If only you were around for the Randy Jones days
- jak521

Was he an nhl top-4 D too?

So what's the deal with Patrick's footspeed? That should have nothing to do with rookie jitters.

Is this a groin issue? In that case we are done for. Was he always slow in juniors? If so, how come the hype?

Don't tell me we have another Michal Handzus - good hands, solid defensively, good passer, slow as hell.
- PT21

Patrick's skating looked good last night. Best it has in a Flyers uniform so far.

That is the problem -- no one else does. Nobody cares, man. Someone might have tricked you into thinking that they enjoy watching you, but more likely than not, they think you and the person who argues with you are both idiots in equal measure
- AllInForFlyers

Talk hockey and forget about this ridiculous avenue of discussion you keep pursuing

Martin Spanhel, whose rights were originally traded from the Flyers to Sharks in the Pat Falloon trade. In the same trade, the Flyers traded a 1996 first-round pick, which was then flipped to Buffalo and later to the Phoenix Coyotes. The Coyotes used the pick (24th overall) on Danny Briere.
- bmeltzer

whoa look at this know it all

Hey, I might be an idiot, but...um...damn.
- jmatchett383

Ha! Not you, specifically. Just whoever has argued with him on any given day

I certainly have my share of multipagers with him, so I can't judge

So what's the deal with Patrick's footspeed? That should have nothing to do with rookie jitters.

Is this a groin issue? In that case we are done for. Was he always slow in juniors? If so, how come the hype?

Don't tell me we have another Michal Handzus - good hands, solid defensively, good passer, slow as hell.
- PT21

I think he just needs time to build up his core strength and get back to where he should be.

Patrick's skating looked good last night. Best it has in a Flyers uniform so far.
- Baxter27

Good to hear.

Good to hear.
- MJL

Saw him create separation at least a few times in the neutral zone, which was pleasantly surprising to see.

whoa look at this know it all
- YuenglingJagr

I think Bill may actually be a robot sometimes with his vast knowledge of Flyers history...then again, since he recently helped write the book on it...

Saw him create separation at least a few times in the neutral zone, which was pleasantly surprising to see.
- Baxter27

Wait, you watched the game to form and defend your opinions? That's a novel approach.

Did you get it from Bradlees or Caldor?
- jmatchett383

lol - I think it came right from Bell Telephone - they came on campus every fall to sign up students

lol - I think it came right from Bell Telephone - they came on campus every fall to sign up students
- Scoob

The Bell Atlantic Yellowpages: no other book can matchett.

I think he just needs time to build up his core strength and get back to where he should be.
- MJL

Hope as hell y'all are right. His on ice vision and instincts really stood out. Couple of times I saw him peel away from a play in the corner for defensive reasons sensing (correctly) that it was about to come the other way. He made solid passes through traffic but seemed to disappear midway through the game. But he looked slow to me going up the ice, at least relative to expectations.

If you knew as much as you think you know about hockey, you wouldn't be on hockeybuzz.
- JFlyers00

Ummm, what does that say about all of us? Because I would say the majority of us know a hell of a damn lot about hockey.

Wait, you watched the game to form and defend your opinions? That's a novel approach.
- jmatchett383

needed a few cups of Coffee this morning but hell...I waited 6 months to watch that game.

I remember being excited about moving from rotary to push button. so sad.
- juiced

Me too. It was at that point I could be friends with kids who had lots of 9's and 0's in their phone numbers.

Huh. I thought he got to where he should've been for the most part last night...he seemed average at worst, i thought
- AllInForFlyers

Last night, Bob McKenzie echoed something others have said: Patrick does a host of things well but isn't flashy and his skating isn't very impressive. McKenzie called it a triumph of substance over style. I am still hoping that the lack of quickness and separation is the product of needing dual hernia surgeries within a year and he'll start showing some improved first-stride burst as this season progresses.

Truth of the matter is that, from the rookie game through last night, he's only had one Grade A scoring chance and a couple others where there was at least an outside chance of scoring. He's been good in many other areas -- protecting the puck, winning battles, defensive play, setting up teammates -- but his feet so far have been every bit as sluggish as Lindblom's (which was apparently the main thing that got him sent to the AHL).

Saw him create separation at least a few times in the neutral zone, which was pleasantly surprising to see.
- Baxter27

Patrick is skating well. He's making plays. He's sound defensively. He's not turning over the puck.

He's doing well. I believe I've see him create a few turnovers for the other team in preseason. He doesn't seem to give up on the play.

