Said it the other day, if you axe AV now you’re not going to bring in anyone better until the axe finally falls on these players. These players have blown through too many coaches and everyone knows it.

Bill Meltzer: Musings and Quick Hits: April 2, 2021
- bmeltzer

I think this team, as currently constructed, is more like the play of the last 17 games than the first 18 games.

Actually... ghost is garbage. While what you say about his d play for example in nz is true the problem is no player has the luxury of playing extended periods of a game in just certain situations. Ghost deficiency in actual d zone so bad that he doesn’t belong on ice. Same as gusty. Just too much liability. In ghost case this was evident after year 1 when league figured him out. Sure he will play spotty good here and there and the hope was he’d turn a corner. Hasn’t happened for YEARS. He is what he is. NOT a nhl player and it’s fine. 3rd round pick with potential. Most don’t pan out. The mistake was not accepting it years ago. And to take it a step further not realizing it and moving him as an asset when we could’ve got something for him. Now he clears waivers and wil never be heard from again. Hopefully
- SMS4016

You post some stupid poop, but this post takes the cake.

You post some stupid poop, but this post takes the cake.
- MBFlyerfan

From Ghost being the 'most effective' to not even being an NHL player. Guess we got all the bases covered around here, lol.

You do understand that Auston Matthews is right up there w/ OV in goal-scoring since he came into the league, right?

Matthews' "off year" is Eichel's best year.
- Tomahawk

Didn’t realize goals were the only thing we were looking at. While true the same could be said for assists. And as I said both are helped by teammates. Not entirely but it is. Eichel is just under a ppg. Matthews is just over a ppg.

Do you think if switched matthews would have the same output? With no playmakers to play with? The worst team matthews has played on was maybe eichel a best. Yes individual stats but teammates line mates do matter/compliment. I. .e. Backstroke and ov.

And another question. How could you put matthews in the same league as mcdavid then? Just bc of goals or overall points?

Actually... ghost is garbage. While what you say about his d play for example in nz is true the problem is no player has the luxury of playing extended periods of a game in just certain situations. Ghost deficiency in actual d zone so bad that he doesn’t belong on ice. Same as gusty. Just too much liability. In ghost case this was evident after year 1 when league figured him out. Sure he will play spotty good here and there and the hope was he’d turn a corner. Hasn’t happened for YEARS. He is what he is. NOT a nhl player and it’s fine. 3rd round pick with potential. Most don’t pan out. The mistake was not accepting it years ago. And to take it a step further not realizing it and moving him as an asset when we could’ve got something for him. Now he clears waivers and wil never be heard from again. Hopefully
- SMS4016

You actually replied to a competent NHL analyst giving an objective read on Gostisbehere as a player and ignored it. To write what is so embarrassingly wrong and off base. Sometimes I wonder.

Didn’t realize goals were the only thing we were looking at. While true the same could be said for assists. And as I said both are helped by teammates. Not entirely but it is. Eichel is just under a ppg. Matthews is just over a ppg.

Do you think if switched matthews would have the same output? With no playmakers to play with? The worst team matthews has played on was maybe eichel a best. Yes individual stats but teammates line mates do matter/compliment. I. .e. Backstroke and ov.
- Peter Richards

Matthews scores goals at a HOF rate and is really a solid player away from the puck also. He is significantly better than Eichel is.

Matthews scores goals at a HOF rate and is really a solid player away from the puck also. He is significantly better than Eichel is.
- MJL

Matthews is the better goal scorer. Yes. Eichel is a better passer or set up.

Matthews has played on a better team.

Matthew. 315 gp. 182 goals 145 assist.

Eichel. 375 gp. 139 goals. 216 assists.

Yes one has a higher ppg average.

It is hard for either side. But if they were switched it would be interestsibg to see what the other could do. I think one has benefited from being on a better team with better players.

looking forward to seeing Hart tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing Tanner in and who is out.

Hoping we keep it within 3

Ghost has played 365 games in the NHL. I suspect he will play many more NHL games somewhere. From a semantics standpoint he is an NHL player. He's had failures and has excelled at times. Semantics definitions aside, one can make the argument that notwithstanding the deficiencies in his game he is still good enough to play in the NHL.

A+ blog entry, Bill. Perceptive as always in so many ways, including bring some uncharacteristic AV missteps.

I am pretty realistic about G at this point, often noticing his defensive lapses, but I've also noticed how well he's been playing through this awful March-- glad you pointed it out. What I hadn't noticed was Couts' ppg consistency. Thanks for pointing it out.

Honestly, at this point, I don't mind if we don't make the playoffs. I hope we don't burn assets like second round picks on goalie rentals or something. I'd love to see us package all our assets together for one big trade for Eichel, but that's probably the kid in me, and the adult knows it's not happening.

Hope the kids get some rest on their extra day off.

You post some stupid poop, but this post takes the cake.
- MBFlyerfan

Under-rated post. Wish I could promote this one, it deserves a star or something.

Didn’t realize goals were the only thing we were looking at. While true the same could be said for assists. And as I said both are helped by teammates. Not entirely but it is. Eichel is just under a ppg. Matthews is just over a ppg.

Do you think if switched matthews would have the same output? With no playmakers to play with? The worst team matthews has played on was maybe eichel a best. Yes individual stats but teammates line mates do matter/compliment. I. .e. Backstroke and ov.

And another question. How could you put matthews in the same league as mcdavid then? Just bc of goals or overall points?
- Peter Richards

Yeah, Matthews would be fine on his own. Just like OV was fine on his own in his rookie year. Just like Bure was fine on an island at times in his career.

