Bill Meltzer: Pre-Thanksiving Turkey: Wings Feast on Flyers

Bill Meltzer: Pre-Thanksiving Turkey: Wings Feast on Flyers
- bmeltzer

So Led Zepp is injured? Well, at least I get to see Stolarz tomorrow.

Bill Meltzer: Pre-Thanksiving Turkey: Wings Feast on Flyers
- bmeltzer

The coach is delusional if he thinks the issue is compete level.

These are things coaches say because it's one of the few things they can control.

So Led Zepp is injured? Well, at least I get to see Stolarz tomorrow.
- BiggE

Yes, calling someone up from Reading to fill in. Stolarz has barely played, so good to see him get some action.

The coach is delusional
- bradleyc4

Correct.

The coach is delusional if he thinks the issue is compete level.

These are things coaches say because it's one of the few things they can control.
- bradleyc4

i'm sure he doesn't think that compete level is the only problem, but as you say it is one thing the players can control/change.......when this team plays hard for 60 min they are actually not awful and can look like the team that won 4 or 5 in a row prior to the 5 day break earlier in the month

The coach is delusional if he thinks the issue is compete level.

These are things coaches say because it's one of the few things they can control.
- bradleyc4

Will Hextall blow it up and go for a lottery pick in the best draft, maybe ever? Or, will he do some deals and try and salvage the season?

I have no feel for Hextall's temperament.

The coach is delusional if he thinks the issue is compete level.

These are things coaches say because it's one of the few things they can control.
- bradleyc4

He's got a mediocre-at best-roster, with glaring holes. They can't consistently pass out of their own end. There's guys who have large pay checks that can no longer perform at a high level. There's young guys who seem stagnant in their development, in part, because if how they have been used over the past few seasons.

The team, on paper, isn't a very good one.

That's not to say we shouldn't look at the coach, too. I give him credit for trying. He's shuffled lines, he's ripped & praised guys, he's moved struggling guys to bigger roles to get them jump started. But I really don't feel he's done a good job of getting the guys he has in the best position possible.

I'm not calling for his head now, but he's not a guy I see driving the boat when the corner is turned

I'm sitting in the stands last night, I'm disappointed with the response after the Giroux goal but I'm also scratching my head as to why Mason is being pulled at 3-1 with half the game to go. A move like that gives me no faith in the coach. Outside of the one goal allowed by Emery, I thought Emery himself shrugged it off nicely but it wasn't Emery's game to win.

Speaking for myself, I just feel we're beating the Lecavalier and Umberger ineffectiveness to death. With or without them, it doesn't matter to me. You can scratch them, move Bellemare up, I guarantee the same results. I think we're just ineffective as a group right now.

First off, Happy Thanksgiving today to everyone. If you are traveling, be safe.

I know there is more to this team than a lack of motor, but you could tell that after the Weiss goal this team just flatlined. One of things that I loved about this team last year was that no matter how much they were down, you had a feeling they could climb their way back into the game. I don't think this team can pull off what they did against Columbus last year, and score 4 in the 3rd to win a game.

For as much as we harp on RJ and Vinny, anyone not named G, Jake, Brayden (Schenn that is), or Mason should sit.

Speaking of Mason, I hope he still has his head held high. Last night wasn't his fault at all. We need him just as much as Giroux and Voracek.

Will Hextall blow it up and go for a lottery pick in the best draft, maybe ever? Or, will he do some deals and try and salvage the season?

I have no feel for Hextall's temperament.
- spatso

nobody does and it is unsettling.....with homer as gm we'd all be waiting for the announcement of chris chelios being lured out of retirement by an 8 yr $60 million deal, with full NTC and a planet named after him.....

i'm sure he doesn't think that compete level is the only problem, but as you say it is one thing the players can control/change.......when this team plays hard for 60 min they are actually not awful and can look like the team that won 4 or 5 in a row prior to the 5 day break earlier in the month
- hogweed

No team can play fully for 60 minutes every game. They're humans.

The good teams win despite lacking compete levels some nights, because they have the talent to compensate for it. The Flyers dont.

Wow, this team is unwatchable. Five minutes into that game last night I was bored. Barely made it thru the first period. Other than the first line there is nothing to watch.

No team can play fully for 60 minutes every game. They're humans.

