Bill Meltzer: Musings and Quick Hits: April 2, 2021

I would think a major trade would be in order...with core players being shipped out...before the blame is again heaped on the coach.... I will say this though, there are several teams playing much better then the Flyers who have no where near the depth. That probably does fall at Lavy’s feet.
It’s just so weird that a franchise that never accepted losing without accountability now seems to have none.

Bill Meltzer: Musings and Quick Hits: April 2, 2021
- bmeltzer

Did anyone in the organization confirm to you the coach is safe or is that just your take?

"Questioning the struggling Carter Hart's work/practice habits -- a puzzling pronouncement on a player who, if anything, has a reputation for being a borderline workaholic -- struck a particularly odd note and, frankly, seemed rather unfair."

Could he have been trying to motivate the team to stick up for Carter?

Hey Bill, was Sandin not on the ice ?

Hey Bill, was Sandin not on the ice ?
- landros 2

Practiced with the taxi squad.

Did anyone in the organization confirm to you the coach is safe or is that just your take?
- login

It's my own take, but one in which I am 99.999 percent sure is the reality. He didn't go from totally secure to on the hotseat in a single month, no matter how awful that month was.

"Questioning the struggling Carter Hart's work/practice habits -- a puzzling pronouncement on a player who, if anything, has a reputation for being a borderline workaholic -- struck a particularly odd note and, frankly, seemed rather unfair."

Could he have been trying to motivate the team to stick up for Carter?
- Dkos

Maybe.

Good insight as always Bill. To those who have come after you with the "company man" crap, I suggest that maybe they go elsewhere for their information on the team. I have found you always to be fair; critical when it calls for it and not too over the top when the team is performing well.

The coach should not be in jeopardy at all. The players need to be held accountable. There is something wrong in this locker room. I don't know what it is, but so far 4 coaches have not been able to figure it out. This is a strong enough indication to me that there should be major changes moving forward. No one has distinguished themselves as untouchable, so I am ok with anyone leaving. The key is to try to get good value back. The dynamic in that room needs to change; the only thing left to try is moving players.

Vigneault should not be axed for this, IMO.

Any Flyer players being shopped or dangled out there, on the trading block?

continuing what hereticpride said on last blog - Untouchables for me are also Farabee, Hart and Provy (i still think he'll be very good for a long time) and i'm 50/50 on holding on to Coots as well. He'd bring a hell of a haul - we just aren't close to winning.

I also believe we should keep AV (this team goes through coaches like Taco Bell goes through my colon) but get rid of all assistants

"Questioning the struggling Carter Hart's work/practice habits -- a puzzling pronouncement on a player who, if anything, has a reputation for being a borderline workaholic -- struck a particularly odd note and, frankly, seemed rather unfair."

Could he have been trying to motivate the team to stick up for Carter?
- Dkos

He used to unfairly rip Henrik in NY, too.

ESPN+ Trade Deadline Guide by Emily Kaplan

Flyers Status: Tweener

Players, picks in play: D Erik Gustafsson ($3 million, UFA in 2021), C Scott Laughton ($2.3 million, UFA in 2021), LW Michael Raffl ($1.6 million, UFA in 2021), D Justin Braun ($1.8 million, UFA in 2022), 2021 first-round pick

What to watch: The Flyers expected to be contenders in 2021, but their season derailed after a brutal month of March. It's still possible to get back on track, but time is ticking. The first thing they need to do is stop the bleeding, and a lot of the issues fall on the blue line. Philadelphia could be looking for defensemen reinforcements; the Flyers never seemed to recover from the surprise retirement of Matt Niskanen in the offseason.
Philly is also considering getting goaltending reinforcements. Carter Hart has struggled, and they don't want to overburden him with pressure (especially when the blue line is so leaky). It doesn't seem like there's a trade partner for Shayne Gostisbehere -- especially after he went unclaimed on waivers -- so it would be surprising to see movement there. If Philly is going to execute a trade, it would have to give up another roster player or future draft picks and/or prospects.

