Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/18/16 @ CHI

Finally, a game that ends before midnight!

Rather than bump Cousins down to the 4th line, I'd like to see them give Lyubimov a shot. Their bottom six could use some more speed and size

Be interesting when Schenn comes back. Opening night you don't want to start slow. I agree on lubyimov I feel like he's doing nobody any good as a 13th man right now. Hopefully we can get the pp going tonight and find some chemistry in our bottom 6.

Finally, a game that ends before midnight!

Rather than bump Cousins down to the 4th line, I'd like to see them give Lyubimov a shot. Their bottom six could use some more speed and size
- BiggE

I agree...they've looked fairly ineffective and speed/size can only help. I like what Cousins brings to the table, especially his ability to draw penalties. I would love to know what he says to piss off the other team's players so much!

I know that Hakstol keeps VdV in the lineup to kill penalties and make the safe play, but he has zero offensive pop!

Finally, a game that ends before midnight!

Rather than bump Cousins down to the 4th line, I'd like to see them give Lyubimov a shot. Their bottom six could use some more speed and size
- BiggE

"Challenge Accepted" - NBCSN

I agree...they've looked fairly ineffective and speed/size can only help. I like what Cousins brings to the table, especially his ability to draw penalties. I would love to know what he says to piss off the other team's players so much!

I know that Hakstol keeps VdV in the lineup to kill penalties and make the safe play, but he has zero offensive pop!
- aantny88

The ineffective guys arent moving, so its deck chairs

I agree...they've looked fairly ineffective and speed/size can only help. I like what Cousins brings to the table, especially his ability to draw penalties. I would love to know what he says to piss off the other team's players so much!

I know that Hakstol keeps VdV in the lineup to kill penalties and make the safe play, but he has zero offensive pop!
- aantny88

I love that grin when the other team gets called for a penalty.

With two games in, one with a lead and one coming from behind, Ice time ranks are below

Ghost
Streit
Provorov
AMac
Schultz
Manning

Giroux
Simmonds
Jake
Coots
PEB
Weise
Konecny
Raffl
Cousins
Read
VDV
Gordon

Ghost leads D in shots (9) and Read leads forwards with 8

I think the bottom 6 will really get tested when the Flyers return home. Then we can truly see if Hakstol elects to match up and free up the top lines.

Although 4th liners Read and Gordon have each scored a goal, both have come without the entire 4th line out there

Excited to see Gustav Forsling

Excited to see Gustav Forsling
- Tomahawk

Would you pay more in order to see him?

Great pre game article! I always enjoy reading what the other team has to say on game day and gotta agree with you on all points man, excellent read!

Bill, I'd read somewhere yesterday that practice indicated Lyubimov would come in and Cousins would be scratched. Do you have any info on that?

Also, I'm loving how the Blue Jays couldn't even win in what ended up being a bullpen start from Cleveland. And it also reminds me how much I love hockey players. Get a little blood on the ball, you don't use your pinkie as much as your other fingers to grip the ball.

Just some things I noticed in the last two games.

- The Flyers seems to be playing faster. They look like a quicker team and maybe this is due to having Hackstol's system down.

- 2nd line is a threat to score almost every shift.

- Read has played two solid games.

- right now I would prefer Manning over Schultz when Gudas is back. Manning as looked solid in his play so far.

- Boyd Gordon through two games has looked better than anticipated.

-Still hate Vandevelde and would prefer Lyubinov in over him.

I would like to see the following lineup once Schenn and Gudas return from their suspensions, I am not even going to try and predict the lineup once MDZ returns as that is still a few weeks away and who knows what moves could be made before then, or if anyone else is injured before then

Schenn-G-Simmonds
TK-Coots-Jake
Raffl-Cousins-Weise
Read-Gordon-PEB
spare: VDV
I would send Lyubimov down if everyone is healthy, the kid needs to play

Provorov-Streit
Ghost-Gudas
Manning or AMac-Schultz
spare: Manning or AMac
If Manning keeps playing the way he did the 1st 2 games, AMac sits, if not, Manning sits. I'd keep Schultz in the lineup because I feel that he is too important to the PK.

First PP Unit
same as last year
Second PP unit
Konecny, Coots, Streit, Provorov, Weise, though at times, I would swap Raffl in for Weise.

PK units
PEB-Gordon
Coots-Read
Giroux, Simmonds and Raffl could be spotted in as needed.

PK Defense units
Provorov-Schultz
AMac/Manning-Gudas
Streit can step in for Gudas when he's in the sin bin.

I would like to see the following lineup once Schenn and Gudas return from their suspensions, I am not even going to try and predict the lineup once MDZ returns as that is still a few weeks away and who knows what moves could be made before then, or if anyone else is injured before then

Schenn-G-Simmonds
TK-Coots-Jake
Raffl-Cousins-Weise
Read-Gordon-PEB
spare: VDV
I would send Lyubimov down if everyone is healthy, the kid needs to play

Provorov-Streit
Ghost-Gudas
Manning or AMac-Schultz
spare: Manning or AMac
If Manning keeps playing the way he did the 1st 2 games, AMac sits, if not, Manning sits. I'd keep Schultz in the lineup because I feel that he is too important to the PK.

First PP Unit
same as last year
Second PP unit
Konecny, Coots, Streit, Provorov, Weise, though at times, I would swap Raffl in for Weise.

PK units
PEB-Gordon
Coots-Read
Giroux, Simmonds and Raffl could be spotted in as needed.

