Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Ed Snider, Alumni and More

Forced parity sucks.

On this date in 1995, Eric Lindros' overtime goal off a drop pass from Mikael Renberg gave the Flyers a 3-2 overtime road win over the New Jersey Devils at cut their deficit in the Eastern Conference Final to two games to one.

I remember this game well, because I vaguely recall having an interview the next day for a job I did not get.

Went down to the shore (Sea Isle) that weekend and watched Game 4 at the Springfield with a rowdy crowd and Game 5 with friends.

That Game 5 was as depressing as it gets as a Flyers fan.

Forced parity sucks.
- Scoob

Agreed. I understand that it's in the best interest of the league as a whole; but to me, if you can't hang with the big boys, then leave.

By the way, the whole idea of the salary cap giving small market teams (like New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Colorado, Dallas, Colorado) a chance to compete with big market teams (like Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Montreal, and Toronto) is a load of poop.

Love the hard cap. This summer 90% of the ufa's will feel like their in a vice grip

Agreed. I understand that it's in the best interest of the league as a whole; but to me, if you can't hang with the big boys, then leave.
- jmatchett383

I'm not 100% convinced of that.

Dmitri Tertyshny cameo in that clip.

Love the hard cap. This summer 90% of the ufa's will feel like their in a vice grip
- Just5

If I remember correctly, the players actually wanted a fixed cap back in 2005, and the owners bet against themselves and fought for a moving cap.

And wtf is Ek's post about Carolina not going to LV all about? First I heard that was even a whiff of a rumor that it could happen. All I've heard is that LV is getting an expansion team. Were Carolina to move (and I'm in favor of failing businesses closing up and moving) where would the expansion team go?

I remember this game well, because I vaguely recall having an interview the next day for a job I did not get.

Went down to the shore (Sea Isle) that weekend and watched Game 4 at the Springfield with a rowdy crowd and Game 5 with friends.

That Game 5 was as depressing as it gets as a Flyers fan.
- johndewar

thats awesome the Springfield was just as rowdy back then as it is now. my second favorite SIC bar behind the loft, and mainly because i can eat as many oysters as i want at the loft

Carrying this from last blog (sorry for length):

I'm deathly bored at work (already) so I thought of players in this upcoming draft that I'd be on board to move up for, select where we are at , and finally an additional 1st to acquire later in the round for another player. The first category is tougher Bc of the uncertainty of where players will go after the top 3.

Trade up: Logan Brown, Alex Nylander.

Sit still: Luke Kunin, Julien Gauthier, Kiefer Bellows.

Additional 1st: Max Jones* , Riley Tufte, Tyler Benson. (* for Jones because I've seen him selected at our spot in majority of mocks).

As you can see, I am in favor of C or LW. And Id be ok with involving Laughton+ In a trade to acquire the additional 1st if it meant we drafted a big C.

Id love to get up to grab Nylander, but if i feel like if we'd be giving up assets to move up in general, id love to go all the way with Laine. however, if they even ask for one of provy, konecny, ghost, or morin, i wouldnt, and they prob will ask for one of them back. I think im totally fine sitting at 18 and hoping Bellows falls, i think hes exactly what we need.

i also dont want to give up on Laughton at all, i think his potential is higher than some here see just because of his bad luck with injuries and his lack of playing time. i think when given a shot he has a potential as a 2nd line calibre player. i think the wing looks good on him and he just has to play more and get used to it, he was a center basically his whole life.

I also think max jones would be a solid get if he slips past say 21. ive read a bunch of mocks having him in the 20's, and now since London dominated have seen a few with him in our 18 spot. Id love a bellows/jones get from this trade, we have the picks in the top 3, just get it done Hexy!
- sjk540

I've seen Nylander slightly fall in some recent mocks by a couple of spots so that's why I put him and I love Brown's size and would be great to add to our team. It's not that I want to give up on Laughton nor think he can't fill in that role you have mentioned, and I didn't intend to knock on him at all, but it's more the fact if he can be an asset to move to acquire a bigger center that may fill what we need better, than I may be hesitant to not do the trade. But then again, if Laughton translates to the wing it's whatever. I've read the same on Jones and his size is also attractive. Has some maturity to do with his temper/discipline but not my biggest worry. Really do like the idea of getting another later 1st to get a big winger or center.

