Bill Meltzer: Flyers Make (Semi) Final Preseason Roster Cuts

Why not add the defense side of the roster?

Re: Jett, send him back. Not sure what significant benefit can come from keeping him on the 3rd line with the Flyers. Send him to Guelph, let him get his 80 or 90 points, play in the WJC and maybe really shine in that tournament. Bring him up next year when he's a year older and has had a lot of success to build on. Not sure why DB is following Tort's desires when the best thing for the kid is to go back. That's just my opinion. I could be wrong... but I doubt it.

Re: Jett, send him back. Not sure what significant benefit can come from keeping him on the 3rd line with the Flyers. Send him to Guelph, let him get his 80 or 90 points, play in the WJC and maybe really shine in that tournament. Bring him up next year when he's a year older and has had a lot of success to build on. Not sure why DB is following Tort's desires when the best thing for the kid is to go back. That's just my opinion. I could be wrong... but I doubt it.
- Letterkenney

torts runs the show at the nhl level.

Why not add the defense side of the roster?
- Bayareaflyer

Honestly, because the blog was already running a bit long. We've set an internal editorial goal of shorter but more frequent than one-a-day when possible, because that's where the industry has gone the last couple years.

I personally prefer one comprehensive blog per day with two (short preview, brief recap plus link to the more in-depth Postgame 5 from the Flyers official site). However, that way has kind of fallen out of favor. Folks seem to want to read less at one time.

Anyway, I just added a brief thing on D and goalies. That was going to be tomorrow's topic with another off-day for the team. But it does make sense to run down everyone today so I added it for today. Still intended something lengthier tomorrow about goalies. The defenseman part can stand.

Re: Jett, send him back. Not sure what significant benefit can come from keeping him on the 3rd line with the Flyers. Send him to Guelph, let him get his 80 or 90 points, play in the WJC and maybe really shine in that tournament. Bring him up next year when he's a year older and has had a lot of success to build on. Not sure why DB is following Tort's desires when the best thing for the kid is to go back. That's just my opinion. I could be wrong... but I doubt it.
- Letterkenney

I agree with you wholeheartedly. But it's not my call to make. I'm a contractor, not a team employee (much less part of Hockey Ops). But my personal opinion aligns with yours.

I stll don’t get the organization’s love for Laughton. Cates, while nothing special, is much better defensively than Laughton and makes more sense to be on the 4th line with Poehling and Hathaway.

Also, the hockey ops dept should have the final say when it comes to Luchanko. Is Briere the GM or Tortorella’s personal assistant?

Cutter with 2 goals for the lame Ducks!🦆 Yea i know it was against the lame Sharks 🦈

I stll don’t get the organization’s love for Laughton. Cates, while nothing special, is much better defensively than Laughton and makes more sense to be on the 4th line with Poehling and Hathaway.

Also, the hockey ops dept should have the final say when it comes to Luchanko. Is Briere the GM or Tortorella’s personal assistant?
- BiggE

Tough, I can see where Cates fits, really good on the forecheck, good on the boards and has hockey IQ, Laughton has the skating and is a threat on the PK, he probably has something to prove after last season. Have no fear, Frost should be benched by game 10, all will be normal.

I would like both Laughton and cares to raise their value, be tradable by the TDL, the flyers have the market cornered on bottom 6ers

Honestly, because the blog was already running a bit long. We've set an internal editorial goal of shorter but more frequent than one-a-day when possible, because that's where the industry has gone the last couple years.

I personally prefer one comprehensive blog per day with two (short preview, brief recap plus link to the more in-depth Postgame 5 from the Flyers official site). However, that way has kind of fallen out of favor. Folks seem to want to read less at one time.

Anyway, I just added a brief thing on D and goalies. That was going to be tomorrow's topic with another off-day for the team. But it does make sense to run down everyone today so I added it for today. Still intended something lengthier tomorrow about goalies. The defenseman part can stand.
- bmeltzer

Shorter and more frequent? I think that's because the objective is to use you as click bait to get more people onto the Flyers NHL website. I'd rather the longer and more analytic posts that we've all come to know and love, Bill. You're an excellent writer and, though some may not agree with you all the time, I think it's safe to say that all of us Flyers Buzzards enjoy and respect your work here.

I stll don’t get the organization’s love for Laughton. Cates, while nothing special, is much better defensively than Laughton and makes more sense to be on the 4th line with Poehling and Hathaway.

Also, the hockey ops dept should have the final say when it comes to Luchanko. Is Briere the GM or Tortorella’s personal assistant?
- BiggE

YES!

