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Forums :: Blog World :: Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Season from Hell Continues
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Pyzik
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Flemington, NJ
Joined: 01.18.2008

Mar 29 @ 10:55 AM ET
White Flag offically waived by Homer.
- flyguy12


would have liked to see him earlier to see what he has.....big kid, hits people and can skate......he should be injured 5 minutes into the next game.
BulliesPhan87
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: the lone wolf of hockeybuzz
Joined: 07.31.2009

Mar 29 @ 10:55 AM ET
i think you are right on the money.. If the team was playing well, we had good team defense and Bryz was playing JUST OK (.908 sv%, 2.41 gaa) we wouldnt hear a peep.
- jak521

I think we were always destined to hear dissent about Bryz (not a jab at anybody, we're all allowed an opinion) just because of his contract. Fact is, some players are just overpaid. It's part of the game. For instance, let's look at Danny Briere. I think you can make a decent case the Flyers overpaid Danny Briere. However, his presence on the roster has been an enormous plus for this team in a number of postseasons. So the overpayment, imo, is worth it. And even if he's bought out this offseason, it was absolutely not a mistake to sign him.

The Bryz situation is significantly different, but there's a comparison to be made. I'm not going to damn Bryz as a goaltender just because the contract was bad. Expectations, and the judgement of whether or not they were met, can be more nuanced than thumbs up or thumbs down.
FlyersGrace
Season Ticket Holder
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Pronger "Play the game puffnuts!" , DE
Joined: 07.02.2012

Mar 29 @ 10:56 AM ET
I agree... maybe a beating like that will straighten out Leighton's goofy eye.
- flyguy12


C'mon who can hate our million dollar cheerleader in pads?
Tomahawk
Location: Driver's Seat: Mitch Marner bandwagon. Grab 'em by the Corsi.
Joined: 02.04.2009

Mar 29 @ 10:57 AM ET
Justin Schultz is playing in Edmonton, not Philadelphia.
- MJL


What does that have to do with the point you made?

Fact: he's a college UFA (albeit through technicality) who transitioned immediately into a top-4 NHL defenseman.
Pyzik
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Flemington, NJ
Joined: 01.18.2008

Mar 29 @ 10:57 AM ET
I think we were always destined to hear dissent about Bryz (not a jab at anybody, we're all allowed an opinion) just because of his contract. Fact is, some players are just overpaid. It's part of the game. For instance, let's look at Danny Briere. I think you can make a decent case the Flyers overpaid Danny Briere. However, his presence on the roster has been an enormous plus for this team in a number of postseasons. So the overpayment, imo, is worth it. And even if he's bought out this offseason, it was absolutely not a mistake to sign him.

The Bryz situation is significantly different, but there's a comparison to be made. I'm not going to damn Bryz as a goaltender just because the contract was bad. Expectations, and the judgement of whether or not they were met, can be more nuanced than thumbs up or thumbs down.

- BulliesPhan87


I agree....Briere got the Flyers to the Finals and has been good for the team.

Bryz was going to get Sh!t on by most people unless he had 82 shutouts in a row.
ggunky
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: I like cold beverages, NJ
Joined: 04.09.2008

Mar 29 @ 10:58 AM ET
That's only one metric for comparison. In the bigger picture, if a player is overpaid for what you get, but their performance is otherwise good enough to get the team where they need to be, is it not worth it?

Not saying this is exactly the case with Bryz, just thinking out loud here.

- BulliesPhan87



in my opinion, no. The Cap means so much in terms of the team you can build, if the player isnt playing up to the dollars they are paid then they are a liability to the team.

In an uncapped world, sure. Not so much in a capped world and especially next season when the cap shrinks.

It is like splitting hairs here too though, what equals good enough versus playing up to the contract?

I am in no way a Bryz hater, but compared to players in his position at similar dollar amounts he is a disappointment.





jak521
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Buckle Up.
Joined: 02.19.2008

Mar 29 @ 10:59 AM ET
I agree....Briere got the Flyers to the Finals and has been good for the team.

Bryz was going to get Sh!t on by most people unless he had 82 shutouts in a row.

- Pyzik

82 shutouts wont cut it... needs another 16 at least!
flyerfan28
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: CA
Joined: 02.06.2012

Mar 29 @ 10:59 AM ET
Yup, it's all false. No injury concerns with anyone. Meszaros, Briere, Grossmann all chiseled from iron.
Bryzgalov is the clearcut answer in goal with his sub .900 save %, and the prospect pool is stacked with studs.