I'm not 100% convinced of that.
- Scoob

It helps (supposedly) teams like Phoenix and the like stay afloat, which means more teams can be competitive(again, supposedly). That's what the league feels is best.

I can appreciate your nuanced opinion of Larry Brooks (I think Brooks is an awful hack), but this article seems like one of a variation that Brooks writes every year when franchises he doesn't approve of advance further than the Rangers.

Fact is, other sports that have embraced a more even playing field have been far more financially successful than the NHL....the NFL immediately springs to mind. I'm sure Mr. Snider, despite possibly arguing for the opposite, knew this proposition.

Furthermore, Brooks also failed to mention the flip side of the expansion draft argument which is you want to give the new teams a fighting chance to succeed on the ice when they start. I doubt NHL owners want to squander opportunities like they did with Atlanta. If getting stuck with players with NMC hurts some teams more than others, than so be it.

thats awesome the Springfield was just as rowdy back then as it is now. my second favorite SIC bar behind the loft, and mainly because i can eat as many oysters as i want at the loft
- sjk540

Lots of good memories of happy hours there. Still fun to stop there now and again when I'm downashore.

Love the hard cap. This summer 90% of the ufa's will feel like their in a vice grip
- Just5

I do too because I think it will give the Flyers an even greater competitive advantage. Championships are now won at the draft table. The Flyers have usually been one of the better drafting teams but neglected it in their win now approach usually trading picks and spending top dollar for players past their prime. Now they have to draft and develop and will enjoy the prime years of all their players.

It helps (supposedly) teams like Phoenix and the like stay afloat, which means more teams can be competitive(again, supposedly). That's what the league feels is best.
- jmatchett383

Evidence suggests it's not working as planned and therefore may not be in the best interest of the league. They've already got enough trouble staying part of the "big 4" sports leagues and headlines about financially failing teams can't be helping.

Idiotic decisions by the board and other powers that be also aren't helping.

Carrying this from last blog (sorry for length):

I'm deathly bored at work (already) so I thought of players in this upcoming draft that I'd be on board to move up for, select where we are at , and finally an additional 1st to acquire later in the round for another player. The first category is tougher Bc of the uncertainty of where players will go after the top 3.

Trade up: Logan Brown, Alex Nylander.

Sit still: Luke Kunin, Julien Gauthier, Kiefer Bellows.

Additional 1st: Max Jones* , Riley Tufte, Tyler Benson. (* for Jones because I've seen him selected at our spot in majority of mocks).

As you can see, I am in favor of C or LW. And Id be ok with involving Laughton+ In a trade to acquire the additional 1st if it meant we drafted a big C.



I've seen Nylander slightly fall in some recent mocks by a couple of spots so that's why I put him and I love Brown's size and would be great to add to our team. It's not that I want to give up on Laughton nor think he can't fill in that role you have mentioned, and I didn't intend to knock on him at all, but it's more the fact if he can be an asset to move to acquire a bigger center that may fill what we need better, than I may be hesitant to not do the trade. But then again, if Laughton translates to the wing it's whatever. I've read the same on Jones and his size is also attractive. Has some maturity to do with his temper/discipline but not my biggest worry. Really do like the idea of getting another later 1st to get a big winger or center.
- arichardson22

what would you rank the players who may be available at 18:

bellows, jones, gauthier, kunin, tufte, in your opinion?

Agreed. I understand that it's in the best interest of the league as a whole; but to me, if you can't hang with the big boys, then leave.

By the way, the whole idea of the salary cap giving small market teams (like New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Colorado, Dallas, Colorado) a chance to compete with big market teams (like Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Montreal, and Toronto) is a load of poop.
- jmatchett383

Have to give those teams you listed a chance. They all have 40+ year Cup droughts.

Evidence suggests it's not working as planned and therefore may not be in the best interest of the league. They've already got enough trouble staying part of the "big 4" sports leagues and headlines about financially failing teams can't be helping.

Idiotic decisions by the board and other powers that be also aren't helping.
- Scoob

I agree. It has worked elsewhere, both in sports and business, but it's not working in the NHL because, if we allow ourselves to be honest, it's a niche sport in most non-traditional areas. Heck, 3 years before LA won the Cup, I remember a commercial for 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas, and 4 tickets for something like $100. Florida, who has been around for over 20 years now, and who had success in only their 3rd season, was selling season tix for $7 per game plus a free jersey.

