Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Gostisbehere at a Crossroads

Whether or not Ghost can improve his defensive games remains to be seen. I am not so sure he can or wants to to. That being said hope they play to his strengths as long as he is on the team. Dont try to turn him into something he is not.

Whether or not Ghost can improve his defensive games remains to be seen. I am not so sure he can or wants to to. That being said hope they play to his strengths as long as he is on the team. Dont try to turn him into something he is not.
- daryl stanley

He wasn't bad in his own zone in 2017-18.... regressed last season.

It seems to me that the best thing the coaches can do when it comes to Ghost is to just get him to relax and play his game. His comment about thinking that the opposing defender isn’t going to bite on his fake is very telling to me. I don’t want Ghost thinking, I want him reading, reacting and doing.

I still think that Ghost and Provorov can be a very effective pair in transition and on the attack. I also don’t think pairings need to be set in stone. On D zone draws and in shutdown situations , they can pair Provorov with a guy like Niskanen and Braun, and use him with Ghost in other situations.

I also think Ghost is the one Flyer Dman better off playing on his off side. However, if they are going to dress 3 RH shooting Dmen, we probably won’t see much of this. This is why I’m hoping to see Morin win a spot over Braun at some point during the season.

I think seeing how the coaches use the D group this season will be very interesting to say the least.

He wasn't bad in his own zone in 2017-18.... regressed last season.
- bmeltzer

Correct. he doesnt have to be great; just passable as long as contributing in other areas.

I just hope the coaching staff doesn't try to reinvent the wheel with him is all. Sometimes they get stubborn.

That goes to BiggE's point about how the coaches use these guys. Just play to their strengths.

Ghost can't really afford another poor season here. I think his shelf life in Philly is up if his game doesn't turn around this year. Provy, Myers, Sanhiem all young and looking like top 4 D. Morin and York in the wings. Time to find out if he's the real deal or if he's another Del Zotto

That goes to BiggE's point about how the coaches use these guys. Just play to their strengths.
- Pelle31Forever

You can only do that if you have a well balanced roster though. And I think part of the trouble with Ghost is that they've never really had the right steadfast defensive D man to pair him with. We'll see if that changes with Niskanen, Braun or even Morin being added to the mix.

That goes to BiggE's point about how the coaches use these guys. Just play to their strengths.
- Pelle31Forever

you mean my point

Ghost can't really afford another poor season here. I think his shelf life in Philly is up if his game doesn't turn around this year. Provy, Myers, Sanhiem all young and looking like top 4 D. Morin and York in the wings. Time to find out if he's the real deal or if he's another Del Zotto
- hereticpride

del zotto better defensively!!! ghost will put up points just going to have to live with sub standard defense if you want him on your roster.

agreed on all points, one thing to add, with his contract even 37 points he is worth every penny of it...

It all gets down to fit. I think the D is a good problem, It is a good thing.

I want to see Morin but I want Braun to play really well and justify why fletcher got him. That will really show the youngens a good example but i want Myers and Ghost etc etc.

You can only do that if you have a well balanced roster though. And I think part of the trouble with Ghost is that they've never really had the right steadfast defensive D man to pair him with. We'll see if that changes with Niskanen, Braun or even Morin being added to the mix.
- hereticpride

true and make no mistake, Provys bad season exagerated Ghost challenges.

agreed on all points, one thing to add, with his contract even 37 points he is worth every penny of it...

It all gets down to fit. I think the D is a good problem, It is a good thing.

I want to see Morin but I want Braun to play really well and justify why fletcher got him. That will really show the youngens a good example but i want Myers and Ghost etc etc.
- wcorvette

That's one of the questions I have. With the addition of Braun, it's not going to be easy for Morin to break into the lineup. Another player is going to have to falter and be removed from the lineup. An injury perhaps. It's a long season and I'm sure he'll get some opportunities but another season of inactivity is not going to be good for him.

you mean my point
- daryl stanley

Or both.

Something has to give with the numbers we have on the backend. I still believe someone gets traded before season starts.

That's one of the questions I have. With the addition of Braun, it's not going to be easy for Morin to break into the lineup. Another player is going to have to falter and be removed from the lineup. An injury perhaps. It's a long season and I'm sure he'll get some opportunities but another season of inactivity is not going to be good for him.
- MJL

defintely the down side of having all the choices they have.

defintely the down side of having all the choices they have.
- wcorvette

i really get why they got Braun but it is clogging the position. You have to be pleased that all the D picks we have talked about for years are all making it in the NHL in some way.

i really get why they got Braun but it is clogging the position. You have to be pleased that all the D picks we have talked about for years are all making it in the NHL in some way.
- wcorvette

On paper no doubt it improves the team but there is no doubt it is favoring the present over the future.

