Bill Meltzer: Musings and Quick Hits: The Melnyk Mantra, Memorial Cup and More

Bill, thank you for all your hard work for us- your faithful brethren. Your writing appears to be in a peak season form that early in the off season.

Go Phantoms!

Would love to see big games from Vecchione, NAK, Lindblom, Sanheim and Myers.

Bill, thank you for all your hard work for us- your faithful brethren. Your writing appears to be in a peak season form that early in the off season.
- missingmike

This!!
❤️

Go Phantoms!

Would love to see big games from Vecchione, NAK, Lindblom, Sanheim and Myers.
- BiggE

Will be fun to watch the kids tonight. Hoping for a W.

Really like the scouting/draft analysis -- I think it even played out with Hischier and Patrick in their draft seasons.

It's OK to believe and rate Hischier as the better prospect if you see him enough and tracked all of the things that made you give that assessment.

But at the same time, there was no doubt in my mind, even when Patrick got off to a bit of a slower start last year, that he was a legit, high-end prospect -- not only could you see flashes of elite skills and vision, but the guy had been tracked for years.

You can have both: Guys who rise because of increased physical development and production, as well as guys who are consistently excellent but have a bit of a down period due to illness or injury.

I think we are in an era where the vast majority of people understand the concept of "sample size" in professional sports. I hope so. Because nothing is worse than rooting for a franchise in any sport where the front office doesn't understand that principle

Watched the first and third of last nights game. Really love the potential of Rubstov. Hoping this is just a down year for him. He was a bit more aggressive this game as well. So solid in his own zone, although I must admit, lack of scoring is concerning. Strome looked decent, his skating is still god awful (he turns like a UPS truck), but it looks better than it did in previous viewings.

The 2018 Draft crop overall is a good one in terms of players with high upsides to become solid NHL players. But it's also a year where risk tolerance will be tested in rounds one and two beyond the top handful of prospects. There easily could be some big misses on swings for the fences and also players taken later on who outshine many earlier, safer picks.

Bill, or anyone who wants to answer -- who are you swing and misses in the first round, if you had to guess?

Hey, folks: Not that anyone truly cares, but a few days ago I posted something and a few folks responded, which I always appreciate -- always enjoy talking hockey.

Just wanted to say that unfortunately that day, I couldn't respond because work has been hellish. Just wanted to say that because sometimes, message boards can skew negative. But when we have time and make efforts to talk hockey, I do enjoy being in this place and even if I don't always agree, I do try to read and respond to what people say in response to things I post.

Watched the first and third of last nights game. Really love the potential of Rubstov. Hoping this is just a down year for him. He was a bit more aggressive this game as well. So solid in his own zone, although I must admit, lack of scoring is concerning. Strome looked decent, his skating is still god awful (he turns like a UPS truck), but it looks better than it did in previous viewings.
- VladDrag

What I have noticed is he is rarely out of position.

In regards to Strome I have a feeling he is going to be an NHL player. I know the skating is an issue but he has hockey IQ and skills that I can see him as a top 9 player.

What I have noticed is he is rarely out of position.

In regards to Strome I have a feeling he is going to be an NHL player. I know the skating is an issue but he has hockey IQ and skills that I can see him as a top 9 player.
- J35Bacher

Yea his skating is baaad. But he's got very good puck skills and is very smart.

Bill, or anyone who wants to answer -- who are you swing and misses in the first round, if you had to guess?
- VladDrag

I don't know which ones will bust/boom but players like Ty Smith, Grigori Denisenko, Dominik Bokk, Serron Noel, Ryan McLeod, Vitali Kravtsov, Rasmus Sandin and even Joel Farabee for different reason entail certain leaps of faith to be taken in how they'll develop as pros. Shouldn't scare off a team that wants to draft them but there's more risk tolerance involved on the front end.

What I have noticed is he is rarely out of position.

In regards to Strome I have a feeling he is going to be an NHL player. I know the skating is an issue but he has hockey IQ and skills that I can see him as a top 9 player.
- J35Bacher

Great Strome is a 3rd line winger... like we don't have enough of those already...

Great Strome is a 3rd line winger... like we don't have enough of those already...
- dragonoffrost

I said top 9.


People get to hung up on the 1,2,3 line thing. The goal is to build overall depth and run 4 lines through a game.

I don't know which ones will bust/boom but players like Ty Smith, Grigori Denisenko, Dominik Bokk, Serron Noel, Ryan McLeod, Vitali Kravtsov, Rasmus Sandin and even Joel Farabee for different reason entail certain leaps of faith to be taken in how they'll develop as pros. Shouldn't scare off a team that wants to draft them but there's more risk tolerance involved on the front end.
- bmeltzer

I want the flyers to draft high ceiling on both of these first rounders. Floor be damned.

I don't know which ones will bust/boom but players like Ty Smith, Grigori Denisenko, Dominik Bokk, Serron Noel, Ryan McLeod, Vitali Kravtsov, Rasmus Sandin and even Joel Farabee for different reason entail certain leaps of faith to be taken in how they'll develop as pros. Shouldn't scare off a team that wants to draft them but there's more risk tolerance involved on the front end.
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill.

