Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: The Raleigh Romp, Fedotenko, Hall, Sunday Quick Hits

Thanks for all the great blobs this year, Bill. Each and every one of them has made dealing with this lousy season just a bit easier.

I was at the game last night and could not believe all of the chances they had in the first period and only scored one goal. Much of the play as down in the end of the arena that my seat was, so it was great action. During the first intermission, I was thinking that they better not come out flat for the second and third periods and let this game get away from them like they had in other games. Thankfully, it was not the case. There must have been at least 30 hats othrown on the ice for Simmond's hat trick. The crowd had quite a few "Let's go Flyers" cheers all during the game. Plenty of orange and black in the parking lot and the arena. It was a good noght overall.

Bill, thanks for the reporting of the Flyers this season. It definitely made a losing season more bearable and as a CPA, it was something to look forward eachday while working thru another busy tax season.

Thanks for all the great blobs this year, Bill. Each and every one of them has made dealing with this lousy season just a bit easier.
- FlyerGuy

A microcosm of this season was the 2nd Canes goal: two Flyers were trying to get it out of the defensive zone (shorthanded?) and at the blue line they pressured the puck thinking they were getting an odd man rush up the ice ... the only problem is the puck stayed in the Flyers zone and 5 seconds later it was behind Mason.

I think Giroux was one of the guys. A month ago I would have been pissed off, but last night I just laughed at that brain fart. How can a team be so recklessly aggressive in their own zone? Amazing.

edit: maybe it was the 3rd Canes goal, not the 2nd. Someone will correct me I'm sure.

A microcosm of this season was the 2nd Canes goal: two Flyers were trying to get it out of the defensive zone (shorthanded?) and at the blue line they pressured the puck thinking they were getting an odd man rush up the ice ... the only problem is the puck stayed in the Flyers zone and 5 seconds later it was behind Mason.

I think Giroux was one of the guys. A month ago I would have been pissed off, but last night I just laughed at that brain fart. How can a team be so recklessly aggressive in their own zone? Amazing.
- FlyerGuy

A lot of people want them to make finding a number one defenseman priority número UNO. I think finding a coach who doesn't preach as aggressive a system as lavy should be. That play you mentioned has been one if many epidemics affecting this team while he has been coach and the roster has been adjusted to accommodate his coaching. It's time to move on. Did we actually go a game without a too many men on the ice penalty?

I was at the game last night and could not believe all of the chances they had in the first period and only scored one goal. Much of the play as down in the end of the arena that my seat was, so it was great action. During the first intermission, I was thinking that they better not come out flat for the second and third periods and let this game get away from them like they had in other games. Thankfully, it was not the case. There must have been at least 30 hats othrown on the ice for Simmond's hat trick. The crowd had quite a few "Let's go Flyers" cheers all during the game. Plenty of orange and black in the parking lot and the arena. It was a good noght overall.

Bill, thanks for the reporting of the Flyers this season. It definitely made a losing season more bearable and as a CPA, it was something to look forward eachday while working thru another busy tax season.
- ncflyer27613

very cool

A lot of people want them to make finding a number one defenseman priority número UNO. I think finding a coach who doesn't preach as aggressive a system as lavy should be. That play you mentioned has been one if many epidemics affecting this team while he has been coach and the roster has been adjusted to accommodate his coaching. It's time to move on. Did we actually go a game without a too many men on the ice penalty?
- JoeRussomanno

starting to agree with you.

especially in light of the fact that the Devils and the Rangers, among other teams, seem to have figured out the weaknesses in Lavy's system, and exploit it rather easily.

I was at the game last night and could not believe all of the chances they had in the first period and only scored one goal. Much of the play as down in the end of the arena that my seat was, so it was great action. During the first intermission, I was thinking that they better not come out flat for the second and third periods and let this game get away from them like they had in other games. Thankfully, it was not the case. There must have been at least 30 hats othrown on the ice for Simmond's hat trick. The crowd had quite a few "Let's go Flyers" cheers all during the game. Plenty of orange and black in the parking lot and the arena. It was a good noght overall.

Bill, thanks for the reporting of the Flyers this season. It definitely made a losing season more bearable and as a CPA, it was something to look forward eachday while working thru another busy tax season.
- ncflyer27613

One of those hats was thrown by Ilya Bryzgalov. I found that hilarious

I had a sudden flashback to the 6th game of the 2010 SCF after Simmonds scored his third against Peters.

