Bill Meltzer: Phantoms Gameday: 5/16/21 vs. BNG; Quick Hits

At least the kids are playing well

I have been more excited to read about the phantoms than I have been about the flyers for the last month to month and a half this season. They were the more exciting and competitive team by far

I'm also Glad to see wisdom was putting up good numbers again at the end of the season.
Say what you want about CF and his crew but it sure does seem like they may have hit gold in the mid to late rounds when they got both wisdom and the destroyer. I'm not sure of their trajectory or ceiling but so far both guys seem to have been smart draft choices

At least the kids are playing well

I have been more excited to read about the phantoms than I have been about the flyers for the last month to month and a half this season. They were the more exciting and competitive team by far

I'm also Glad to see wisdom was putting up good numbers again at the end of the season.
Say what you want about CF and his crew but it sure does seem like they may have hit gold in the mid to late rounds when they got both wisdom and the destroyer. I'm not sure of their trajectory or ceiling but so far both guys seem to have been smart draft choices
- Bob Habib

Wisdom had COVID and it slowed him down for awhile after his return. Finished like he started, except setting up goals rather than scoring them as he was early. The physical side also picked up again.

Wisdom had COVID and it slowed him down for awhile after his return. Finished like he started, except setting up goals rather than scoring them as he was early. The physical side also picked up again.
- bmeltzer

Bil,since you are the man to ask these types of questions to, what type of projection and ceiling do you have for wisdom and then for the destroyer? Do they have the skill to be regulars in the NHL?
And which prospects in the AHL are you most excited to see make the jump to the NHL and why?

As always, thanks for answering my questions, Bill! I love to hear your thoughts

Seems we got some good ones in Zayde, Tyson and Wade. I hope Ratcliffe can bounce back next season. I know he had some injuries, especially a rough one to start the season (collapsed lung?). The season before it sounded like he was finding his game/role.

The Flyers need to face reality. The next wave of guys just aren’t that good. Some nice complimentary pieces, now is the time to bottom out. Get some high draft picks.

The Flyers need to face reality. The next wave of guys just aren’t that good. Some nice complimentary pieces, now is the time to bottom out. Get some high draft picks.
- ClaudeFather

👍

Penguins have been in the playoffs 15 years in a row.
Tom Wilson was the best player on the ice last night.
Why doesn't Jim Jackson ever work network TV for the playoffs?

Bil,since you are the man to ask these types of questions to, what type of projection and ceiling do you have for wisdom and then for the destroyer? Do they have the skill to be regulars in the NHL?
And which prospects in the AHL are you most excited to see make the jump to the NHL and why?

As always, thanks for answering my questions, Bill! I love to hear your thoughts
- Bob Habib

I think Wisdom can be a third line type who can get some PP2 time. Desnoyers a good two-way bottom six forward.

Foerster is the one I think can become an impact offensive player in the NHL. I am still high on Frost, too, but this is a big offseason for him.

Konecny, Foerster, Allison, Wisdom could hopefully soon give the Flyers a really nice group of wings on the right side. The added bonus is that it would allow Farabee to move back to the left side where there aren’t as many quality prospects waiting for a shot.

Hopefully they can add another quality center prospect soon. After Frost, there isn’t much there.

The Flyers need to face reality. The next wave of guys just aren’t that good. Some nice complimentary pieces, now is the time to bottom out. Get some high draft picks.
- ClaudeFather

The next 2 years would be a good time to find some luck in getting that franchise type player to go with the abundance of "He should be a pretty good NHL player" type.

The next 2 years would be a good time to find some luck in getting that franchise type player to go with the abundance of "He should be a pretty good NHL player" type.
- Glak18

Now would be the time. As much as people love the guy, trade Couturier for as much as you can. Hopefully Seattle takes another big contract in Jake or JVR. Then have the conversation with Giroux, what does he want to do.

Penguins have been in the playoffs 15 years in a row.
Tom Wilson was the best player on the ice last night.
Why doesn't Jim Jackson ever work network TV for the playoffs?
- PLindbergh31

i question how i feel about the first one given last year.

agree with the second even though it makes me (frank)ing sick.

guilty pleasure i actually love jim jackson even though he is a bigtime homer. and yes, im aware how eternally cringe inducing the pens broadcast is. no argument there.

