Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 3/24/19 @ WSH

Has to be one of the most disappointing years I’ve been apart of as a fan, and I’m 50 years old. Where do we go from here?

Probably sideways?

We have a stable of what’s probably considered leaguewide average prospects on the way to support a few aging players that could be considered top 100 in the league. Who knows about the coach.

Ordinary

I live about ten minutes away from the team USA program in Plymouth and went to see Jack Hughes Play. Boy, the kid can skate backwards as good as he does forward. He’s impressive. Tries to do too much though, he had a turnover right in front of his own net that lead directly to the second goal again.

With this said, his entire team is a well oiled machine. Matthew Boldy, Alex Vlasic, Cole Caufeild are all very impressive. Brian Rolston’s kid Ryan Rolston (how clever) looks promising one day. Spencer Knight didn’t allow a bad goal. Great program!

I met Craig button and talk him about his time as a TSN Analyst and his work as Flames GM.

Follow Team USA in Plymouth Michigan

Uhhh Bill, Not a word about the elephant on the ice yesterday?
Any change has to come from the the fans and the writers, the players and coaches get fined for the slightest negative word against the Empire...

I said it last time and I'l say it again, the NHL doesn't know what it wants to be.
Getting harder to watch and be excited about with a poop-show like yesterday...

Good call on too much defensive zone time. My greatest issue for past few seasons is defensive zone play. Flyers allow teams to gain the zone and allow them to pass to the d with no coverage. I know the new NHL you take away half boards so they can't get to the prime shooting areas but you can't allow them to keep passing back to the point and unloading 60 shot attempts per game. You will never win like that.

Uhhh Bill, Not a word about the elephant on the ice yesterday?
Any change has to come from the the fans and the writers, the players and coaches get fined for the slightest negative word against the Empire...

I said it last time and I'l say it again, the NHL doesn't know what it wants to be.
Getting harder to watch and be excited about with a poop-show like yesterday...
- BadCowboyDan

The officiating was awful yesterday (actually, the reffing was awful but the linesmen were fine). Had very little to do with why the Flyers lost.

Ek’s computer 💻 says they are not completely out of it. 😝

Don't mind you calling out refs in games the refs have an impact on outcome. Just don't turn into Boston announcers home goggles view. Me and my buddies cannot stand listening to any Boston games.

Has to be one of the most disappointing years I’ve been apart of as a fan, and I’m 50 years old. Where do we go from here?
- Dave21Brown

Disappointing that the former GM really did nothing to help this team be a playoff team when that was what he preached. Thats where the blame starts imo.

He had assets in terms of picks/prospects and seems he just refused to part with any to help the team he is the GM of.

IMO they need a very good vet dman (2/3 type as #1 not available) who can help not just on the ice but be a mentor.

add some good 2 way forwards to help with the lack of defense.

It wont be easy though I think a lot of it can be accomplished. As i said they have assets in spades that can be moved. Hell include one (within reason) just to get rid of amac and clear his salary

to continue the flyers have no identity and haven't for years. They have become arguably the leagues easiest team to play against. Teams imo look forward to playing the flyers

I want a 4th line like the isles employ. Those 3 guys contribute in pretty much every facet. All 3 play their role very well. That type of hockey can and will still be effective.

Now if you don't want to go that route then please try something other than just taking your 3 lower end roster guys and placing them on a line.

to continue the flyers have no identity and haven't for years. They have become arguably the leagues easiest team to play against. Teams imo look forward to playing the flyers

I want a 4th line like the isles employ. Those 3 guys contribute in pretty much every facet. All 3 play their role very well. That type of hockey can and will still be effective.

Now if you don't want to go that route then please try something other than just taking your 3 lower end roster guys and placing them on a line.
- daryl stanley

Laughton is a player that can be a key piece to our 4th line for years to come. We need to acquire top talent and push the laughtons down to their home on the 4th line

It takes two to make a trade.
And with the UFA market being deep why mortgage the future for a playoff run. I'm glad fletcher did nothing. Maybe we snag a big name UFA for free and then see what we still need and THEN start making trades.
I thought we all knew that this off season would be the one the defines fletcher
This past season was long gone like hak and hexy

It takes two to make a trade.
And with the UFA market being deep why mortgage the future for a playoff run. I'm glad fletcher did nothing. Maybe we snag a big name UFA for free and then see what we still need and THEN start making trades.
I thought we all knew that this off season would be the one the defines fletcher
This past season was long gone like hak and hexy
- sILKAsSINASALO

Fletcher gets longer than this offseason to define him. I too am glad it was a quiet deadline. However at the draft I don’t see that being the case

Disappointing that the former GM really did nothing to help this team be a playoff team when that was what he preached. Thats where the blame starts imo.

