Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers WJC Wrapup, Practice Report

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers WJC Wrapup, Practice Report
- bmeltzer

Hagg seems to have such an effortless skating stride. Quite pleased with what I saw from him, especially the physical aspects of his game

Happy New Year!!!

Hagg seems to have such an effortless skating stride. Quite pleased with what I saw from him, especially the physical aspects of his game
- Jsaquella

Hagg is going to be incredibly frustrating. He's very lackadaisical. When he makes good plays, he makes them look easy, but when he struggles it looks like he's not giving full effort. He didn't show much offensively, but it may have been because of what Bill said about him playing a defensive role.

Vasiliev had a nice goal and I thought he looked pretty good. Getting anything from a 7th round pick would be great.

Laughton was used improperly for Canada. Sutter loaded up the top 6 with talent and didn't look to find balanced lines. Laughton's leadership and two-way play would have helped, but he never seemed to get the big minutes.

Hagg is going to be incredibly frustrating. He's very lackadaisical. When he makes good plays, he makes them look easy, but when he struggles it looks like he's not giving full effort. He didn't show much offensively, but it may have been because of what Bill said about him playing a defensive role.

Vasiliev had a nice goal and I thought he looked pretty good. Getting anything from a 7th round pick would be great.

Laughton was used improperly for Canada. Sutter loaded up the top 6 with talent and didn't look to find balanced lines. Laughton's leadership and two-way play would have helped, but he never seemed to get the big minutes.
- PhillySportsGuy

I could see that from Hagg. I definitely saw the rawness, but the natural ability is exciting.

The small bit I saw from Vasiliev, he looked good. Again, pretty raw, but natural ability.

I think that Sutter did a horrible job as coach. He really seems to have overloaded the team, in terms of systemic complexity, and made really questionable decisions.

Hagg seems to have such an effortless skating stride. Quite pleased with what I saw from him, especially the physical aspects of his game
- Jsaquella

Hagg looks to have all the tools. But yeah there were some penalties he took that leave you scratching your head. He has a high ceiling.

Is there any chance Hagg and/or Vasiliev wind up on the phantoms next year?

So, as one of his biggest critics to start the year... I have to give props to Luke Schenn for really turning his game around. He is the Luke from last season again.

I havent been around as much this season, and figured I should post this while I have the chance.

Continue.

So, as one of his biggest critics to start the year... I have to give props to Luke Schenn for really turning his game around. He is the Luke from last season again.

I havent been around as much this season, and figured I should post this while I have the chance.

Continue.
- jak521

I havent watched much of any of the western swing....is this true?

Hagg looks to have all the tools. But yeah there were some penalties he took that leave you scratching your head. He has a high ceiling.

Is there any chance Hagg and/or Vasiliev wind up on the phantoms next year?
- Just5

I think both are staying in Europe next year, but not sure. I know Vasiliev said he wanted to stay another few years when he got drafted, and Hagg was definitely going to stay at least another year or two when he was drafted.

agree with most of what you said for sure. With Laughton I think the role he was cast into was one not many other kids on that team would have done well at. He did not see ONE pp....Canada and , Sutter for that matter kept sending out the same units time after time. In the final 3 games Laughton was moved to the wing with Hovart in the middle and Reinhart on the other wing ....But when the PP came up Mcdavid was moved to his spot. Sutter tried to force Drouin, Reinhart and McDavid into the offensive role and besides some "moments" they failed. Mcdavid faded badly as the competition grew. Yet Sutter kept going with the kids (Reinhart and Mcdavid)....Mantha proved to be the only catalyst. I was hoping Laughton's roll would increase but thats Sutter's way.....a way that got them 4th place.....Canada's system for picking it's team needs an over haul....it is so politically correct....there are better kids that never get a sniff....
In the prelimanary games Laughton was with Mantha and Leire, but they never seemed to gel.....
I watched Hagg and quite frankly wasn't impressed....He reminds me of Dan Mcgillis , for the way he plays.... smooth skater , but stands up on his skates...
Leier was ok....but never did much to stand out....

