The entire month of October is a gift to the sports junkie. College and Pro football with early season hockey and a little NCAA basketball buzz (read: Big 5 basketball). I'm just meh on the NBA (league is too static with how teams can get better year to year to the point where it's too predictable to watch on the reg, IMO).

The month of April is a distant second with hockey, baseball, NFL draft, etc.
- johndewar

I love October. The nip is in the air. I live down the shore, so everyone goes away and the island gets nice and quiet.

October baseball is the only time I can watch an entire baseball game that does not involve the phillies.

Hockey is just getting going. Each team with the hopes of the playoffs or more. Unlike the NBA pretty much every NHL is in contention for the playoffs when the season starts.

I like March too. NHL trade deadline approaching, NCAA tournament, Spring Training begins.

I've already ripped the C off of Giroux's chest for his golf carelessness and slapped it on Morin.

/"C" stands for "selfish", right Claude Lemieux?
- johndewar

Bill, you seemed to be the consensus #1 blogger on this site from a variety of different fan bases. Figured I should let you know, keep up the good work.
- BetterCallSaul

This x100

That, my friend, is always the key!
- BiggE

Right now, the Flyers spend the most in total on defenseman. (Partly because they haven't dealt Mez yet and Pronger's cap is still carried).

In 5 years, if all goes well, they may be spending less than almost every team.

This x100
- Tartan69

Think about how much life would suck without Bill. We get in depth analysis on a variety of topics EVERYDAY!

Every sports team should have a writer like Bill.

Flyers top 10 prospects, does not include anyone who has played more than 25 NHL games.

1. Scott Laughton C
Best Case-2 way 2nd line center, ace penalty killer, heart and soul leader
Worst Case- Solid 3rd line center, dependable penalty killer
Likely Case-Strong 3rd line center, top notch penalty killer, good leader

2. Samuel Morin D
Best Case - The next Zdeno Chara
Worst Case - a faster version of Nik Grossmann
Likely Case- Huge, solid top 4 shutdown Dman with a mean streak, good wheels and some offense

3. Robert Hagg D
Best Case - Strong top 4 all around dman, complements the top pair or anchors the 2nd pair.
Worst Case- a smaller version of Braydon Coburn
Likely Case- Solid top 4 dman, kills penalties and can chip in on the 2nd pp unit.

4. Nick Cousins C/W
Best Case - 2nd line agitator who can chip in 20 goals and 55-60 points
Worst Case-4th line agitator with decent skills
Likely Case- 3rd line agitator with good skills and can help out on the pk

5. Shayne Ghostisbehere D
Best Case - the next Mark Streit
Worst Case-AHL offensive dman
Likely Case-3rd pair Dman who can chip on the pp

6. Anthony Stolarz G
Best Case- Top flight NHL starter, uses his mobility and size extremely well
Worst Case-Never gets past the AHL level
Likely Case-Who knows, goalies are almost impossible to predict. If I had to venture a guess, I would say his combo of size and post to post mobility should lead to success at the NHL level.

7. Oliver Lauridsen D
Best Case - Huge 2nd pair shutdown dman with a healthy mean streak
Worst Case- Nasty 3rd pair Dman
Likely Case - Big, mean, 4/5 Dman, can either complement the 2nd pair or anchor the 3rd.

8. Brandon Manning D
Best Case - Solid 2nd pair Dman with some nastiness and ok skills
Worst Case - Top flight AHL dman who can be called up in a pinch
Likely Case- Solid 3rd pair NHL Dman

9. Tye McGinn LW
Best Case - 2nd line power forward, can work the front of the net on the 2nd pp unit.
Worst Case - very good AHL power forward
Likely Case - If he continues to work on his play away from the puck, solid 3rd line forward who can chip in some offense.

10. Mark Alt D
Best Case - Solid all around 2nd pair dman with good size and speed
Worst Case - top pair AHL dman
Likely Case- 2nd pair/3rd pair tweener with a decent all around game.

Flyers top 10 prospects, does not include anyone who has played more than 25 NHL games.

1. Scott Laughton C
Best Case-2 way 2nd line center, ace penalty killer, heart and soul leader
Worst Case- Solid 3rd line center, dependable penalty killer
Likely Case-Strong 3rd line center, top notch penalty killer, good leader

2. Samuel Morin D
Best Case - The next Zdeno Chara
Worst Case - a faster version of Nik Grossmann
Likely Case- Huge, solid top 4 shutdown Dman with a mean streak, good wheels and some offense

3. Robert Hagg D
Best Case - Strong top 4 all around dman, complements the top pair or anchors the 2nd pair.
Worst Case- a smaller version of Braydon Coburn
Likely Case- Solid top 4 dman, kills penalties and can chip in on the 2nd pp unit.

