Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Voracek, Stolie, Injuries, Alumni, Keith Allen & More

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Voracek, Stolie, Injuries, Alumni, Keith Allen & More
- bmeltzer

I think I love Meltzer's Musings more than anything else!!!
Keep up the great work Bill!!!

Bill, is the 50th anniversary book and the Allen book being sold at the Reebok store? Also is the store open during the day or just before games? Thanks.

It's nice to see that both Stolarz and Lyon's are both showing promise. I do wonder if this continue's into the early spring that the Flyers ship out Nuevy so one can get some work up with the big club and one can get a ton of starts for the Phantoms....even the practice time at the NHL level can help Stolarz assuming he's slightly ahead of Lyons.....I may be jumping the gun a little, but it is nice to know our GM probably has intimate knowledge of how far along these kids are....I was at the first game for Stolarz and have to admit that when that first one went in I had visions of Garth Snow....but he settled down and played great. Sunday in Detroit he looked poised and in control...nice to see a lack of rebounds...to me that stuck out.

It would be a huge slap in the face to Schultz to play Brennan ahead of him. Brennan is as AHL as it gets. And you can put together a decent defense even without Ghost and Streit.

Provorov-Gudas
MDZ-MacDonald
Schultz-Manning

Provy on PP1

MacDonald-MDZ on PP2

Thank you, Bill!

It would be a huge slap in the face to Schultz to play Brennan ahead of him. Brennan is as AHL as it gets. And you can put together a decent defense even without Ghost and Streit.

Provorov-Gudas
MDZ-MacDonald
Schultz-Manning

Provy on PP1

MacDonald-MDZ on PP2
- Feanor

In general agreement with this. I do think it is somewhat interesting that when MDZ signed here he was viewed as an all-offense, PP guy and now we are floating the idea of TJ Brennan. I have seen, like everyone else, that MDZ has changed his game a bit to stick in the chel, but I don't see a problem with using him

It would be a huge slap in the face to Schultz to play Brennan ahead of him. Brennan is as AHL as it gets. And you can put together a decent defense even without Ghost and Streit.

Provorov-Gudas
MDZ-MacDonald
Schultz-Manning

Provy on PP1

MacDonald-MDZ on PP2
- Feanor

Not sure who said it on yesterday's blog, but I agree with whoever said Prov deserves a look on the 1st PP Unit. Similar to how he earned his time on 3V3. I also agree about Schultz. Plug him in for a game or two in Ghost's absence, or however many games he misses and we'll be fine.

It would be a huge slap in the face to Schultz to play Brennan ahead of him. Brennan is as AHL as it gets. And you can put together a decent defense even without Ghost and Streit.

Provorov-Gudas
MDZ-MacDonald
Schultz-Manning

Provy on PP1

MacDonald-MDZ on PP2
- Feanor

This works for me, however I might give Manning a shot on the pp over AMac.

It's nice to see that both Stolarz and Lyon's are both showing promise. I do wonder if this continue's into the early spring that the Flyers ship out Nuevy so one can get some work up with the big club and one can get a ton of starts for the Phantoms....even the practice time at the NHL level can help Stolarz assuming he's slightly ahead of Lyons.....I may be jumping the gun a little, but it is nice to know our GM probably has intimate knowledge of how far along these kids are....I was at the first game for Stolarz and have to admit that when that first one went in I had visions of Garth Snow....but he settled down and played great. Sunday in Detroit he looked poised and in control...nice to see a lack of rebounds...to me that stuck out.
- landros 2

I just don't really see a reason to trade Neuvirth. I think if the goalie market were to establish itself pretty high for some reason, it opens the door, but that chance seems small. There is also just too many things that can happen.

The risk isnt worth the reward is what I am getting at. If something were to happen to both goalies and Stolarz is thrust into a lot of playing time, that could change the situation.

This works for me, however I might give Manning a shot on the pp over AMac.
- BiggE

whoa now. AMac is actually good-above average offensively. I would have no problem with him on the PP. Any time where he is out on the ice and not forced to play defense is great! lol

I was streaming the Detroit game so I missed some parts...didn't Hakstol put Manning out there on the PP after Streit got hurt?

I just don't really see a reason to trade Neuvirth. I think if the goalie market were to establish itself pretty high for some reason, it opens the door, but that chance seems small. There is also just too many things that can happen.

The risk isnt worth the reward is what I am getting at. If something were to happen to both goalies and Stolarz is thrust into a lot of playing time, that could change the situation.
- YuenglingJagr

Agreed, but my only argument to this would be Mason plays better when he's the clear #1 / go-to guy; does Mason continue his great play when Neuvy is back? We'll see. What could Neuvy even fetch in a trade?

This works for me, however I might give Manning a shot on the pp over AMac.
- BiggE

I tried to edit my post to list PP2 as Mac/Manning-MDZ but it wouldn't let me.