Tough, I can see where Cates fits, really good on the forecheck, good on the boards and has hockey IQ, Laughton has the skating and is a threat on the PK, he probably has something to prove after last season. Have no fear, Frost should be benched by game 10, all will be normal.

I would like both Laughton and cares to raise their value, be tradable by the TDL, the flyers have the market cornered on bottom 6ers
- wcorvette

raise their value lol...they already missed oi boat to sell high on Laughton.

they do not want to trade him anyway.

Tough, I can see where Cates fits, really good on the forecheck, good on the boards and has hockey IQ, Laughton has the skating and is a threat on the PK, he probably has something to prove after last season. Have no fear, Frost should be benched by game 10, all will be normal.

I would like both Laughton and cares to raise their value, be tradable by the TDL, the flyers have the market cornered on bottom 6ers
- wcorvette

Tortorella's way is to give his golden boys lots and lots of rope. He loves those "two-way players" without much on the offensive side of "two-way". His whipping boys get very littl rope. He goes by his gut and tends to be rather fickle and emotion-driven. It's how he's always been. He'll give lip service til the cows come home about not stifling offense... but then he'll stifle offense.

Specific to Laughton, he's still a very good penalty killer (NHL's shorthanded scoring leader over the past two seasons in fact). He's still versatile and never gripes about being yo-yoed from C to LW or vice versa, top-nine or fourth line. Plus he IS still the internal voice and finger on the pulse in the room. So there's still a spot for him.

Here's the thing, as I see it. Individually, there's room for any of Laughton, Cates or Poehling. Collectively, though, it gets a bit redundant. They're not identical players, mind you, but they take multiple slots of what I think is more ideally slots for 1 or 2 (max).

Do I have a fear that Luchanko will not be properly developed as an offensive player up to his ceiling because they're satisfied with his speed and defensive upside? Yes, I do have that concern.

Tortorella's way is to give his golden boys lots and lots of rope. He loves those "two-way players" without much on the offensive side of "two-way". His whipping boys get very littl rope. He goes by his gut and tends to be rather fickle and emotion-driven. It's how he's always been. He'll give lip service til the cows come home about not stifling offense... but then he'll stifle offense.

Specific to Laughton, he's still a very good penalty killer (NHL's shorthanded scoring leader over the past two seasons in fact). He's still versatile and never gripes about being yo-yoed from C to LW or vice versa, top-nine or fourth line. Plus he IS still the internal voice and finger on the pulse in the room. So there's still a spot for him.

Here's the thing, as I see it. Individually, there's room for any of Laughton, Cates or Poehling. Collectively, though, it gets a bit redundant. They're not identical players, mind you, but they take multiple slots of what I think is more ideally slots for 1 or 2 (max).

Do I have a fear that Luchanko will not be properly developed as an offensive player up to his ceiling because they're satisfied with his speed and defensive upside? Yes, I do have that concern.
- bmeltzer

add in GH to that group as well.

Jett not close to being ready to play in NHL and keeping him here for 9 games makes little sense. Let him go to his OHL team and have a full season there. Better hope he doesnt get hurt

Honestly, because the blog was already running a bit long. We've set an internal editorial goal of shorter but more frequent than one-a-day when possible, because that's where the industry has gone the last couple years.

I personally prefer one comprehensive blog per day with two (short preview, brief recap plus link to the more in-depth Postgame 5 from the Flyers official site). However, that way has kind of fallen out of favor. Folks seem to want to read less at one time.

Anyway, I just added a brief thing on D and goalies. That was going to be tomorrow's topic with another off-day for the team. But it does make sense to run down everyone today so I added it for today. Still intended something lengthier tomorrow about goalies. The defenseman part can stand.
- bmeltzer

Thanks for enabling the lazy and the stupid

Shorter and more frequent? I think that's because the objective is to use you as click bait to get more people onto the Flyers NHL website. I'd rather the longer and more analytic posts that we've all come to know and love, Bill. You're an excellent writer and, though some may not agree with you all the time, I think it's safe to say that all of us Flyers Buzzards enjoy and respect your work here.
- Letterkenney

I agree. I prefer to write long, analytical posts. People can agree or disagree and I'm fine with it as long as people realize that a) I present what I think is supporting evidence for why I feel a certain way (and it's never because I'm "instructed" what to write) and b) it does not call my integrity or professionalism in question because I take those things very seriously.

As for style and frequency, I've seen the data backing up that more and more want short-read things with greater frequency rather than long-read stuff. Even on the Flyers site itself, the trend this season is toward shorter previews, shorter post-game stuff -- so less ebb-and-flow period-to-period stuff on Postgame 5 and more "summarize the period with a couple highlights and embedded tweets/video.

