But Bill to be honest I find your criticism of AV to be a bit over the top, and downright offensive. This team STINKS! With all the so-called talent on this team and nice mix of veterans and young players, they show up most games unprepared to compete and make the same stupid mistakes over and over again; and don't talk to me about practice time, these players have played this game since they were about 4 years old. They don't need practice time to go out there and play sound hockey, they should know how to do that already! What is any coach to do with this lot, honestly, tell me!

And this in no way is hyperbole! In my opinion:

1. The leadership is non-existent on this team starting with the quiet man Giroux
2. Jake would rather skate circles around the offensive zone that actually have purpose to his game, and then he tires himself out so he can't back check when he eventually coughs up the puck
3. Giroux and Hayes have apparently forgot how to shoot the puck!
4. Patrick is a total bust! TK has been benched already!
5. Lindblom is still finding his way back from cancer, but honestly what can we really expect from him? Is he really ever going to be a top 6 forward in this league? I say no way!
6. JVR had a nice start, but now is doing what JVR always does, come back to Earth.
7. The defense is a total mess. They consistently over play the puck, are out of position, don't use their body or sticks and turn the puck over at an alarming rate (and I don't care what the stats say in this regard, my eyes tell me all I need to see)
8. the goalies have been under siege this entire season and finally cracked under the magnitudes of pressure of point blank chance after point blank chance.
9. All the young kids/prospects we have apparently are nothing more than 4th line players, glad Hextall stocked the cupboards with these gems!
10. Finally, the only bright spots on the team are Couturier and Farabee, and AV would rather play Farabee on the PK than the PP when the games are in the balance!

There, glad I could get my "10 things wrong with the Flyers" off my chest. The bottom line is AV is not the problem on this team. He has been dealt a bunch of veterans who would rather play pond hockey than actually play a responsible

system, and a bunch of young players that are actually not that good!
- jd250

TL:TS:DR

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

All my adult life going to bars, all I’ve ever heard from my elders is how the NHL was better when there were 6 to 12 teams in the league. Competitive every single game, all just to make the playoffs.

This team wouldn’t last. Especially due to the fact anything went back then.

No idea, when I saw it I laughed because of how ridiculous it is. But it’s not cruel.
- ClaudeFather

The reason you have no idea is because you are utterly uninformed.

Lines tend to be huge in minority areas polls. It can be pretty hot in Georgia during early Nov. Many of the voting are elderly, coming straight from the Church. They might have to have kids with them who they are looking after.

Nobody votes based on the promise of water. However, many people may choose not to vote based on possible discomfort. Bring your own water. LOL. Maybe next we should say - bring your own Porta Potty.

In every decent democracy, people try to induce people to vote. Here, the government is trying to restrict people from voting.

Can someone explain to me what’s going on in baseball that was politically motivated? People keep commenting on it but your usually news outlets obviously not telling the whole story
- ClaudeFather

You had to get PT21 started, didn't you.

The collapse is epic. I’ve all but given up on the season and I am normally leading team positive.
- Hextall271

I’m a champion for the underdog. What can I say.

What lies lol. The law does nothing but make voting harder in a state that already has massive massive issues getting people’s votes in. Harder which is not the same as safer/more secure. It also gives powers to government officials to override independent election officials which should scare people on both sides of the aisle honestly. The stipulation that water cannot be handed out when people are literally waiting hours to vote in the state is beyond ridiculous and just plain cruel.

This shouldn’t even be a Dem vs Republican issue but the Republicans seem hellbent on forcing that narrative that the boogeymen are stealing your elections.
- hereticpride

What specifically is made "harder" by the passage of this law? Requiring ID does not disenfranchise anyone. States like NY are requiring ID to receive a vaccination, so is it now harder to get vaccinated? The law mandates a minimum of eight hours that polls must be open during early voting, making sure that there is expanded access in rural counties, where some election offices were only open part-time or on election day.

The Washington Post has even given the president four Pinocchios for saying that the law restricts voting hours. The law does not restrict the handing out of water, it restricts who can give it out. It is against the law for people to solicit votes from those in line, this law stops that, poll workers will be able to hand out drinks as needed.

American people overall favor voter ID laws, 74-26 I believe, with 60% of polled Democrats favoring it as well.

What specifically is made "harder" by the passage of this law? Requiring ID does not disenfranchise anyone. States like NY are requiring ID to receive a vaccination, so is it now harder to get vaccinated? The law mandates a minimum of eight hours that polls must be open during early voting, making sure that there is expanded access in rural counties, where some election offices were only open part-time or on election day.

