Really glad to hear that it looks like Stolartz will be ok.. That looked scary for sure.
- Hextall271

4-6 weeks. geeze

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie

LDN G Anthony Stolarz (PHI) suffered nasty skate cut last nite. Req'd 55 stitches to close. Initial report is he'll be out 4 to 6 weeks.

4-6 weeks. geeze
- nastyflyergirl

Could have been much worse.

That time frame puts his return just before the end of the regular season.

If there is no tendon or nerve damage he should be alright, but scary injury either way with how much blood there was, and how quickly.

Makes you wonder, about having your kids in hockey.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie

LDN G Anthony Stolarz (PHI) suffered nasty skate cut last nite. Req'd 55 stitches to close. Initial report is he'll be out 4 to 6 weeks.
- ob18

Thats good new, although it seems very painful. He should be back in time for the playoffs.

I would love to have Mez play this way all season, but I find it highly unlikely. At his best, he was a 4th/5th defenseman with the Flyers. After the injuries, you'd have to assume he'll be no better than a 5th/6th defenseman.

Despite scoring 8 points in January, he's still only a +4 for the month. Teams are still scoring with him on the ice. It's not like he's going to keep this scoring pace up. When guys like Streit and Mez are scoring, it's easier to look the other way when they have defensive miscues. I just don't think you can count on Mez producing offense like this the rest of the year.
- PhillySportsGuy

Its not just the production, its the puck handling, smarter pinches, etc, his all around game is much better, yes, I know he has a past with injuries, but, your speaking as if we have several defensive prospects in the AHL, that are nhl ready & waiting for the bump up, we don't have this at all.
I would love to get Girardi next year, but we can't always bank on UFA's coming in.
And no, I was speaking about Mez only, not Streit, yes, I know Streit is scoring, he still stinks, his scoring isn't enough to hide his defensive shortcomings.
And most of his pinches give the opposition 2 on 1's

Could have been much worse.

That time frame puts his return just before the end of the regular season.
- ob18

agreed!

4-6 weeks. geeze
- nastyflyergirl

55 stitches.. No more details, but if the cut isn't too deep into the muscle, hopefully he will be ok..,. Guess 4-6 is better than what it could have been.

Its not just the production, its the puck handling, smarter pinches, etc, his all around game is much better, yes, I know he has a past with injuries, but, your speaking as if we have several defensive prospects in the AHL, that are nhl ready & waiting for the bump up, we don't have this at all.
I would love to get Girardi next year, but we can't always bank on UFA's coming in.
And no, I was speaking about Mez only, not Streit, yes, I know Streit is scoring, he still stinks, his scoring isn't enough to hide his defensive shortcomings.
And most of his pinches give the opposition 2 on 1's
- puckhead17

Morin and Hagg may need more time, but guys like Alt, Lauridson and Ghost may be knocking on the door next season.

I just think guys like Mez are easily replaced. I wouldn't sign him until you've looked into other options in FA, trades or within the system. Even if he continues to play well, no team is going to jump at him early in FA. They have time to shop before buying the same pair of shoes.

55 stitches.. No more details, but if the cut isn't too deep into the muscle, hopefully he will be ok..,. Guess 4-6 is better than what it could have been.
- Hextall271

When it was first reported last night, all you heard was Stolarz was cut on the back of the leg and needed to be helped off with a stretcher. I assumed the worst. I was sure it was a tendon.

Its not just the production, its the puck handling, smarter pinches, etc, his all around game is much better, yes, I know he has a past with injuries, but, your speaking as if we have several defensive prospects in the AHL, that are nhl ready & waiting for the bump up, we don't have this at all.
I would love to get Girardi next year, but we can't always bank on UFA's coming in.
And no, I was speaking about Mez only, not Streit, yes, I know Streit is scoring, he still stinks, his scoring isn't enough to hide his defensive shortcomings.
And most of his pinches give the opposition 2 on 1's
- puckhead17

Both Mez and Streit are liabilities in their own zone. Sad to say, but there is not one Flyers defenseman who doesn't have some defensive deficiencies at this point.

