We do not have scoring help with the Phantoms. Our promising forwards aren't here yet (Lindblom, Rubstov). We have a stockpile of 3rd line forwards (Schenn, Raffl, Coots, Read, Weise, Cousins) and desperately need a 2nd line center and someone that can play with G. I loved the Duchene/Landeskog discussion although I realize the price is high. Maybe trade at the draft for them? Landeskog, G, Jake on top line. Duchene, Simmonds, TK on 2nd line?? Whoever is left makes up 3rd line. PEB and VanDelvelde plus someone else on fourth. Young core of dmen and one vet goalie and Stolarz. Should be playoff team but also has hope of building into serious contender.

I do appreciate the blog and I do agree with its tone. I think there are two things that are missed or downplayed though.

I don't think there is as much parity as the standings suggest or you hinted at. I do think there is a good chance a team can be in and out of the playoffs year after year, but I think there are teams that are clearly better and then a whole mess of teams that may or may not get in the playoffs. There are kind of two definitions of parity there.

Also, I can't look at what the impending UFAs have done this season and tell myself that they are necessary to any sort of turnaround in the Flyers season and streak that they go on. In some ways I think getting rid of them would help. That is where I think Hextall may be making a mistake. Trading away some of their expiring contracts isn't throwing in the towel if they have capable replacements. It won't be too detrimental if they do stand pat given their prospect pool and their plethora of picks, but I think trading them away is a smarter move
- YuenglingJagr

Right. The parity is an illusion because of the three point games.

A lot is being ignored and/or swept under the rug here in order to excuse the company strategy of always going for the win and never ever ever under any circumstance admit defeat.

Old way of thinking that needs to be put out to pasture. I'm not saying completely tank, but why not be completely honest with ourselves here?

Giroux is the biggest issue. His 5 on 5 play has regressed much faster than anyone could have seen. He is paid as a top player for five more seasons and he already cannot drive play. Hell, he isn't even playing like a 2C. Add in the fact that we need his 60+ point production two to three seasons from now when the kids come up and everything is properly aligned, and there is legitimate cause for concern here.

Hextall needs to come up with a plan to address this in the offseason. It is the single biggest issue this team faces.

Wouldn't shock me.

I apologize. it's going to be the same line up (the AHL cavalry is not coming) and the 2017 equivalent of Dale Weise and Boyd Gordon will be added.

Woo-hoo. Break out the party hats.
- LindsayCarson

Hakstol and Hextall already talked about having a couple of new dmen in the lineup next season at the STH meeting.

Yes we are a bubble team. The real question is how do we become one of the elite teams competing for a cup drafting 8 to 12 for the next few years? Looking at the last decade or two of Cup contenders and winners most of those teams tanked pretty good and drafted hall of fame type stars. We really don't have anyone in that category presently and would have to be very fortunate for Provorov to develop into that.
- Pmfoxer

There isn't anyone in this draft that is on the level of Kane, Crosby, McDavid, Matthews, Laine Etc. So tanking this year is a crap shoot.

I'm not sure tanking next season is a good idea either as there will be hell to pay, from the owners, if they miss the playoffs two years in a row.

Dump the UFA's for picks that you hope you find a diamond in the rough. Call up some kids and see what they offer. Next year hopefully Lindbolm starts with the Flyers and maybe some more youth joins the current core.

Right. The parity is an illusion because of the three point games.

A lot is being ignored and/or swept under the rug here in order to excuse the company strategy of always going for the win and never ever ever under any circumstance admit defeat.
- StepfordSam

That's not the strategy anymore. Hextall was a seller two years ago and got a huge haul for Kimmo and Coburn. Last year because of the MDZ injury and Medvedev's consistency issues he had nothing to sell after already unloading Schenn and Vinny in January.

That's not the strategy anymore. Hextall was a seller two years ago and got a huge haul for Kimmo and Coburn. Last year because of the MDZ injury and Medvedev's consistency issues he had nothing to sell after already unloading Schenn and Vinny in January.
- Feanor

BUT BUT BUT Hextall sat on his hands at the deadline!!!!

BUT BUT BUT Hextall sat on his hands at the deadline!!!!
- dragonoffrost

I'd rather him sit on his hands then do what Washington did when they moved Forsberg for Erat.

It's has to be the right deal. I would much rather stand pat then make a dumb trade just to make a trade.

Ah, so this is where the Negative Nellies are hanging out today.

cool

Ah, so this is where the Negative Nellies are hanging out today.

cool
- Scoob

I'm out of work today with a concussion from the sky (falling) hitting me in the head.

Ah, so this is where the Negative Nellies are hanging out today.

cool
- Scoob

Not a lot to be positive about.

Oh! Mason shut out the worst team in the NHL in a game with zero pressure on him. So, I expect to hear about Hextall signing him to a 5 year 25 million dollar extension with a NTC by noon today.

I'm out of work today with a concussion from the sky (falling) hitting me in the head.
- hockeylover

lol, sorry to hear that

First of all, how many hands and keyboards do you HAVE, Bill?
Staggering amount of quality content written by you on a daily basis!
Now then, my guess is Hextall still tries to address the goalie contract status issue, regarding the Golden Knights, before 3pm today. Other than that- probably nothing.
I get that 1,000's of people interact with writers daily, but I know I have been HARPING for a sniping LW a LOT. I say that, not because I don't see the benefit of an upgrade at the pivot, but because we have NO player on the roster, or seemingly on the farm, who thinks shoot first. We have reasonable depth at center and NONE on the left side. Further, Giroux is not the bust people are claiming, but he and Jake have never BEEN goal scorers, and G's best work came with a solid LW willing to shoot.
Not sure of modern metrics, but I am sure there is a stat somewhere that rates percentage of goals scored off the rush. I would bet the Flyers are in the bottom 5 in the league in that stat.

