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Forums :: Blog World :: Bill Meltzer: Musings and Quick Hits: 12/11/18
Author Message
Just5
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: PA
Joined: 05.22.2008

Dec 11 @ 11:57 AM ET
Changes must be made
- corduroy


Ready....Set........Action!!!
Just5
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: PA
Joined: 05.22.2008

Dec 11 @ 11:58 AM ET
This team is NOT making the playoffs this year. I’d rather see Fletcher take the entire season to evaluate this team and get a good grasp on what is needed and make his changes in the offseason and maybe try to dump a few players by the trade deadline and get some assets. Panic trades usually don’t end well for a team at the bottom of the league anyway. If anything I’d be ok with trying to get Quenville in here if he’d come and let him asses this team as well and then move forward with players he wants come The draft and free agency.
- Buzzo


Hate to say it but if they got in last year they should be able to sneak in this year.
FlyerFan16
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: CT
Joined: 09.21.2014

Dec 11 @ 12:01 PM ET
Hate to say it but if they got in last year they should be able to sneak in this year.
- Just5

I bolieve.
Buzzo
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Dauphin, MB
Joined: 02.07.2011

Dec 11 @ 12:01 PM ET
Hate to say it but if they got in last year they should be able to sneak in this year.
- Just5


The way they play inconsistently and the way they get blown out once a week. They are already the worst in the east and showing no signs of stringing a win streak together to push for a spot. To many teams above them and playing better hockey by far then the Flyers.
Tfaehner
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 06.25.2012

Dec 11 @ 12:10 PM ET


I mean if we continue at this rate we wont make the playoffs no. But if elliot can get healthy and stoly can continue solid hockey (we went 4-0-1 last time elliot was healthy). We have played less games than most the east and only a few games out. That's a win streak away.
coffee junkie
Joined: 02.25.2007

Dec 11 @ 12:12 PM ET
FIRE HAK, TRADE SIMMER, AQUIRE & TRADE CARTER ON THE SAME DAY!

STEVENS!!!!!
Just5
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: PA
Joined: 05.22.2008

Dec 11 @ 12:24 PM ET
FIRE HAK, TRADE SIMMER, AQUIRE & TRADE CARTER ON THE SAME DAY!

STEVENS!!!!!

- coffee junkie


Haaaa
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Dec 11 @ 12:33 PM ET
Did he attempt? We don't know. You can always say that without it really meaning much. The Nationals attempted to sign Bryce harper, knowing full well he wasn't going to sign their deal.


- J35Bacher



It's been widely reports that UFA offers were made to Taveras and to Stastny.


Relying on Elliot after core muscle surgery was a mistake. We saw how long it took for Patrick and Giroux to really get back. You thought a goalie would be fine without another proven backstop to handle games?


- J35Bacher


All injuries are not the same. I'm sure that Hextall received a medical report on Elliott and he had the entire off season to get ready. I disagree that relying on Elliott was a mistake.


The PK could have been tinkered with prior to the start of the season. We see Weise getting time now. Why not earlier. Why isn't lindblom or Patrick working there. Why wasn't a new coach brought in after it was horrendous last year.


- J35Bacher


The PK has been tinkered with and they've used a wide list of player rotations on the PK. I don't see the PK as a coaching issue. The Flyers had a 5 game streak where they killed penalties and executed. Need to see more of that.


He brought in van Riemsdyk but as we are seeing was he a good fit? i don't know yet but the mix doesn't seem to work. Manning was a UFA and got a better deal in Chicago. Folin was a cheap 7 defender. YEAH


- J35Bacher


They were moves made to help the team. Hextall brought in a 36 goal scoring winger.


I never said you can sign or trade your way out of it. You could have traded or signed your way into a better situation to start.

- J35Bacher



Easy from the cheap seats.
Shafe5858
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 07.05.2018

Dec 11 @ 12:38 PM ET
Two way street.

Did Hextall maybe overvalue some players or assets he had and made it hard to work a deal with?

I don't get the sense there is a "DO SOMETHING" mandate.

I think there was a "talk to us" so we understand where things are and are going. Again. If this team was 2nd in the metro then he would probably still be here. But you can't keep preaching your way and not involving anyone else like your bosses, when your team is regressing and your not really doing anything to help it.

- J35Bacher


I think this is/was the biggest part of the Hextall firing. If he explained to the higher ups that here are the deals I'm trying to make but they just aren't going through, he might still be here. I don't think Holmgren or Scott want to give away Morgan Frost for (insert over 35 year old on down side of career) either.
Glak18
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: "It's pretty big loogie on my face, so I was pretty psssted".", PA
Joined: 06.26.2007

Dec 11 @ 12:51 PM ET
Change of team might work out for a Quick/Crawford type. It worked for Dubnyk.
- Streit2ThePoint


There's a lot of IFs and Hope in that equation. In the past the Flyers have gone the route of reclamation projects such as Mason and Emery which held low risks attached to them (not a lot of assets given up or money spent). The Flyers have also gone the route of big name goaltenders with Vanbiesbrouck and Bryzgalov which have also not worked out.