Thanks for the Phantoms update Bill! I gotta try to make it to a game this season.

I'll be at the Alumni game, the night before has got me thinking.. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet all of these guys at the same event. Just might be tough to swing with a wedding 7 months away

Bill, is the 50th anniversary book and the Allen book being sold at the Reebok store? Also is the store open during the day or just before games? Thanks.
- killercam

Jay's book is available at the arena on game days. Not sure if Keith Allen book is, too, or the book signing on Saturday was a one-off.

Agreed, but my only argument to this would be BGSM plays better when he's the clear #1 / go-to guy; does BGSM continue his great play when Neuvy is back? We'll see. What could Neuvy even fetch in a trade?
- arichardson22

I get what you're saying, but I think they just need to give BGSM more regular starts. I think he shouldn't play as much as he did last week, but either way I think he would be fine if he consistently got more starts than Neuvirth.

I tend to believe the problem is more about not getting regular starts than it is worrying about who his backup is. I think it was pretty clear that Hakstol favored Neuvirth early on, so I can understand how that could affect a player in BGSM's position.

Like I said, we really don't know what the goalie market is...the only ones who have changed teams have done it in the offseason or via waivers so far. I think it is a safe bet that it is less than you would expect.

I tried to edit my post to list PP2 as Mac/Manning-MDZ but it wouldn't let me.
- Feanor

Russian hackers!

Thanks for the Phantoms update Bill! I gotta try to make it to a game this season.

I'll be at the Alumni game, the night before has got me thinking.. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet all of these guys at the same event. Just might be tough to swing with a wedding 7 months away
- Trainfellow

You just have to ask yourself, which one is a once in a lifetime opportunity

Russian hackers!
- YuenglingJagr

Make hockeybuzz great again!

In general agreement with this. I do think it is somewhat interesting that when MDZ signed here he was viewed as an all-offense, PP guy and now we are floating the idea of TJ Brennan. I have seen, like everyone else, that MDZ has changed his game a bit to stick in the chel, but I don't see a problem with using him


- yuenglingjagr

Even when Del Zotto was putting up high offensive numbers earlier in his career, he was never a good producer on the PP. Having said that, I'd rather put Schultz in for defensive reasons, and use Del Zotto on the PP.

I just don't really see a reason to trade Neuvirth. I think if the goalie market were to establish itself pretty high for some reason, it opens the door, but that chance seems small. There is also just too many things that can happen.

The risk isnt worth the reward is what I am getting at. If something were to happen to both goalies and Stolarz is thrust into a lot of playing time, that could change the situation.
- YuenglingJagr

A lot is going to depend on where the Flyers are in the standings, around the deadline. If the Flyers were out of the playoff picture, then that would be a reason to trade Neuvirth, for a future asset.

I get what you're saying, but I think they just need to give BGSM more regular starts. I think he shouldn't play as much as he did last week, but either way I think he would be fine if he consistently got more starts than Neuvirth.

I tend to believe the problem is more about not getting regular starts than it is worrying about who his backup is. I think it was pretty clear that Hakstol favored Neuvirth early on, so I can understand how that could affect a player in BGSM's position.

Like I said, we really don't know what the goalie market is...the only ones who have changed teams have done it in the offseason or via waivers so far. I think it is a safe bet that it is less than you would expect.
- YuenglingJagr

That's what slightly worries me: Hakstol falling back into a favoring of Neuvy, and the potential impact of BGSM's play slipping from it. Say Mason has back-to-back poor performances and Neuvy comes in for 1 game gets a shutout and gets hot for a couple of games. Do we go back to this 1a 2b goalie tandem or will Mason continue to get the bulk? I'd hope the bulk, but who knows with Haks. I think the casual fan base would be underwhelmed by Neuvy's trade return and that holding onto him serves us better value for this season compared to the future asset (if pick is involved in trade).

A lot is going to depend on where the Flyers are in the standings, around the deadline. If the Flyers were out of the playoff picture, then that would be a reason to trade Neuvirth, for a future asset.
- MJL

If the Flyers are still a top 10 team at the deadline, I would consider moving Cousins or Laughton for a rental center like Hanzal. One of them will probably be lost in the ED anyway since Weise is not scoring enough to be attractive to Vegas, and Read will only have one year left.

If the Flyers are still a top 10 team at the deadline, I would consider moving Cousins or Laughton for a rental center like Hanzal. One of them will probably be lost in the ED anyway since Weise is not scoring enough to be attractive to Vegas, and Read will only have one year left.
- Feanor

I too had this thought of potentially making a move for Hanzal for playoff push/depth but I think other teams would pay more than Hexy would be willing to. I definetly would have interest though.

I'd rather see Stolarz finish the season with the Phantoms and getting a larger work load than he would backing up Mason (and assuming moving Neuvy) and go for a Calder cup. then see about being the backup for the Flyers next season.