Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Development Camp, Free Agency and More

Thanks Bill

Good morning Bill,

Question: In your expert opinion, do you think the Flyers’ lineup is in need of a physical presence? Outside of TK, from my perspective, the team lacks toughness. Surely, through free agency, this would seem to be one of the more manageable (cap-friendly) areas of need to address.

Bill was there any complaints from teams about the officiating in the playoffs? It just seems like the pendulum is swinging back to the clutching and grabbing. It’s a totally different officiated game in the playoffs, much more so than other sports. I would guess there’d be some bellyaching from certain teams

Judging from fletchers first draft. It sure doesn’t seem like the flyers are too concerned with having to play that style

Very interested to hear what FAs they talk with since their roster (including the RFAs) and cap situation are both nearly full already barring trades. Looks like RW3 and backup goalie would be the only possible outsiders barring another move.

Bill was there any complaints from teams about the officiating in the playoffs? It just seems like the pendulum is swinging back to the clutching and grabbing. It’s a totally different officiated game in the playoffs, much more so than other sports. I would guess there’d be some bellyaching from certain teams
- Just5

NHL officiating standards have always been on a variable yearly cycle:

- Season begins, they call everything, especially the league's infraction du jour,
- Mid-season, players finally start figuring out the year's standards, things stabilize,
- Post-season, whistles are swallowed,
- Off-season, people get angry, a new infraction du jour is identified,
- Rinse, repeat.

It's always gonna be a joke until the league stops (frank)ing with poop, the officials establish a long-term standard, and they take all the subjectivity and discretion out of what is and isn't a penalty. Refs shouldn't be in the business of controlling the flow of play. They shouldn't be scared to impact W/L's by giving out PPs, when appropriate. If something is a penalty, just (frank)ing call it. Shouldn't matter who the penalty's on, what the score is, what game it is.

Best thing for Fletcher to do is address the RFAs

TK, Prov and Sanheim are obviously the most important.

Id be ok if we moved on from Hartman and Laughton. Id be willing to pay Laughton 1.5 but as for Hartman id be fine with NAK replacing him.

Once that is done you will have a better idea of what you can get in terms of a backup G and a RW. We could have someone in the organization step up in camp and get a top 9 rw spot so id put the backup G as more of a priority

I won't be surprised if Provorov is still unsigned two months from now.

Fletcher may also be forced to take a low return to move a big money guy like JVR to free up cap space.

Lots of college kids, hope they dont spurn the flyers in 4 years and go the free agent route...


Bill any idea what the stars will do with Valeri Nichushkin?

1) Re-sign Sanheim and Konecny
2) Figure out a backup goalie situation, whether Lyons or a Free Agent
3) Re-Sign Laughton and Hartman (If they choose not to go to arbitration)
4) Whatever is left over try to re-sign Provorov

Best thing for Fletcher to do is address the RFAs

TK, Prov and Sanheim are obviously the most important.

Id be ok if we moved on from Hartman and Laughton. Id be willing to pay Laughton 1.5 but as for Hartman id be fine with NAK replacing him.

Once that is done you will have a better idea of what you can get in terms of a backup G and a RW. We could have someone in the organization step up in camp and get a top 9 rw spot so id put the backup G as more of a priority
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

luv NAK

NHL officiating standards have always been on a variable yearly cycle:

- Season begins, they call everything, especially the league's infraction du jour,
- Mid-season, players finally start figuring out the year's standards, things stabilize,
- Post-season, whistles are swallowed,
- Off-season, people get angry, a new infraction du jour is identified,
- Rinse, repeat.

It's always gonna be a joke until the league stops (frank)ing with poop, the officials establish a long-term standard, and they take all the subjectivity and discretion out of what is and isn't a penalty. Refs shouldn't be in the business of controlling the flow of play. They shouldn't be scared to impact W/L's by giving out PPs, when appropriate. If something is a penalty, just (frank)ing call it. Shouldn't matter who the penalty's on, what the score is, what game it is.
- Tomahawk

Yessir, you nailed it. One thing I’d love to see (but never will) is accountability of the officials. The League does an outstanding job of protecting them from scrutiny.

