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Forums :: Blog World :: Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Wheels Fall off in 2nd Period of 7-3 Loss
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jd250
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 01.12.2018

Feb 22 @ 12:47 PM ET
Well if this team isn't good enough, then why wouldn't you trade away the free agents to be? That is why you sell off those players.

Or do you think they should make moves to make themselves good enough.

Dont underestimate the value Braun has imo he can easily be moved.

- login

I don't want to continue to be 3-4 years away, so I would make moves to make the Flyers good enough sooner. The Flyers have already wasted the primes of Voracek and Giroux, I would hate for them to also waste the primes of Hayes and Couturier. I think the Flyers need a top pairing Dman to stabilize their D and a true shoot first goal scorer to help their PP. If they have these two pieces, I think they have a shot.
login
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 08.21.2020

Feb 22 @ 12:48 PM ET
I don't want to continue to be 3-4 years away, so I would make moves to make the Flyers good enough sooner. The Flyers have already wasted the primes of Voracek and Giroux, I would hate for them to also waste the primes of Hayes and Couturier. I think the Flyers need a top pairing Dman to stabilize their D and a true shoot first goal scorer to help their PP. If they have these two pieces, I think they have a shot.
- jd250

So what moves are you making to acquire those 2 pieces? Can those 2 pieces be acquired for this season?
Hextall271
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Hart-Land, NB
Joined: 01.18.2007

Feb 22 @ 12:54 PM ET
I was thinking about this the other day with the rumors on Ekholm. I’m not sure about his fit or injury status. Yet, I don’t think it’s just about where Fletcher sees the team this season but also next season and looking forward. Whenever you can land that missing piece on defense, he has just got to do it. Cost might be a bear in draft picks but the hole there is real and whenever it can be filled, that’s the right time.
- NC Flyers Fan


Agreed. There's no denying they need to fill that top four spot. If we stay the course, I am certain that we'll regress in comparison to last year. Nisky is really missed.
Scoob
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: love is love
Joined: 06.29.2006

Feb 22 @ 1:02 PM ET
Not basing it off this game alone. I think Elliot has been better this season (I know, not a huge sample size) and should get more of the games, 1A style. I also think that AV let Hart out to dry a bit, he looked off from the start.

Also, make no mistake - I think Hart is the better goaltender.

- mkabbeko


I think in general the team has played better in front of Elliott.
jd250
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 01.12.2018

Feb 22 @ 1:03 PM ET
So what moves are you making to acquire those 2 pieces? Can those 2 pieces be acquired for this season?
- login

I would be all in on Elias Ekholm so that piece can certainly be acquired this year. The scorer will be a lot harder of course. Maybe if you are dealing for Ekholm, you try to also grab Mikael Granlund, who Fletcher of course knows quite well from his Minnesota days, or Victor Arvidsson who I really like. This will cost a lot in terms of assets, and the other big blocker is the Flyers would have to clear a good amount of cap space. But this why we brought Fletcher in, to accelerate the process, so I expect him to make some smart hockey trades now, this year!
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Feb 22 @ 1:03 PM ET
You’re being naive if you don’t think the Flyers were rushed back because of the logistical nightmare of them not playing in this game.

They gave the Devils as much time as they needed out of an abundance of caution.

Pretty pathetic job by the NHL.

- Flyers1218



The Devils had 17 players out.
jd250
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 01.12.2018

Feb 22 @ 1:04 PM ET
Agreed. There's no denying they need to fill that top four spot. If we stay the course, I am certain that we'll regress in comparison to last year. Nisky is really missed.
- Hextall271

Was it really all about Nisky, or were we overrating the Flyers last year because they got on a hot streak?

login
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 08.21.2020

Feb 22 @ 1:06 PM ET
I would be all in on Elias Ekholm so that piece can certainly be acquired this year. The scorer will be a lot harder of course. Maybe if you are dealing for Ekholm, you try to also grab Mikael Granlund, who Fletcher of course knows quite well from his Minnesota days, or Victor Arvidsson who I really like. This will cost a lot in terms of assets, and the other big blocker is the Flyers would have to clear a good amount of cap space. But this why we brought Fletcher in, to accelerate the process, so I expect him to make some smart hockey trades now, this year!
- jd250

What assets you giving up and what will Nashville take in return? Cap is an issue as you said.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Feb 22 @ 1:08 PM ET
I don't want to continue to be 3-4 years away, so I would make moves to make the Flyers good enough sooner. The Flyers have already wasted the primes of Voracek and Giroux, I would hate for them to also waste the primes of Hayes and Couturier. I think the Flyers need a top pairing Dman to stabilize their D and a true shoot first goal scorer to help their PP. If they have these two pieces, I think they have a shot.
- jd250


Meanwhile, they've gutted the team to get those two players!
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Feb 22 @ 1:10 PM ET
I would be all in on Elias Ekholm so that piece can certainly be acquired this year. The scorer will be a lot harder of course. Maybe if you are dealing for Ekholm, you try to also grab Mikael Granlund, who Fletcher of course knows quite well from his Minnesota days, or Victor Arvidsson who I really like. This will cost a lot in terms of assets, and the other big blocker is the Flyers would have to clear a good amount of cap space. But this why we brought Fletcher in, to accelerate the process, so I expect him to make some smart hockey trades now, this year!
- jd250


You've got to be on some kind of medication making you hallucinate. Besides what they have to give up for Ekholm, who is not a first pair NHL defenseman, what are they losing in the expansion draft due to making that move. Which would add to the cost of acquiring Ekholm?
Buzzo
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Dauphin, MB
Joined: 02.07.2011

Feb 22 @ 1:10 PM ET
Who would have said at the start of this season where would we be without JVR?!
NC Flyers Fan
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 07.19.2018

