Bill Meltzer: Post-Practice Roundup: Opening Night Lineup Set

I'm interested to see how the D pairs look against a really good Tampa team...hopefully Coots will show the offensive ability many seem to think he has. I don't really think it'll happen, but for the Flyers sake it'd be great for him to prove me wrong!

Bill Meltzer: Post-Practice Roundup: Opening Night Lineup Set
- bmeltzer

2nd pp unit should be interesting. Hopefully, and more importantly, the PK will be improved.

Besides key players staying healthy, the following are critical if this team is to have any chance of making the playoffs:

1. The Pk, especially on the road, must significantly improve

2. They need to find secondary scoring at ES

3. At least one, if not two, Dmen must exceed expectations and overachieve.

4. They have to learn how to give a consistent 60 minute effort, especially against weaker opponents.

GAME ON!!!!

Not gonna lie. I was hoping to see Gudas demolish somebody Thursday night.

I am very excited to see our line up in action.
I am hoping this crew can surprise this HB board and the pundits.

The ice times of the D are going to be very interesting.

2nd pp unit should be interesting. Hopefully, and more importantly, the PK will be improved.

Besides key players staying healthy, the following are critical if this team is to have any chance of making the playoffs:

1. The Pk, especially on the road, must significantly improve

2. They need to find secondary scoring at ES

3. At least one, if not two, Dmen must exceed expectations and overachieve.

4. They have to learn how to give a consistent 60 minute effort, especially against weaker opponents.

GAME ON!!!!
- BiggE

The 4th one is the most important to me. The benchmark of the Flyers throughout the 70-90s was a team that may not win, but didn't lose due to lack of effort. Since the 2010 run, we haven't seen that. If they lose, but give it their best effort throughout the majority of the season, I'm okay with it.

Not gonna lie. I was hoping to see Gudas demolish somebody Thursday night.
- acd513

So he'd get suspended and we'd get to call up Mac d? Haha

Glad Luke is in over Gudas


Best case scenario for this team: They are so bad that they get to pick Auston Matthews and another high end F

Worst case: They stay in the playoff hunt so they trade no one, and drop out on the last day of the season

for those of you that use HS, if you got an email, it was fake/scam. carry on.

for those of you that use HS, if you got an email, it was fake/scam. carry on.
- wilsonecho91

thanks for the heads up

Glad Luke is in over Gudas


Best case scenario for this team: They are so bad that they get to pick Auston Matthews and another high end F

Worst case: They stay in the playoff hunt so they trade no one, and drop out on the last day of the season
- YuenglingJagr

I may be in the minority but I can't cheer for them to suck. I want them to make the playoffs although I know they are not a contender. I want the younger guys to start to win a bit (cooter, simmer jake etc) and start to get pointed in the right direction for when the young d come in. I don't want to see this become the leafs or the oilers where we have 10 years of losing culture that can't be broken.

I may be in the minority but I can't cheer for them to suck. I want them to make the playoffs although I know they are not a contender. I want the younger guys to start to win a bit (cooter, simmer jake etc) and start to get pointed in the right direction for when the young d come in. I don't want to see this become the leafs or the oilers where we have 10 years of losing culture that can't be broken.

I didnt say I was cheering for them to suck. Quite the opposite. That doesnt change what would be best for them.

I will admit I was being a little harsh...it can be argued that best case scenario is just that Schenn/Coots/Laughton/whoever they call up on D become more complete NHL players regardless of their standings

Glad Luke is in over Gudas


Best case scenario for this team: They are so bad that they get to pick Auston Matthews and another high end F

Worst case: They stay in the playoff hunt so they trade no one, and drop out on the last day of the season
- YuenglingJagr

Not sure why you'd take Luke over Gudas...Gudas is a better skater, which isn't saying much, has a decent slapshot from the point and will definitely take the body.

Not sure why you'd take Luke over Gudas...Gudas is a better skater, which isn't saying much, has a decent slapshot from the point and will definitely take the body.
- aantny88

THANK YOU AT LEAST SOMEBODY GETS IT

Not sure why you'd take Luke over Gudas...Gudas is a better skater, which isn't saying much, has a decent slapshot from the point and will definitely take the body.
- aantny88

gudas is faster thats about it. i prefer schenns breakouts, he makes some good plays to keep the puck in the zone, and i think he has an underrated ability to get the puck through to the net. he also has no problem with playing the body, if thats what matters.

i dont think schenn is anything great, but he is underrated due to the fact that he isnt as good as JVR

Glad Luke is in over Gudas


Best case scenario for this team: They are so bad that they get to pick Auston Matthews and another high end F

Worst case: They stay in the playoff hunt so they trade no one, and drop out on the last day of the season
- YuenglingJagr

Noo if we are in the playoff hunt, that's when we trade a gange, a umby, or schenn, and get the best return for them.

Noo if we are in the playoff hunt, that's when we trade a gange, a umby, or schenn, and get the best return for them.
- flyers4487

What? You dont get more value for players in trades based off of whether or not your team is in the playoffs

Ugh. Not sure about Umberger on the 2nd PP. Hopefully he rocks it, or Hakstol gives Laughton a chance in there.

I didnt say I was cheering for them to suck. Quite the opposite. That doesnt change what would be best for them.

I will admit I was being a little harsh...it can be argued that best case scenario is just that Schenn/Coots/Laughton/whoever they call up on D become more complete NHL players regardless of their standings
- YuenglingJagr

Agreed. Cultivating a culture of winning (even when they aren't) is paramount to getting #1 picks. Those picks are just kids and they have to learn to play in the NHL. You don't give them the Veteran presence to show them what it takes, well see Edmonton.

Noo if we are in the playoff hunt, that's when we trade a gange, a umby, or schenn, and get the best return for them.
- flyers4487

You just named 3 players that have the least amount of value on the team and to trade them either future has to go the other way or salary must be eaten. The Flyers aren't even in the position to sign a cheap try-out players. Best case scenario the Flyers are out of the playoff hunt and rid themselves of these players for mid-picks. The problem for the Flyers is not just having the right players, but having limited options.

EDIT: The only things that will help the Flyers at this point 1) Time, riding themselves as much dead weight they can and 2) Not making the same mistakes during the same time frame

I would play Vinnie over R J Humberger. The only reason he is playing is so the upper management doesn't look like total fools for the Hartnell trade.

THANK YOU AT LEAST SOMEBODY GETS IT
- Streit2ThePoint

I'm telling you guys, he's got you all fooled by his charismatic beard

Agreed. Cultivating a culture of winning (even when they aren't) is paramount to getting #1 picks. Those picks are just kids and they have to learn to play in the NHL. You don't give them the Veteran presence to show them what it takes, well see Edmonton.
- flyler

Too bad the hockey "gods" (aka Bettman) rewarded them (Oilers) with a generational talent! The only year the Flyers finished in the basement, they get screwed out of the #1 pick, who then scores the Stanley Cup clinching goal against us! Yikes!

Where's the #2 pick from the 2007 draft...in Toronto on the top line. The guy we got for him can barely crack the top 6 on a poor defense!

This team's gonna have a hell of a time trying to score at ES.