Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Blanked in St. Paul, Dissecting Flyers Scoring Woes

two years ago even after pronger got hurt these guys were a offensive juggernaut....I dont think the problem is skill, its that they lack the work ethic to win battles along the boards. It appears they are a one shot and done team...The skill is there no excuses.

(ill take the bag off my avatar when they actually have a playoff spot)

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Blanked in St. Paul, Dissecting Flyers Scoring Woes
- bmeltzer

the game was painful to watch. all of your points on why the flyers offense basically sucks are spot on, and the breakout is the biggest culprit of them all. they're amazingly bad coming out of their own end.

when they play a hard checking, puck pressure team they don't score. they have no answer. simple as that.

i feel bad for the goalies. emery was excellent last night. on the first goal, i'd like to know why coots was the guy in the crease trying to cover the wild forward, while timmonen was in the high slot, in no man's land doing virtually nothing.

this team needs an injection of some skill and a little bit of heart.

Excellent blog Bill, and Hammarby nailed all of the important points in his post.

I don't have much to add other than to say: I don't mind the Flyers losing, but I no longer have the patience to sit through bad hockey. The Flyers played some awful hockey last night.

Perhaps because I was much younger, games during the Five Years Lost in the Wilderness in the early 90s were easier to take than games like last night. Last night was just brutal.

......and the President just quit to, "clean his garage". Peter Laviolette can't feel as down as he must have just 2 months ago. Thirteen must indeed be a bad number because 2013 has seen some unthinkable things happen in the world, sports included.

Bill,
I know the Flyers are still in the playoff race, but they look like a bad team. Do you feel management recognizes it might be a talent issue and will make changes or do you think they still believe in these players and the team as currently constructed?

i was a full supporter of Luke Schenn last season AND the trade...but man is he just looking like a bumbling idiot trying to get the puck out of his zone. Mark Streit seems to be REALLY struggling as well.

nothing but frustration here. the team HAS the talent on the front end, i believe, to score goals and compete. i have NEVER said these words before on any blog b/c i always felt it was a huge buzz phrase ever since '07-'08....but man, do the Flyers need a puck moving defenseman

I think they need to bring Matt Read up to the 2nd line. I know Simmonds brings the physicality to that line, but the man does not have top-6 hands and I think it hurts that line. His effort and no-quit attitude are awesome, but I think we need more of a scoring threat on that line. Just my opinion though.

Last night was tough to watch. I just can't seem to get why their efforts seem to be all over the place and why the Flyers cannot seem to play tight-checking teams!? Does this team not use advanced video study!?

I dont think this team can wait until the deadline. They really need to go after Buff or Campbell and a sniper type forward. You need to move Coburn, Simmonds, and/or Laughton in these deals, it sucks, but its what this team needs.

I dont think this team can wait until the deadline. They really need to go after Buff or Campbell and a sniper type forward. You need to move Coburn, Simmonds, and/or Laughton in these deals, it sucks, but its what this team needs.
- youarewrong

I think it's more than that though. The team needs better gap coverage relative to the D. I actually think our D has been decent enough to win.

This play really had me frustrated with Mark Streit last night. I saw no hustle to get to the puck at 1:40 (before and after "check"), which ultimately led to a goal. It really seemed like a half-hearted glide, instead of really moving his feet. But maybe I'm being too hard.. either way, last night I was pissed about it, haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_H32xjL_W0

i was a full supporter of Luke Schenn last season AND the trade...but man is he just looking like a bumbling idiot trying to get the puck out of his zone. Mark Streit seems to be REALLY struggling as well.

nothing but frustration here. the team HAS the talent on the front end, i believe, to score goals and compete. i have NEVER said these words before on any blog b/c i always felt it was a huge buzz phrase ever since '07-'08....but man, do the Flyers need a puck moving defenseman
- eshake

I don't know how you get a good one, but I firmly believe that getting one or two of them -- yes, a pipe dream -- would completely change how this team looks.

I do not believe the Flyers can get two of them, in-season, because a dollar-in, dollar-out deal...we don't have the right pieces for it.

But I firmly believe that when Kimmo and Meszaros come off the books -- and the resulting roster spots are open -- that we will be able to get those two players and that this team will look like a contender next season.

