Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Running the Treadmill, VandeVelde, McGinn, Quick Hits

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Running the Treadmill, VandeVelde, McGinn, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Good morning!

Looking forward to your assessment of Streit. So far I think he's been mediocre most nights and outright bad on a few. If he was signed to say a 3 year, 9 million deal I could live with it, but at 5 mil+ over 4 years he's been a big disappointment.

Flyers should bring their dads to every game from now on.

I would rather have Raffl in the lineup than McGinn. Raffl has speed and creativity that Tye seems to lack. Not sure why they didn't give Raffl some time in the AHL but it could be that they had no one else to bring what he does. With that said, I'd rather see McGinn plugged into the lineup than Rosehill and Rinaldo together. They have no offensive ability as far as I can tell. Both in the lineup together seems redundant in a bad way...no offense. I guess the Flyers need some more offensive talent. Hopefully Laughton brings that next year.

Good morning!

Looking forward to your assessment of Streit. So far I think he's been mediocre most nights and outright bad on a few. If he was signed to say a 3 year, 9 million deal I could live with it, but at 5 mil+ over 4 years he's been a big disappointment.
- BiggE

agree with you, except the 3 years, (maybe 2 years instead), he's been awful, why he was playing with Gus on the sideline makes no sense, (wonder if the Island would take him back if they get one more injury on the back end?) They tried to retain him.
I think regardless of how we play in the coming months management should be prioritized into somehow trying to bring in a top defenseman moving forward, because when Kimmo goes, we will be in trouble.

How did Mason get a double minor in that skirmish at the end of the game?

Real good to see a win last night... In person too. The thing that that bothers me right now is this team doesn't seem to have that extra gear. Meaning they can't take it to the other team in certain times of the game or at least nullify the other team's pressure. Last night could have been easily the other way. Also generating another goal to put the game away would have been great.

Real good to see a win last night... In person too. The thing that that bothers me right now is this team doesn't seem to have that extra gear. Meaning they can't take it to the other team in certain times of the game or at least nullify the other team's pressure. Last night could have been easily the other way. Also generating another goal to put the game away would have been great.
- JoeRussomanno

notice Couts, although still playing well has cooled off, empty net was a bad miss.

you just sadly described a .500 team

Nice blob. Do we have to talk streit tommorow?

How about Gus. The flyers need to let him play. I give him pp, pk time. All of it. Let him go through the growing pains. I hate how they've handled him so far, showing little confidence in him

Nice blob. Do we have to talk streit tommorow?

How about Gus. The flyers need to let him play. I give him pp, pk time. All of it. Let him go through the growing pains. I hate how they've handled him so far, showing little confidence in him
- Just5

I'd only do that if they're up/down big in a game. This team, crazy as it sounds, is not in last place, and is actually fighting for a playoff spot. Now, if you truly think he's a better option of the PP/PK that what they have, that's one thing. Doing it just for the sake of getting Gus exposure shouldn't be their primary objective right now. That said, he should be playing every night, because he's better than Mez.

Real good to see a win last night... In person too. The thing that that bothers me right now is this team doesn't seem to have that extra gear. Meaning they can't take it to the other team in certain times of the game or at least nullify the other team's pressure. Last night could have been easily the other way. Also generating another goal to put the game away would have been great.
- JoeRussomanno

The home PP needs to get better - it's now at 9.7% which is 28th in the league. A goal in the five minute PP last night would have put the game away.

If you put Mason on last season's team or last season's PP on this team, you would have a club that comfortably makes the playoffs.

I doubt a conversation about Streit's going to be all bad -- the guy hasn't been the worst defenseman on the team all year; he's been bad for some games.

It's OK to be fair when being critical -- remember, when the Flyers were off to the 1-7 start, Kimmo Timonen was maybe the worst defenseman on the roster.

Perspective in this stuff is crucial -- making Mark Streit the whipping boy after a few bad games, when he isn't even the worst defenseman on this roster...I don't know how much good that will do.

I'd only do that if they're up/down big in a game. This team, crazy as it sounds, is not in last place, and is actually fighting for a playoff spot. Now, if you truly think he's a better option of the PP/PK that what they have, that's one thing. Doing it just for the sake of getting Gus exposure shouldn't be their primary objective right now. That said, he should be playing every night, because he's better than Mez.
- jmatchett383

With some sweet passes from Jake, and better finishes, the top line actually looked it. Raffl might not be the long-term answer, but he's clearly got skill and is tenacious on the puck, and Hartnell looked better on the 2nd line with Schenn and Simmonds. Although it could be he was fired up because of the recent demotion.

As for the playoffs, unless something drastically changes with this team, even if they happen to squeak in, they are likely beaten in the first round, but even if they win one, they almost certainly aren't getting to the finals. The point is, I'd rather have them build toward next season - groom the kids, identify free agents, lock up Mason - than getting distracted by the shiny at the end of this season.

Granted, anything can happen - that's sports - but unless something is changed with this team, likely via trade, and hopefully one that doesn't sacrifice much youth, we're pretenders, not contenders, at least in my humble opinion.

I doubt a conversation about Streit's going to be all bad -- the guy hasn't been the worst defenseman on the team all year; he's been bad for some games.

It's OK to be fair when being critical -- remember, when the Flyers were off to the 1-7 start, Kimmo Timonen was maybe the worst defenseman on the roster.