The idea is that you spread the wealth so that these teams can be competitive, grow a fan base, and the end-result is more money in the long-run. However, due to the lack of popularity despite success, it's not working.

Really, a few teams folding up tent and getting out would be best for the league on a team-by-team basis, but there's no way the NHL or NHLPA would ever allow it.

It sucks because you look at a league like the NBA, which is significantly more popular than the NHL (why I'll never know), and at the beginning of this season every person in the country knew it was going to be Cavs vs Warriors in the final. Pretty sure you would have made about $8 on a $1000 bet if you took that before the season started it was so obvious. Now it came true, and the first 2 games have been a blow out and besides a few games in the West, the entire playoffs has been boring as all hell to watch.

No one seems to care about the Sharks and Pens but at least with hockey, any of the 16 playoff teams could make the cup. You know the outcome of the NBA finals before the season starts, the finals games are boring, and yet the fan base is still significantly larger than the NHL. The NBA is so trash that the Sixers had to do what they did they past few years to have a shot at building a team to compete for a title. I don't know what the NHL has to do to compete with them, but it blows my mind that so many NHL markets are struggling while there are only 3-4 teams in the entire NBA that have a shot at the title; Spurs, Cavs, Warriors, and Thunder.

what would you rank the players who may be available at 18:

bellows, jones, gauthier, kunin, tufte, in your opinion?

It's a tough call , but I will do my best with my opinion/preference(s). Anyone feel free to chime in to agree/disagree.

Bellows: can play center or left wing. Power forward with scoring abilities and good puck battler

Jones: another power forward on the left side. Heavy shot with a great physical game that fits flyers mold nicely Imo. He's only 18 and has mean size.

Tufte: BIG winger (6'5) on the left side who may not be done growing either. Not as physical as Bellows or Jones, but his size could be a nice addition with some of our smaller-speedier wingers. Skates well too.

Gauthier: flip it to the right side for another big-skilled winger. (I rank LW more of a priority than RW). I'd flip him with Jones if he was a natural LW. Size, skilled with puck, and can score.

Kunin: has fallen victim of being the player I know the least about. He's also the smallest of the bunch, and I'd like us to add more size to our prospect pool. Having said that, I haven't heard or read anything about about his play.

Is it draft week yet?

It sucks because you look at a league like the NBA, which is significantly more popular than the NHL (why I'll never know), and at the beginning of this season every person in the country knew it was going to be Cavs vs Warriors in the final. Pretty sure you would have made about $8 on a $1000 bet if you took that before the season started it was so obvious. Now it came true, and the first 2 games have been a blow out and besides a few games in the West, the entire playoffs has been boring as all hell to watch.

No one seems to care about the Sharks and Pens but at least with hockey, any of the 16 playoff teams could make the cup. You know the outcome of the NBA finals before the season starts, the finals games are boring, and yet the fan base is still significantly larger than the NHL. The NBA is so trash that the Sixers had to do what they did they past few years to have a shot at building a team to compete for a title. I don't know what the NHL has to do to compete with them, but it blows my mind that so many NHL markets are struggling while there are only 3-4 teams in the entire NBA that have a shot at the title; Spurs, Cavs, Warriors, and Thunder.
- Tomfan365

There are a group of sports fans that like that sort of thing, where the good teams stay the good teams and the bad teams stay the bad teams. Some folks love the extended run of excellence of a dynasty (i.e.-- Jordan's Bulls, for example).

I don't care for that, myself, but some do. One of the things I like about the NHL is that an underdog team can get hot and take out a goliath.

The best the NBA can do is have OKC huff and puff and not be able to finish Golden State.

And I don't consider the NBA to be all that interested in parity, despite having a salary cap. You practically need a law degree to keep up with all of the exceptions the NBA carries around with their cap rules.

"Punish" big markets. Comical. I love how he blames the league for the mistakes of Rangers management. I guess that hack would be happy if the league allowed more compliance buyouts to protect the "elite" teams from themselves. Such arrogance.

There are a lot of variables that no one is mentioning that exist when looking at the reasons why other leagues, such as the NFL and NBA are more popular than the NHL. For one, football is tailor made for television...plenty of stoppages and an average play that lasts about 5 seconds, provides a ton of time for dissection by announcers. Plus there are only 16 games a season, so they inherently are more important. The NBA does a better job marketing its stars and the popularity of the NCAA tourney only helps because those players in many cases go on to be NBA starters; having only 2 rounds of a draft ensures that.