Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Back-to-Back, Homer, Alumni in Russia and More

Paul Holmgren was my favorite Flyer once Bernie Parent retired. He was a true warrior and he played through tremendous pain and I think that's why he always had a soft spot for guys like Hatcher, Jason Smith, Lappy and Timonen. And now, having read the article, I respect him even more.

I may not agree with all his moves as a GM, especially during his last couple of seasons, but as a player and as a man, he will always have my utmost respect and admiration

In my opinion, the game against the Leafs is a "bigger" game then the one against the Rags.

The leafs game is a 4-point game. The leafs are the team that occupy the spot in the playoff race the Flyers are going to have to overtake if they plan on making the playoffs.

Besides, the Flyers don't seem to score more then 2 goals against Lundquist.

Paul Holmgren was my favorite Flyer once Bernie Parent retired. He was a true warrior and he played through tremendous pain and I think that's why he always had a soft spot for guys like Hatcher, Jason Smith, Lappy and Timonen. And now, having read the article, I respect him even more.

I may not agree with all his moves as a GM, especially during his last couple of seasons, but as a player and as a man, he will always have my utmost respect and admiration
- BiggE

Even without agreeing with all of his moves, he was very good at keeping the Flyers very competitive. Even he made some good draft picks once he set out to do that.

In my opinion, the game against the Leafs is a "bigger" game then the one against the Rags.

The leafs game is a 4-point game. The leafs are the team that occupy the spot in the playoff race the Flyers are going to have to overtake if they plan on making the playoffs.

Besides, the Flyers don't seem to score more then 2 goals against Lundquist.
- ggunky

While that isn't factually correct, I do agree that the leafs game is very important

i sure hope they win in Vancouver. Otherwise, it will be a wasted trip. No it won't, who am I kidding, can't wait to hang out in that city for a few days.

While that isn't factually correct, I do agree that the leafs game is very important
- YuenglingJagr

Well isn't that a kick in the nuts!

I guess i should have looked at the standings this fine morning before posting that...

Dave Isaac ‏@davegisaac 1h1 hour ago

Ivan Provorov hurting after blocking a Jake Voracek shot. He’s staying out there, but his left hand is in pain.

Well isn't that a kick in the nuts!

I guess i should have looked at the standings this fine morning before posting that...


- ggunky

They have been very good.

Using points percentage is a pretty good indicator. Shows the Isles, Canes, and Bruins as the teams the Flyers will have to hold off

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...ayed,gte,1&sort=pointPctg

Dave Isaac ‏@davegisaac 1h1 hour ago

Ivan Provorov hurting after blocking a Jake Voracek shot. He’s staying out there, but his left hand is in pain.
- Streit2ThePoint

how doomed are we on a scale from 1 to doomed

In my opinion, the game against the Leafs is a "bigger" game then the one against the Rags.

- ggunky

For me it's both games that truly let us know where the team stands..
They need 3 of 4 points minimum for me to feel good.

how doomed are we on a scale from 1 to doomed
- YuenglingJagr

Since everything is, has been and always will be terrible I would say we are ultra doomed.

how doomed are we on a scale from 1 to doomed
- YuenglingJagr

Doomed^3

Paul Holmgren was my favorite Flyer once Bernie Parent retired. He was a true warrior and he played through tremendous pain and I think that's why he always had a soft spot for guys like Hatcher, Jason Smith, Lappy and Timonen. And now, having read the article, I respect him even more.

I may not agree with all his moves as a GM, especially during his last couple of seasons, but as a player and as a man, he will always have my utmost respect and admiration
- BiggE

Well said and couldn't agree more. That's why it always disgusted me when some poster, one post in particular, would use words and descriptions of Holmgren that are incredibly disrespectful and vulgar towards a man that deserves and has earned respect. You may not think he was a good GM , and that's fine but he does not deserve some of the comments made towards him by a few. It's disgusting. This has always been something on my mind that I needed to say, and was especially present when reading his story about his brother. He's not just a GM, but a man and a quality human being based on everything that you read about him.