Feb 22 @ 1:11 PM ET
Was it really all about Nisky, or were we overrating the Flyers last year because they got on a hot streak?
- jd250


No, it’s not about Nisky, it’s about the hole on RH top 4 defense. The hole I thought was as big as the center hole before Fletcher acquired Hayes. Hayes turned out to be a bigger than expected importance because of Patrick missing time and now needing time to get his game back. However, the defense hole was there before Nisky, and it is still there now.

jd250
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 01.12.2018

Feb 22 @ 1:12 PM ET
What assets you giving up and what will Nashville take in return? Cap is an issue as you said.
- login

It depends on what Nashville's plan is, but assuming they are in rebuild mode I would be willing to part with York, two good (but maybe not top) forward prospects and even a player like Haag or Bunnaman if Nashville had interest.
Scoob
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: love is love
Joined: 06.29.2006

Feb 22 @ 1:13 PM ET
Who would have said at the start of this season where would we be without JVR?!
- Buzzo


Agreed. I thought for sure he'd settle back into invisible JVR after a few games. Hasn't happened yet - I'm pleasantly surprised. But not convinced it'll last all season.
jd250
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 01.12.2018

Feb 22 @ 1:17 PM ET
You've got to be on some kind of medication making you hallucinate. Besides what they have to give up for Ekholm, who is not a first pair NHL defenseman, what are they losing in the expansion draft due to making that move. Which would add to the cost of acquiring Ekholm?
- MJL

Ok tell us what your plan is to improve this team now? Do we stand pat and waste another season, just hoping our "young players" develop or "get their game back"? Do you make trades and if so who do you target and who do you give up? Its very easy to sit back and criticize someone else's suggestions, when you rarely if ever have a tangible suggestion of your own!
countreeman28
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: NJ
Joined: 01.10.2007

Feb 22 @ 1:18 PM ET

I was moved by the metaphorical possibilities of that sublime, immutable winter sun setting upon a culturally anonymous National Hockey League game, upon a contextually anonymous Sunday in February, with no "crowd" in attendance. Gritty stalking about walkways in the background was such a perfect accoutrement for the moment.





jd250
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 01.12.2018

Feb 22 @ 1:20 PM ET
Agreed. I thought for sure he'd settle back into invisible JVR after a few games. Hasn't happened yet - I'm pleasantly surprised. But not convinced it'll last all season.
- Scoob

Its only 15 games, he has plenty of time left.
Scoob
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: love is love
Joined: 06.29.2006

Feb 22 @ 1:21 PM ET
Its only 15 games, he has plenty of time left.
- jd250


lol - that's what I'm afraid of - he's already gone about 10 games longer than I thought he would
Hextall271
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Hart-Land, NB
Joined: 01.18.2007

Feb 22 @ 1:25 PM ET
Was it really all about Nisky, or were we overrating the Flyers last year because they got on a hot streak?
- jd250


I think having Nisky as a bona fide two way top pairing guy allowed the d to slot in properly, but also settled stuff down on the ice and in the dressing room (as I have read). All of this cannot be underestimated.

Without the shutdown, I really expect we would have gone further than we did because many of the vets didn't produce when we returned.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Feb 22 @ 1:26 PM ET
Ok tell us what your plan is to improve this team now? Do we stand pat and waste another season, just hoping our "young players" develop or "get their game back"? Do you make trades and if so who do you target and who do you give up? Its very easy to sit back and criticize someone else's suggestions, when you rarely if ever have a tangible suggestion of your own!
- jd250


I would look to add a playoff rental on an expiring contract for the right price that would not effect the future expansion draft.

You have to be insane to give up what you want to for Eckholm and then on top of that the effect and more cost added due to the expansion draft.

I'll repeat again, Ekholm is a good player but he is not a legit top pairing defenseman. He is a really good two way 2nd pair defenseman. You can play him on a top pair but in a vacuum, he is not a top pair NHL defenseman. He would not elevate the team to legit contender status.
Hextall271
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Hart-Land, NB
Joined: 01.18.2007

Feb 22 @ 1:29 PM ET
Meanwhile, they've gutted the team to get those two players!

- MJL


Filling the top 4 D hole has to be the priority, but not at all costs. I don't care about the sniper although it'd be nice. Build from the net out.
login
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 08.21.2020

Feb 22 @ 1:32 PM ET
It depends on what Nashville's plan is, but assuming they are in rebuild mode I would be willing to part with York, two good (but maybe not top) forward prospects and even a player like Haag or Bunnaman if Nashville had interest.
- jd250

what about the cap fit?
Bendecko
Location: Cave Putorium
Joined: 02.29.2020

Feb 22 @ 1:33 PM ET
I was moved by the metaphorical possibilities of that sublime, immutable winter sun setting upon a culturally anonymous National Hockey League game, upon a contextually anonymous Sunday in February, with no "crowd" in attendance. Gritty stalking about walkways in the background was such a perfect accoutrement for the moment.
- countreeman28

Yeah but where did they find this Rutted Wood goober? I was hoping Gritty would beat the crap out of him and throw him into the lake.
NC Flyers Fan
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 07.19.2018

Feb 22 @ 1:34 PM ET
Filling the top 4 D hole has to be the priority, but not at all costs. I don't care about the sniper although it'd be nice. Build from the net out.
- Hextall271


If they want a little more cushion on offense this year, I still like Bobby Ryan on his current expiring deal.
Hextall271
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Hart-Land, NB
Joined: 01.18.2007

Feb 22 @ 1:38 PM ET
If they want a little more cushion on offense this year, I still like Bobby Ryan on his current expiring deal.
- NC Flyers Fan


Possible. As long as Det isn't asking too much, you know they'll shop him.
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