So, as one of his biggest critics to start the year... I have to give props to Luke Schenn for really turning his game around. He is the Luke from last season again.

I havent been around as much this season, and figured I should post this while I have the chance.

Continue.
- jak521

Outside of scary moments-the blue line spin o rama in Edmonton-he's played much better of late. So has Streit.

Hagg is going to be incredibly frustrating. He's very lackadaisical. When he makes good plays, he makes them look easy, but when he struggles it looks like he's not giving full effort. He didn't show much offensively, but it may have been because of what Bill said about him playing a defensive role.

Vasiliev had a nice goal and I thought he looked pretty good. Getting anything from a 7th round pick would be great.

Laughton was used improperly for Canada. Sutter loaded up the top 6 with talent and didn't look to find balanced lines. Laughton's leadership and two-way play would have helped, but he never seemed to get the big minutes.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed with Hagg. I don't know if it's his skating or what, but there were several times where he was playing in front of the goalie while the puck was being battled for on the other corner and he was just standing there, knees not bent, just watching. No head on a swivel, 1 hand on his stick, could have easily been beaten with a good pass. Again, I know he's very raw, but I'd like to see him just have some more energy with everything he does. But he does have good puck movement, broke up a ton of lines rushes, and could play physically. But again, it's his defensive play when he's not engaged with the puck carrier that worries me.

Vasilyev probably doesn't project to more than a 7/8 defenseman, but like you said, anything from him is great.

Laughton played very well away from the puck. The only knock I'll put on his offensive game was his shooting decisions. Too many of his shots ended up being blocked. He's not as gifted East/West as some players, but pulling the puck to one side before shooting would have helped. However, overall play wise, he had a fairly good, if unspectacular, tournament.

Timmy P has the dumbest article up on csnphilly about how Giroux averages less time in flyer wins than flyer losses? Ummmm maybe bc when they are losing they shorten the bench to just the scoring lines in order to, you know, score? I cant wait to read the comments if Timmy P posts it in here.

Hagg looks to have all the tools. But yeah there were some penalties he took that leave you scratching your head. He has a high ceiling.

Is there any chance Hagg and/or Vasiliev wind up on the phantoms next year?
- Just5

Hagg said that he wanted to spend 2 full seasons in the SEL when he was drafted, so I wouldn't expect him on the Flyers roster (barring a major jump) until the 2016/2017 season, maybe with a cup of coffee is 2015/2016. Which is fine with me, because he's playing in a far tougher league than the AHL right now.

Timmy P has the dumbest article up on csnphilly about how Giroux averages less time in flyer wins than flyer losses? Ummmm maybe bc when they are losing they shorten the bench to just the scoring lines in order to, you know, score? I cant wait to read the comments if Timmy P posts it in here.
- Just5

Carcheesy had one similar.. How Giroux puts up more points in games where he averages less than 20 minutes of ice time. Well no poop.. those are usually games in which he is being forced to play more because we are losing. If he is getting less time it usually means we have a lead, and he was a likely catalyst

Thanks for the review Bill. I am glad to see that we actually have players to report on, and that we didn't trade these guys away. Development is a big step in the Flyers philosophy, and I am excited to see these guys come up through the system.
Do you think that Heeter will be called up to the NHL level if Emery isn't signed next year? How about Stolarz moving up to the Phantoms? Thumbs up for Mason this season. I just hope that we don't ruin him with an overpriced long term contract...lol.

Timmy P has the dumbest article up on csnphilly about how Giroux averages less time in flyer wins than flyer losses? Ummmm maybe bc when they are losing they shorten the bench to just the scoring lines in order to, you know, score? I cant wait to read the comments if Timmy P posts it in here.
- Just5

I don't think he understands cause and effect. It's like that stupid stat that people always use "When this team rushes this many times, they win." Well it's easier to run the ball when you're having success and ahead in the game.

