Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 3/3/19 @ NYI

I wanna piggyback the Mrazek topic on to this page. Yeah, Mrazek wasn’t very good last season but last year he was 26, consistently healthy and played behind a weak defense. Now, I’m sure many will argue that we have the same defense now. Those people would be correct and right now we’re getting out shot every night. Mrazek had a pretty good start with the Flyers but he drifted off with very little help and due to contract circumstances, he had to go and we were life with worse options than Mrazek.

Still holding out hope for the playoffs, but the Flyers don’t seem to get much help in losses from teams ahead of them

Unfortunately, this is the hole this team put themselves in with their start. Just gotta hope for the draft lottery gods to reward them for continuing to play out the season strong and not going into tank mode. Not expecting the lottery luck of the Nolan Patrick draft, but I wouldn't be opposed to it happening again. Heck, I have zero complaints ending up with Kakko

Brock Nelson is a free agent not enough people talk about. Would absolutely love to add him. He got pegged as tavares side kick for way too long

I wanna piggyback the Mrazek topic on to this page. Yeah, Mrazek wasn’t very good last season but last year he was 26, consistently healthy and played behind a weak defense. Now, I’m sure many will argue that we have the same defense now. Those people would be correct and right now we’re getting out shot every night. Mrazek had a pretty good start with the Flyers but he drifted off with very little help and due to contract circumstances, he had to go and we were life with worse options than Mrazek.
- SuperSchennBros

The team defense wasn't all that weak in the second half of the regular season last year. Mrazek, after a pretty good start, fell off a cliff. For awhile there, he was letting in about 1.25 stoppable goals a game, turning games the team controlled into dogfights and manageable deficits into cavernous ones. It was one of the worst stretches of goaltending in recent team history; so much so that when Hakstol decided to go in the playofs with an injured Elliott and an injured Neuvirth as the starters in the six games -- both of whom needed surgery, had missed significant time, and were on maintenance plans to get just "well" enough to play again -- that it wasn't even an areas where he was second-guessed very much. That said it all.

Brock Nelson is a free agent not enough people talk about. Would absolutely love to add him. He got pegged as tavares side kick for way too long
- Tfaehner

Didn’t know that he was. Isles would do well to keep him

Didn’t know that he was. Isles would do well to keep him
- Just5

They signed him to 1 year 4.25 million last year. He was widely regarded as tavares side kick. He would be a perfect fit. On pace for a 25/30 range season. Big body capable. Still young. 2 way player. Forget duchene Nelson would be my target if were going for a top 6 center.

They signed him to 1 year 4.25 million last year. He was widely regarded as tavares side kick. He would be a perfect fit. On pace for a 25/30 range season. Big body capable. Still young. 2 way player. Forget duchene Nelson would be my target if were going for a top 6 center.
- Tfaehner

I wouldn't mind him depending on cost of course. Also like Kevin Hayes.

I wouldn't mind him depending on cost of course. Also like Kevin Hayes.
- MJL

I like hayes too. But hayes to me is a 2c with potential for more. Nelson Coots would be 1a 1b to me. But I'd bid on both. I think that would jump this team up big time a long with a vet top 4 d man. That's how I'd spend. Those 2 positions and than re sign our guys. I know we agree on hayes and stralman before among others.

Barry Trotz is looking like a shoo-in for the Jack Adams this season.

I like hayes too. But hayes to me is a 2c with potential for more. Nelson Coots would be 1a 1b to me. But I'd bid on both. I think that would jump this team up big time a long with a vet top 4 d man. That's how I'd spend. Those 2 positions and than re sign our guys. I know we agree on hayes and stralman before among others.
- Tfaehner

Brock Nelson is a nice player but he isn't anywhere close to being a #1 center in this league and at his age he won't be in the future. Both Hayes and Nelson are 2C level players.

Barry Trotz is looking like a shoo-in for the Jack Adams this season.
- NC Flyers Fan

He’ll probably win but Jon Cooper is deserving of it too.

No to Hayes. Just keep filtering kids in. There are enough internal options to fill all the openings.

Sign a big time UFA and you end up exposing another youngster to expansion.

I’m really excited about Phillipe Myers so far. He looks calm and in control out there. Seeing a big D guy, right handed, who can skate and seems to have a good hockey IQ is pretty cool.

I saw Carter Hart is off IR. Will they keep 3 goalies the rest of the season?

Talbot seemed to put a few rebounds directly to a Devil in prime scoring position. Wasn’t super impressed but maybe just rust after a long break between games?

No to Hayes. Just keep filtering kids in. There are enough internal options to fill all the openings.

Sign a big time UFA and you end up exposing another youngster to expansion.
- Tomahawk

Fletcher is going to spend. If you dont believe it idk what to tell you. He was given a very clear objective this team needed to compete yesterday. He convinced them away this season likely making promises of a flush off season. At this point route to spend wisely than pretend they're not going to cause I can assure you they will be adding.

He’ll probably win but Jon Cooper is deserving of it too.
- Marc D

Yes, I imagine Cooper will be a finalist. Trotz coaching impact is dramatic though.

No to Hayes. Just keep filtering kids in. There are enough internal options to fill all the openings.

Sign a big time UFA and you end up exposing another youngster to expansion.
- Tomahawk

thanks Hexy.

Lol, I think that’s the right way to go and if the Flyers eschew the UFA market I’ll find it pretty ironic, given the hubbub they made about bring in a GM to be “active”

Yes, I imagine Cooper will be a finalist. Trotz coaching impact is dramatic though.
- NC Flyers Fan

Trotz berube cooper.

If berube leads them to a top 3 seed from taking over a bottom 3 team in the nhl hes going to get quite some votes.

Trotz berube cooper.

If berube leads them to a top 3 seed from taking over a bottom 3 team in the nhl hes going to get quite some votes.
- Tfaehner

Looks good.

thanks Hexy.

Lol, I think that’s the right way to go and if the Flyers eschew the UFA market I’ll find it pretty ironic, given the hubbub they made about bring in a GM to be “active”
- Marc D

I'm hoping the brass have changed their mind after seeing what the kids (under a decent coach) are capable of.

No to Hayes. Just keep filtering kids in. There are enough internal options to fill all the openings.

Sign a big time UFA and you end up exposing another youngster to expansion.
- Tomahawk

I don't at all disagree with that notion but we have to look at it from the context of what the team is going to do. They fired the GM for inaction. Upper management will not except the same from this GM. They are either going to trade or use free agency to improve this team as fast as they can.

Trotz berube cooper.

If berube leads them to a top 3 seed from taking over a bottom 3 team in the nhl hes going to get quite some votes.
- Tfaehner

We've already established on this forum that Berube is a terrible coach so how can that be?

Fletcher is going to spend. If you dont believe it idk what to tell you. He was given a very clear objective this team needed to compete yesterday. He convinced them away this season likely making promises of a flush off season. At this point route to spend wisely than pretend they're not going to cause I can assure you they will be adding.
- Tfaehner

Spend wisely means different things to each of us. I really want to acquire that top RH veteran defenseman. So I’m excited about budget options for the other holes.

I'm hoping the brass have changed their mind after seeing what the kids (under a decent coach) are capable of.
- Tomahawk

They also saw what can happen under a good coach (Hakstol). They aren't going to change their minds.