Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 11/18/17 vs. CGY

Fist!



How has Strome's skating looked? Is he improving? I always feel like with his hands and obvious puck skill, if he can get his skating to acceptable levels he may end up being the steal of that draft.

I'd be pretty surprised to see AMac in today, so I'm guessing we see Mark Alt with Sanheim on the 3rd pair and Ghost/Manning as the 2nd. Now if AMac still isn't ready to go by Tuesday, then we may see a call up of Morin, though if Alt plays well today, they may just ride with him for one more game or even two.

Once AMac is back, I really hope they keep the Provorov/Hagg pairing together. They are getting better as they go on and could be a top shut down pair for this team for many years to come. AMac has shown himself to be a good partner for a young, developing Dman and was having a very good season before getting injured. I would pair him with Sanheim when he returns. I think being paired with a steady vet would be the best thing for the kid right now. That would leave Ghost with Manning which is fine as they have a lot of experience playing together. And, one more thing, if Manning is playing well when Gudas' suspension ends, I wouldn't rush Gudas back in the lineup. He hasn't done anything this season to deserve an automatic return to the starting 6.

re the forwards:

There needs to be shakeup and it shouldn't involve the top line. There is no good reason to mess with the only line that is producing right now. Since I know they have no plans, at least for today, of bringing anyone up, here are the combos I would try.

Weal-Filppula-Simmonds
Weal needs to pick it up a bit, but he has both skill and good speed. Simmonds actually played pretty well against the Jets and may be ready to have a breakthrough game and Filppula won't do anything to hurt the line, adds a LH shot, and has the ability to make a play or 2.

Raffl-Patrick-TK
Patrick and TK have shown flashes of good chemistry. Both are highly skilled and should benefit from having a guy like Raffl, who can forecheck well and add some grit and hustle to the line. Raffl being a LH shot is also a bonus as I'm not a fan of having 3 righties on the same line.

Leier-Laughton-Weise
Weise is a step down from Raffl, but at least he can skate and adds some size to the unit. While his addition probably does nothing to help Leier and Laughton in any way, the 4th line is the logical place for a guy like Weise if you are going to have him in the lineup.

Fist!



How has Strome's skating looked? Is he improving? I always feel like with his hands and obvious puck skill, if he can get his skating to acceptable levels he may end up being the steal of that draft.
- MBFlyerfan

A friend of mine that I grew up with playing hockey scouts in the OHL....his words....Strome's skating in one word. "Ugly". Decent skills..

Fist!



How has Strome's skating looked? Is he improving? I always feel like with his hands and obvious puck skill, if he can get his skating to acceptable levels he may end up being the steal of that draft.
- MBFlyerfan

I agree. If he can raise his skating to just average, he will be a very good player.

A friend of mine that I grew up with playing hockey scouts in the OHL....his words....Strome's skating in one word. "Ugly". Decent skills..
- landros 2

Oh Ive seen plenty of film on the kid. While he is still a better skater than 90% of us normals, compared to other players his skating is a trainwreck.

Its almost weird, like am I really seeing this guy skate like this at such a high level of hockey?......lol

But his hands and hockey sense......intriguing

still can't comment...FEED THE HAMSTERS EK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Ive seen plenty of film on the kid. While he is still a better skater than 90% of us normals, compared to other players his skating is a trainwreck.

Its almost weird, like am I really seeing this guy skate like this at such a high level of hockey?......lol

But his hands and hockey sense......intriguing
- MBFlyerfan

Ahh, there we go.

His skills and sense are absolutely good enough for the NHL, but JFC, that skating is ugly. At this point, he'd have a hard time keeping up in the AHL, let alone with the big boys. He's got a lot of work cut out for him and it will be a long term project, but if he work his tail off and just elevate his skating to mediocre, he has a chance to be a very good player.

In other news, the Rags were shut out last night.

This brings me great joy.

Oh Ive seen plenty of film on the kid. While he is still a better skater than 90% of us normals, compared to other players his skating is a trainwreck.