Now would be the time. As much as people love the guy, trade Couturier for as much as you can. Hopefully Seattle takes another big contract in Jake or JVR. Then have the conversation with Giroux, what does he want to do.
- ClaudeFather

Trading all the big salary players still isn't going to change this team overnight. Best case scenario the Flyers will be 3-4 years away from being a legit contender if everything goes absolutely perfect for them. They need a future and picks don't guarantee anything. No one is trading a future star for any of the players you listed.

Trading all the big salary players still isn't going to change this team overnight. Best case scenario the Flyers will be 3-4 years away from being a legit contender if everything goes absolutely perfect for them. They need a future and picks don't guarantee anything. No one is trading a future star for any of the players you listed.
- Glak18

My premise was aiming for high draft picks, bottoming out. Trading all the big salary guys, the only guys who contributes this year would certainly achieve that. Picks don’t guarantee anything , but neither does continuing whatever nonsense is going on now.

Trading all the big salary players still isn't going to change this team overnight. Best case scenario the Flyers will be 3-4 years away from being a legit contender if everything goes absolutely perfect for them. They need a future and picks don't guarantee anything. No one is trading a future star for any of the players you listed.
- Glak18

3-4 years away from being a legit contender after a decade of futility? So on to the next coach and GM?

3-4 years away from being a legit contender after a decade of futility? So on to the next coach and GM?
- PLindbergh31

Reality is harsh. Flyers need to make the playoffs then prove they can be consistent by making it back to back years while being a threat to the other top teams in the division then maybe the league.

If I was a betting man I would put a lot of money on a new coach and GM within the next 2-3 years as well. The only thing consistent about this team is the cycle they keep repeating, the excuses why and how predictable it is.

Reality is harsh. Flyers need to make the playoffs then prove they can be consistent by making it back to back years while being a threat to the other top teams in the division then maybe the league.

If I was a betting man I would put a lot of money on a new coach and GM within the next 2-3 years as well. The only thing consistent about this team is the cycle they keep repeating, the excuses why and how predictable it is.
- Glak18

I don't disagree with you. I'm just not for tanking because it guarantees nothing.
It is very predictable. It's like a dog chasing it's tail year after year.

My premise was aiming for high draft picks, bottoming out. Trading all the big salary guys, the only guys who contributes this year would certainly achieve that. Picks don’t guarantee anything , but neither does continuing whatever nonsense is going on now.
- ClaudeFather

Agree. Picking 14 through 21 or whatever isn't going to cut it anymore. If you want to build a winning franchise with a long window of success you need to be in to win it to get a young stud to build around.

I'm more than ok with struggling for a few seasons in hopes of acquiring that piece.

Before I posted this I should have prefaced by saying I'm not willing to trade Couturier.

Before I posted this I should have prefaced by saying I'm not willing to trade Couturier.
- Pelle31Forever

How do you plan on picking high with him on the team? He’s going to be the next Giroux, by the time this team is ready he will be mid 30s

How do you plan on picking high with him on the team? He’s going to be the next Giroux, by the time this team is ready he will be mid 30s
- ClaudeFather

Sadly the only chance the Flyers have of picking high in the draft to select a bonafide star is winning the lottery. Now they do have that chance by missing the playoffs, I expect they will be in the running to do that the next couple years, but the organization will not go in full tank mode.

Sadly the only chance the Flyers have of picking high in the draft to select a bonafide star is winning the lottery. Now they do have that chance by missing the playoffs, I expect they will be in the running to do that the next couple years, but the organization will not go in full tank mode.
- Glak18

Are you sure that’s the only way lol? We won the #2 overall pick and it hasn’t helped at all arguably.

Sadly the only chance the Flyers have of picking high in the draft to select a bonafide star is winning the lottery. Now they do have that chance by missing the playoffs, I expect they will be in the running to do that the next couple years, but the organization will not go in full tank mode.
- Glak18

They probably won’t which is unfortunate. Better hope Morgan Frost is the next Giroux !

Are you sure that’s the only way lol? We won the #2 overall pick and it hasn’t helped at all arguably.
- arichardson22

Flyers suck at sucking at the right time. Although they did suck perfectly in 2007 and still failed at getting the good player. They just need to try to get that #1 one of these days.