Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Ottawa, Musings on Slow Stars, Goalies, PK and More

Really good analysis Bill. The GM doesn’t make panic moves but he’s going to have to address the goaltending situation in the off season unless Elliot is incapable of making a full return, in which case it’s sooner rather than later.

Good write up. I still see a lot of correctable issues that despite the roster holes, could be cleaned up. The inconsistency in their defensive coverage, puck management and level of intensity, especially at the start of games is all something that can be improved without making a single player change. If that is not fixed and quickly, we're looking at a lost season if not already.

Really good analysis Bill. The GM doesn’t make panic moves but he’s going to have to address the goaltending situation in the off season unless Elliot is incapable of making a full return, in which case it’s sooner rather than later.

The offseason is over. Oh you mean the next one? F-me!!!

Thank you Bill for the in depth analyses. I agree with the grim outlook for this season due to the goaltending situation. Till that is fixed, everything else will be equal to rearranging chairs on the Titanic decks. I am just upset that despite a high probability of Neuvy being hurt for the majority of the season, the situation was not addressed in the summer. The cap space and a roster spot was available to prevent the gaping hole we now have behind defense.

Goaltending is an issue as usual. Coaching change is needed to get this team playing faster regardless of the goalie. If they don’t make a change soon they will continue on this mediocre run

Really good analysis Bill. The GM doesn’t make panic moves but he’s going to have to address the goaltending situation in the off season unless Elliot is incapable of making a full return, in which case it’s sooner rather than later.

The offseason is over. Oh you mean the next one? F-me!!!
- BadCowboyDan

Sad to say, but that’s where we are with this team, even though the planning for next season has been underway for years.

Good stuff Bill, but it still infuriated me that they didnt buy out Neuvirth in June and go the FA route to secure a goalie to tandem with Elliott. I’d also give Sanheim a crack at pp2 and more ice time overall, he’s earned it and honestly, they have nothing to lose.

Watching how Provorov is both handling and shooting the puck right now, it’s hard to believe that he’s not trying to play through some type of injury. If so , he needs to be shut down until he’s 100%. He’s too valuable to the future of this franchise to risk turning a minor injury into a major one in a season when the team has no shot of going deep in the playoffs, and may well miss the playoffs altogether.

Good stuff Bill, but it still infuriated me that they didnt buy out Neuvirth in June and go the FA route to secure a goalie to tandem with Elliott. I’d also give Sanheim a crack at pp2 and more ice time overall, he’s earned it and honestly, they have nothing to lose.

Watching how Provorov is both handling and shooting the puck right now, it’s hard to believe that he’s not trying to play through some type of injury. If so , he needs to be shut down until he’s 100%. He’s too valuable to the future of this franchise to risk turning a minor injury into a major one in a season when the team has no shot of going deep in the playoffs, and may well miss the playoffs altogether.
- BiggE

Sadly, you appear to be spot on.

I’m sitting behind or a row behind the Sens bench tomorrow. For once I’m thinking about making a sign; it would say;

“Need a ride? Use my Uber promo code: Go Flyers.”

This team has to much talent to be this bad. I think most of the fan base would be fine if it looked like there was an improvement in their play over Hextalls reign as GM.....The on ice product is no better. Yes Hextall has refurbished the farm system, but as we are seeing high end prospects are just that until they can prove that their game translates to the NHL level. Maybe Hextall is in over his head? Maybe the issues that were mentioned aren’t fixable ....but other teams at least try.....Hextalls passive GM skills are are passive as their poopty passive PK. As far as Hackstol, who knows? It appears players are tuning him out yet he’s still the head coach.
The Flyers are an organization with no accountability from the top right on down.

Bill,

Can you answer why a guy like Aube-Kubel hasn't gotten the trust to play more minutes when called up? I feel like he has done everything asked by the organization to round out his game and earned his recall. But when up he doesn't get to show it. In his limited ice time you could see his speed and his winning board battles. Aube-Kubel has shown offense in his game at Lehigh. I feel like he wasn't given a chance to show that in Philadelphia, even with other guys struggling.

Good Stuff Bill.
While I may rate Hagg a little higher as a long term player, or think more or less of any other player...I think we are, at this stage, all on the same page.

The Flyers need help, and not a 3rd or 4th liner/fringe player kind of help.

They need a player like who can play in the top 9 with some sandpaper at times.

They need an NHL top 4 blue liner. He doesn't have to be a point generator, we have that.

They need a real NHL goaltender. One who can make Elliot the number 1a/2. I personally like both Stolarz and Lyon and am chomping at the bit to see Hart, this team allows to many 10 bell scoring chances that positional goalies will struggle with. All of these guys are positional first, not reactive..Ray Emery for example in his youth or Chechmo were reactive goalies.

IMHO, the team that was coming out of camp seemed poised to make some noise but for some reason there is/was a fragility to the psyche of this collection of players and when JvR went down and they realized they would be Pickard and Elliot as their goalies...they turned off.

Is there a reason, when a team is struggling like this, that they don't try to bring up one or two of the AHL players and insert them. Vecchione leaps to mind. He plays a heady game and can skate.