Its almost weird, like am I really seeing this guy skate like this at such a high level of hockey?......lol

But his hands and hockey sense......intriguing
- MBFlyerfan

For sure....I mean he will put up 60-70 points this year and he is big kid, but unless that part of his game improves he really has no realistic shot.....but that's what most 4th rounders face....I mean you can't teach skill....you can't teach size....but in today's game you have to be able to skate. Kids got a lot of work ahead of him.

In other news, the Rags were shut out last night.

This brings me great joy.
- BiggE

I have Shattenkirk and Nash in one of my pools....I'd rather see them lose 6-5.

I have Shattenkirk and Nash in one of my pools....I'd rather see them lose 6-5.

- landros 2

Hell, I have Shattenkirk, Zuccarello and CSP, but I still can't root for those (frank)ers.


edit: I just couldn't take have 3 of those (frank)ing douchebags on my team, I just dropped Pukearello and added Bo Horvat. I'll ride it out with the other 2 for now, but if I can find something better, they are toast.

I'd be pretty surprised to see AMac in today, so I'm guessing we see Mark Alt with Sanheim on the 3rd pair and Ghost/Manning as the 2nd. Now if AMac still isn't ready to go by Tuesday, then we may see a call up of Morin, though if Alt plays well today, they may just ride with him for one more game or even two.

Once AMac is back, I really hope they keep the Provorov/Hagg pairing together. They are getting better as they go on and could be a top shut down pair for this team for many years to come. AMac has shown himself to be a good partner for a young, developing Dman and was having a very good season before getting injured. I would pair him with Sanheim when he returns. I think being paired with a steady vet would be the best thing for the kid right now. That would leave Ghost with Manning which is fine as they have a lot of experience playing together. And, one more thing, if Manning is playing well when Gudas' suspension ends, I wouldn't rush Gudas back in the lineup. He hasn't done anything this season to deserve an automatic return to the starting 6.

re the forwards:

There needs to be shakeup and it shouldn't involve the top line. There is no good reason to mess with the only line that is producing right now. Since I know they have no plans, at least for today, of bringing anyone up, here are the combos I would try.

Weal-Filppula-Simmonds
Weal needs to pick it up a bit, but he has both skill and good speed. Simmonds actually played pretty well against the Jets and may be ready to have a breakthrough game and Filppula won't do anything to hurt the line, adds a LH shot, and has the ability to make a play or 2.

Raffl-Patrick-TK
Patrick and TK have shown flashes of good chemistry. Both are highly skilled and should benefit from having a guy like Raffl, who can forecheck well and add some grit and hustle to the line. Raffl being a LH shot is also a bonus as I'm not a fan of having 3 righties on the same line.

Leier-Laughton-Weise
Weise is a step down from Raffl, but at least he can skate and adds some size to the unit. While his addition probably does nothing to help Leier and Laughton in any way, the 4th line is the logical place for a guy like Weise if you are going to have him in the lineup.
- BiggE

Who would you prefer playing 20 minutes a game, Manning or MacDonald?

Neither is not a choice.

I’m guessing Gudas is going to get a 10 game suspension, hopefully giving Morin a chance to get in some NHL games. Looking forward to seeing him play actually.

Who would you prefer playing 20 minutes a game, Manning or MacDonald?

Neither is not a choice.

- MJL

AMac, and he still would. He could take ES shifts with Sanheim, and occasional ones with Ghost or Manning when you shorten the bench based on game situations, plus he would be playing regularly on the PK while Ghost and Sanheim won't. Were you under the impression that the entire game is played at ES and/or coaches don't normally shorten their benches late in close games?

edit:
The only time you won't see AMac is on the pp

PK pairings: Provorov-Hagg
Manning-AMac

top 4 when leading late:
Provorov-Hagg
Manning-AMac

top 4 when trailing late:
Provorov-Ghost
Sanheim-AMac

AMac will likely still be 4th in total ice time after Provorov, Hagg and Ghost.