4. Nick Cousins C/W
Best Case - 2nd line agitator who can chip in 20 goals and 55-60 points
Worst Case-4th line agitator with decent skills
Likely Case- 3rd line agitator with good skills and can help out on the pk

5. Shayne Ghostisbehere D
Best Case - the next Mark Streit
Worst Case-AHL offensive dman
Likely Case-3rd pair Dman who can chip on the pp

6. Anthony Stolarz G
Best Case- Top flight NHL starter, uses his mobility and size extremely well
Worst Case-Never gets past the AHL level
Likely Case-Who knows, goalies are almost impossible to predict. If I had to venture a guess, I would say his combo of size and post to post mobility should lead to success at the NHL level.

7. Oliver Lauridsen D
Best Case - Huge 2nd pair shutdown dman with a healthy mean streak
Worst Case- Nasty 3rd pair Dman
Likely Case - Big, mean, 4/5 Dman, can either complement the 2nd pair or anchor the 3rd.

8. Brandon Manning D
Best Case - Solid 2nd pair Dman with some nastiness and ok skills
Worst Case - Top flight AHL dman who can be called up in a pinch
Likely Case- Solid 3rd pair NHL Dman

9. Tye McGinn LW
Best Case - 2nd line power forward, can work the front of the net on the 2nd pp unit.
Worst Case - very good AHL power forward
Likely Case - If he continues to work on his play away from the puck, solid 3rd line forward who can chip in some offense.

10. Mark Alt D
Best Case - Solid all around 2nd pair dman with good size and speed
Worst Case - top pair AHL dman
Likely Case- 2nd pair/3rd pair tweener with a decent all around game.
- BiggE

Solid analysis although i'm not as high on Manning, Cousins or Lauridson. I'm also a bit higher on Ghost and I think Alt will end up being better than Manning and Lauridson. I don't think Manning will ever be a steady NHL player. Maybe a 7th Dman.

Bill, you seemed to be the consensus #1 blogger on this site from a variety of different fan bases. Figured I should let you know, keep up the good work.
- BetterCallSaul

Now that Cloutier is gone

Just kidding, your the best Bill

Solid analysis although i'm not as high on Manning, Cousins or Lauridson. I'm also a bit higher on Ghost and I think Alt will end up being better than Manning and Lauridson. I don't think Manning will ever be a steady NHL player. Maybe a 7th Dman.
- PhillySportsGuy

After the top three, the cupboard is bare

After the top three, the cupboard is bare
- flyerdude17

Morin, Hagg, Laughton and Stolarz have the most potential, but that's not to say 3rd/4th line and 3rd pairing prospects serve no purpose.

In a salary cap world, it's important to have system depth at every position.

Now that Cloutier is gone

Just kidding, your the best Bill
- flyerdude17

why is everyone being so nice to Cloutier? He was a terrible blogger

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Willcox, Good News on Laperriere
- bmeltzer

I can't wait until we get some news about mez or gagne.

why is everyone being so nice to Cloutier? He was a terrible blogger
- PhillySportsGuy

Cloutier was great if you did not take him as real serious. For the most part I enjoyed his good sense of humor and when he was in a goofy mood you got some goofy stuff but I will miss him.

As for our Bill Meltzer he is the best as he is pretty much a no nonsense guy that really gives some real insight into the flyers organization. We are very fortunate for that because all his blogs are quality, unlike Freakerenko Garth, lol

I can't wait until we get some news about mez or gagne.
- Flyers_4_Life

Would like to see Gagne back on a one year deal again and I think it is a done deal waiting to be announced. Hopefully Mez is healthy so we can trade him.

Would like to see Gagne back on a one year deal again and I think it is a done deal waiting to be announced. Hopefully Mez is healthy so we can trade him.
- flyerdude17

Man I love my new monikar, have my head stuck right into the computer screen

Would like to see Gagne back on a one year deal again and I think it is a done deal waiting to be announced. Hopefully Mez is healthy so we can trade him.
- flyerdude17

Agreed! Mez was supposed to be cleared by the end of July, so makes you wonder what is the delay. Doctor on summer vaca perhaps?

Man I love my new monikar, have my head stuck right into the computer screen
- flyerdude17

Them refs, can't get nothing by them

i had heard of wilcox, but honestly didn't think he much of him likely due to him being drafted late.... and by the flyers. it's good to know that we (for once) have a solid pipeline of quality dman prospects, even if they are a few years away from being 'nhl ready'

Would like to see Gagne back on a one year deal again and I think it is a done deal waiting to be announced. Hopefully Mez is healthy so we can trade him.
- flyerdude17

I am with you. Running capgeek ( and why dont they have LTIR, they have every other thing, LOL) I "traded" Pronger and Mez, sent Gervais & Bourdon to the minors and called up Lauridsen, signed Gags for 1.5 and cant remember if Laughton or McGinn was up, but there was a load of cap space.

Flyers players have the worst luck with injuries even in the off season.

What is the last picture posted- the Phantoms new logo ????

- 2Real

What is this

- 2Real

Is this some sort of Angry Birds tie in?

Is this some sort of Angry Birds tie in?
- johndewar

After a suspected concussion the Flyers asked Chris Pronger to draw the logo he saw on his jersey.

This is what he drew.

(too soon?)