Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 11/10/18 vs. CHI

Will be interesting to see how Chicago comes out today. They were horrible early in their first game after the coaching change, but played better as the game went on. The Flyers cannot afford a let down today. These are the kind of teams you need to beat at home if you want to make the playoffs.

My keys for the game:
1. STAY OUT OF THE (frank)ING BOX
This should be self explanatory. Your PK is struggling, big time, try not to take any dumb penalties.

2. Keep the gaps short and play positionally sound hockey.
Too often the Flyers end up running around and have 1, 2 or even 3 players out of position leading to a penalty or a goal in our net. This needs to stop and it needs to stop now.

3. Get the first goal.
Chicago is likely a fragile team. Get one past Crawford early and keep the pressure on the Hawks as much as possible. Play smart, but play aggressive.

GO FLYERS!!

When we get jvr back our line up looks good except for one glaring hole... 3c. Weal is way too easy to knock off the puck and just skates around the perimeter. I don’t know if there is an improvmemnt out there over weal and at what cost and at what cap hit/years.

How about the Flyers end the streak of allowing a PP goal against in 9 straight games. Praying for a miracle.

When we get jvr back our line up looks good except for one glaring hole... 3c. Weal is way too easy to knock off the puck and just skates around the perimeter. I don’t know if there is an improvmemnt out there over weal and at what cost and at what cap hit/years.
- jmdodgeser4

I'd like to see them give Laughton a shot at 3C. He's not a distributor of the puck but then neither is Weal. Weal may have more puck skills on paper but it does not translate to the NHL well. I agree that Weal is easily knocked off the puck. Laughton will get in on the forecheck and maybe they can be a crash the net line. It's hard to figure how the Flyers view Laughton. They spent considerable time trying to develop Laughton as a center. I think Laughton is a better winger personally but I just think he's a better player than Weal and that spot is a need.

I'd like to see them give Laughton a shot at 3C. He's not a distributor of the puck but then neither is Weal. Weal may have more puck skills on paper but it does not translate to the NHL well. I agree that Weal is easily knocked off the puck. Laughton will get in on the forecheck and maybe they can be a crash the net line. It's hard to figure how the Flyers view Laughton. They spent considerable time trying to develop Laughton as a center. I think Laughton is a better winger personally but I just think he's a better player than Weal and that spot is a need.
- MJL

Yah I thought of moving g back to center and dropping the centers down. The coyotes game was the first game I’ve been able to actually sit down and watch for awhile and from what I say weal shouldn’t be in the top 9. I don’t want to anchor us with term and cap with frost coming in a year or two.

Flyers are going to lose this one. CHI is winless in their last 6. Doesnt look good for us. They are due for one.

Flyers are going to lose this one. CHI is winless in their last 6. Doesnt look good for us. They are due for one.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

They are also winless in Philadelphia (minus a certain playoff game) in the last 22 years (14 regular season games).

Flyers are going to lose this one. CHI is winless in their last 6. Doesnt look good for us. They are due for one.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

If you think the Flyers are messy to start the season, this Chicago team is arguably worse.

They are down a couple of defensemen and they are somehow giving the corpse of Chris Kunitz 4th line minutes. They have good pieces and parts that don't really fit together.

The Flyers can and should dispose of Chicago today.

Let’s go Flyers. Take Thursday’s 3rd/OT periods’ momentum into this one.

This is also the military appreciation game. To all present and former military personnel and their families, thank you for your service to our country.

xx

I'd like to see them give Laughton a shot at 3C. He's not a distributor of the puck but then neither is Weal. Weal may have more puck skills on paper but it does not translate to the NHL well. I agree that Weal is easily knocked off the puck. Laughton will get in on the forecheck and maybe they can be a crash the net line. It's hard to figure how the Flyers view Laughton. They spent considerable time trying to develop Laughton as a center. I think Laughton is a better winger personally but I just think he's a better player than Weal and that spot is a need.
- MJL

this. Laughton has played well and has produced.

