Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: VandeVelde Seems Like a Lindbergh Award Shoo-in

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: VandeVelde Seems Like a Lindbergh Award Shoo-in
- bmeltzer

I'm certainly willing to eat crow on VDV. Guy has worked his butt off to become a very nice bottom six forward who can do a bit of everything.

Rinaldo, are you paying attention? VDV and White are drinking your milkshake in glorious fashion.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: VandeVelde Seems Like a Lindbergh Award Shoo-in
- bmeltzer

Good call, Bill

I did meet VDV at last years carnival. My daughter and I spoke with him for a while (there really wasn't a line waiting to see him so we took advantage). What we found out was that he was a really nice kid - soft spoken, polite, intelligent, engaging - enough to walk away hoping he'd make it somehow.

Glad to see he's having a nice year.

Thanks Bill. VandeVelde has come on strong of late, which is a pleasant surprise. In looking at your awards winner list, he kind of reminds me of Klatt in his style of play. However, I think that Klatt was a little more physical. What a line Klatt was on. I remember Daniels scoring a goal off his back side one game...lol. Klatt, Daniels, and Kordic...tough 4th line back in the day.
Anyway, I hope that he continues with his solid play, and that VL doesn't get too upset with being on the 4th line. He is an expensive 4th liner, but he does play well with that group, and the other teams have to match that play, which isn't easy in today's hockey world.

But I thought VDV was not an NHL player?

Thanks Bill. VandeVelde has come on strong of late, which is a pleasant surprise. In looking at your awards winner list, he kind of reminds me of Klatt in his style of play. However, I think that Klatt was a little more physical. What a line Klatt was on. I remember Daniels scoring a goal off his back side one game...lol. Klatt, Daniels, and Kordic...tough 4th line back in the day.
Anyway, I hope that he continues with his solid play, and that VL doesn't get too upset with being on the 4th line. He is an expensive 4th liner, but he does play well with that group, and the other teams have to match that play, which isn't easy in today's hockey world.
- OrangeAndBlack1

If they can unload the french Canadian albatross, a 4th line of VDV-Bellemare-White would be fine with me

Thanks Bill. VandeVelde has come on strong of late, which is a pleasant surprise. In looking at your awards winner list, he kind of reminds me of Klatt in his style of play. However, I think that Klatt was a little more physical. What a line Klatt was on. I remember Daniels scoring a goal off his back side one game...lol. Klatt, Daniels, and Kordic...tough 4th line back in the day.
Anyway, I hope that he continues with his solid play, and that VL doesn't get too upset with being on the 4th line. He is an expensive 4th liner, but he does play well with that group, and the other teams have to match that play, which isn't easy in today's hockey world.
- OrangeAndBlack1

Klatt's longest-running line was as part of the Minnesota Line with Joel Otto and Shjon Podein -- a tremendous shutdown trio that could also score a bit.

Agree Bill. Memories...lol. White has played well, too. I think he is the spark that the Flyers needed, and I hope that Rinaldo can play "Box Boy" for the rest of the season. But, knowing Chief, Rinaldo maybe back after his suspension...ackkkk. Good luck PK...sheesh.

Hexy has done a good job finding bargain gems

Talking about VV, and White, started me thinking about the D. If #5 can stay in the box, and McD can join him, why not bring up Manning? He is more stable than McD, and maybe the turnovers will stop killing us. In addition, it will keep our PK off the ice, until they can figure out how to play on the road.

Agree Bill. Memories...lol. White has played well, too. I think he is the spark that the Flyers needed, and I hope that Rinaldo can play "Box Boy" for the rest of the season. But, knowing Chief, Rinaldo maybe back after his suspension...ackkkk. Good luck PK...sheesh.
- OrangeAndBlack1

Love the moxy that White has given them.
Edit: sick of Simmons talents being wasted, he needs to play on a more functional line.

Talking about VV, and White, started me thinking about the D. If #5 can stay in the box, and McD can join him, why not bring up Manning? He is more stable than McD, and maybe the turnovers will stop killing us. In addition, it will keep our PK off the ice, until they can figure out how to play on the road.
- OrangeAndBlack1

Schenn probably sits again when Coburn returns
He and Grossmann are similar in play styles.

Love the moxy that White has given them.
- puckhead17

White clearly has taken Rinaldo's spot IMO.
Sorry Zac.. White can bring the " N R G" and also play hockey!

Talking about VV, and White, started me thinking about the D. If #5 can stay in the box, and McD can join him, why not bring up Manning? He is more stable than McD, and maybe the turnovers will stop killing us. In addition, it will keep our PK off the ice, until they can figure out how to play on the road.
- OrangeAndBlack1

Taking those guys off the ice right now torpedoes their trade value. Manning can come up once they move someone.

White clearly has taken Rinaldo's spot IMO.
Sorry Zac.. White can bring the " N R G" and also play hockey!
- 3flyerkids

Its my dream to see Zac traded and for Mr. White to rearange his face.

If they can unload the french Canadian albatross, a 4th line of VDV-Bellemare-White would be fine with me
- BiggE

Love that 4th line. If we could unload the French Canadian Albatross this season and buy out Hamburglar for next year we would be well on our way to improvement.
Sorry folks... RJ is simply not a top six player

White clearly has taken Rinaldo's spot IMO.
Sorry Zac.. White can bring the " N R G" and also play hockey!
- 3flyerkids

"Smart" hockey is where Zac fails as an NHL player.
I hope we've seen the last of him

Love that 4th line. If we could unload the French Canadian Albatross this season and buy out Hamburglar for next year we would be well on our way to improvement.
Sorry folks... RJ is simply not a top six player
- 3flyerkids

Agreed, though for cap reasons they are probably better off holding on to the corpse for one more year and buying him out in 2016

"Smart" hockey is where Zac fails as an NHL player.
I hope we've seen the last of him
- puckhead17

AMEN!

Love that 4th line. If we could unload the French Canadian Albatross this season and buy out Hamburglar for next year we would be well on our way to improvement.
Sorry folks... RJ is simply not a top six player
- 3flyerkids

Why does the coach have him playing with Couts & Read, instead of Simmonds?

I think that the value of #5, McD, and VL have taken a nose dive anyway; my opinion. McD, and VL also have contract issues that would make them hard to move. When is #5 due for renewal? Those Homer contracts were desperate measures at the time, and now they are coming back to haunt us. The Bryz nightmare still lingers.

I think that the value of #5, McD, and VL have taken a nose dive anyway; my opinion. McD, and VL also have contract issues that would make them hard to move. When is #5 due for renewal? Those Homer contracts were desperate measures at the time, and now they are coming back to haunt us. The Bryz nightmare still lingers.
- OrangeAndBlack1

McD is still a solid D man.
I can't compare his contract to an 8 year, $5 million a year, 90% save goalie.

Agreed, though for cap reasons they are probably better off holding on to the corpse for one more year and buying him out in 2016
- BiggE

Would be a very painful year, but I guess you are right

Why does the coach have him playing with Couts & Read, instead of Simmonds?
- puckhead17

Can't figure that one out. Hamburglar seems to get more ice than Simmonds

Can't figure that one out. Hamburglar seems to get more ice than Simmonds
- 3flyerkids

It's a joke.
Simmons is actually on the real 4th line, minutes wise.