Bill Meltzer: Free Agency Day 1: Flyers recap and analysis

Thank you Sir!

Thanks for the recap, Bill.

My offer for Eichel aside and speaking from my view when I look at the current state of the Flyers. Not one move Fletcher has made helps the Flyers future. Not 2, 3, 5, 10 years down the road. Trading the 22 year old Patrick, the 24 year old Myers and the 28 year old Gostisbehere for Ellis, Jones, Atkinson and Thompson are not good returns for what we gave up. Ristolainen at 26 years of age is the only player under 30 that Fletcher has picked up. This team got older and I’m certain of how much better we really are now. We need to be in on the Eichel talks.
- SuperSchennBros

So we traded 2 of the worst players on the team Patrick/Myers, 1 of which was the worst player in the entire league (Patrick), got rid of Ghosts awful contract too, got rid of Jakes awful contract, and received a top pairing RD in Ellis on a cheap contract, Ristolainen whose physical presence is going to be much needed on this team because we are soft and can play in a top 4 role, and Atkinson who is a much better all around player than Voracek and has a much cheaper contract to go with that, and you are upset? LOL. Give me a break. Did you see how many people are over 30 on Tampa Bay? Idk how they won the cup with so many old geezers. Literally half that team was over 30. But hey, go ahead and keep making poop up that 30 year olds can't play hockey anymore

Also I hate to have to remind you that signing free agents to cheap 1 year deals is a lot different than giving up assets to acquire them, but you knew that, you just like being completely disingenuous.

Flyers have less 30+ year olds on the roster than the back to back cup champs. Someone please explain to me how being over 30 means you cant play anymore and cant win a cup. Please explain.

You keep saying we traded 2 of the worst players in the league , based on last years results, and thats just not true. The Flyers 2 worst players last year , expected performance vs performance , was Hayes and Hart. Hart was the worst starting goalie in the NHL and it wasnt all on the D. He was consistently beat on his glove side with many many weak backbreaking goals. Myers and Patrick werent the cause of Flyers failures last year. Saying that, Patrick had to go though I would have preferred we have gotten Cody Glass for him. Myers will be every bit as good as Risto will be if not better.

Flyers have less 30+ year olds on the roster than the back to back cup champs. Someone please explain to me how being over 30 means you cant play anymore and cant win a cup. Please explain.
- Richieattack18

Here is the difference...their 30 yr olds have names like Stamkos..McDonagh..etc

For the first time in a very long time we went into a year, last year, not worried about goaltending. Well we are back to normal for Flyer fans where we dont know what to expect. Can Hart bounce back from an awful year? Can Jones show glimpses of what he was 5 yrs or so ago? Seems like Jones is going to be relied on to play at least 25 games. Things feel normal again regarding our goaltending.

You keep saying we traded 2 of the worst players in the league , based on last years results, and thats just not true. The Flyers 2 worst players last year , expected performance vs performance , was Hayes and Hart. Hart was the worst starting goalie in the NHL and it wasnt all on the D. He was consistently beat on his glove side with many many weak backbreaking goals. Myers and Patrick werent the cause of Flyers failures last year. Saying that, Patrick had to go though I would have preferred we have gotten Cody Glass for him. Myers will be every bit as good as Risto will be if not better.
- hfc355

Myers lacks bite, shoots hard but neither accurately nor quickly (43.6% shots through career percentage and has never reached 46% in any season to date), and makes the same mistakes over and over (questionable hockey sense). Ristolainen is only two years older than Myers... it's not like Myers is six or seven years his junior. He also has hockey sense question marks and worse analytics but he is long established to bring a nasty physical presence and a way better shooter (53.4 percent career shot attempts getting on net, never a season lower than 47.7%). Ristolainen is a power play candidate. Myers is not one at the NHL level. Both are big guys who can really skate and stay in great shape.

Reaaly hope they aren't blocking York's progression, he's ready now.

Reaaly hope they aren't blocking York's progression, he's ready now.
- backfire

There are always injuries and unexpected periods of struggling that require a callup. He'll get his shot

Reaaly hope they aren't blocking York's progression, he's ready now.
- backfire

He did OK in his three NHL games last season. But some added AHL time at age 20 won't hurt him a bit.

