Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: 62-Second Implosion in Big D

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: 62-Second Implosion in Big D
- bmeltzer

The Flyers lack of mobility and puck moving ability, as well as poor decision making was exposed badly today.

For that 1:02, it was a perfect storm of everything wrong with the way this team is assembled.

Pretty rotten game. I think it's pretty safe to conclude this an inconsistent and solidly average Flyers team. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they finished the season right around .500.

Pretty rotten game. I think it's pretty safe to conclude this an inconsistent and solidly average Flyers team. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they finished the season right around .500.
- wolfhounds

It wouldn't be a surprise, but they should have enough talent to be better.

I'd really like to see them make a push for a guy like Del Zotto or Rundblad. I think I'd happily trade Luke Schenn to the Rangers tomorrow for MDZ.

Yikes....just....yikes.

Just gotta look forward. Imagine if they actually end up beating the Hawks.... Personally, I start Emery that game. Give Mase a break and I bet Ray wants that one badly!

Speaking of imagine....John Lennon was shot and killed on this date in 1980. Couldn't even imagine it. I would have cried my eyes out if I was alive

That lack of transition game, and speed on the back end really came to bite them in the ass.

The frustrating part being that ever since Pronger went down, the best the team has really done is to bring in Luke Schenn, and give up arguably their best trading piece in doing so.

Even when Pronger was healthy, they didn't really look to bridge the gap.

More long term planning is needed in the future.

I am done with the Rinaldo experiment

Bill, did you brave the ice and drive in to watch the game?
The arena looked empty.

Stars big line is scary good.

I thought the Flyers caught a big break today with Ellis in net and Dallas missing their vets on D. Ha so wrong.

Cam Jannsen has more goals than the Flyers 4th line combined.

Pretty rotten game. I think it's pretty safe to conclude this an inconsistent and solidly average Flyers team. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they finished the season right around .500.
- wolfhounds

.500 sounds about right. .500 isn't a playoff team, and puts them in prime position to draft a player 3-4 years away from contributing.

Yikes....just....yikes.

Just gotta look forward. Imagine if they actually end up beating the Hawks.... Personally, I start Emery that game. Give Mase a break and I bet Ray wants that one badly!

Speaking of imagine....John Lennon was shot and killed on this date in 1980. Couldn't even imagine it. I would have cried my eyes out if I was alive
- Giroux_Is_God

I'll never forget that day, I was watching MNF with my dad when Howard Cosell broke the news. I sat there stunned for a moment, then went up to my room, put on Sgt Pepper, and broke down.

Ek keeps hinting bout a trade with Edmonton, wonder if thats for real or just BS.

After yesterday, I would rather see Rosehill in the lineup over Rinaldo or better yet bring up McGinn or maybe even Cousins and put one of them out there with Hall and Raffl. Rinaldo needs to sit for a while and watch some film of how he played last year!

These players are the typical jekyl and hyde from game to game
One consistent thing is their inconsistency.

The third line is our real first line, I think especially with VL out for another old man issue.

I wonder what would happen if they switched the ice time around and turned the first line into the third with their checking assignment ?

Lecavalier has returned to Philly for further evaluation on his back, and it's "undecided" if he will rejoin team in Chicago.

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=694911

These players are the typical jekyl and hyde from game to game
One consistent thing is their inconsistency.

The third line is our real first line, I think especially with VL out for another old man issue.

I wonder what would happen if they switched the ice time around and turned the first line into the third with their checking assignment ?
- Steelmanpa

If they put Hartnell, Giroux and Voracek against the other team's best line, we'd lose by a lot and quite often.

Lecavalier has returned to Philly for further evaluation on his back, and it's "undecided" if he will rejoin team in Chicago.

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=694911
- Jsaquella

Ugh, that can't be good

This is a bad team which was outplayed all put one period(3rd against Detroit) on this road trip. Worst yet, they are stuck in limbo. They are not good enough to challenge for the cup and not bad enough to get the upper echelon players in the draft. This is the same crap as last year and they more than likely will go on a meaningless 10 game win streak after they are eliminated from the playoffs and rave all about carrying the momentum over. They are Edmonton east without the draft picks.

I know the majority of folks here are clamoring for D help and I agree...But if the Flyers don't get more goal scoring on a consistent basis it wont matter. I'm all for the Luke Schenn for MDZ doubt the Rangers would do it.

And am I the only one that thought those punches Thornton threw on Orpik were pretty weak? Must not take much to knock someone out.

