Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Special Teams Units, Labor Day and More

Hopefully Fletcher stays strong in negotiations w Provorov. He was pretty bad last year. If that version of Provorov is what we get this year, is it really that big of a deal that the Flyers play without him for a while?

TK missing time will hurt more.

Hopefully Fletcher stays strong in negotiations w Provorov. He was pretty bad last year. If that version of Provorov is what we get this year, is it really that big of a deal that the Flyers play without him for a while?

TK missing time will hurt more.
- acd513

Strongly disagree. Provorov had a down year last season but still was -- and still will be this coming season-- the player who gets the most ice time. Plays the toughest minutes as well. Your top pair defenseman is harder to be without than a winger.

Agree Bill.

I’m not sure why “no one wants to swing first”. I’d try to make a fair deal now. If his agent is asking for stupid money, I’d call them out publicly. The battle of public relations may be well worth the risk, and shows players you’re willingness to be fair, and make things happen. My Dad used to say “when two skunks get in a passing match, the whole town stinks!”

Happy Labor Day Bill!

Strongly disagree. Provorov had a down year last season but still was -- and still will be this coming season-- the player who gets the most ice time. Plays the toughest minutes as well. Your top pair defenseman is harder to be without than a winger.
- bmeltzer

Prov has to be careful. There's a couple of high-end guys behind him right now on the depth chart that could step up in a major way if he vacates those minutes. He could lose most of his leverage if Sanheim, (or Myers) takes the #1 spot and runs with it.

Is there bad blood developing between the players and the organization?

Is there bad blood developing between the players and the organization?
- uofcguy

No. Look around the league at all the notable unsigned RFAs. It is business, nothing more.

Is there bad blood developing between the players and the organization?
- uofcguy

No, this is the offseason’s new normal for RFAs.

Thinking about PK units....when Farabee makes the team (now, partway thru or next season), I would love to see him paired with Patrick on the PK. I think they could do damage. It would be nice to see more opportunities to go the other way, and they can do that.

It's only a "business" because agents (lawyers) are involved. Otherwise it would be done. The agents are interested in setting value more than the players are. If you love what you do, 10% more, or less does not really sway you.

Make no mistake, this is how the Agents justify their slice of the pie.


"First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers"
William Shakespeare

Great saying....two skunks that is

No. Look around the league at all the notable unsigned RFAs. It is business, nothing more.
- bmeltzer

I get the business and but feel the contracts that Toronto handed out last year helped establish this. If this continues I feel there will be a lockout in 3 seasons as something will have to change. But that’s worst case.

Hopefully Fletcher stays strong in negotiations w Provorov. He was pretty bad last year. If that version of Provorov is what we get this year, is it really that big of a deal that the Flyers play without him for a while?

TK missing time will hurt more.
- acd513

Young defenseman who is used in all situations, eats the most ice time. Yeah, kind of a big deal to not have him on the team.

So for the PK, if Farabee or Rubtsov play this season then I think they should be considered, and Hagg on defense if he is in the lineup.

Hayes-Lindblom
Laughton-Patrick
Raffl-Pitlick
Couturier-Giroux

Sanheim-Braun
Provorov-Niskanen
Morin-Myers

Prov has to be careful. There's a couple of high-end guys behind him right now on the depth chart that could step up in a major way if he vacates those minutes. He could lose most of his leverage if Sanheim, (or Myers) takes the #1 spot and runs with it.
- Tomahawk

A team needs more than one high minute defenseman. Flyers most recently had Pronger and Timonen in the same lineup.

It's only a "business" because agents (lawyers) are involved. Otherwise it would be done. The agents are interested in setting value more than the players are. If you love what you do, 10% more, or less does not really sway you.

Make no mistake, this is how the Agents justify their slice of the pie.


"First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers"
William Shakespeare
- BadCowboyDan

Players are in charge. They can easily say sign a deal and the agents have no choice.

The PP units I'd prefer to see tried first:

Patrick JVR
Giroux Voracek
Ghost

Hayes Couturier Konecny
Sanheim Niskanen

Patrick has shown fantastic creativity in the top unit's right side net front spot. Provorov has a total 12 PPP over 3 seasons. Time to try someone else as the 2nd unit's QB. Let him rest during power plays and focus on even strength and Pks.

Players are in charge. They can easily say sign a deal and the agents have no choice.
- MJL

Players often, not always, but often, are not highly educated nor do they usually have a lot of experience in high end negotiations. Sure, they’re in charge, but most are highly influenced by their agents and will usually go along with their strategies.

The PP units I'd prefer to see tried first:

Patrick JVR
Giroux Voracek
Ghost

Hayes Couturier Konecny
Sanheim Niskanen

Patrick has shown fantastic creativity in the top unit's right side net front spot. Provorov has a total 12 PPP over 3 seasons. Time to try someone else as the 2nd unit's QB. Let him rest during power plays and focus on even strength and Pks.
- Baxter27

If you’re gonna have Coots on pp2, you might as well go 4F/1D. Coots defends better than most of our Dmen.

Deals I'd be offering

Provy:
1-3 years starts with a 5.
6-8 years around 7 million.

Konecny:
1-3 years around 4 million.
6-8 years around 5 million.

Players often, not always, but often, are not highly educated nor do they usually have a lot of experience in high end negotiations. Sure, they’re in charge, but most are highly influenced by their agents and will usually go along with their strategies.
- BiggE

For sure but again, the player has final say. The agents job is to advise their client and get them the best deal they can. My point is that any player can instruct their agent that they don't want to miss any of training camp and to get a deal done.

If you’re gonna have Coots on pp2, you might as well go 4F/1D. Coots defends better than most of our Dmen.
- BiggE

No doubt Coots is one of the best defensive forwards in the league but that's not his role on the PP. He needs to be focused on scoring. What I like about 2 D on the 2nd unit is it limits the need to scramble a line change when the PP expires.

That being said, I may be over estimating Niskanen's effectiveness. They may be better off leaving Provorov on the unit or trying Myers if his camp warrants it.

No. Look around the league at all the notable unsigned RFAs. It is business, nothing more.
- bmeltzer

Ok thanks. I think you are right. But Ek has said a few times that all of these unsigned RFAs is creating bad blood. Always good to get other opinions.

Ok thanks. I think you are right. But Ek has said a few times that all of these unsigned RFAs is creating bad blood. Always good to get other opinions.
- uofcguy

HB Rule 1:
Never give any credence to anything posted by EK

Rule 2, of course, is never start a land war in Asia and Rule 3 is never trust a Sicilian

The PP units I'd prefer to see tried first:

Patrick JVR
Giroux Voracek
Ghost

Hayes Couturier Konecny
Sanheim Niskanen

Patrick has shown fantastic creativity in the top unit's right side net front spot. Provorov has a total 12 PPP over 3 seasons. Time to try someone else as the 2nd unit's QB. Let him rest during power plays and focus on even strength and Pks.
- Baxter27

You stay with Provorov on the Power Play. Sean Couturier had very little success on the Power Play for along time but we stuck with him.

JvR-Couturier
Giroux-Voracek
Ghost

Patrick-Hayes
Konecny-Sanheim
Provorov

JvR, Couturier, Patrick and Hayes are the big bodies you use for the double screen. JvR and Patrick in the crease. Couturier and Hayes in the crease.

I think Konecny is best suited on Giroux’s left half wall. I would actually go with two defensemen on the second unit as time expires on the Power Play, this way there is no confusion on line changes and we’re prepared to defend the player coming out of the box behind the play, why is why I would have Sanheim Play Voracek’s right half wall, right point.