Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Drysdale, Prospects, TIFH

I have little hope that Drysdale can stay healthy. Once guys start getting repeatedly injured, it rarely ends well.

Which is a reason I thought for not picking Buium was suspect. I know Drysdale is in the system but he hasn't done enough for me to say I can count on him and to pass on Buium.

My main concern about Drysdale is not his potential to improve his game. It's his ability to stay healthy enough to see it through.
- bmeltzer

His health and ability to remain healthy was a concern when he was traded for and is still a concern 8 months later. It turns out he wasn't healthy even when the trade happened but Briere let him play through it. That seems incredibly shortsighted for someone they hope is a long term piece of the puzzle. That twice injured shoulder may be prone to reinjury the rest of the career plus his other injuries.

That's what makes it so baffling, despite the resources already spent on defensemen that they passed on Buium.

https://www.quanthockey.c...nts-per-game-leaders.html

Makar and Hughes, the 2022 and 2024 norris trophy winners and the highest p/gp (who have played 300+ games) defensemen actively playing. Both 6' or less.

Zeev compares favorably to them at when they were at his age. Scouts compare alot of what he does to those 2 players. He's as big if not bigger than them.

The Flyers, despite what they would like you to believe, still don't have anyone projected to be that #1 dman, I just don't see how Jamie projects to be that guy, especially if he can't stay healthy.

Zeev would've been the Flyers best shot if he would've been drafted.

Is Drysdale Briere's Ellis, or is he Briere's Ristolainen?

12 goals 40 points and a modest plus minus in the plus column with 75 games played….would that be considered a success? It will always hurt how we evaluate him as cutter will be the comparison but Jamie has the potential to plug a big hole in this team. Last years results were mildly disappointing but injuries of course were a likely culprit

Is Drysdale Briere's Ellis, or is he Briere's Ristolainen?
- Feanor

Weird question. Ellis played 4 games for the Flyers. In Rostolainen’s case, he’s played 171 games in 3 seasons.

12 goals 40 points and a modest plus minus in the plus column with 75 games played….would that be considered a success? It will always hurt how we evaluate him as cutter will be the comparison but Jamie has the potential to plug a big hole in this team. Last years results were mildly disappointing but injuries of course were a likely culprit
- GPerogie

Jamie doesn't have 12 goals for his career and has barely over 40 points total in 4 years with injuries playing a big part. This will be his 5th year in the league and he has a significant injury history, especially for someone so young.

Relying on him to be healthy would be a fools bet at this point given his track record.

Weird question. Ellis played 4 games for the Flyers. In Rostolainen case, he’s played 171 games in 3 seasons.
- roenick97

Not weird at all. Drysdale has played 24, so he's closer to Ellis right now. All three are RHD dmen with extensive injury records that the Flyers traded for.

Not weird at all. Drysdale has played 24, so he's closer to Ellis right now. All three are RHD dmen with extensive injury records that the Flyers traded for.
- Feanor

Drydale was traded here mid season. Drydale will never be Ellis if he’s already played 20 more games…

Ellis isn’t physically able to play. He might as well be dead…

Add to that navigating a big adjustment in systems (man-to-man vs. zone coverage responsibilities)
- bmeltzer

This brings to mind an article from earlier in the year regarding the Flyers and the Phantoms. The fact that Torts does not give a flying fig how the phantoms are run because "systems don't matter".

https://phillyhockeynow.c...ork-torts-ian-laperriere/

“I think people make a big deal out of different systems,” Tortorella said after a practice session Thursday in Voorhees. “There may be slight details (that are different). You may have different philosophies, a man-on-man defense versus a zone defense. But it isn’t a huge change.”

If systems don't matter than it can't be used as an excuse for poor play. I disagree that they don't matter, after all practice in a system makes perfect, but what do you think?

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Drysdale, Prospects, TIFH
- bmeltzer

Bill to your knowledge did the flyers ever come close to trading for or bring back Chris simon? what about Probert?

Is Drysdale Briere's Ellis, or is he Briere's Ristolainen?
- Feanor

...or Briere's Nolan Patrick. High pick with lots of potential that is never reached because of injuries.

...or Briere's Nolan Patrick. High pick with lots of potential that is never reached because of injuries.
- Dkos

Nolan's problems only started after he was drafted, JD had health issues long before, during, and after the trade.