Dave Isaac ‏@davegisaac 1h1 hour ago

Ivan Provorov hurting after blocking a Jake Voracek shot. He’s staying out there, but his left hand is in pain.
- Streit2ThePoint

Just our (frank)ing luck, I really hope we don't have to watch the Flyers go up against the Rags with a top pair of MDZ and AMac.

how doomed are we on a scale from 1 to doomed
- YuenglingJagr

If Provy were to go out for any length of time, our chances of making the playoffs would be somewhere on the level of the chances the Polish army had for success in 1939

Well said and couldn't agree more. That's why it always disgusted me when some poster, one post in particular, would use words and descriptions of Holmgren that are incredibly disrespectful and vulgar towards a man that deserves and has earned respect. You may not think he was a good GM , and that's fine but he does not deserve some of the comments made towards him by a few. It's disgusting. This has always been something on my mind that I needed to say, and was especially present when reading his story about his brother. He's not just a GM, but a man and a quality human being based on everything that you read about him.
- MJL

Absolutely! While I may not be fans of guys like AMac and VdV as players and I may joke around about them, I would never denigrate them as people. Sometimes we forget that these are human beings with lives, families and feelings.

From the other Blog

I think we have a foundation. I want another top six forward but it doesn't mean I don't like our top six. I think our goaltending is trending in the right direction from years past. Just wanna fix the bottom six and get a PK specialist to help us stay in games.
- SuperSchennBros

I don't see a foundation. That to me means they have 3 quality lines and at least 4 quality D men. Think about the team that went to the cup in 2010. Right now I would break down their Roster for the present and future as follows:

The Core: Giroux(underachieving), Voracek, Simmonds, Provorov, Couturier(underachieving), Mason(underachieving)

Building Blocks: Konecny, Ghost(underachieving)

Support Players: Schenn, Raffl, Gudas, Lyubimov, Weise(underachieving), Cousins, Manning

Upgrades needed based on cap hit or role: Macdonald, Streit, Del Zotto, Read, Bellemare, Vandevelde.

So based on this the holes they need to plug is half their blue line, 1/3 of their bottoms forwards and another impact top 9 forward. That's with some key players currently under achieving.

i don't disagree Holgrem mad errors and he owns them. I do think him being the first Flyer GM to have a salary cap played a role, doesn't justify some of those contracts but on a team that always goes for it, something was bond to blow up

As such, the Flyers are, at least temporarily, more in competition with Atlantic Division teams than they are the ones in their own Metropolitan Division. This is part of why I strongly dislike the current NHL playoff format of three guaranteed playoff spots per division (which artificially aids the weakest divisions and punishes the tougher ones), but that's a topic for another day.

The old 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5 format with reseeding after the first two rounds is so much better than the garbage system the NHL is currently using.

The old 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5 format with reseeding after the first two rounds is so much better than the garbage system the NHL is currently using.
- Feanor

I would reward the 2 division winners with the 1 and 2 seeds, and then just seed the next 6 teams in the conference by points. Then you go 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc... There is no reason that a team should be rewarded for finishing 2nd or 3rd in a divisional race. The NHL has a tendency to make things way more complicated than they need to be. Look no further than the salary cap or the inner workings of DOPs if you need more examples.

They have been very good.

Using points percentage is a pretty good indicator. Shows the Isles, Canes, and Bruins as the teams the Flyers will have to hold off

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...ayed,gte,1&sort=pointPctg
- YuenglingJagr

Thank you, good sir.

I would reward the 2 division winners with the 1 and 2 seeds, and then just seed the next 6 teams in the conference by points. Then you go 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc... There is no reason that a team should be rewarded for finishing 2nd or 3rd in a divisional race. The NHL has a tendency to make things way more complicated than they need to be. Look no further than the salary cap or the inner workings of DOPs if you need more examples.
- BiggE

Well honestly, the salary cap and the CBA is an entirely different animal. DOPS, who knows. I really think the goal of the NHL with the points system and the playoff format is to provide a false façade of parity. The longer some teams seem to still be in the hunt for a playoff spot, the better it is for business.

how doomed are we on a scale from 1 to doomed
- YuenglingJagr

I'll take the over

If Provy were to go out for any length of time, our chances of making the playoffs would be somewhere on the level of the chances the Polish army had for success in 1939
- BiggE

well since Poland stuck around...it is good to know the franchise wouldn't fold