Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Punish Wild, 6-2

I know it's way too early, but this team looks too good to end up bottom 5 or even bottom 7. Any chance we speed up this rebuild if Brink, Tip, York, Foerster show continued improvement through the season and end up studs? Then bring in Cutter next year, and start bulking this team up.

Oh boy are people going to be mad....

"YeAh ThEy Be WiNnInG CuP nOw!"

Myrtetus and Meltzer did say on their podcast they felt this team would surprise some people. I wasnt fooled by the hot start last year, but I genuinely think this group looks and plays different….the youth movement is paying off and they really missed a healthy Atkinson and Couturier last year. I’m liking what I’m seeing.

I know it's way too early, but this team looks too good to end up bottom 5 or even bottom 7. Any chance we speed up this rebuild if Brink, Tip, York, Foerster show continued improvement through the season and end up studs? Then bring in Cutter next year, and start bulking this team up.
- West Coast Flyer

Well, you never can count out a 10 game slide unfortunately. But yeah, they’re playing tough. Good on them.

And grats to the kid for potting his first goals! Nice job, Bobby!

Except for Ottawa. They’ve controlled these games. It’s early, but it’s an interesting start. When will Dinocoach get exposed?

Sit Laughton for Frost

I’m not sure if they can sustain this, but, I said before the season started they could be better than most people thought they were going to be.

Blah blah blah…. All these posts about speeding up rebuild and dinocoach?

First, the most improvement from last year to this year is the support the players have on the ice. By this I mean structurally they have themselves in better positions away from the puck. The gaps are not getting pushed bigger most often like last year and they are not exiting the zone before they need to.

From this happening it is allowing the team to get cleaner exits (not perfect but a lot better than last year). This is also supporting Hart with rebounds and most often the teams are not getting strong second chances.

I know it's way too early, but this team looks too good to end up bottom 5 or even bottom 7. Any chance we speed up this rebuild if Brink, Tip, York, Foerster show continued improvement through the season and end up studs? Then bring in Cutter next year, and start bulking this team up.
- West Coast Flyer

I guarantee you this is exactly how KJ is seeing it. We all know how this ends - not good. Just a sure as the leaves fall this time of year, the Flyers play their best hockey only to come crashing down to earth, and another wasted year in delaying the true rebuild

Sit Laughton for Frost
- WhiskeyMan

The correct move would be Laughton to the 4th line, frost in and ND way out of here. We all know ND is not going anywhere especially since his fight, I mean wrestling match, was the reason they won.

Does anyone else hope he breaks his hand (or jaw) when fighting. I know, I'm not a good person, but that is the only realistic way he is exiting the lineup...

Another thing that may have been overlooked heading into this season is Torts' track record with new organizations. He has been known to struggle his first year with a new team and then they seem to be much better the second year. A combination of him weeding out players that he doesn't like and the players understanding his system better seem to be the reason. They have looked much more cohesive on the ice. Let's see where they are a month from now cause Turkey Day is usually the first good barometer of what teams are. Lots of goofy stuff happens the first couple weeks of a new season.

I didn't know Sanheim had put on 20 pounds of muscle in the off season. My two biggest pleasant surprises thus far are Brink and Sanheim. Sanheim might of had his best game as a Flyer last night. Another 1PM tomorrow? WTF! What's with these 1PM starts this early in the season?

It's a small sample, but unlike the fraud Bruins who have not played a good team yet (Chicago and Anaheim twice already in 7 games), these Flyers have played tough in all but 1 game and have played some really good teams. I said they would be better than people thought and so far that is true, again small sample size. The Flyers are 9th in the league in goals against, 11th in the league in goals for, 11th in the league in PK% and after last night's game are at last not least in PP%. Unlike last year's good start where Hart essentially stood on his head for the Flyers to win, this year feels very, very different so far.

Sit Laughton for Frost
- WhiskeyMan

The team looks just fine in the past 5 games ... why can't people just accept that Frost is not that good? They put up 6 goals last night, Geez!