The Flyers lack of mobility and puck moving ability, as well as poor decision making was exposed badly today.

For that 1:02, it was a perfect storm of everything wrong with the way this team is assembled.
- Jsaquella

Pretty much.

I say this a lot because it's true: It doesn't mean that the Flyers can't, or won't, win their share of games.

But the way this team is constructed...there's a clear, definite ceiling. The flaws, when exposed, can be horrific to watch, horrific to see.

There are things they can do that I'd like to see -- again, I really think injecting two defensemen with speed and puck-carrying ability would make this team look completely different, at times, and yeah, you either have to draft those players or pay through the nose to get them if they're truly dynamic players.

But at the same time...Dallas has some bigger players, wingers, who can skate and have some skill. If Scott Hartnell and Jakub Voracek aren't going to be consistent threats....

The Flyers could make the playoffs...I wouldn't necessarily be surprised if they do. And, in reality, I want them to.

But I acknowledge that missing the playoffs and drafting the right guy...yeah. It could really help this team, moving forward, especially if it's a LW who can play with Claude Giroux.

Pretty much.

I say this a lot because it's true: It doesn't mean that the Flyers can't, or won't, win their share of games.

But the way this team is constructed...there's a clear, definite ceiling. The flaws, when exposed, can be horrific to watch, horrific to see.

There are things they can do that I'd like to see -- again, I really think injecting two defensemen with speed and puck-carrying ability would make this team look completely different, at times, and yeah, you either have to draft those players or pay through the nose to get them if they're truly dynamic players.

But at the same time...Dallas has some bigger players, wingers, who can skate and have some skill. If Scott Hartnell and Jakub Voracek aren't going to be consistent threats....

The Flyers could make the playoffs...I wouldn't necessarily be surprised if they do. And, in reality, I want them to.

But I acknowledge that missing the playoffs and drafting the right guy...yeah. It could really help this team, moving forward, especially if it's a LW who can play with Claude Giroux.
- AllInForFlyers

My guess is the Flyers finish 4th in the Metro behind Pitts, the Caps and Rags and miss the playoffs. Barring a miracle at the draft lottery, they probably end up with the 10th or 11th pick. With their track record of picking forwards in the 1st round, hopefully they land a 1st line sniper with that pick.

I agree that adding 2 puck movers on D would greatly improve this team. Perhaps they can package the Schenns to land one of them and get one in free agency.

I know the majority of folks here are clamoring for D help and I agree...But if the Flyers don't get more goal scoring on a consistent basis it wont matter. I'm all for the Luke Schenn for MDZ doubt the Rangers would do it.
- flyerfan28

I feel the biggest reason for the lack of scoring is because the defense can't move the puck out of their own end quickly. Teams that move the puck through the neutral zone with speed generate better chances and more of them and are much harder to defend.

Actually, the MDZ for Schenn idea isn't that unrealistic. The Rangers need more physicality on their defense and have said that they want a defenseman back in a MDZ trade.

Del Zotto has been a routine healthy scratch for the Rangers and coach Alain Vigneault hasn't been impressed when he's played.

Pretty much.

I say this a lot because it's true: It doesn't mean that the Flyers can't, or won't, win their share of games.

But the way this team is constructed...there's a clear, definite ceiling. The flaws, when exposed, can be horrific to watch, horrific to see.

There are things they can do that I'd like to see -- again, I really think injecting two defensemen with speed and puck-carrying ability would make this team look completely different, at times, and yeah, you either have to draft those players or pay through the nose to get them if they're truly dynamic players.

But at the same time...Dallas has some bigger players, wingers, who can skate and have some skill. If Scott Hartnell and Jakub Voracek aren't going to be consistent threats....

The Flyers could make the playoffs...I wouldn't necessarily be surprised if they do. And, in reality, I want them to.

But I acknowledge that missing the playoffs and drafting the right guy...yeah. It could really help this team, moving forward, especially if it's a LW who can play with Claude Giroux.
- AllInForFlyers

They can still draft well and make the playoffs. It's not one or the other.

They have assets that can be moved to address the areas of need. The Flyers' issue isn't that they lack talent, it's more that they have a bad mix, especially on the blueline.

And am I the only one that thought those punches Thornton threw on Orpik were pretty weak? Must not take much to knock someone out.
- flyerfan28

Yeah, his head slamming into the ice after the slewfoot from Thornton probably did more damage than the punches.