It might not be realistic but I am expecting a 45 to 50 point season. He's getting the PP time and playing with productive wingers in the top six.

Last night, Bob McKenzie echoed something others have said: Patrick does a host of things well but isn't flashy and his skating isn't very impressive. McKenzie called it a triumph of substance over style. I am still hoping that the lack of quickness and separation is the product of needing dual hernia surgeries within a year and he'll start showing some improved first-stride burst as this season progresses.

Truth of the matter is that, from the rookie game through last night, he's only had one Grade A scoring chance and a couple others where there was at least an outside chance of scoring. He's been good in many other areas -- protecting the puck, winning battles, defensive play, setting up teammates -- but his feet so far have been every bit as sluggish as Lindblom's (which was apparently the main thing that got him sent to the AHL).
- bmeltzer

Huh. It didn't stand out to me, either way...I thought he cycled well enough with Weal and Simmonds a few times, kept his feet moving enough. Didn't think he lost his man on the backcheck

He skates better than Couturier, from what i can tell

That is the problem -- no one else does. Nobody cares, man. Someone might have tricked you into thinking that they enjoy watching you, but more likely than not, they think you and the person who argues with you are both idiots in equal measure
- AllInForFlyers

Last night, Bob McKenzie echoed something others have said: Patrick does a host of things well but isn't flashy and his skating isn't very impressive. McKenzie called it a triumph of substance over style. I am still hoping that the lack of quickness and separation is the product of needing dual hernia surgeries within a year and he'll start showing some improved first-stride burst as this season progresses.

Truth of the matter is that, from the rookie game through last night, he's only had one Grade A scoring chance and a couple others where there was at least an outside chance of scoring. He's been good in many other areas -- protecting the puck, winning battles, defensive play, setting up teammates -- but his feet so far have been every bit as sluggish as Lindblom's (which was apparently the main thing that got him sent to the AHL).
- bmeltzer

I saw an improvement last night but still think it can/needs to be better.

He is certainly no Taylor Leier who was just flying all over the ice.

- Giroux_Is_God

LOL Exactly. When the internet argues, nobody wins, everybody loses

Patrick is skating well. He's making plays. He's sound defensively. He's not turning over the puck.

He's doing well. I believe I've see him create a few turnovers for the other team in preseason. He doesn't seem to give up on the play.

It might not be realistic but I am expecting a 45 to 50 point season. He's getting the PP time and playing with productive wingers in the top six.
- SuperSchennBros

Agree with all of this. However, to be a future catalyst of this team his skating needs to go to another level, not just something that doesn't hurt him.

Last night, Bob McKenzie echoed something others have said: Patrick does a host of things well but isn't flashy and his skating isn't very impressive. McKenzie called it a triumph of substance over style. I am still hoping that the lack of quickness and separation is the product of needing dual hernia surgeries within a year and he'll start showing some improved first-stride burst as this season progresses.

Truth of the matter is that, from the rookie game through last night, he's only had one Grade A scoring chance and a couple others where there was at least an outside chance of scoring. He's been good in many other areas -- protecting the puck, winning battles, defensive play, setting up teammates -- but his feet so far have been every bit as sluggish as Lindblom's (which was apparently the main thing that got him sent to the AHL).
- bmeltzer

I don't watch juniors, but I am struck in the difference of this assessment and the kind that was floating around till Hischier shot up the charts. In fact Bill, you wanted us to get NP over Nico.

For example:

https://futureconsiderati....ca/player/nolan-patrick/

A lethal combo of size, speed and skill


So, he looks slower than he did in juniors? If so, with his injury history, this is surely of considerable concern.

Last night, Bob McKenzie echoed something others have said: Patrick does a host of things well but isn't flashy and his skating isn't very impressive. McKenzie called it a triumph of substance over style. I am still hoping that the lack of quickness and separation is the product of needing dual hernia surgeries within a year and he'll start showing some improved first-stride burst as this season progresses.

Truth of the matter is that, from the rookie game through last night, he's only had one Grade A scoring chance and a couple others where there was at least an outside chance of scoring. He's been good in many other areas -- protecting the puck, winning battles, defensive play, setting up teammates -- but his feet so far have been every bit as sluggish as Lindblom's (which was apparently the main thing that got him sent to the AHL).
- bmeltzer

From what I saw in pre season the hands vision and hockey sense is definitely there. I think if he was able to go to the AHL he probably would've been sent there for a little time to get his skating back.