Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 4/9/17 vs. CAR

I will be live tweeting from the game. More to come.

Hi Bill, a couple of questions in regards to today's game:

Would they consider holding out a couple of veterans to make room for Cousins and Vecchione, and letting both TK and Lyubimov stay in the lineup?

Manning, at times, looked like he was in a lot of pain yesterday. Any chance with the Phantoms off today, that they call up either Morin or Hagg to replace him?


Oh, and thank you for all your great work this season. I think I speak for everyone around here when I say that we really and truly appreciate the fine work that you do!!

Looking forward to updates on the Phantoms in the playoffs, and your thoughts on what went right/wrong this season, the evolution of Dave Hakstol as head coach, making changes to any of the assistant coaches, the draft and the team's off season plans.

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!

Hi Bill, a couple of questions in regards to today's game:

Would they consider holding out a couple of veterans to make room for Cousins and Vecchione, and letting both TK and Lyubimov stay in the lineup?

Manning, at times, looked like he was in a lot of pain yesterday. Any chance with the Phantoms off today, that they call up either Morin or Hagg to replace him?


Oh, and thank you for all your great work this season. I think I speak for everyone around here when I say that we really and truly appreciate the fine work that you do!!

Looking forward to updates on the Phantoms in the playoffs, and your thoughts on what went right/wrong this season, the evolution of Dave Hakstol as head coach, making changes to any of the assistant coaches, the draft and the team's off season plans.

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!

- BiggE

Wouldn't be shocked if there are a couple of callups for tonight. And thank you!

If Cousins is ready, scratch VdV and play Konecny on 4th line, geez enough of VdV already.

If Cousins is ready, scratch VdV and play Konecny on 4th line, geez enough of VdV already.
- chienblanc

He has played in all 81 games. They probably won't scratch him in game 82.

Hi Bill, a couple of questions in regards to today's game:

Would they consider holding out a couple of veterans to make room for Cousins and Vecchione, and letting both TK and Lyubimov stay in the lineup?

Manning, at times, looked like he was in a lot of pain yesterday. Any chance with the Phantoms off today, that they call up either Morin or Hagg to replace him?


Oh, and thank you for all your great work this season. I think I speak for everyone around here when I say that we really and truly appreciate the fine work that you do!!

Looking forward to updates on the Phantoms in the playoffs, and your thoughts on what went right/wrong this season, the evolution of Dave Hakstol as head coach, making changes to any of the assistant coaches, the draft and the team's off season plans.

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!

- BiggE

Hagg has been recalled.

Hagg has been recalled.

Finally getting a chance to see Haag with the big club.

My take on the Flyers management and coaching staff:

GM Ron Hextall
Hexy is now three years in to his re-tooling of the Flyers and their prospect pool. He has to get high marks for restocking the prospect pool and for his drafting. That being said, finding another top 6 center and winger would greatly help, hopefully at least one of those needs will be filled with their 2017 1st round pick

Hextall has stayed true to his build from within mantra, which I support, and he's avoided throwing big money at UFAs and making quick fix trades. When it comes to trades, overall I think he's done ok. While Hartnell for Umberger may or may not have worked to the Flyers advantage, he did manage to get very good value for Coburn and Timonen and by trading Streit for Filpulla, he successfully filled a short term need without giving up any youth.

When it comes to free agents, it's been meh at best. Signing MDZ when he did and extending him for 2 years at a reasonable cap hit turned out to be a pretty good move. Most other FA signing were somewhere between ok to poor, but since most were only for 1 year, they did little damage to the team's future plans. Only the Weise signing may go down as a bad long term move, and if that's the worst signing he ever makes, I can live with it.

All in all, I like Hextall's plan and the direction the team is moving. However, that being said, the next 2 seasons are critical. They must start to integrate more youth into the lineup and may have to, at some point, consider moving a young Dman for a young top 6 forward. Also, if they aren't a solid playoff team by 19-20 and a legit Cup contender by 20-21, Hextall will have to take a long, hard look in the mirror.

COACHING STAFF

Head Coach Hakstol
I very much like Hakstol's system and style of play. It will be even better when more youth, speed and talent are added into the mix. I can also understand why he felt the need to bench some of the young players and what he's trying to teach them by doing so. Where I'm not happy with him is in his often puzzling handling of the goalies, and his apparent unwillingness to bench/scratch struggling core players on this team, many of whom certainly deserved to sit at times this season. I also have questions about some of the player usage on the PK, but I'm not sure if that falls mainly on him or Lappy. All in all, the next 2 seasons should complete the book on Dave Hakstol. Either the Flyers will be getting ready to compete for a Cup and he'll be getting a contract extension or they will still be a bubble team or god forbid worse, and he will be out of a job. Time will tell.

The assistant coaches
Can't really fault Gord Murphy, Provorov had an amazing season for a teenage, rookie Dman, Manning also showed improvement and Gudas showed significant improvement in his game. Heck, even AMac was better this season than last. Ghost struggles, IMO, were due more to his recovery from surgery and putting too much pressure on himself, I don't blame Murph for that. And when it comes to MDZ, he was injured and he's been up and down his whole career under a variety of coaches, so I'm not sure how much Murphy could have done there either.

Joey Mullen has had the Flyers pp in the top third of the league just about every season he's been here, so obviously he knows what he's doing. At times, I think he may be a little too stubborn and doesn't always make adjustments fast enough for my liking, but overall, I think he has done a good job. Lappy, on the other hand, has not impressed me. At times, the PK has looked good, but I think it's had more to do with the goalies playing well, some luck and some great individual efforts rather than the system. Overall, I think their PK is too passive and I very much don't like having PEB taking the opening faceoff on the PK. If you aren't going to use Giroux, than at least let Couturier take the first faceoff. Winning the opening draw can lead to a quick clear and make killing a penalty a lot easier. I also don't like the over reliance of PEB/Vdv as a tandem. I think it would have made more sense to break them up and start the kill with Coots/Vandevelde and then you go to PEB/Simmonds.

