Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Ghost, Voracek, Emotion, Cousins Alumni & More

Excellent blog Bill. I've thought this for a long while.

"Unleash the peanuts" is a phrase that started out as a drunken post but rings true. The team always plays better in those emotion filled games.

Hence why I think they do better under a coach that fuels that emotion not tries to limit it.

Would to see the youth movement keep going. More minutes to Laughton and cousins. See straka at one point.

Thanks again Bill, great work.

Thanks Bill for giving us a levelheaded piece after that letdown last night

Just an an excellent post all around. Thanks Bill for all your work - it is really appreciated. And I'm excited that my two favorite Philadelphia hockey writers are collaborating on a 50th Anniversary Flyers text. Jay is my favorite writer since his days at the Evening Bulletin. Just dated myself......

I think right now, the Flyers need to play at a high level emotionally, in order to compete. As they increase their talent level, and add better players, that will be of less importance. Not to say it will no longer be important. They were flat as a team last night, and that brings their warts out in full bloom. Honestly, this team is hanging on the edge of staying in the hunt for a playoff spot. If this turns into a 4 game losing streak, which with the schedule and strength of the opponents it could, it's all but over.

Excellent blog Bill. I've thought this for a long while.

"Unleash the peanuts" is a phrase that started out as a drunken post but rings true. The team always plays better in those emotion filled games.

Hence why I think they do better under a coach that fuels that emotion not tries to limit it.

Would to see the youth movement keep going. More minutes to Laughton and cousins. See straka at one point.

Thanks again Bill, great work.
- flyer_nutter

I don't believe there is or has been a coach in the entire NHL history who has tried to limit a teams emotion. Coaches want players to play at a high emotional level, but not stupidly or out of control

Bill pointed out how Gudas raises the temperature of the game for his team and plays with emotion and initiates. How has Hakstol attempted to limit the emotion of Gudas as a player?

Great piece today. If the lines aren't switched up for the next game I'll be very frustrated with Hakstol.

what if hextall's end goal is stamkos? sign a bunch of stop gap cut as much salary at the tdl sign stamkos buyout vinny and whomever else to get under the cap?

what if hextall's end goal is stamkos? sign a bunch of stop gap cut as much salary at the tdl sign stamkos buyout vinny and whomever else to get under the cap?
- 2Real

Byfuglien. I trust EK.

it's infuriating to see them play well for decent stretches, even though they have limitations, and then just got completely outplayed by a supposed bottom feeder. it happens over and over and over and over...regardless of the season or the roster.

it will never change.

get voracek off that line now. and i swear to god it seems like i see vdv or peb out there on every goddamn shift.

gost is just a super exciting player to watch and he makes things happen. so refreshing to see an injection of talent into what is truthfully a dull team that is boring to watch most of the time. he's not going back.

it's infuriating to see them play well for decent stretches, even though they have limitations, and then just got completely outplayed by a supposed bottom feeder. it happens over and over and over and over...regardless of the season or the roster.

it will never change.

get voracek off that line now. and i swear to god it seems like i see vdv or peb out there on every goddamn shift.

gost is just a super exciting player to watch and he makes things happen. so refreshing to see an injection of talent into what is truthfully a dull team that is boring to watch most of the time. he's not going back.
- hammarby31

haven't you ever thought we're a bottom feeder this season?

haven't you ever thought we're a bottom feeder this season?
- 2Real

we're close. but not bottom of the barrel. there's enough talent and smarts on this team to NOT be a bottom feeder.

Great piece today. If the lines aren't switched up for the next game I'll be very frustrated with Hakstol.
- Feanor

I thought for sure that with being behind in the game, that he was going to put Voracek back with Giroux and play the crap out of them. For whatever reason he didn't. It's time for that experiment to end.

Not worth getting upset over losing to sub .500 teams when they are barely that. They did this last year with Berube and are doing it again with Hakstol. Yeah the effort isn't always there, but we can't pin every loss on that.

We know the defense is patchwork. The offense is about as anemic as I can remember. G and Jakes are your playmakers. Simmonds and Schenn provide that power forward ability. After that everyone is about the same. Granted there is a wide gap in between a Couturier from a White, but I feel we have far too many two way guys and not guy that can flat out just put the puck in the net ala Kessel, Stamkos, Ovi etc.

Not easy to find or even acquire, but I wish we had a guy that was a threat to get them 35-40 without having to rely on the PP.

