Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Profiles, Warriors, PowerPlay, Lupul, Zezel, Hill

Thanks for that Zezel read, Bill. Probably one of my fav Flyers of all time!

I remember Al Hill's first game. Won a fight too to go along with his 5 points.

@ the last thread
Lindros. Given his most dominant and playing in todays rule set, he would obliterate this league.
Besides, 88>87. Its simple mathematics

@ the last thread
Lindros. Given his most dominant and playing in todays rule set, he would obliterate this league.
Besides, 88>87. Its simple mathematics
- KINGKENZO

I meant to put this yesterday, but Lindros was on the Cam and Strick podcast last week.

@ the last thread
Lindros. Given his most dominant and playing in todays rule set, he would obliterate this league.
Besides, 88>87. Its simple mathematics
- KINGKENZO

I also think he would get suspended a lot more and have to modify his game some.

The current NHL doesn't allow to the same extent the anger, aggression or dirtiness that the E Train would often bring.

In 1986, Zezel landed a small role in the hockey-themed Rob Lowe movie, Youngblood.
- bmeltzer

The saying goes, "there are no small parts, only small actors." Regardless, in my opinion, Rossini, along with Miss McGill, were the two real stars of the movie.

In all seriousness, Peter Zezel is one of my favorite Flyers of all time (up there with Clarke, Lindros, and Parent, among others), and his untimely passing is definitely the one that saddens me the most.

Thanks Bill for the Zezel write up.
I was born in '81, and me earliest memories of the game are playing knee hockey in the basement with my two older brothers and their buddies during the mid-80s. For whatever reason, they nicknamed me Zezel. Even went as far as to make homemade 'jerseys' out of old tee shirts and a marker. As silly as it may seem now, I loved that crude looking #25 Zezel shirt that my brothers made for me. I was too young to know anything about the guy at the time, on or off the ice. But he is synonymous with my earliest & happiest memories of the sport, and I'm very glad to hear what a great person he seemed to be.

Great read on Zezel. I remember Zezel, Tocchet, Craven, & (Derrick) Smith, who were the young guys who started with the Flyers at the same time as Mike Keenan, and really bolstered those mid-80's teams.

Really enjoyed your story about Peter Zezel. Thanks for doing that.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Profiles, Warriors, PowerPlay, Lupul, Zezel, Hill
- bmeltzer

I never got how the Kapanen goal could be goaltender interference. The Washington player had the puck. (momentarily) directly in front of Huet, and Thoresen put a clean, hard hit on him. The defender crashed into Huet and the puck went to Kapanen.

Thoresen didn't go into the crease. Thoresen didn't touch Huet. Thoresen didn't hit the defender late or dirty. The defender should have moved, moved the puck, or not fallen down. Clean play, IMO.

I never got how the Kapanen goal could be goaltender interference. The Washington player had the puck. (momentarily) directly in front of Huet, and Thoresen put a clean, hard hit on him. The defender crashed into Huet and the puck went to Kapanen.

Thoresen didn't go into the crease. Thoresen didn't touch Huet. Thoresen didn't hit the defender late or dirty. The defender should have moved, moved the puck, or not fallen down. Clean play, IMO.
- jmatchett383

Rule 69 Interference on the Goaltender.

Here is the relevant part.

If a defending player has been pushed, shoved, or fouled by an attacking player so as to cause the defending player to come into contact with his own goalkeeper, such contact shall be deemed contact initiated by the attacking player for purposes of this rule, and if necessary a penalty assessed to the attacking player and if a goal is scored it would be disallowed.

Happy birthday Al Hill! I still remember that first game and thinking, holy poop, where have they been hiding this kid!! Of course, he never reached that level again, but he was a solid 4th plugger who always gave his all.

And of course, happy birthday and Rest In Peace, Peter Zezel. I was pretty bummed when they swapped him for Bullard, but not nearly as bummed as my girlfriend was! Zezel was good playmaker and a solid middle 6 center for most of his career. He and the rest of that Keenan era team brought excitement and winning back to the Flyers after 3 straight years of playoff ineptitude and they were so much fun to watch. In many eras, that team would have won multiple Cups.

