Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 2/13/20 @ FLA

Please let us have this one we were nice and terrible for you on Monday

Please let us have this one we were nice and terrible for you on Monday
- Shynes57

sorry we need it, even though I want you guys to beat out the Leafs.
We will take the 2 points in OT, and give you 1

The East is too good again this year. The Rangers have a winning record and are in the bottom third of the conference.

With a game in Tampa Bay the hottest and arguably the most talented team in the NHL looming Saturday, tonight is a must win.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 2/13/20 @ FLA
- bmeltzer

Isn’t the game A national broadcast on nbcsn?

Isn’t the game A national broadcast on nbcsn?
- corduroy

yes

The one thing that is guaranteed is a Sanheim goal VS Bob

So we are technically already up 1-0

The one thing that is guaranteed is a Sanheim goal VS Bob

So we are technically already up 1-0
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

But something something Flyers suck

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 2/13/20 @ FLA
- bmeltzer

I was hoping for 6 of a possible 8 points for this week. As it stands we can only go as far as 6 points. Fool.

But something something Flyers suck
- jmatchett383

Last 7 seasons 4 DNQ's and 3 first round exits. How would you classify that?

Isn’t the game A national broadcast on nbcsn?
- corduroy

Yes, but also an NBCSP broadcast locally.

Last 7 seasons 4 DNQ's and 3 first round exits. How would you classify that?
- PLindbergh31

Mediocre maybe? How many times did they finish dead last last in the last 7 seasons? Typically the teams that suck finish at the bottom of the standings, but what do I know

Last 7 seasons 4 DNQ's and 3 first round exits. How would you classify that?
- PLindbergh31

I'd classify that as a league of parity with a couple of elite teams, a couple truly awful teams and a glut of clubs in between with a good top-end of the lineup but suspect depth (which is exactly where the Flyers were). To break it down further, I'd describe it as:

1 lockout-shortened 48-game season where the team got hot too late for it to matter. Lavy's system had stopped working, largely because Pronger was gone and Kimmo was breaking down. He was asked by Homer to tweak the system and did so, but half-heartedly. The team finally bought in, but only half-heartedly. Meanwhile, Bryz was Bryz; bickering constantly with Lavy, throwing teammates under the bus, down on himself, frustrated with the fans, bickering with the media, rejecting Reeser telling him that it's his job to work within the system -- and here are some ways to do it -- and not have the system tailored to him.

1 season where they lost a tough 7-game series to the Rangers in a 2-1 Game 7.

4 years of a GM placing a much bigger priority on a farm system rebuild than the playofs. He tried to do that without tearing down the core and, consequently, they were a bubble team perenially. Some years they got in, some years they didn't. The Flyers still somehow managed to take the Caps (without Couturier, lost for the series in Game 1) and Penguins to a Game 6, and lost a 1-0 Game 6 to Washington and entered 3rd pd tied with Pens.

Last season was a big disappoinment, because they legitimately expected to be a playoff team capable of winning at least a round, and were, instead, not even all that close to making the playoffs. Hence the GM and coaching chances.

This year, the Flyers are much improved but still on the bubble because the East in general and the Metro in particular are real tough.

The Flyers have the potential in the near future to push above bubble status but, they've been set back by the Patrick and Lindblom situations. They have to prepare for the very real and very significant possibility that Oskar will not play hockey again (all thoughts should be toward hoping Oskar lives a long, healthy life. If he returns to play hockey, even better). With Patrick, it's hard to say exactly what the prognosis is both short-term and long-term.

The other young players at the NHL level should continue to improve and, hopefully, will stay healthy both injury and generall wellness wise. Hopefully, the older ones will still be effective for awhile longer, too. If so, there may be a window where a deep run is possible. But nothing is guaranteed or even close to it.


That's the plainest, most accurate, and fair to all sides, way I can describe it.

Last 7 seasons 4 DNQ's and 3 first round exits. How would you classify that?
- PLindbergh31

the down-cycle reality of an overexpanded cap league

Have to win tonight and the two against Columbus. If they can get a point or two against the Lightning, bonus.

Have to win tonight and the two against Columbus. If they can get a point or two against the Lightning, bonus.
- Ftown19125

Tall order. Not impossible, but a tall order.

I'd rather see Frost at 3C than Laughton. Leave Laughton on the wing.

Mediocre maybe? How many times did they finish dead last last in the last 7 seasons? Typically the teams that suck finish at the bottom of the standings, but what do I know
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Admit it, we are just a slightly warmer Buffalo.

the down-cycle reality of an overexpanded cap league
- KINGKENZO

This accurate, and I tried to give some context.

