Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Niskanen

Bill,
Good Morning!! Do you know if the rookie game will be televised next week?

Nice article. The image of Nisky face planting looks painful.

In thinking his partner will be Provie to start the season (assuming he is signed), do you think his usage will go back to a more even 50/50 split and does this allow for Provie to try to push his offense a little more? Thanks

Bill,
Good Morning!! Do you know if the rookie game will be televised next week?
- bsw31usa

I was told Service Electric will have the broadcast and Flyers will pick it up on NBCSP.

Nice article. The image of Nisky face planting looks painful.

In thinking his partner will be Provie to start the season (assuming he is signed), do you think his usage will go back to a more even 50/50 split and does this allow for Provie to try to push his offense a little more? Thanks
- Peter Richards

Depends on how the pairs are configured. If the third pair is Ghost with Myers, that pair will be probably get mostly offensive zone starts. So that means the D-zone start burden is going to fall heavily on a presumable Provorov-Niskanen pair along with Braun's potential paring with Sanheim.

In addition to all the story lines all Flyers fans are anxiously awaiting this year, Provorov and Ghost potential bounce backs, how Hayes performs on the team in general, how NoPa progresses, who will fill that final top 9 spot, etc etc etc, top 3 on my list is how Niskanen/Braun fit into our d corps. for such a long time we have been extremely top heavy with our dmen (a solid top line followed by a bunch of mediocrity), I think these two additions really allow us to have 3 solid pairings that can be rolled in almost any situation. I think this definitely was one of the most important offseasons the Flyers have had in a while which always makes the season to follow very important (akin to the 2007-08 season following the flurry of moves in that 2007 summer).

In addition to all the story lines all Flyers fans are anxiously awaiting this year, Provorov and Ghost potential bounce backs, how Hayes performs on the team in general, how NoPa progresses, who will fill that final top 9 spot, etc etc etc, top 3 on my list is how Niskanen/Braun fit into our d corps. for such a long time we have been extremely top heavy with our dmen (a solid top line followed by a bunch of mediocrity), I think these two additions really allow us to have 3 solid pairings that can be rolled in almost any situation. I think this definitely was one of the most important offseasons the Flyers have had in a while which always makes the season to follow very important (akin to the 2007-08 season following the flurry of moves in that 2007 summer).
- sjk540

agreed. Once and if the rfa's get signed the thing that interests me is the 8 d men. Having two potential scratches that are 24 years old that is. I would hate to lose one for nothing as i don't see either of Hagg or Morin passing through waivers. Sitting also wouldn't help Morin much having dealt with multiple injuries limiting previous seasons.

Bill pointed out before that Hagg could be easily traded. While i don't want him to go I also don't see them carrying 8 d men all year. Injuries do occur but if i'm any of the bottom teams i would claim hagg or morin in an instant. I also see the issue of trading one and then the injury bug hits. more than 2 and i don't like the depth as much.

I am also guessing that this is what the gm sees as well. If no one steps up and takes the last wing spot, one of them could be dangled for the 3rd or 4th line wing spot...weighing risk and reward. to me there is no right or wrong answer here, just where the chips may fall.

Bill,

will you give us an update on the weigh ins of the rookies?

Bill,

will you give us an update on the weigh ins of the rookies?
- wcorvette

Fat Maroon showed up for camp out of shape

The hockey mentality of play through the pain and not use injuries to give context to poor play is really antiquated and quite silly imo.

I believe that Service Electric Cable televise every Phantoms home game during the AHL season, and I don't understand why NBC Sports Philly doesn't carry those games outside of the area that can get Service Electric.

So Phantoms fans who live outside the the Lehigh Valley region get to see about one game a month on TV when it's picked up by WFMZ.

agreed. Once and if the rfa's get signed the thing that interests me is the 8 d men. Having two potential scratches that are 24 years old that is. I would hate to lose one for nothing as i don't see either of Hagg or Morin passing through waivers. Sitting also wouldn't help Morin much having dealt with multiple injuries limiting previous seasons.

Bill pointed out before that Hagg could be easily traded. While i don't want him to go I also don't see them carrying 8 d men all year. Injuries do occur but if i'm any of the bottom teams i would claim hagg or morin in an instant. I also see the issue of trading one and then the injury bug hits. more than 2 and i don't like the depth as much.

I am also guessing that this is what the gm sees as well. If no one steps up and takes the last wing spot, one of them could be dangled for the 3rd or 4th line wing spot...weighing risk and reward. to me there is no right or wrong answer here, just where the chips may fall.
- Peter Richards

I think carrying 13 F - 8 D makes more sense in general. It gives you four pairings to use in practice, and if an injury bug strikes and you can't get replacements for some reason it's much easier to play a game with 11 forwards and 6 dmen, than with 12 forwards and 5 dmen.