28th out of 30 teams while spending the most money in the NHL.
Keep defending it. I find it amusing.

- PLindbergh31


Bravo my friend, well put.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Mar 29 @ 10:59 AM ET
The SV% is the true indicator.

Flyers have been pretty bad in their own zone 5v5, but then again so are the Oilers, Leafs, Panthers, Canes, Sabres, yet guys like Dubnyk, Reimer/Scrivens, Marstrom, Ellis, & Miller have SV% in the .910-920 range.

- Tomahawk



SV% isn't the true indicator with the overwhelming amount of breakaways, odd man rushes, and unchecked players in prime scoring areas that this team give up on a game by game basis.
landros 2
Season Ticket Holder
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Centre of universe
Joined: 02.07.2007

Mar 29 @ 10:59 AM ET
The SV% is the true indicator.

Flyers have been pretty bad in their own zone 5v5, but then again so are the Oilers, Leafs, Panthers, Canes, Sabres, yet guys like Dubnyk, Reimer/Scrivens, Marstrom, Ellis, & Miller have SV% in the .910-920 range.

- Tomahawk



Save % can be a good indicator ....not always a true one though....I mean you've watched with the rest of us....the mental mistakes in their own end are embarrassing.
They just keep happening.....I am not sold on Bryz....but his attitude has been top notch this year.....he's had his moments for sure....it's a tough call either way if he gets amnestied ....Both Briere and Mezsaros have to be on that list as well.
jak521
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Buckle Up.
Joined: 02.19.2008

Mar 29 @ 11:00 AM ET
in my opinion, no. The Cap means so much in terms of the team you can build, if the player isnt playing up to the dollars they are paid then they are a liability to the team.

In an uncapped world, sure. Not so much in a capped world and especially next season when the cap shrinks.

It is like splitting hairs here too though, what equals good enough versus playing up to the contract?

I am in no way a Bryz hater, but compared to players in his position at similar dollar amounts he is a disappointment.

- ggunky

Then I pose a question... when has the Flyers cap situation ACTUALLY caused a problem for them, where they could not make a move or add a player?
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Mar 29 @ 11:00 AM ET
What does that have to do with the point you made?

Fact: he's a college UFA (albeit through technicality) who transitioned immediately into a top-4 NHL defenseman.

- Tomahawk



Maybe you need to re-read the statement I made then.
BulliesPhan87
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: the lone wolf of hockeybuzz
Joined: 07.31.2009

Mar 29 @ 11:00 AM ET
I agree....Briere got the Flyers to the Finals and has been good for the team.

Bryz was going to get Sh!t on by most people unless he had 82 shutouts in a row.

- Pyzik

This particularly isn't a comment directed at anybody on this thread, but among the fanbase in general I think unrealistic expectations were an inevitability, not just for Bryzgalov, but for any goaltender that was signed to be our number one goalie. There's been an unmet demand to fill that role for so long, that nobody short of a literal brick wall built between the pipes was going to quell the impatience on that front.
Tomahawk
Location: Driver's Seat: Mitch Marner bandwagon. Grab 'em by the Corsi.
Joined: 02.04.2009

Mar 29 @ 11:01 AM ET
I disagree.. all the SV% indicates (as you already know) is the % of shots that do not go into the net. What about the quality of shots faced? What about the number of odd man rushes faced. What about the number of second and third chances. What about the number of own zone defensive breakdowns?
- jak521



You're right, it's more about quality of chances vs shots, but SV% still correlates strongly with goalie performance, especially 5V5 SV%.

Oilers, Sabres, Canes, Panthers give up a ton of HQ scoring chances as well, yet their goalies are stopping more of them.
mydoglicks
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: downingtown, PA
Joined: 06.25.2009

Mar 29 @ 11:01 AM ET
wonder if kimmo would want to go to a true contender at his age? we should be able to get a nice package for him, he is prolly the best dman available and is signed thru next season....with pburg moves wonder if boston would trade starit up for douigie.
Don'tForgetTocchet
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Ground Zero Brooklyn
Joined: 02.08.2007

Mar 29 @ 11:02 AM ET
Yup, it's all false. No injury concerns with anyone. Meszaros, Briere, Grossmann all chiseled from iron.
Bryzgalov is the clearcut answer in goal with his sub .900 save %, and the prospect pool is stacked with studs.

28th out of 30 teams while spending the most money in the NHL.
Keep defending it. I find it amusing.