Im still thinking 2019-2020 is the season where we see some forward progression with this team. The coach needs to go no matter what. I just think he was suppose to be a mentor to younger players as they come up during this process. However, I don't think he even did that very well. We need to grab a goalie this year via trade or one in the off season that can be a decent starter and split time with carter hart in two years. Also the 3c spot will be occupied next season from in house and they have a few of them that will be ready like frost. The d I think will be better off next year. We def gotta see what we have in Morin and myers though soon. The forwards will be the same minus a few spots next year like the 3c and leitera gone. To be honest I said this preseason this season would be a regression and I got smacked around a bit here but its what I saw. I'm not saying this team cant improve and become a playoff team this year, but it wont be unless there are immediate changes not only for this season but for the future.

Is there a reason, when a team is struggling like this, that they don't try to bring up one or two of the AHL players and insert them. Vecchione leaps to mind. He plays a heady game and can skate.
- wbon22

I'd actually like to see Bardreau up. I know he isn't flashy but he plays a gritty game. Plays bigger then his size and kills penalties. Also i think him centering the 4th line could maybe move Laughton to either 3c, where i don't need to see Weal or maybe they move Weise back to the 4th line and move Simmonds, Lindblom, JVR or Laughton into the top 6.

I know it could be just rearranging the deck chairs but it is a move without directly changing the whole roster.

Giroux - Couturier - Konecny
Jvr - Patrick - Voracek
Lindblom - Laughton - Simmonds
Weise - Bardreau - Raffl(healthy)/Aube-Kubel

Extras: Weal, Lehtara

Great stuff, Bill! Thanks.

In regards to moving Lindblom down and Weise up, this is the kind of move that drives me crazy. Weise has been playing well but he has been playing well in the 3rd/4th line role. Lindblom had started to show great chemistry with Patrick and they were clicking. Now, it is disrupted. Lindblom has more scoring ability than Dale. Yes, Oskar was struggling lately, but it is bound to turn around.

TK, Coots, and G are showing great chemistry right now. Hak has left them alone (for the most part) and it's starting to pay off. Dale Weise as our #2 LW. Top 6 guy? Come on!!??

Don't sleep on Stolie! Get Provy a longer stick:-)

Thanks.

Sadly, unless we stop getting ECHL-level goaltending on a consistent basis, it won't matter who's on what line or what the defense does. The scoring and team-wide defensive play are issues, but goaltending can make a bad team look good, or can make a good team look bad. Right now, it's making a bad team look terrible.

That said, throwing Carter Hart in for a "It can't get any worse, let's see what he can do" move is the worst possible idea. The kid is still adjusting to pro hockey, throwing him to the wolves on this team, right now, is the best bet to kill his confidence.

I'd actually like to see Bardreau up. I know he isn't flashy but he plays a gritty game. Plays bigger then his size and kills penalties. Also i think him centering the 4th line could maybe move Laughton to either 3c, where i don't need to see Weal or maybe they move Weise back to the 4th line and move Simmonds, Lindblom, JVR or Laughton into the top 6.

I know it could be just rearranging the deck chairs but it is a move without directly changing the whole roster.

Giroux - Couturier - Konecny
Jvr - Patrick - Voracek
Lindblom - Laughton - Simmonds
Weise - Bardreau - Raffl(healthy)/Aube-Kubel

Extras: Weal, Lehtara
- J35Bacher

I don't know why but I think about

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
Lindblom-Patrick-Simmonds
JvR-Laughton-Voracek
Weise-?-Raffl (NAK until Raffl back)

My issue is the ? is Lehtera right now. Weal maybe or a call-up.

The other problem I see is the third line listed could get caved in defensively if they are not given only favorable starts.

Hey at least we can all sleep at night knowing there won’t be 1 mil in dead money tied up in a bought out neuvirth this year and next. Imagine what the ramifications would have been if that happened?

Hey at least we can all sleep at night knowing there won’t be 1 mil in dead money tied up in a bought out neuvirth this year and next. Imagine what the ramifications would have been if that happened?
- Just5

Also, I didn't see any issues with the PK in the Toronto game, so maybe that's a sign it's moving in the right direction.

Hey at least we can all sleep at night knowing there won’t be 1 mil in dead money tied up in a bought out neuvirth this year and next. Imagine what the ramifications would have been if that happened?
- Just5

Yup

Yup
- BiggE

Quick thought and question.

Someone brought up Schneider as a goalie. He has 3 more years after this year at 6 million.

Would a 2nd rounder straight up make the deal? I know they spent a 1st to get him but if he really lost his starting gig and I know a 2nd seems steep but it is in division, would you do it? Would NJ?

Great stuff, Bill! Thanks.

In regards to moving Lindblom down and Weise up, this is the kind of move that drives me crazy. Weise has been playing well but he has been playing well in the 3rd/4th line role. Lindblom had started to show great chemistry with Patrick and they were clicking. Now, it is disrupted. Lindblom has more scoring ability than Dale. Yes, Oskar was struggling lately, but it is bound to turn around.

TK, Coots, and G are showing great chemistry right now. Hak has left them alone (for the most part) and it's starting to pay off. Dale Weise as our #2 LW. Top 6 guy? Come on!!??

Don't sleep on Stolie! Get Provy a longer stick:-)

Thanks.
- cdearth23

The second line was stalled. Unfortunately, Weiss has been one of the teams best players lately. It was an attempt to help get the 2nd line going.

Quick thought and question.

Someone brought up Schneider as a goalie. He has 3 more years after this year at 6 million.

Would a 2nd rounder straight up make the deal? I know they spent a 1st to get him but if he really lost his starting gig and I know a 2nd seems steep but it is in division, would you do it? Would NJ?
- J35Bacher

No, I wouldn't.