Bill Meltzer: Musings: Tangled Goaltending Outlook, Quick Hits: Leach and More

It's a tricky situation and extremely tough one to handle due to so many unknown factors, although on the other hand having so many options can be great for competition.

It sucks to wait so long, but really excited to see how Hart and Felix develop. Could potentially be the best tandem the Flyers have had in a long time.

If Stolarz can't be assigned to the ECHL without his permission then tough luck kid. It's time to move him. A three goalie tandem in the AHL only takes minutes away from everyone and I'm not taking minutes away from Hart to hold onto Stolarz. Get a pick for him and move on.

We kinda knew this was going to happen though. When you draft as many goalies as often as Hextall has you're going to have to cut ties with some of them. There just isn't enough room to facilitate them all in the system.

I'd love to be able to solve the issue by moving Neuvy but no GM is that stupid or desperate to have any kind of faith in his health.

I'm glad you laid out the hurdles that Frost needs to overcome.

I think too many already have him penciled in as the 3C.

All that being said, if he makes the team then that means he really earned it out of camp.

Bill with the current goalies for this year do you think the flyers are closer to missing the playoffs than winning a round. What’s yo your opinion?

Having a lot of options means little when said options are not that good. Lyon May have held his own but holding your own isn’t going to cut it.

Thanks for the info on stolarz as thought they could send him to echl. That being said do you see hart being in the echl at all; even to start the season?

Bill with the current goalies for this year do you think the flyers are closer to missing the playoffs than winning a round. What’s yo your opinion?

Having a lot of options means little when said options are not that good. Lyon May have held his own but holding your own isn’t going to cut it.

Thanks for the info on stolarz as thought they could send him to echl. That being said do you see hart being in the echl at all; even to start the season?
- rinaldo

They made the playoffs last year with three of the current tenders and a horrid Mrazek. They have made upgrades in front of the tenders. If they miss the playoffs it will be a bad year. Winning a round could happen or could not happen, I'm not looking that far forward until they are securely in the playoffs and you see the seedings as we all know once you are in anything can happen due to the grind of the season and then the playoffs.

Bill with the current goalies for this year do you think the flyers are closer to missing the playoffs than winning a round. What’s yo your opinion?

Having a lot of options means little when said options are not that good. Lyon May have held his own but holding your own isn’t going to cut it.

Thanks for the info on stolarz as thought they could send him to echl. That being said do you see hart being in the echl at all; even to start the season?
- rinaldo

No, I don't foresee Hart in the ECHL, although he could be assigned there at the Flyers' behest since he's on ELC (unlike Stolarz). I think as long as Elliott stays reasonably healthy and whomever ends up as the 1B/ backup holds his own, the Flyers are a playoff team.

They made the playoffs last year with three of the current tenders and a horrid Mrazek. They have made upgrades in front of the tenders. If they miss the playoffs it will be a bad year. Winning a round could happen or could not happen, I'm not looking that far forward until they are securely in the playoffs and you see the seedings as we all know once you are in anything can happen due to the grind of the season and then the playoffs.
- dragonoffrost

Bill I am reporting you as no duals allowed.

Well would/could a bad year be attributed to the goalies? That’s possible no? They squaked in and they can’t afdord any hiccups imo. Other teams also improved

FIX THE PAGE!

Bill,

Can't the Flyers loan a goalie (i.e. Stolarz) to another team? I can't remember it happening too recently, since every team has their own affiliation now, but it is still allowed right? Probably not worth it unless another team needs a goaltender, but technically speaking they don't NEED to trade a guy to prevent the logjam, no?

No, I don't foresee Hart in the ECHL, although he could be assigned there at the Flyers' behest since he's on ELC (unlike Stolarz). I think as long as Elliott stays reasonably healthy and whomever ends up as the 1B/ backup holds his own, the Flyers are a playoff team.
- bmeltzer

Since he is on an elc maybe they start him there for a few weeks until they sort it out; unless they sort it out prior.

Would stolarz have to agree to be loaned out ?

This guy had a .975 save % in 2 practices.
At under $30 a cap steal.
Little or no injury worries other then a tear or 2.
- Konalover

It's funnier when you post it right

It's funnier when you post it right
- YuenglingJagr

Thanks not enough coffee...

Bill I am reporting you as no duals allowed.

Well would/could a bad year be attributed to the goalies? That’s possible no? They squaked in and they can’t afdord any hiccups imo. Other teams also improved
- rinaldo

Just giving an alternate view. If you didn't like it. Scroll away

Teams improve, teams decline.

The addition of JvR alone is a huge plus for the Flyers. They should now be able to ice two useful power play sets. Not play unit one for 1 minute 30 seconds and then just kill the last 30 seconds themselves. It also gives them 2 full scoring lines and the chance to have a third if kids can make an impact on line 3 with Simmonds.

