Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Blueline Balance and Roster Battles

If Streit is going to play limited 5 on 5 minutes, and isn't going to play on the PK. It's going to awful hard for his minutes to get to the 20 minute range if he's not on the #1 PP unit. Which I think he should be.

If Streit is going to play limited 5 on 5 minutes, and isn't going to play on the PK. It's going to awful hard for his minutes to get to the 20 minute range if he's not on the #1 PP unit. Which I think he should be.
- MJL

Meszaros averaged 20 minutes per game getting 3rd pairing five-on-five minutes, second PP unit time and secondary PK time. I think Streit will do the same, except possibly moving up to the top PP unit (although Laviolette said Timonen and Voracek will stay put). I personally don't want Streit killing penalties, if at all avoidable, although he did play PK with the Islanders.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Blueline Balance and Roster Battles
- bmeltzer

The Flyers can even wait until after camp to make a decision. They can get under the cap by sending Rosehill, Gervais and Bourdon to the AHL, and then recall Rosehill after placing Pronger on LTIR. With no recall waivers, the chances of losing any of the three seems remote, and let's face it, none of them are make or break players.

Granted, it would mean paying a 6th or 7th defenseman a significant cap hit, but it also provides a security blanket in case of injury and allows them to showcase Meszaros and possibly raise his trade value.

The Flyers can even wait until after camp to make a decision. They can get under the cap by sending Rosehill, Gervais and Bourdon to the AHL, and then recall Rosehill after placing Pronger on LTIR. With no recall waivers, the chances of losing any of the three seems remote, and let's face it, none of them are make or break players.

Granted, it would mean paying a 6th or 7th defenseman a significant cap hit, but it also provides a security blanket in case of injury and allows them to showcase Meszaros and possibly raise his trade value.
- Jsaquella

can the flyers re-sign Gagne and keep Meszaros when they put Pronger on LTIR?

The Flyers can even wait until after camp to make a decision. They can get under the cap by sending Rosehill, Gervais and Bourdon to the AHL, and then recall Rosehill after placing Pronger on LTIR. With no recall waivers, the chances of losing any of the three seems remote, and let's face it, none of them are make or break players.

Granted, it would mean paying a 6th or 7th defenseman a significant cap hit, but it also provides a security blanket in case of injury and allows them to showcase Meszaros and possibly raise his trade value.
- Jsaquella

Bourdon would need full medical clearance first... the fact that he still has periodic random headaches suggests he's not 100 percent symptom free yet from post-concussion syndrome. Also, even if he is cleared, whatever the Flyers do about Gagne could affect their ability to get cap compliant that way.

Bourdon would need full medical clearance first... the fact that he still has periodic random headaches suggests he's not 100 percent symptom free yet from post-concussion syndrome.
- bmeltzer

I had thought that he had been fully cleared, medically speaking.

Even so, both Sean Couturier & Brayden Schenn are waivers exempt, and while sending one of them down isn't an ideal path, it would allow the Flyers to skirt the cap and LTIR Pronger, while keeping Meszaros.

can the flyers re-sign Gagne and keep Meszaros when they put Pronger on LTIR?
- sarmen25

It would depend on when and how much they sign Gagne for. If Meszaros is traded before the end of camp(and no additional cap hit is acquired), then they will have around $2mm in space to sign Gagne.

If they wait until Pronger goes on LTIR after the first day of the season, they will have more flexibility, but it means Gagne not getting a deal until AFTER the start of the season, which he might not be cool with.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Blueline Balance and Roster Battles
- bmeltzer

i hope they find a way to keep mesz
not just because i like him as a player but because you know there will be injuries, it's just a question of when

Meszaros averaged 20 minutes per game getting 3rd pairing five-on-five minutes, second PP unit time and secondary PK time. I think Streit will do the same, except possibly moving up to the top PP unit (although Laviolette said Timonen and Voracek will stay put). I personally don't want Streit killing penalties, if at all avoidable, although he did play PK with the Islanders.
- bmeltzer

I don't want Streit killing penalties either. But it doesn't make sense to me to sign a player like Streit, who is an offensive/PP specialist defenseman, and not play him on the 1st PP unit to maximize his skill set. He has the best point shot on the team.