He had assets in terms of picks/prospects and seems he just refused to part with any to help the team he is the GM of.

IMO they need a very good vet dman (2/3 type as #1 not available) who can help not just on the ice but be a mentor.

add some good 2 way forwards to help with the lack of defense.

It wont be easy though I think a lot of it can be accomplished. As i said they have assets in spades that can be moved. Hell include one (within reason) just to get rid of amac and clear his salary
- daryl stanley

I don’t know what was available to him, Hextall, but in my opinion he put way too much faith in Nolan Patrick and his goaltending. He needed a second line center, but, I don’t blame him for not overspending with youth and picks to acquire what we needed in the now. Personally I think Hextall was more interested in building for the future than the present, he inherited Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Gostisbehere, Couturier, etc.

What he did do was set up the club nicely for a bright future.

It takes two to make a trade.
And with the UFA market being deep why mortgage the future for a playoff run. I'm glad fletcher did nothing. Maybe we snag a big name UFA for free and then see what we still need and THEN start making trades.
I thought we all knew that this off season would be the one the defines fletcher
This past season was long gone like hak and hexy
- sILKAsSINASALO

I wouldn’t say he’s done nothing. He got rid of some of the junk; Weise, Letera, Weal, Folin. He potentially set the team up with two good healthy goaltenders for next year. I’m not crazy about the return he got for Simmonds, but at least he’s not locked for long term.

The flyers must try and employ the most complicated D zone coverage scheme in the history of hockey.
It’s been years since they could actually shut down teams in the D zone. The amount of times guys are left wide open is mind boggling. They fail at sealing off the half boards. They leave the D men wide open because the wings are collapsing down to the circles.
To often the flyers are outnumbered on the boards while other players watch. The other guy wins the board battle and gets the puck to wide open teammate and the ozone pressure continues.

In the ozone to many guys are content to glide towards the net despite a checking player has him covered. A pass is forced and possession is lost.
They seem incapable of cutting into the open spaces and creating a outlet for the pick carrier.

Last night Patrick was playing a perimeter game. He was controlling possession and just skating on the perimeter of the zone.
He has to take the puck to the net.

Overall a very disappointing effort last night.
They have the potential to be run out of the building today.

I wouldn’t say he’s done nothing. He got rid of some of the junk; Weise, Letera, Weal, Folin. He potentially set the team up with two good healthy goaltenders for next year. I’m not crazy about the return he got for Simmonds, but at least he’s not locked for long term.
- Dkos

I’m interested in knowing if any of you would take back Simmonds in a lesser role, if he accepted lesser money. He’s not exactly playing up his value. He might have to take a bridge gap deal.

I’m interested in knowing if any of you would take back Simmonds in a lesser role, if he accepted lesser money. He’s not exactly playing up his value. He might have to take a bridge gap deal.
- SuperSchennBros

I am not in any way shape or form in favor of bringing him back. Time to turn the page.

wayne will be lucky to get a 2 year deal at this current point in time.

I am not in any way shape or form in favor of bringing him back. Time to turn the page.

wayne will be lucky to get a 2 year deal at this current point in time.
- daryl stanley

I think anyone who takes a chance on Simmonds on the cheap, will be making a home run move. I don’t think Simmonds cab have a worse season than the one he’s currently having.

AMac in
Ghost out

DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE GORDON!

I’m interested in knowing if any of you would take back Simmonds in a lesser role, if he accepted lesser money. He’s not exactly playing up his value. He might have to take a bridge gap deal.
- SuperSchennBros

No. It is time to move on. It is time to get more speed to this team.

Fletcher gets longer than this offseason to define him. I too am glad it was a quiet deadline. However at the draft I don’t see that being the case
- Just5

This draft is going to be a huge swing for this organization. There is zero excuse to not put together a contending team for years to come.
This off season is where his legacy begins, I should have said. But I agree that this will be a big off season

I’m interested in knowing if any of you would take back Simmonds in a lesser role, if he accepted lesser money. He’s not exactly playing up his value. He might have to take a bridge gap deal.
- SuperSchennBros

Yes. I’d take a chance on him having a bounce back year next year, but wouldn’t sign him for more than two years.

I wouldn’t say he’s done nothing. He got rid of some of the junk; Weise, Letera, Weal, Folin. He potentially set the team up with two good healthy goaltenders for next year. I’m not crazy about the return he got for Simmonds, but at least he’s not locked for long term.
- Dkos

He definitely cut a few terds from the pile and for that I'm grateful
To me it seems like hexy didnt like to admit he made mistakes... the obvious being weise and weal... and hak