Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Beat Sens in OT, Prospects, Alumni and More

From the last thread re AMac:

He had a solid game, except for a boneheaded icing at the end of the 3rd. Still for 5 million per, it's nothing to write home about.

No MJL, it doesn't kill me to write that he had a good game. I want every Flyer to succeed as much as possible. What kills me is that AMac isn't playing the way he did last night every game. For 5 million per season, last night's effort is the minimum that I would hope and expect each and every night. He absolutely played well last night and I'm glad to see and say it. However, he needs to do this on a long term consistent basis before I get excited about or change my opinion of the player and his value to the team.

As I've said numerous times before, If he had been signed to a 4 year, 15 million dollar deal, I wouldn't be complaining. However when you are signed for 30 million over 6 years, like it or not, the bar gets raised. And, on way to many nights, his performance has not reached the level it needs to be at. The player has spent time in the minors and has, at times, been a healthy scratch. You would expect more from someone being paid 5 million per season.

I've been following the Flyers since the early 70's and I want the franchise and each and every player to succeed. It gives me no pleasure whatsoever when they don't.

Thanks for the update on Lindblom Bill, can't wait to see him in orange and black. In regards to Hart, he's certainly a very exciting prospect and I look forward to watching him develop, but you are 100% correct when you suggest we tamper our enthusiasm a bit. Goalies normally take a while to develop and thankfully Hextall knows this and will be careful and patient with him.

That aside, it really is amazing the way Hexy has rebuilt the organizations goaltender depth in such a short time. If he can do the same with the forward depth, which he seems to be doing, over the next year or so, the Flyers future will be looking as good as any team in the league. Lord knows, with Provy and Ghost on the roster and Morin, Sanheim, Hagg and Myers et al on the way, the D looks like it will be pretty damned good for a long time to come.

From the last thread re AMac:

He had a solid game, except for a boneheaded icing at the end of the 3rd. Still for 5 million per, it's nothing to write home about.

No MJL, it doesn't kill me to write that he had a good game. I want every Flyer to succeed as much as possible. What kills me is that AMac isn't playing the way he did last night every game. For 5 million per season, last night's effort is the minimum that I would hope and expect each and every night. He absolutely played well last night and I'm glad to see and say it. However, he needs to do this on a long term consistent basis before I get excited about or change my opinion of the player and his value to the team.

As I've said numerous times before, If he had been signed to a 4 year, 15 million dollar deal, I wouldn't be complaining. However when you are signed for 30 million over 6 years, like it or not, the bar gets raised. And, on way to many nights, his performance has not reached the level it needs to be at. The player has spent time in the minors and has, at times, been a healthy scratch. You would expect more from someone being paid 5 million per season.

I've been following the Flyers since the early 70's and I want the franchise and each and every player to succeed. It gives me no pleasure whatsoever when they don't.
- BiggE

Very well put

Thanks for the update on Lindblom Bill, can't wait to see him in orange and black. In regards to Hart, he's certainly a very exciting prospect and I look forward to watching him develop, but you are 100% correct when you suggest we tamper our enthusiasm a bit. Goalies normally take a while to develop and thankfully Hextall knows this and will be careful and patient with him.

That aside, it really is amazing the way Hexy has rebuilt the organizations goaltender depth in such a short time. If he can do the same with the forward depth, which he seems to be doing, over the next year or so, the Flyers future will be looking as good as any team in the league. Lord knows, with Provy and Ghost on the roster and Morin, Sanheim, Hagg and Myers et al on the way, the D looks like it will be pretty damned good for a long time to come.
- BiggE

Looking forward to watching World Juniors this year. By the looks of Hart's numbers he could very well be Canada's starter.

Stupid coaching move by Boucher to use a challenge on an icing.

From the last thread re AMac:

He had a solid game, except for a boneheaded icing at the end of the 3rd. Still for 5 million per, it's nothing to write home about.

No MJL, it doesn't kill me to write that he had a good game. I want every Flyer to succeed as much as possible. What kills me is that AMac isn't playing the way he did last night every game. For 5 million per season, last night's effort is the minimum that I would hope and expect each and every night. He absolutely played well last night and I'm glad to see and say it. However, he needs to do this on a long term consistent basis before I get excited about or change my opinion of the player and his value to the team.

As I've said numerous times before, If he had been signed to a 4 year, 15 million dollar deal, I wouldn't be complaining. However when you are signed for 30 million over 6 years, like it or not, the bar gets raised. And, on way to many nights, his performance has not reached the level it needs to be at. The player has spent time in the minors and has, at times, been a healthy scratch. You would expect more from someone being paid 5 million per season.

