Bill Meltzer: WJC: Day 1 Wrap, Flyers Participant Preview, Foerster Interview and More

Bill, honest question. What are you looking forward to for this upcoming season ? For myself , Carter Hart is what I’m most interested in .

Bill Meltzer: WJC: Day 1 Wrap, Flyers Participant Preview, Foerster Interview and More
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill

Bill, honest question. What are you looking forward to for this upcoming season ? For myself , Carter Hart is what I’m most interested in .
- Angus4444

For me; I want to see how many -- if any -- of the young players and guys coming off injuries take a step forward.

How quickly our GM is fired and in what manner he is replaced

I’m looking forward to Philly Joel. think he has one of the brightest futures of our current players

Bill, which NHL teams are most represented in the WJCs this year? Seems like the Flyers are meagerly represented in the WJCs compared to other teams, but I don't have the data to back that up.

Bill, honest question. What are you looking forward to for this upcoming season ? For myself , Carter Hart is what I’m most interested in .
- Angus4444

I'm looking forward to 1. seeing what the Flyers have in our younger players, hoping they get a real opportunity to play and develop and 2. seeing Torts blow up on the ice, in the locker room and in the media. It will at least be entertaining.

Bill, which NHL teams are most represented in the WJCs this year? Seems like the Flyers are meagerly represented in the WJCs compared to other teams, but I don't have the data to back that up.
- jd250

Red Wings have the most with 9.

Wild Have 8.

Rangers have 7.

Only teams that have none are the Pens and Kraken.




https://www.nhl.com/news/...nship-rosters/c-335216498

How quickly our GM is fired and in what manner he is replaced
- Shrike

Given the team as it is right now, I think Fletcher survives the season. There doesn't seem to be any expectations for this team except the general be more structured and stay healthy, at least in the media. Does Flyers ownership have a different expectation??

Red Wings have the most with 9.

Wild Have 8.

Rangers have 7.

Only teams that have none are the Pens and Kraken.




https://www.nhl.com/news/...nship-rosters/c-335216498
- MBFlyerfan

Thanks! Seems to me that one indication to the health of a team's farm system is representation in events like the WJCs. It makes sense the Pens and Kraken don't have any players given the state those teams are in. But if this is a real indicator, the Flyers have a Meh farm system in terms of young top talent. Obviously Detroit is way in front given the rebuild they are committed to. I guess I was surprised to see the Wild with so many prospects.

Bill, which NHL teams are most represented in the WJCs this year? Seems like the Flyers are meagerly represented in the WJCs compared to other teams, but I don't have the data to back that up.
- jd250

The Red Wings have the most with nine. The Flyers have four. Nineteen NHL teams have three or fewer (Pittsburgh and Seattle have none).

Given the team as it is right now, I think Fletcher survives the season. There doesn't seem to be any expectations for this team except the general be more structured and stay healthy, at least in the media. Does Flyers ownership have a different expectation??
- jd250

Do you think Flyers management bases their expectations on what the media thinks? If this management group has any credibility and stands by their comments. If the team has a season that many are predicting. Fletcher will be gone by November. I'm not expecting Fletcher to be fired.

Thanks! Seems to me that one indication to the health of a team's farm system is representation in events like the WJCs. It makes sense the Pens and Kraken don't have any players given the state those teams are in. But if this is a real indicator, the Flyers have a Meh farm system in terms of young top talent. Obviously Detroit is way in front given the rebuild they are committed to. I guess I was surprised to see the Wild with so many prospects.
- jd250

The Flyers are in the upper 3rd of the league IIRC in terms of the amount of players. Carolina would have been higher but they have a number of Russian prospects...

Thanks! Seems to me that one indication to the health of a team's farm system is representation in events like the WJCs. It makes sense the Pens and Kraken don't have any players given the state those teams are in. But if this is a real indicator, the Flyers have a Meh farm system in terms of young top talent. Obviously Detroit is way in front given the rebuild they are committed to. I guess I was surprised to see the Wild with so many prospects.
- jd250

Not really. WJC representation by org has a lot to do with how many countries are represented within a team's farm system at a given time. To use a Flyers example, Brian Zanetti wouldn't make Team Canada, USA, Sweden or Finland this year but, because the Swiss talent pool is thinner. he was a shoo-in for Team Switzerland. Also, the ban on Team Russia (and Belarus) lowers potential representation for some orgs with multiple Russian prospects.

Not really. WJC representation by org has a lot to do with how many countries are represented within a team's farm system at a given time. To use a Flyers example, Brian Zanetti wouldn't make Team Canada, USA, Sweden or Finland this year but, because the Swiss talent pool is thinner. he was a shoo-in for Team Switzerland. Also, the ban on Team Russia (and Belarus) lowers potential representation for some orgs with multiple Russian prospects.
- bmeltzer

thanks for the explanation! Makes sense.

Why do I see so many prospects for the Flyers that need to work on their skating? I've never seen so many players that NEED TO WORK ON THEIR SKATING! It started with Coots and has never stopped. Yes, you can improve your skating with hard work, but why don't the Flyers ever draft true speedsters? I guess they are still trying to figure out that the league is a skater's league now and you need to feel the need for speed! FIRE CHUCK again! Thanks again!

