Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 3/21/19 @ CHI

Yeah, not a lot to say. Want Hart to get the win, but would also prefer a better draft pick. Meaningless game to finish out the season...

The season has been a frustrating one. The team has skill, but overall team speed is lacking. Consequently, they're not a good puck possession team. They rarely carry the play, even in games they win by multiple goals.
There have been many times when, at 5-on-5, in the defensive zone where they look like a passive penalty kill, with the wingers playing 6+ feet off of the opposing defensemen. That cannot be a design of the system, can it?
I am hoping that some of the prospects, Frost, etc., have elite speed. They are unable to sustain a forecheck or keep the opposition honest because they can't keep up. Also, it is hard for them to put together a sustained forecheck when they have spent all of their energy just getting the puck out of their zone.
Not to pick on Laughton, but he could have had at least a half dozen clean breakaways if he had decent speed. If he wasn't in full stride with an eight foot lead, the best you could hope for would be for him to draw a penalty.
I like Nolan Patrick, but, superficially, he rarely plays with the intensity he needs to take his game to that of a 2nd overall pick. I don't want to give up on him as he has shown flashes, but if the right deal came along.......

Be interesting to see how mentally invested in these games now that playoffs are only a dream.

The season has been a frustrating one. The team has skill, but overall team speed is lacking. Consequently, they're not a good puck possession team. They rarely carry the play, even in games they win by multiple goals.
There have been many times when, at 5-on-5, in the defensive zone where they look like a passive penalty kill, with the wingers playing 6+ feet off of the opposing defensemen. That cannot be a design of the system, can it?
I am hoping that some of the prospects, Frost, etc., have elite speed. They are unable to sustain a forecheck or keep the opposition honest because they can't keep up. Also, it is hard for them to put together a sustained forecheck when they have spent all of their energy just getting the puck out of their zone.
Not to pick on Laughton, but he could have had at least a half dozen clean breakaways if he had decent speed. If he wasn't in full stride with an eight foot lead, the best you could hope for would be for him to draw a penalty.
I like Nolan Patrick, but, superficially, he rarely plays with the intensity he needs to take his game to that of a 2nd overall pick. I don't want to give up on him as he has shown flashes, but if the right deal came along.......
- GeorgeBailey

I don't think Laughton is the fastest guy in the NHL or anything, but he has good speed in my opinion. Not being able to finish is a problem of his.

Better odds:

- Brendan Warren gets an NHL contract offer from the Flyers this summer
- Zac Rinaldo finishes in the top-5 in the NHL goal scoring race next season
- Sidney Crosby demands a trade to the Flyers
- Eric Lindros returns to the NHL as an active player and appears in 50+ games

The season has been a frustrating one. The team has skill, but overall team speed is lacking. Consequently, they're not a good puck possession team. They rarely carry the play, even in games they win by multiple goals.
There have been many times when, at 5-on-5, in the defensive zone where they look like a passive penalty kill, with the wingers playing 6+ feet off of the opposing defensemen. That cannot be a design of the system, can it?
I am hoping that some of the prospects, Frost, etc., have elite speed. They are unable to sustain a forecheck or keep the opposition honest because they can't keep up. Also, it is hard for them to put together a sustained forecheck when they have spent all of their energy just getting the puck out of their zone.
Not to pick on Laughton, but he could have had at least a half dozen clean breakaways if he had decent speed. If he wasn't in full stride with an eight foot lead, the best you could hope for would be for him to draw a penalty.
I like Nolan Patrick, but, superficially, he rarely plays with the intensity he needs to take his game to that of a 2nd overall pick. I don't want to give up on him as he has shown flashes, but if the right deal came along.......
- GeorgeBailey

He is 20 years old. Still growing and learning. You never get the "right deal" for a player like him. Everyone tries to steal them. Now he is playing with G and JVR. He sees the other teams better players and sees a lot of the top d against him. He is very good defensively. Let's give him a chance to develop. I also hope that after a full summer of training that he doesn't get hurt early in the season like this year.

Yeah, not a lot to say. Want Hart to get the win, but would also prefer a better draft pick. Meaningless game to finish out the season...
- wolfhounds

Its meaningless to lose games at the point. At most we will fall maybe one or 2 spots. That isnt going to make a difference draft wise. Might as well win and end the season on a high note. Need a big game from Hart tonight for my Fantasy team

The season has been a frustrating one. The team has skill, but overall team speed is lacking. Consequently, they're not a good puck possession team. They rarely carry the play, even in games they win by multiple goals.
There have been many times when, at 5-on-5, in the defensive zone where they look like a passive penalty kill, with the wingers playing 6+ feet off of the opposing defensemen. That cannot be a design of the system, can it?
I am hoping that some of the prospects, Frost, etc., have elite speed. They are unable to sustain a forecheck or keep the opposition honest because they can't keep up. Also, it is hard for them to put together a sustained forecheck when they have spent all of their energy just getting the puck out of their zone.
Not to pick on Laughton, but he could have had at least a half dozen clean breakaways if he had decent speed. If he wasn't in full stride with an eight foot lead, the best you could hope for would be for him to draw a penalty.
I like Nolan Patrick, but, superficially, he rarely plays with the intensity he needs to take his game to that of a 2nd overall pick. I don't want to give up on him as he has shown flashes, but if the right deal came along.......
- GeorgeBailey

They lack speed but to me it doesnt even look like they try to win races. In the Montreal game I saw many times in the D zone where the dman just glides into the corner while the Habs player is skating full out. Lack of compete is concerning.

Its meaningless to lose games at the point. At most we will fall maybe one or 2 spots. That isnt going to make a difference draft wise. Might as well win and end the season on a high note. Need a big game from Hart tonight for my Fantasy team
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Correct, the 10-18 range is a crapshoot too, you never know.