1) Re-sign Sanheim and Konecny
2) Figure out a backup goalie situation, whether Lyons or a Free Agent
3) Re-Sign Laughton and Hartman (If they choose not to go to arbitration)
4) Whatever is left over try to re-sign Provorov
- Glak18

if lyon is the back up then that is almost as bad as what saint ronnie did last year. They need a good backup.

Yessir, you nailed it. One thing I’d love to see (but never will) is accountability of the officials. The League does an outstanding job of protecting them from scrutiny.
- tangent_man

Tangent man...Holy blast from the past

Tangent man...Holy blast from the past
- Just5

I poke my head in once in a while.

NHL officiating standards have always been on a variable yearly cycle:

- Season begins, they call everything, especially the league's infraction du jour,
- Mid-season, players finally start figuring out the year's standards, things stabilize,
- Post-season, whistles are swallowed,
- Off-season, people get angry, a new infraction du jour is identified,
- Rinse, repeat.

It's always gonna be a joke until the league stops (frank)ing with poop, the officials establish a long-term standard, and they take all the subjectivity and discretion out of what is and isn't a penalty. Refs shouldn't be in the business of controlling the flow of play. They shouldn't be scared to impact W/L's by giving out PPs, when appropriate. If something is a penalty, just (frank)ing call it. Shouldn't matter who the penalty's on, what the score is, what game it is.
- Tomahawk

It can be done. No league is without scrutiny of the refs. But no league has two completely different standards like the nhl does with their regular and post season calls

1) Re-sign Sanheim and Konecny
2) Figure out a backup goalie situation, whether Lyons or a Free Agent
3) Re-Sign Laughton and Hartman (If they choose not to go to arbitration)
4) Whatever is left over try to re-sign Provorov
- Glak18

Flyers need a Veteran Backup. We are all on the Hart Hype train but if he struggles, we need a guy we know can step in. Lyons is not that guy.

if lyon is the back up then that is almost as bad as what saint ronnie did last year. They need a good backup.
- daryl stanley

I think you would see Elliot re-signed before Lyon gets a shot.

So the Flyers drafted, developed, and built up decent cap space over the past several seasons. They excised the MacDonald and Lehtera contracts.

I understand the Hayes signing but I think they got fleeced. I understand the Niskanen contract but again I think they got fleeced. The Braun contract I don't understand at all. I think if they're going to do sign/trade for a defenseman you do one of those not BOTH. Flyers are already log-jammed on D. Now they have to sign several players and all that beautiful cap space is gone.

I think you would see Elliot re-signed before Lyon gets a shot.
- landros 2

I’d like to see them swing a deal with EDM to get Stolarz back here.

So the Flyers drafted, developed, and built up decent cap space over the past several seasons. They excised the MacDonald and Lehtera contracts.

I understand the Hayes signing but I think they got fleeced. I understand the Niskanen contract but again I think they got fleeced. The Braun contract I don't understand at all. I think if they're going to do sign/trade for a defenseman you do one of those not BOTH. Flyers are already log-jammed on D. Now they have to sign several players and all that beautiful cap space is gone.
- Pixote Andolini

One year of 3.8m for a top 4 Dman is the biggest issue?

One year of 3.8m for a top 4 Dman is the biggest issue?
- shekkie

It's a bunch of things from all of the deals. I suck at writing.

It's a bunch of things from all of the deals. I suck at writing.
- Pixote Andolini

haha...I get you.

So the Flyers drafted, developed, and built up decent cap space over the past several seasons. They excised the MacDonald and Lehtera contracts.

I understand the Hayes signing but I think they got fleeced. I understand the Niskanen contract but again I think they got fleeced. The Braun contract I don't understand at all. I think if they're going to do sign/trade for a defenseman you do one of those not BOTH. Flyers are already log-jammed on D. Now they have to sign several players and all that beautiful cap space is gone.
- Pixote Andolini

all this beautiful cap space was not entirely true.

I’d bet that the patience Fletcher is talking about may be in reference to acquiring a number 2 goalie. They were very methodical in identifying holes in the line up and then proactively working to fill them. They know what a disaster last seasons goalie carousel was and the importance of having someone very solid to be tandem with Hart. Maybe they are hoping to get someone good on a bargain after a team buys them out like James Reimer in Fla.

Maybe not Reimer but I think they have ideas about who they want in goal, and I get a feeling it’s not Talbot or Elliot.