You can say the Flyers couldn't have foreseen Nolan's health issues but JD's injuries were a neon sign.

Despite the cluster that the CG situation was, the Ducks still had to throw in a 2nd round pick which means everyone involved thinks he's more of a lottery ticket than a likely thing.

I do know this, however: The Flyers absolutely NEED Drysdale to eventually come close to reaching the ceiling projected in his Draft year. It needn't happen in 2024-25 (although it'd get critics off his case sooner) but he needs a sharp upward trend within the next few years. There's no room for the Flyers to be proven to have made the wrong call on Drysdale. They have to hit the mark. Danny Briere and Keith Jones have both publicly said as much, and they are right about that.
- bmeltzer

The Flyers would have to be pleased if Jamie could even hit Coburn/Carle level.

With his development thrown out of whack and the Flyers long, long track record of mishandling young dmen I don't think there's really much of a chance at all of him being able to hit his pre-draft potential.

Nolan's problems only started after he was drafted, JD had health issues long before, during, and after the trade.

You can say the Flyers couldn't have foreseen Nolan's health issues but JD's injuries were a neon sign.

Despite the cluster that the CG situation was, the Ducks still had to throw in a 2nd round pick which means everyone involved thinks he's more of a lottery ticket than a likely thing.
- Flyers_01

If Drysdale lives up to his potential it was a fine move. If not DB will look bad. I know DB was in a tough position with Cutter, but I cant help but feel like he could have done better.

I have little hope that Drysdale can stay healthy. Once guys start getting repeatedly injured, it rarely ends well.
- BiggE

Yup, just like Patrice Bergeron and his early concussion issues ...

The Flyers would have to be pleased if Jamie could even hit Coburn/Carle level.

With his development thrown out of whack and the Flyers long, long track record of mishandling young dmen I don't think there's really much of a chance at all of him being able to hit his pre-draft potential.
- Tomahawk

Right, just like the Flyers have really mishandled York ?

Drydale was traded here mid season. Drydale will never be Ellis if he’s already played 20 more games…

Ellis isn’t physically a to play. He might as well be dead…
- roenick97

Ellis' NHL career ended due to injuries when he was 30. Drysdale still needs to play another 8 years to match that.

Ellis has as many points for the Flyers as Drysdale does, despite playing 20 fewer games.

Yup, just like Patrice Bergeron and his early concussion issues ...
- jd250

You forgot about Nolan Patrick already?

You forgot about Nolan Patrick already?
- Feanor

Nope .. my point is the kid is 22 years old .. he has plenty of time to recover and get his career going again. To just make the claim JD is just damaged goods and will never turn into anything, and then bash Briere based on this bogus take, is just assinine.

Yup, just like Patrice Bergeron and his early concussion issues ...
- jd250

Bergeron played 3 seasons of 70 games or more with two 70+ point seasons before having injury issues in 07/08. Not a good comparison.

Nolan Patrick had injury issues long before the Flyers drafted him and many scouts were concerned regardless where the media had him listed. Drafting him was a risk. As we have witnessed over the past couple of drafts, the media is way off in their draft rankings these days.

Also, if Buium is the next Makar or Hughs, why did 12 teams pass on him? Not saying I agree with passing on him, but there must have been reasons why the media had him in the top 5 or 6, but the NHL brass did not.

Nolan Patrick had injury issues long before the Flyers drafted him and many scouts were concerned regardless where the media had him listed. Drafting him was a risk. As we have witnessed over the past couple of drafts, the media is way off in their draft rankings these days.

Also, if Buium is the next Makar or Hughs, why did 12 teams pass on him? Not saying I agree with passing on him, but there must have been reasons why the media had him in the top 5 or 6, but the NHL brass did not.
- 26912 PP

Wasn’t he the 6th Dman taken? I think the bigger miss is going to be passing on Helenius

Ellis' NHL career ended due to injuries when he was 30. Drysdale still needs to play another 8 years to match that.

Ellis has as many points for the Flyers as Drysdale does, despite playing 20 fewer games.
- Feanor

So we’re moving the goal posts here. That’s what we are doing? What does Ryan Ellis’s career in Nashville have to do with the Philadelphia Flyers? If memory serves, Ryan Ellis may have been an injury prone, but he was also a very good defenseman in Nashville.

As for Risto, how you feel about him as a player is irrelevant. There were no signs of him being an injury prone player in Buffalo.

You’re reaching.