Anyone see the article about Weise in the Inqy? I’m troubled by his quote, "It's easy for people to pick on guys who sit on the fourth line. Especially in the media. Nobody's going to call you on it. … The reality of it is that when you play eight minutes a night, you don't get much of a chance to score offensively. and you really don't have a big impact on the game. So to be calling out those guys as the problem is kind of ridiculous." We all saw that the guy just wasn’t performing well, but his attitude seems to be that he wasn’t given much of an opportunity to perform. I know it’s on the player to go out and “execute”, but his comment makes me think that Hakstol didn’t handle him well. The recent taxi cab confessions have given us all a little peak inside the psyche of NHL players. I can see things from Weise’s POV. Given a nice contract and pumped up by the GM about the great opportunity he’ll have with the team. For whatever reason (can’t find chemistry with teammates, slow start, poor play) he can’t really get it going. The coach is dissatisfied with him, he gets less ice time and benched. Weise is frustrated. He sees a college coach that really hasn’t earned NHL cred and starts to feel like this hack doesn’t know what he’s doing and isn’t putting me in a position to succeed. He feels he’s in a no win situation. He tunes out the coach. Weise is demoralized which effects his play. The coach sees a guy who has tuned him out and isn’t performing and stops playing him. Maybe getting waived was the best thing for him. He and the coach sort of got to start over?

They are also winless in Philadelphia (minus a certain playoff game) in the last 22 years (14 regular season games).
- bmeltzer

Let’s go Flyers. Take Thursday’s 3rd/OT periods’ momentum into this one.

This is also the military appreciation game. To all present and former military personnel and their families, thank you for your service to our country.
- jsh139

speaking of the military if anyone is looking for a good documentary, check out Netflix's 8 part documentary, Medal of Honor. Some of it is very emotional watching. the bravery is remarkable

It is nice to see some secondary scoring....Laughton continues to play a really consistent game that goes back to the end of last season. He can and should play in the top nine....when JVR returns it just adds to the depth, which is what wins in this league.

Anyone see the article about Weise in the Inqy? I’m troubled by his quote, "It's easy for people to pick on guys who sit on the fourth line. Especially in the media. Nobody's going to call you on it. … The reality of it is that when you play eight minutes a night, you don't get much of a chance to score offensively. and you really don't have a big impact on the game. So to be calling out those guys as the problem is kind of ridiculous." We all saw that the guy just wasn’t performing well, but his attitude seems to be that he wasn’t given much of an opportunity to perform. I know it’s on the player to go out and “execute”, but his comment makes me think that Hakstol didn’t handle him well. The recent taxi cab confessions have given us all a little peak inside the psyche of NHL players. I can see things from Weise’s POV. Given a nice contract and pumped up by the GM about the great opportunity he’ll have with the team. For whatever reason (can’t find chemistry with teammates, slow start, poor play) he can’t really get it going. The coach is dissatisfied with him, he gets less ice time and benched. Weise is frustrated. He sees a college coach that really hasn’t earned NHL cred and starts to feel like this hack doesn’t know what he’s doing and isn’t putting me in a position to succeed. He feels he’s in a no win situation. He tunes out the coach. Weise is demoralized which effects his play. The coach sees a guy who has tuned him out and isn’t performing and stops playing him. Maybe getting waived was the best thing for him. He and the coach sort of got to start over?
- Dkos

He has a valid point....but that’s hockey. The better players play more. It is tough for certain guys to play “quality” minutes when there only getting 7 minutes a night, but that’s the pro game....this isn’t (frank)ing house league hockey...not every one gets the same minutes. With how poorly Weise has performed he should just shut up and be happy he’s not living in Lehigh Valley.

Anyone see the article about Weise in the Inqy? I’m troubled by his quote, "It's easy for people to pick on guys who sit on the fourth line. Especially in the media. Nobody's going to call you on it. … The reality of it is that when you play eight minutes a night, you don't get much of a chance to score offensively. and you really don't have a big impact on the game. So to be calling out those guys as the problem is kind of ridiculous." We all saw that the guy just wasn’t performing well, but his attitude seems to be that he wasn’t given much of an opportunity to perform. I know it’s on the player to go out and “execute”, but his comment makes me think that Hakstol didn’t handle him well. The recent taxi cab confessions have given us all a little peak inside the psyche of NHL players. I can see things from Weise’s POV. Given a nice contract and pumped up by the GM about the great opportunity he’ll have with the team. For whatever reason (can’t find chemistry with teammates, slow start, poor play) he can’t really get it going. The coach is dissatisfied with him, he gets less ice time and benched. Weise is frustrated. He sees a college coach that really hasn’t earned NHL cred and starts to feel like this hack doesn’t know what he’s doing and isn’t putting me in a position to succeed. He feels he’s in a no win situation. He tunes out the coach. Weise is demoralized which effects his play. The coach sees a guy who has tuned him out and isn’t performing and stops playing him. Maybe getting waived was the best thing for him. He and the coach sort of got to start over?
- Dkos

I think that is misreading what Weise is saying there and making it more than what it is. I think he's standing up for his teammates rather than commenting on the coach. Was this something Weise just volunteered, or was it an answer to a question?