@ the last thread
Lindros. Given his most dominant and playing in todays rule set, he would obliterate this league.
Besides, 88>87. Its simple mathematics
- KINGKENZO

Don't think you can brute force your way through modern day defense schemes like 88 used to do. Almost all of the players are exceptionally conditioned and strong, with great defensive sticks, positionally disciplined, and attack you in layers.

If he played today, he'd have to be much more patient, utilize his linemates more and read the ice better. And if he didn't keep his head up, there's no shortage of guys like Tom Wilson and Radko Gudas who could end his career in similar fashion.

The series where Lupul scored, wasn't that the same series where Patrick Thorsen (sp) took a puck of the jumbles?

I remember feeling that from my TV.

The series where Lupul scored, wasn't that the same series where Patrick Thorsen (sp) took a puck of the jumbles?

I remember feeling that from my TV.
- hockeylover

Yes.

Don't think you can brute force your way through modern day defense schemes like 88 used to do. Almost all of the players are exceptionally conditioned and strong, with great defensive sticks, positionally disciplined, and attack you in layers.

If he played today, he'd have to be much more patient, utilize his linemates more and read the ice better. And if he didn't keep his head up, there's no shortage of guys like Tom Wilson and Radko Gudas who could end his career in similar fashion.
- Tomahawk

True, that team defense is more structured and organized today than when he played. He would benefit from less clutching, grabbing and hooking and he would still be a bear in the corners and around the net. He still would have his speed and puck skills. Plus he would beat the crap out of Tom Wilson.

True, that team defense is more structured and organized today than when he played. He would benefit from less clutching, grabbing and hooking and he would still be a bear in the corners and around the net. He still would have his speed and puck skills. Plus he would beat the crap out of Tom Wilson.
- MJL

I for one would LOVE to see that.

Rule 69 Interference on the Goaltender.

Here is the relevant part.

If a defending player has been pushed, shoved, or fouled by an attacking player so as to cause the defending player to come into contact with his own goalkeeper, such contact shall be deemed contact initiated by the attacking player for purposes of this rule, and if necessary a penalty assessed to the attacking player and if a goal is scored it would be disallowed.
- MJL

Thank you, did not know that.

Was that particular section of that rule instituted before or after the 07/08 playoffs? It seems crqzy, to me, that a player could be given a penalty for a clean hit just because the player falls inba certain direction.

Thank you, did not know that.

Was that particular section of that rule instituted before or after the 07/08 playoffs? It seems crqzy, to me, that a player could be given a penalty for a clean hit just because the player falls inba certain direction.
- jmatchett383

I agree with you, a hit within the flow of play should not result in a disallowed goal. I think the issue is guys would be doing it on purpose to try and knock a defender into the goalie.

True, that team defense is more structured and organized today than when he played. He would benefit from less clutching, grabbing and hooking and he would still be a bear in the corners and around the net. He still would have his speed and puck skills. Plus he would beat the crap out of Tom Wilson.
- MJL

This!

Absolutely right he'd beat the crap out of him. Lindros was a badass fighter.

Bill, great write up on Peter Zezel. He may be in the top 10 Flyers fan favorites of all time. That, of course, is subjective but it may be a fun exercise to put a list together.

BTW... what ever happened to the simulated Flyers regional team tournament?

Plus he would beat the crap out of Tom Wilson.
- MJL

If they hadn't scored on that PP they were probably going to lose.

I kinda remember the Caps being all over them.

Thank you, did not know that.

Was that particular section of that rule instituted before or after the 07/08 playoffs? It seems crqzy, to me, that a player could be given a penalty for a clean hit just because the player falls inba certain direction.
- jmatchett383

I think because the player in question was in possession of the puck, the rule is not applicable, or it shouldn't be.