Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Practice Day, Phantoms Clinch Division, and More

Just posted on the last thread, so I brought it over here:

First round picks, FWIW:

WEST
Nashville in 5 over the Avs. Kudos to the Avs for their great bounce back season, but this is where it will end. The Preds are just a significantly better and deeper team.

Vegas in 7 over LA. I think every home team wins in this series and every game is going to be close. This is one I'm really looking forward to.

Anaheim over San Jose in 7. Anaheim, IMO, is a better team than their record and had to fight through a lot of man games lost to injury this season. This will be another close, hard fought series between 2 teams that don't like each other and you gotta love that. This was the hardest series for me to make a pick in the West and San Jose winning wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Winnipeg over Minnesota in 6. The Jets are the better team and the better team is going to win, it's that simple.

EAST
Tampa over Jersey in 6. Keith Kincaid has been amazing for the Devils, but at some point he is going to come back to earth at least a bit. Tampa is just deeper and better at every position and while the Devils will give it a good effort, they aren't winning this series.

Washington over Columbus in 7. Ovi is on a mission and the Caps are going to find a way to win this series no matter who ends up in goal. It will be close, but no cigar, for Torts and his boys.

Toronto over Boston in 7. Boston just hasn't looked right the last couple weeks of the season and I think some late injuries are catching up with some of their players, especially the veterans. Toronto has a speed advantage and will use it to wear the B's down. Winning game 7 in Boston should be especially sweet for the Leafs and their fans.

And, the one you're all waiting for....
Penguins over the Flyers in 7. Sorry, I don't like it, but that is how I see it. Giroux will do everything humanly possible to pull off the upset, but they will fall just a bit short. OTOH, it will be a great experience for the youth on the Flyers and they are only going to get better over the next few seasons.

This regular season couldn’t have gone better. Couldn’t have asked for a better season than 98 Pts. Couldn’t have asked for a better St. Louis pick than #14 overall.

The Rest is gravy, going to enjoy watching the kids in this series

I am actually disagreeing with you BiggE. While not a fan of the matchup I have a feeling all the hockey the Pens have played this past years is going to catch up to them and Murray hasn't been that great.

Not saying it will be easy but i think the Flyers bring this one home.

This regular season couldn’t have gone better. Couldn’t have asked for a better season than 98 Pts. Couldn’t have asked for a better St. Louis pick than #14 overall.

The Rest is gravy, going to enjoy watching the kids in this series
- Just5

I am actually disagreeing with you BiggE. While not a fan of the matchup I have a feeling all the hockey the Pens have played this past years is going to catch up to them and Murray hasn't been that great.

Not saying it will be easy but i think the Flyers bring this one home.
- J35Bacher

Trust me, I'm praying I'm wrong! I do think it will catch up with them, but I think it happens in the 2nd round against the Caps.

Trust me, I'm praying I'm wrong! I do think it will catch up with them, but I think it happens in the 2nd round against the Caps.
- BiggE

I get it.

I agree with most of your other predictions.

Here's what I am hoping for, realistically, against the Penguins

- 2 good, solid wins. I don't think this goes past 6 games, we're just not deep enough. That said, I would like to see 2 wins where the team isn't scrambling in the last minute to win.

- Solid, 60-minute games: Again, while I don't expect to win (note: I hope they do), I don't want to see them make it easy, either. If they give it their all but lose to a better team, then so be it.

- Strong playoff debut by Provorov/Konecny/Patrick: Three young players who are the present and future of this team. No better test than playing against the 2-time defending champs. A strong playoff showing by the three of the would be great.

- Giroux returning 2008-2012 playoff form: If they Flyers do pull off the upset, it will have to be Giroux being the best player in the series, and he has done that in the past. Even if they don't win, being the playoff Giroux from his early days would be a great sight.

- The real Wayne Simmonds: Can the guy who has played here the past 6 seasons make it for puck drop? I haven't seen him at all this year.

It should be a fun series, and I'm sure that it will devolve into a poopshow at least a handful of times. Like I said, the head picks the Pens, but I'm hoping hard for the upset.

Here's what I am hoping for, realistically, against the Penguins

- 2 good, solid wins. I don't think this goes past 6 games, we're just not deep enough. That said, I would like to see 2 wins where the team isn't scrambling in the last minute to win.

- Solid, 60-minute games: Again, while I don't expect to win (note: I hope they do), I don't want to see them make it easy, either. If they give it their all but lose to a better team, then so be it.

- Strong playoff debut by Provorov/Konecny/Patrick: Three young players who are the present and future of this team. No better test than playing against the 2-time defending champs. A strong playoff showing by the three of the would be great.

- Giroux returning 2008-2012 playoff form: If they Flyers do pull off the upset, it will have to be Giroux being the best player in the series, and he has done that in the past. Even if they don't win, being the playoff Giroux from his early days would be a great sight.