Currently the Flyers issues in net have 2 factors involved:

1) A goaltender who can play the bulk of games and stay healthy
2) A goaltender who can make saves when the team breaks down in front of them

Quick and Crawford main issues are:
1) Staying healthy
2) Making saves when the team breaks down in front of them

So the hope is these issues go away with these two while giving up assets to possibly be in the same exact situation they are now. Now it is easy to say both goaltenders have Stanley Cups on their resume, but all the cups in the world doesn't change how they play now and in the future. These two are huge risks UNLESS the Flyers can grab either for a very low price, otherwise the situation can actually be made worse because the team is burdened with a high cap hit with same results.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Dec 11 @ 1:01 PM ET
I think this is/was the biggest part of the Hextall firing. If he explained to the higher ups that here are the deals I'm trying to make but they just aren't going through, he might still be here. I don't think Holmgren or Scott want to give away Morgan Frost for (insert over 35 year old on down side of career) either.
- Shafe5858



If the team was winning and Hextall wasn't explaining to the higher ups what deals he didn't make and why, do you think he'd still be here?
Shrike
Joined: 05.20.2016

Dec 11 @ 1:05 PM ET
If the team was winning and Hextall wasn't explaining to the higher ups what deals he didn't make and why, do you think he'd still be here?
- MJL

There is no way to know this.
StepfordSam
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 02.06.2017

Dec 11 @ 1:07 PM ET
Have we traded for Quick yet? The playoff push needs to begin now.

The 2019 budget is due next week and inquiring minds need to know if the revenue for a couple extra home games can be counted on this season.
Pelle31Forever
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: PA
Joined: 05.20.2014

Dec 11 @ 1:07 PM ET
If they pick up either of Quick or Crawford I'll be pissed. Goalies 32 and 33 years of age respectively aren't part of this team's future.
StepfordSam
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 02.06.2017

Dec 11 @ 1:13 PM ET
If they pick up either of Quick or Crawford I'll be pissed. Goalies 32 and 33 years of age respectively aren't part of this team's future.
- Pelle31Forever


The future can mean different things.

The future to Ron Hextall meant a time where this team's true contending window would be open for several seasons, because Hextall is smart enough to know that the chances of winning a Stanley Cup are greater the more cracks you have at it.

The future to the current management group is this April. In that mindset, trading for a goalie like Quick makes sense.

Prepare for the worst.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Dec 11 @ 1:16 PM ET
There is no way to know this.
- Shrike



I'm asking for an opinion, not for facts.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Dec 11 @ 1:16 PM ET
It's like when you take a really long, relaxing poop.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Dec 11 @ 1:17 PM ET
In previous years, most teams played our power play passively and we were able to pick their pk with passes.

Now most teams pressure the puck against our power play and we don’t have time to see those passes because we are just trying to maintain possession.

It’s the same reason our passive box pk is so awful, we give the other team time to find passes for open shots.

I don’t understand how our coaching staff can’t see this and I don’t understand how our players don’t convey this to the coaches.

- Shrike



Teams routinely pressured Giroux and Gostisbehere on the PP. That's not why the Flyers PP is struggling.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Dec 11 @ 1:18 PM ET
If they pick up either of Quick or Crawford I'll be pissed. Goalies 32 and 33 years of age respectively aren't part of this team's future.
- Pelle31Forever



The future is Hart. They need someone to play next season.
Glak18
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: "It's pretty big loogie on my face, so I was pretty psssted".", PA
Joined: 06.26.2007

Dec 11 @ 1:20 PM ET
The future can mean different things.

The future to Ron Hextall meant a time where this team's true contending window would be open for several seasons, because Hextall is smart enough to know that the chances of winning a Stanley Cup are greater the more cracks you have at it.

The future to the current management group is this April. In that mindset, trading for a goalie like Quick makes sense.

Prepare for the worst.

- StepfordSam


I still find it odd that people already know what "management" absolute plans on doing without a single thing happening yet.

Is it like think about the worst possible scenario so if it happens it's easy to say told you so, but if it doesn't happen then it's what the person really wants and they can be excited? It's like people are mentally positioning themselves in a win/win situation so their feelings don't get hurt too bad.
NC Flyers Fan
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 07.19.2018

Dec 11 @ 1:20 PM ET
Hate to say it but if they got in last year they should be able to sneak in this year.
- Just5


Using current pace and record moving forward and estimating that it will require 97 points to make the playoffs (maybe take 98 this season), the job is to turn 8 would be losses into wins (or some combination of loser points totaling 16).

Team positive: With 16 weeks of hockey to go, that is completely doable to win one extra game every two weeks.

Team negative: If we haven’t shown we could do it until up to now, what make you think that will change as the season moves along and the competition gets closer to playoff style hockey.

Team keeping-it-real: If adjustments and additions are made to improve the team, it is still realistic to make the playoffs.

Pick a team, any team.

Shrike
Joined: 05.20.2016

Dec 11 @ 1:21 PM ET
An opinion can be given.
- MJL

Explain to me what makes you think Hextall would not have been fired if they were winning
Glak18
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: "It's pretty big loogie on my face, so I was pretty psssted".", PA
Joined: 06.26.2007

Dec 11 @ 1:22 PM ET
It's like when you take a really long, relaxing poop.
- jmatchett383


Relaxing? Like falling sleep and waking up to find out you are all done?
Shafe5858
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 07.05.2018

Dec 11 @ 1:22 PM ET
If the team was winning and Hextall wasn't explaining to the higher ups what deals he didn't make and why, do you think he'd still be here?
- MJL


Oh I think he definitely would be here! Winning cures all ills...but when the team is losing, fans are tuning out and the bosses think you’re just a bystander...
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Dec 11 @ 1:22 PM ET
Explain to me what makes you think Hextall would not have been fired if they were winning
- Shrike



Pretty self explanatory.
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