Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Preseason Schedule, Read, MacDonald, Fazleev, Charity Classic

Over the years, I've come to appreciate players who speak their mind and actually give the interviewer/general public an insight into what is really going on. I've heard enough empty platitudes that its refreshing to get something of actual substance and not simply a parroting of the company line.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Preseason Schedule, Read, MacDonald, Fazleev, Charity Classic
- bmeltzer

Casually suggest Read retire

Casually suggest Read retire
- ob18

Lemme know how that works out.

Would love to get Read out of the lineup up in favor of getting someone younger some extra minutes. He's just not very important to the team any longer save for maybe the PK. And even then I'd rather they get someone else a chance with those minutes.

Since they will likely have the cap room, I have no problem with Read being the 13th forward. In fact, I'd be thrilled. It would mean that some good young players beat out a legit, if borderline, 3rd line forward for a spot in the starting lineup.

Lemme know how that works out.
- Doc_Sarcasm

It won't..............

Read is the 13th if he's on the roster but PEB is a lock.

Name 1 thing PEB does better in any facet of the game. In any tangible result. Read's expensive, but it's a sunk cost anyway. Even if he's traded, there's still Weise and Raffl too.

It won't..............
- ob18

Do you think the Flyers will just ride out his final year, or do you think they'll clear a space one way or another?

Peb team players so hard. Best team player in the organization.

As for the Fazleev article, so much to make you shake your head, though he's a great kid nonetheless. Most of it just confirming what people who watch a lot of Phantoms hockey thought and noticed themselves.

Nothing wrong with working your way up, but I despise making him play like the second coming of VandeVelde. Fazleev was always a dedicated, smart 200 ft player. There was nothing to change. He was steered to playing a no event 4th line role and not even attempt anything. As he said, his goal was to do nothing. Wonderful. You can point to Fazleev being a likely bottom 6 guy (he's got offensive skill though, enough to not have to play like a plug), but NAK was used exactly the same and he has some real skills. He was also asked to play like a dump and chase plug, and it was sad to watch. The best part is that the Phantoms play incredibly unstructured hockey. I'd love to know what structure he was learning to inject in his game.

It's just a regressive old school pigeonholing mentality to begin with, to say nothing about iffy development. It's not like it's a surprise Fazleev said Gordon treated veterans differently and couldn't play them enough. Saw it ALL year. Radel has a great attitude and he seemed understanding of playing a depth part. But then to (frank)ing scratch him down the stretch and all playoffs to play an ECHL call-up barely with the team all year. We all saw what Gordon did with the other prospects, chiefly Friedman and also Myers, playing another ECHL player over them. That's his M.O. It's just one of a dozen reasons I am thrilled he's our AHL coach to develop all these top prospects we have.

As for the Fazleev article, so much to make you shake your head, though he's a great kid nonetheless. Most of it just confirming what people who watch a lot of Phantoms hockey thought and noticed themselves.

Nothing wrong with working your way up, but I despise making him play like the second coming of VandeVelde. Fazleev was always a dedicated, smart 200 ft player. There was nothing to change. He was steered to playing a no event 4th line role and not even attempt anything. As he said, his goal was to do nothing. Wonderful. You can point to Fazleev being a likely bottom 6 guy (he's got offensive skill though, enough to not have to play like a plug), but NAK was used exactly the same and he has some real skills. He was also asked to play like a dump and chase plug, and it was sad to watch. The best part is that the Phantoms play incredibly unstructured hockey. I'd love to know what structure he was learning to inject in his game.

It's just a regressive old school pigeonholing mentality to begin with, to say nothing about iffy development. It's not like it's a surprise Fazleev said Gordon treated veterans differently and couldn't play them enough. Saw it ALL year. Radel has a great attitude and he seemed understanding of playing a depth part. But then to (frank)ing scratch him down the stretch and all playoffs to play an ECHL call-up barely with the team all year. We all saw what Gordon did with the other prospects, chiefly Friedman and also Myers, playing another ECHL player over them. That's his M.O. It's just one of a dozen reasons I am thrilled he's our AHL coach to develop all these top prospects we have.
- Mononoke

I wish I could like this 1000x like it was Facebook.

