Question, how important do you think the combine is this year in light of so much uncertainty?
- coffee junkie

I don't think the Combine will have a major effect on the Flyers' rankings for their two first-round picks. More in terms of players they've seen/ spoken to less.

I sincerely hope the Flyers are quietly hitting the reset button with some of their moves this summer. It's just so hard to win/compete without strength down the middle, two top pairing defensemen and solid goaltending. There's a lot of work to be done to the lineup, to achieve that outcome.

I don't think the Combine will have a major effect on the Flyers' rankings for their two first-round picks. More in terms of players they've seen/ spoken to less.
- bmeltzer

Any idea if the flyers like Trevor Connolly at all?

He a possibility?

I sincerely hope the Flyers are quietly hitting the reset button with some of their moves this summer. It's just so hard to win/compete without strength down the middle, two top pairing defensemen and solid goaltending. There's a lot of work to be done to the lineup, to achieve that outcome.
- Dave21Brown

Agree with everything but one little thing I'd bring attention to is Stuart Skinner is 1 game away from going to the Stanley Cup.

Now I know McDavid and Draisaitl cover a lot of warts but I think you just need about average goaltending.

That's totally up to Roman Rotenberg.
- bmeltzer

Do the Flyers have an idea which way he is leaning?

Any idea if the flyers like Trevor Connolly at all?

He a possibility?
- furio16

I don't see them drafting Connolly.

Place your bet Bill. TK stay or go and at what number?

Agree with everything but one little thing I'd bring attention to is Stuart Skinner is 1 game away from going to the Stanley Cup.

Now I know McDavid and Draisaitl cover a lot of warts but I think you just need about average goaltending.
- Pelle31Forever

You just going to ignore that the other goalies are all former Vezina winner / all star caliber? I’m not saying you need one of those guys but ask the hurricanes and Leafs how just going with average goaltending has gone .

1 goal on 18 shots. Gendron is a shoe in for torts lineup soon.

https://broadstreetbuzz.c...ade-option-for-the-flyers

Agree with everything but one little thing I'd bring attention to is Stuart Skinner is 1 game away from going to the Stanley Cup.

Now I know McDavid and Draisaitl cover a lot of warts but I think you just need about average goaltending.
- Pelle31Forever

Everyone always picks the one example out of a twenty or so, and says, "but look at this", to which my answer is - yes, the Oilers have mediocre goaltending but they also have two of the best playoff performers in league history in McDavid and Draisaitl. They've been able to overcome that. Osgood won how many Stanley Cups in Detroit with large amounts of firepower.

My point still stands. If you look at the historical data you see quality goaltending, top defensemen and depth down the middle for teams that are successful. The Flyers almost beat the dynasty Oilers of the 80's with Hextall in 1987 despite having a much inferior lineup.

You just going to ignore that the other goalies are all former Vezina winner / all star caliber? I’m not saying you need one of those guys but ask the hurricanes and Leafs how just going with average goaltending has gone .
- ClaudeFather

No but it's a luxury not a necessity. You think last year's champ Aiden Hill is some world beater?

No but it's a luxury not a necessity. You think last year's champ Aiden Hill is some world beater?
- Pelle31Forever

If you wanna win, it's an absolute necessity. Hill had a .932 save percentage in the playoffs last year. But it's not the only thing, you can have great goaltending and not much else and you're not going to make it very far in the playoffs. It takes a village to win the cup.

You just going to ignore that the other goalies are all former Vezina winner / all star caliber? I’m not saying you need one of those guys but ask the hurricanes and Leafs how just going with average goaltending has gone .
- ClaudeFather

The only reason the Rangers are still playing is because of Shesterkin

The only reason the Rangers are still playing is because of Shesterkin
- THE BLACK HAND

Exactly, the Panthers should've closed this after last game. They have a great team, but they're not as good as the Panthers.

Our number one offensive center this season was Morgan Frost, who had 41 points and is currently a fringe top six guy at best. That's a huge issue!! No centers in the pipeline either. The team needs to rebuild through the draft. I envy San Jose right now with Will Smith and Mack Celebrini down the middle.

No but it's a luxury not a necessity. You think last year's champ Aiden Hill is some world beater?
- Pelle31Forever

Aiden hill played out of his mind in the playoffs. So the mediocre goalie had to catch absolute fire to win. Or you need the best players in the league, see Colorado and Edmonton. I’m not saying you need the best goalie in the league but you need really good goaltending. Relying on mediocre goaltending is not a good idea, again see the leafs and hurricanes.

https://broadstreetbuzz.com/posts/arthur-kaliyev-is-a-low-risk-trade-option-for-the-flyers
- hello it's me 2050

Just add him to the list of RW's I guess.

https://broadstreetbuzz.com/posts/arthur-kaliyev-is-a-low-risk-trade-option-for-the-flyers
- hello it's me 2050

My thought on this is, he’s a winger and do we want the Flyers using assets to acquire more wingers instead of using those assets to acquire a center or move up in the draft to get a defensman?

I’m not opposed to acquiring him if he’s a buy low player but just want to see them use their resources correctly.

Our number one offensive center this season was Morgan Frost, who had 41 points and is currently a fringe top six guy at best. That's a huge issue!! No centers in the pipeline either. The team needs to rebuild through the draft. I envy San Jose right now with Will Smith and Mack Celebrini down the middle.
- Dave21Brown

I envy just about every other team in the league now. They’ve all gone from good to bad to good again while the Flyers remain so scared poopless to ever finish last that they do everything in their power to barely make the playoffs.

We then hire former players to the front office who accepted that philosophy as players and perpetuate the entire thing over again.

1 goal on 18 shots. Gendron is a shoe in for torts lineup soon.
- Just5

what's the deal with desnoyers? he done as an NHL prospect?