Ummmm seriously. He’s always been ppqb. On usndt college team. World jrs? Captain team USA. Did you not watch? That’s what he’s known for. But he unlike a poopty ghost actually holds his own in defensive zone
- SMS4016

I've never seen him play. I'm just going on what others tell me. I would still be surprised to see him on the #1 PP unit right away.

An Ilkka Sinisalo reference ... I love it! A lot of people may not know he scored 19 PP goals one season!
- jd250

Funny story: One time Keenan was going around the room, tearing into players one after the other. This was about 40 games into the season.

Keenan said, "Ilkka, how the f- do YOU have 25 goals? You hardly f-in' show up three quarters of the time."

Sinisalo, with his typical dry sense of humor, shrugged.

"Power play," he said.

Even Keenan couldn't stifle a grin.

Good game, but not good enough.

Simply not good enough.

Who was rushed? Who didn’t deserve spot on team? They most certainly were not rushed. Except possibly hart coming up a little early. There’s nothing wrong with continuing development at nhl level as long as you understand the growing pains. And when you have rebuilt your whole team from bottom up you’re gonna have a lot of young players coming up at same time. The issue with poopty flyers is thinking they could win with g/Jake as the “stars” of team. Not only was that never happening it’s not happening with coots either. You have to turn the roster over (especially vets) at least twice when you build from bottom up. Look at kings. 8-9 years of building and turning vets over. Then when they had a few layers of young guys hitting prime (quick,kopitar, doughty,etc) they traded for vets to put them over top like Richards. They moved assets they had stocked (Simmons,scheen etc) that’s what we should’ve started a few seasons ago. Move g/Jake but we didn’t. Because were philly and dumb per usual. We fire hexy and bring fletch in to sit on hands essentially because a bean counter is butt hurt. So that shipped sailed. Move them this off season. Won’t get much but clear some cap and open up for new environment lead by young guys. It’s actually time now to trade coots because we aren’t winning with him either. Great asset to move this off season. The young guys are fine on this team. More are coming. It was always a 10 year rebuild. Look at kings. You aren’t ever in a cap world doing it in less time when you gotta build it ALL from scratch. Plus rid team of bad contracts from start.
- SMS4016

Not with you on that. Trading Coots is not the answer. A year ago this team was buzzing around the ice. Young and talented. They still are. Nisky retiring was a big hit on this team. A couple players went cold. Nobody playing over the hill. They really are a vet or two away from making the jump again.

Don’t rush the kids in the pipeline either. Fine to let them grow but when they prove to be able to give them some ice time.

The Expansion Draft is something that needs to be considered with any moves right now. Fletch should only jump on something if it makes sense for the future over the next half dozen years.

Funny story: One time Keenan was going around the room, tearing into players one after the other. This was about 40 games into the season.

Keenan said, "Ilkka, how the f- do YOU have 25 goals? You hardly f-in' show up three quarters of the time."

Sinisalo, with his typical dry sense of humor, shrugged.

"Power play," he said.

Even Keenan couldn't stifle a grin.
- bmeltzer

Those were some of the best years for the franchise and to be a Flyers’ fan. Love that story, Bill!

Funny story: One time Keenan was going around the room, tearing into players one after the other. This was about 40 games into the season.

Keenan said, "Ilkka, how the f- do YOU have 25 goals? You hardly f-in' show up three quarters of the time."

Sinisalo, with his typical dry sense of humor, shrugged.

"Power play," he said.

Even Keenan couldn't stifle a grin.
- bmeltzer

Haha. That’s funny. Thanks for that Bill. Made me smile.

If Couturier, Giroux, JVR and Voracek all should be gone. Who will be the veterans on the team? What about Hayes? Who will be the #1 center?
- MJL

Is it possible to trade a more talented player for a lesser talented player and yet have a better team?

Good game, but not good enough.

Simply not good enough.
- Nh_kong

Only saw highlights. Glad to see hart played well it seems. They needed 2 pts there. I can’t see them getting any out of the next two games. Even had they won that and the next 4 games, I think the number show that they’re not getting in.

Traditionally, the Flyers have never been a skillful team. As an organization, they prefer the lunch pail mentality because, well, that is what wokred 45 years ago. Quite boring and un-entertaining. I'd rather lose with flash than win with slog. Probably not a popular opinion, but my first goal when I tune in is to be entertained.....
- mr4tno

I am not sure I agree, but I am stealing this for future use.

Bill Meltzer
@billmeltzer
·
22m
Voracek: Everybody says play 60 minutes. It's a hockey cliche. I've never seen a team {control] all 60 minutes..... We were good on the forecheck tonight. A lot of offense comes from that. It's hard to do that every game, but we need to.


Get this guy out of here.

Only saw highlights. Glad to see hart played well it seems. They needed 2 pts there. I can’t see them getting any out of the next two games. Even had they won that and the next 4 games, I think the number show that they’re not getting in.
- Hextall271

I personally think they're very capable of beating Boston. Especially if Hart plays the way he did last night. Obviously have to keep Boston's top line in check. Flyers need to start getting more from Hayes and Voracek. Hayes hasn't shown up in weeks. Other than the OT goal.

Bill Meltzer
@billmeltzer
·
22m
Voracek: Everybody says play 60 minutes. It's a hockey cliche. I've never seen a team {control] all 60 minutes..... We were good on the forecheck tonight. A lot of offense comes from that. It's hard to do that every game, but we need to.


Get this guy out of here.
- login

This guy is at the center of the losing culture on this team! He needs to be removed from this team this off season no matter what it takes! Been saying this for quite awhile. He possesses some great skill and skating ability, but he has a low hockey IQ and is flat out lazy at times. Buh bye!!