Finally, I'm not sure how much, if any, of the goaltending struggles can be laid at the feet of goalie coach, Kim Dillabaugh. Both goalies played very well for him last year, so I don't think it was anything to do with coaching, instead I place the blame for their struggles solely on the players themselves.

Hagg has been recalled.
- PLindbergh31

VdV's 200ft game is too important to the club. The consistency he brings can only be recreated in the aggregate from adding multiple players. So why not just keep playing the real mccoy and take up a single roster spot? No brainer imo.

Another former Blue Jacket, Jakub Voracek, scored a power play goal on Saturday as he notched his 20th goal of the season.
- bmeltzer

Maybe, just once, a Flyer would score a goal against his former team instead of former Flyers scoring a hat trick every time they play against them.

Maybe, just once, a Flyer would score a goal against his former team instead of former Flyers scoring a hat trick every time they play against them.
- jmatchett383

Unpossible!

hopefully CVV won't be resigned, although I wouldn't care if he was.
I just can't wait to see what player you scamps dog pile on next year

hopefully CVV won't be resigned, although I wouldn't care if he was.
I just can't wait to see what player you scamps dog pile on next year
- KINGKENZO

The fate of journeyman 4th liners don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. We'll always have AMac

Hagg has been recalled.
- PLindbergh31

Almost went a full season without a game for the first time since 1998. Going tonight, very pumped to see Hagg play.

Also, just let VandeVelde play. He may not get another NHL contract, so just let the dude play all 82 games. Same with Schultz, minus the 82 games.

Almost went a full season without a game for the first time since 1998. Going tonight, very pumped to see Hagg play.

Also, just let VandeVelde play. He may not get another NHL contract, so just let the dude play all 82 games. Same with Schultz, minus the 82 games.
- jmatchett383

Hell, if they need to sit a vet to get a kid in the lineup, sit Giroux. No need for him to play back to back in a meaningless game.

Almost went a full season without a game for the first time since 1998. Going tonight, very pumped to see Hagg play.

Also, just let VandeVelde play. He may not get another NHL contract, so just let the dude play all 82 games. Same with Schultz, minus the 82 games.
- jmatchett383

I don't have an issue with VDV playing tonight. He's played all 81 might as well let him play the full schedule. I will have an issue if he's brought back next year, VDV and Bellemare are basically one in the same. No need for 2 of them on the roster.

I don't have an issue with VDV playing tonight. He's played all 81 might as well let him play the full schedule. I will have an issue if he's brought back next year, VDV and Bellemare are basically one in the same. No need for 2 of them on the roster.
- PLindbergh31

Agreed

Agreed
- BiggE

If the Flyers lose in regulation tonight, coupled with a Kings win, I believe that would put them in the # 9 draft position. Should be able to come away with a pretty solid prospect there.

If the Flyers lose in regulation tonight, coupled with a Kings win, I believe that would put them in the # 9 draft position. Should be able to come away with a pretty solid prospect there.
- PLindbergh31

Hmm, they would be behind TB, the Isles, Carolina, Winnipeg and the Kings. Adding in Vegas, that would leave them picking 10th.

However, I expect them to get at least one point tonight, so they will ending up picking 13th. All in all, this year, I'm not sure it matters much. After the top 2 or maybe 3 picks, most mocks have players going all over the board. After the top 2 and Vilardi, there are 4 or perhaps 5 centers I really like that I'd like to see the Flyers go for. Worst case, if they start coming off the board and they need to move up 3 or 4 spots to get "their guy", I doubt it would take much more than pick 13 and their 2nd rounder, and if you really like the guy you're after, you happily make that deal.

Hmm, they would be behind TB, the Isles, Carolina, Winnipeg and the Kings. Adding in Vegas, that would leave them picking 10th.

However, I expect them to get at least one point tonight, so they will ending up picking 13th. All in all, this year, I'm not sure it matters much. After the top 2 or maybe 3 picks, most mocks have players going all over the board. After the top 2 and Vilardi, there are 4 or perhaps 5 centers I really like that I'd like to see the Flyers go for. Worst case, if they start coming off the board and they need to move up 3 or 4 spots to get "their guy", I doubt it would take much more than pick 13 and their 2nd rounder, and if you really like the guy you're after, you happily make that deal.
- BiggE

You are right. I forgot about LV! 10th sounds a lot better than 13th to me, but whatever will be will be.
Yes, if they like someone and had to move up a few spots to get him, I would think being they have a lot of picks they could move up a few spots.

FWIW, after the top 2 guys, Patrick and Hischier, here are the guys, in order, I'd like to see drafted by the Flyers with their 1st pick. The starred guys are the ones I'd consider moving up for. Once you mix in Dmen, I'm pretty sure at least one of these guys will be available at 13.

1. Vilardi*
2. Glass*
3. Kostin*
4. Petterson*
5. Mittelstadt*
6. Necas*
7. Rasmussen
8. Tippett
9. Anderson

Good analysis by BiggE

I give Hexy high grades for the McGinn and Rinaldo trades. I don't recall any time in the last 30 years the Flyers having this depth of prospects. The issue is they're just prospects. Hexy will ultimately be judged by correctly identifying which prospects will be viable NHL contributors and sell off the rest for new assets.

I still believe Hexy will trade one of his defensive prospects and upgrade the top 6 forwards with an equally young players. Also, in the next 2 seasons he has to solidify the goal tender position.

xx