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Forums :: Blog World :: Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Pitlick, PP Units, Flyers Alumni
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SuperSchennBros
Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot!
Joined: 09.01.2012

Dec 10 @ 4:22 PM ET
hayes and coots line have been the most consistent. If anything, to me this means G's line will be more 3rd line...he can role out with jvr from time to time or spot him in to give farabee a break or have stewart sit an extra shift. Hopefully he'll be in the box for 5 min every game he plays anyway.
- Peter Richards

I don’t know if I agree that any line has been overly consistent over the next lately. Each line has been pretty productive in small Spurts.
xShoot4WarAmpsx
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Hamilton, ON
Joined: 06.25.2010

Dec 10 @ 4:39 PM ET
Much rather see Jake or Farabee in that spot.
-Tomahawk


Im conflicted with that. I dont want to break up Jake and Coots when hes finally performing. Im also not sure putting two rookies on a line with G is going to work out. Of course maybe because Giroux is "Technically" on the 2nd line, its not that big of a deal.

Pitlick isnt that much of a better option IMO

I feel like moving JVR up to a line with Giroux and Frost would make more sense. Giroux plays both wing positions so move him to RW and put JVR on the LW
xShoot4WarAmpsx
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Hamilton, ON
Joined: 06.25.2010

Dec 10 @ 4:42 PM ET
Bill,

As the resident Stars blogger here, any insights you can offer as to what Montgomery did? I understand you would probably be forbidden to put it all out there but just kind of wondering if there's anything you can share.

- jmatchett383


Awkward back rubs...... maybe with happy\unhappy endings?
Peter Richards
Season Ticket Holder
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 08.24.2019

Dec 10 @ 6:02 PM ET
Yea, I think his style can do a few things for G/Frost:
-Drive the physical play, create space for those 2
-Like you said, be a strong net-front presence and be ready to be fed pucks
-Support an odd-man rush (something JVR frankly wouldn't help a ton with speed-wise)

- GrittySauce


Agree. At least I view it as when raffl slides up. Don’t necessarily want them there all season but they are competent fills ins that can easily compliment skilled players. They were all top players in juniors.
Dkos
Season Ticket Holder
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Gritty, PA
Joined: 01.15.2007

Dec 10 @ 6:10 PM ET
Interesting that Hextall’s big free agent signing last year can’t get off the fourth line even with two (three if you count Patrick) forwards injured and out of the lineup. Anyone else get the feeling AV isn’t the biggest fan of JVR?
hereticpride
New Jersey Devils
Location: HEY. Does this pole still work?, NJ
Joined: 01.14.2011

Dec 10 @ 6:17 PM ET
You know he can't and won't do that.
- Scoob

Can't and won't? As far as I know Bill isn't employees by the Stars like be is with the Flyers. He can say whatever he pleases. Though I'm guessing if he knew something the Stars beat writers would also know by now.
Pelle31Forever
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: PA
Joined: 05.20.2014

Dec 10 @ 6:26 PM ET
Interesting that Hextall’s big free agent signing last year can’t get off the fourth line even with two (three if you count Patrick) forwards injured and out of the lineup. Anyone else get the feeling AV isn’t the biggest fan of JVR?
- Dkos


JVR hasn't done himself any favors this season. Nevertheless I'm really trying to understand the Pitlick move. I understand not wanting to break up the chemistry of the other lines but given the specific circumstances, they might have to.

I don't dislike Pitlick, I just don't need to see him 13-15 minutes a game.
Marc D
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: best smile, 14 without fake tees
Joined: 03.28.2008

Dec 10 @ 7:04 PM ET
Point predictions for the next three games? 3 is what I think, 4 or more would be great.

I’m not sold on the current forward lines but not sure how to improve it with the injuries. JvR needs to go on a scoring streak and it’s going to be tough with Vorobyev and Stewart as linemates. Better get busy on the PP.
Dkos
Season Ticket Holder
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Gritty, PA
Joined: 01.15.2007

Dec 10 @ 7:32 PM ET
Point predictions for the next three games? 3 is what I think, 4 or more would be great.

I’m not sold on the current forward lines but not sure how to improve it with the injuries. JvR needs to go on a scoring streak and it’s going to be tough with Vorobyev and Stewart as linemates. Better get busy on the PP.

- Marc D


I guess I really don’t have a problem with Pitlick replacing TK on the Frost/Giroux line. What bothers me is that we’ve got a top tier, big money, winger sitting on the 4th line with Vorobyev and Stewart. It’s just absurd.
MBFlyerfan
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Be nice from now on, NJ
Joined: 03.17.2006

Dec 10 @ 7:43 PM ET
I guess I really don’t have a problem with Pitlick replacing TK on the Frost/Giroux line. What bothers me is that we’ve got a top tier, big money, winger sitting on the 4th line with Vorobyev and Stewart. It’s just absurd.
- Dkos


AV has pushed a lot of right buttons so far, but I dont know what he wants out of JVR. IMO he is trying to make him into a player he will never be.

Giroux was right, JVR is a pigeon. He gets his goals by cleaning up trash and relying on other players to get him that trash....and he is very good at it.

