Bill Meltzer: Phantoms Down, 0-2; Memorial Cup

Congrats to rubstov on earning a secondary assist

Bill,

You rock.

That is all.

Good morning

Bill,

You rock.

That is all.
- ggunky

THIS!!
❤️👍

If Rubstov can play the exact same kind of game in the NHL he would make a good solid 3rd line player in the NHL.

He wins his board battles and seems to be in good position but I just don't see anything that makes him standout. I was watching this game and followed #98 throughout the whole game, nothing about his game screams 1st round NHL pick.

@MB

There's something different about this year than last year for Rubstov. He's not really 'regressed' but he didn't have a markedly better season than his D+1 season. I think he's going to be an NHL player, but I don't know what his impact will be at that level. I don't want to write his offensive game off just yet.

Even if he becomes a 3C, decent PK guy and gives an output of say 10p-15a-25p, I would say that's a pretty good pick at 22. For reference, Laughton went at 20.

If Rubstov can play the exact same kind of game in the NHL he would make a good solid 3rd line player in the NHL.

He wins his board battles and seems to be in good position but I just don't see anything that makes him standout. I was watching this game and followed #98 throughout the whole game, nothing about his game screams 1st round NHL pick.
- MBFlyerfan

He’s very good on the PK from what I’ve seen. If he can be a defensive sound 3rd liner who is one of the top 4 PKers and can up 12-15 goals (including a couple shorties) and 30-35 points, I can live with that.

Edit: At pick 22, you aren’t always getting a true 1st round talent. Most scouts are looking at the 2018 draft and are seeing 20-22 legit 1st round talents. If Rubtsov had been taken in the top 15, I’d be much more concerned.

If Rubstov can play the exact same kind of game in the NHL he would make a good solid 3rd line player in the NHL.

He wins his board battles and seems to be in good position but I just don't see anything that makes him standout. I was watching this game and followed #98 throughout the whole game, nothing about his game screams 1st round NHL pick.
- MBFlyerfan

I don't know if he'll even be a top-9 player. Granted, I haven't really watched him, but I think a 4th line role may be what he gets. Not the worst thing in the world.

His story to date reminds me of Ryan Parent. A good NHL player should be able to not necessarily dominate, but should be a very productive player at the junior ranks based on sheer talent. With Ryan Parent, while he was a decent skater, his junior output was negligible, and he had a very uninspiring NHL career. With Rubstov, I'm getting the same feeling, that he has just enough talent to be an above-average junior player but not enough to be a true standout that is a top-9 NHL forward.

Granted, he has had some injury issues and his old MHL/KHL teams did him no favors, and as I said, I haven't watched him much. Just the impressions that I get by reading up on him.

He’s very good on the PK from what I’ve seen. If he can be a defensive sound 3rd liner who is one of the top 4 PKers and can up 12-15 goals (including a couple shorties) and 30-35 points, I can live with that.

Edit: At pick 22, you aren’t always getting a true 1st round talent. Most scouts are looking at the 2018 draft and are seeing 20-22 legit 1st round talents. If Rubtsov had been taken in the top 15, I’d be much more concerned.
- BiggE

I'm not so sure on what you mean by 1st round talent, but my personal (and generalized) view is that after the top 10ish players in a draft, a lot of luck is involved in drafting a top 6F/top 4D level talent. In other words, I don't really expect to get that type of talent outside the top 10.

That's why outside of the top 10, I prefer high floor guys. I also want them to have high ceilings, but I would prefer a higher floor guy with a lower ceiling (For example, Hayton) over a lower floor guy with a marginally higher ceiling (Denisenko). Those are just examples, and is my general thought process (which is moot because I'm never going to be a GM!

Bringing it back to Rubstov, if he pans out to be a 3C with solid Pk ability. I would call that a win, even at 15.

I don't know if he'll even be a top-9 player. Granted, I haven't really watched him, but I think a 4th line role may be what he gets. Not the worst thing in the world.

His story to date reminds me of Ryan Parent. A good NHL player should be able to not necessarily dominate, but should be a very productive player at the junior ranks based on sheer talent. With Ryan Parent, while he was a decent skater, his junior output was negligible, and he had a very uninspiring NHL career. With Rubstov, I'm getting the same feeling, that he has just enough talent to be an above-average junior player but not enough to be a true standout that is a top-9 NHL forward.

Granted, he has had some injury issues and his old MHL/KHL teams did him no favors, and as I said, I haven't watched him much. Just the impressions that I get by reading up on him.
- jmatchett383

Rubtsov produced at the requisite offensive level in the MHL and during his brief Q stint last year. For whatever reason(s), he never really got on a roll offensively this season. He still has a chance to be at least a Radek Faksa type of NHLer; Faksa was never even a point-per-game player in junior hockey despite being a 1st round pick but has become a solid top 9 in Dallas.