PK Defense units
Provorov-Schultz
AMac/Manning-Gudas
Streit can step in for Gudas when he's in the sin bin.
- BiggE

Agree with everything but Schultz. Right now he would be my odd man out once Gudas is back.

Streit - Provorov
MacDonald/Gudas - Gostisbehere
Gudas/MacDonald - Manning


also just out of curiosity...based off Ek saying Kings could have interest in Mason, If he was moved what would you want back from LA. High picks, multiple picks or young player?

Agree with everything but Schultz. Right now he would be my odd man out once Gudas is back.

Streit - Provorov
MacDonald/Gudas - Gostisbehere
Gudas/MacDonald - Manning


also just out of curiosity...based off Ek saying Kings could have interest in Mason, If he was moved what would you want back from LA. High picks, multiple picks or young player?
- J35Bacher

I don't think flyers trust either prospect enough at this very second to trade Mason. I also don't know what trading Mason would do for our expansion mandatory exposures ? Would we have to expose neuvirth than ? Personally I'd want a high pick (which la traditionally doesn't have) or a top notch prospect (also something they are low on)

BiggE,

Great point about Schultz and the PK so yeah AMac hits the suite when Gudas is back if Gudas himself don't see a few upstairs just to drive home the point he can't do that stuff anymore. This team is getting to good for him to do that poop and cost them games.

We all would love to see VDV in the suite also but I fear Coach is not going to do it and Cousins ends up the odd man out.

Lyubimov really should be back in LHV after Schenn returns. I think Read has bumped him out with his play in the first two games. I think they were thinking of scratching Read at least one of the three games and when he's raised his play he forced the kid to sit which is good for the team and not good for the kid.

Agree with everything but Schultz. Right now he would be my odd man out once Gudas is back.

Streit - Provorov
MacDonald/Gudas - Gostisbehere
Gudas/MacDonald - Manning


also just out of curiosity...based off Ek saying Kings could have interest in Mason, If he was moved what would you want back from LA. High picks, multiple picks or young player?
- J35Bacher

Unless the Kings want to ridiculously overpay, I wouldn't move him. The Flyers, IMO, are a playoff team and I don't want to be one injury away from a tandem of Stolarz/Lyon, nor do I want to have to expend assets to trade for a goalie if Neuvy were to go down. Right now, I'd just stick to the 2 we have. Now if Lombardi loses his mind and is willing to trade Doughty for AMac and Mase, well, then I'd make the deal

I don't think flyers trust either prospect enough at this very second to trade Mason. I also don't know what trading Mason would do for our expansion mandatory exposures ? Would we have to expose neuvirth than ? Personally I'd want a high pick (which la traditionally doesn't have) or a top notch prospect (also something they are low on)
- Tfaehner

I am curious what happens with the goalies in the system.

One of Mason/Neuvirth will be resigned..whoever is better I would guess after this season.

Is Sandstrom coming over next season?

What do the flyers feel they have in Lyon or Stolarz? Are they possible starters or more seen as NHL back up types?

There could be a lot of movement in the system moving forward.

This may be a controversial post, but if I was Hakstol, when Gudas suspension is up, I might think about scratching him for a couple more games.

also just out of curiosity...based off Ek saying Kings could have interest in Mason, If he was moved what would you want back from LA. High picks, multiple picks or young player?
- J35Bacher

I'd have to say a first and second rounder for Mase from LA. Not in the same draft. Probably would want the second next year and the first the following. Seeing as if Quick comes back the combo of Quick and Mason would make me think the pick in the forllowing year would be better than this year since I'd expect Mase to walk from LA after this season.

I wouldn't be shocked whoever loses our goalie job this season ends up in Vegas as the starter as a free agent.

BiggE,

Great point about Schultz and the PK so yeah AMac hits the suite when Gudas is back if Gudas himself don't see a few upstairs just to drive home the point he can't do that stuff anymore. This team is getting to good for him to do that poop and cost them games.

We all would love to see VDV in the suite also but I fear Coach is not going to do it and Cousins ends up the odd man out.

Lyubimov really should be back in LHV after Schenn returns. I think Read has bumped him out with his play in the first two games. I think they were thinking of scratching Read at least one of the three games and when he's raised his play he forced the kid to sit which is good for the team and not good for the kid.
- dragonoffrost

Yup, my point exactly. A lot of people give Schultz a bad rap around here. Sure, he doesn't give you any offense and he can, at times, be a liability at ES, but he is extremely valuable to the PK. And, now that the PK is looking good again, this would not be the time to take the Dman who plays the most shorthanded minutes on the team, out of the lineup. Plus he plays a calm, levelheaded game and he's a guy you can be comfortable with being on the ice in the last minute of a period or game when your team is leading. I think it's also likely that he, along with Streit, are the guys that the younger Dmen look up to and that is also important.

Unless the Kings want to ridiculously overpay, I wouldn't move him. The Flyers, IMO, are a playoff team and I don't want to be one injury away from a tandem of Stolarz/Lyon, nor do I want to have to expend assets to trade for a goalie if Neuvy were to go down. Right now, I'd just stick to the 2 we have. Now if Lombardi loses his mind and is willing to trade Doughty for AMac and Mase, well, then I'd make the deal

- BiggE

Probably the only way I would do it.

they would have to take MacDonald with Mason and we get Muzzin back and maybe something else to make the money work?