Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Comeback, Hartnell, Bryzgalov, Deadline Eve

1st ?

whats this about M Carle being on the table? legs? or BS?

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Comeback, Hartnell, Bryzgalov, Deadline Eve
- bmeltzer

Great recap, Bill.

If they can bottle the last 30 minutes or so, in terms of effort and grit, they will be a handful for anyone.

Good point, especially on angry Bryz. As Ray Emery's tattoo said, anger is a gift. If channeled right it can help one focus.

I've been impressed w/Grossman. I love the way he uses his body.

whats this about M Carle being on the table? legs? or BS?
- Dojodan

All I've seen is Strickland saying that Chicago is looking for experienced D, with Carle and Souray mentioned.

Carle's UFA come July, so who knows?

All I've seen is Strickland saying that Chicago is looking for experienced D, with Carle and Souray mentioned.

Carle's UFA come July, so who knows?
- tangent_man

We'd still need to replace him for this year.

I guess we're all in Steve Ott waiting mode right now? He sure would be a classic Flyer. I'm not thrilled about potentially losing JVR, but Oleksiak is certainly an intriguing prospect if he is part of the deal.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Comeback, Hartnell, Bryzgalov, Deadline Eve
- bmeltzer

Bill, What was your take on Mezzy rolling his eyes? Did you believe he was upset at Bryz or himself? My take was that he was upset with himself. He let Stajan cruse into slot and shoot without being touched. Sure, Mezzy had a winger he had to respect - but still... I'd rather they give up a one-on-one angle shot than one in the middle of the ice.

All I've seen is Strickland saying that Chicago is looking for experienced D, with Carle and Souray mentioned.

Carle's UFA come July, so who knows?
- tangent_man

Depends on if they resign Grossman and or Kubnia, but I'd consider moving Carle at the draft if they can't get together on a reasonable contract

Bill, What was your take on Mezzy rolling his eyes? Did you believe he was upset at Bryz or himself? My take was that he was upset with himself. He let Stajan cruse into slot and shoot without being touched. Sure, Mezzy had a winger he had to respect - but still... I'd rather they give up a one-on-one angle shot than one in the middle of the ice.
- leon neon

Have to be honest. I think he was a little more frustrated with Bryzgalov. Yes, he backed in on the play, but Stajan's shot was weak and eminently stoppable, and the look on Meszaros' face was one of those "Here we go again" looks.

Have to be honest. I think he was a little more frustrated with Bryzgalov. Yes, he backed in on the play, but Stajan's shot was weak and eminently stoppable, and the look on Meszaros' face was one of those "Here we go again" looks.
- bmeltzer

Yeah but if Mezzy just stepped up there and did more the shot never even gets through. Yes Bryz needs to stop those but some of them have no business even getting through.

whats this about M Carle being on the table? legs? or BS?
- Dojodan

would have to be a great offer...and this is if they think there gonna lose him... at this point anything is possible

Bill
Another fine summary evenly addressing the positive and dispassionately addressing the shortcomings.

I am still having trouble with this teams ever increasing lack of first period fire. They may have territorial control, but they aren't controlling play. And the lack of cohesive team defensive buy-in leaving the goalies fair game is such a flash back to the Wayne Cashman era it is spooky at times. Even some of the same comments (too many soft goales, too many deflected goals allowed).

As a long time follower of hockey, and a one time novice league coach, even I can see glaring issues with fundementalls that are not being addressed .... or not being embraced.

That said....Thank God for Hartnell. His "not this time" attitude was the one thing that seemed to keep this team going. That, and I really think that there was a positive reaction from the team when Bryz slammed his stick on the crossbar. They saw he cared and seemed to tighten up (in a good way). Both Grossman and Kubina are both doing the little things that all but Kimmo seemed to have gotten away from (fronting players near your net, stick/arm/shoulder contack to steer players out of the slot). Hopefully that will rub off.

Danny B looked lost...again....is there no one who plays a complimentary game left on this roster? He had zero chemistry with Voracek, but Jake's game is the closest to Leino's that there is...and Simmons is a faster Hart's with moxie but not the same experience...doesn't make sense....

But they got the two points!!!

Have to be honest. I think he was a little more frustrated with Bryzgalov. Yes, he backed in on the play, but Stajan's shot was weak and eminently stoppable, and the look on Meszaros' face was one of those "Here we go again" looks.
- bmeltzer

dead on....im sure this isnt the first time this has happened either... this is the only time it was caught on camera

I guess we're all in Steve Ott waiting mode right now? He sure would be a classic Flyer. I'm not thrilled about potentially losing JVR, but Oleksiak is certainly an intriguing prospect if he is part of the deal.
- ravishingone

If Oleksiak came back the other way, I'd be more intrigued. JVR for Ott straight up is a terrible trade -- and I have really come to appreciate Ott over the last 1 3/4 seasons after previously despising him.

Also don't know if the Flyers would have any interest at all in Texas Stars' rookie Matt Fraser, but he's a late bloomer who most definitely knows how to score goals. There are holes in his game to work on -- skating, defense -- but that is often the case with power forwards in their early 20s. The Dallas Stars have called Fraser (an AHL All-Star as a rookie this season) up to the big club twice this season, but he's only suited up in one game and barely saw the ice.