The Washington Post has even given the president four Pinocchios for saying that the law restricts voting hours. The law does not restrict the handing out of water, it restricts who can give it out. It is against the law for people to solicit votes from those in line, this law stops that, poll workers will be able to hand out drinks as needed.

American people overall favor voter ID laws, 74-26 I believe, with 60% of polled Democrats favoring it as well.
- corduroy

You're right but please stop! Please don't get people wound up. Keep politics off of here please.

The reason you have no idea is because you are utterly uninformed.

Lines tend to be huge in minority areas polls. It can be pretty hot in Georgia during early Nov. Many of the voting are elderly, coming straight from the Church. They might have to have kids with them who they are looking after.

Nobody votes based on the promise of water. However, many people may choose not to vote based on possible discomfort. Bring your own water. LOL. Maybe next we should say - bring your own Porta Potty.

In every decent democracy, people try to induce people to vote. Here, the government is trying to restrict people from voting.
- PT21

This is a lie -- poll workers are the ones who is allowed by law to give out water

I believe that you are racist -- you gave a check to a business instead of cash, someone will need to show ID to cash that check, which is racist. I hope you are happy with your actions that continually keep minorities and those who need help down

Awesome article by Sam Charcidi in the Inquirer today, he was spot on on all his points!

The reason you have no idea is because you are utterly uninformed.

Lines tend to be huge in minority areas polls. It can be pretty hot in Georgia during early Nov. Many of the voting are elderly, coming straight from the Church. They might have to have kids with them who they are looking after.

Nobody votes based on the promise of water. However, many people may choose not to vote based on possible discomfort. Bring your own water. LOL. Maybe next we should say - bring your own Porta Potty.

In every decent democracy, people try to induce people to vote. Here, the government is trying to restrict people from voting.
- PT21

I have only one word to add to this post: HOGWASH! Let's get back to hockey please

MLB fell prey to lies about a GA voting law that just passed. The woke twitter mob and president joe wanted them to pull out, so they did. The economic impact will be felt by people of color more so than anyone else.

I am assuming that you will no longer need to provide ID when picking up tickets at will call or get a beer, as we have been told that requiring ID is racist and Jim Crow laws on steroids.
- corduroy

Translation:


The same thing happened with North Carolina when they passed the completely unnecessary bathroom law. Massive public and corporate pressure before they relented.

These good old Southern boys need their chains yanked good and hard. Every single economically vibrant part of their states are in the areas which are overwhelmingly Democrat.

Once the boycott hits Coca Cola and Delta, we will see who is passing new voting restriction laws.

I have only one word to add to this post: HOGWASH! Let's get back to hockey please
- jd250

Hey buddy, No offense, but you don't tell me what to say, and when to say it on matters such as this. It is your privilege to be a moron, but don't expect me to cater to your whimsies or deficiencies on race related matters.

Not now, not ever.

Do we (frank)ing understand each other?

Hey buddy, No offense, but you don't tell me what to say, and when to say it on matters such as this. It is your privilege to be a moron, but don't expect me to cater to your whimsies or deficiencies on race related matters.

Not now, not ever.

Do we (frank)ing understand each other?
- PT21

This is absolutely hysterical. Funniest thing I have ever read on HB.

This is a lie -- poll workers are the ones who is allowed by law to give out water

I believe that you are racist -- you gave a check to a business instead of cash, someone will need to show ID to cash that check, which is racist. I hope you are happy with your actions that continually keep minorities and those who need help down
- corduroy

Those laws were deliberately, specifically targeted towards reducing the turnout of black voters after the huge uptick this past elections. They are also targeting voting ability during times black voters usually vote after church.

Poll workers cannot go down a long line handing out water. It is utterly absurd that anyone cannot hand out water. Who cares if poll workers can or cannot? Where is the harm?

