Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Another Devastating Stretch-Drive Defeat

They played fine but they have run out of rope. They have 5 UFA’s on the roster. I think Laughton and Raffl will have takers. Maybe they can move Elliot to someone in need of a veteran backup. Don’t want to trade Morin and I don’t know that anyone will take Gus. You might be able to move Braun if you retain salary.

Add assets to get a defenseman after the ED this offseason.

Keep Morin in the lineup and see how he progresses. Give Lyon a few games as well. Another season lost.

Above all the on ice changes my first move is to sack Therrien and Yeo.

I know it does have some to do with what you're working with on ice but how a team converts on literally half their PPs over 7 games is beyond me. Plus a shorty to boot.

If they had even the remotest of above average special teams they might be closer to a playoff birth despite poor defense and pedestrian goaltending.

In other words blowout sale half off shop early shop often

They played fine but they have run out of rope. They have 5 UFA’s on the roster. I think Laughton and Raffl will have takers. Maybe they can move Elliot to someone in need of a veteran backup. Don’t want to trade Morin and I don’t know that anyone will take Gus. You might be able to move Braun if you retain salary.

Add assets to get a defenseman after the ED this offseason.

Keep Morin in the lineup and see how he progresses. Give Lyon a few games as well. Another season lost.
- mickel25

I think they need to sign at least one of Elliott or Lyon to have a goalie to expose in the Expansion draft.

IF SELLING:

I would listen on Laughton but it would need to be for a 1st rounder or I am resigning him.

Raffl can be moved for depth. I am not sure Bruan gets moved as your exposing him in the expansion draft.

I wonder if you listen on Hagg(if healthy) if you feel like Morin can be a good 5-6 defensman moving forward. Hagg could provide depth to a playoff team.

I am not sure what you can do with Gostisbehere as he has term left on his deal.

i know it's against a lot of peoples idea but I think you need to talk to Giroux and see if there is a deal out there. He has one more year but if you retain 50% and team gets a good player for playoff run this year and cup run next. Also when his deal is up your going to need to resign Couturier.

Thos would be some things I would look at but that's just my feelings. I know not everyone agrees.

ESPN+ Top 10 Centers By Greg Wyshynski
we canvassed 10 active NHL players -- seven skaters, three goaltenders -- and 10 individuals in team hockey operations, from coaches to general managers to player personnel executives. The surveys were conducted over the past two months. Respondents were asked to rank their top 10 players at center, winger, defenseman and goaltender, based on a predetermined list of the top 20-30 players at each position. Players who were ranked in the top 10 on each ballot were given a numerical score -- No. 1 earned 10 points, No. 2 earned 9 points and so on.
1. McDavid
2. MacKinnon
3. Auston Matthews
4. Crosby
5. Draisaitl
6. Eichel
7. Bergeron
8. Aleksander Barkov
9. Brayden Point
10. Barzal

Honorable Mention: Ryan O'Reilly, Elias Petterson, Mark Scheifele, Anze Kopitar, Malkin.

Couts is not mentioned in the article at all. They don't provide the complete list of the 20-30 pre-determined players that the respondents got to rank from. It would be nice if they did.

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Another Devastating Stretch-Drive Defeat
- bmeltzer

Odd number years this team misses the playoffs. Look back to strike shorted season of 2012/13.

Odd number years this team misses the playoffs. Look back to strike shorted season of 2012/13.
- corduroy

This was the season that pattern SHOULD have ended. Hell, despite not playing close to how they played last year, (at least in November and then from the start of the second week of January until the pause, then the Round Robin) the Flyers entered March at 11-4-3 and with the top points percentage in the East Division.

ESPN+ Top 10 Centers By Greg Wyshynski
we canvassed 10 active NHL players -- seven skaters, three goaltenders -- and 10 individuals in team hockey operations, from coaches to general managers to player personnel executives. The surveys were conducted over the past two months. Respondents were asked to rank their top 10 players at center, winger, defenseman and goaltender, based on a predetermined list of the top 20-30 players at each position. Players who were ranked in the top 10 on each ballot were given a numerical score -- No. 1 earned 10 points, No. 2 earned 9 points and so on.
1. McDavid
2. MacKinnon
3. Auston Matthews
4. Crosby
5. Draisaitl
6. Eichel
7. Bergeron
8. Aleksander Barkov
9. Brayden Point
10. Barzal

Honorable Mention: Ryan O'Reilly, Elias Petterson, Mark Scheifele, Anze Kopitar, Malkin.

Couts is not mentioned in the article at all. They don't provide the complete list of the 20-30 pre-determined players that the respondents got to rank from. It would be nice if they did.
- Big_E_88

I really dont care where they rank him. We know how good he is.

First and foremost, the Flyers special teams let them down again. Boston is an astounding 10-for-20 on the power play in seven games against the Flyers this season. Making matters worse, the entire sequence of the Marchand game-winning shorthanded goal could scarcely have been executed worse by Philadelphia.

Lauzon has scored two goals in 57 career NHL games to date. Take your chances with HIM shooting on Hart from the left slot rather than yielding a pass across to the ultra-dangerous Marchand, who has all sorts of dekes and moves he scores on when one-on-one with a goalie.
- Bill Meltzer

That was astoundingly awful.

Math schmath - they're not making the playoffs this season.

