Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Read,

first

A bounce back season by Read would be great, but I'm not holding my breath. Since his scoring touch seem to have gone, I think he'd be better off used on the Hak line to try and help improve their possession game.

White is a better scorer than Read these days, but not as good defensively, so maybe put him with the 3rd line.

Laughton-Cousins-White
VdV-PEB-Read

We hear so much about the wonderful chemistry of the Hak line, but it's not reflected in any meaningful statistic. Not in goals scored/conceded, not in shots, and not in shot attempts.

Bill,

I am going to play devils advocate on the HOFers listed on the Alumni site. Should Joey Mullen, Doc Emrick or Jay Greensberg also be listed on there? They have all had associations with the Flyers and all are in the Hall.

Regardless, I am glad to see Stanley on the list, not well known as a Flyer but still a HOFer.

Bill - as has been stated ad nauseam on this site, we are extremely lucky to have you representing the Flyers (and in many ways, us). You do phenomenal work and I would compare your personal knowledge of the Flyers to that of anyone out there. Keep up the great work. You are a "must read" daily habit of mine and will continue as such!

I'm a fan of Lucic. He falls into that category of "hate him on the opposition, bu love him on your team". Can't remember his contact details, but he did seem a bit pricey for me. Buy if he stays in LA so be it.

I'm on the fence with Read. I have no qualms one way or the other if stays or goes

congrats bill

You da man, Bill.

A bounce back season by Read would be great, but I'm not holding my breath. Since his scoring touch seem to have gone, I think he'd be better off used on the Hak line to try and help improve their possession game.

White is a better scorer than Read these days, but not as good defensively, so maybe put him with the 3rd line.

Laughton-Cousins-White
VdV-PEB-Read

We hear so much about the wonderful chemistry of the Hak line, but it's not reflected in any meaningful statistic. Not in goals scored/conceded, not in shots, and not in shot attempts.

I dont know to be honest, I think read still has a skill set that is worth utilizing, as he, Hak, and the entire line has noted, gagner cousins and read all are perimeter players. they cycle, they forecheck and backcheck, but no one really goes to those tough areas. Id like to see the line that produced really well at the end of the 14-15 season, if you remember. Read was placed on the LW with Coots and Schenn on the RW.

Adding read here allows him to be the exclusive perimeter player, with coots and schenn, who both go to those greasy areas in front of the net, while both can shoot from the circles with their man read going into the corners to get them the puck. Thats why i thought the line worked so well when put together.

Guess it doesnt matter where you place the wings since I think Schenn likes the left side and read likes the right side anyway. Although by placing them on their off wings you have two guys that when they create offense, will have more options facing the net to either shoot or pass, and schenn has done a markedly better job in terms of puck possession and keeping it on his stick.

Voracek - Giroux - Simmer
Schenn - Coots - Reader
Laughton - Cousins - Raffl/Konecny????
VDV - PEB/Raffl - White

Think that gives us the best top line, real solid 2nd and thirds, and the UNTOUCHABLES

No! Stay away from Lucic. He is the kind of Player we need to keep away from to get the Goon/Dirty mentality off the teams image. Lucic is the last thing we need. Rather have Eriksson

You da man, Bill.
- aightwebang17

Seconded

Condolences to the Druce family. Just horrible what she went through.

Bill - as has been stated ad nauseam on this site, we are extremely lucky to have you representing the Flyers (and in many ways, us). You do phenomenal work and I would compare your personal knowledge of the Flyers to that of anyone out there. Keep up the great work. You are a "must read" daily habit of mine and will continue as such!
- BOSS_TWEED

I'm a fan of Lucic. He falls into that category of "hate him on the opposition, bu love him on your team". Can't remember his contact details, but he did seem a bit pricey for me. Buy if he stays in LA so be it.

I'm on the fence with Read. I have no qualms one way or the other if stays or goes
- Pelle31Forever

I don't have any interest in Lucic for the Flyers. If this collection of players were closer to contention, I might feel otherwise.

As for Matt Read, I don't think the Flyers have any choice BUT to hope he bounces back. I feel like if he's traded, the Flyers are gonna retain some salary.

Throw away the fancy stats. Read blows. You need not but watch the games to see it.

Thanks, Bill.

the Flyers will once again have flexibility to absorb some salary on up to three traded players.

Why do you say "up to three traded players"? I'm missing something...

Very sad for the Druce family. That must be a terrible thing to go through, I couldn't imagine...

Thanks Bill. You have kept our interest in the game, and the Flyers during their ups, and downs during the season. Two thumbs up.
I hope that with some new blood that more consistency will be provided, some more speed will be added, and some bigger bodies will be around.
Read, like V-check, had a lower than expected season. You can chalk it up to injuries, contracts, or whatever. Over the last few seasons, as mentioned, Read has lost some of his speed. I would also like to add that he previously seemed to either have more confidence, or an added aggressiveness to his game. He now seems to focus on his defensive play rather than progressing with his offensive skills. I don't know if he was focusing on covering up the D woes of the team, or if he was instructed not to worry about the O numbers. It will be interesting to see how he does in training camp, and the preseason; if Hexy does decide to keep him around after the draft. V-check needs to take a long hard look in the mirror to regain his focus. I don't know if he put too much pressure on himself, or regained the CBJ luck, but he needs to pick up his play.
It will be interesting to see if White sticks around as well. We already have CMcD to take his place, and he is a bigger body, and has a better mindset. Finally, I have a feeling once the D gets organized, and figured out, the forwards we become more comfortable playing in the O zone. However, we still need some folks to go to the net with more frequency.
I just had a weird thought. Nothing to mention about the goalies...very odd.

Thanks, Bill.

the Flyers will once again have flexibility to absorb some salary on up to three traded players.



Why do you say "up to three traded players"? I'm missing something...

wolfhounds

A team can only retain salary for three traded player at a time no matter the amount retained.

Condolences to the Druce family. Just horrible what she went through.
- tangent_man

cancer five times?

how is that even possible

congrats on the extra work with the Flyers, Bill.
everyone here sure appreciates your daily blogs.
I think your musings is the #1 thing that gets me through the off season.

A team can only retain salary for three traded player at a time no matter the amount retained.
- mayorofangrytown

Ahh, very good. Thank you, moat.

cancer five times?

how is that even possible
- Marc D

Remission, a brief respite...then back again. Must've been exhausting for her, battling from the age of 15. (frank)ing terrible.

congrats on the extra work with the Flyers, Bill.
everyone here sure appreciates your daily blogs.
I think your musings is the #1 thing that gets me through the off season.
- Marc D

will you go see provorov play the seattle thunderbirds if they advance ?

congrats on the extra work with the Flyers, Bill.
everyone here sure appreciates your daily blogs.
I think your musings is the #1 thing that gets me through the off season.
- Marc D

amen to that

cancer five times?

how is that even possible
- Marc D

Reoccurrences. If they check you and find you cancer free then you're in remission. If you go back a month later and they find cancer it's like a whole new thing for them, not your on going battle.

You find this out the hard way when you have a family member with cancer. After the first "relapse" in a short period of time you muffle the celebration when the doctors declare you cancer free. You never feel cancer free after a reoccurrence.