Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 3/15/13 vs. Devils

Thanks Bill. To me it boils down to who's joshing whom. We shall see.

Not blaming him and i support him, but just for speculation sake on the case that bryz gets bought out. What guys are you going after to tend the net? Howard is resigning, N backstrom is 35 with an injury history. Smith is playing good but could be product of coyote system. Ben bishop is a name that could make sense.

Would Snider really be okay with buying Bryzaglov out? That's a lot of money, plus isn't he still paying Pronger too?



BTW, for my fellow Eagles fans here, I like what they're are doing so far.

can you guys buyout Briere so we can sign him for cheap? That guy could score absolutely nothing while he's on the penguins, but at least he wouldn't kill us like he usually does against us in the playoffs...

Tonight is a big game. They need to finish 14-6 (.700) to hit 53 points to make the playoffs. If they lose tonight they will need to go 14-5 (.737) to get to the 53 point cut off. This morning Sports Club Stats gives them only a 7.5% chance of making playoffs, if they lose tonight they fall into the range of a statistical notation.

Several of you have suggested that maybe it is better for the season to end on a clean kill shot, like losing tonight. This way Holmgren will avoid being pushed into desperation deals and can turn his attention to long term options.

I really believe that this is a very good team, a future Stanley Cup contender and winner. I hope Holmgren sticks with the long term plan and avoids expensive short term deals.

Not blaming him and i support him, but just for speculation sake on the case that bryz gets bought out. What guys are you going after to tend the net? Howard is resigning, N backstrom is 35 with an injury history. Smith is playing good but could be product of coyote system. Ben bishop is a name that could make sense.
- EastBeast18

The Flyers 1st and a roster player to Columbus for Bob. Holmgren could also offersheet him as an RFA this year. The Flyers have shown they aren't above offersheeting people.

Kid is only 24 years old and putting up stellar numbers on a horrible team with his top 4 defensemen all injured at one point or another. In the 2 years he's been a starter behind suspect defensive teams he's put up .915 and .921 sv% so far.

He could lock down the goalie position for the next 9 years.

Tonight is a big game. They need to finish 14-6 (.700) to hit 53 points to make the playoffs. If they lose tonight they will need to go 14-5 (.737) to get to the 53 point cut off. This morning Sports Club Stats gives them only a 7.5% chance of making playoffs, if they lose tonight they fall into the range of a statistical notation.

Several of you have suggested that maybe it is better for the season to end on a clean kill shot, like losing tonight. This way Holmgren will avoid being pushed into desperation deals and can turn his attention to long term options.

I really believe that this is a very good team, a future Stanley Cup contender and winner. I hope Holmgren sticks with the long term plan and avoids expensive short term deals.
- spatso

It's better long term for them to lose tonight but a clean break is not the Flyers way. They will win tonight, much like the Sabres game, not because they will have turned a corner but because it continues to drag things out further.

Does anyone think Lavi would've already been fired if the Flyers had lost the Sabres game (a game that was painful to watch for both teams)?

Keeping them on the statistical cusp keeps buying time for Lavi and for Holmgren to make a panic trade.

Agree with pretty much everything. Stick to the longterm, forget about this year.

The Flyers 1st and a roster player to Columbus for Bob. Holmgren could also offersheet him as an RFA this year. The Flyers have shown they aren't above offersheeting people.

Kid is only 24 years old and putting up stellar numbers on a horrible team with his top 4 defensemen all injured at one point or another. In the 2 years he's been a starter behind suspect defensive teams he's put up .915 and .921 sv% so far.

He could lock down the goalie position for the next 9 years.
- Flyers_01

Interesting, Kalkalinen the new Columbus GM is supposedly very high on Bishop. Yesterday I would have thought that a good deal might have gotten Bobrovsky out of Columbus. But, I watched him last night against the Hawks. He was very, very good. Babrovsky would be an expensive acquisition by trade or offer sheet.

I have no idea what to expect tonight. I do know that I am not optimistic and that's usually not my outlook.

Thanks Bill. To me it boils down to who's joshing whom. We shall see.
- wilsonecho91

I haven't bothered to read TP's latest. Is this an allusion to his blog?

is anyone actually excited about the game? even if they win does it really matter?

is anyone actually excited about the game? even if they win does it really matter?
- mydoglicks

It's kind of weird in that in 2006-07 there was a different feel to the atmosphere around the team. Perhaps the latest lockout sullied the allegiance I usually have (along with the greed machine that is the business side of things), but I don't have the same optimism for the short term future I did in March of 2007. There seem to be too many philosophical differences from the coach on up that the organization is a conflicted hydra.

In short, no and not really, to answer your questions.

Tonight is a big game. They need to finish 14-6 (.700) to hit 53 points to make the playoffs. If they lose tonight they will need to go 14-5 (.737) to get to the 53 point cut off. This morning Sports Club Stats gives them only a 7.5% chance of making playoffs, if they lose tonight they fall into the range of a statistical notation.

Several of you have suggested that maybe it is better for the season to end on a clean kill shot, like losing tonight. This way Holmgren will avoid being pushed into desperation deals and can turn his attention to long term options.

I really believe that this is a very good team, a future Stanley Cup contender and winner. I hope Holmgren sticks with the long term plan and avoids expensive short term deals.
- spatso

I love the forwards, the youth and depth that the organization has in that area, of which Homer has done a marvelous job. But one cannot overlook the defense and goaltending, which the Flyers have never done a good job through drafting/developing these players. The big question is, with Timonen basically done, who anchors the d? Coburn? He has done nothing but regress the last few years. They need to address these areas quickly and I don't know how they will do it, especially with a decrease in the cap and several players due for raises (Giroux, Read, etc).

can you guys buyout Briere so we can sign him for cheap? That guy could score absolutely nothing while he's on the penguins, but at least he wouldn't kill us like he usually does against us in the playoffs...
- SuperHenderson13

He kills everyone in the playoffs, so send him west!

