Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Homestand, Couturier, Hagg, Phantoms and Prospect Updates

Bill,

Thank you for all of the hard work you do covering the best sports team in Philadelphia.

Your article on Hagg, over on the Flyers website, is a great look at his journey to the NHL. Hagg has been excellent for the flyers and has clearly demonstrated himself to be a top 4 in the NHL.

Bill,

Thank you for all of the hard work you do covering the best sports team in Philadelphia.

Your article on Hagg, over on the Flyers website, is a great look a his journey to the NHL. Hagg has been excellent for the flyers and has clearly demonstrated himself to be a top 4 in the NHL.
- ggunky

Thanks Bill!

Im glad to see big Sam getting on the scoresheet. It had to have been a tough pill to swallow getting sent back down after earning a spot on the Flyers IMO.

Awesome read on an in depth level which is lacking in this sound bite (stupid) culture called media. Thanks for all of the hard work you do covering the Flyers. Journalist like you Bill, are the reason I knew I could not make it as a sports journalist with my medicore "stringbook".

Great work as usual
. Thanks for all your great work. Just finished your piece on Hagg. Well done. He worked hard to get where he is and he plays a very steady game. Time well spent in the AHL.

I missed the weekend. Did Weise/Manning really get booed?

And Amac. Heard boos for all 3 of their player intros. Amac had the loudest / most boos.

I missed the weekend. Did Weise/Manning really get booed?
- YuenglingJagr

Only by a relatively small portion of the crowd. Could be heard, though.

Only by a relatively small portion of the crowd. Could be heard, though.
- bmeltzer

I'm not down with booing players during the intros. I've held back from applauding for some, though, for certain players (hi, Bruno Gervais). That said, it's understandable why the home fan base would be upset at seeing Brandon Manning play in the home opener as opposed to Sanheim.

Robert Hagg is having one heck of a rookie season. He'll likely never put up big offensive numbers, but the guy has been arguably the second-best defender early on in the season.

I'm not down with booing players during the intros. I've held back from applauding for some, though, for certain players (hi, Bruno Gervais). That said, it's understandable why the home fan base would be upset at seeing Brandon Manning play in the home opener as opposed to Sanheim.

Robert Hagg is having one heck of a rookie season. He'll likely never put up big offensive numbers, but the guy has been arguably the second-best defender early on in the season.
- jmatchett383

The pass to Giroux prompted me to say something...but I have been thinking this season that it is so refreshing to see a team that can get out of their own zone. Biggest change IMO. I think part of the reason they look "fast" isn't because they just have 2 or 3 guys that skate better, it is because they are moving up the ice.

Mark Streit placed on unconditional waivers by Montreal. He didn't report to the minors.

Love it with Coots..

I had said for the Flyers to move forward he needs to progress and to this point it certainly seems like he has..

Playing with G and Jake certainly helps..to that end if we witch hunt Hak for everything he deserves some credit for the first line..

I'm not down with booing players during the intros. I've held back from applauding for some, though, for certain players (hi, Bruno Gervais). That said, it's understandable why the home fan base would be upset at seeing Brandon Manning play in the home opener as opposed to Sanheim.

Robert Hagg is having one heck of a rookie season. He'll likely never put up big offensive numbers, but the guy has been arguably the second-best defender early on in the season.
- jmatchett383

I wouldn't have booed anyone but I definitely wouldn't have cheered AMac if I was at my seat in time for that. We got to the seats right as the intros ended.

As for Sanheim being scratched I'm fine with it Manning needs some games.

Hagg looked solid he definitely is the second best defender on this team and he almost gives me the same sense of calm as Provy.

I was wondering if the crowd chanting along to the goal song came across the tv broadcast.

The fans can get over it. Manning is a hard working player who gives it his all and is well respected by everyone. I have no issue with Hakstol giving him the home season opening start against a physical squad. I’m sure Sanheim will be back in the lineup and Mandog will be in his #7 role.

All the booing and negative comments on social media probably do nothing more than rally their teammates around them. I’m sure being scratched for a few games will not ruin Sanheim’s career. If he’s that sensitive, maybe he shouldn’t be here.

I'm not down with booing players during the intros. I've held back from applauding for some, though, for certain players (hi, Bruno Gervais). That said, it's understandable why the home fan base would be upset at seeing Brandon Manning play in the home opener as opposed to Sanheim.

Robert Hagg is having one heck of a rookie season. He'll likely never put up big offensive numbers, but the guy has been arguably the second-best defender early on in the season.
- jmatchett383

Agree.

He continues to play like this you could see a top paring of him and Provorov playing heavy minutes against top lines.

And can I say this team looks so much better then last year. Faster, relentless on the puck. The youth has brought a swagger back to this team.