Do you think Flyers management bases their expectations on what the media thinks? If this management group has any credibility and stands by their comments. If the team has a season that many are predicting. Fletcher will be gone by November. I'm not expecting Fletcher to be fired.
- MJL

Sorry, this response does not seem coherent. I guess what I am asking is, what is the expectation of Dave Scott? I know he stated back in January he expects to be in the hunt again this season, but given the current roster and uncertainties I can't see how this is a realistic expectation. If Scott is truly sticking to what he said in January I think Fletcher is fired in February and the search for a new president begins in earnest. If however Scott has lowered his expectations to something more aligned to what we all believe will be a team that is fighting the Islanders, NJ and Columbus for last place in the Metro then I think Fletcher survives this "stabilization" period. BTW, "stabilization" is a far cry from "aggressive retool" or being back in the hunt this season.

Why do I see so many prospects for the Flyers that need to work on their skating? I've never seen so many players that NEED TO WORK ON THEIR SKATING! It started with Coots and has never stopped. Yes, you can improve your skating with hard work, but why don't the Flyers ever draft true speedsters? I guess they are still trying to figure out that the league is a skater's league now and you need to feel the need for speed! FIRE CHUCK again! Thanks again!
- Phillywhiteout

For what its worth, Tuomaala skates like the wind, and Guathier is a very good skater. But there have been quite a few prospects that the Flyers seem to have drafted because of their size or shooting ability at the expense of their skating.

Thanks! Seems to me that one indication to the health of a team's farm system is representation in events like the WJCs. It makes sense the Pens and Kraken don't have any players given the state those teams are in. But if this is a real indicator, the Flyers have a Meh farm system in terms of young top talent. Obviously Detroit is way in front given the rebuild they are committed to. I guess I was surprised to see the Wild with so many prospects.
- jd250

Stevie Y is a fabulous GM that just gets it. He basically built the Bolts and now he is doing the same thing in the motor city. This is why you need thinking man's ex hockey players as your GM (Sakic too) and not goons. FIRE CHUCK! Thanks!

I have no idea what the owners of this team really think since they never speak on record about it. My guess: Comcast really only cares about the stadium and the bottom line revenue stream. As long as the Flyers generate a certain amount of revenue, they could not care less about the on ice performance of the hockey team.

Why have I come to this conclusion? Simple, Chuck Fletcher is still employed, even though:

His prized 5million per HC was fired before he was halfway through his contract

He gave up way too much for an inferior player (Risto) then doubled down on his mistake by extending him.

He inexplicably gave up 3 picks to acquire TDA which was a wholly unnecessary add to a team that is nowhere near contention

With the hire of Torts, they are now spending 9 million on the head coaching position of a team that is going nowhere.

After a bad season followed by a horrible season, Fletcher has done absolutely nothing to improve this team’s future outlook.

If this team had an owner that really cared, Fletcher would be on the unemployment line.

Why do I see so many prospects for the Flyers that need to work on their skating? I've never seen so many players that NEED TO WORK ON THEIR SKATING! It started with Coots and has never stopped. Yes, you can improve your skating with hard work, but why don't the Flyers ever draft true speedsters? I guess they are still trying to figure out that the league is a skater's league now and you need to feel the need for speed! FIRE CHUCK again! Thanks again!
- Phillywhiteout

Coots has never had skating issues.

Don't mistake speed for skating issues. When skating issues are mentioned it is usually due to a wonky stride or just not being very good. Brink and Strome come to mind immediately.

Lindblom also had speed issues but what do you expect from a 5th round pick?


Other than that, who are we talking about?

Coots has never had skating issues.

Don't mistake speed for skating issues. When skating issues are mentioned it is usually due to a wonky stride or just not being very good. Brink and Strome come to mind immediately.

Lindblom also had speed issues but what do you expect from a 5th round pick?


Other than that, who are we talking about?
- MBFlyerfan

Coots does have skating issues. The day he was drafted they said he NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS SKATING. He makes up for his lack of speed with a tremendous hockey IQ, but he would be an even better player if he was a better skater. Brink and Strome are slow players, and their skating is a problem. I've seen Brink play at the NHL level. He has NHL level hands and hockey IQ, but he NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS SKATING! The same with Strome. HE NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS SKATING! And in this blog it was mentioned that Foerster NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS SKATING. I could go on and on, so not sure what you're looking at? One more thing.......FIRE CHUCK!!

Coots does have skating issues. The day he was drafted they said he NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS SKATING. He makes up for his lack of speed with a tremendous hockey IQ, but he would be an even better player if he was a better skater. Brink and Strome are slow players, and their skating is a problem. I've seen Brink play at the NHL level. He has NHL level hands and hockey IQ, but he NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS SKATING! The same with Strome. HE NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS SKATING! And in this blog it was mentioned that Foerster NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS SKATING. I could go on and on, so not sure what you're looking at? One more thing.......FIRE CHUCK!!
- Phillywhiteout

Explain to me what you think that means then? Its just some catch all phrase.

Please, go on and on.

Explain to me what you think that means then? Its just some catch all phrase.

Please, go on and on.
- MBFlyerfan

I don't need to...it's clearly explained. I can use myself as an example. I run like a 90 year old Grandmother and always have, but I have always had a naturally smooth skating stride(started skating at 5). I could skate with most players in high school and even stayed up with many college hockey players in open hockey games. It's a natural ability. These choppy skating strides for supposed NHL players are a problem that won't go away easily. They can get away with it at lower levels, but they ain't gettin away with it at the NHL level.