Those kings team when building yes certainly had vets. But the difference was they recognized they weren’t going to contend with them. The recognized the core of the young guys I mentioned and when they were hitting there prime (with 2nd wave and 3rd wave of young guys coming) that’s when they started moving prime assets like Simmons/scheen etc for young vets in prime like Richards Carter to put them over the top. No one is saying not to have vets. But you can’t have vets signed to 567 year deals with big cap numbers when you have young guys that not only have to be paid but also SHOULD be the leaders on ice. For example it makes zero sense to go get 30 year old ekholm who contract up soon and need really good money when we have sanheim/Myers to fill that spot soon for cheaper. Or sign coots with 10 years on body long term big money which as time goes will hamper team. G Jake coots Jvr all should be gone. Keeping g Jake the last few years trying to win was dumb. Rest of team wasn’t ready. Not to mention we didn’t even have a goalie. It wasn’t go time. I talk a lot of smack with the team. But only because I know we weren’t real contenders. I’ve enjoyed the process of hexy. We have a lot of really good pieces under 25 and more coming. G Jake Jvr would be great pieces at lesser cap dollars on good true contenders. Like Vegas or avs or something. Not on a young rebuilding team
- SMS4016

This is why I appreciate you, SMS. You actually start with the premise of the ultimate destination, and then think to work backwards from there to now to find the best path.

Most people here start with now, and take steps in some general direction towards the goal, and just hope to get to end point.

The Kings teams you mentioned did just that. But they had Kopitar (puck #11 or was it 10) and Doughty (#2) and Quick as bona fide stars in the making. The difference between them then and us now is a huge question mark about the star quality of our young players.

I honestly dont see much hope for Flyers in the next decade to win a cup. Shoddy, mediocre thinking breeds "stay competitive" results. And not much more.

Bill Meltzer
@billmeltzer
·
22m
Voracek: Everybody says play 60 minutes. It's a hockey cliche. I've never seen a team {control] all 60 minutes..... We were good on the forecheck tonight. A lot of offense comes from that. It's hard to do that every game, but we need to.


Get this guy out of here.
- login

Technically it is true, but it is pretty tone deaf to say it the way he said it.

This guy is at the center of the losing culture on this team! He needs to be removed from this team this off season no matter what it takes! Been saying this for quite awhile. He possesses some great skill and skating ability, but he has a low hockey IQ and is flat out lazy at times. Buh bye!!
- Phillywhiteout

The problem is whatever it takes would be a buyout or trade him and pick them retain salary as well? No thanks. Open to an even salary hockey trade.

This is why I appreciate you, SMS. You actually start with the premise of the ultimate destination, and then think to work backwards from there to now to find the best path.

Most people here start with now, and take steps in some general direction towards the goal, and just hope to get to end point.

The Kings teams you mentioned did just that. But they had Kopitar (puck #11 or was it 10) and Doughty (#2) and Quick as bona fide stars in the making. The difference between them then and us now is a huge question mark about the star quality of our young players.

I honestly dont see much hope for Flyers in the next decade to win a cup. Shoddy, mediocre thinking breeds "stay competitive" results. And not much more.
- PT21

Raffl scratched .Any trade pending ?

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Lose in SO after Comeback; Phantoms Win in SO after Comeback
- bmeltzer

Bill when can the Flyers resign Clode and Coutierier? I know there is certain date just don't know what date.

Raffl scratched .Any trade pending ?
- goenzoy

Ayup. We are trading him for eeny meeny miny moe.

This guy is at the center of the losing culture on this team! He needs to be removed from this team this off season no matter what it takes! Been saying this for quite awhile. He possesses some great skill and skating ability, but he has a low hockey IQ and is flat out lazy at times. Buh bye!!
- Phillywhiteout

It's very important to read exactly what he is saying there.

It's very important to read exactly what he is saying there.
- MJL

I read it as, no team can control play for a full 60 minutes of a game, but we have to try due to our place in the standings.

This is why I appreciate you, SMS. You actually start with the premise of the ultimate destination, and then think to work backwards from there to now to find the best path.

Most people here start with now, and take steps in some general direction towards the goal, and just hope to get to end point.

The Kings teams you mentioned did just that. But they had Kopitar (puck #11 or was it 10) and Doughty (#2) and Quick as bona fide stars in the making. The difference between them then and us now is a huge question mark about the star quality of our young players.

I honestly dont see much hope for Flyers in the next decade to win a cup. Shoddy, mediocre thinking breeds "stay competitive" results. And not much more.
- PT21

It's interesting first of all with who you align yourself with. That's telling. Then you apparently agree that the Flyers should trade their "Kopitar" (That player was picked 8th)Are you telling me that Hart does not have the potential to be as good A Quick was? I don't think that currently the Flyers have a defenseman who is as good or will ever be as good as Doughty was but we certainly have some good young talented defenseman.

I read it as, no team can control play for a full 60 minutes of a game, but we have to try due to our place in the standings.
- MBFlyerfan

Exactly. He didn't put it out in the greatest way and certainly not what the fans want to hear now but he's not incorrect.

Kkt

Exactly. He didn't put it out in the greatest way and certainly not what the fans want to hear now but he's not incorrect.
- MJL

Others may have a different interpretation. Of course those people are wrong and you are correct.

Bill when can the Flyers resign Clode and Coutierier? I know there is certain date just don't know what date.
- login

I BELIEVE it is July 1st (or whatever the technical start of the UFA period is) of the last year of their current deal. Don't hold me to that.

So in their cases, that would make it this July? Though personally I think it will be in season since the team will have a better handle on its roster and cap situation.