I've been following the Flyers since the early 70's and I want the franchise and each and every player to succeed. It gives me no pleasure whatsoever when they don't.
- BiggE

It obviously does, because you can't just say that MacDonald played well in one game! One game, without going into a long diatribe about his contract. He played well last night, in one game! Not hard.

MacDonald will never play to a level worthy of his contract. Known fact.

Quotes not working, but in response to BiggE's second post, I'm not sure if it was by design or not, but start the buildup of the prospect pool with Dman was a great move. They always take longer so while the Dman we drafted years ago are coming into the NHL the forwards we more recently picked up should be coming in too.

This of course assumes a good amount of our prospects reach their potentials. This is unlikely, though, because as Streit2ThePoint always says, we're doomed.

Fraud Giroux only scored 2 goals and bad goalie Steve Mason allowed 2 goals that he could have been able to stop with a time machine and/or had the ability to clone himself.

BLOW
IT
UP

I didn't watch the game I just think AMac sucks

I watched Arrival last night and really enjoyed it.

I didn't watch the game I just think AMac sucks
- YuenglingJagr

How are they biting today?

It obviously does, because you can't just say that MacDonald played well in one game! One game, without going into a long diatribe about his contract. He played well last night, in one game! Not hard.

MacDonald will never play to a level worthy of his contract. Known fact.
- MJL

Can't blame the player for the contract. We all would take that money.
I just wish he could string 5-10 games in a row like last night. Unfortunately he has not proven he will ever be able to do that, just like you said "he will never play to the level worthy of his contract"...this equals frustration

It obviously does, because you can't just say that MacDonald played well in one game! One game, without going into a long diatribe about his contract. He played well last night, in one game! Not hard.

MacDonald will never play to a level worthy of his contract. Known fact.
- MJL

Um, I believe I stated in my post at, and I quote, "He absolutely played well last night and I'm glad to see and say it."

Also, if you really think the rest of what I wrote is a "diatribe", well, not even sure how to respond to that. I'll just say that you have a truly unique way at looking at things and I'll leave it at that.

Quotes not working, but in response to BiggE's second post, I'm not sure if it was by design or not, but start the buildup of the prospect pool with Dman was a great move. They always take longer so while the Dman we drafted years ago are coming into the NHL the forwards we more recently picked up should be coming in too.

This of course assumes a good amount of our prospects reach their potentials. This is unlikely, though, because as Streit2ThePoint always says, we're doomed.
- EducatedOpinion

True, but if 2 of Sanheim, Morin, Myers and Hagg become top 4 Dmen (which I don't think is a stretch in the slightest), then, when you add them to Provorov, Ghost and Gudas, that's a pretty solid top 5.

Um, I believe I stated in my post at, and I quote, "He absolutely played well last night and I'm glad to see and say it."

Also, if you really think the rest of what I wrote is a "diatribe", well, not even sure how to respond to that. I'll just say that you have a truly unique way at looking at things and I'll leave it at that.
- BiggE

Like I said, he played well, but! It's a simple thing. He played well in the game last night.

I didn't watch the game I just think AMac sucks
- YuenglingJagr

He really doesn't suck, he's just not a 5 million dollar player and in a cap era, he's a player/contract you'd rather not have.

Can't blame the player for the contract. We all would take that money.
I just wish he could string 5-10 games in a row like last night. Unfortunately he has not proven he will ever be able to do that, just like you said "he will never play to the level worthy of his contract"...this equals frustration
- 3flyerkids

Exactly

Like I said, he played well, but! It's a simple thing. He played well in the game last night.
- MJL

Yes he did, do you feel better now?

Yes he did, do you feel better now?

- BiggE

About the same.

On the latter goal, a determined Voracek was impossible to separate from the puck as he muscled his way from the right wing in the offensive zone to over the middle.

That sequence immediately made me think of Jagr.

Fraud Giroux only scored 2 goals and bad goalie Steve Mason allowed 2 goals that he could have been able to stop with a time machine and/or had the ability to clone himself.

BLOW
IT
UP
- jmatchett383

Do you believe Fraud Giroux got engaged in the middle of the season?

_laude Giroux does not deserve to wear the "C".

Yes he did, do you feel better now?

- BiggE

- 3flyerkids

Well, after all, it is the time of year to spread tidings of comfort and joy

It obviously does, because you can't just say that MacDonald played well in one game! One game, without going into a long diatribe about his contract. He played well last night, in one game! Not hard.

MacDonald will never play to a level worthy of his contract. Known fact.
- MJL

What do you mean? He is a slightly (if at all) overpaid top-4 NHL defenseman.