What he will never be is a physical, defensive guy.

In this case I think AV is wasting JVR's strengths and the organization either needs to trade him or he needs to be put on a scoring line.
THE EVIL WITHIN
Location: NJ
Joined: 11.20.2017

Dec 10 @ 7:53 PM ET
Pens just surpassed the flyers. This could be a ugly road trio without Konecny
opeth_pa
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: The Implication
Joined: 12.13.2011

Dec 10 @ 8:06 PM ET
Pens just surpassed the flyers. This could be a ugly road trio without Konecny
- THE EVIL WITHIN



Or the Flyers could keep playing well and win.
SuperSchennBros
Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot!
Joined: 09.01.2012

Dec 10 @ 8:09 PM ET
I have to come to James Van Riemsdyk’s defense a little here because we all know he’s not a perfect player, he’s a player who needs help and isn’t going to get it on the fourth line, even though he had 2 assists Saturday afternoon and a goal against Toronto (three points in three games last week).

Jake just made some comments to the media about the Power Play I completely agree with.

“The Power Play has been the same for 9 years, so things came automatic and now we’re switching it up”.

The team is doing what they need to do 5 on 5 I felt, they just couldn’t buy a goal against Arizona, with plenty of power play opportunities. The strength of the Yokes right now is their goaltending. So if we get a PP opportunity, we have to make it count and this includes the coaching staff. Whether it’s drawing up a play or positioning the players properly or getting the right guys on the ice.

Giroux has scored or has been dangerous every time he’s on the left half wall on the PP. The coaching staff puts G on the right later, G becomes irrelevant. Morgan Frost plays that left side on the first unit. Frost is coughing up pucks, missing the net and not looking sharp. I’m not even sure if Frost deserves or has earned the right to be on the PP but Vigneault keeps going to the youngster.

So I want to throw out a caveat on why I agree with Voracek’s comments about the Power Play and why I side with the players and not with the coaching staff.

Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn by. I means ever led this team in points but Simmonds always led the league or top 3 in goals each year he was here. Schenn led the league in PP points his last season as a Flyer. Do you guys have any idea how important the double screen was to the power play and how willing those two were to stand in front of shots for tips and screens and how effective this approach was? JvR just might be taking a lot of criticism he doesn’t deserve because he’s doing it alone. You have to have guys committed to the role they were placed in like Simmonds and Schenn.

Power play aside, JvR has also had to adjust to losing Raffl as his center. JvR is now about to lose Pitlick and gain Stewart at even strength.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Dec 10 @ 8:16 PM ET
Interesting that Hextall’s big free agent signing last year can’t get off the fourth line even with two (three if you count Patrick) forwards injured and out of the lineup. Anyone else get the feeling AV isn’t the biggest fan of JVR?
- Dkos


He's a goal scorer who hasn't scored and doesn't bring much more to a team. What coach would be a fan?
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Dec 10 @ 8:19 PM ET
AV has pushed a lot of right buttons so far, but I dont know what he wants out of JVR. IMO he is trying to make him into a player he will never be.

Giroux was right, JVR is a pigeon. He gets his goals by cleaning up trash and relying on other players to get him that trash....and he is very good at it.

What he will never be is a physical, defensive guy.

In this case I think AV is wasting JVR's strengths and the organization either needs to trade him or he needs to be put on a scoring line.

- MBFlyerfan


It's about where JVR plays. He either can't or won't play the right side. He's not going to play ahead of Giroux or Lindblom. Laughton is playing too well right now to move JVR up. Before Laughton came back, JVR was just not playing well.
Landsbergfan
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Gävle, Sweden
Joined: 07.15.2014

Dec 10 @ 9:00 PM ET
Pens just surpassed the flyers. This could be a ugly road trio without Konecny
- THE EVIL WITHIN

🖊 is suddenly down 3-1 👍
NC Flyers Fan
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 07.19.2018

Dec 11 @ 7:22 AM ET
It's about where JVR plays. He either can't or won't play the right side. He's not going to play ahead of Giroux or Lindblom. Laughton is playing too well right now to move JVR up. Before Laughton came back, JVR was just not playing well.
- MJL


Also both Pitlick and Stewart play the right side only. In order to roll 4 lines, they can’t afford to turn the 4th line into a black hole. I am somewhat optimistic that maybe TK won’t be out for an extended timeframe. This lineup as a temporary fill in might work. If TK isn’t back right away, they may need to change all 4 lines, which is not ideal. Of the 4 LWs, my first choice to move to RW would be Lindblom.

MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Dec 11 @ 7:59 AM ET
Also both Pitlick and Stewart play the right side only. In order to roll 4 lines, they can’t afford to turn the 4th line into a black hole. I am somewhat optimistic that maybe TK won’t be out for an extended timeframe. This lineup as a temporary fill in might work. If TK isn’t back right away, they may need to change all 4 lines, which is not ideal. Of the 4 LWs, my first choice to move to RW would be Lindblom.
- NC Flyers Fan


That's a good point. Lindblom could move to the right side.
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