Streit is often out of position and can be easily muscled off the puck

Mez is also often out of position and is soft defensively

Schenn takes himself out of position by going for a big hit when a big hit isn't needed, he can also occasionally make some real bonehead plays with the puck

Timonen has simply lost a step, he can be beat to the outside much easier than when he was younger and his lack of speed leads to him taking a lot more hits as well.

Grossmann will also make the occasional positioning mistake, but most of his problems arise due to a huge lack of footspeed and poor puckhandling

Coburn is the best of the bunch, but he has a tendency to make unforced turnovers a little too often for my liking

and finally, Gustafsson is way to inconsistent and also can be easily forced off the puck in the corner.

The above is why I was so gung-ho for the Flyers to go after JayBo last year. While he has some faults, overall he is very good defensively and on the PK and he brings a lot of mobility to the lineup. Oh well

agreed!
- puckhead17

Should he be out the full 6 weeks. Possible return dates

March 2nd vs Peterborough
March 6th vs Sault Ste. Marie
March 7th @ Kitchener (Is the one I'd target)

Morin and Hagg may need more time, but guys like Alt, Lauridson and Ghost may be knocking on the door next season.

I just think guys like Mez are easily replaced. I wouldn't sign him until you've looked into other options in FA, trades or within the system. Even if he continues to play well, no team is going to jump at him early in FA. They have time to shop before buying the same pair of shoes.
- PhillySportsGuy

No, Gus is small & again, check to see who runs our team? We still have a thing for big slow players, (or maybe JVR would have brought in Gardiner) who knows?
How many D men make it UFA? We have all debated this, only the ones no other team wants, & yes we have a guy that fits this description already
I'm only speaking for next season or maybe the next 2 seasons, I know we are starting to build in this area more so then we have in the past, but if he continues to play well like he has, and stays healthy, I'm not so sure it's still a cut & dry decision to still let him go.

London backup Jake Patterson plans to wear Kevlar socks.

http://www.torontosun.com...od-against-saginaw-spirit

I didn't know but apparently in the OHL even in a regular season game you can have a 3rd goalie come down to dress if an injury happens like last night.

Should he be out the full 6 weeks. Possible return dates

March 2nd vs Peterborough
March 6th vs Sault Ste. Marie
March 7th @ Kitchener (Is the one I'd target)
- ob18

certainly the easiest of the bunch

Both Mez and Streit are liabilities in their own zone. Sad to say, but there is not one Flyers defenseman who doesn't have some defensive deficiencies at this point.

Streit is often out of position and can be easily muscled off the puck

Mez is also often out of position and is soft defensively

Schenn takes himself out of position by going for a big hit when a big hit isn't needed, he can also occasionally make some real bonehead plays with the puck

Timonen has simply lost a step, he can be beat to the outside much easier than when he was younger and his lack of speed leads to him taking a lot more hits as well.

Grossmann will also make the occasional positioning mistake, but most of his problems arise due to a huge lack of footspeed and poor puckhandling

Coburn is the best of the bunch, but he has a tendency to make unforced turnovers a little too often for my liking

and finally, Gustafsson is way to inconsistent and also can be easily forced off the puck in the corner.

The above is why I was so gung-ho for the Flyers to go after JayBo last year. While he has some faults, overall he is very good defensively and on the PK and he brings a lot of mobility to the lineup. Oh well
- BiggE

I do agree, I wanted J-Bo too! Your player evaluations can't be argued, just not sure what they can do for the next few years until one of the younger guys become seasoned. Trades will strip a huge portion of the depth up front, but the better Braden Schenn plays, the more I see Laughton as a possible odd man out.
As the center position, again is stocked, one say Schenn belongs on wing, but he's playing much better in the middle & he's now one of our top 4 scoring forwards.