I honestly believe that. The Flyers can win with the roster they have, if they just are able to fill those two slots with guys who can skate and carry the puck. I think their systems are fine, and I think Sean Couturier will be a force. They might tweak it a bit if they want to inject some speed onto the fourth line, or if they find a way to do something bigger with Scott Hartnell or Brayden Schenn, if that is what's required to get one of those defensemen.

I dont think this team can wait until the deadline. They really need to go after Buff or Campbell and a sniper type forward. You need to move Coburn, Simmonds, and/or Laughton in these deals, it sucks, but its what this team needs.
- youarewrong

The last thing we need to do is to overpay for Buff, which is exactly what we're going to have to do to pry him away from the Peg.

The next to last thing we need to do is to overpay for another aging, overpriced defenseman like Campbell.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Blanked in St. Paul, Dissecting Flyers Scoring Woes
- bmeltzer

cheery blog

I think it's more than that though. The team needs better gap coverage relative to the D. I actually think our D has been decent enough to win.
- Flyers_V88

Defensively the D is fine, its moving the puck out that is really hurting this team. I thought Streit was going to be the fix, but he hasnt done much. I thought Timonen might be slowing down a bit, but I still expected his passing skills to be there. I expected Gus to play better then he has. And I think the Flyers did too.

I think if you add a guy like campbell or Buff it is the first step in rebuilding the defense to work with this offense. Second is to let Meszaros and Timonen walk, and to pick up a moderate puck moving offensive d-man in the offseason like Pitkanen. Assume you move Coburn in a trade, and now the defense is starting to look completely different. You just need one of your prospect D-men to step up and earn a starting spot.

Campbell/Buff-Schenn
Grossmann-Pitkanen
Streit-Gustefsson/ or a prospect

I'm not writing off Schenn. I think he needs to have a speedy offensive puck moving guy to be paired with like how Timonen was last year. Streit hasnt been that guy, and neither has Timonen.

The last thing we need to do is to overpay for Buff, which is exactly what we're going to have to do to pry him away from the Peg.

The next to last thing we need to do is to overpay for another aging, overpriced defenseman like Campbell.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I'm not sure what over-pay is for Buff. I would gladly give up Coburn, Simmonds, and Laughton for Buff and Little. We might have to throw in a 2nd or something, but IMO both sides win.

As for Campbell, I'm not sure how much he would cost with his contract. Maybe Simmonds and a pick for FLA to retain 2 million of the salary. Then you can move Coburn, Laughton for a pure scorer like Yakupov.

The last thing we need to do is to overpay for Buff, which is exactly what we're going to have to do to pry him away from the Peg.

The next to last thing we need to do is to overpay for another aging, overpriced defenseman like Campbell.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I used to think Buff was a good idea. I don't anymore based on what it'll take to get him. And as for Campbell, it would be a terrible idea. The man can play offensively and that's it. Defensively he is average at best, and being MASSIVELY over-paid. At this point, do not make any stupid moves for the sake of making them.

We do need a puck-mover, but our consistency is what really needs to be changed. Does everyone here think that if we suddenly had a puck-mover we'd be an elite team or something? For me, the effort needs to become more consistent. It seems last night's first period was played by a Flyers team that just did not come out hungry enough.

Nothing worse than boring and bad. Watching this team is like watching paint dry.
I understand Berube is trying to improve the defensive responsibility, and he has done so. The offensive ineptitude is tough to watch.

Can we please talk about the elephant in the room?

If the three players on the "first" line where even moderately producing over where they have been so far, a lot of these 2-1, 1-0 losses would be 2-1, 3-2 wins.

As long as Voracek, Hartnell and Giroux are producing like 2mil per players, this team will not win.

That is a 12.75 million dollar line that has done NOTHING for over a quarter of a season. That number jumps up to 17.275 million dollars next season.

Right now that entire line ain't worth 6 million for the lot.

Your best players need to start being your best players. Its a cliche but it's true.

12 goals and 26 assists combined through 27 games just doesn't cut it.

Can we please talk about the elephant in the room?

If the three players on the "first" line where even moderately producing over where they have been so far, a lot of these 2-1, 1-0 losses would be 2-1, 3-2 wins.

As long as Voracek, Hartnell and Giroux are producing like 2mil per players, this team will not win.