Perspective in this stuff is crucial -- making Mark Streit the whipping boy after a few bad games, when he isn't even the worst defenseman on this roster...I don't know how much good that will do.
- AllInForFlyers

The problem I have with Streit is that he has simply been a huge disappointment and has not even come close in living up to his contract so far. If I was ranking the Flyers Dmen at this point in the season it would be:
1. Coburn
2. Grossmann
3. Timonen
4. tie: Schenn & Streit

At 5.25 per for 4 years, being ranked tied for 4th with Schenn just doesn't cut it for me.

I doubt a conversation about Streit's going to be all bad -- the guy hasn't been the worst defenseman on the team all year; he's been bad for some games.

It's OK to be fair when being critical -- remember, when the Flyers were off to the 1-7 start, Kimmo Timonen was maybe the worst defenseman on the roster.

Perspective in this stuff is crucial -- making Mark Streit the whipping boy after a few bad games, when he isn't even the worst defenseman on this roster...I don't know how much good that will do.
- AllInForFlyers

It was inevitable with Striet. Many in here are black and white when it comes to their criticisms of certain players. They expect him to be Bobby Orr instead of what he truly is; an offensive defenseman who needs to be at his very best in the defensive zone to look mediocre defensively. He hasn't been very good offensively and deserves the criticism for that. He had a bad stretch there but for the most part hasn't hurt the team other than his offensive production being below where I thought i should be for the contract he signed.

Going back to criticism, I have been very critical of the top line lately and especially Giroux. But he played very well last night and looked a little more like the Giroux we expect. I hope he carries that to Sunday.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Running the Treadmill, VandeVelde, McGinn, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Yeah, fans tend to fixate on McGinn and Lauridsen like they are burgeoning prospects who deserve to be up... McGinn b/c he's potted a few goals in the show, and Lauridsen because he's strongly associated with being up during that late run last season.

The fact that they were called up speaks more to the lack of depth in the system, this season and last, than it speaks to their viability as prospects. McGinn and Lauridsen are, more likely than not, going to go the way of Colin Forbes and David Printz.

Gus, on the other hand, is maybe good enough to stick, and needs to see the ice.

It was inevitable with Striet. Many in here are black and white when it comes to their criticisms of certain players. They expect him to be Bobby Orr instead of what he truly is; an offensive defenseman who needs to be at his very best in the defensive zone to look mediocre defensively. He hasn't been very good offensively and deserves the criticism for that. He had a bad stretch there but for the most part hasn't hurt the team other than his offensive production being below where I thought i should be for the contract he signed.

Going back to criticism, I have been very critical of the top line lately and especially Giroux. But he played very well last night and looked a little more like the Giroux we expect. I hope he carries that to Sunday.
- MBFlyerfan

I didnt expect much defensively but he's on pace for 3 goals and 30 points and thats just not good enough. He's not horrible but it was a bad signing at those numbers.

I didnt expect much defensively but he's on pace for 3 goals and 30 points and thats just not good enough. He's not horrible but it was a bad signing at those numbers.
- BiggE

You are correct. He needs to get on the scoresheet more often.

You are correct. He needs to get on the scoresheet more often.
- MBFlyerfan

He doesn't even need to score... just need him to show more of that puck-moving they supposedly brought him in for... puck-retrieval in the defensive zone, moving it up quickly, sealing off the boards in the o-zone better, having an appreciable effect on the PP, getting shots through, all the things you would expect an offensive specialist to be able to do. He needs to be leading the team from the back-end, instead of being thoroughly outclassed by 38-year-old Kimmo, who's possession metrics are better across the board.

I didnt expect much defensively but he's on pace for 3 goals and 30 points and thats just not good enough. He's not horrible but it was a bad signing at those numbers.
- BiggE

The Powerplay is not functioning well at home whether it's Kimmo or Streit at the point. Both of them are scoring at a much lower rate than last year.

How did Mason get a double minor in that skirmish at the end of the game?
- Hatchet

HAHAHA.
No idea.
I can see why he got at least one.

Nice blob. Do we have to talk streit tommorow?

How about Gus. The flyers need to let him play. I give him pp, pk time. All of it. Let him go through the growing pains. I hate how they've handled him so far, showing little confidence in him
- Just5

I do admit Gus looked pretty good out there. I'd call him mobile but not yet solid (if that makes sense). There's definately a lack of confidence you can feel when he plays. I agree though let him play and let's see what we've got here.

You are correct. He needs to get on the scoresheet more often.
- MBFlyerfan

I feel that he's only recently been putting bombs on the net in the PP... I'm hoping we'll see more numbers as he gets more comfortable with that unit.
And our second PP unit looked 10 times better than our first.
I think they need to take a serious look at that.

Good morning!

Looking forward to your assessment of Streit. So far I think he's been mediocre most nights and outright bad on a few. If he was signed to say a 3 year, 9 million deal I could live with it, but at 5 mil+ over 4 years he's been a big disappointment.
- BiggE

Honestly, the cap hit doesn't bother me considering how high the cap ceiling will shoot over the next few years. I haven't been a fan of his play though. I'm just happy to see a win last night, sweet sweet catharsis.

He doesn't even need to score... just need him to show more of that puck-moving they supposedly brought him in for... puck-retrieval in the defensive zone, moving it up quickly, sealing off the boards in the o-zone better, having an appreciable effect on the PP, getting shots through, all the things you would expect an offensive specialist to be able to do. He needs to be leading the team from the back-end, instead of being thoroughly outclassed by 38-year-old Kimmo, who's possession metrics are better across the board.
- Tomahawk

Completely agree here. He's lagging on all these fundamentals and I most notice him when he doesn't seal off his o-zone board by not settling the puck. He also tends to tic tac the puck too much and it scoots away from him. Looks to me like he has the yips in his hands and doesn't feel confident or comfortable so far.