No, Gus is small & again, check to see who runs our team? We still have a thing for big slow players, (or maybe JVR would have brought in Gardiner) who knows?
How many D men make it UFA? We have all debated this, only the ones no other team wants, & yes we have a guy that fits this description already
I'm only speaking for next season or maybe the next 2 seasons, I know we are starting to build in this area more so then we have in the past, but if he continues to play well like he has, and stays healthy, I'm not so sure it's still a cut & dry decision to still let him go.
- puckhead17

Ok. It's way too early to tell on anything. I just feel Mez would need to play phenomenal the rest of the season for me to consider signing him before FA.

but the better Braden Schenn plays, the more I see Laughton as a possible odd man out.

- puckhead17

VL though? We are already having trouble fitting him into the lineup. Has laughton ever done any work on the wings?

Ok. It's way too early to tell on anything. I just feel Mez would need to play phenomenal the rest of the season for me to consider signing him before FA.
- PhillySportsGuy

Well, no it's really not too early, that's one of the problems I hink our management has had, to not look a season or 2 own the road, I'm not saying to hand him a 4 year deal, now or whenever, but I don't think it's easy enough to jut cast him aside if he continues to play this way, you said earlier he's on the ice hen guys are scoring, as if its all by accident, who else handles the puck at the line like he has lately?
Streit with his spin o turnovers? Not Schenn either, although Schenn has gotten a little better.

VL though? We are already having trouble fitting him into the lineup. Has laughton ever done any work on the wings?
- Bearintheforest

They tried him out there during world juniors. He's built more for center because he covers the entire ice well. That being said, I think he would be alright starting on the wing.

Well, no it's really not too early, that's one of the problems I hink our management has had, to not look a season or 2 own the road, I'm not saying to hand him a 4 year deal, now or whenever, but I don't think it's easy enough to jut cast him aside if he continues to play this way, you said earlier he's on the ice hen guys are scoring, as if its all by accident, who else handles the puck at the line like he has lately?
Streit with his spin o turnovers? Not Schenn either, although Schenn has gotten a little better.
- puckhead17

This is the problem that has gotten them in trouble before. The Flyers are too scared to let players walk. Mez is not irreplaceable. There is no need to sign him now or this season. Just be patient. This isn't like losing Matt Carle. Mez isn't on his level.

VL though? We are already having trouble fitting him into the lineup. Has laughton ever done any work on the wings?
- Bearintheforest

Vinny was brought here with the notion of p,saying some wing, they made this signing because B Schenn wasn't running with the 2nd line center spot right away, so now what? Ruin schenns play because of Vinny needing to play center?
Homer needed to worry about kimmo's retirement more so then another damn center. And no Not Streit either.

No, Gus is small & again, check to see who runs our team? We still have a thing for big slow players, (or maybe JVR would have brought in Gardiner) who knows?
How many D men make it UFA? We have all debated this, only the ones no other team wants, & yes we have a guy that fits this description already
I'm only speaking for next season or maybe the next 2 seasons, I know we are starting to build in this area more so then we have in the past, but if he continues to play well like he has, and stays healthy, I'm not so sure it's still a cut & dry decision to still let him go.
- puckhead17

I guess that's why they shelled out big bucks for both Timonen and Streit, signed Gustafsson and drated Ghostisbehere?

This is the problem that has gotten them in trouble before. The Flyers are too scared to let players walk. Mez is not irreplaceable. There is no need to sign him now or this season. Just be patient. This isn't like losing Matt Carle. Mez isn't on his level.
- PhillySportsGuy

I never said sign him now, but if he continues to play like his Ottawa days, and leaves ok, & kimmo retires, then what? They need to have a damn plan, oh I forgot they never do, they thought they were getting Suter 2 years ago, & no plan B.
I have not been a big Meszaros fan either, but, he's not playing like this by accident, so it's just something to think about as the season progresses

Vinny was brought here with the notion of p,saying some wing, they made this signing because B Schenn wasn't running with the 2nd line center spot right away, so now what? Ruin schenns play because of Vinny needing to play center?
Homer needed to worry about kimmo's retirement more so then another damn center. And no Not Streit either.
- puckhead17

I think they signed him because they felt he was too good to pass up. I was never a huge fan of Vinny. I always thought St Louis was the really special player on Tampa.