You keep saying we traded 2 of the worst players in the league , based on last years results, and thats just not true. The Flyers 2 worst players last year , expected performance vs performance , was Hayes and Hart. Hart was the worst starting goalie in the NHL and it wasnt all on the D. He was consistently beat on his glove side with many many weak backbreaking goals. Myers and Patrick werent the cause of Flyers failures last year. Saying that, Patrick had to go though I would have preferred we have gotten Cody Glass for him. Myers will be every bit as good as Risto will be if not better.
- hfc355

Patrick was by far the worst skater on the team last year. Not sure how that isn't clear to everyone that watched.

He did OK in his three NHL games last season. But some added AHL time at age 20 won't hurt him a bit.
- bmeltzer

Chuck doesn't want to make the same mistake as he did with meyers last year, and not have a backup plan if he isn't ready for full time duty. Have to hand it to Chuck, he knew what needed fixing, and made the appropriate moves, now the team has to put it together

Myers lacks bite, shoots hard but neither accurately nor quickly (43.6% shots through career percentage and has never reached 46% in any season to date), and makes the same mistakes over and over (questionable hockey sense). Ristolainen is only two years older than Myers... it's not like Myers is six or seven years his junior. He also has hockey sense question marks and worse analytics but he is long established to bring a nasty physical presence and a way better shooter (53.4 percent career shot attempts getting on net, never a season lower than 47.7%). Ristolainen is a power play candidate. Myers is not one at the NHL level. Both are big guys who can really skate and stay in great shape.
- bmeltzer

The environment last year on the Flyers, especially for a young defenseman was difficult at best. Myers was clearly in a mental funk and had a severe lack of confidence. This led to the player making repeated mistakes as well as having periods where he was non-competitive and hesitant. However before that, he was a riser as a undrafted UFA and on a steady developmental course to the NHL. All of a sudden he developed questionable hockey sense? He caught like it was a cold or some other virus? With the Flyers having Ellis, Provorov who I don't like on the PP and now Yandle, they can live without Ristolainen having to play on the PP. I understand you like the Rsitolainen trade and I hope you're right but I would bet on Myers rebounding on a team that is known for developing defenseman and righting his game and becoming a pretty good player long term.

I still have Concerns about Jones but Fletcher's transcript has me a little more optimistic

Chuck doesn't want to make the same mistake as he did with meyers last year, and not have a backup plan if he isn't ready for full time duty. Have to hand it to Chuck, he knew what needed fixing, and made the appropriate moves, now the team has to put it together
- bradster

Bringing in Yandle is not a back up plan for York. It pushes York to the AHL. Having a vet player bought in as a 7th would be a backup plan. Yandle was brought in to start in the top 6.

Bringing in Yandle is not a back up plan for York. It pushes York to the AHL. Having a vet player bought in as a 7th would be a backup plan. Yandle was brought in to start in the top 6.
- MJL

I think you are missing the point that chuck cant rely on York after 3 games, like he relied on Meyers last year. York played 3 games, did well in the AHL, but the AHL had their best players up on the taxi squad of the NHL teams. The AHL should be a little better this year.

Bringing in Yandle is not a back up plan for York. It pushes York to the AHL. Having a vet player bought in as a 7th would be a backup plan. Yandle was brought in to start in the top 6.
- MJL

Yes, for up to a year. It's up to York to push the issue with his play and beat out a 3-time NHL All-Star. That's not a bad thing.

The environment last year on the Flyers, especially for a young defenseman was difficult at best. Myers was clearly in a mental funk and had a severe lack of confidence. This led to the player making repeated mistakes as well as having periods where he was non-competitive and hesitant. However before that, he was a riser as a undrafted UFA and on a steady developmental course to the NHL. All of a sudden he developed questionable hockey sense? He caught like it was a cold or some other virus? With the Flyers having Ellis, Provorov who I don't like on the PP and now Yandle, they can live without Ristolainen having to play on the PP. I understand you like the Rsitolainen trade and I hope you're right but I would bet on Myers rebounding on a team that is known for developing defenseman and righting his game and becoming a pretty good player long term.
- MJL

Myers will never be particularly ornery on the ice -- not his personality -- and he'll never be a power play candidate in the NHL. His shot release isn't going to get markedly faster. His reads and decision making are spotty (as are Ristolainen's). I do think Myers can bounce back at least to the level he showed in 2019-20. He's absolutely an NHL defenseman but I don't think he'll ever be a top 3.