- PLindbergh31


perhaps the truth lies somewhere in the middle.


yikes
Don'tForgetTocchet
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Ground Zero Brooklyn
Joined: 02.08.2007

Mar 29 @ 11:02 AM ET
Lauridsen called up, not Lilja.
- bradleyc4



whoa
Hextall271
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Hart-Land, NB
Joined: 01.18.2007

Mar 29 @ 11:02 AM ET
Columbus has a great defence? Look at Bobrovsky.
Florida? Look at Markstrom?
Ottawa? Look at the three goalies. etc.
Bryz is not good enough to take the Flyers where they want to go.
I am not advocating a buyout and spending Mr. Snider's money, but they probably need a reliable backup and treat Bryz as an average player playing about half the games.

- strongsupporter


Ok, then. I will play along. Bryz is to blame. With Mike Smith for example, we'd be in the playoff race. So, we buy him out this summer or at worst next paying a huge amount of money to see him play elsewhere. Who do you replace him with? Do you trade assets to get Bernier? Sign Backstrom? Someone else next offseason? Personally, if the Canucks buy out Luongo, I'd love to see him here but only as a UFA.
strongsupporter
Joined: 10.07.2010

Mar 29 @ 11:02 AM ET
SV% isn't the true indicator with the overwhelming amount of breakaways, odd man rushes, and unchecked players in prime scoring areas that this team give up on a game by game basis.
- MJL

I know. That damned defense is a problem on the shootouts.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Mar 29 @ 11:02 AM ET
There are plenty of bad teams in the NHL. How many of them have goaltenders with sub .900 save %'s? Bryzgalov is being paid like an elite goaltender, and his performance is falling far short of that. You can pay someone far less and get similar production.

I see Lilja was passed up again for a call up. I guess he's not really an ideal 7th dman. He's 10th or 11th on the depth chart at this point. Thank god he got that second year.

- PLindbergh31



How do you know that you can pay someone far less and get similar production? I think you can pay someone far less, and it could be worse. Bryzgalov has kept the Flyers in a lot of games they had no business being in.
ggunky
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: I like cold beverages, NJ
Joined: 04.09.2008

Mar 29 @ 11:03 AM ET
You cannot expect a Goalie to have the SV% and GAA numbers you want him to have, to justify the contract, playing with this team defense in front of him. He's not Domonik Hasek, and never will be.
- MJL



So he is absolved from the numbers he has because of the team in front of him?

ggunky
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: I like cold beverages, NJ
Joined: 04.09.2008

Mar 29 @ 11:04 AM ET
Then I pose a question... when has the Flyers cap situation ACTUALLY caused a problem for them, where they could not make a move or add a player?
- jak521



Why did they trade carter and richards? Did their contracts not play a part in them being moved?

landros 2
Season Ticket Holder
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Centre of universe
Joined: 02.07.2007

Mar 29 @ 11:04 AM ET
wonder if kimmo would want to go to a true contender at his age? we should be able to get a nice package for him, he is prolly the best dman available and is signed thru next season....with pburg moves wonder if boston would trade starit up for douigie.
- mydoglicks


If you mean Dougie Hamilton ?..... Not happening. Would be great though, but GM there is not that dumb.
BulliesPhan87
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: the lone wolf of hockeybuzz
Joined: 07.31.2009

Mar 29 @ 11:04 AM ET
in my opinion, no. The Cap means so much in terms of the team you can build, if the player isnt playing up to the dollars they are paid then they are a liability to the team.

In an uncapped world, sure. Not so much in a capped world and especially next season when the cap shrinks.

It is like splitting hairs here too though, what equals good enough versus playing up to the contract?

I am in no way a Bryz hater, but compared to players in his position at similar dollar amounts he is a disappointment.

- ggunky

Sometimes, you have to overpay to fill a position of weakness. That's where the need for young, cap friendly talent also becomes a necessary. A roster has to be filled from all directions to be a competitive team, in my opinion, and sometimes that means a guy gets overpaid. If it gets you where you need to be, though, then I think it's absolutely worth it. Unspent cap dollars never won anybody anything.

That's not to say I don't believe in being mindful of the cap situation moving forward. It's just not all black and white to me.
PLindbergh31
Location: NJ
Joined: 02.01.2008

Mar 29 @ 11:04 AM ET
perhaps the truth lies somewhere in the middle.


yikes

- Don'tForgetTocchet


Maybe I'm overstating things, but this type of product is unacceptable for the resources this franchise has. How can you spend the most money in the NHL and be at the bottom? That is poor management, and terrible allocation of resources.
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