AMac, and he still would. He could take ES shifts with Sanheim, and occasional ones with Ghost or Manning when you shorten the bench based on game situations, plus he would be playing regularly on the PK while Ghost and Sanheim won't. Were you under the impression that the entire game is played at ES and/or coaches don't normally shorten their benches late in close games?

edit:
The only time you won't see AMac is on the pp

PK pairings: Provorov-Hagg
Manning-AMac

top 4 when leading late:
Provorov-Hagg
Manning-AMac

top 4 when trailing late:
Provorov-Ghost
Sanheim-AMac

AMac will likely still be 4th in total ice time after Provorov, Hagg and Ghost.
- BiggE

I think it would be tough to make up those minutes in game situations. I think it makes more sense to partner MacDonald with Gostisbehere until they feel that Sanheim is ready to take on more minutes consistently. In the beginning though they may want to limit MacDonald until he plays his way back into game speed.

I think it would be tough to make up those minutes in game situations. I think it makes more sense to partner MacDonald with Gostisbehere until they feel that Sanheim is ready to take on more minutes consistently. In the beginning though they may want to limit MacDonald until he plays his way back into game speed.
- MJL

I really don't see the problem.

14-16 minutes with Sanheim at ES
2-5 minutes with Ghost/Manning late in games
1.5 to 3 minutes on the PK

Total ice time: 18-24 minutes, which should average out to 21 give or take a few seconds and a few blowouts where the minutes would end up being spread more evenly among all 6 guys.

edit: No need to respond, I know you will disagree. Honestly, I really don't care.

Bill

how much more inferior is the Russian Junior League to the Canadian junior leagues or even the USHL?

Oh Ive seen plenty of film on the kid. While he is still a better skater than 90% of us normals, compared to other players his skating is a trainwreck.

Its almost weird, like am I really seeing this guy skate like this at such a high level of hockey?......lol

But his hands and hockey sense......intriguing
- MBFlyerfan

I thought it was an over exaggeration until I went to the rookie game and saw in person compared to the other players. and he was rated a first rounder at one time I believe? he seems like a great kid so I am really rooting hard for him.

The prospect updates are exciting. We have a lot of guys lighting it up tbh. Hopefully some of them hit

I really don't see the problem.

14-16 minutes with Sanheim at ES
2-5 minutes with Ghost/Manning late in games
1.5 to 3 minutes on the PK

Total ice time: 18-24 minutes, which should average out to 21 give or take a few seconds and a few blowouts where the minutes would end up being spread more evenly among all 6 guys.

edit: No need to respond, I know you will disagree. Honestly, I really don't care.
- BiggE

It's not disagreeing it's simply thinking that I prefer MacDonald play a bigger role in all situations including at 5 on 5 than Manning, and because of that I think it makes more sense to play him with Gostisbehere. I also beleive it's more advantageous to keep partners together than constantly changing pairings based on game situations. If you think that doesn't make sense, that's fine.

Bill

how much more inferior is the Russian Junior League to the Canadian junior leagues or even the USHL?
- nastyflyergirl

The Russian leagues are interesting in that the top teams could probably do OK in their closest North American equivalent but the mid-to-lower clubs in the same league would be like playing opponents from a lower league. MHL has two powerhouse teams. So that helps Ustimenko's numbers no doubt. On the other hand, he is also an important part of why they are so dominant. That is why he has become a workhorse starter despite the team having another quite capable goalie.

No Weal today. UBI

The Russian leagues are interesting in that the top teams could probably do OK in their closest North American equivalent but the mid-to-lower clubs in the same league would be like playing opponents from a lower league. MHL has two powerhouse teams. So that helps Ustimenko's numbers no doubt. On the other hand, he is also an important part of why they are so dominant. That is why he has become a workhorse starter despite the team having another quite capable goalie.
- bmeltzer

thanks

Perfect spot to call up vecchionne. Let him center the 3rd line and put filpulla on the wing. Give weal a couple games break