Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Gustafsson Stands Out, Bryz vs. USA, Canada vs. Norway

Excellent to hear Gustafsson is playing at a high level and handling more responsibility for Sweden. If Holmgren can't add a defenseman, Gus will be counted on heavily by the Flyers.

Bill..a little off topic

What did you think of Subban yellin at Pacoretty from the bench?

Do you think it was immature of him to do that with cameras everywhere?

Bill..a little off topic

What did you think of Subban yellin at Pacoretty from the bench?

Do you think it was immature of him to do that with cameras everywhere?
- sarmen25

I think it speaks to why he's widely disliked despite his undeniable skills (BTW, he seems like a good guy off the ice). That kind of stuff between teammates needs to be confined to the locker room.

thanks again Bill for the updates

i think that Sam Donnellon's piece on Ed Snider this morning made some salient points about how the flyers have operated in recent yrs. while i think there is more patience in the heart of the fan base than Sam i agree w/ the overall tenor of this passage:

Like Boston Red Sox teams over the decades preceding 2004, Flyers teams have been built and rebuilt expeditiously to placate not just an impatient fan base but an impatient owner. In doing so, Ed has often sought to catch the latest wave, only to find it had already passed. When the Flyers built a team for speed, the league went bigger. When they built a bigger, meaner team, the league called more penalties. Hitchcock was brought in to trap and beat the Devils. Laviolette to open up a stagnant offense. No matter what the edition, the Flyers carried around that image they built in the '70s, their team perennially characterized as bullies no matter what the size or toughness of their current roster.

here's the link :
http://www.philly.com/phi...e_Flyers__Mr__Teflon.html

Excellent to hear Gustafsson is playing at a high level and handling more responsibility for Sweden. If Holmgren can't add a defenseman, Gus will be counted on heavily by the Flyers.
- Jsaquella

My biggest concern with Gustafsson is his tendency to get injured. He was set back in 2011-12 by a broken wrist that required surgery (and, unfortunately, the injury happened just as he seemed to be hitting his stride with the big club. This past year, he had a leg/ankle injury that set him back for a couple months.

If he stays healthy, I really like his chances to hold down a top six spot with the big club next year.

I think it speaks to why he's widely disliked despite his undeniable skills (BTW, he seems like a good guy off the ice). That kind of stuff between teammates needs to be confined to the locker room.
- bmeltzer

To be fair, I saw that on TV. And Pacioretty had his back to the camera. So it's unclear if Pacioretty said something first to Subban, and he responded. Or vice versa. Subban was slow to get off the ice on a change which led to a shorthanded chance against the Habs. So it's possible that Pacioretty spoke first to get on Subban about the change.

thanks again Bill for the updates

i think that Sam Donnellon's piece on Ed Snider this morning made some salient points about how the flyers have operated in recent yrs. while i think there is more patience in the heart of the fan base than Sam i agree w/ the overall tenor of this passage:

Like Boston Red Sox teams over the decades preceding 2004, Flyers teams have been built and rebuilt expeditiously to placate not just an impatient fan base but an impatient owner. In doing so, Ed has often sought to catch the latest wave, only to find it had already passed. When the Flyers built a team for speed, the league went bigger. When they built a bigger, meaner team, the league called more penalties. Hitchcock was brought in to trap and beat the Devils. Laviolette to open up a stagnant offense. No matter what the edition, the Flyers carried around that image they built in the '70s, their team perennially characterized as bullies no matter what the size or toughness of their current roster.

here's the link :
http://www.philly.com/phi...e_Flyers__Mr__Teflon.html
- isaiah520

I expected to read it and roll my eyes, but this might be one of the better, more thought out pieces ive seen in some time... and i agree with the jist of it...

I expected to read it and roll my eyes, but this might be one of the better, more thought out pieces ive seen in some time... and i agree with the jist of it...
- jak521

But if you look at it in terms of playoff appearances and winning playoff series. The Flyers are one of the most succesful franchises out there. The problem is that they've lost in what, the last 5 Cup final appearances they've been in.

But if you look at it in terms of playoff appearances and winning playoff series. The Flyers are one of the most succesful franchises out there. The problem is that they've lost in what, the last 5 Cup final appearances they've been in.
- MJL

lost in 6 cup finals....UGH

76, 80, 85, 87, 97, 10....I say again...UGH

I expected to read it and roll my eyes, but this might be one of the better, more thought out pieces ive seen in some time... and i agree with the jist of it...
- jak521

Sam writes w/o an agenda and is a really a nice guy which would make him the exact opposite of a guy like markus hayes.

for all of the abuse that carchidi gets here(much of it deserved), he's also a genuinely good guy as well.

But if you look at it in terms of playoff appearances and winning playoff series. The Flyers are one of the most succesful franchises out there. The problem is that they've lost in what, the last 5 Cup final appearances they've been in.
- MJL

Its a tough pill to swallow for sure.

Watching the Kings Blues has been great.
I have to agree with Bill now, I think J Bo is not worth the money.
He is more of a passenger out there.

Wish the Flyers still had J Will though.