Bill's criticism of AV is really spot on. I'm a huge AV fan but the simple truth is that he has done a lousy job this year. The coaching staff as a whole has not corrected numerous bad habits of the team. Including but not limited to, horrendous team defense and lack of solid team structure. Poor puck management. Poor line changes leading to odd man rushes and goal against. A poor PK. An average PP that is stagnant with no creativity. Every PP sees the same pattern of ineffectiveness with no structural change or added wrinkles. He also has over done the juggling of lines, making it difficult to create any chemistry. A good coaching performance would've seen many of these issue corrected or improved early on.
- MJL

I put 100% blame on the so-called professional players we have on this team. At this level, a professional hockey player like Jake should know his defensive responsibility when the puck is turned over in his own end. A player, even a younger player, like Myers should know where to be on the PK or on a defensive zone faceoff. As an established NHL coach, its ridiculous to ask AV to go over the same basic things again and again with his so-called professional hockey players. This isn't high school, its not even juniors for crying out loud. Its one thing if the problems were deeper issues, but the problems on this team are so basic (like showing up ready to play, or what position am I playing) I don't expect any coach can be successful with this team. Look, AV is the 5th coach in 8 years .. how many voices does this team need??

Read the article by Sam Charcidi because I think he covers it quite well. And he blames AV for some things, like lack of patience with his line combinations which I have also criticized him on, but in the end its the players that bare most of the responsibility here.

The reason you have no idea is because you are utterly uninformed.

Lines tend to be huge in minority areas polls. It can be pretty hot in Georgia during early Nov. Many of the voting are elderly, coming straight from the Church. They might have to have kids with them who they are looking after.

Nobody votes based on the promise of water. However, many people may choose not to vote based on possible discomfort. Bring your own water. LOL. Maybe next we should say - bring your own Porta Potty.

In every decent democracy, people try to induce people to vote. Here, the government is trying to restrict people from voting.
- PT21

This. Unfortunately most of the commenters on here get their news from one source. If people would just spend some time on other news sources (BBC PBS for example) they would be a little more informed.

What specifically is made "harder" by the passage of this law? Requiring ID does not disenfranchise anyone. States like NY are requiring ID to receive a vaccination, so is it now harder to get vaccinated? The law mandates a minimum of eight hours that polls must be open during early voting, making sure that there is expanded access in rural counties, where some election offices were only open part-time or on election day.

The Washington Post has even given the president four Pinocchios for saying that the law restricts voting hours. The law does not restrict the handing out of water, it restricts who can give it out. It is against the law for people to solicit votes from those in line, this law stops that, poll workers will be able to hand out drinks as needed.

American people overall favor voter ID laws, 74-26 I believe, with 60% of polled Democrats favoring it as well.
- corduroy

Don't conflate every single restriction into one. There are differences between voter ID laws and voting hours laws and passing refreshment laws.

There is broad support for Voter ID. There is far less support from some of the other stuff.

Hey buddy, No offense, but you don't tell me what to say, and when to say it on matters such as this. It is your privilege to be a moron, but don't expect me to cater to your whimsies or deficiencies on race related matters.

Not now, not ever.

Do we (frank)ing understand each other?
- PT21

This is a hockey forum, not CNN. If you want to talk race relations, or voting rights, you have plenty of outlets to do so, but this is not one of them. In the end no one can stop you from posting what you want to, but just know most of us are not interested nor reading it. And based on what you have posted on the topic, I think you should reconsider who the moron is here.

I put 100% blame on the so-called professional players we have on this team. At this level, a professional hockey player like Jake should know his defensive responsibility when the puck is turned over in his own end. A player, even a younger player, like Myers should know where to be on the PK or on a defensive zone faceoff. As an established NHL coach, its ridiculous to ask AV to go over the same basic things again and again with his so-called professional hockey players. This isn't high school, its not even juniors for crying out loud. Its one thing if the problems were deeper issues, but the problems on this team are so basic (like showing up ready to play, or what position am I playing) I don't expect any coach can be successful with this team. Look, AV is the 5th coach in 8 years .. how many voices does this team need??


- jd250

If all of this was true, then a team wouldn't need coaches and would never need to practice. You really don't think things out much before posting. Some issues such as showing up ready to play, I agree 100% on the players. However, other issues such as the ones previously discussed, while certainly more on the players than the coaches. Doesn't change the fact that the AV and the rest of his staff have done a poor job this season. No getting around that.

Read the article by Sam Charcidi because I think he covers it quite well. And he blames AV for some things, like lack of patience with his line combinations which I have also criticized him on, but in the end its the players that bare most of the responsibility here.
- jd250

Can't read it. Also not a fan of Carchidi. He is a terrible writer and even worse as a hockey analyst.

The reason you have no idea is because you are utterly uninformed.