The season has been a frustrating one. The team has skill, but overall team speed is lacking. Consequently, they're not a good puck possession team. They rarely carry the play, even in games they win by multiple goals.
There have been many times when, at 5-on-5, in the defensive zone where they look like a passive penalty kill, with the wingers playing 6+ feet off of the opposing defensemen. That cannot be a design of the system, can it?
I am hoping that some of the prospects, Frost, etc., have elite speed. They are unable to sustain a forecheck or keep the opposition honest because they can't keep up. Also, it is hard for them to put together a sustained forecheck when they have spent all of their energy just getting the puck out of their zone.
Not to pick on Laughton, but he could have had at least a half dozen clean breakaways if he had decent speed. If he wasn't in full stride with an eight foot lead, the best you could hope for would be for him to draw a penalty.
I like Nolan Patrick, but, superficially, he rarely plays with the intensity he needs to take his game to that of a 2nd overall pick. I don't want to give up on him as he has shown flashes, but if the right deal came along.......
- GeorgeBailey

I can't understand what people don't like about Patrick. He wasn't healthy for like 2/3 of last season. He's inconsistent, yea, but he's only 20 years old, and is our best hope for a future 1C.

Yeah, let's trade him now, what a great idea.

Yeah, not a lot to say. Want Hart to get the win, but would also prefer a better draft pick. Meaningless game to finish out the season...
- wolfhounds

Agreed, the 14th overall pick is always a waste, 12 always produces a winner.

I can't understand what people don't like about Patrick. He wasn't healthy for like 2/3 of last season. He's inconsistent, yea, but he's only 20 years old, and is our best hope for a future 1C.

Yeah, let's trade him now, what a great idea.
- jmatchett383

Please ignore posts like that.

Agreed, the 14th overall pick is always a waste, 12 always produces a winner.
- jmatchett383

My point exactly, what are we going to pick 14-17, teams boards likely completely different at that point and you just never know.

Please ignore posts like that.
- ClaudeFather

Hey, that man sacrificed a lot to keep the Building and Loan running, I can't do that. But I do disagree with his "Nolan Patrick quickly becoming a bust" stance.

My point exactly, what are we going to pick 14-17, teams boards likely completely different at that point and you just never know.
- ClaudeFather

Now, if 11-12 teams have Jack Hughes ranked about 15th on their boards, then I'd say it makes sense.

Hey, that man sacrificed a lot to keep the Building and Loan running, I can't do that. But I do disagree with his "Nolan Patrick quickly becoming a bust" stance.
- jmatchett383

When I read that part of the post though I immediately just shut out the entire thing haha.

Agree. Nolan Patrick's age 20 season better than Sean Couturier's.

Agree. Nolan Patrick's age 20 season better than Sean Couturier's.
- atibus

Well Couturier is just a 3rd line shut down center. Of course Patrick should be better at the same point in their careers.

The season has been a frustrating one. The team has skill, but overall team speed is lacking. Consequently, they're not a good puck possession team. They rarely carry the play, even in games they win by multiple goals.
There have been many times when, at 5-on-5, in the defensive zone where they look like a passive penalty kill, with the wingers playing 6+ feet off of the opposing defensemen. That cannot be a design of the system, can it?
I am hoping that some of the prospects, Frost, etc., have elite speed. They are unable to sustain a forecheck or keep the opposition honest because they can't keep up. Also, it is hard for them to put together a sustained forecheck when they have spent all of their energy just getting the puck out of their zone.
Not to pick on Laughton, but he could have had at least a half dozen clean breakaways if he had decent speed. If he wasn't in full stride with an eight foot lead, the best you could hope for would be for him to draw a penalty.
I like Nolan Patrick, but, superficially, he rarely plays with the intensity he needs to take his game to that of a 2nd overall pick. I don't want to give up on him as he has shown flashes, but if the right deal came along.......
- GeorgeBailey

1. Frost has elite speed but has been criticized for slowing the play down in juniors to make a great play... something he wont have time for in the NHL. However, he has been working on this and is doing much better at pushing play. IMO the similarities between his and Giroux's games are scary.

2. Patrick is more of a power-forward with high NHL IQ. In terms of development think Couturier and how long it took him to put it together. Patrick will likely be a bit faster to take the offensive step because he isn't relied on to be the defensive center on the 3rd line for 4-5 years.

They lack speed but to me it doesnt even look like they try to win races. In the Montreal game I saw many times in the D zone where the dman just glides into the corner while the Habs player is skating full out. Lack of compete is concerning.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

This has been the problem with the core for the last 5-6 years.... They really miss the Prongers and Timonens and Hartnells.

Well Couturier is just a 3rd line shut down center. Of course Patrick should be better at the same point in their careers.
- FlyerFan16

Of course. After all, Patrick has also been stuck for 2 years in a fourth line shut down roll the same as Coots.

Agreed, the 14th overall pick is always a waste, 12 always produces a winner.
- jmatchett383

14th pick
# Farabee

Yeah, not a lot to say. Want Hart to get the win, but would also prefer a better draft pick. Meaningless game to finish out the season...
- wolfhounds

I highly doubt they’ll use their first round pick

Now, if 11-12 teams have Jack Hughes ranked about 15th on their boards, then I'd say it makes sense.
- jmatchett383

I'm not defending the guy but the Flyers are only 4 points from a top 8 pick. Which is a 6% chance at the #1, and there is a difference in 8 to 14.

Meanwhile they are 8 points out of the playoffs. If they lose I will not be upset. If they win I will be happy for the night.