Great blob Bill.

I love the fact that they fought back and won. However I'm a bit concerned that the team is going to wear themselves down if they keep up their current play. It's overly taxing, both physically and mentally, always trying to come from behind. What is it at now? They've given up the firsy goal in what 11 of the past 12 games? That to me is our biggest concern. If they can come out sharp and get an early lead, well that would be a nice change of pace.

Anyway love the win! Love how Bryz handled the shootout! Time to get ready for San Jose.

If Oleksiak came back the other way, I'd be more intrigued. JVR for Ott straight up is a terrible trade -- and I have really come to appreciate Ott over the last 1 3/4 seasons after previously despising him.

Also don't know if the Flyers would have any interest at all in Texas Stars' rookie Matt Fraser, but he's a late bloomer who most definitely knows how to score goals. There are holes in his game to work on -- skating, defense -- but that is often the case with power forwards in their early 20s. The Dallas Stars have called Fraser (an AHL All-Star as a rookie this season) up to the big club twice this season, but he's only suited up in one game and barely saw the ice.
- bmeltzer

Spot on, Bill. Ott for JVR is sheer lunacy. Ott plus a premier prospect does make you think. How would you rate the possible prospects in any proposed deal? Would Oleksiak be the premiere prospect, or would there be other ones better?

If Oleksiak came back the other way, I'd be more intrigued. JVR for Ott straight up is a terrible trade -- and I have really come to appreciate Ott over the last 1 3/4 seasons after previously despising him.

Also don't know if the Flyers would have any interest at all in Texas Stars' rookie Matt Fraser, but he's a late bloomer who most definitely knows how to score goals. There are holes in his game to work on -- skating, defense -- but that is often the case with power forwards in their early 20s. The Dallas Stars have called Fraser (an AHL All-Star as a rookie this season) up to the big club twice this season, but he's only suited up in one game and barely saw the ice.
- bmeltzer

I got to see a lot of Oleksiak at NU, def has some potential. Some up and down games but 6'7'' is an even more commanding of a presence in college hockey

dead on....im sure this isnt the first time this has happened either... this is the only time it was caught on camera
- Slammed81

In all fairness, the shot itself was irrelevant. The fact that the D allowed Stajan in that position to get off an uncontested shot was.

Should Breeze have stopped it? Probably. Should he have even been put in that position at all? No.

The D poorly played that into a dangerous situation. Stajan simply got off a weak shot. If Stamkos or Malkin, etc, had that opportunity, in that position, Breeze wouldn't have had much of a chance.

The D needs to look into the mirror before they roll their eyes - if in fact Mezzy was actually visually commenting on Breeze's whiff.

I just wonder if interest in Ott is heightened because two of the top 4 PK forwards are rookies- Coots and Read. Voracek plays some PK, but not a lot. I would certainly like to see Roo's PK time managed, no need to wear him down on the PK. Talbot is the pillar amongst the forwards on the PK.

It wouldn't shock me to see Ott in orange and black on Tuesday evening.

I got to see a lot of Oleksiak at NU, def has some potential. Some up and down games but 6'7'' is an even more commanding of a presence in college hockey
- Coopaloop

He left college hockey, he is now in the OHL with the Niagara Ice Dogs

http://www.niagaraicedogs.net/roster/show/id/8792

In all fairness, the shot itself was irrelevant. The fact that the D allowed Stajan in that position to get off an uncontested shot was.

Should Breeze have stopped it? Probably. Should he have even been put in that position at all? No.

The D poorly played that into a dangerous situation. Stajan simply got off a weak shot. If Stamkos or Malkin, etc, had that opportunity, in that position, Breeze wouldn't have had much of a chance.

The D needs to look into the mirror before they roll their eyes - if in fact Mezzy was actually visually commenting on Breeze's whiff.
- 77rams

Exactly my thoughts. Was it a bad goal? yes but having to make that save should never have happened either. I'm getting sick of all of the turnovers. Going back to Oct we've had a lot of trouble getting pucks clean out of the zone PK and ES

He left college hockey, he is now in the OHL with the Niagara Ice Dogs

http://www.niagaraicedogs.net/roster/show/id/8792
- ob18

As an NU student it sucked seeing him go but from a development standpoint i think he made the right call. I'm a senior so I got to see JVR's second year. rather than my NU jersey i wore a flyers shirt to every NU UNH game.

If Oleksiak came back the other way, I'd be more intrigued. JVR for Ott straight up is a terrible trade -- and I have really come to appreciate Ott over the last 1 3/4 seasons after previously despising him.

Also don't know if the Flyers would have any interest at all in Texas Stars' rookie Matt Fraser, but he's a late bloomer who most definitely knows how to score goals. There are holes in his game to work on -- skating, defense -- but that is often the case with power forwards in their early 20s. The Dallas Stars have called Fraser (an AHL All-Star as a rookie this season) up to the big club twice this season, but he's only suited up in one game and barely saw the ice.
- bmeltzer

Isn't that what we already have in JvR - a young power forward who, unlike Fraser, can skate well and who definitely knows how to score? JvR is still only 22. Power forwards, like defensemen, don't usually put it all together until their mid 20's.

Patience.

I'd hate to trade away the next John LeClair.