Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Cousins, Forward Numbers Game, Laberge, Alumni & More

I really wanted the Devils to take Laberge in the second but nice pick up I think

Cousins seems to be a guy that has everything go click for him & then he's successful after an adjustment period. In the OHL, he had a good season leading up to his draft year then exploded for a big season. Then in the AHL, he struggled for a year and then had a very good 2nd season. In his first call up to the Flyers he looked ok, but last season he looked like a good third liner who could irritate & chip in with some scoring.

Hopefully, he can built on that

Bill, I really think Provorov makes the team out of camp and his consistency will dictate if he stays as there is not much left in junior to challenge him night in night out. What do you think the chances the Flyers moving one of Streit, MacDonald, Schultz, Del Zotto? I know everyone wants to see MacDonald go but no one is realistically going to take that contract right now (maybe Vegas next year). Personally I do not have much of a problem with MacDonald's game, but his contract is about 2 million per too high. Personally I think they should move Streit as he may have the most value right now and either extend both Del Zotto and Schultz in season (2 year contracts max) before the deadline or trade one at the deadline if the season is not looking good at that point. Within the next two seasons I see some of the defense draft picks to have at least 3 of the 6 spots. (Provorov, Sanhiem, Morin). Whats your thoughts?

It's nice to have options, but man is it anyone's guess who's going to be on the opening day roster for forwards ( aside from the obvious ).

I'm not a fan of Boyd Gordon

He's okay.

Just don't see why he's guaranteed a spot over certain guys

I'm not a fan of Boyd Gordon

He's okay.

Just don't see why he's guaranteed a spot over certain guys
- PhillySportsGuy

Something something faceoffs something

I am not a fan...I think any positives from his game are negated or outweighed by his negatives

Something something faceoffs something

I am not a fan...I think any positives from his game are negated or outweighed by his negatives
- YuenglingJagr

Exactly. His greatest strength (face-offs) really isn't important enough to overlook the rest of his game

I'm not a fan of Boyd Gordon

He's okay.

Just don't see why he's guaranteed a spot over certain guys
- PhillySportsGuy

He is young and energetic

Something something faceoffs something

I am not a fan...I think any positives from his game are negated or outweighed by his negatives
- YuenglingJagr

Agreed. To me, aside from winning faceoffs, he brings nothing to the bottom-6 that any number of other players could do. If he gets sent to the AHL, I don't think it would cripple the Flyers.

Exactly. His greatest strength (face-offs) really isn't important enough to overlook the rest of his game
- PhillySportsGuy

If Gordon remains strong in the areas of the game that he's good at, this will be a very important signing for the Flyers. I was so glad when Hextall made that signing. Well done Hexy.

Agreed. To me, aside from winning faceoffs, he brings nothing to the bottom-6 that any number of other players could do. If he gets sent to the AHL, I don't think it would cripple the Flyers.
- jmatchett383

To be fair, I do think hes better defensively than most of us are giving him credit for. And if theres anything going for him...he has been used almost exclusively in defensive situations.

To me it just feels a little "passive box-ish." Like oooooh look how good we are at defense! Literally, if nothing else...it at least provides a veteran depth option as a 13th forward

If Gordon remains strong in the areas of the game that he excels at, this will be a very important signing for the Flyers. I was so glad when Hextall made that signing. Well done Hexy.
- MJL

we get it

I think if cousins can refine his all around game a bit more I think he can be a good 4th line center for us playing 12-14 minutes. With his skating/size deficiencies I don't see him ascending to be much more than that

I think if cousins can refine his all around game a bit more I think he can be a good 4th line center for us playing 12-14 minutes. With his skating/size deficiencies I don't see him ascending to be much more than that
- Just5

I'd like the 4th line center to be a contributor to playing on the PK, and to be able to take some key defensive shifts in certain game situations.

I'm not a fan of Boyd Gordon

He's okay.