Also was thinking about Homer's comment about wanting to get bigger...
a prelude to trading for Big Buff?
I hope not.

Dustin Penner looks great in the playoffs
He is like the super macadamia nut jumbo stack of pancakes right now.

But if you look at it in terms of playoff appearances and winning playoff series. The Flyers are one of the most succesful franchises out there. The problem is that they've lost in what, the last 5 Cup final appearances they've been in.
- MJL

Sounds like the early-mid 00's Eagles teams. Not a comparison I'd be happy about.

Watching the Kings Blues has been great.
I have to agree with Bill now, I think J Bo is not worth the money.
He is more of a passenger out there.

Wish the Flyers still had J Will though.

Also was thinking about Homer's comment about wanting to get bigger...
a prelude to trading for Big Buff?
I hope not.

Dustin Penner looks great in the playoffs
He is like the super macadamia nut jumbo stack of pancakes right now.
- Marc D

kings/blues is hockey at another level...sens/habs is the other series I'm enjoying, but those teams aren't on the same plane as what we saw in LA last nite.

getting bigger is the latest iteration of the plan apparently

My biggest concern with Gustafsson is his tendency to get injured. He was set back in 2011-12 by a broken wrist that required surgery (and, unfortunately, the injury happened just as he seemed to be hitting his stride with the big club. This past year, he had a leg/ankle injury that set him back for a couple months.

If he stays healthy, I really like his chances to hold down a top six spot with the big club next year.
- bmeltzer

Couldn't agree more. This franchise, and Gus, are due for some luck on the injury front.

Question about Team Germany: Who are they trotting out there such that they can put a reasonably skilled guy like Noebels on a 4th line?

Couldn't agree more. This franchise, and Gus, are due for some luck on the injury front.

Question about Team Germany: Who are they trotting out there such that they can put a reasonably skilled guy like Noebels on a 4th line?
- johndewar

Marcel Goc?

kings/blues is hockey at another level...sens/habs is the other series I'm enjoying, but those teams aren't on the same plane as what we saw in LA last nite.

getting bigger is the latest iteration of the plan apparently
- isaiah520

I had a good laugh at Crosby drawing that OT penalty in the last Isles game.
Guy has like the strongest lower body strength in the league, but can collapse to the ice when a PP is needed. Can't blame him at all though, he does whatever it takes.

Also Henrik Sedin's cheap shot on the face off, glove punching Couture in the face.
Sedin's getting tough, WTF.

Sam writes w/o an agenda and is a really a nice guy which would make him the exact opposite of a guy like markus hayes.

for all of the abuse that carchidi gets here(much of it deserved), he's also a genuinely good guy as well.
- isaiah520

The problem also is that Donellon writes from a distance. Not a very good columnist.

Sounds like the early-mid 00's Eagles teams. Not a comparison I'd be happy about.
- jmatchett383

Yep, the bottom line is it's not good enough.

kings/blues is hockey at another level...sens/habs is the other series I'm enjoying, but those teams aren't on the same plane as what we saw in LA last nite.

getting bigger is the latest iteration of the plan apparently
- isaiah520

I don't think Holmgren is looking at wholesale changes to make the team bigger. But he is absolutely correct to say that they could use a winger or two with more size and toughness. That can come from an internal or external source. And also with the physical maturity of young players.

Tweaking the roster is quite different from a wholesale philosophy change.

I had a good laugh at Crosby drawing that OT penalty in the last Isles game.
Guy has like the strongest lower body strength in the league, but can collapse to the ice when a PP is needed. Can't blame him at all though, he does whatever it takes.

Also Henrik Sedin's cheap shot on the face off, glove punching Couture in the face.
Sedin's getting tough, WTF.
- Marc D

Well, according to Bieksa, San Jose is full of divers. Which coming from a Canucks player is...wow.

I had a good laugh at Crosby drawing that OT penalty in the last Isles game.
Guy has like the strongest lower body strength in the league, but can collapse to the ice when a PP is needed. Can't blame him at all though, he does whatever it takes.

Also Henrik Sedin's cheap shot on the face off, glove punching Couture in the face.
Sedin's getting tough, WTF.
- Marc D

nothing new w/ Sid....sedins getting desperate like the rest of the nucks. gillis did that team no favors.

I don't think Holmgren is looking at wholesale changes to make the team bigger. But he is absolutely correct to say that they could use a winger or two with more size and toughness. That can come from an internal or external source. And also with the physical maturity of young players.

Tweaking the roster is quite different from a wholesale philosophy change.
- MJL

I'm still not sure what the philosophy is. I'm not sure if this is a dump-pound-crash the crease team, or a skating team, or a defense-oriented counter-attacking team (okay, i know they're NOT that right now). I just want them to pick a way they're going to play, and stick with it. Otherwise, you get a mashup of players that end up playing outside of their strengths.

I'm still not sure what the philosophy is. I'm not sure if this is a dump-pound-crash the crease team, or a skating team, or a defense-oriented counter-attacking team (okay, i know they're NOT that right now). I just want them to pick a way they're going to play, and stick with it. Otherwise, you get a mashup of players that end up playing outside of their strengths.
- jmatchett383

pretty much