Wrong side, but it still made me cringe.

starting to agree with you.

especially in light of the fact that the Devils and the Rangers, among other teams, seem to have figured out the weaknesses in Lavy's system, and exploit it rather easily.
- FlyerGuy

The problem isn't really that they've found the weaknesses, it's that Laviolette has failed to institue adjustments to counter what the Devils and Rangers, and honestly, the Bruins, Lightning and others have done to exploit the Flyers system.

I don't necessarily think Laviolette hasn't tried, I just don't think it's worked. The players haven't executed very well, but at the same time, when you have isses top to bottom on your team, I have to look at the coach and what those players were asked to do.

A lot of people want them to make finding a number one defenseman priority número UNO. I think finding a coach who doesn't preach as aggressive a system as lavy should be. That play you mentioned has been one if many epidemics affecting this team while he has been coach and the roster has been adjusted to accommodate his coaching. It's time to move on. Did we actually go a game without a too many men on the ice penalty?
- JoeRussomanno

Is the coach safe?

Is the coach safe?
- stveshdy

He shouldn't be.

One of those hats was thrown by Ilya Bryzgalov. I found that hilarious
- Jsaquella

was it? that's awesome.

He shouldn't be.
- Jsaquella

I think he gets a pass this year b/c of injuries. That's the spin on it.

was it? that's awesome.

- FlyerGuy

Yup. He fired a hat from the bench, and somebody in the crowd gave him another hat. No video of it, though

The problem isn't really that they've found the weaknesses, it's that Laviolette has failed to institue adjustments to counter what the Devils and Rangers, and honestly, the Bruins, Lightning and others have done to exploit the Flyers system.

I don't necessarily think Laviolette hasn't tried, I just don't think it's worked. The players haven't executed very well, but at the same time, when you have isses top to bottom on your team, I have to look at the coach and what those players were asked to do.
- Jsaquella

My biggest issue with Lava lies in player management. Which on one hand I can understand as the organization is balls to the walls on making the playoffs every year and it does kind of make sense to me to play the players who have been most productive for you in the past.

I also dont think the organization would have been too happy if Lava went with youth movement even mid season, the Flyers are always intent on making the playoffs. However the diminished role of Coots, after countless screw ups of many veterans and other players is not good enough. Along with goaltender management over his tenure.

Anyway, I do think its time to move on, but I wouldnt do it strictly to move on to a defensive minded system. Its not what is NEEDED to win in this league by far. They do need a coach that will hold players more accountable, and especially when it comes to the defensive end of the puck and playing 60 minutes.

Whats interesting though, is it doesnt seem like the coach this squad needs is a nice player friendly guy. I think it points to more of the opposite. Yet mix that in with the team apparently having tuned Lava out because of how hard he is...

Like Bryzgalov, I wouldnt be suprised to see the organization stick with Lava. The injuries may have cut him some slack. I would personally cut ties with both, but I would just really dislike seeing a re-tread Murray behind the bench.

To be completely truthful, its my belief that they should stick with an aggressive system. I do believe most of the players on the team, and in particular the younger core would excel under such an approach. Perhaps something that is a bit more toned down, and where more focus IS on the defensive end of the puck, but I do not believe going the way of Boston/Rags/etc is the way to go.

I had a sudden flashback to the 6th game of the 2010 SCF after Simmonds scored his third against Peters.

Wrong side, but it still made me cringe.
- 77rams

wasn't that more 5 hole on Leighton, rather than between skate and post?

not that I want to reminisce, mind you.

I think he gets a pass this year b/c of injuries. That's the spin on it.
- stveshdy

I'm not basing my desire to see him gone off this season alone. I'm looking at the entire body of work.

I'm not basing my desire to see him gone off this season alone. I'm looking at the entire body of work.
- Jsaquella

Know whats weird though? There has been talk, and even at times it seems they have tuned him out.

Yet it seems every one of those damn timeouts lights a fire under their ass.

My biggest issue with Lava lies in player management. Which on one hand I can understand as the organization is balls to the walls on making the playoffs every year and it does kind of make sense to me to play the players who have been most productive for you in the past.