Carcheesy had one similar.. How Giroux puts up more points in games where he averages less than 20 minutes of ice time. Well no poop.. those are usually games in which he is being forced to play more because we are losing. If he is getting less time it usually means we have a lead, and he was a likely catalyst
- jak521

hahaha terrible writers ripping terrible articles off each other. awesome

Agreed with Hagg. I don't know if it's his skating or what, but there were several times where he was playing in front of the goalie while the puck was being battled for on the other corner and he was just standing there, knees not bent, just watching. No head on a swivel, 1 hand on his stick, could have easily been beaten with a good pass. Again, I know he's very raw, but I'd like to see him just have some more energy with everything he does. But he does have good puck movement, broke up a ton of lines rushes, and could play physically. But again, it's his defensive play when he's not engaged with the puck carrier that worries me.

Vasilyev probably doesn't project to more than a 7/8 defenseman, but like you said, anything from him is great.

Laughton played very well away from the puck. The only knock I'll put on his offensive game was his shooting decisions. Too many of his shots ended up being blocked. He's not as gifted East/West as some players, but pulling the puck to one side before shooting would have helped. However, overall play wise, he had a fairly good, if unspectacular, tournament.
- jmatchett383

Even if Laughton never becomes a 50 point player, he will still be very useful. Having two centermen who can match up against another team's top lines is invaluable. Especially when you're in a division with Crosby and Malkin. It, also, allows the coach to roll lines without much hesitation.

I think people get too enamored with offensive numbers. The best teams in the playoffs have the best two-way forwards.

I don't think he understands cause and effect. It's like that stupid stat that people always use "When this team rushes this many times, they win." Well it's easier to run the ball when you're having success and ahead in the game.
- PhillySportsGuy

Right....its usually not a good sign when your QB is throwing more than 40X a game. Ugh I cant wait til he posts it in here

Thanks for the review Bill. I am glad to see that we actually have players to report on, and that we didn't trade these guys away. Development is a big step in the Flyers philosophy, and I am excited to see these guys come up through the system.
Do you think that Heeter will be called up to the NHL level if Emery isn't signed next year? How about Stolarz moving up to the Phantoms? Thumbs up for Mason this season. I just hope that we don't ruin him with an overpriced long term contract...lol.
- OrangeAndBlack1

Stolarz will definitely compete for an AHL job next year, but Heeter may go the way or Martin Houle/Johan Backlund, and Jeremy Duchesne as an RFA after this year, although his numbers this year are far superior compared to last year.

Carcheesy had one similar.. How Giroux puts up more points in games where he averages less than 20 minutes of ice time. Well no poop.. those are usually games in which he is being forced to play more because we are losing. If he is getting less time it usually means we have a lead, and he was a likely catalyst
- jak521

There are corners of the advanced stats community that strongly believe in the ice time stats.

Stolarz will definitely compete for an AHL job next year, but Heeter may go the way or Martin Houle/Johan Backlund, and Jeremy Duchesne as an RFA after this year, although his numbers this year are far superior compared to last year.
- jmatchett383

I wish we had more goalie prospects. It's difficult to put all your eggs in one basket in regard to goaltending prospects. So many of them fizzle out and very few ever reach NHL starter.

You look at other teams and they have 3 Stolarzs

Even if Laughton never becomes a 50 point player, he will still be very useful. Having two centermen who can match up against another team's top lines is invaluable. Especially when you're in a division with Crosby and Malkin. It, also, allows the coach to roll lines without much hesitation.

I think people get too enamored with offensive numbers. The best teams in the playoffs have the best two-way forwards.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd hope Laughton can be more than a 4th line player, but that's where I see him starting next year (basically taking Hall's place) and having to work his way up. The problem is what to do at center. As always, we're stocked deep there (Giroux/Vinny/Schenn/Couturier/Hall/Laughton). I know Schenn's moved to wing and Hall's a UFA, but that still leaves a question as to what Laughton's role is. Maybe he can move to a wing on the 3rd line. Heck, I think Boston had 7 "natural" centers last year, and they did okay with it.

Stolarz will definitely compete for an AHL job next year, but Heeter may go the way or Martin Houle/Johan Backlund, and Jeremy Duchesne as an RFA after this year, although his numbers this year are far superior compared to last year.
- jmatchett383

I think Heeter is gonna be the back up next year unless Emery decides to take his career the way of Brian Boucher and just be a veteran back up for hire.