Lines tend to be huge in minority areas polls. It can be pretty hot in Georgia during early Nov. Many of the voting are elderly, coming straight from the Church. They might have to have kids with them who they are looking after.

Nobody votes based on the promise of water. However, many people may choose not to vote based on possible discomfort. Bring your own water. LOL. Maybe next we should say - bring your own Porta Potty.

In every decent democracy, people try to induce people to vote. Here, the government is trying to restrict people from voting.
- PT21

I have never witnessed this watching hockey.

This. Unfortunately most of the commenters on here get their news from one source. If people would just spend some time on other news sources (BBC PBS for example) they would be a little more informed.
- generalripper

There is a reason they go there. It is a pacifier for their multiple grievances and anxieties. Coupled with a dollop of National Enquirer style titillation.

All well and good. To each his own. But if you are going to whine about your grievances, at least make your whining somewhat informed.

If all of this was true, then a team wouldn't need coaches and would never need to practice. You really don't think things out much before posting. Some issues such as showing up ready to play, I agree 100% on the players. However, other issues such as the ones previously discussed, while certainly more on the players than the coaches. Doesn't change the fact that the AV and the rest of his staff have done a poor job this season. No getting around that.
- MJL

But don't you think the coaches are going over these things again and again? They have video, and they are practicing, maybe not a lot but they are doing it. But this team continues to make the same mistakes over and over. You mention line changes, that another one that is really on the players. The coaches call the changes and tell the players on the bench who is going out next, however, its on the players to know when the right time to change is based on the play on ice. Too many times I see defenseman both going off the ice while the play is coming back at them. Once you hear the call to change, you must look at the situation and use your own judgement when its safe to do so. This is 100% on the player, not the coach. My first year in High School I got reamed on this for the first 4 or 5 games, but once I figured it out I never had to be told again, I just became aware of it. I can't believe some of the mistakes I see on this team, and not just in March, but this entire season.

AV has been successful every place he has coached. He has over 700 career wins. All of a sudden this year he coaches this team and forgot how to coach?

There is a reason they go there. It is a pacifier for their multiple grievances and anxieties. Coupled with a dollop of National Enquirer style titillation.

All well and good. To each his own. But if you are going to whine about your grievances, at least make your whining somewhat informed.
- PT21

I'm not going to weigh in on this subject. I'll just say that it has already been proven on this very topic how uninformed you are. Just with your comments about handing out water.

But don't you think the coaches are going over these things again and again? They have video, and they are practicing, maybe not a lot but they are doing it. But this team continues to make the same mistakes over and over. You mention line changes, that another one that is really on the players. The coaches call the changes and tell the players on the bench who is going out next, however, its on the players to know when the right time to change is based on the play on ice. Too many times I see defenseman both going off the ice while the play is coming back at them. Once you hear the call to change, you must look at the situation and use your own judgement when its safe to do so. This is 100% on the player, not the coach. My first year in High School I got reamed on this for the first 4 or 5 games, but once I figured it out I never had to be told again, I just became aware of it. I can't believe some of the mistakes I see on this team, and not just in March, but this entire season.
- jd250

Again, if all this was true, then a coach would never be fired. Do you think Dave Hakstol went over things again and again? Do you think he used video? Was he held accountable for the players mistakes? If you want to say the majority of blame is on the players, I'm with you. If you want to say that the coaches don't share in any of the blame. I'm not with you.

This is a hockey forum, not CNN. If you want to talk race relations, or voting rights, you have plenty of outlets to do so, but this is not one of them. In the end no one can stop you from posting what you want to, but just know most of us are not interested nor reading it. And based on what you have posted on the topic, I think you should reconsider who the moron is here.
- jd250

Should you have had the intellectual honesty to confine your comments to inappropriate content censure, I would not have had anything at all to say in response.

Instead, you tried to be cute. You used hogwash in capitals, posted twice, and then said the above I bolded, and then tried to dress your position in a garb of technicality. I notice your disapproval was quite conspicuous by its absence from the time the topic first appeared.

Comments such as the one you made don't fool me one bit. I know exactly what you are trying to do, because I remember the Kate Smith debate and your position.

Anytime such topics come up, guys like you don't tell me what to say, when to say it, how often and for how long. I do. If you have a problem, complain to the mods.

Sports boards like this have a disproportionate # of people who echo the original poster's ignorance. I like to do my bit to redress the imbalance.

I suggest you restrict your own participation to the 100th iteration of the Ekholm trade.