Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Rantanen and the Flyers, Hakstol and More

5 years is long but $10mil does not seem like that much for a head coach in the NHL. If he stinks after two years and they fire him that might look bad because of the three remaining years. However, the overall dollar amount would not be crushing to the franchise.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Rantanen and the Flyers, Hakstol and More
- bmeltzer

Rantanen would be among the many good choices

If the Philadelphia Flyers select TPS Turku right winger Mikko Rantanen with the seventh overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft, it will be because of his combination of size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds), puck skills, demonstrated hockey sense, versatility in being able to play any forward position if needed and overall upside.
- meltz

So am I to understand he is not fast or an exceptional skater? If so, I would rather select someone else.

So am I to understand he is not fast or an exceptional skater? If so, I would rather select someone else.
- aightwebang17

Yes. The one question mark is his straight-line speed. But I've also heard that with a bit more skating coaching to work on first-stride explosiveness, he should be just fine. At top speed, he's hard to contain.

Frank did a surprisingly good job w/ that piece.

And wow... those facilities are crazy...

Frank did a surprisingly good job w/ that piece.

And wow... those facilities are crazy...
- Tomahawk

Yes, he did. And, yes, the UND hockey facilities are said to be the envy of many, many programs. I need to see it firsthand some day.

If you wanted to watch 50 minutes of shifts by Rantanen (not highlights) then it is your lucky day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZPyXCA5-j8

Yes. The one question mark is his straight-line speed. But I've also heard that with a bit more skating coaching to work on first-stride explosiveness, he should be just fine. At top speed, he's hard to contain.
- bmeltzer

It sounds more like an acceleration problem than a speed problem.

Can someone explain to me how, if at all, a coaches salary affects the team? Who is actually paying the coach and are there any possible cap implications? Could fast Eddy have written Babcock a personal if he wanted him here enough? Thanks!

The Drouin / Cooper story out of Tampa is odd.

Can someone explain to me how, if at all, a coaches salary affects the team? Who is actually paying the coach and are there any possible cap implications? Could fast Eddy have written Babcock a personal if he wanted him here enough? Thanks!
- Tomfan365

The non-player team salaries have no effect on the salary cap. If Snider wanted to, he could have offered Babcock $20M a year for 10 years without affecting the cap.

Edit: That said, writing a personal check for a player employed under a corporation would probably be frowned upon by the IRS.

Can someone explain to me how, if at all, a coaches salary affects the team? Who is actually paying the coach and are there any possible cap implications? Could fast Eddy have written Babcock a personal if he wanted him here enough? Thanks!
- Tomfan365

Nope.

If you wanted to watch 50 minutes of shifts by Rantanen (not highlights) then it is your lucky day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZPyXCA5-j8

Seems he doesn't have a problem going to the net, but he should shoot more when he's got the puck down low. 4:24 was almost a gift... and he passed it.

The Drouin / Cooper story out of Tampa is odd.
- PhiFaninEdm

http://www.torontosun.com...ands-as-teravainen-shines

In Round 2 of the playoffs, with Drouin clearly growing frustrated, Cooper was urged to meet with his player.

Normally, he avoids talking to or making eye contact with Drouin. Their meeting didn’t necessarily go well. Cooper told him it was a process to work his way into the Tampa lineup.

He told Drouin to be patient. He told him he’s going to be a superstar one day.

And then he said about the present: “It’s not your time.”

Drouin had been quiet and respectful until that moment. But he couldn’t help himself.

“Why isn’t it my time?” he responded.

“It just isn’t,” Cooper apparently told him.

That ended the meeting.

Watch the Flyers do what they always do... go way off the board and get someone like Paul Bittner our Brock Boeser.

Watch the Flyers do what they always do... go way off the board and get someone like Paul Bittner our Brock Boeser.
- redcoat75

The Flyers haven't gone off the board recently when they have top 10 picks.

The Drouin / Cooper story out of Tampa is odd.
- PhiFaninEdm

I'd get the 7th overall involved for him...

Drouin for our 7th and Blackhawks 2nd

I'd get the 7th overall involved for him...
- hereticpride

pfff I would offer back their pick and call it a day.

Happy Retirement Danny B....

The Drouin / Cooper story out of Tampa is odd.
- PhiFaninEdm

It is odd, in that there haven't been much in the way of details as to why, other than "because I said so".

If there was a weakness in his game, you think that would have leaked out into the press, but it seems like whatever the problem is, they are keeping it from Drouin. That's not real helpful.

Was Bill's blog around in 2007 for the Drury/Gomez/Briere free agent sweepstakes?

I know the shelf life of an NHL coach isn't too long with one team. But it at least shows their can be stability in the organization and not have to have the usual revolving door of coaches. And besides, with Hextall and his patience, 5 years isn't out of the ordinary.

Was Bill's blog around in 2007 for the Drury/Gomez/Briere free agent sweepstakes?
- Feanor

Yes, but none in June or July jump out at me with regards to that topic.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...year=2007.6&blogger_id=45