Stolarz is tied for first in the AHL in SV%.

http://theahl.com/stats/s...4&division_id=-1&confId=0

At ES yesterday, the only players to receive less minutes than Jake? Laughton, Umberger, and White. In fact White played only a min and a half less than Jake. And somehow VDV and PEB played 1 min and 2 min more than Jake at evens.

Thanks Bill. I will be looking for a copy of the book at Christmas time, or as a belated Christmas gift..lol.
I do not have a problem with Ghost, because as you had mentioned, he tries to make up for his mistakes by not giving up on the play. If others would follow this work ethic, then I think that many of the team's mistakes could be forgiven, or corrected. However, how many times have we seen a player stop skating, or pass on his problem on to another player. Too many times a player will stop skating, and wait for the play to come to him. With all of their experience, salary, etc.. you would think that they would have their head in the game. If not, I would have banished them long ago; forget the cap issues, I want players who come with a passion to play. You see their hard work at times, but not consistently enough. Thus, our hopes are raised, only to fall back to earth, and to the .500 level of play.
I don't expect much from this team with the back to back games, or long road trips. Either their talent level is too low to handle the additional stress, or they are emotionally spent. However, with the call ups, I have been impressed, and have hope for the future. In addition, I would never sign a long term deal, and let the players sit back, and collect a check. I would roll them over, because of the level of play that we are now seeing. Keep the players young, fresh, and hungry.

who do we recall with only 5 available dmen?

I don't believe there is or has been a coach in the entire NHL history who has tried to limit a teams emotion. Coaches want players to play at a high emotional level, but not stupidly or out of control

Bill pointed out how Gudas raises the temperature of the game for his team and plays with emotion and initiates. How has Hakstol attempted to limit the emotion of Gudas as a player?
- MJL

Maybe it's something Hak will get better at as he gets more experience at the NHL level. Maybe they'd be wise to add another player who, as you said, raises the temperature.

Maybe maybe maybe

Thanks Bill. I will be looking for a copy of the book at Christmas time, or as a belated Christmas gift..lol.
I do not have a problem with Ghost, because as you had mentioned, he tries to make up for his mistakes by not giving up on the play. If others would follow this work ethic, then I think that many of the team's mistakes could be forgiven, or corrected. However, how many times have we seen a player stop skating, or pass on his problem on to another player. Too many times a player will stop skating, and wait for the play to come to him. With all of their experience, salary, etc.. you would think that they would have their head in the game. If not, I would have banished them long ago; forget the cap issues, I want players who come with a passion to play. You see their hard work at times, but not consistently enough. Thus, our hopes are raised, only to fall back to earth, and to the .500 level of play.
I don't expect much from this team with the back to back games, or long road trips. Either their talent level is too low to handle the additional stress, or they are emotionally spent. However, with the call ups, I have been impressed, and have hope for the future. In addition, I would never sign a long term deal, and let the players sit back, and collect a check. I would roll them over, because of the level of play that we are now seeing. Keep the players young, fresh, and hungry.
- OrangeAndBlack1

It's impossible to build a team without signing long term deals. You would never be able to keep a single good player after they reach UFA eligibility.

Maybe it's something Hak will get better at as he gets more experience at the NHL level. Maybe they'd be wise to add another player who, as you said, raises the temperature.

Maybe maybe maybe
- BulliesPhan87

They need to add some more talent as well as players who will raise the temperature. I think Voracek is trying to do so, but he's not playing in a great situation.

Cool Hand Luke is out 2 weeks. Alt makes more sense than AMac. I feel like AMac would only come up after a trade when there's a long term spot available.

Cool Hand Luke is out 2 weeks. Alt makes more sense than AMac. I feel like AMac would only come up after a trade when there's a long term spot available.
- Mononoke

MacDonald or someone else would only have to be sent back down. I wouldn't be surprised to see Streit return ahead of schedule.

They need to add some more talent as well as players who will raise the temperature. I think Voracek is trying to do so, but he's not playing in a great situation.
- MJL

So, in short, they need a bit of everything right now. Well, Hextall has his work cut out for him

I'm with you on hoping the Voracek experiment would end last night. Would've been a ripe time to take the fetters off the guy.

So, in short, they need a bit of everything right now. Well, Hextall has his work cut out for him

I'm with you on hoping the Voracek experiment would end last night. Would've been a ripe time to take the fetters off the guy.
- BulliesPhan87

The team and Voracek wasn't scoring, so I understand trying some other combinations. I think we have a large enough sample size to know playing Voracek with Vandevelde and Bellemare, is not the answer. Right now we have Batman without Robin, and the Lone Ranger without Tonto!