Bill Meltzer: Sunday Musings: September 20, 2020

Thanks Bill! Do you think we need to add some toughness up front? Similar to how the Stars have Benn or the Lightning acquiring Barclay Goodrow this season. I know there is a difference in talent between the two players mentioned but it just seems to me we’ve been lacking a bit of toughness up front since we dealt Simmonds.

I think team toughness can't be overlooked as well. I'm not talking about intimidation like the old days. I'm talking about team toughness as in the ability to win puck battles along the boards to control play(puck possession). Look at the last four Finals teams for an example. You had the Blues and Bruins last year, and the Stars and Lightning this year. All tough teams after Tampa Bay added Goodrow,Coleman and Maroon this year. I see a pattern here and I'm afraid the Flyers are a bit soft when compared to these teams.

Can you and should you expect more from Giroux at this point? He has a lot of hockey mileage. Probably be more wise to expect diminishing returns.

I think team toughness can't be overlooked as well. I'm not talking about intimidation like the old days. I'm talking about team toughness as in the ability to win puck battles along the boards to control play(puck possession). Look at the last four Finals teams for an example. You had the Blues and Bruins last year, and the Stars and Lightning this year. All tough teams after Tampa Bay added Goodrow,Coleman and Maroon. I see a pattern here and I'm afraid the Flyers are a bit soft when compared to these teams.
- Phillywhiteout

The flyers have been easy to play against for a decade now.

LOCK OF THE DAY. I normally don’t give locks on my favorite teams but take the sf 9ers -6.5 today. Make you some $$$ today. I’m thinking 31-13. Why you ask? Because the J-E-T-S S-U-C-K


As a bonus hmmmm I like and almost took as pick of the day for you parlaying asses
Yankees to win again today
Kc/lac over 47

You’re welcome

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Giroux plays a similar game to Thornton who was still effective until he was 39-40. There is no reason to be concerned about Giroux. Even looking at someone like Jagr,he was able to stay in the league at a much older age because of his workout routine and commitment. From what I hear Giroux is pretty committed in his workouts.

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Giroux plays a similar game to Thornton who was still effective until he was 39-40. There is no reason to be concerned about Giroux. Even looking at someone like Jagr,he was able to stay in the league at a much older age because of his workout routine and commitment. From what I hear Giroux is pretty committed in his workouts.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Well to say no reason for concern I don't agree with; you can find other examples of players who were not effective. Thankfully only 2 years, that is until they extend him an0ther 2.....

LOCK OF THE DAY. I normally don’t give locks on my favorite teams but take the sf 9ers -6.5 today. Make you some $$$ today. I’m thinking 31-13. Why you ask? Because the J-E-T-S S-U-C-K


As a bonus hmmmm I like and almost took as pick of the day for you parlaying asses
Yankees to win again today
Kc/lac over 47

You’re welcome
- SMS4016

steelers. Come back with over Yankees

A sniper would be nice. But more importantly is a better balance on the defense and more from the bottom 6.

Sanheim myers gained valuable experience but man would it have been nice to split them up. Sanheim needs to work on his strength. A guy like Edmundson who was over paid but man is montreal d gonna be tough to play against is a guy we could use.

I think expecting nothing but kids to come into the bottom line or middle 6 and that makes the difference is far fetched. Could someone like maroon girgensons or Clifford maybe help that ? Sure. Would they cost a lot ? No.

Trading jvr or ghost is fine. But who are filling those spots from a production standpoint? And trading jake with nobody replacing him is assinine. Unless you're getting a chance of scenery trade for say johny hockey ?

A sniper would be nice. But more importantly is a better balance on the defense and more from the bottom 6.

Sanheim myers gained valuable experience but man would it have been nice to split them up. Sanheim needs to work on his strength. A guy like Edmundson who was over paid but man is montreal d gonna be tough to play against is a guy we could use.

I think expecting nothing but kids to come into the bottom line or middle 6 and that makes the difference is far fetched. Could someone like maroon girgensons or Clifford maybe help that ? Sure. Would they cost a lot ? No.

Trading jvr or ghost is fine. But who are filling those spots from a production standpoint? And trading jake with nobody replacing him is assinine. Unless you're getting a chance of scenery trade for say johny hockey ?
- Tfaehner

Sanheim very weak physically and that is very clear.

Agree with the kids part. That being said they need the opportunity to win a spot. As things stand right now the roster is pretty much set so will they get that chance? I like girgenson

Not losing any production from ghost as he doesnt ply11!

The thing with jake and clode imo is the are way to comfortable. I dont think they care as much win or lose. Do they want to win sure. I just dont see any balls to the wall attitude or play to back it up. No lets run through the fn wall. This eventually seeps into the younger guys.

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Giroux plays a similar game to Thornton who was still effective until he was 39-40. There is no reason to be concerned about Giroux. Even looking at someone like Jagr,he was able to stay in the league at a much older age because of his workout routine and commitment. From what I hear Giroux is pretty committed in his workouts.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

While I would agree that Giroux should still have plenty of good hockey left in him, I would disagree that there is no reason to be concerned. I feel as though Giroux can still be a very good player on a good team even if he can't carry a team but that's just a feeling and not a known fact.

So as of today this is the flyers forward group:
Giroux, Jake, Selke, Hayes, farabee, Raffle, NAK, Oscar, JVR, Laughton, Konecny, and Sandin. I am leaving out Tiger jr. 12 forwards.

So bearing any move where is the "open" spots for a young incoming prospect?