In your opinion (or anyone who wants to answer), would you prefer the high ceiling, low floor, or lower ceiling with higher floor. I know that's a difficult answer because it's all about situation.

In general, I would prefer the Flyers get NHL talent in the 1st round, even if it's a 4th liner, or bottom pairing guy. So in the back end of the draft, I prefer low floor (all things considered).

The thing now is the Flyers seem too have a fair bit of middle 6/bottom 6 potential in the system. Are they know going to swing for all or nothing? I trust their drafting, so I'll likely be happy with the decisions with the 14 and 19.

I really like Strome's puck skills and vision. A few power skating classes will help him there.

But it seems the kid has elite hockey sense, and elite hands.

Even if he is a winger on the 3rd line I still see him getting plenty of PP2 time parked around the net in the NHL.

Thanks Bill.

In your opinion (or anyone who wants to answer), would you prefer the high ceiling, low floor, or lower ceiling with higher floor. I know that's a difficult answer because it's all about situation.

In general, I would prefer the Flyers get NHL talent in the 1st round, even if it's a 4th liner, or bottom pairing guy. So in the back end of the draft, I prefer low floor (all things considered).

The thing now is the Flyers seem too have a fair bit of middle 6/bottom 6 potential in the system. Are they know going to swing for all or nothing? I trust their drafting, so I'll likely be happy with the decisions with the 14 and 19.
- VladDrag

I want them to draft the surest thing possible in the early rounds. When they get later, I would like to see them take shots at the high ceiling guys shoot for the moon type players. Lots of skill but maybe undersized, or great skill but cant skate that well (sound familiar?) I would rather they take a shot getting the next Zetterberg in the 7th over drafting a Goulbourne type.

Ill take pure talent over work ethic.

Thanks Bill.

In your opinion (or anyone who wants to answer), would you prefer the high ceiling, low floor, or lower ceiling with higher floor. I know that's a difficult answer because it's all about situation.

In general, I would prefer the Flyers get NHL talent in the 1st round, even if it's a 4th liner, or bottom pairing guy. So in the back end of the draft, I prefer low floor (all things considered).

The thing now is the Flyers seem too have a fair bit of middle 6/bottom 6 potential in the system. Are they know going to swing for all or nothing? I trust their drafting, so I'll likely be happy with the decisions with the 14 and 19.
- VladDrag

I have a feeling they won't be picking twice in the 1st round. Either a trade up or maybe they use one pick and then maybe use the 19 for youngish NHL vet. Carolina seems to be wanting to make some changes so would Simmonds and 19 get you Skinner? Maybe add a player like Rubstov to the deal?

I want them to draft the surest thing possible in the early rounds. When they get later, I would like to see them take shots at the high ceiling guys shoot for the moon type players. Lots of skill but maybe undersized, or great skill but cant skate that well (sound familiar?) I would rather they take a shot getting the next Zetterberg in the 7th over drafting a Goulbourne type.

Ill take pure talent over work ethic.
- MBFlyerfan

I understand your point but a low work ethic is poison.

I have a feeling they won't be picking twice in the 1st round. Either a trade up or maybe they use one pick and then maybe use the 19 for youngish NHL vet. Carolina seems to be wanting to make some changes so would Simmonds and 19 get you Skinner? Maybe add a player like Rubstov to the deal?
- J35Bacher

That would be a horrible overpayment for one year of Skinner.

Simmonds has at least as much value around the league as Skinner.

Watched the first and third of last nights game. Really love the potential of Rubstov. Hoping this is just a down year for him. He was a bit more aggressive this game as well. So solid in his own zone, although I must admit, lack of scoring is concerning. Strome looked decent, his skating is still god awful (he turns like a UPS truck), but it looks better than it did in previous viewings.
- VladDrag

If he can get off the video games he has a chance.

I understand your point but a low work ethic is poison.
- Scoob

I guess I should be more specific. I dont mean low work ethic as in the guy is lazy. I get annoyed when they try to sell a guy who "works hard" but has middling talent.

I would rather give the benefit of the doubt to the guy with some noticeable skill (hands, vision, speed etc but maybe not all) over the guy who has ECHL talent but works hard.

Especially in the late rounds.

I have a feeling they won't be picking twice in the 1st round. Either a trade up or maybe they use one pick and then maybe use the 19 for youngish NHL vet. Carolina seems to be wanting to make some changes so would Simmonds and 19 get you Skinner? Maybe add a player like Rubstov to the deal?
- J35Bacher

Naah, fam. Take two forwards at 14 and 19.

I would not do Simmonds, Rubstov and 19th for Skinner.

I feel like you could get a late first round pick and a decent to okay prospect for Simmonds.

I do not mind exploring the trading of Simmonds, tho. I like the idea of trading Simmonds for a younger forward (23-25)

That would he a horrible overpayment for one year of Skinner.

Simmonds has at least as much value around the league as Skinner.
- Feanor

Or you could write it this way.