I also dont think the organization would have been too happy if Lava went with youth movement even mid season, the Flyers are always intent on making the playoffs. However the diminished role of Coots, after countless screw ups of many veterans and other players is not good enough. Along with goaltender management over his tenure.

Anyway, I do think its time to move on, but I wouldnt do it strictly to move on to a defensive minded system. Its not what is NEEDED to win in this league by far. They do need a coach that will hold players more accountable, and especially when it comes to the defensive end of the puck and playing 60 minutes.

Whats interesting though, is it doesnt seem like the coach this squad needs is a nice player friendly guy. I think it points to more of the opposite. Yet mix that in with the team apparently having tuned Lava out because of how hard he is...

Like Bryzgalov, I wouldnt be suprised to see the organization stick with Lava. The injuries may have cut him some slack. I would personally cut ties with both, but I would just really dislike seeing a re-tread Murray behind the bench.

To be completely truthful, its my belief that they should stick with an aggressive system. I do believe most of the players on the team, and in particular the younger core would excel under such an approach. Perhaps something that is a bit more toned down, and where more focus IS on the defensive end of the puck, but I do not believe going the way of Boston/Rags/etc is the way to go.
- flyer_nutter

Moving away from a "player's coach" to a "disciplinarian" was part of making the move from Stevens "Easy bake oven" to Lavy "dry Island". Maybe I'm mistaken.

A perfect example of what I would kind of like them to stay away from is Trotz.

I've seen stuff over the internet that Nashville is looking at a big evaluation and possible culture change. Trotz has been a constant for a while now, and there have been farts in the wind about him possibly being let go.

I like Trotz, and I do believe he could get the crew to play a more 60 minute game, but imo a guy like that is just as one dimensional as Lava is reported to be.

Is the coach safe?
- stveshdy

I believe I stated number one priority should be getting another coach.

Know whats weird though? There has been talk, and even at times it seems they have tuned him out.

Yet it seems every one of those damn timeouts lights a fire under their ass.
- flyer_nutter

He's called a timeout in every loss.

My biggest issue with Lava lies in player management. Which on one hand I can understand as the organization is balls to the walls on making the playoffs every year and it does kind of make sense to me to play the players who have been most productive for you in the past.

I also dont think the organization would have been too happy if Lava went with youth movement even mid season, the Flyers are always intent on making the playoffs. However the diminished role of Coots, after countless screw ups of many veterans and other players is not good enough. Along with goaltender management over his tenure.

Anyway, I do think its time to move on, but I wouldnt do it strictly to move on to a defensive minded system. Its not what is NEEDED to win in this league by far. They do need a coach that will hold players more accountable, and especially when it comes to the defensive end of the puck and playing 60 minutes.

Whats interesting though, is it doesnt seem like the coach this squad needs is a nice player friendly guy. I think it points to more of the opposite. Yet mix that in with the team apparently having tuned Lava out because of how hard he is...

Like Bryzgalov, I wouldnt be suprised to see the organization stick with Lava. The injuries may have cut him some slack. I would personally cut ties with both, but I would just really dislike seeing a re-tread Murray behind the bench.

To be completely truthful, its my belief that they should stick with an aggressive system. I do believe most of the players on the team, and in particular the younger core would excel under such an approach. Perhaps something that is a bit more toned down, and where more focus IS on the defensive end of the puck, but I do not believe going the way of Boston/Rags/etc is the way to go.
- flyer_nutter

I don't want a "scheme" guy, I want a coach that will look at the talent on the roster and game plan accordingly. One who will look at the opposing team and adjust the strategy for the game. Laviolette has shown either an unwillingness or inability to adjust to what other.

I have no real issue with a "retread". Joel Quenneville was a retread when hired by the Blackhawks. Claude Julien was a retread when he went to Boston. Darryl Sutter was a retread when he replaced Murray in LA. I'd love a younger, even unproven coach getting a chance to make his bones, but ultimately, I just want a guy who will coach what he has on his roster.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Laviolette stay, but over the past 3 years, I have seen the performance level of his team dip and I find myself second guessing him often, in terms of adjustments, usage of players and strategy. I hate the way he handled Bobrovsky and now Couturier and I have serious concerns about having to make a change in season next year.