Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Poor Preseason Comes to an End, Phantoms

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Poor Preseason Comes to an End, Phantoms
- bmeltzer

Morning.

Meszaros for Mitchell sounds good to me.

But I'd rather carry Gervais as the 7th D than Gill.

It seemed a combination of poor defensive coverage down low - Coburn and B.Schenn were two glaring examples - plus some slow side to side movement and puck control by Em, gave the Caps a few easy tap ins.

Of course this will not be a problem once the lights go on next week.

Meszaros for Mitchell sounds good to me.

But I'd rather carry Gervais as the 7th D than Gill.
- Feanor

We'll trade Mesz and then you just know some d will go down. Gervais will be playing 15 mins a night..

It seemed a combination of poor defensive coverage down low - Coburn and B.Schenn were two glaring examples - plus some slow side to side movement and puck control by Em, gave the Caps a few easy tap ins.

Of course this will not be a problem once the lights go on next week.
- 77rams

How did Luke Schenn play?

How did Luke Schenn play?
- Hextall271

He was fine for the most part. Much better than his awful game on Thursday.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Poor Preseason Comes to an End, Phantoms
- bmeltzer

It's not so much the results, but the ongoing trends that have me worried. Looks way too much like last year & the playoffs against the Devils in 2012.

I really hope we see a turnaround when the games count

Do you think this team will be back in the playoffs this season?

I really think Lavvi has to go.
What worked in the return after lockout season in 05-06 with the Canes is long gone, the officiating has changed radically like it does every year depending on the whims of the morons in the league offices.
The Canes got away with Murder when Justin Williams caused an eye injury to Sakku Koivu of the Habs in that series and the refs swallowed their whistles on other things I questioned at the time.
The 2010 team caught lightning in a bottle and in 2012 the team upset a strange Pens team, but this unit is built on aging names and not rising stars
This "system"is the square peg in the round hole for this defense corps
Lavvi is as terrible at adjusting as Andy Reid was and I dont mean showing up the now fired coach of the Bolts when he instructed to the team not to go up ice when the bolts were in the 1-3-1 or whatever garbage trap that was .
He sticks to a system that is easily defended against by teams with lesser overall talent but better goaltending and schemes.
I have no illusions about how deep this team could go with better system, as the horses are not there on D . But Lavvi is like a bad chef, spoiling the stew by not using the ingredients properly

I wish I could waste 80-100 mill a year in overhead with as poor results as this coach does. I could retire on the interest alone for a short time. Same for Homer even though some of the debacles are driven by the owner.
The Flyers have become the old Rangers signing overpaid over the hill stars and feeding the fans false hopes without a solid plan for building a team.
I hate the Devils, but Lou L has the plan and if he worked for the Flyers we would not have these same stupid discussions every year
Its like watching a band that always screws up the same songs in the same spots year after year

Did we get a final clarification on laughtons 9 game tryout eligibility?

I've watched this franchise, this sport, for more than three decades.

There are some good things about this team, as it stands right now. There are good things about the roster.

But I'd be lying if I tried to pretend like, even with it being preseason, that there's not some stench of what bad teams look like, heading into the season.

They've led less than 15 minutes in six games. That is the stench of a bad team. I don't care if you're scrimmaging against yourself. With 360 minutes played, you've led less than 15?

I'm hoping for the best. But I've seen enough characteristics of bad teams to not be blinded by my favorite one.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Poor Preseason Comes to an End, Phantoms
- bmeltzer

Hi Bill
The lack of a 60 minute effort in ANY of their preseason games does concern me a bit as it has been an ongoing problem over the last few seasons. Its obvious that when they put their mind to it, as they did last night in the 2nd, this team can skate with anyone, but the continuing lack of consistency is worrisome.

I've watched this franchise, this sport, for more than three decades.

There are some good things about this team, as it stands right now. There are good things about the roster.

But I'd be lying if I tried to pretend like, even with it being preseason, that there's not some stench of what bad teams look like, heading into the season.

They've led less than 15 minutes in six games. That is the stench of a bad team. I don't care if you're scrimmaging against yourself. With 360 minutes played, you've led less than 15?

I'm hoping for the best. But I've seen enough characteristics of bad teams to not be blinded by my favorite one.
- AllInForFlyers

Just my opinion, but I think the flyers are a poorly built team. That's not to say there isn't a ton of skill on the team. Its like a rerun of the same movie. The flyers continuely fill defense and goaltending with patch work fixes and load up down the middle.

