Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 4/6/21 vs. BOS

Thanks Bill

Bill, can you give any insight or just even your opinion on what is going on with Hayes? I don’t ask this as a hater either, I have his jersey and loved the signing. But he simply hasn’t been good and isn’t playing to his potential which he displayed plenty last season. He really provided some clutch scoring last season when our other top guys had “off” games, especially on the PK with his short handed goals.

Sell high on JvR if anyone has the cap space..

We need 2 points in regulation tonight. Please put pressure on whatever inexperienced goalie is in the net. Stay out of the box.

I would say Hayes breaks out tonight but back to back nights. I'm not expecting much.

Let's go boys!

Bill, can you give any insight or just even your opinion on what is going on with Hayes? I don’t ask this as a hater either, I have his jersey and loved the signing. But he simply hasn’t been good and isn’t playing to his potential which he displayed plenty last season. He really provided some clutch scoring last season when our other top guys had “off” games, especially on the PK with his short handed goals.
- arichardson22

He had a spell very much like this last season, where AV directly called him out among other vets. But then he was a big part of the surges in November and early January to the pause. No question: the Flyers need his PKing and puck protection to get back to where they were last season. The raw offensive numbers are acceptable and his underlying numbers are actually better this season than last but there have been too many off-nights overall in his game.

Sell high on JvR if anyone has the cap space..
- therabbi

Two years of term left at $7 million. That would be a very hard sell unless you are taking back someone else's cap/term another team would love to unload or adding significant sweeteners in draft picks plus eating a significant chunk of the contract for the remaining term.

Two years of term left at $7 million. That would be a very hard sell unless you are taking back someone else's cap/term another team would love to unload or adding significant sweeteners in draft picks plus eating a significant chunk of the contract for the remaining term.
- bmeltzer

I think JvR is playing very well, even with the pointless streak. He looks dangerous every time he’s on the ice.

I wonder if David Savard is of any interest here as Provorov’s D partner.

I think JvR is playing very well, even with the pointless streak. He looks dangerous every time he’s on the ice.
- SuperSchennBros

JVR's process has been better most of all season. Better boardwork. Better puck management. But, at his core, he's a guy you look to for points. He's not been getting the deflections and to the loose pucks very often for weeks.

I wonder if David Savard is of any interest here as Provorov’s D partner.
- SuperSchennBros

If you can get him extended before he goes UFA, sure. He's solid and RH. But I think the Flyers are looking at trying to do something a little bigger impact, even if it has to wait until the offseason.

Sell high on JvR if anyone has the cap space..
- therabbi

Teams are not going to take on term at the deadline.

If you can get him extended before he goes UFA, sure. He's solid and RH. But I think the Flyers are looking at trying to do something a little bigger impact, even if it has to wait until the offseason.
- bmeltzer

That scares me.

He had a spell very much like this last season, where AV directly called him out among other vets. But then he was a big part of the surges in November and early January to the pause. No question: the Flyers need his PKing and puck protection to get back to where they were last season. The raw offensive numbers are acceptable and his underlying numbers are actually better this season than last but there have been too many off-nights overall in his game.
- bmeltzer

Interesting to see his raw offensive numbers and underlying numbers are actually better because based on the eye test you’d think otherwise lol. Thanks, Bill!

Interesting to see his raw offensive numbers and underlying numbers are actually better because based on the eye test you’d think otherwise lol. Thanks, Bill!
- arichardson22

Just goes to show you. Your eye test is working because Hayes has not been good for a while.

Continued from last thread....

Bill, talking about prospects, Rubtsov completed another unimpressive season in the KHL, 11P in 46GP, a month ago. Since the Flyers haven’t recalled him to the Phantoms, I think he has probably already played his last game for the Flyers organization. Do you agree?
- Djapana

From what I was told, the only way HC Sochi wanted Rubtsov this season was on a full-season deal. Although the Flyers had the right not to agree -- since he is still on contract this season -- they gave an OK. He was better off playing than waiting out the then-uncertain status of if/when they're be an AHL season.

Reading tea leaves here, but I didn't get much of a sense of optimism from Brent's tone in discussing the prospects of Rubtsov returning to North America. Flahr said the org would like him to come back to play for the Phantoms/Flyers but the player will be an RFA and can sign to play in the KHL -- as Vorobyev did -- at his own choosing. If that's how it goes down, the Flyers will still give a qualifying offer to hold Rubtsov's NHL rights.

In 2018-19, before Hexy/Sarge were fired and replaced by Chuck/Brent, Rubtsov got off to a great all-around start for the Phantoms. There were raves about his two-way play, he was seeing time in all game situations and posted 10 points in his first 13 games. In the first period of Game 14, he suffered a season ending shoulder injury similar to the one Morgan Frost had this year. But Scott Gordon was very happy with what he saw from Rubtsov overall before the injury; with an expectation of just a tad more shift-to-shift impact as he gained experience.

Rubtsov had a just OK training camp last year for Vigneault. Fine defensively, not much offensive pish. Played just OK for the Phantoms and four games with the Flyers. Back with the Phantoms, he suffered a second shoulder injury on a nothing looking contact play on the boards. Missed a month this time, as the injury was not nearly as serious.

When he returned, Rubtsov played ultra-conservative hockey. He was encouraged to get back to making plays and getting more involved, but it never happened to an appreciable degree. He also struggled on faceoffs and board battles; not good for someone whose role (if any) was looking more and more like a 4C.

Went to the KHL this season. Had some injury issues. Showed hints of offensive upside but not very often. Seemed content to be very conservative in his play and avoid contact. Pretty much a big rink version of his Phantoms season last year.

That said, he's still only 22 years old and he'd hardly be the first late bloomer after injury setbacks. He very well could sign in the KHL, the Flyers QO him to hold the rights, and it stays that way unless he has a big breakthrough.

Pretty sure Halak will start tonight. Seems more likely he was a false positive than one player getting COVID without it spreading

That scares me.
- MJL

Likewise.

That scares me.
- MJL

Yes and no. I think we all recognize the core is flawed. It could be just what the doctor ordered. Theres a ton of teams who seem to want to potentially change their core this off season. I keep hearing fletcher say "right mix" over and over again.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 4/6/21 vs. BOS
- bmeltzer

Let's see if they can do it again, hopefully in regulation this time.

Jeremy Swayman in between the pipes for the Bruins tonight

Bruins a -142 favorite on the road, with a goaltender that has never played an NHL game.

Jeremy Swayman in between the pipes for the Bruins tonight

Bruins a -142 favorite on the road, with a goaltender that has never played an NHL game.
- PLindbergh31

Well we have to take advantage. Play desperate again and pepper this cat.

Well we have to take advantage. Play desperate again and pepper this cat.
- Hextall271

Bruins starting their 4th goalie means they aren't taking the Flyers seriously. I get their top two goalies are unavailable. But how do they not go back to Vladar? He was really good last night. I guess maybe he's hurt too.

If you can get him extended before he goes UFA, sure. He's solid and RH. But I think the Flyers are looking at trying to do something a little bigger impact, even if it has to wait until the offseason.
- bmeltzer

Let’s all hope so.

Yes and no. I think we all recognize the core is flawed. It could be just what the doctor ordered. Theres a ton of teams who seem to want to potentially change their core this off season. I keep hearing fletcher say "right mix" over and over again.
- Tfaehner

Are you okay with Fletcher trading part of the future "core" in an attempt to win now?