What they should do: If the Predators decide they're willing to part with Mattias Ekholm, he could be a fit for the Flyers. But the Flyers would likely have to give up their 2021 first round pick, a top prospect (like the recently signed Cam York) and maybe even something else. Ekholm is signed through next season, but Philly would want to sign him to an extension, and make sure he is protected for the expansion draft. It's a lot to navigate.

Considering the way this season has unraveled, it might be best to play it conservative and make big moves around the draft. That means sending Gustafsson and Raffl away for middle-round picks. Laughton should stick around; he's too valuable to the bottom six, and could be re-signed in the offseason anyway.

He used to unfairly rip Henrik in NY, too.
- Tomahawk

Trying to get his team to play better D by unfairly ripping the goalie. Got to try something

I'd be real hard pressed to find a coach after a season removed ftom a Jack Adams finalist to getting canned the next over a bad month of hockey.

With that said, the man (AV) has done some really questionable crap in March.

He used to unfairly rip Henrik in NY, too.
- Tomahawk

You concentrated on his teammates. Again please explain t he massive gap between matthews and eichel.
What I was pointing to was who currently surrounds them. Eichel has similar totals on a far weaker team.

dbth

"Questioning the struggling Carter Hart's work/practice habits -- a puzzling pronouncement on a player who, if anything, has a reputation for being a borderline workaholic -- struck a particularly odd note and, frankly, seemed rather unfair."

Could he have been trying to motivate the team to stick up for Carter?
- Dkos

53 did publicly

You concentrated on his teammates. Again please explain t he massive gap between matthews and eichel.
What I was pointing to was who currently surrounds them. Eichel has similar totals on a far weaker team.
- Peter Richards

You do understand that Auston Matthews is right up there w/ OV in goal-scoring since he came into the league, right?

Matthews' "off year" is Eichel's best year.

Good insight as always Bill. To those who have come after you with the "company man" crap, I suggest that maybe they go elsewhere for their information on the team. I have found you always to be fair; critical when it calls for it and not too over the top when the team is performing well.

The coach should not be in jeopardy at all. The players need to be held accountable. There is something wrong in this locker room. I don't know what it is, but so far 4 coaches have not been able to figure it out. This is a strong enough indication to me that there should be major changes moving forward. No one has distinguished themselves as untouchable, so I am ok with anyone leaving. The key is to try to get good value back. The dynamic in that room needs to change; the only thing left to try is moving players.
- matman31

Try looking at some of the players that have been here under those 4 coaches

Maybe AV should lead by example and admit he has made judgment errors. Maybe he could come out and say waiving/scratching the arguably most effective D-Man this season so he could dress two replacement level players (LOL) was a misread on his and Chuck's part. Maybe even could say that he has treated certain players completely unfairly. (frank), maybe he could even say his system obviously isn't working and he needs to find out what puts the players in the best place to succeed.

What am I saying though, AV has so many regular season wins off the back of elite goaltending and lost in two cup finals so I don't have to do any critical thinking and can just blame the players instead. EZPZ

"waiving/scratching the arguably most effective D-Man this season" referring to Ghost? Are you high?

Maybe AV should lead by example and admit he has made judgment errors. Maybe he could come out and say waiving/scratching the arguably most effective D-Man this season so he could dress two replacement level players (LOL) was a misread on his and Chuck's part. Maybe even could say that he has treated certain players completely unfairly. (frank), maybe he could even say his system obviously isn't working and he needs to find out what puts the players in the best place to succeed.

What am I saying though, AV has so many regular season wins off the back of elite goaltending and lost in two cup finals so I don't have to do any critical thinking and can just blame the players instead. EZPZ
- HeeroYuy

The Ghost trashing/worship on the two sides of the fence is quite interesting.