If I'm reading what you're trying to say correctly.

Anyone see the article about Weise in the Inqy? I’m troubled by his quote, "It's easy for people to pick on guys who sit on the fourth line. Especially in the media. Nobody's going to call you on it. … The reality of it is that when you play eight minutes a night, you don't get much of a chance to score offensively. and you really don't have a big impact on the game. So to be calling out those guys as the problem is kind of ridiculous." We all saw that the guy just wasn’t performing well, but his attitude seems to be that he wasn’t given much of an opportunity to perform. I know it’s on the player to go out and “execute”, but his comment makes me think that Hakstol didn’t handle him well. The recent taxi cab confessions have given us all a little peak inside the psyche of NHL players. I can see things from Weise’s POV. Given a nice contract and pumped up by the GM about the great opportunity he’ll have with the team. For whatever reason (can’t find chemistry with teammates, slow start, poor play) he can’t really get it going. The coach is dissatisfied with him, he gets less ice time and benched. Weise is frustrated. He sees a college coach that really hasn’t earned NHL cred and starts to feel like this hack doesn’t know what he’s doing and isn’t putting me in a position to succeed. He feels he’s in a no win situation. He tunes out the coach. Weise is demoralized which effects his play. The coach sees a guy who has tuned him out and isn’t performing and stops playing him. Maybe getting waived was the best thing for him. He and the coach sort of got to start over?
- Dkos

I just profiled Weise on the Flyers' website: https://www.nhl.com/flyer...elphia-flyers/c-301771436

Anyone see the article about Weise in the Inqy? I’m troubled by his quote, "It's easy for people to pick on guys who sit on the fourth line. Especially in the media. Nobody's going to call you on it. … The reality of it is that when you play eight minutes a night, you don't get much of a chance to score offensively. and you really don't have a big impact on the game. So to be calling out those guys as the problem is kind of ridiculous." We all saw that the guy just wasn’t performing well, but his attitude seems to be that he wasn’t given much of an opportunity to perform. I know it’s on the player to go out and “execute”, but his comment makes me think that Hakstol didn’t handle him well. The recent taxi cab confessions have given us all a little peak inside the psyche of NHL players. I can see things from Weise’s POV. Given a nice contract and pumped up by the GM about the great opportunity he’ll have with the team. For whatever reason (can’t find chemistry with teammates, slow start, poor play) he can’t really get it going. The coach is dissatisfied with him, he gets less ice time and benched. Weise is frustrated. He sees a college coach that really hasn’t earned NHL cred and starts to feel like this hack doesn’t know what he’s doing and isn’t putting me in a position to succeed. He feels he’s in a no win situation. He tunes out the coach. Weise is demoralized which effects his play. The coach sees a guy who has tuned him out and isn’t performing and stops playing him. Maybe getting waived was the best thing for him. He and the coach sort of got to start over?
- Dkos

I think that was a shot at all of his critics; not just the media.

I also felt like he was saying that critics that call out little used 4th line guys as the root cause of problems isn't fair and I don't think he's wrong in that, either.

But I do think Weise played himself out of a job while here, so it's nice to see him play himself back into a job. He's done well so far and I hope he keeps it up.

LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!

I just profiled Weise on the Flyers' website: https://www.nhl.com/flyer...elphia-flyers/c-301771436
- bmeltzer

That was a good read of the situation as well, Bill. I like most fans want to see these guys succeed, and when they play poorly it’s part of being a highly paid pro....criticism will follow. When a team loses or shows the same inconstant play that’s plagued a team for several seasons, a coach is fair game to be criticized. When a PK sucks for 3 plus years, it’s fair to point out that the common denominator is the PK coach. When a free agent signing of a big, physical winger that doesn’t play that way for two years sits in the press box it’s easy to point the finger at the GM and say “ what was he thinking” ?......but that’s pro sports....that what these guys sign up for, like it or not.

I NEED TO KNOW!

The World needs to know!

Is Manning playing???

you know that guy that Hak thought was a 65 game a season NHL player.

Weal is not ideal but that line is now playing well. Simmonds and Weise were terrible, I am not saying it is Weal but the line works.

I NEED TO KNOW!

The World needs to know!

Is Manning playing???

you know that guy that Hak thought was a 65 game a season NHL player.
- ggunky

Mandog looks to be in the lineup. You know Chicago is trotting him out there today.