I have no idea what to expect tonight. I do know that I am not optimistic and that's usually not my outlook.
- Flyskippy

Perhaps the only joy left for Flyer fans this year is knowing that the Rangers have begun to blow themselves up. The Rangers have gone from being a young, talented, tough team to becoming a one line, very soft team.

The Rangers tried to to short circuit what had been a healthy rebuild. They made some questionable UFA signings, they dealt away youth and toughness. They went from being a serious contender and they have become Columbus East.

The Flyers need to look at the Rangers and make sure they avoid duplicating their impatience and insanity.

The Flyers 1st and a roster player to Columbus for Bob. Holmgren could also offersheet him as an RFA this year. The Flyers have shown they aren't above offersheeting people.

Kid is only 24 years old and putting up stellar numbers on a horrible team with his top 4 defensemen all injured at one point or another. In the 2 years he's been a starter behind suspect defensive teams he's put up .915 and .921 sv% so far.

He could lock down the goalie position for the next 9 years.
- Flyers_01

Wait. You're serious?

Why in the world Homer do that deal? He would essentially be firing himself if he did that.

Did anyone see Sheridan's and Seravalli's two articles on Lavy this am?
http://mobile.philly.com/...ports/flyers&id=198378691
http://mobile.philly.com/...ports/flyers&id=198380871

One say Holmgren gives a vote of confidence and the other says he is on the hot seat.
The hot seat one uses a bit more literary license and speculation, but really? They used the same dialog and came to two differing conclusions.

is anyone actually excited about the game? even if they win does it really matter?
- mydoglicks

I'm excited about seeing this team make improvments over the next 20, being sellers at t he dealine, and looking forward to the dfraft.

I couldn't really care less about any one game in particular at this point tho.

It's kind of weird in that in 2006-07 there was a different feel to the atmosphere around the team. Perhaps the latest lockout sullied the allegiance I usually have (along with the greed machine that is the business side of things), but I don't have the same optimism for the short term future I did in March of 2007. There seem to be too many philosophical differences from the coach on up that the organization is a conflicted hydra.

In short, no and not really, to answer your questions.
- Flyskippy

This is the reason the Flyers will never win the cup at this rate...the organizational philosophy needs to change. They need to learn how to draft/develop defensemen and goalies. They haven't done that since the 70s/80s and it shows. They should look to the Detroit model of how to accomplish this. Better European scouts would certainly help this cause!

Did anyone see Sheridan's and Seravalli's two articles on Lavy this am?
http://mobile.philly.com/...ports/flyers&id=198378691
http://mobile.philly.com/...ports/flyers&id=198380871

One say Holmgren gives a vote of confidence and the other says he is on the hot seat.
The hot seat one uses a bit more literary license and speculation, but really? They used the same dialog and came to two differing conclusions.
- section32

This would involve visiting a site that has less hockey knowledge than Mike Missanelli on a good day. I'll take your summary. Thanks.

Wait. You're serious?

Why in the would Homer do that deal? He would essentially be firing himself if he did that.
- hereticpride

For obvious reasons it would be hard for the Flyers to do any deal with Columbus for a goalie. I think the best solution is to get a good back up for Bryzgalov. I believe his play has fallen off because he is overworked and he is fatigued. If that does not work he can be bought out after next year.

I love the forwards, the youth and depth that the organization has in that area, of which Homer has done a marvelous job. But one cannot overlook the defense and goaltending, which the Flyers have never done a good job through drafting/developing these players. The big question is, with Timonen basically done, who anchors the d? Coburn? He has done nothing but regress the last few years. They need to address these areas quickly and I don't know how they will do it, especially with a decrease in the cap and several players due for raises (Giroux, Read, etc).

- aantny88

Timonen is certainly not the player he used to be. But he's not done. He's still a pretty good player. And I'll be the first to admit that Coburn has underachieved. Overall with the exception of needing a top pair defenseman for the future. I like the makeup of this defense. I need to see a comprehensive and supportive team game, and then we'll find out what this defense has. It has some good elements to it. Hard to truly evaluate anybody with the Flyers team game in shambles.

Tonight is a big game. They need to finish 14-6 (.700) to hit 53 points to make the playoffs. If they lose tonight they will need to go 14-5 (.737) to get to the 53 point cut off. This morning Sports Club Stats gives them only a 7.5% chance of making playoffs, if they lose tonight they fall into the range of a statistical notation.

Several of you have suggested that maybe it is better for the season to end on a clean kill shot, like losing tonight. This way Holmgren will avoid being pushed into desperation deals and can turn his attention to long term options.

I really believe that this is a very good team, a future Stanley Cup contender and winner. I hope Holmgren sticks with the long term plan and avoids expensive short term deals.
- spatso

This us the flyers. As long as Ed snider runs this ship, nothing is really planned for the long term

This is the reason the Flyers will never win the cup at this rate...the organizational philosophy needs to change. They need to learn how to draft/develop defensemen and goalies. They haven't done that since the 70s/80s and it shows. They should look to the Detroit model of how to accomplish this. Better European scouts would certainly help this cause!
- aantny88

There are at least 3 people influencing their direction: Snider, Homer, & Lavi. They can't all be on the same page if the owner is dictating to the GM and the owner & GM are dictating to the coach. Another reason the coach needs to change: either the game plan or the person himself.

I am curious to (but will never) know what would've happened in 2011 had the Flyers stuck with Bob & got a backup instead of signing Bryz.