That is a 12.75 million dollar line that has done NOTHING for over a quarter of a season. That number jumps up to 17.275 million dollars next season.

Right now that entire line ain't worth 6 million for the lot.

Your best players need to start being your best players. Its a cliche but it's true.

12 goals and 26 assists combined through 27 games just doesn't cut it.
- MBFlyerfan

EXACTLY. Which ties in directly to my consistency point. The team is not getting the effort it needs from certain players or lines. Buff or Campbell will NOT fix this team. A puck-mover will NOT just fix this team. Consistency has to be turned around.

Defensively the D is fine, its moving the puck out that is really hurting this team. I thought Streit was going to be the fix, but he hasnt done much. I thought Timonen might be slowing down a bit, but I still expected his passing skills to be there. I expected Gus to play better then he has. And I think the Flyers did too.

I think if you add a guy like campbell or Buff it is the first step in rebuilding the defense to work with this offense. Second is to let Meszaros and Timonen walk, and to pick up a moderate puck moving offensive d-man in the offseason like Pitkanen. Assume you move Coburn in a trade, and now the defense is starting to look completely different. You just need one of your prospect D-men to step up and earn a starting spot.

Campbell/Buff-Schenn
Grossmann-Pitkanen
Streit-Gustefsson/ or a prospect

I'm not writing off Schenn. I think he needs to have a speedy offensive puck moving guy to be paired with like how Timonen was last year. Streit hasnt been that guy, and neither has Timonen.
- youarewrong

Can you please PM me the phone number of your dealer...I want some of the stuff you smoking

I'm not sure what over-pay is for Buff. I would gladly give up Coburn, Simmonds, and Laughton for Buff and Little. We might have to throw in a 2nd or something, but IMO both sides win.

As for Campbell, I'm not sure how much he would cost with his contract. Maybe Simmonds and a pick for FLA to retain 2 million of the salary. Then you can move Coburn, Laughton for a pure scorer like Yakupov.
- youarewrong

I am glad you are not the GM of the Flyers, and somewhat saddened that you are not the GM of say... the Penguins.

......and the President just quit to, "clean his garage". Peter Laviolette can't feel as down as he must have just 2 months ago. Thirteen must indeed be a bad number because 2013 has seen some unthinkable things happen in the world, sports included.
- TJ

Actually, now that we see the "monetize" portion of the equation, it makes perfect sense for him to cash out of Comcast when the value of his shares is high so he can, in a growing economy, start a business, if indeed that has been his dream. I had this crazy idea when I heard that he was cashing out that he might want to own a minor or jr hockey team. That's something he and his undersized and wasted pick (and I do not mean in any way that he is himself a waste) son could work in together, which would indeed mean he'd spend more time with his family. Just a quirky idea.

On paper the Flyers don't look bad. However, on the ice, it's a different story. I just don't think the Flyers are much more than a .500 team. Mentally, they just don't get it. No matter what coach or goalie that you put in, they refuse to play a complete game. I really don't see a D-man that might be available as the answer. Most of the players that everyone talks about have too much of an asking price, or are just 2nd, and 3rd parings; I think that we have enough of those. Streit looked horrible last night, and I can see why the Islander fans were laughing at us for picking him up with that long term contract. Anyway, the team lacks leadership from the players side of things. I really don't see anyone picking up their play or being consistent enough to pick up where Pronger left off. Thus, during the off season, I would look for a player that the can lead this team. I had thought that Vinny was this guy, but I am sure he is letting the current "C," and "A" guys handle the duties since he is the new to the team. I agree with every observation that Bill has made about the offense. On the defensive side of things the players just have to play up to their potential. They still struggle to clear the puck from the zone, they shoot the puck wildly, they stop moving their skates, they enjoy the "no look passing," etc... Just keep it simple guys, and quit panicking every time the puck enters the D-zone. I don't think that Berube overlooks these things, it's just the work ethic of the players. Bring in a natural leader for the players, and I believe that the team can actually play up to their potential. Paper players are great, but if they can't play well together on the ice, then what is the point of having them around? Blow up the team again? No. Just add a leader is my suggestion.
Thanks for listening.

Not Flyers-related, but I wish Philadelphia had fans like these:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/1...uake/index.html?hpt=hp_t2