Ryan Parent's weakness was puck skills, which the Predators and Flyers thought would come along, but never did to a high enough degree. The rest was there.

When thinking of every forward to ever play for the Flyers, taking their entire games into account, where does Claude Giroux stand for you? Top-10? Top-20? Top-25+?

Obviously, Clarke, Barber, and Lindros are above him, they are locks. But after that, there's a lot to consider. I'd put Brindy, Kerr, Propp, and MacLeish above him. But then you start getting to guys like Tocchet, Recchi, LeClair, Leach, Poulin, and Gagne, guys who played completely different styles but were big keys to their respective Flyers' teams. I think that is where he falls, anywhere from around 8-15.

Thoughts?

Any pick made outside top 10-12 that makes the big team is a win.You need role players that can contribute here and there.If thats Rubstov its a big plus.I remember hearing some comparisons to datsyuk when he was drafted.Which was completely unfair and set expectations too high.

When thinking of every forward to ever play for the Flyers, taking their entire games into account, where does Claude Giroux stand for you? Top-10? Top-20? Top-25+?

Obviously, Clarke, Barber, and Lindros are above him, they are locks. But after that, there's a lot to consider. I'd put Brindy, Kerr, Propp, and MacLeish above him. But then you start getting to guys like Tocchet, Recchi, LeClair, Leach, Poulin, and Gagne, guys who played completely different styles but were big keys to their respective Flyers' teams. I think that is where he falls, anywhere from around 8-15.

Thoughts?
- jmatchett383

For me he's top 10

Rubtsov produced at the requisite offensive level in the MHL and during his brief Q stint last year. For whatever reason(s), he never really got on a roll offensively this season. He still has a chance to be at least a Radek Faksa type of NHLer; Faksa was never even a point-per-game player in junior hockey despite being a 1st round pick but has become a solid top 9 in Dallas.

Ryan Parent's weakness was puck skills, which the Predators and Flyers thought would come along, but never did to a high enough degree. The rest was there.
- bmeltzer

If he can be a Faksa type, that's fine. I think I see more of a Laughton type: a guy who's a good 4C, but doesn't quite give you a 3C game.

For me, if he can become another Robby Fabbri, that would be a home run.

When thinking of every forward to ever play for the Flyers, taking their entire games into account, where does Claude Giroux stand for you? Top-10? Top-20? Top-25+?

Obviously, Clarke, Barber, and Lindros are above him, they are locks. But after that, there's a lot to consider. I'd put Brindy, Kerr, Propp, and MacLeish above him. But then you start getting to guys like Tocchet, Recchi, LeClair, Leach, Poulin, and Gagne, guys who played completely different styles but were big keys to their respective Flyers' teams. I think that is where he falls, anywhere from around 8-15.

Thoughts?
- jmatchett383

G is a top 5 All-time Flyers forward for me along with Clarke, Barber, Lindros, and Brian Propp.

And Giroux is not done yet.

Any pick made outside top 10-12 that makes the big team is a win.You need role players that can contribute here and there.If thats Rubstov its a big plus.I remember hearing some comparisons to datsyuk when he was drafted.Which was completely unfair and set expectations too high.
- flyeredup85

Same with Scott "Forsberg Lite" Laughton.

Same with Scott "Forsberg Lite" Laughton.
- jmatchett383

People were trading Sean Couturier back when they drafted Laughton, because, you know, you could just slot Laughton in that spot, amirite?

Nowadays, there are some fans that think that Laughton is barely a candidate to center the 3rd line.

G is a top 5 All-time Flyers forward for me along with Clarke, Barber, Lindros, and Brian Propp.

And Giroux is not done yet.
- johndewar

+1

People were trading Sean Couturier back when they drafted Laughton, because, you know, you could just slot Laughton in that spot, amirite?

Nowadays, there are some fans that think that Laughton is barely a candidate to center the 3rd line.
- johndewar

Well, you only need one of Mike Richards lite.

I don't think I've ever seen another player fall so hard so fast like he did.

+1
- VladDrag

Fun Claude Giroux fact: If he plays a full schedule of games next season, he'll be 3rd all time in games played as a Flyer.

He just turned 30 in January.

Fun Claude Giroux fact: If he plays a full schedule of games next season, he'll be 3rd all time in games played as a Flyer.

He just turned 30 in January.
- johndewar

Funner fact: Chris Therien currently is 4th all-time in career games as a Flyers. Giroux will pass him with 16 more games.

Yeah, Chris Therien. Chris Therien.

ttt

Fun Claude Giroux fact: If he plays a full schedule of games next season, he'll be 3rd all time in games played as a Flyer.

He just turned 30 in January.
- johndewar

Thanks for starting off my week in a fun way.

Well, you only need one of Mike Richards lite.

I don't think I've ever seen another player fall so hard so fast like he did.
- jmatchett383

The Mike Richards thing was/is a tough one to wrap my head around as a fan. He was definitely my favorite player in that era.