Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Pre-Tahoe Practice, Patrick, Taxi Squad , TIFH

Patrick is going to be under a critical microscope until he proves himself. That might be unfair given circumstances, but his draft position places him under that scrutiny. Coots went through that but he was a defensive asset right from the beginning. To be honest it doesn't look like he's going to be an 80 point scorer at the NHL level, but I'd take 60 with dependable defense.

Thank goodness for Couturier and Hayes

Great observation as always Bill. Patrick has been fine so far. Very solid two-way game. Perfect as a 3rd line center. He supposedly has a big offensive upside but he needs to assert himself much more. I assume he has the ability to drive play much more than he has. I really would like to see him center Oskar and TK when all are healthy. I think he would be more comfortable with them and they would compliment each other's abilities. I get the sense that Patty doesn't want to make mistakes so he doesn't take risks. Just seems like he has a another gear that we have not seen yet. But I don't think we can criticize his play thus far this season as much as we would like to see more scoring from him.

Nice to see Matthew Strome getting raised up to the taxi squad. I always felt if that kid could become even a passable skater, he has the hands and skill to be a player in the NHL.

Nice to see Matthew Strome getting raised up to the taxi squad. I always felt if that kid could become even a passable skater, he has the hands and skill to be a player in the NHL.
- MBFlyerfan

He cant even get into the phantoms lineup with any consistency. No NHL for him

I feel bad for Patrick, you can tell how he approaches the walls and the corners that he is thinking about getting his head, this causes the less assertiveness in his all around game and adds to a perimeter game. He had a couple chances to go to the net with the puck last night and chose not too. I’m not saying he needs to be reckless but he really does need to get his nose in it a little more.

Nice to see Matthew Strome getting raised up to the taxi squad. I always felt if that kid could become even a passable skater, he has the hands and skill to be a player in the NHL.
- MBFlyerfan

They were down to three options: Strome, Laberge and Wisdom were the only healthy remaining Phantoms forwards under NHL contract (and Wisdom has all of three pro games under his belt at age 18). Sounds like the Phantoms may at least be getting Sandin back for next Wednesday. The others -- Allison, Laczynski, Ratcliffe, and Foerster -- remain out.

Sam Morin is lost out there, there’s gotta be someone else we can put in the lineup besides him. Not sure if anyone caught it, I was watching the MSG coverage, he tried to drop the gloves with Smith well after the whistle, lemieux looked at him and said what the F are you doing

Sam Morin is lost out there, there’s gotta be someone else we can put in the lineup besides him. Not sure if anyone caught it, I was watching the MSG coverage, he tried to drop the gloves with Smith well after the whistle, lemieux looked at him and said what the F are you doing
- ClaudeFather

seems he has no idea what to do. To me he would be paying on the top 2 pairs on defense for the phantoms. Let him play regular minutes to see what you have. Playing 4th line winger minutes in the AHL isn't really any help to me. Though the fact they dont tells me they think he also isnt any good on defense

seems he has no idea what to do. To me he would be paying on the top 2 pairs on defense for the phantoms. Let him play regular minutes to see what you have. Playing 4th line winger minutes in the AHL isn't really any help to me. Though the fact they dont tells me they think he also isnt any good on defense
- login

Yea this experiment has been awful, I really can’t comprehend why he can’t crack the phantoms lineup on D.

Yea this experiment has been awful, I really can’t comprehend why he can’t crack the phantoms lineup on D.
- ClaudeFather

He should be able to with ease. I think the Flyers jumped the gun on making him a forward. And now it seems like they are being stubborn when they could have clearly used him on defense when we had some injuries.

He should be able to with ease. I think the Flyers jumped the gun on making him a forward. And now it seems like they are being stubborn when they could have clearly used him on defense when we had some injuries.
- MBFlyerfan

Has to be much more to this story. Especially when you see the depth on wing. His skillset on Defense is lacking in the organization. Seems he would be a potential cheap #6 dman. Clearly they feel differently.

On the patrick microscope...Same critique was said of Coots for years...some kids just take longer to bake.

Morin and Patrick need at least 1 full season to get back to themselves.