On paper no doubt it improves the team but there is no doubt it is favoring the present over the future.
- MJL

It is for sure but I like Nisk and Braun and them being able to show the young D core how to play D. Their cup and playoff experience should help a lot.

If the worse case is Morin gets worked in and then gets more time when there is an injury it is not the worse thing. Even if he played more this season it would be about growing into being an NHL D. Him being around this group and playing as much as possible is probably pretty close to him playing more games if Braun wasn’t here.

Not sure if Ghost's Offensive Stats this past Season is a product of a regressed Power Play... or... if the PP was bad because of a regressed Ghost.

Tweaking the PP to get it back on track and get Ghost Offensively back to his better Seasons, if it's the former... of it's the latter, Ghost must change for the PP to play well again. Obviously, it'll be up to the new Staff to determine and adjust in a positive manner... or continue as a Bubble Team, losing Games due to a Power Play not running on all cylinders and the Flyers playing from behind too many Games once again.

It is for sure but I like Nisk and Braun and them being able to show the young D core how to play D. Their cup and playoff experience should help a lot.

If the worse case is Morin gets worked in and then gets more time when there is an injury it is not the worse thing. Even if he played more this season it would be about growing into being an NHL D. Him being around this group and playing as much as possible is probably pretty close to him playing more games if Braun wasn’t here.
- wcorvette

Having veterans to help younger players is the plus side of things. Morin has to play to be able to figure out if he can be a full time player. I don't see any scenario where Morin is going to pretty close to what would happen if Braun wasn't brought in. There would have to be a significant injury to another player for that to happen and Haag is also in the mix there.

Something has to give with the numbers we have on the backend. I still believe someone gets traded before season starts.
- Buzzo

I do as well. They could run with 8 Dmen, sure. I just don't see the point of it when you have a bunch of young D men looking for ice time and a vet in Braun that you surely didn't give up two picks for to be Fletcher's popcorn man.

And I know they can send Myers down but is that really what's best for him at this point? He looks like he belongs.

Having veterans to help younger players is the plus side of things. Morin has to play to be able to figure out if he can be a full time player. I don't see any scenario where Morin is going to pretty close to what would happen if Braun wasn't brought in. There would have to be a significant injury to another player for that to happen and Haag is also in the mix there.
- MJL

That’s just it, they say you typically need 10 D for a season when you considered injury, trades and how everyone is playing.

Do I think they will trade Hagg? I do, at the deadline. Even so, coaches need to be committed to getting both Hagg and Morin in.

My point about morin will almost get as much, considers the fact that he had been on his own and injured for 2 seasons. Just him being with the big club will help him, just to be around the vets and the team. He will need to time to get his game back, let alone play in the NHL. I am not saying playing more wouldn’t be better but you have to make the best of what you have. I do feel better going into the season with the depth than I would with no Braun and relying on Hagg and Morin. This team has enough where it deserves the best team possible on the ice.

I like that both morin and Hagg need to compete to get playing time. If morin is that good or brings an element that is needed, he will see the ice a lot.

As a Rangers fan I think Ghost will be fine under AV however the younger players will find themselves in/out of the lineup as he doesn’t handle young guys making mistakes.

That’s just it, they say you typically need 10 D for a season when you considered injury, trades and how everyone is playing.

Do I think they will trade Hagg? I do, at the deadline. Even so, coaches need to be committed to getting both Hagg and Morin in.

My point about morin will almost get as much, considers the fact that he had been on his own and injured for 2 seasons. Just him being with the big club will help him, just to be around the vets and the team. He will need to time to get his game back, let alone play in the NHL. I am not saying playing more wouldn’t be better but you have to make the best of what you have. I do feel better going into the season with the depth than I would with no Braun and relying on Hagg and Morin. This team has enough where it deserves the best team possible on the ice.

I like that both morin and Hagg need to compete to get playing time. If morin is that good or brings an element that is needed, he will see the ice a lot.
- wcorvette

I personally feel we are way past the time where Morin just being with the big club and being around the vets and the team will help him. The only thing that will help him is playing time. Morin and Haag should be competing for the 6th spot rather than the 7th spot. I do agree that depth is good but the most important thing to me is trying to determine whether Morin can be a regular NHL defenseman. Another player would have to falter for Morin to see the ice a lot