Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Bellemare Selected by Vegas

heard Nick Kypreos on Toronto radio saying the Flyers are one team he is hearing are looking for a " major shake up"
Who knows, but I can't see Hextall doing that... Homer yes!!

I could see it from the stance that the core group has underachieved and you now have 2 less players from the previous leadership regime. With the #2 pick coming in, now would be the appropriate time to move one or both of Claude and Jake. Doubtful they will be here when we start to compete for cups anyway. As long as the haul is good I say go for it!

I can't see Hextall overhauling anything. He is the anti-Holmgren/Carke. My biggest problem with Hextall (who as a player is in my top three favorite Flyers of all time) is he is way too conservative. I understand patience, but there's a difference between patience and being too timid to do anything.

Bellamare was what he was: a fourth line center. That being said, because of all of those intangibles as mentioned and also that his teammates all seemed to love and respect him, I'd much rather have seen Laughton exposed...or Vegas have taken Matt Read.

As a well documented PEB hater, I do wish him the best of luck. Always seemed like a good guy and teammate. My hate was always directed towards his usage and what he represented on the Flyers. I think if they Flyers choose to move in the direction of 4 skilled lines the result of this will be positive.

I could see it from the stance that the core group has underachieved and you now have 2 less players from the previous leadership regime. With the #2 pick coming in, now would be the appropriate time to move one or both of Claude and Jake. Doubtful they will be here when we start to compete for cups anyway. As long as the haul is good I say go for it!
- Lawless18

Paul Lawless....my mortal enemy.

Now I miss Him

I can't see Hextall overhauling anything. He is the anti-Holmgren/Carke. My biggest problem with Hextall (who as a player is in my top three favorite Flyers of all time) is he is way too conservative. I understand patience, but there's a difference between patience and being too timid to do anything.


- LindsayCarson

If your read on the situation is that Hextall is too timid to do anything, that's a bad read in my opinion. It's a question of timing and opportunity more than being too timid.

Posted this in the tail end of the last thread. What about holding onto#2 but making Vegas pay through the teeth for Simmonds? With all their 1st rounders I can't help but consider it.

As a well documented PEB hater, I do wish him the best of luck. Always seemed like a good guy and teammate. My hate was always directed towards his usage and what he represented on the Flyers. I think if they Flyers choose to move in the direction of 4 skilled lines the result of this will be positive.
- YuenglingJagr

Bellemare had the skill to play with better linemates to make up a more skilled 4th line in my opinion. It sucks to lose Bellemare but in the big picture he is a replaceable player. It's good that the Flyers escaped the Expansion draft with just a flesh wound.

Posted this in the tail end of the last thread. What about holding onto#2 but making Vegas pay through the teeth for Simmonds? With all their 1st rounders I can't help but consider it.
- hereticpride

I can't think of a reason for Vegas to do that

Now that that the expansion draft is over I think things are going to get crazy in terms of trades. That draft was hanging over teams for the past year. Let the wheeling and dealing begin!

Once he became unexpectedly available, I thought Bellemare was the guy who'd be taken. He's the guy I would have taken. That gives Hextall one more junk contract to ditch up front. Was certainly hoping Vegas would take one of them.

Posted this in the tail end of the last thread. What about holding onto#2 but making Vegas pay through the teeth for Simmonds? With all their 1st rounders I can't help but consider it.
- hereticpride

I would question why Vegas would give up first round picks for an older player.

Paul Lawless....my mortal enemy.
- LindsayCarson

I was a big fan of his and overall those 80's teams. I grew up with those guys. No offense intended, I just decided to go with an obscure name after a fella that had a brief cup of coffee with the team back in the day.

I would question why Vegas would give up first round picks for an older player.
- MJL

While I agree with you, Simmonds could be their first Captain and be a nice player to market. Also would help them be more Competitive this year

Bellemare had the skill to play with better linemates to make up a more skilled 4th line in my opinion. It sucks to lose Bellemare but in the big picture he is a replaceable player. It's good that the Flyers escaped the Expansion draft with just a flesh wound.
- MJL

not at center

Posted this in the tail end of the last thread. What about holding onto#2 but making Vegas pay through the teeth for Simmonds? With all their 1st rounders I can't help but consider it.
- hereticpride

An expansion team going all in in their first two years of existence... sounds plausible.

Bellemare had the skill to play with better linemates to make up a more skilled 4th line in my opinion. It sucks to lose Bellemare but in the big picture he is a replaceable player. It's good that the Flyers escaped the Expansion draft with just a flesh wound.
- MJL

'Tis but a scratch

I liked PEB as I think he was fun to watch.

While I'm sorry to see him go, he's replaceable on the ice. Specifically, from within the organization.

not at center
- YuenglingJagr

The only issue I had with him at Center was his faceoff ability, especially on the PK.

While I agree with you, Simmonds could be their first Captain and be a nice player to market. Also would help them be more Competitive this year
- arichardson22

I don't think an expansion team should give up first round picks for the leadership and marketability that Simmonds brings.

While I agree with you, Simmonds could be their first Captain and be a nice player to market. Also would help them be more Competitive this year
- arichardson22

I think there is a reason you saw them taking bad players/contracts to gather picks

So who do we blame now if the pk sucks ?