I'd rather see Frost at 3C than Laughton. Leave Laughton on the wing.
- Feanor

I agree. But consider the following:

1) Giroux is back at LW where he, too, is more effective.

2) The Raffl-Bunnaman-NAK line has been really good of late. Hard to justify breaking them up to move Laughton on that line.

3) Farabee, pre-illness, was surging in the LW2 spot.

4) JVR has been productive over the least week at LW3.

5) Hayes, quite honestly, has not been at his best the last two games. Yes, there were some good shifts here and there (including a breakaway opportunity and one dynamite pass that he made) but not to the level of the games leading up to it. He's earned the 2C spot, and really is the only viable option as long as Giroux is playing a wing and on Couturier's line.

6) Laughton is too important to the bottom six to scratch. As long LW 1, 2, 3 are Giroux, Farabee and JVR and the 4th line is playing well, it's either Laughton or Frost at 3C.

I agree. But consider the following:

1) Giroux is back at LW where he, too, is more effective.

2) The Raffl-Bunnaman-NAK line has been really good of late. Hard to justify breaking them up to move Laughton on that line.

3) Farabee, pre-illness, was surging in the LW2 spot.

4) JVR has been productive over the least week at LW3.

5) Hayes, quite honestly, has not been at his best the last two games. Yes, there were some good shifts here and there (including a breakaway opportunity and one dynamite pass that he made) but not to the level of the games leading up to it. He's earned the 2C spot, and really is the only viable option as long as Giroux is playing a wing and on Couturier's line.

6) Laughton is too important to the bottom six to scratch. As long LW 1, 2, 3 are Giroux, Farabee and JVR and the 4th line is playing well, it's either Laughton or Frost at 3C.
- bmeltzer

I think we see a Hayes bounceback game tonight

To me, having Frost in the lineup gives the team a better chance of winning than Bunnaman, and I'd prefer Pitlick on the 4th line.

Giroux-Couturier-Voracek
Farabee-Hayes-Konecny
Laughton-Frost-JVR
Pitlick-Raffl-NAK

The current 4th line looks very good but if they have an off game or two Frost may get back in the line up. But can’t break them up right now.

Bill that was a savage takedown of Bryz above. Wow I didn’t realize he was so self centered.

Good luck on the Florida swing. I’m feeling pessimistic so feel free to prove me wrong, I would love to be wrong.

I'd classify that as a league of parity with a couple of elite teams, a couple truly awful teams and a glut of clubs in between with a good top-end of the lineup but suspect depth (which is exactly where the Flyers were). To break it down further, I'd describe it as:

1 lockout-shortened 48-game season where the team got hot too late for it to matter. Lavy's system had stopped working, largely because Pronger was gone and Kimmo was breaking down. He was asked by Homer to tweak the system and did so, but half-heartedly. The team finally bought in, but only half-heartedly. Meanwhile, Bryz was Bryz; bickering constantly with Lavy, throwing teammates under the bus, down on himself, frustrated with the fans, bickering with the media, rejecting Reeser telling him that it's his job to work within the system -- and here are some ways to do it -- and not have the system tailored to him.

1 season where they lost a tough 7-game series to the Rangers in a 2-1 Game 7.

4 years of a GM placing a much bigger priority on a farm system rebuild than the playofs. He tried to do that without tearing down the core and, consequently, they were a bubble team perenially. Some years they got in, some years they didn't. The Flyers still somehow managed to take the Caps (without Couturier, lost for the series in Game 1) and Penguins to a Game 6, and lost a 1-0 Game 6 to Washington and entered 3rd pd tied with Pens.

Last season was a big disappoinment, because they legitimately expected to be a playoff team capable of winning at least a round, and were, instead, not even all that close to making the playoffs. Hence the GM and coaching chances.

This year, the Flyers are much improved but still on the bubble because the East in general and the Metro in particular are real tough.

The Flyers have the potential in the near future to push above bubble status but, they've been set back by the Patrick and Lindblom situations. They have to prepare for the very real and very significant possibility that Oskar will not play hockey again (all thoughts should be toward hoping Oskar lives a long, healthy life. If he returns to play hockey, even better). With Patrick, it's hard to say exactly what the prognosis is both short-term and long-term.

The other young players at the NHL level should continue to improve and, hopefully, will stay healthy both injury and generall wellness wise. Hopefully, the older ones will still be effective for awhile longer, too. If so, there may be a window where a deep run is possible. But nothing is guaranteed or even close to it.


That's the plainest, most accurate, and fair to all sides, way I can describe it.
- bmeltzer

I agree with a lot of this, not all of it. Sometimes there just doesn't have to be a comprehensive answer. Sometimes it's just as simple as they collectively failed.