Re: PP, I don't think Ristolainen will get near 40 points this year because Yandle and Ellis will most likely be the main PP guys. But we know he CAN do it, because he did it four straight years. Ristolainen is far from a perfect player. But he isn't garbage, either, and (analytics aside) he was a better player at ages 21-24 than Myers has been over of the same time period.

Reaaly hope they aren't blocking York's progression, he's ready now.
- backfire

Cam York this season will play the same amount of games he's played the past two seasons combined. He doesn't even turn 21 until January. He's going to hit a wall at some point and be burnt out.

He's ready to pay games, yes. He's not ready for a full NHL season. If he forces his way onto the roster at some point during the year, that's fantastic. But Chuck beefed up our organizational depth chart at D to the point where it wouldn't surprise me if Cam only plays a handful of games this year as an injury call up.

Really, really like some of the D we signed for the Phantoms yesterday. Seeler and Clendening can contribute if called upon and I'm intrigued by Cooper Zech. He is a borderline prospect still.

Flyers have less 30+ year olds on the roster than the back to back cup champs. Someone please explain to me how being over 30 means you cant play anymore and cant win a cup. Please explain.
- Richieattack18

Why are you comparing the Flyers to the Lightning? Who is the Flyers version of Vasilevsky, Hedman, Point and Kucherov? The Lightning franchise cornerstones are infinitely better than any player the Flyers have. When you have these (4) players who are all 30 and under, you can fill out your roster with veterans.

Cam York this season will play the same amount of games he's played the past two seasons combined. He doesn't even turn 21 until January. He's going to hit a wall at some point and be burnt out.

He's ready to pay games, yes. He's not ready for a full NHL season. If he forces his way onto the roster at some point during the year, that's fantastic. But Chuck beefed up our organizational depth chart at D to the point where it wouldn't surprise me if Cam only plays a handful of games this year as an injury call up.

Really, really like some of the D we signed for the Phantoms yesterday. Seeler and Clendening can contribute if called upon and I'm intrigued by Cooper Zech. He is a borderline prospect still.
- mochoson

Something else to consider: The way that many young players stick in the NHL is in a season where they start in the AHL, an injury opens an opportunity for a callup, they crush it in the call-up and stay in the NHL. That, in fact, was the exact way that Shayne Gostisbehere got to the NHL for his Calder runner-up season. It was also Claude Giroux's path after a subpar training camp.

With 8.01 left, the Flyers are going to be hard pressed to have any cap space available during the season.

Even if Sanheim and Hart come in on the low side, say 4 for TS, and 3 for Hart, that leaves us with very little cap space as a cushion.

It makes me wonder if they have another minor trade in the works to get some wiggle room.

Chuck has surprised me numerous times resigning players like Provorov, Konecny etc to deals that weren't as high as expected, so hopefully he will be able to do it again with TS and Hart.

So we traded 2 of the worst players on the team Patrick/Myers, 1 of which was the worst player in the entire league (Patrick), got rid of Ghosts awful contract too, got rid of Jakes awful contract, and received a top pairing RD in Ellis on a cheap contract, Ristolainen whose physical presence is going to be much needed on this team because we are soft and can play in a top 4 role, and Atkinson who is a much better all around player than Voracek and has a much cheaper contract to go with that, and you are upset? LOL. Give me a break. Did you see how many people are over 30 on Tampa Bay? Idk how they won the cup with so many old geezers. Literally half that team was over 30. But hey, go ahead and keep making poop up that 30 year olds can't play hockey anymore

Also I hate to have to remind you that signing free agents to cheap 1 year deals is a lot different than giving up assets to acquire them, but you knew that, you just like being completely disingenuous.
- Richieattack18

Imagine being gifted the second pick in a loaded draft and him being among the worst players in the NHL. As pathetic as it gets.