The good teams win despite lacking compete levels some nights, because they have the talent to compensate for it. The Flyers dont.
- bradleyc4

true but the expression is pretty common just the same. they looked pretty good on the winning streak and at other times when they play.
i was thinking that last night about how the teams like the flyers have to play at a much higher level to compensate for the lack of talent.

nobody does and it is unsettling.....with homer as gm we'd all be waiting for the announcement of chris chelios being lured out of retirement by an 8 yr $60 million deal, with full NTC and a planet named after him.....
- hogweed

I heard an interview with Chelios yesterday on his new book. He has not changed much. He said he never liked Shanahan as a player, he was not impressed with his work when he was with the NHL offices. And, he went on to say he got rewarded with the job of team president in Toronto. Chelios said he expects him to fall flat on face.

He's got a mediocre-at best-roster, with glaring holes. They can't consistently pass out of their own end. There's guys who have large pay checks that can no longer perform at a high level. There's young guys who seem stagnant in their development, in part, because if how they have been used over the past few seasons.

The team, on paper, isn't a very good one.

That's not to say we shouldn't look at the coach, too. I give him credit for trying. He's shuffled lines, he's ripped & praised guys, he's moved struggling guys to bigger roles to get them jump started. But I really don't feel he's done a good job of getting the guys he has in the best position possible.

I'm not calling for his head now, but he's not a guy I see driving the boat when the corner is turned
- Jsaquella

Berube can only use what he has. There has been some head scratching moves but I just don't see this team making playoffs. If they don't...do the Flyers offer huge$$$$ to Babcock? This would be an idea team for him to come to. Young promising D core along with a couple legit super stars.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/bl...d=34214#&navid=nhl-search

Says that the Flyers tried Luke Schenn out at left wing - is this true?

How did he look?

Will Hextall blow it up and go for a lottery pick in the best draft, maybe ever? Or, will he do some deals and try and salvage the season?

I have no feel for Hextall's temperament.
- spatso

They don't need a rebuild, just a retool. Will take a couple of years to get rid of the bad contracts.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=34214#&navid=nhl-search

Says that the Flyers tried Luke Schenn out at left wing - is this true?

How did he look?
- Atomic Wedgie

Wow, seriously?

Whether or not this is true, this is only one of a handful of reasons why I don't believe in this group. We trade Hartnell for Umberger. Now we're throwing anything on LW and seeing what sticks. No allssituations number one defenseman to put us over the hump. For me, it's this simple.

I've never been a fan of making a trade just for the sake of making one, but they need to do something soon rather than wait until the deadline. No matter how you jostle the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lines their isn't going to be much of a difference.

Berube can only use what he has. There has been some head scratching moves but I just don't see this team making playoffs. If they don't...do the Flyers offer huge$$$$ to Babcock? This would be an idea team for him to come to. Young promising D core along with a couple legit super stars.
- 3flyerkids

Babcock, yes please!

http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=34214#&navid=nhl-search

Says that the Flyers tried Luke Schenn out at left wing - is this true?

How did he look?
- Atomic Wedgie

Wtf?

That cannot.be true.

Teams and players slump which i get..

Read, Couturier , Simmonds, the obvious 2, PEB are literally uslesss right now.

People sweat Couturier because of his defensive prowess yet right now even that has left him.

The problem i see is other than Rinaldo their is literally no grit on this team right now.. Simmonds can hit , fight or whatever but really isnt. I would almost rather have them call up and play Rosehill vs the cries for Akegretzky.. At least with rosehill and rinaldo out there you have two players that will go at it physically.

Something needs to change and at a certain point replacing coach after coach isnt the problem.

Teams and players slump which i get..

Read, Couturier , Simmonds, the obvious 2, PEB are literally uslesss right now.

People sweat Couturier because of his defensive prowess yet right now even that has left him.

The problem i see is other than Rinaldo their is literally no grit on this team right now.. Simmonds can hit , fight or whatever but really isnt. I would almost rather have them call up and play Rosehill vs the cries for Akegretzky.. At least with rosehill and rinaldo out there you have two players that will go at it physically.

Something needs to change and at a certain point replacing coach after coach isnt the problem.
- opeth_pa

I thought Simmonds played a great game last night. He was very physical and you could see his frustration at the end of the game when he smashed his stick.
Couturier and Read have been offensive disappointments IMO. Couturier is not a 2nd line Centre. I thought 17 49 12 played well and I would like too see them again tomorrow.
Something needs to change and more grit is definitely needed.
I hope Hextall is working from home this holiday and making lots of phone calls

Happy Thanksgiving to y'all

#Merica