Common trait between them: being able to create their own shots and shooting a whole hell of a lot.

I just saw PT21 walking downtown. He was doing a cost benefit analysis of walking one foot in front of the other versus hopping on both feet.

That poor north Philly food bank is never going to get its check.

Matthews is the better goal scorer. Yes. Eichel is a better passer or set up.
- Peter Richards

No he's not. Matthews is a great playmaker too.

But when you can shoot like he can, you don't pass the puck off to Zach Hyman so much, lol.

You actually replied to a competent NHL analyst giving an objective read on Gostisbehere as a player and ignored it. To write what is so embarrassingly wrong and off base. Sometimes I wonder.
- MJL

Oh I’m wrong.... ghost is a dman. Who as bill pointed out sucks in his own zone. In every aspect. Surely I’m wrong saying at the top level of the sport that’s acceptable

. Provorov, although it's been a disappointingly inconsistent season for him, is still the Flyers best all-around defenseman.


And herein lies the problem, as bad as Provorov has played {and it has been bad} to still be concidered the Flyers best defenseman speaks volumes about the state of the Flyers defence.

Oh I’m wrong.... ghost is a dman. Who as bill pointed out sucks in his own zone. In every aspect. Surely I’m wrong saying at the top level of the sport that’s acceptable
- SMS4016

He's good defensively in the NZ, as Bill pointed out, which is arguably just as important.

No he's not. Matthews is a great playmaker too.

But when you can shoot like he can, you don't pass the puck off to Zach Hyman so much, lol.
- Tomahawk

I disagree.

Matthews in not great playmaker. If looking at stats what is his best season in assist? A great playmaker I would imagine he has had a few 50 assist seasons. 40 at the minimum. Oh 36 is his highest. Marner is a different story though. Backstrom.

You bring up ov. If you say matthews is leaps ahead of eichel. How can you even whisper matthews name with ov. Ov first year he had over 50 goals.

He's good defensively in the NZ, as Bill pointed out, which is arguably just as important.
- Tomahawk

Ok sure. So what when puck gets dumped into own zone or carried in... ghost should immediately skate off ice? I agree with bill as probably most would. In offensive zone and nz ghost is actually decent. But sorry he just so bad in own zone that can’t be accepted at nhl level. He’s really that bad in his own zone. I could see maybe and it’s a very iffy maybe if he had a hall of gamer d partner like pronger in his prime to help cover for him in own zone but even then?

I disagree.

Matthews in not great playmaker. If looking at stats what is his best season in assist? A great playmaker I would imagine he has had a few 50 assist seasons. 40 at the minimum. Oh 36 is his highest. Marner is a different story though. Backstrom.

You bring up ov. If you say matthews is leaps ahead of eichel. How can you even whisper matthews name with ov. Ov first year he had over 50 goals.
- Peter Richards

1) Starting to believe you haven't watched much Auston Matthews...

2) Matthews scores at an OV rate right now. Just a flat fact. He scored 47 last season despite missing 12 games. He's missed 15-20 games the previous couple of seasons, otherwise he'd easily have hit 40 goals those years, too. Guy's an animal.

3) As for assists, if you split up primary and secondary you see that Matthews is right there (mostly ahead, actually) of Eichel in primary assists/60 over their careers. Eichel's totals are bolstered by secondary assists.

Matthews is an absolute wizard with the puck. And he's a top-3 goal-scorer to boot. He's always been better than Jack Eichel. Eichel made it semi-interesting last season, but it's not looking so good for him now.

Oh I’m wrong.... ghost is a dman. Who as bill pointed out sucks in his own zone. In every aspect. Surely I’m wrong saying at the top level of the sport that’s acceptable
- SMS4016

No, that is not what Bill pointed out at all.

1) Starting to believe you haven't watched much Auston Matthews...

2) Matthews scores at an OV rate right now. Just a flat fact. He scored 47 last season despite missing 12 games. He's missed 15-20 games the previous couple of seasons, otherwise he'd easily have hit 40 goals those years, too. Guy's an animal.

3) As for assists, if you split up primary and secondary you see that Matthews is right there (mostly ahead, actually) of Eichel in primary assists/60 over their careers. Eichel's totals are bolstered by secondary assists.

Matthews is an absolute wizard with the puck. And he's a top-3 goal-scorer to boot. He's always been better than Jack Eichel. Eichel made it semi-interesting last season, but it's not looking so good for him now.
- Tomahawk

You're correct. Here is how I break it down. I would trade a kings ransom for Matthews as a franchise player and build my team around him. I would not trade a kings ransom for Eichel, who is a very good player but not a franchise player. I would not choose to build my team around Eichel. He is a step below.

continuing what hereticpride said on last blog - Untouchables for me are also Farabee, Hart and Provy (i still think he'll be very good for a long time) and i'm 50/50 on holding on to Coots as well. He'd bring a hell of a haul - we just aren't close to winning.

I also believe we should keep AV (this team goes through coaches like Taco Bell goes through my colon) but get rid of all assistants
- black_francis

Excellent. I will tip you over to the dark side of rationally anti-Couts by today on the previous blog, as soon as I finish catching up here.

It's my own take, but one in which I am 99.999 percent sure is the reality. He didn't go from totally secure to on the hotseat in a single month, no matter how awful that month was.
- bmeltzer

Yup. Its common sense, and how the sports world proceeds in all leagues.