Hell even on defense they have 7 guys locked up assuming the RFA are signed.

ITS PHILADELPHIA FOOTBALL TEAM TIME

LOCK OF THE DAY. I normally don’t give locks on my favorite teams but take the sf 9ers -6.5 today. Make you some $$$ today. I’m thinking 31-13. Why you ask? Because the J-E-T-S S-U-C-K


As a bonus hmmmm I like and almost took as pick of the day for you parlaying asses
Yankees to win again today
Kc/lac over 47

You’re welcome
- SMS4016

San Fran the most common public pick this week lol

ITS PHILADELPHIA FOOTBALL TEAM TIME
- 2Real

Nothing special there

@Login

Giroux plays a similar game to Thornton who was still effective until he was 39-40. There is no reason to be concerned about Giroux. Even looking at someone like Jagr,he was able to stay in the league at a much older age because of his workout routine and commitment. From what I hear Giroux is pretty committed in his workouts.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

That’s fine as long as not being paid 8 mil. Joe was getting mil

@Login

Giroux plays a similar game to Thornton who was still effective until he was 39-40. There is no reason to be concerned about Giroux. Even looking at someone like Jagr,he was able to stay in the league at a much older age because of his workout routine and commitment. From what I hear Giroux is pretty committed in his workouts.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

While I agree in principle, the difference, and it is a big one in my opinion, is that Joe Thornton is 6'4" and 220 lbs.

Giroux is listed at 5'11" and 185. And seeing him in person standing next to him, he is neither that tall nor that heavy.

Same goes for Jagr, who was huge.

Giroux still has some good years left, but I think his lack of size works against him.

So as of today this is the flyers forward group:
Giroux, Jake, Selke, Hayes, farabee, Raffle, NAK, Oscar, JVR, Laughton, Konecny, and Sandin. I am leaving out Tiger jr. 12 forwards.

So bearing any move where is the "open" spots for a young incoming prospect?

Hell even on defense they have 7 guys locked up assuming the RFA are signed.
- login

??

While I agree in principle, the difference, and it is a big one in my opinion, is that Joe Thornton is 6'4" and 220 lbs.

Giroux is listed at 5'11" and 185. And seeing him in person standing next to him, he is neither that tall nor that heavy.

Same goes for Jagr, who was huge.

Giroux still has some good years left, but I think his lack of size works against him.
- MBFlyerfan

Here is the rub. The flyers have to play him on the top line as they have no other replacements really. If they could utilize him more properly yes he can likely be productive. At this stage of his career going against the top d every night doesn't help him

??
- MBFlyerfan

Nolan Patrick as ta least he is golfing. Sandin didnt sign here to not play in the nhl. He has a spot unless he flat out stinks.

Giroux not scoring and clearly pressing was part of the problem but that is not the only reason we did not advance this year, The team took strides forward and the future is good and bright, The fact that they made the playoffs (without the need of the expanded format playoffs) and even won those 3 "not as meaningful" games to get top seed was great considering Patrick missed the season, we lost Lindy and our goalie is young and played questionably on the road - That seems to be an afterthought now. This team will be fine, Giroux is not needing to take the team on his back like was needed 10 years ago, The secondary scoring should be up soon. Watching Frost come into his own in the next year or two should be great, smilar to that of watching Giroux come up while he had support cast of Briere, Richy, Carter etc. The captain gets the blame but much more went wrong than just him again Montreal and NYI series, A few goals would have helped but alot of growing pains - Honestly thought we were going to hear Niskanan needed surgery of some sort as his play was not up to his normal self, but that could be said about quite a few who were rolling before the Covid stoppage. Next year should be great for these guys.

Here is the rub. The flyers have to play him on the top line as they have no other replacements really. If they could utilize him more properly yes he can likely be productive. At this stage of his career going against the top d every night doesn't help him
- login

I agree. I’d love to see him producing more but I think a big part of the problem is the franchise is just asking too much of him at this stage of his career.

We really need to upgrade a winger position somewhere in the top 6 imo. Lots of good guys but no one truly great to put alongside Coots and Hayes. I’m not sure if the answer is a Gaudreau, Laine or Nylander but if any of them could somehow replace JVR in this lineup it would be a big first step in the right direction imo.

I agree. I’d love to see him producing more but I think a big part of the problem is the franchise is just asking too much of him at this stage of his career.

We really need to upgrade a winger position somewhere in the top 6 imo. Lots of good guys but no one truly great to put alongside Coots and Hayes. I’m not sure if the answer is a Gaudreau, Laine or Nylander but if any of them could somehow replace JVR in this lineup it would be a big first step in the right direction imo.
- hereticpride

They don't need to do any of that. They just need to be patient and let the young players grow. Lindblom was scoring at a 30 goal pace at the time of his illness. Farabee is going to be a very good player. Konecny is going to keep getting better. Did you read Bill's blog today? One of the biggest reasons why TB and Dallas are in the finals is due to how good their depth is. TB probably has the best role players in hockey. Who are the snipers in the Dallas lineup?

They don't need to do any of that. They just need to be patient and let the young players grow. Lindblom was scoring at a 30 goal pace at the time of his illness. Farabee is going to be a very good player. Konecny is going to keep getting better. Did you read Bill's blog today? One of the biggest reasons why TB and Dallas are in the finals is due to how good their depth is. TB probably has the best role players in hockey. Who are the snipers in the Dallas lineup?
- MJL

Radulov, Benn, Seguin, Hintz