The fact that the Flyers still cant play a good two way game for a full 60 minutes scares me for the preseason. I don't care about scoring 4 or 5 goals a game if we let up 5 or 6 at the same time. Snider wont be able to sit back and watch this for very long. I love lavi and homer but if this doesn't change one or both will be gone. I hope they get it straightened out.

Just my opinion, but I think the flyers are a poorly built team. That's not to say there isn't a ton of skill on the team. Its like a rerun of the same movie. The flyers continuely fill defense and goaltending with patch work fixes and load up down the middle.
- Bieksa#3

And it is up to the coach to develop a system that utilizes this setup. The system they use now does not.

Do you think this team will be back in the playoffs this season?
- houseofcards74

they will have to scramble to make it and i wouldn't be surprised if they have a new coach and make a major trade before the season ends.

[qouote=MBFlyerfan]And it is up to the coach to develop a system that utilizes this setup. The system they use now does not.
That's true. But hard to win in a league where your goaltending is basically non existant. I think this is 99% on Homer. And I like homer. Few Gms have the balls to trade like he does.

Just my opinion, but I think the flyers are a poorly built team. That's not to say there isn't a ton of skill on the team. Its like a rerun of the same movie. The flyers continuely fill defense and goaltending with patch work fixes and load up down the middle.
- Bieksa#3

For the record, I pretty much want to trade for you, Kevin Bieksa.

For the record, I pretty much want to trade for you, Kevin Bieksa.

- AllInForFlyers

I'm not available

That's true. But hard to win in a league where your goaltending is basically non existant. I think this is 99% on Homer. And I like homer. Few Gms have the balls to trade like he does.
- Bieksa#3

When the goaltending is under siege for 55 minutes of the game as it is with this team game in and game out, Patrick Roy wouldn't be successful. Team defense uis the achilles heal of this team as it is made up.

I think the fact that they were top 5 in PK and PP last season tells us something about their 5 on 5 systems. I think it tells us that maybe this team is better suited to play a style that more mimics their special teams. Not this run and gun home run pass three men deep abomination they play now.

A goalie can only stop so many point blank chances and odd man rush/breakaways before they fold like a cheap suit.

I'm not available
- Bieksa#3

Yeah, I know. Man. One day, we have to catch a break on a d-man who fits what we do.

Yeah, I know. Man. One day, we have to catch a break on a d-man who fits what we do.
- AllInForFlyers

Maybe this is just the canucks fan in me, but when both Schneider and Edler where made available at the draft, Homer should have went all in.
I get they are great young players but Homer should be open to moving one of Coutourier and B schenn in order to get a #1 d man or goaltender

Meszaros for Mitchell sounds good to me.

But I'd rather carry Gervais as the 7th D than Gill.
- Feanor

the trade announcement will be immediately followed by the revelation that grossmann indeed has another concussion.

I really think Lavvi has to go.
What worked in the return after lockout season in 05-06 with the Canes is long gone, the officiating has changed radically like it does every year depending on the whims of the morons in the league offices.
The Canes got away with Murder when Justin Williams caused an eye injury to Sakku Koivu of the Habs in that series and the refs swallowed their whistles on other things I questioned at the time.
The 2010 team caught lightning in a bottle and in 2012 the team upset a strange Pens team, but this unit is built on aging names and not rising stars
This "system"is the square peg in the round hole for this defense corps
Lavvi is as terrible at adjusting as Andy Reid was and I dont mean showing up the now fired coach of the Bolts when he instructed to the team not to go up ice when the bolts were in the 1-3-1 or whatever garbage trap that was .
He sticks to a system that is easily defended against by teams with lesser overall talent but better goaltending and schemes.
I have no illusions about how deep this team could go with better system, as the horses are not there on D . But Lavvi is like a bad chef, spoiling the stew by not using the ingredients properly

I wish I could waste 80-100 mill a year in overhead with as poor results as this coach does. I could retire on the interest alone for a short time. Same for Homer even though some of the debacles are driven by the owner.
The Flyers have become the old Rangers signing overpaid over the hill stars and feeding the fans false hopes without a solid plan for building a team.
I hate the Devils, but Lou L has the plan and if he worked for the Flyers we would not have these same stupid discussions every year
Its like watching a band that always screws up the same songs in the same spots year after year
- Steelmanpa

I agree with all of this, except when you said we're not built on rising stars. Sure, we have Lecvalier, Streit, and Timonen; but we also have Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, BSchenn, Couturier, and possibly Laughton. These are all young guys who already have, or should soon, emerge as very solid NHL players.