Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits, 2018 Charity Classic

With the development camp scheduled as is it looks like the weekend will be the fun 3 on 3 tournament time?

Great to see see Travis on the mend.

When it comes to hockey players leg/knee injuries always seem to be the scariest in terms of long term effects.

Glad to see Varone coming back. I have never followed the guy. Seems like a smallish fireplug type with good speed.

Bill, does he have any NHL upside? (probably not, at 27 it seems his window has passed)

Great to see see Travis on the mend.

When it comes to hockey players leg/knee injuries always seem to be the scariest in terms of long term effects.

Glad to see Varone coming back. I have never followed the guy. Seems like a smallish fireplug type with good speed.

Bill, does he have any NHL upside? (probably not, at 27 it seems his window has passed)
- MBFlyerfan

RE: Varone
From the little I've seen of him, he doesn't have the skating needed to get away with being a smallish skill player at the NHL level. He kind of reminds me of Peter White a bit.

RE: Varone
From the little I've seen of him, he doesn't have the skating needed to get away with being a smallish skill player at the NHL level. He kind of reminds me of Peter White a bit.
- BiggE

Not a bad comparison. Varone is one of those players who could either be a bit player/ injury replacement in the NHL or a star in the AHL, because he's small and not a strong enough skater to translate his AHL role to the top level. But he is a key player on the Phantoms and definitely skilled.

Skinner would be interesting. Wreaks of not being worth what it would take to get him, but man he would be a great add. I'd still want Stone more than him, but I'd rather have Skinner over Hoffman

Not looking to start any huge discussion, but I was at the Close out game in Charlotte and I thought Vechs and Ghoul were clearly 2 of the best players on the ice.

Ghoul's play especially shocked me....he was showing great speed and reading the play well. much the same for Vechs.

Makes me wonder if Scottie gets 3c and Vechs gets a strong 4C look.

Not a bad comparison. Varone is one of those players who could either be a bit player/ injury replacement in the NHL or a star in the AHL, because he's small and not a strong enough skater to translate his AHL role to the top level. But he is a key player on the Phantoms and definitely skilled.
- bmeltzer

I could see an NHL role for him if a team wants to carry a 5th center that can sub in if one of their skilled centers gets injured, but other than that, I think he'll spend his career in the AHL.

I started doing 5ks last year and they are a lot of fun. This year I already did a half marathon, which was not as much fun but was very rewarding.

Great to see see Travis on the mend.

When it comes to hockey players leg/knee injuries always seem to be the scariest in terms of long term effects.

- MBFlyerfan

30 years ago I think that was true, but now it's got to be head injuries.

Thoughts on these comments? I would think NAK needs to change something in his game so he stops getting suspended?

Gordon on Aube-Kubel who comes back from his 3rd suspension:
"Just keep hitting. None of those hits are dirty hits. Each one of those hits, their player saw him coming, they chose not to respect the fact that he was going to lay a check on them and put themselves in a bad situation. I think if you ask any G.M. in the NHL they would take a player like that who is willing to finish checks and do it the right way. He suffers the consequences down here but I don't know that the same result would happen in the NHL."

Source: @BobRotruck

All the hits NAK got suspended for looked pretty high to me. And from memory the guys who were hit all missed games from injury. So I think he'd have been suspended if he was in the NHL.

Not looking to start any huge discussion, but I was at the Close out game in Charlotte and I thought Vechs and Ghoul were clearly 2 of the best players on the ice.

Ghoul's play especially shocked me....he was showing great speed and reading the play well. much the same for Vechs.

Makes me wonder if Scottie gets 3c and Vechs gets a strong 4C look.
- juiced

Or Flipped...

I could see an NHL role for him if a team wants to carry a 5th center that can sub in if one of their skilled centers gets injured, but other than that, I think he'll spend his career in the AHL.
- BiggE

Agreed. Nothing wrong with being an AHL star. Makes a good living (albeit not NHL money) and will be in demand longer within the league than the average fringe NHL player.

During the Flyers Alumni Trip to Russia last year, I talked to Freddy Cassivi (AHL Hall of Fame goalie) about how I thought he could have at least been an NHL backup. He did get into 13 NHL games, but mostly spent his career in the AHL; most notably with Hershey. He was pretty philosophical about it, saying that he still felt he had a good career, there are only so many NHL jobs (especially for goalies) and he still got to live out his dream of playing pro hockey including some time in the NHL.

No shame in that, whatsoever!

Completely random observation and I am hoping for everyone's feedback. It has bothered me that the WFC's ice still has the two small Flyers logos at center ice. I understand tradition, but I truly believe that changing this up will positively affect our fortunes. One big logo at center ice. Am I crazy?

Agreed. Nothing wrong with being an AHL star. Makes a good living (albeit not NHL money) and will be in demand longer within the league than the average fringe NHL player.

During the Flyers Alumni Trip to Russia last year, I talked to Freddy Cassivi (AHL Hall of Fame goalie) about how I thought he could have at least been an NHL backup. He did get into 13 NHL games, but mostly spent his career in the AHL; most notably with Hershey. He was pretty philosophical about it, saying that he still felt he had a good career, there are only so many NHL jobs (especially for goalies) and he still got to live out his dream of playing pro hockey including some time in the NHL.

No shame in that, whatsoever!
- bmeltzer

Agreed.

Freddie was around for years, too. Speaks well of him that he was around for so long and was in demand for work, even at the AHL level.

I could see an NHL role for him if a team wants to carry a 5th center that can sub in if one of their skilled centers gets injured, but other than that, I think he'll spend his career in the AHL.
- BiggE

I would prefer he remain in the AHL

All the hits NAK got suspended for looked pretty high to me. And from memory the guys who were hit all missed games from injury. So I think he'd have been suspended if he was in the NHL.
- Feanor

agreed

Knight would be a better call up option for the Flyers than Varone, even though Varone is the more productive AHL player.

30 years ago I think that was true, but now it's got to be head injuries.
- Feanor

Actually, I think you are correct.

I'll say it again, every professional athlete owes Eric Lindros a debt of gratitude for taking that beach on his own.

Actually, I think you are correct.

I'll say it again, every professional athlete owes Eric Lindros a debt of gratitude for taking that beach on his own.
- MBFlyerfan

A few NFL guys took that beach also with respect to fighting back for what happened to them

A few NFL guys took that beach also with respect to fighting back for what happened to them
- dragonoffrost

yeah, but it was Lindros who finally took a stand and made the powers that be take concussions seriously and not just as "getting your bell rung"

Knight would be a better call up option for the Flyers than Varone, even though Varone is the more productive AHL player.
- Feanor

I like Bardreau more. I think the Varone call up would be a result of top 6 players missing, but even then I like Martel more and would prefer they move forwards up the lineup and call up Knight like you said to play the 4th line

I will be legit mad if 2 of Vecchione, NAK, and Vorobyev don't make the Flyers this season

I will be legit mad if 2 of Vecchione, NAK, and Vorobyev don't make the Flyers this season
- YuenglingJagr

The question is who will you be mad at?