Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Roster Battles, Quick Hits

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Roster Battles, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Thanks for the Monday morning read. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out. I'm currently having serious hockey withdrawal BTW...

I'm not sure how I feel about MacDonald on the top pair with Coburn. I'd prefer him in a lesser role, although they could complimemt each other well. That would leave the potential nightmare pairing of MDZ-Schenn.....Uh oh.

About 4 minutes into the first quarter of the Iggles game yesterday, I realized that I couldn't wait til hockey started...until I saw this and realized how many question marks we have.

About 4 minutes into the first quarter of the Iggles game yesterday, I realized that I couldn't wait til hockey started...until I saw this and realized how many question marks we have.
- section32

Well, I can confidently say the Flyers will probably be more successful than the Eagles this season. After watching that game......

The sad things is there was nothing about Rinaldo's play last season that should make him a lock for an NHL roster spot. Not on a team that expects to make the playoffs.

About 4 minutes into the first quarter of the Iggles game yesterday, I realized that I couldn't wait til hockey started...until I saw this and realized how many question marks we have.
- section32

Do you know what there also is, opportunity for a number of players to take a bigger chunk, and improve the team.

The sad things is there was nothing about Rinaldo's play last season that should make him a lock for an NHL roster spot. Not on a team that expects to make the playoffs.
- Feanor

Well he was on the NHL roster last season of a team that made the playoffs.

Looking at those injured defensemen makes me want to cry

Well, I can confidently say the Flyers will probably be more successful than the Eagles this season. After watching that game......
- GOA88

Well, watching that game told me that when the Eagles execute they are unstoppable.

Well he was on the NHL roster last season of a team that made the playoffs.
- MJL

And he played badly on offense, defense and on the PK. I will not be surprised if Laughton, Akeson and Bellemare all outperform him at camp.

And he played badly on offense, defense and on the PK. I will not be surprised if Laughton, Akeson and Bellemare all outperform him at camp.
- Feanor

I think it's well documented and discussed how Rinaldo regressed last season. And he needs to improve. It sounds as though you're more hoping that they they do. What will be, will be. I want what's best for the Flyers. If that include Rinaldo, so be it. If not, then the same. But I'm going to have an open mind and let the competition of camp take care of that.

I just hope there is truly open competition and that the team is willing to demote Rinaldo if he not one of the top 12 or 13 forwards at camp.

I like how Amac and Luke Schenn played together.

Streit was one of their best D guys as the season wore on.

Why not Coburn and Streit together, then Amac/Luke.

Delzotto and Grossmann for third pair minutes.

Not sure how this works for " handedness" of the players.

I like how Amac and Luke Schenn played together.

Streit was one of their best D guys as the season wore on.

Why not Coburn and Streit together, then Amac/Luke.

Delzotto and Grossmann for third pair minutes.

Not sure how this works for " handedness" of the players.
- Marc D

Coburn is a defenseman that should see the highest percentage of D zone starts. While Streit is a defenseman that should see the highest percentage of O zone starts. Basically it is about deployment in my view.

I just hope there is truly open competition and that the team is willing to demote Rinaldo if he not one of the top 12 or 13 forwards at camp.
- Feanor

Reading Bill's blog, he feels Rinaldo is a lock. I hope he has to earn it just like you are saying.

Coburn is a defenseman that should see the highest percentage of D zone starts. While Streit is a defenseman that should see the highest percentage of O zone starts. Basically it is about deployment in my view.
- MJL

Tell me how you envision the D pairs?

Coburn, with say Grossmann, would be fine as a shutdown pair and PK.
But in the offensive zone I don't love it. Especially with Giroux's line.
There needs to be more puck skill on the blue line when the #1 forward line is on the ice at 5 vs 5.

Streit is going to be their best offensive D man.
I hope Del Z can be effective too, but am taking a wait and see approach in my expectations of MDZ.

Tell me how you envision the D pairs?

Coburn, with say Grossmann, would be fine as a shutdown pair and PK.
But in the offensive zone I don't love it. Especially with Giroux's line.
There needs to be more puck skill on the blue line when the #1 forward line is on the ice at 5 vs 5.

