Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Thursday Quick Hits

MDZ is my hero.

fist.

Also Bill, stop spoiling us.

Ouch, MDZ got ragged on.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Thursday Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

The look back at 2008 dman prospects was fun. Guess it should have gone:
1. Doughty
2. Pietrangelo
3. Karlsson

Gotta love hindsight!

Ouch, MDZ got ragged on.
- GOA88

Yeah, but I liked the part about his pp skills and shot. At least he adds skill and speed to the backend, but I just hope Coburn is ready to play the full 2 minutes on the PK whenever Schenn or Grossmann is in the box!

Yeah, but I liked the part about his pp skills and shot. At least he adds skill and speed to the backend, but I just hope Coburn is ready to play the full 2 minutes on the PK whenever Schenn or Grossmann is in the box!
- BiggE

Samuel Morin will save us all.

Samuel Morin will save us all.
- KGBflyers10

I'm just hoping that by 17-18, the Flyers D is:
Morin-Coburn
Sanheim-Schenn
Ghost-Hagg
Alt

That would just be friggin awesome!

MDZ could also play with Streit on the right side, although that's a pretty flimsy pairing in terms of size.

I'm just hoping that by 17-18, the Flyers D is:
Morin-Coburn
Sanheim-Schenn
Ghost-Hagg
Alt

That would just be friggin awesome!
- BiggE

Ghost-Morin
MDZ-Schenn
Sanheim-Hagg

* It is always fun to look back at things that were said of prospects leading up to the NHL Draft. Here was my HockeyBuzz preview of the top 10 defensemen heading into the 2008 NHL Draft. Players on the list include Luke Schenn, Del Zotto, Luca Sbisa, Erik Karlsson, Tyler Myers as well as the consensus top three of Drew Doughty, Zach Bogosian and Alex Pietrangelo.
- bmeltzer

What a hell of a year for dmen... although it's scary to think that even in a stacked draft at the position, about ~50% of the guys on that list still turned out to be a lot less than advertised. And Karlsson was so badly underrated it wasn't even funny -- he's still underrated today, IMO.

It's also interesting to look back and see how many guys not on that list actually go on to badly outpace their peers: Voynov, Carlson, Gardiner, Josi, Schultz, Hamonic, Brodie, Spurgeon, etc.

What a draft class.

Fairly or unfairly, one of the criticisms levied at Del Zotto when he played in New York was that he had to play left defense in order to be effective, and lacked adaptability to playing the right side. Depending on his partner with the Flyers, he may or may not at some point be called upon to play right defense (although he can play his preferred side with either Luke Schenn or Braydon Coburn as his partner). I was unable to ask him that question during yesterday's media conference call, so I plan to ask him at training camp.
- bmeltzer

All this defensive rebuild and they still lack righties. I still think Coburn plays his best hockey when he's on the left side. Playing the off D is much tougher than playing the off wing. There are certain plays in particular that are tough to make. Going back after a loose puck along the side boards when a checker is on your tail is tough. You really need your D partner or goalie to let you know what's what. If Del Zotto is a liability on the right D, they're going to have to work around it.

MDZ could also play with Streit on the right side, although that's a pretty flimsy pairing in terms of size.
- Feanor

AMac/Coburn,
MDZ/Streit,
Grossmann/Schenn?


You're evil.

What a hell of a year for dmen... although it's scary to think that even in a stacked draft at the position, about ~50% of the guys still turned out to be a lot less than advertised. And Karlsson was so badly underrated it wasn't even funny -- he's still underrated today, IMO.

It's also interesting to look back and see how many guys not on that list actually go on to badly outpace their peers: Voynov, Carlson, Gardiner, Josi, Schultz, Hamonic, Brodie, Spurgeon, etc.

What a draft class.
- Tomahawk

Travis Hamonic is a beast. An absolute beast.

Ghost-Morin
MDZ-Schenn
Sanheim-Hagg
- GOA88

Can't see a guy the size of Ghost ever playing on the top pairing against top lines. Timonen has a much thicker build than Ghost who I don't think will ever be more than 180-185 lbs.

If MDZ is still with the Flyers in 2017 and playing in their top 4, well, that would either be incredible or it means the Flyers are god awful in 2017!

Can't see a guy the size of Ghost ever playing on the top pairing against top lines. Timonen has a much thicker build than Ghost who I don't think will ever be more than 180-185 lbs.

If MDZ is still with the Flyers in 2017 and playing in their top 4, well, that would either be incredible or it means the Flyers are god awful in 2017!
- BiggE

Im just hoping that is the case. That would mean we have a good young defense. No anchors. Ghost will be the puck mover needed on the top pair.

Pronger-Carle was a top pair. Tell me the last time Carle cleared a crease

AMac/Coburn,
MDZ/Streit,
Grossmann/Schenn?


You're evil.
- Tomahawk

I'm willing to try:
Coburn-Schenn
Grossmann-Streit
AMac-MDZ

I know I'm in the minority, but I think if you pair Schenn with Coburn, and give him lots of ice time, he can be part of a very effective shutdown pair. They won't generate much offense, but I think they can shut down the other teams top lines.

Can't see a guy the size of Ghost ever playing on the top pairing against top lines. Timonen has a much thicker build than Ghost who I don't think will ever be more than 180-185 lbs.
- BiggE

Kimmo, Boyle, Enstrom, Greene, Krug, Karlsson, Campbell... heart > build.

Morin is a left side only guy. Probably always will be.

AMac/Coburn,
MDZ/Streit,
Grossmann/Schenn?


You're evil.
- Tomahawk

Maybe they will reunite the Grossmann-Coburn pairing from 12-13.

If Grossmann and Schenn are playing together at ES then we are (frank)ed.

Im just hoping that is the case. That would mean we have a good young defense. No anchors. Ghost will be the puck mover needed on the top pair.

Pronger-Carle was a top pair. Tell me the last time Carle cleared a crease
- GOA88

True, but Carle at least was average sized and could take a hit. Picturing a guy the size of Ghost out there against Lucic, Malkin, Perry, Getzlaf, Nash etc.. is a little scary. Also Pronger is a 1st ballot hall of famer and one of the top 10 dmen of the last 30 years, most any competent dman would look good playing with him.

Kimmo, Boyle, Enstrom, Greene, Krug, Karlsson, Campbell... heart > build.
- Tomahawk

All of those guys, except for Krug, are bigger than Ghost. And, last time I checked, Boston isn't using Krug on their top shutdown pair.

If Grossmann and Schenn are playing together at ES then we are (frank)ed.
- Feanor

Grossmann/Schenn with Vinny/Rinaldo/Rosehill all on the ice at once... the spreadsheets would catch on fire, databases would crash.

Morin is a left side only guy. Probably always will be.



Maybe they will reunite the Grossmann-Coburn pairing from 12-13.

If Grossmann and Schenn are playing together at ES then we are (frank)ed.
- Feanor

Would definitely be my 1st pair on the PK

Would definitely be my 1st pair on the PK
- BiggE

Then probably Mac and Schenn as the 2nd PK pairing.

Streit on PP1, MDZ on PP2.

True, but Carle at least was average sized and could take a hit. Picturing a guy the size of Ghost out there against Lucic, Malkin, Perry, Getzlaf, Nash etc.. is a little scary. Also Pronger is a 1st ballot hall of famer and one of the top 10 dmen of the last 30 years, most any competent dman would look good playing with him.
- BiggE

Very true. Pronger could make Gervais look good.

Then probably Mac and Schenn as the 2nd PK pairing.

Streit on PP1, MDZ on PP2.
- Feanor

Yup