Bill Meltzer: Flyers RR Gameday: 8/6/20 vs. WSH

GAME DAY. Win and we have the 2nd seed (at least)!

I am concerned the Penguins may end up with yet another generational talent. Bill if they lose to Montreal do they have a 1 in 8 shot at the #1 pick?

Also, I've been noticing the changing signage on the dasher boards - are they changing these to the home team's sponsor for every game?

I am concerned the Penguins may end up with yet another generational talent. Bill if they lose to Montreal do they have a 1 in 8 shot at the #1 pick?

Also, I've been noticing the changing signage on the dasher boards - are they changing these to the home team's sponsor for every game?
- backfire

All 8 teams that lose in the qualifying round have a 12.5% chance at the top pick.

It’s truly asinine. The lottery should have only been for the 7 teams who had ZERO chance of winning the Cup. The 8 losers in the qualifiers should have been slotted 8-15 based on regular season points percentage.

Hey Bill, you left out Farabee's name in the 5th paragraph. Unless that was intentional.

I am concerned the Penguins may end up with yet another generational talent. Bill if they lose to Montreal do they have a 1 in 8 shot at the #1 pick?

Also, I've been noticing the changing signage on the dasher boards - are they changing these to the home team's sponsor for every game?
- backfire

everything I've read about him suggests that he's not a generational talent, but should be very good player. I will admit, I've seen very little of him besides highlights.

I am concerned the Penguins may end up with yet another generational talent. Bill if they lose to Montreal do they have a 1 in 8 shot at the #1 pick?

Also, I've been noticing the changing signage on the dasher boards - are they changing these to the home team's sponsor for every game?
- backfire

No need to worry because its the Rangers turn.

Hey Bill, you left out Farabee's name in the 5th paragraph. Unless that was intentional.
- Ftown19125

Fixed. Thank you.

All 8 teams that lose in the qualifying round have a 12.5% chance at the top pick.

It’s truly asinine. The lottery should have only been for the 7 teams who had ZERO chance of winning the Cup. The 8 losers in the qualifiers should have been slotted 8-15 based on regular season points percentage.
- BiggE

That was the consolation prize for the 3rd place teams in each division (who otherwise would have had an automatic playoff spot and played the 2nd place team in the first round) for having to play a qualifier to get into the playoffs.

My attitude, and I'd have also said this if it were the Flyers who were 3rd in the Metro, is "too bad". If the Penguins lose 3-of-5 to the Habs or the Oilers lose 3-of-5 to the Blackhawks then they don't deserve to move on and shouldn't be rewarded for it with a significant chance at the first pick. Draft where you finished in the RS.

At least there's a 50-50 shot that the Lafreniere pick goes to a Western Conference team.

Edit: The Penguins conditionally traded their first round pick in 2020 and lottery protected it even though there was very little chance of missing the playoffs under the format that was in place at the time. They fully expected to surrender that pick. Now, not only is that pick deferred to 2021, but the Penguins could possibly get Lafreniere as well.

That was the consolation prize for the 3rd place teams in each division (who otherwise would have had an automatic playoff spot and played the 2nd place team in the first round) for having to play a qualifier to get into the playoffs.

My attitude, and I'd have also said this if it were the Flyers who were 3rd in the Metro, is "too bad". If the Penguins lose 3-of-5 to the Habs or the Oilers lose 3-of-5 to the Blackhawks then they don't deserve to move on and shouldn't be rewarded for it with a significant chance at the first pick. Draft where you finished in the RS.

At least there's a 50-50 shot that the Lafreniere pick goes to a Western Conference team.
- bmeltzer

Yup, I agree and I hope he goes out West too.

One Pens loss away from a 25% chance of Lafreniere ending up with Pigeons or Rags.

Everyone knows that 25% is more like 90%

everything I've read about him suggests that he's not a generational talent, but should be very good player. I will admit, I've seen very little of him besides highlights.
- Ftown19125

Did you watch him in world juniors? He looks pretty damn good, fast , hands, little snarl in his game. Generational talent is really only a couple guys imo but this kid is legit.

Did you watch him in world juniors? He looks pretty damn good, fast , hands, little snarl in his game. Generational talent is really only a couple guys imo but this kid is legit.
- ClaudeFather

nah, I didn't, just from some of the articles I've read. They basically say he's a step down from a McDavid or a Crosby, more on the Tavares, Matthews level. Which is still really good, but not generational talent.

One Pens loss away from a 25% chance of Lafreniere ending up with Pigeons or Rags.

Everyone knows that 25% is more like 90%
- PLindbergh31

I still can’t believe that this is the best way they figured out how to handle the draft lottery. Detroit got hosed.

All 8 teams that lose in the qualifying round have a 12.5% chance at the top pick.