Losing Manning and Fillpula were upgrades by subtraction. Both filled a role but needed to be replaced with more skill if this team is to take a step forward.

Goalie may be a very important piece but it's not the piece you absolutely need. Look at the cup winners since 2000, did anyone see Niemi or Ward winning a cup at the start of those seasons? There may even be others that were shocking cup winning goalies. I won't add Murray as the Pens were fine with Fleury really.

Just giving an alternate view. If you didn't like it. Scroll away

Teams improve, teams decline.

The addition of JvR alone is a huge plus for the Flyers. They should now be able to ice two useful power play sets. Not play unit one for 1 minute 30 seconds and then just kill the last 30 seconds themselves. It also gives them 2 full scoring lines and the chance to have a third if kids can make an impact on line 3 with Simmonds.

Losing Manning and Fillpula were upgrades by subtraction. Both filled a role but needed to be replaced with more skill if this team is to take a step forward.

Goalie may be a very important piece but it's not the piece you absolutely need. Look at the cup winners since 2000, did anyone see Niemi or Ward winning a cup at the start of those seasons? There may even be others that were shocking cup winning goalies. I won't add Murray as the Pens were fine with Fleury really.
- dragonoffrost

Goalies may be a very important piece ? Interesting take on that.

As you noted Marner (albeit as a winger) was playing and contributing for the big club at a high level in his draft plus one year, hopefully it will be the same with Frost as he has little to prove in the OHL.

It's a tricky situation and extremely tough one to handle due to so many unknown factors, although on the other hand having so many options can be great for competition.

It sucks to wait so long, but really excited to see how Hart and Felix develop. Could potentially be the best tandem the Flyers have had in a long time.
- Glak18

I think you hit the nail on the head. They need to have this many tenders in the system with the hopes one eventually emerges as a true number 1 starter thaybwe need. These arent 30 yr old vets. They're younger prospects and the hope I'm sure is that we get lucky and one ends up being the guy. Looks like hart has the most potential, but who knows. Could end up being Lyon or stollie or sandstorm. Seems like a complicated mess but I think there's logic to it.

Can't fix the page because the poster who broke it "deleted" the post instead of editing it. So it's there in the background messing things up. Sorry.

If you ever post a link and realize you think better of it, edit the post to delete the link, don't delete the post.

Thank you.

xx

If Stolarz can't be assigned to the ECHL without his permission then tough luck kid. It's time to move him. A three goalie tandem in the AHL only takes minutes away from everyone and I'm not taking minutes away from Hart to hold onto Stolarz. Get a pick for him and move on.

We kinda knew this was going to happen though. When you draft as many goalies as often as Hextall has you're going to have to cut ties with some of them. There just isn't enough room to facilitate them all in the system.

I'd love to be able to solve the issue by moving Neuvy but no GM is that stupid or desperate to have any kind of faith in his health.
- hereticpride

injuries aside and yes injuries are a very important factor, I personally like Stolarz, talent wise, over Lyon.

As you noted Marner (albeit as a winger) was playing and contributing for the big club at a high level in his draft plus one year, hopefully it will be the same with Frost as he has little to prove in the OHL.
- Sinisalo4vr

I'm very excited to see how frost pans out. My gut tells me that unless he really looks overwhelmed at camp, that he's going to make the squad. Tk wasn't very big when he made the squad and held his own generally. I won't expect more than say 20 pts from frost but I think that may be the plan

Barring an injury to one of the big five (G, coots, Jake, provy, ghost) the flyers should be a playoff team. I think they could maybe compete for a division title if we get average goalie play (hawt take)

I'm glad you laid out the hurdles that Frost needs to overcome.

I think too many already have him penciled in as the 3C.

All that being said, if he makes the team then that means he really earned it out of camp.
- MBFlyerfan

I haven't really seen many people saying he's going to make it. I mean, I hope he does, but I know it's not all that likely.

Can't fix the page because the poster who broke it "deleted" the post instead of editing it. So it's there in the background messing things up. Sorry.

If you ever post a link and realize you think better of it, edit the post to delete the link, don't delete the post.

Thank you.
- bodiva88

Good info - thanks!

fwiw, the page looks fine to me

Barring an injury to one of the big five (G, coots, Jake, provy, ghost) the flyers should be a playoff team. I think they could maybe compete for a division title if we get average goalie play (hawt take)
- bulet13

I’m not convinced of contending for a division title when we share a division with the last two Stanley Cup winners. Could we hang in there? Sure. Can we win the division? I doubt it because that would suggest we’re also contending for a Cup.