Just don't see why he's guaranteed a spot over certain guys
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd have him ahead of both Bellemare and VandeVelde. He's a good PK guy and faceoff guy, and those factors alone will free up Giroux's workload. With the additions of Lyubimov, Weise and having Read, Cousins, Laughton and maybe Raffl as bottom six options, the can have a seriously solid bottom 6.

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/...agreed-with-subban-trade/

God this is beautiful!

I'd like the 4th line center to be a contributor to playing on the PK, and to be able to take some key defensive shifts in certain game situations.
- MJL

He's already decent at moving the puck out of the zone and up the ice. For me he doesn't necessarily have to take those duties. He could see PP2 time as well.

I'd have him ahead of both Bellemare and VandeVelde. He's a good PK guy and faceoff guy, and those factors alone will free up Giroux's workload. With the additions of Lyubimov, Weise and having Read, Cousins, Laughton and maybe Raffl as bottom six options, the can have a seriously solid bottom 6.
- Jsaquella

If he can improve the PK, then that's enough value added to warrant a spot. I just hate the idea of using a roster spot on a face-off specialist when it's been shown that most face-offs are fairly insignificant. No matter what, Couturier and Giroux should be taking the important EOG face-offs.

If he can improve the PK, then that's enough value added to warrant a spot. I just hate the idea of using a roster spot on a face-off specialist when it's been shown that most face-offs are fairly insignificant. No matter what, Couturier and Giroux should be taking the important EOG face-offs.
- PhillySportsGuy

He's been a good PK guy for years. His possession metrics are skewed heavily by his usage, as are his GF/GA stats. Granted, even with better usage, he'd likely be no better than average in either of those areas statistically. His DZ start numbers are staggering-like 80% DZ starts.

But he is good in his own end, and is a good PK guy-plus he's an outstanding faceoff guy. Key for me is, having Gordon means less Giroux taking DZ faceoffs because the coach doesn't trust Bellemare or whomever else. Less PK time for Giroux, so he can rest more and be utilized more as an offensive weapon.

I think if you put him between Lyubimov & Read, his deficiencies will be masked and you'll have an effective player who fills definite needs and limits the heavy lifting that had to be done in the past by Giroux.

Cousins, who nevertheless was only whistled off for four penalty minutes in 36 games with Philly.

That's some great discipline.

My application is in for the habs analytics job. Wait til they see the number fudging I can get done

I'd have him ahead of both Bellemare and VandeVelde. He's a good PK guy and faceoff guy, and those factors alone will free up Giroux's workload. With the additions of Lyubimov, Weise and having Read, Cousins, Laughton and maybe Raffl as bottom six options, the can have a seriously solid bottom 6.
- Jsaquella

I think hes going to be the x factor for the flyers, being able to pull g off def zone draws is going to improve his production I think.

He reminds me of Dowd, who was actually quite useful for the flyers. He is by far my favorite signing this offseason.

If he can improve the PK, then that's enough value added to warrant a spot. I just hate the idea of using a roster spot on a face-off specialist when it's been shown that most face-offs are fairly insignificant. No matter what, Couturier and Giroux should be taking the important EOG face-offs.
- PhillySportsGuy

That's part of the problem with the flawed statistics that are used. They're simply wrong. Faceoffs are so insignificant that the Flyers pretty much ran Giroux into the ground sending him out for defensive zone faceoffs. Faceoffs labeled as fairly insignificant is complete nonsense. They're very important.

He's been a good PK guy for years. His possession metrics are skewed heavily by his usage, as are his GF/GA stats. Granted, even with better usage, he'd likely be no better than average in either of those areas statistically. His DZ start numbers are staggering-like 80% DZ starts.

But he is good in his own end, and is a good PK guy-plus he's an outstanding faceoff guy. Key for me is, having Gordon means less Giroux taking DZ faceoffs because the coach doesn't trust Bellemare or whomever else. Less PK time for Giroux, so he can rest more and be utilized more as an offensive weapon.

I think if you put him between Lyubimov & Read, his deficiencies will be masked and you'll have an effective player who fills definite needs and limits the heavy lifting that had to be done in the past by Giroux.
- Jsaquella

Exactly!