Now I don't want Morin or Hagg sitting in the stands all the time, but I don't think that will happen. And the Flyers have plenty of waiver eligible forward prospects they can call up and send own whenever they like, which should make only carrying 13 forwards easy enough to manage.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Niskanen
- bmeltzer

In theory, Matt Niskanen should be a good compliment to Ivan Provorov on the top pair but I do have my concerns that maybe we might be overvaluing what he might have to offer. This isn’t to say he’s a bad player, he isn’t. You do have to take into consideration his season last year. His age. The teams he’s played on in the past, which were all contending teams and just because he was playing potentially 20 minutes a game, doesn’t mean he was on the top pair or seeing the opposing teams’ top players.

All this aside, should Niskanen workout exactly how we hope, he’s not a long term solutions. So we’ll still need to hold out for Samuel Morin, Robert Hagg, Phillip Myers, Travis Sanheim or Cam York to down the road to pick up where Niskanen leaves off.

A player like Brayden Coburn for example has been greatly missed as much as a Chris Pronger or Kimmo Timonen.

I think carrying 13 F - 8 D makes more sense in general. It gives you four pairings to use in practice, and if an injury bug strikes and you can't get replacements for some reason it's much easier to play a game with 11 forwards and 6 dmen, than with 12 forwards and 5 dmen.

Now I don't want Morin or Hagg sitting in the stands all the time, but I don't think that will happen. And the Flyers have plenty of waiver eligible forward prospects they can call up and send own whenever they like, which should make only carrying 13 forwards easy enough to manage.
- Feanor

didn't think of the practice squads...good point. If they go with 8 the rotation will be interesting to watch.

The hockey mentality of play through the pain and not use injuries to give context to poor play is really antiquated and quite silly imo.
- HeeroYuy

It depends on the player and the injury, honestly. Like I'd rather have Giroux playing at 80% than having to call someone up from the Phantoms. Losing him for an extended time could really hurt the team, so if he can still be somewhat productive I'd rather he played. As far as the second part, people could look at it as people making excuses, so that's probably why they don't like to mention it.

The hockey mentality of play through the pain and not use injuries to give context to poor play is really antiquated and quite silly imo.
- HeeroYuy

definitely.

especially with amount of money they make it is a different era.

Looking at Dave Shultz' contract 5 years for $350,000, yeah you can see why they felt they needed to play through things.

Now, with millions on the line, its not worth it to the player or the franchise.

In theory, Matt Niskanen should be a good compliment to Ivan Provorov on the top pair but I do have my concerns that maybe we might be overvaluing what he might have to offer. This isn’t to say he’s a bad player, he isn’t. You do have to take into consideration his season last year. His age. The teams he’s played on in the past, which were all contending teams and just because he was playing potentially 20 minutes a game, doesn’t mean he was on the top pair or seeing the opposing teams’ top players.

All this aside, should Niskanen workout exactly how we hope, he’s not a long term solutions. So we’ll still need to hold out for Samuel Morin, Robert Hagg, Phillip Myers, Travis Sanheim or Cam York to down the road to pick up where Niskanen leaves off.

A player like Brayden Coburn for example has been greatly missed as much as a Chris Pronger or Kimmo Timonen.
- SuperSchennBros

while i do agree coburn was an integral part of our defense and was a dynamo d pairing with Timonen, i think you can argue timonen was more missed and more important, and even further, Pronger going down kinda ruined our entire blue line for years. Pronger is that type of player that can really hide a lot of deficiencies on a blue line, a transcedent player if you will. Coburn really could never even hold a candle to Pronger, but then again not many dmen could.

Love getting these injured guys. Pitlick already paying dividends

Canes just got Gardiner.

If their goaltending holds up, they have a good shot at winning the Metro.

Can we make Jake Gardiner a comparable for Provy haha

seriously? we couldnt' replace ghost with gardiner? well hopefully this puts a cap on what Provy will make

Can we make Jake Gardiner a comparable for Provy haha
- ClaudeFather

Only if James Tanner was our GM.

seriously? we couldnt' replace ghost with gardiner? well hopefully this puts a cap on what Provy will make
- 2Real

I'll take Ghost over Gardiner

Only if James Tanner was our GM.
- jmatchett383

yea we just got the guy that overpays Hayes to play here

I'll take Ghost over Gardiner
- ClaudeFather

i won't i'd package ghost with something to bring in someone like oh i dunno Laine