It’s truly asinine. The lottery should have only been for the 7 teams who had ZERO chance of winning the Cup. The 8 losers in the qualifiers should have been slotted 8-15 based on regular season points percentage.
- BiggE

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others"

nah, I didn't, just from some of the articles I've read. They basically say he's a step down from a McDavid or a Crosby, more on the Tavares, Matthews level. Which is still really good, but not generational talent.
- Ftown19125

Idk what you are getting at though, are you ok with the penguins potentially adding a John Tavares caliber player? That would not be good.

I still can’t believe that this is the best way they figured out how to handle the draft lottery. Detroit got hosed.
- hereticpride

Yeah they got hosed. The 2019-20 Red Wings may have been the worst team of the cap era.

Idk what you are getting at though, are you ok with the penguins potentially adding a John Tavares caliber player? That would not be good.
- ClaudeFather

Until we find out what teams sheets he slept on as a kid.

Being a fan makes you delve into things you probably shouldn't.
Things like JVR.
I think of him as more mercenary than committed, to the sport or the teams.
Yeah, I know about streaky, talented, hands, net-front.....but He seems like the last iota of ability is not employed, his physicality lacking and a GASA dominates.
After he departed before, I didn't miss him. A sure sign of GAF by me but also his.

So Ho wrong am I? What would motivate him to be the guy we pay for?.

Idk what you are getting at though, are you ok with the penguins potentially adding a John Tavares caliber player? That would not be good.
- ClaudeFather

Just the generational talent comment. I mean, it's not ideal, but I won't lose sleep over it. Crosby and Malkin are getting older, but they still have some good years left. Also, with how the NHL is now, there aren't many kids that make an immediate impact at that level. People were acting like Hughes and Kakko were going to light the world on fire this season, some of them even post on this board. They didn't. It sounds like this kid has a higher ceiling than those guys though, so we'll see.

Pittsburgh also has other holes. Like their defense and goaltending. A few seasons ago Murray was the best goalie in the league and they wanted to get rid of Fleury as fast as possible. Now they're doing the same thing to Murray.

Just the generational talent comment. I mean, it's not ideal, but I won't lose sleep over it. Crosby and Malkin are getting older, but they still have some good years left. Also, with how the NHL is now, there aren't many kids that make an immediate impact at that level. People were acting like Hughes and Kakko were going to light the world on fire this season, some of them even post on this board. They didn't. It sounds like this kid has a higher ceiling than those guys though, so we'll see.

Pittsburgh also has other holes. Like their defense and goaltending. A few seasons ago Murray was the best goalie in the league and they wanted to get rid of Fleury as fast as possible. Now they're doing the same thing to Murray.
- Ftown19125

There are plenty of kids making an instant impact, Peterson makar q Hughes, the other Hughes is very very small and there were certainly people that doubted his ability to make an instant impact at the nhl level.

Say what you will about JVR, sure he's been a disappointment for being the # 2 pick in the draft, and majority of his prime years will have been spent in Toronto.
But he's closing in on 250 career goals. And will certainly score 300+ in his career. If the Flyers want to do something special in the playoffs they are going to need him being a productive contributing member of the lineup.

It's not known for sure if he's going to be scratched, but if he is what is the purpose? He didn't play a strong game against the Bruins? Ok, they are coming off a nearly 5 month layoff. If you start scratching guys who have a bad game, it's going to be an awfully thin bench.

I doubt making him a healthy scratch does anything productive, he's way beyond sending a message at this point of his career. Maybe I could understand it if they had a legit prospect who can put the puck in the net they want to play, but Bunnaman will never be more than a fringe NHL player.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers RR Gameday: 8/6/20 vs. WSH
- bmeltzer

If we’re gonna play Elliott because we feel he needs to play and be ready if called up on, I think I would play Ghost today as well.

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others"
- missingmike

Love the Orwell's "Animal Farm" reference.

Say what you will about JVR, sure he's been a disappointment for being the # 2 pick in the draft, and majority of his prime years will have been spent in Toronto.
But he's closing in on 250 career goals. And will certainly score 300+ in his career. If the Flyers want to do something special in the playoffs they are going to need him being a productive contributing member of the lineup.

It's not known for sure if he's going to be scratched, but if he is what is the purpose? He didn't play a strong game? The team won the game 4-1. I doubt making him a healthy scratch does anything productive, he's way beyond sending a message at this point of his career. Maybe I could understand it if they had a legit prospect who can put the puck in the net they want to play, but Bunnaman will never be more than a fringe NHL player.
- PLindbergh31

In my opinion, it’s a waste not having JVR in the crease on the top unit PP unit a minimum. Allow him to work through whatever he needs to. Right now nobody is truly screening goaltenders. Couturier and Konecny are in the area but not truly taking away their eyes.

I think Konecny should be playing understudy to Giroux on that second unit. Konecny will never be Giroux on an elite passing level but I think he could do on a Briere level. Sneaky down low, behind the net or around the goal line around the left board.