I really dont care where they rank him. We know how good he is.
- MBFlyerfan

100% agree

Can't sell off everyone. You need a certain number of each player to expose. A goalie. Braun got the 2nd year and I believe hagg did too for those reasons. I've seen more than a few times now people suggesting the penguins are more likely to be caught than the bruins. Rangers and flyers both have 4 games left vs them. If rangers flyers combine for something like 6-2 vs them suddenly they are in it. We also have 5 games left vs the devils and 4 vs the caps. Theres no point in a fire sale for mid round picks. You're more than likely not going to change anything significant until the summer.

This was the season that pattern SHOULD have ended. Hell, despite not playing close to how they played last year, (at least in November and then from the start of the second week of January until the pause, then the Round Robin) the Flyers entered March at 11-4-3 and with the top points percentage in the East Division.
- bmeltzer

Really, a horrible collapse. Although they entered march with a solid record, to me the beginning of them going off the rails was when they experienced the COVID outbreak.
They should have been able to recover and at least go.500 but clearly they are not that resilient.

I don't expect chuck to be active at the TDL. Just wait it out until after the ED and hope to make an impact signing or trade. I think the chemistry has to be modified if possible.

I really thought we'd make the playoffs this year, and that the regression would be that we'd lose first round or something. From the beginning, I knew that Boston being added to the div meant it'd be touch and go to make it, but I thought we'd surpass the Penguins. Very disappointed in this team.

First and foremost, the Flyers special teams let them down again. Boston is an astounding 10-for-20 on the power play in seven games against the Flyers this season. Making matters worse, the entire sequence of the Marchand game-winning shorthanded goal could scarcely have been executed worse by Philadelphia.
-bmeltzer

I have been posting this for how long now? When the games get tight and really mean something, its the PP that differentiates the winners from the losers. But hey, don't take my word for it, take Bills!

I don't expect chuck to be active at the TDL. Just wait it out until after the ED and hope to make an impact signing or trade.
- Hextall271

I hope this is how it plays out.

Death by rat

This is going to be a gross over simplification but:

There is just something wrong with this Core. Slow starts to key games. Not showing up at key times. Not back checking consistently. Both Giroux and Jake have been guilty of these really since the departure of Lavy.

Couturier at gives an honest days work even when he shouldn't be playing because of injury.

JvR is and always was a streaky player. When he is hot he can be incredibly hot. When he goes cold, it is just painful.

Hayes doesn't seem to have any of the grit and drive he had last year and earlier this year.

TK seems to have regressed in some ways and adopted some of Jake's bad habits along the way.

I don't know if this is all AV, if this is leftover blow back from the Hextall/Hakstol debacle. I don't know if this is older players being too comfortable. Whatever, the younger components are there for this team to be better and move forward.

I have been posting this for how long now? When the games get tight and really mean something, its the PP that differentiates the winners from the losers. But hey, don't take my word for it, take Bills!
- jd250

Actually, all morning and last night you've been posting that the Flyers top players didn't produce while the "real" top player of Boston did. Also how disciplined teams don't EVER, EVER let certain things happen. While ignoring that Boston let up multiple breakaways in the game. I pointed out to you that the PP is costing the team offensively and in last night's game. Now you're just parroting Bill with claims of I told you so.

This was the season that pattern SHOULD have ended. Hell, despite not playing close to how they played last year, (at least in November and then from the start of the second week of January until the pause, then the Round Robin) the Flyers entered March at 11-4-3 and with the top points percentage in the East Division.
- bmeltzer

But Bill, you know this record was a ruse, right? The Flyers were playing like crap this entire season. They started the season looking slow and making tons of turnovers. They were extremely lucky to win any of these games early on. You had to know it would catch up to them if they didn't turn it around, and of course it did. No team can continue to have the worst PK in the league, a below average PP and commit the number of turn overs and blown coverages this team does on a gamely basis and expect to make the playoffs, even in a shortened season.

End of February first in the Division
April 6 Season over

One hat trick after another allowed
Laughing stock special teams
“Franchise” goaltender regressing by the minute
Patrick a bust
Myers/Sanheim playing terrible
Head scratching coaching decisions/zero adjustments
A GM with a poop track record

That future though, how bright is it!?

Actually, all morning and last night you've been posting that the Flyers top players didn't produce while the "real" top player of Boston did. Also how disciplined teams don't EVER, EVER let certain things happen. While ignoring that Boston let up multiple breakaways in the game. I pointed out to you that the PP is costing the team offensively and in last night's game. Now you're just parroting Bill with claims of I told you so.
- MJL

Yes, and I have tons of previous posts to prove it!!

ESPN and the Sunday comics are the last places I would go for hockey content

Issues i see on pp are:

1) Entry - they mostly try to carry the puck in and they turn it over. They seem way more successful when they dump snd chase but rarely do that

2) They move the puck too slowly. When i watch other teams on the pp the setup looks the same but they move the puck a lot faster than the flyers do. Flyers seem to hold onto the puck too long and allow teams time to read tge play and get in position. They have had flashes where they moved the puck fast lately.

End of February first in the Division
April 6 Season over

One hat trick after another allowed
Laughing stock special teams
“Franchise” goaltender regressing by the minute
Patrick a bust
Myers/Sanheim playing terrible
Head scratching coaching decisions/zero adjustments
A GM with a poop track record

That future though, how bright is it!?
- PLindbergh31

I am on record posting in February that if the Flyers keep playing like this they will not make the playoffs, and now that has come true. I am also on record posting at the start of the season that the Flyers younger players (Hextall's pride and joy) are not that good, and alas so far that has shown to be true. So, unless Fletcher has learned from his mistakes in Minnesota, No, I don't think the future is all that bright, but I am willing to give Fletcher the off season to fix this and judge him then.