The season cannot start soon enough for me.

i hope they find a way to keep mesz
not just because i like him as a player but because you know there will be injuries, it's just a question of when
- -davies-

Yeah.. Time for someone else to carry the injury load.



More seriously, every time the Flyers ship out D there seems to be an injury bug left in the wake.

I don't want Streit killing penalties either. But it doesn't make sense to me to sign a player like Streit, who is an offensive/PP specialist defenseman, and not play him on the 1st PP unit to maximize his skill set. He has the best point shot on the team.
- MJL

I think this will sort itself out over time. If he has the best point shot on the team, Lavi will have no choice but to put him on the top PP unit. Just like if someone has a good camp -- they give the team no choice but to think about keeping them on the big club or making room for them.

The season cannot start soon enough for me.
- johndewar

I thank God it is September:

1) I don't have to wake up for school (work, yes, but at least I get paid).

2) Flyers camp starts soon.

Yeah.. Time for someone else to carry the injury load.



More seriously, every time the Flyers ship out D there seems to be an injury bug left in the wake.
- Flyskippy

after last year i just want to hold on to as many dmen as possible

I think this will sort itself out over time. If he has the best point shot on the team, Lavi will have no choice but to put him on the top PP unit. Just like if someone has a good camp -- they give the team no choice but to think about keeping them on the big club or making room for them.
- Flyskippy

I honestly don't see it as a big deal. The Flyers had the third best PP in the NHL last year, and the bulk of the damage was done by the top unit. Adding Streit as a QB when Giroux/Timonen/Voracek aren't out there could strengthen that 2nd unit and make both units very dangerous.

after last year i just want to hold on to as many dmen as possible
- -davies-

Agreed. I'd rather have a scenario where Dmen are playing 4th line wingers going into the postseason rather than hearing/reading, "Hey, let's put ____ back there like Sami Kapanen," ad nauseam.

EDIT: A bit of sarcasm here.

I honestly don't see it as a big deal. The Flyers had the third best PP in the NHL last year, and the bulk of the damage was done by the top unit. Adding Streit as a QB when Giroux/Timonen/Voracek aren't out there could strengthen that 2nd unit and make both units very dangerous.
- Jsaquella

Well, yeah, that would be the "other side" of my coin above. If Streit doesn't crack the top PP unit, that means the top PP is doing just fine and who cares if "all he does" is strengthen the 2nd unit, at that point? I'll take it.

Agreed. I'd rather have a scenario where Dmen are playing 4th line wingers going into the postseason rather than hearing/reading, "Hey, let's put ____ back there like Sami Kapanen," ad nauseam.

EDIT: A bit of sarcasm here.
- Flyskippy

What is Jake Voracek?

Well, yeah, that would be the "other side" of my coin above. If Streit doesn't crack the top PP unit, that means the top PP is doing just fine and who cares if "all he does" is strengthen the 2nd unit, at that point? I'll take it.
- Flyskippy

I'm actually thinking that Laviolette's thoughts on not changing the 1st unit are more along having two deadly units, or at least a stronger 2nd unit, to either provide more punch or force other teams to pick their poison in regards to what PK players they use against the 1st & 2nd units.

The top unit was deadly last year, the 2nd unit was below average. Teams could put all their eggs in the Giroux basket without fearing the 2nd unit.

What is Jake Voracek?
- Jsaquella

That can be the next list Bill puts together:

"What forwards would you convert to defense in the event 5/6's of the starting D gets hurt again?"

Good read Bill. After a pretty rough season last year, whats your take on the Phantoms for this coming season? Hopefully it appears the shelves are a little more stocked for them this season and the Flyers won't have as much of a need to tap into their roster, pending injuries of course..

after last year i just want to hold on to as many dmen as possible
- -davies-

Agreed. If one of Meszaros/Gustafsson is our #7D, I am fine with it. If Meszaros isn't taken and Gus outplays him, he should sit, regardless of salary. He'd probably be the best #7 in the NHL.

Also, this has nothing to do with the blog, but I saw it in the Pens blog and wanted to repost it:

Agreed. If one of Meszaros/Gustafsson is our #7D, I am fine with it. If Meszaros isn't taken and Gus outplays him, he should sit, regardless of salary. He'd probably be the best #7 in the NHL.
- jmatchett383

Would also be plenty rested for when the first injury happens in the third week of October.