Streit is going to be their best offensive D man.
I hope Del Z can be effective too, but am taking a wait and see approach in my expectations of MDZ.
- Marc D

I don't think there is a perfect setup regardless of how you do it. Without that clear #1. But Coburn with MacDonald, Streit with Grossmann, and then Schenn with MDZ makes the most sense to me. And like I said, not without flaws on paper.

Tell me how you envision the D pairs?

Coburn, with say Grossmann, would be fine as a shutdown pair and PK.
But in the offensive zone I don't love it. Especially with Giroux's line.
There needs to be more puck skill on the blue line when the #1 forward line is on the ice at 5 vs 5.

Streit is going to be their best offensive D man.
I hope Del Z can be effective too, but am taking a wait and see approach in my expectations of MDZ.
- Marc D

Absolutely agree. We should role out balanced D-units. Coburn and Streit are our best d-men. Have a puck mover with a stay at home.

Reading Bill's blog, he feels Rinaldo is a lock. I hope he has to earn it just like you are saying.
- coffee junkie

If they were going to make Rinaldo earn anything they wouldn't have rewarded him after a year of regression. They aren't going to give him a 2 year extension, then banish him to the Phantoms. It's not happening. It's maddening, they do not need Rinaldo in any capacity.

I don't think there is a perfect setup regardless of how you do it. Without that clear #1. But Coburn with MacDonald, Streit with Grossmann, and then Schenn with MDZ makes the most sense to me. And like I said, not without flaws on paper.
- MJL

That Streit-Grossmann idea scares me because of the absolute lack of foot speed. I'd prefer Streit with Coburn or Schenn (probably Schenn) who are both better skaters than Grossmann.

Well he was on the NHL roster last season of a team that made the playoffs.
- MJL

A lot of players who don't contribute well are on playoff teams last year. Sometimes, those teams make the playoffs despite those players, not because of them. Not saying it's the case here, but just because he was on a playoff team last year doesn't mean he'll be a contributing factor to a playoff team going forward.

But yes, now that it's done, I just hope that he flips the switch and becomes an asset, or at the very worst, a wash.

I like how Amac and Luke Schenn played together.

Streit was one of their best D guys as the season wore on.

Why not Coburn and Streit together, then Amac/Luke.

Delzotto and Grossmann for third pair minutes.

Not sure how this works for " handedness" of the players.
- Marc D

I would like to see this in training camp as well to see how it works out on the ice.

But I do have reservations about Streits ability to play top paring all season. Of course, he has done it in the past with the NYI.

That Streit-Grossmann idea scares me because of the absolute lack of foot speed. I'd prefer Streit with Coburn or Schenn (probably Schenn) who are both better skaters than Grossmann.
- jmatchett383

They were fine as a pair last season. I don't think Schenn is all that much better of a skater then Grossmann is. I think it's about deployment. If Coburn is indeed the team's top shutdown defenseman, then I don't think Streit should be paired with Coburn. No matter how you do it, there is going to be some issues.

A lot of players who don't contribute well are on playoff teams last year. Sometimes, those teams make the playoffs despite those players, not because of them. Not saying it's the case here, but just because he was on a playoff team last year doesn't mean he'll be a contributing factor to a playoff team going forward.

But yes, now that it's done, I just hope that he flips the switch and becomes an asset, or at the very worst, a wash.
- jmatchett383

I'm aware of that. My point was really to refute the statement made that if the Flyers expect to be a playoff team, then they shouldn't have Rinaldo on the roster. Well how many times have they made the playoffs with Rinaldo on the roster? I think the re-signing of Rinaldo has been completely overblown.

They were fine as a pair last season. I don't think Schenn is all that much better of a skater then Grossmann is. I think it's about deployment. If Coburn is indeed the team's top shutdown defenseman, then I don't think Streit should be paired with Coburn. No matter how you do it, there is going to be some issues.
- MJL

There absolutely will be issues. A lot of 3-4 guys with differing skillsets will do that to you.

Schenn is not a much better skater than Grossmann agility-wise, but he has more pure foot speed. His skating style makes him look slow, and while he's no speedster, he's not exactly D Hatch ca. 2008 either. I think I'd prefer these:

Coburn - AMac
Streit - Schenn
Grossmann - MDZ

But that's just me.