Agree.

He continues to play like this you could see a top paring of him and Provorov playing heavy minutes against top lines.

And can I say this team looks so much better then last year. Faster, relentless on the puck. The youth has brought a swagger back to this team.
- J35Bacher

I'd keep Provy and Hagg separate. They both calm the game when they are out there better to have two pairs that have someone who can slow the panic level when things get crazy than one pair with two guys who bring almost the same style. Provy is way better but Hagg is no slouch.

Plus as much as I wanted Morin with Ghost. Hagg is doing great with Ghost allowing Ghost to freewheel.

I'd keep Provy and Hagg separate. They both calm the game when they are out there better to have two pairs that have someone who can slow the panic level when things get crazy than one pair with two guys who bring almost the same style. Provy is way better but Hagg is no slouch.

Plus as much as I wanted Morin with Ghost. Hagg is doing great with Ghost allowing Ghost to freewheel.
- dragonoffrost

I still like the idea of Sam and Ghost. The biggest guy and the smallest guy together.

Though he and Sanhiem were a good pair in LHV. At this point I don't care. Just get them into the line up and let it sort its self out.

The fans can get over it. Manning is a hard working player who gives it his all and is well respected by everyone. I have no issue with Hakstol giving him the home season opening start against a physical squad. I’m sure Sanheim will be back in the lineup and Mandog will be in his #7 role.

All the booing and negative comments on social media probably do nothing more than rally their teammates around them. I’m sure being scratched for a few games will not ruin Sanheim’s career. If he’s that sensitive, maybe he shouldn’t be here.
- boxcar65

I'll work hard too, but that doesn't make me a good NHL player. I respect Manning, and I'm sure he's a good teammate, but aside from not being afraid to get punched int the face a lot, he's not a better NHL player than Travis Sanheim.

Not a big deal in the long run, but I'm sure that the fans, the people who support the team financially, probably wanted to see one of their prized prospects in the game for the home opener than a journeyman 6/7 D.

I still like the idea of Sam and Ghost. The biggest guy and the smallest guy together.

Though he and Sanhiem were a good pair in LHV. At this point I don't care. Just get them into the line up and let it sort its self out.
- jaws1955

Agreed, but I don't know how it's going to happen as long as we're married to Gudas, AMac, and the AMac/Provy duo.

I wouldn't have booed anyone but I definitely wouldn't have cheered AMac if I was at my seat in time for that. We got to the seats right as the intros ended.

As for Sanheim being scratched I'm fine with it Manning needs some games.

Hagg looked solid he definitely is the second best defender on this team and he almost gives me the same sense of calm as Provy.

I was wondering if the crowd chanting along to the goal song came across the tv broadcast.
- dragonoffrost

I understand that MacDonald is not a fan favorite and that is fine. I wouldn't expect his cheer to be at the level of the best players or fan favorites on the team. He does however play hard and competes to the best of his ability game in and game out. The players voted to give him an A so that shows that he is respected in the locker room, so why does he deserve not to be cheered?

Good read:

http://sonsofpenn.com/5-s...-sanheim-flyers-capitals/

I was really intrigued by the "A New Top Pair" part of the article.

Agreed, but I don't know how it's going to happen as long as we're married to Gudas, AMac, and the AMac/Provy duo.
- jmatchett383

We just need to let the AMac Provy duo make us sick all year kinda like Therien playing with Rico all season long....

The fans can get over it. Manning is a hard working player who gives it his all and is well respected by everyone. I have no issue with Hakstol giving him the home season opening start against a physical squad. I’m sure Sanheim will be back in the lineup and Mandog will be in his #7 role.

All the booing and negative comments on social media probably do nothing more than rally their teammates around them. I’m sure being scratched for a few games will not ruin Sanheim’s career. If he’s that sensitive, maybe he shouldn’t be here.
- boxcar65

Manning is another player that worked his way up from the minors to the NHL and has a strong work ethic. He is a heart and soul character player despite his limitations as a player. He also deserves to be cheered.

I wouldn't have booed anyone but I definitely wouldn't have cheered AMac if I was at my seat in time for that. We got to the seats right as the intros ended.
- dragonoffrost

I wouldn't boo him. He has his limitations, and he'll likely never live up to his cap hit, but he's a fine #5/6 guy. The problem is that he's been misused as a top pair player, where his deficiencies get magnified. If he was being used on the third pair and making 1/3 of his cap hit, no one would care. I actually think he's been an above-average player so far this year, arguably some of his best hockey as a Flyer to date.

As for the contract, just remember that he is the same player today that he was when he signed the deal, and the Flyers didn't have to give him the money. They offered him that deal, and he would be a fool to turn it down.