Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: WJC Evaluation Games and More

no need to apologize Bill. Great work, as always.

Why the (frank) would you need to apologize?

Anyone who thinks you should is a loser.

Absolutely no apology necessary, Bill! We are lucky to have one of the best and hardest working Hockey writers covering our team, especially during this long walk through the Hockey Sahara.

Tanner Laczysnki was one of my favorite late round prospects before the draft. I had him pegged maybe as a potential 5th....we got him in the 6th. Sweetness.

Seems like he had a good game. I hope he tears it up during the showcase and at Ohio State and forces his way onto the WJC team. It's a slim chance with their roster depth but who cares?

No need to apologize Bill, we appreciate all that you do!!

2) I apologize for the lack of a blog earlier today. I spent all day and the evening working on projects related to the Flyers' 50th Anniversary season. Normal morning blogs will resume tomorrow morning.

Slacker

2) I apologize for the lack of a blog earlier today. I spent all day and the evening working on projects related to the Flyers' 50th Anniversary season. Normal morning blogs will resume tomorrow morning.

I guess we will have to find a new Flyers blog to read

[scans articles from other Flyers bloggers...]

That's okay, Bill. Take all the time you need

I have to be honest here, my first reaction was:
"No blog today, that is strange, I hope Bill and the family are ok... Maybe he's on vacation"

I don't think that any of us would have a right to criticize. Your blogs are awesome. Keep up the good work and thanks for all your insights.

Well, at least July is over and done with.

Well, at least July is over and done with.
- BiggE

The fact that you've taken only A day off this summer is remarkable in and of itself. You are the best

The fact that you've taken only A day off this summer is remarkable in and of itself. You are the best
- Pelle31Forever

he is a well oiled machine

I'm sorry, I don't care for that sorry.

I'm sorry, I don't care for that sorry.
- Crimsoninja

x2

It's top 10 list time once again. Today, in honor of the Boyd Gordon signing, the top 10 faceoff men in Flyers history:

First off, the honorable mentions:
Blair Betts
Ian Laperriere
Keith Primeau
Ron Sutter

And now, the top 10.

10. Daymond Langkow
An underrated player during his short stint as a Flyer, he was very solid on the draw

9. Rick Macleish
Not only was good on the draw, but he had the uncanny ability to fire a laser like wrist shot right off of an offensive zone draw and right past a usually startled goaltender.

8. Claude Giroux
Hopefully the addition of Gordon will take some D zone pressure off of G. He's one of the best in the NHL.

7. Craig MacTavish
MacT was fantastic on the draw and pretty damned good on the PK too.

6. Rod Brindamour
Another all time great faceoff guy. It shows how many good ones the Flyers have had when a guy like Brindy can't make the top 5.

5. Adam Hall
He was lights out, especially in the D zone. His ability to win that first draw on the PK and get an easy clear to start things off was priceless

4. Joel Otto
Quick hands and the strength of a bull made him almost impossible to beat on the draw.

3. Eric Lindros
He was a lot like Otto, but even better.

2. Bobby Clarke
Clarkie seemed to never lose an important draw. He's one of the greatest faceoff men of all time, IMO.

I guess you are really wondering who is #1, well, without any further ado...

1. Mike Sillinger
He wasn't here long, but when he was he owned the faceoff dot. This guy just might have been the best on the draw in NHL history. He routinely won 60-65% of draws and I believe he approached 70% a few times. Those are simply unheard of numbers, especially when you consider at anything over 55% is considered top notch.

It's top 10 list time once again. Today, in honor of the Boyd Gordon signing, the top 10 faceoff men in Flyers history:

First off, the honorable mentions:
Blair Betts
Ian Laperriere
Keith Primeau
Ron Sutter

And now, the top 10.

10. Daymond Langkow
An underrated player during his short stint as a Flyer, he was very solid on the draw

9. Rick Macleish
Not only was good on the draw, but he had the uncanny ability to fire a laser like wrist shot right off of an offensive zone draw and right past a usually startled goaltender.

8. Claude Giroux
Hopefully the addition of Gordon will take some D zone pressure off of G. He's one of the best in the NHL.

7. Craig MacTavish
MacT was fantastic on the draw and pretty damned good on the PK too.

6. Rod Brindamour
Another all time great faceoff guy. It shows how many good ones the Flyers have had when a guy like Brindy can't make the top 5.

5. Adam Hall
He was lights out, especially in the D zone. His ability to win that first draw on the PK and get an easy clear to start things off was priceless

4. Joel Otto
Quick hands and the strength of a bull made him almost impossible to beat on the draw.

3. Eric Lindros
He was a lot like Otto, but even better.

2. Bobby Clarke
Clarkie seemed to never lose an important draw. He's one of the greatest faceoff men of all time, IMO.

I guess you are really wondering who is #1, well, without any further ado...

1. Mike Sillinger
He wasn't here long, but when he was he owned the faceoff dot. This guy just might have been the best on the draw in NHL history. He routinely won 60-65% of draws and I believe he approached 70% a few times. Those are simply unheard of numbers, especially when you consider at anything over 55% is considered top notch.
- BiggE

I don't think I ever saw a team dominate at the dot like the Flyers did when they were running out Lindros, Brindy, and Otto in succession. It was almost not fair.

I don't think I ever saw a team dominate at the dot like the Flyers did when they were running out Lindros, Brindy, and Otto in succession. It was almost not fair.
- MBFlyerfan

Yup, and, for the first half of 95-96, they still had MacT too. It really was unreal, they basically had 4 of the top 10 faceoff men in the league at one time. They owned the dot.

Yup, and, for the first half of 95-96, they still had MacT too. It really was unreal, they basically had 4 of the top 10 faceoff men in the league at one time. They owned the dot.
- BiggE

Watching Lindros win the faceoff then having the LOD cycle the puck at will was a sight to behold.

Watching Lindros win the faceoff then having the LOD cycle the puck at will was a sight to behold.
- MBFlyerfan

- BiggE

Renberg was such a special player when healthy.

Renberg was such a special player when healthy.
- MBFlyerfan

Yeah, its a shame he suffered all those abdominal injuries. He was never the same after that.

Yeah, its a shame he suffered all those abdominal injuries. He was never the same after that.
- BiggE

Some of the stories of what he went through to just get on the ice are outright gruesome.

The fact that you've taken only A day off this summer is remarkable in and of itself. You are the best
- Pelle31Forever

RIF

I spent all day and the evening working on projects related to the Flyers' 50th Anniversary season.
- Bill Meltzer

Watching Lindros win the faceoff then having the LOD cycle the puck at will was a sight to behold.


- MBFlyerfan

Funny as hell, in the opening sequence when Lindros circled behind to carry the puck up along the boards, the two checkers were like "hell no, I'm not getting in his way"