On the patrick microscope...Same critique was said of Coots for years...some kids just take longer to bake.
- JW98FlyerFan

Both players had spells of offensive effectiveness, too. The hints were always there. But Couturier was a defensive standout from the get-go -- not that Patrick is any slouch defensively, because he's good, but he's not looking future Selke candidate good -- and there was more game-to-game consistency.

I'd simply like to see Patrick push himself beyond his offensive comfort zone with a little more consistency. He'll be fine if he does.

Patrick is going to be under a critical microscope until he proves himself. That might be unfair given circumstances, but his draft position places him under that scrutiny. Coots went through that but he was a defensive asset right from the beginning. To be honest it doesn't look like he's going to be an 80 point scorer at the NHL level, but I'd take 60 with dependable defense.
- DANCER

Well said.

Yes, Coots made a MAJOR impact defensively at 18. Forget area code, NP isn't on the same planet as Coots w/o the puck.

So he has to be provide something consistently to justify (more) ice time, be it reliable auxiliary point production, being a guy who wins a lot of 50/50 battles, physical intimidation... something.

He probably has a couple of more seasons to find his NHL niche before his perceived potential stops swinging lineup decisions in his favor. Guys like NAK and Bunnaman have been flat out better so far this season.

Both players had spells of offensive effectiveness, too. The hints were always there. But Couturier was a defensive standout from the get-go -- not that Patrick is any slouch defensively, because he's good, but he's not looking future Selke candidate good -- and there was more game-to-game consistency.

I'd simply like to see Patrick push himself beyond his offensive comfort zone with a little more consistency. He'll be fine if he does.
- bmeltzer

And that’s the issue i see, I can’t stop feeling that he is doing everything he can not to get his bell rung.

And that’s the issue i see, I can’t stop feeling that he is doing everything he can not to get his bell rung.
- ClaudeFather

Yeah, I was thinking the same. There were times early in the season he could have took the puck hard to the net, but instead settled for a pass. The whole team was doing that though really.

Yeah, I was thinking the same. There were times early in the season he could have took the puck hard to the net, but instead settled for a pass. The whole team was doing that though really.
- Ftown19125

Our one high end guy that plays with some balls is currently no where to be found, this team needs TK to get going if we are going to do anything in the playoffs.

Patrick also seems to pass the puck away more than take it himself. Even when he has a semi scoring chance, he’ll look for pass. I always remember hearing he had a heavy shot. I’d like to see it more. But I won’t rip on the guy, the extended time away can be impacting his decision making and/or confidence.

I was always harping on Coots offensive game, or lack there of, I'm kinda in the same boat with Patrick. For a second overall pick his lack of offensive skill is frustrating. I'll give it time, as I learned from Couturier.

Patrick just doesn't seem to possess higher-end puck skills, he's more of a north/south guy who plays on the outside a lot....the next three kids taken after him are just unbelievable players, the ones that got away

I was always harping on Coots offensive game, or lack there of, I'm kinda in the same boat with Patrick. For a second overall pick his lack of offensive skill is frustrating. I'll give it time, as I learned from Couturier.

Patrick just doesn't seem to possess higher-end puck skills, he's more of a north/south guy who plays on the outside a lot....the next three kids taken after him are just unbelievable players, the ones that got away
- Dave21Brown

I’d argue that he clearly has high end puck skill, and a good head for the game. He makes those subtle passes a guy like Giroux makes. He just isn’t asserting his game, being passive, sticking to the perimeter too much .

I’d argue that he clearly has high end puck skill, and a good head for the game. He makes those subtle passes a guy like Giroux makes. He just isn’t asserting his game, being passive, sticking to the perimeter too much .
- ClaudeFather

Well you'd view skill-sets differently than me then. To each their own. I just don't see him making highend plays with the puck very often and his lateral movement isn't that great.

I’d argue that he clearly has high end puck skill, and a good head for the game. He makes those subtle passes a guy like Giroux makes. He just isn’t asserting his game, being passive, sticking to the perimeter too much .
- ClaudeFather

Again, agree. Just look at his puck handling during a few of those power plays last night. When he has room you can see his skill. I just think, as you said, it's going to take him a while to get comfortable. He has to get confident that he isn't going to get hurt if he takes a heavy hit.