Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Giroux, TIFH, and More

Giroux

as I watch these playoff's and see teams like NYIS and Carolina have such success you really do get the sense that the parity in the NHL is at an all time high. I can't help but think the Flyers could definitely make a few upgrades and compete for the cup.

as I watch these playoff's and see teams like NYIS and Carolina have such success you really do get the sense that the parity in the NHL is at an all time high. I can't help but think the Flyers could definitely make a few upgrades and compete for the cup.
- landros 2

We are not one guy away.

Draft and Develop.


(sarcasm)

as I watch these playoff's and see teams like NYIS and Carolina have such success you really do get the sense that the parity in the NHL is at an all time high. I can't help but think the Flyers could definitely make a few upgrades and compete for the cup.
- landros 2

While I agree with you on parity, I do not think it's the major contributor to Carolina's and NYI success.
Both of these teams play great team game within the systems cultivated by coaches. It's evident that both Trotz and Brindy not only managed to implement and adjust the systems that suits their personnel, but also had that personnel bought in. If the coach places players in the positions to succeed the players will over perform. Everything falls apart when a square peg is being forcibly pushed into a round hall. Please do not misunderstand me on the players' side- each and everyone of them might need to make some adjustment to become a seamless part of the system. But the trick is to magnify player's strength not to mitigate his weaknesses and achieve an average result. Again, that does not mean that Kucherovs and Ovechkins of the world should not play within a defensive schema, but their potential must be maximized on the other side of the ice.
Hopefully, AV will be able to get there with the Flyers.

Not really enjoying the playoffs thus year. Lot of mucking, grinding and trapping. Not seeing the exciting play that represented the last 3 or 4 years.

Edit; reminds of those God awful Devils teams

You've gotta be kidding me. The physicality between Boston and CBJ has been so much fun to watch. The refs have put the whistles away for a lot of games.
I think just the opposite of what you day. I think I've seen more physicality this post season than I have in the past few years. This year it feels like old school hockey again

I must be watching a different version of the playoffs because I have enjoyed each game I have watched.

High intensity, High aggression, skill on display

It's kind of unbelievable that we've had a player as prolific as Giroux all these years and outside of his rookie year not one team has made it past the 2nd round.

Remember all those years the Leafs wasted Sundin? 🙄

Not really enjoying the playoffs thus year. Lot of mucking, grinding and trapping. Not seeing the exciting play that represented the last 3 or 4 years.

Edit; reminds of those God awful Devils teams
- jaws1955

I definitely think you are in the minority on this one. It's been an outstanding playoffs so far.

I was at the Spectrum for that game on 5/2/1987. The thing that sticks with me to this day is how jacked the Flyers fans were. The players hadn't taken the ice yet but most fans were seated and shouting the Let's Go Flyers. I thought that had to be reverberating into the Islanders locker room under the stadium and been very intimidating. Results of 1st period seem to indicate they were.

Such a different atmosphere in the Spectrum compared to today. I remember being a kid at some of those games and thinking that the building is coming down. You could really feel the energy and there were times, it seemed, that the teams fed off of it.

I was a season ticket holder back then, so I remember the game. Thing I hate most about revisiting the past is it seems to remind me that we haven't had much of a future for a while now. That was the year we took the best hockey team ever to 7 games if I recall...

Not really enjoying the playoffs thus year. Lot of mucking, grinding and trapping. Not seeing the exciting play that represented the last 3 or 4 years.

Edit; reminds of those God awful Devils teams
- jaws1955

I think you are watching the wrong channel.

greeeaatt

While I agree with you on parity, I do not think it's the major contributor to Carolina's and NYI success.
Both of these teams play great team game within the systems cultivated by coaches. It's evident that both Trotz and Brindy not only managed to implement and adjust the systems that suits their personnel, but also had that personnel bought in. If the coach places players in the positions to succeed the players will over perform. Everything falls apart when a square peg is being forcibly pushed into a round hall. Please do not misunderstand me on the players' side- each and everyone of them might need to make some adjustment to become a seamless part of the system. But the trick is to magnify player's strength not to mitigate his weaknesses and achieve an average result. Again, that does not mean that Kucherovs and Ovechkins of the world should not play within a defensive schema, but their potential must be maximized on the other side of the ice.
Hopefully, AV will be able to get there with the Flyers.
- missingmike

it is obvious that the teams have bought into the systems the coaches have implemented. Belief brings confidence, I do agree there is parity. If AV gets buy-in and belief, the Flyers add a couple pieces, they should have a real good season.

Without reference to metrics and based solely on the eye test, every team left in the playoffs skates better as a whole than the Flyers which allows for better forechecking and breakouts.

Without reference to metrics and based solely on the eye test, every team left in the playoffs skates better as a whole than the Flyers which allows for better forechecking and breakouts.
- Sinisalo4vr

Bingo

@ Sinisalo4vr , we absolutely crushed the Islanders the last few times we played them. It's easy to see that with your eyes as well because every guy is going as hard as possible, this isn't the regular season. Watching the Carolina/Isles series I don't think the Flyers are too far off.

as I watch these playoff's and see teams like NYIS and Carolina have such success you really do get the sense that the parity in the NHL is at an all time high. I can't help but think the Flyers could definitely make a few upgrades and compete for the cup.
- landros 2

I thought we were a contender heading into last season. If your players don’t show up, you don’t make the playoffs.

If Simmonds plays to form, if Jake doesn’t get hurt and suspended, if Provorov doesn’t have a down first half, if JvR isn’t out for a month, if we don’t use 8 goaltender, if we have depth at forward....


...we’re a lot better team.

I thought we were a contender heading into last season. If your players don’t show up, you don’t make the playoffs.

If Simmonds plays to form, if Jake doesn’t get hurt and suspended, if Provorov doesn’t have a down first half, if JvR isn’t out for a month, if we don’t use 8 goaltender, if we have depth at forward....


...we’re a lot better team.
- SuperSchennBros

Of all you mentioned, how about if Provy and Ghost just play decent, we probably make the playoffs. they were both really bad.

I was a season ticket holder back then, so I remember the game. Thing I hate most about revisiting the past is it seems to remind me that we haven't had much of a future for a while now. That was the year we took the best hockey team ever to 7 games if I recall...
- BadCowboyDan

The WFC can get juiced as well. I remember last year, the last game of the year, the Flyers are heading into the playoffs after yet another valiant playoff push and Giroux scores a hat trick... his first regular season hat trick. In a last day of the season game, the fans nearly blew the roof off.

And they do turn up during playoff hockey.

Trade G










...somebody had to say it

It's kind of unbelievable that we've had a player as prolific as Giroux all these years and outside of his rookie year not one team has made it past the 2nd round.

Remember all those years the Leafs wasted Sundin? 🙄
- hereticpride

Eh, it's not that hard to believe.

Ovechkin's Capitals didn't make it past the 2nd round till his 13th NHL season, and they lost in the first round again this year. So the best goal scorer in NHL history has had one good playoff run in 14 seasons.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...te,1000&sort=goalsPerGame

Eh, it's not that hard to believe.

Ovechkin's Capitals didn't make it past the 2nd round till his 13th NHL season, and they lost in the first round again this year. So the best goal scorer in NHL history has had one good playoff run in 14 seasons.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...te,1000&sort=goalsPerGame
- Feanor

I've mentioned this before, Ovi was labelled as a loser and horrible captain by every analyst. All it takes is one playoff run, everything changes.