Do you think the Flyers will just ride out his final year, or do you think they'll clear a space one way or another?
- Doc_Sarcasm

Another way.............

I'll have you know that Matt Read is a product of Bemidji State University

As for the Fazleev article, so much to make you shake your head, though he's a great kid nonetheless. Most of it just confirming what people who watch a lot of Phantoms hockey thought and noticed themselves.

Nothing wrong with working your way up, but I despise making him play like the second coming of VandeVelde. Fazleev was always a dedicated, smart 200 ft player. There was nothing to change. He was steered to playing a no event 4th line role and not even attempt anything. As he said, his goal was to do nothing. Wonderful. You can point to Fazleev being a likely bottom 6 guy (he's got offensive skill though, enough to not have to play like a plug), but NAK was used exactly the same and he has some real skills. He was also asked to play like a dump and chase plug, and it was sad to watch. The best part is that the Phantoms play incredibly unstructured hockey. I'd love to know what structure he was learning to inject in his game.

It's just a regressive old school pigeonholing mentality to begin with, to say nothing about iffy development. It's not like it's a surprise Fazleev said Gordon treated veterans differently and couldn't play them enough. Saw it ALL year. Radel has a great attitude and he seemed understanding of playing a depth part. But then to (frank)ing scratch him down the stretch and all playoffs to play an ECHL call-up barely with the team all year. We all saw what Gordon did with the other prospects, chiefly Friedman and also Myers, playing another ECHL player over them. That's his M.O. It's just one of a dozen reasons I am thrilled he's our AHL coach to develop all these top prospects we have.
- Mononoke

I started to type a much less verbose response similar to this last night but didn't care enough and also didn't want people to think I was you. In other words, I agree

On fazleev. It is a joke because if you watched Chris Conner, weal, Brennan, and the other vets they were given all the latitude in the world to carry the puck and make a deke. Hagg bailed Brennan's ass out all year for his turnovers. The whole offense was about one player carrying the puck up through the neutral zone while trying to deke enough to dump it in. It was stale, unimaginable, and archaic.

THE phantoms made the playoffs. I hope it was all worth it

What's more likely.

Flyers take the kids concerns and truly analyze what he says.

Or they label him as having maturity issues, and he gets a stern talking to.

What's more likely.

Flyers take the kids concerns and truly analyze what he says.

Or they label him as having maturity issues, and he gets a stern talking to.


- flyer_nutter

He's busy right now writing "I will not turn the puck over" 1000 times on the blackboard.

On fazleev. It is a joke because if you watched Chris Conner, weal, Brennan, and the other vets they were given all the latitude in the world to carry the puck and make a deke. Hagg bailed Brennan's ass out all year for his turnovers. The whole offense was about one player carrying the puck up through the neutral zone while trying to deke enough to dump it in. It was stale, unimaginable, and archaic.

THE phantoms made the playoffs. I hope it was all worth it
- Just5

Brennan and O'Neill were the two laziest, point chasing (frank) sticks ever and never once got chewed out for it. Barely attempted to play defense, continually turned pucks over, not in position, made selfish play after play to try to increase their point totals, and took constant dumb penalties. It was a pitiful sight to watch every 20 something year old kid on that back end play more disciplined, more structured, and better 2-way hockey to cover for their butts. They were the real veterans.

xx

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/...ould-be-coming-to-an-end/

Since they will likely have the cap room, I have no problem with Read being the 13th forward. In fact, I'd be thrilled. It would mean that some good young players beat out a legit, if borderline, 3rd line forward for a spot in the starting lineup.
- BiggE

If say Read and Cousins are the 13th and 14th forwards, the Flyers are in a much better position than last year. I'd be ecstatic with a 4th line of Raffl-Laughton-Weise next year. Obviously there is a good chance on of those guys is taken in the ED.

He's busy right now writing "I will not turn the puck over" 1000 times on the blackboard.
- MJL

Not bad man.

Would love to get Read out of the lineup up in favor of getting someone younger some extra minutes. He's just not very important to the team any longer save for maybe the PK. And even then I'd rather they get someone else a chance with those minutes.
- hereticpride

Weal?

Fire Scott Gordon