Not a lot to be positive about.

Oh! Mason shut out the worst team in the NHL in a game with zero pressure on him. So, I expect to hear about Hextall signing him to a 5 year 25 million dollar extension with a NTC by noon today.
- LindsayCarson

It's really as simple as trading the bad guys for some good ones. I can't believe Hextall doesn't see that.

I do appreciate the blog and I do agree with its tone. I think there are two things that are missed or downplayed though.

I don't think there is as much parity as the standings suggest or you hinted at. I do think there is a good chance a team can be in and out of the playoffs year after year, but I think there are teams that are clearly better and then a whole mess of teams that may or may not get in the playoffs. There are kind of two definitions of parity there.

Also, I can't look at what the impending UFAs have done this season and tell myself that they are necessary to any sort of turnaround in the Flyers season and streak that they go on. In some ways I think getting rid of them would help. That is where I think Hextall may be making a mistake. Trading away some of their expiring contracts isn't throwing in the towel if they have capable replacements. It won't be too detrimental if they do stand pat given their prospect pool and their plethora of picks, but I think trading them away is a smarter move
- YuenglingJagr

I think it's about a balance. Hextall has traded players away in the past when the Flyers were in reasonable reach of a playoff spot. If the return is not worth it, then he may just decide to keep them and see what happens.

Bill,
In your argument against tanking, you state that it is possible to stay down there for the better part of a decade like Edmonton. However, you never mention that it is also possible to stay in the mediocre middle, where the Flyers are, for the better part of a decade too. Right now it looks like the Flyers could be trending there with a talent infusion at defense coinciding with a declining forward corp. The Flyers are going to have to add high end talent at forward if they don't want to get trapped in the middle. It's going to take something bold, like a trade, or getting extremely lucky in the draft/winning the lottery for that to occur from where they end up in the standings year after year.

Not a lot to be positive about.

Oh! Mason shut out the worst team in the NHL in a game with zero pressure on him. So, I expect to hear about Hextall signing him to a 5 year 25 million dollar extension with a NTC by noon today.
- LindsayCarson

You expect a lot of things that won't happen.

Bill,
In your argument against tanking, you state that it is possible to stay down there for the better part of a decade like Edmonton. However, you never mention that it is also possible to stay in the mediocre middle, where the Flyers are, for the better part of a decade too. Right now it looks like the Flyers could be trending there with a talent infusion at defense coinciding with a declining forward corp. The Flyers are going to have to add high end talent at forward if they don't want to get trapped in the middle. It's going to take something bold, like a trade, or getting extremely lucky in the draft/winning the lottery for that to occur from where they end up in the standings year after year.
- psuhockey

Tanking worked like a charm for Pittsburgh.

Bill Meltzer: Trade Deadline Day Musings
- bmeltzer

I didn't read the Marcus Hayes article because I had anything else to do, but if he really advocated a Sixers type rebuild, he's such a (frank)ing weasel. For the 2.5 years Hinkie was here, he crushed him on a daily basis. Then, when they got the top pick and Embiid actually played, he became tanking's biggest proponent. (frank) him and (frank) Philly.com for employing that idiot.

Ah, so this is where the Negative Nellies are hanging out today.

cool
- Scoob

The Positive Patties are hanging out in the Hawks, Penguins, Caps, Jackets, and Wild threads.

You expect a lot of things that won't happen.
- Feanor

That I do.

Long time Flyer fan and I think Bill needs to at least mention how boring this team is to watch - no identity, too small, too slow and painful to watch.

Tanking worked like a charm for Pittsburgh.
- LindsayCarson

It worked when you get guys like Crosby, Malkin, Fleury.


Last year there was Matthews and Laine.

The Year before McDavid and Eichel.

It's a little different tanking for Hischier and Patrick as no one knows if they will even be franchise guys. They are good players. But can you tell me they are franchise altering that you tank for?

Ah, so this is where the Negative Nellies are hanging out today.

cool
- Scoob

I'm not exactly Sammy Sunshine... but this board is getting a little negative even for my tastes, and by that I mean, we're trending in the whackadoodle direction now. Which leads me into the question of... where's Jsaq been?

Bill Meltzer: Trade Deadline Day Musings
- bmeltzer

First, I wanted to apologize for my crazy Giroux for Galchenyuk idea. While I don't think Galchenyuk is better than Giroux (yet), I didn't realize he had been hurt this season.

I'm disappointed with Hextall. He's lights out with drafting. His signings have been underwhelming. He has made good deals that benefit clearing cap space and getting us more pics but in terms of upgrading the roster, being proactive with trades to better this roster and getting in on talks with teams obviously in the hunt to fill holes, it always seems like he's nowhere to be found. Sure you don't want to trade just to do so but common, we have holes too. Get in there. Moving Streit for anything with satisfy me, and I know the day isn't over yet but we have crap to give away.

Rumors or Streit staying? Really??

Bill,
In your argument against tanking, you state that it is possible to stay down there for the better part of a decade like Edmonton. However, you never mention that it is also possible to stay in the mediocre middle, where the Flyers are, for the better part of a decade too. Right now it looks like the Flyers could be trending there with a talent infusion at defense coinciding with a declining forward corp. The Flyers are going to have to add high end talent at forward if they don't want to get trapped in the middle. It's going to take something bold, like a trade, or getting extremely lucky in the draft/winning the lottery for that to occur from where they end up in the standings year after year.
- psuhockey

I always refer to that as the Toronto Debacle, I find that more frustrating than where Colorado is at now.