- The real Wayne Simmonds: Can the guy who has played here the past 6 seasons make it for puck drop? I haven't seen him at all this year.

It should be a fun series, and I'm sure that it will devolve into a poopshow at least a handful of times. Like I said, the head picks the Pens, but I'm hoping hard for the upset.
- jmatchett383

My X-Factor player is Konecny.

He could either snipe a goal or cause some major chaos with a big hit and some chirping.

one word-stay out of the box

My X-Factor player is Konecny.

He could either snipe a goal or cause some major chaos with a big hit and some chirping.
- J35Bacher

Oh, they Flyers could absolutely win the series if things go their way. Just, on paper, the matchup favors the Pens based on their overall depth.

Also, I hope Provorov and Ghost are up to playing 30+ minutes per game, because they'll need to. That's not a bash on Manning and Gudas, they'll just need those 2 out their as often as possible.

one word-stay out of the box
- all-pgh

I see the Pittsburgh school system is right in line with its infrastructure.

Just kidding. Should be a fun series.

one word-stay out of the box
- all-pgh

Um, that's 5 words. Just sayin....

All kidding aside, that would be excellent advice for the Flyers, at 5 on 5, I think they have a solid shot. Special teams though, could easily be their undoing.

I think you got it about right BiggE.

Anaheim vs San Jose might become a blood bath which I'm not sure the NHL wants.

Flyers can win if and only if the keep the games at 5v5 or Flyer power plays.

I’m Assuming no, but is there actually a realistic chance the Blues wouldn’t defer the pick if they do indeed win the lottery? I feel like the cost of losing a 3rd round pick for winning a top 3 pick is minimal.

I think you got it about right BiggE.

Anaheim vs San Jose might become a blood bath which I'm not sure the NHL wants.

Flyers can win if and only if the keep the games at 5v5 or Flyer power plays.
- dragonoffrost

LOL, the NHL may not want a blood bath, but I can't wait!!

I’m Assuming no, but is there actually a realistic chance the Blues wouldn’t defer the pick if they do indeed win the lottery? I feel like the cost of losing a 3rd round pick for winning a top 3 pick is minimal.
- arichardson22

correct

I’m Assuming no, but is there actually a realistic chance the Blues wouldn’t defer the pick if they do indeed win the lottery? I feel like the cost of losing a 3rd round pick for winning a top 3 pick is minimal.
- arichardson22

I'd be flat out stunned if the Blues did that.

My X-Factor player is Konecny.

He could either snipe a goal or cause some major chaos with a big hit and some chirping.
- J35Bacher

The media machine will be all over the pens destroying the flyers this series. I'd be shocked in anyone picks them. I hope the coaching staff really pushes how the entire hockey world has zero faith that they can compete and this serves as motivation

and Morin could be back next weekend!

I think you got it about right BiggE.

Anaheim vs San Jose might become a blood bath which I'm not sure the NHL wants.

Flyers can win if and only if the keep the games at 5v5 or Flyer power plays.
- dragonoffrost

I'll be interested in how Murray fares without the safety net of fleury. He hasn't lit the world on fire this year, and a big factor last year was that fleury came off the bench and played well while Murray was hurt.

I’m Assuming no, but is there actually a realistic chance the Blues wouldn’t defer the pick if they do indeed win the lottery? I feel like the cost of losing a 3rd round pick for winning a top 3 pick is minimal.
- arichardson22

Virtually no chance unless there's another trade with the Flyers that would involve an agreement not to defer it.

I'd be flat out stunned if the Blues did that.
- BiggE

That’s the impression I was under, but hey they surprised me when they traded Statsny. Not as stunning as not differing a lotto pick though. Speaking of Blues, man that team must be rattled. Schenn was vocal about the team trading Statsny and they miss the playoffs by one point, on the last game of the season. Can’t be a happy lockerroom. I wonder how Schenn feels seeing his former team extend their season without him...

Virtually no chance unless there's another trade with the Flyers that would involve an agreement not to defer it.
- bmeltzer

Interesting, that crossed my mind... if there was a way for the flyers to convince or “sweeten the pot.” I’m willing to throw in Lehterä.

Virtually no chance unless there's another trade with the Flyers that would involve an agreement not to defer it.
- bmeltzer

Yeah, I can't even see that happening, especially if the Blues land 1st overall. No one is passing on Dahlin. That being said, the odds of moving up from 14 are even lower than the Flyers odds when they landed Patrick. It's a pretty safe bet that pick #14 is going to be ours.

Bill, what do you think the odds are that Wayne Simmonds is traded at the draft? With Hextall having repeatedly said that he believes a team is built up the middle, I just can't see him spending significant cap dollars on a power forward winger who will be 31 in the first year of a new deal.