Ghost isn't garbage. Defensively, when he's on, he breaks up plays in the NZ, and has a quick stick. In his own zone, he's below average on the walls and near the net. Offensively, he needs to generate more plays like the Patrick deflection goal in the Rangers game. Really nice keep at the front end. Nice, deflection-friendly shot. Those are things he used to do with regularity. He's healthy again, finally, this season. The Flyers need more of those plays from him. Offensive production will still remain the No. 1 way he can help the team.

He isn't done as a useful NHL player and there are still hints of the player he was in 2017-18. On the whole, he's had a decent bounceback year.

Now, on the other side of the fence. No, he hasn't been the Flyers "best defenseman." He has the same pros and cons he always had. Provorov, although it's been a disappointingly inconsistent season for him, is still the Flyers best all-around defenseman.

This season, once he got back from COVID list, Ghost started out playing pretty well defensively, moving the puck well, but struggling to produce much offensively. Later, his offense started to come around but his D-game went into a tailspin. Most recently, I thought he and Morin played well together for a couple games.

I'd rather play Ghost than Gus, as Gus is both a defensive liability and his offensive/puck moving games have been mediocre for weeks. That said, on the aggregate, Gus has 10 points in 24 games this season and Ghost has 11 points in 25 games. So that kind of comes out in the wash. Either guy can produce some points when he's on. Defensively, Gus has more weaknesses that Ghost, but let's not pretend Ghost has become Brad McCrimmon as a two-way D.

Beast, rest his soul. I feel bad for the fans that didn't get to see McCrimmon and Howe on the back end together in person. Talk about not having to stress about being scored on in the last 30 seconds of a period/game. They were absolute MONEY.

The Ghost trashing/worship on the two sides of the fence is quite interesting.


Ghost isn't garbage. Defensively, when he's on, he breaks up plays in the NZ, and has a quick stick. In his own zone, he's below average on the walls and near the net. Offensively, he needs to generate more plays like the Patrick deflection goal in the Rangers game. Really nice keep at the front end. Nice, deflection-friendly shot. Those are things he used to do with regularity. He's healthy again, finally, this season. The Flyers need more of those plays from him. Offensive production will still remain the No. 1 way he can help the team.

He isn't done as a useful NHL player and there are still hints of the player he was in 2017-18. On the whole, he's had a decent bounceback year.

Now, on the other side of the fence. No, he hasn't been the Flyers "best defenseman." He has the same pros and cons he always had. Provorov, although it's been a disappointingly inconsistent season for him, is still the Flyers best all-around defenseman.

This season, once he got back from COVID list, Ghost started out playing pretty well defensively, moving the puck well, but struggling to produce much offensively. Later, his offense started to come around but his D-game went into a tailspin. Most recently, I thought he and Morin played well together for a couple games.

I'd rather play Ghost than Gus, as Gus is both a defensive liability and his offensive/puck moving games have been mediocre for weeks. That said, on the aggregate, Gus has 10 points in 24 games this season and Ghost has 11 points in 25 games. So that kind of comes out in the wash. Either guy can produce some points when he's on. Defensively, Gus has more weaknesses that Ghost, but let's not pretend Ghost has become Brad McCrimmon as a two-way D.
- bmeltzer

Actually... ghost is garbage. While what you say about his d play for example in nz is true the problem is no player has the luxury of playing extended periods of a game in just certain situations. Ghost deficiency in actual d zone so bad that he doesn’t belong on ice. Same as gusty. Just too much liability. In ghost case this was evident after year 1 when league figured him out. Sure he will play spotty good here and there and the hope was he’d turn a corner. Hasn’t happened for YEARS. He is what he is. NOT a nhl player and it’s fine. 3rd round pick with potential. Most don’t pan out. The mistake was not accepting it years ago. And to take it a step further not realizing it and moving him as an asset when we could’ve got something for him. Now he clears waivers and wil never be heard from again. Hopefully