It is what it is. Not my preferred style but something adaptable.

Thanks for enabling the lazy and the stupid
- THE BLACK HAND

We all have bosses. Ultimately, there are two choices in most industries: Adapt or step aside. Have a family to support. So that means adapt. Anyway, if you notice a shift toward short-form blogs for search engine purposes and more-than-once-daily archives, that's the primary reason why.

Tortorella's way is to give his golden boys lots and lots of rope. He loves those "two-way players" without much on the offensive side of "two-way". His whipping boys get very littl rope. He goes by his gut and tends to be rather fickle and emotion-driven. It's how he's always been. He'll give lip service til the cows come home about not stifling offense... but then he'll stifle offense.

Specific to Laughton, he's still a very good penalty killer (NHL's shorthanded scoring leader over the past two seasons in fact). He's still versatile and never gripes about being yo-yoed from C to LW or vice versa, top-nine or fourth line. Plus he IS still the internal voice and finger on the pulse in the room. So there's still a spot for him.

Here's the thing, as I see it. Individually, there's room for any of Laughton, Cates or Poehling. Collectively, though, it gets a bit redundant. They're not identical players, mind you, but they take multiple slots of what I think is more ideally slots for 1 or 2 (max).

Do I have a fear that Luchanko will not be properly developed as an offensive player up to his ceiling because they're satisfied with his speed and defensive upside? Yes, I do have that concern.
- bmeltzer

Tough for laughton to kill penalties when he is the on always committing them

Tough for laughton to kill penalties when he is the on always committing them
- WhiskeyMan

Yet he's managed lead the NHL in shorthanded points (15, two more than Konecny) over the past two years. And he's managed to lead all Flyers forwards in total/average PK time over the last three. Hard to do when you're "always" in the box.

Does Laughton take quite a few minors? Yes. So does Tyson Foerster, who took 16 of them as a rookie last year.

I know I am a cynic when it comes to this team, but I feel like the organization is doing this Luchanko thing as a way to say "I told you so" to all those people who questioned the pick over Buium.

Its optics over common sense.

And Bill I couldn't agree with you more about Torts. I've said it over and over that he develops tunnel vision with certain players both for and against them. And he gets lost in that tunnel no matter what happens. He says its a clean slate but we all know that is bull$hit.

My fear is that the flyers will go the Couturier route with Luchenko and not push his offensive side of his game. The flyers had a deeper roster when Couturier made the team. IMO it was be a disservice to keep JL on the team beyond 9 games. I would have sent him back to his JR team already.

I know I am a cynic when it comes to this team, but I feel like the organization is doing this Luchanko thing as a way to say "I told you so" to all those people who questioned the pick over Buium.

Its optics over common sense.

And Bill I couldn't agree with you more about Torts. I've said it over and over that he develops tunnel vision with certain players both for and against them. And he gets lost in that tunnel no matter what happens. He says its a clean slate but we all know that is bull$hit.
- MBFlyerfan

Or it’s a way to reward him, give him a taste, go back to juniors and dominate - while also lighting a fire under the ass of a guy like frost - “this is the type of play that will replace you”

People are over exaggerating what a 9 game look will do to this kid - for better or worse. Now if you wanna talk about keeping him up all season - I have doubts about that for sure

Tortorella's way is to give his golden boys lots and lots of rope. He loves those "two-way players" without much on the offensive side of "two-way". His whipping boys get very littl rope. He goes by his gut and tends to be rather fickle and emotion-driven. It's how he's always been. He'll give lip service til the cows come home about not stifling offense... but then he'll stifle offense.

Specific to Laughton, he's still a very good penalty killer (NHL's shorthanded scoring leader over the past two seasons in fact). He's still versatile and never gripes about being yo-yoed from C to LW or vice versa, top-nine or fourth line. Plus he IS still the internal voice and finger on the pulse in the room. So there's still a spot for him.

Here's the thing, as I see it. Individually, there's room for any of Laughton, Cates or Poehling. Collectively, though, it gets a bit redundant. They're not identical players, mind you, but they take multiple slots of what I think is more ideally slots for 1 or 2 (max).

Do I have a fear that Luchanko will not be properly developed as an offensive player up to his ceiling because they're satisfied with his speed and defensive upside? Yes, I do have that concern.
- bmeltzer

No wonder you had to make it a point to let us know you’re a “contractor” ::rolls eyes::

Does golden boy imply a player that plays the game like a pro rather than a pedestrian in the best league in the world? Give me a break!