Myrtetus and Meltzer did say on their podcast they felt this team would surprise some people. I wasnt fooled by the hot start last year, but I genuinely think this group looks and plays different….the youth movement is paying off and they really missed a healthy Atkinson and Couturier last year. I’m liking what I’m seeing.
- Sublime55

They are playing well, it's not just hot shooting and hot goaltending like it was at the start of last season. Cam and Coots are making a difference. And Sanheim's been an upgrade over Provy in the #1D slot.

With that said tho... they gotta sustain their current level PLUS find ways to get even better, because it won't be long before they start facing more opponents who have their poop together.

The team looks just fine in the past 5 games ... why can't people just accept that Frost is not that good? They put up 6 goals last night, Geez!
- jd250

Is this team a Stanley Cup level team? If it is, then saying they look just fine and nothing needs to change makes sense. If not, then it doesn't make sense. Why should people accept something that is obviously not reality? Why can't you just accept that Tortorella is a jackass?

I will keep my comments specific to the game. I was able to watch almost all of it.

Good to see Coots playing effectively. TK's goal was a snipe. PP was efficient and Brink was able to cash in a few times. Hart looked solid for the most part. I thought he struggled a little with rebound control and to cover the puck. The 4th line seemed like they were hemmed in their own end all night. Sanheim looked very good. Zamula seemed solid as well.

Good win from beginning to end. I am not convinced that this team is any better than last year's team. We will see.

Is this team a Stanley Cup level team? If it is, then saying they look just fine and nothing needs to change makes sense. If not, then it doesn't make sense. Why should people accept something that is obviously not reality? Why can't you just accept that Tortorella is a jackass?
- MJL

Torts for the Jack Adams!

They are playing well, it's not just hot shooting and hot goaltending like it was at the start of last season. Cam and Coots are making a difference. And Sanheim's been an upgrade over Provy in the #1D slot.

With that said tho... they gotta sustain their current level PLUS find ways to get even better, because it won't be long before they start facing more opponents who have their poop together.
- Tomahawk

I know one way they can get ever better. Put their leading scorer at ES from last season back in the lineup?

Torts for the Jack Adams!
- Phillywhiteout

Well he already got screwed over from last year when he was the hands down winner.

They started out 7-3-2 last season and we all know how that turned out.

Last season we could all feel it was smoke and mirrors, the advanced stats were the real barometer and it all evened out.

This year, another good start, but I'll agree with many that the team feels different so far. Let's see where we are in a month.

I'll say it again, you cannot understate the effect Sean Couturier has on this team. IMO he is worth 5 wins on his own.

The team looks just fine in the past 5 games ... why can't people just accept that Frost is not that good? They put up 6 goals last night, Geez!
- jd250

I agree with you, but people have been female doging about getting Frost into the line up. Sitting Laughton is the only path I see barring an injury.

I guarantee you this is exactly how KJ is seeing it. We all know how this ends - not good. Just a sure as the leaves fall this time of year, the Flyers play their best hockey only to come crashing down to earth, and another wasted year in delaying the true rebuild
- mr4tno

Could you please define this?

I’m not sure if they can sustain this, but, I said before the season started they could be better than most people thought they were going to be.
- Pacificgem

thats torts as well. he gets lesser teams to overperform for a couple seasons. then like most coaches the message falls on deaf ears.

They are playing well, it's not just hot shooting and hot goaltending like it was at the start of last season. Cam and Coots are making a difference. And Sanheim's been an upgrade over Provy in the #1D slot.

With that said tho... they gotta sustain their current level PLUS find ways to get even better, because it won't be long before they start facing more opponents who have their poop together.
- Tomahawk

I think this is it for this season. If the Flyers can maintain this level they will be a bubble team this year which is a step forward. They clearly are playing a faster, more structured game, and not just collapsing in their own zone. It comes down to having better players that can execute a more modern system. Next year the Flyers clear more cap space and add more younger players including Cutter Gauthier. The year after that they pay a king's ransom to get Michkov out of Russia and they are a legitimate playoff team. That is how I see it and is why the Flyers need to hold onto TK and Hart.