Bill Meltzer: Musings and Quick Hits: Laperriere, Sandström, Phantoms, Showcase & More

Welcome back Bill. Thanks for (kinda) explaining the Sandstrom strange signings situation.

Anyone else think "it could be worse" if the Flyers are still awful next year?

In the Wright, Savoie, Lambert year?

Welcome back Bill!

The problem was never that Laperriere "couldn't coach a penalty kill".

No, that's EXACTLY what the problem was.

The problem was never that Laperriere "couldn't coach a penalty kill".

No, that's EXACTLY what the problem was.
- Nh_kong

Option 1: He knew how to coach a PK to a near 85% success rate. Then he forgot how to coach a PK. Then he remembered again for half a season. Then he forgot again.

Option 2: When he had solid personnel, the PK was fine. What he had less capable personnel, it struggled.

Which one is more likely?

At the time they picked Felix Sandström I felt it was a really good pick, especially given the Flyers troubles with goaltending. Perhaps he's a late bloomer like Jacob Markström was, took him awhile to establish himself as a starter, but once he did, he's been playing well since.

Since the 2000 NHL Entry Draft the Flyers have taken 22 goaltenders, only two of them have played at least 100+ NHL games, Carter Hart (101) and Roman Cechmanek (212). The organization needs to put a lot more value on the position!!

At the time they picked Felix Sandström I felt it was a really good pick, especially given the Flyers troubles with goaltending. Perhaps he's a late bloomer like Jacob Markström was, took him awhile to establish himself as a starter, but once he did, he's been playing well since.

Since the 2000 NHL Entry Draft the Flyers have taken 22 goaltenders, only two of them have played at least 100+ NHL games, Carter Hart (101) and Roman Cechmanek (212). The organization needs to put a lot more value on the position!!
- DraftandDestroy

Didn't the Flyers draft Bobrovsky and then give up on him a bit too early? I think Bob has a Vezina trophy to his name, despite his recent struggles in FL.

EDIT: I just looked it up. Bob was not drafted. He was signed after 3 years in the KHL. And he won the Vezina twice (13, 17)

Option 1: He knew how to coach a PK to a near 85% success rate. Then he forgot how to coach a PK. Then he remembered again for half a season. Then he forgot again.

Option 2: When he had solid personnel, the PK was fine. What he had less capable personnel, it struggled.

Which one is more likely?
- bmeltzer

Bill goes on a mini vacation and comes back all logic'd up!

Great having you back, Bill.

At the time they picked Felix Sandström I felt it was a really good pick, especially given the Flyers troubles with goaltending. Perhaps he's a late bloomer like Jacob Markström was, took him awhile to establish himself as a starter, but once he did, he's been playing well since.

Since the 2000 NHL Entry Draft the Flyers have taken 22 goaltenders, only two of them have played at least 100+ NHL games, Carter Hart (101) and Roman Cechmanek (212). The organization needs to put a lot more value on the position!!
- DraftandDestroy

Most draft classes only yield a couple of decent NHL goaltenders on average. Every team usually takes at least one or two per draft. You do the math.

Flyers signed Bobrovsky and he went on to be the best in the league for awhile -- that already puts them ahead of a lot of other clubs.

Didn't the Flyers draft Bobrovsky and then give up on him a bit too early? I think Bob has a Vezina trophy to his name, despite his recent struggles in FL.
- Letterkenney

"Bobrovsky was never drafted into the NHL. Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has said that the Flyers considered drafting him during the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, but ultimately decided not to given the difficulty of signing Russian players at the time.[1] After playing his first four professional seasons with Metallurg Novokuznetsk in Russia, Bobrovsky signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flyers on 6 May 2010."

Option 1: He knew how to coach a PK to a near 85% success rate. Then he forgot how to coach a PK. Then he remembered again for half a season. Then he forgot again.

Option 2: When he had solid personnel, the PK was fine. What he had less capable personnel, it struggled.

Which one is more likely?
- bmeltzer

Coaches get way too much credit when things go right and way too much criticism when things go wrong.

Most draft classes only yield a couple of decent NHL goaltenders on average. Every team usually takes at least one or two per draft. You do the math.

Flyers signed Bobrovsky and he went on to be the best in the league for awhile -- that already puts them ahead of a lot of other clubs.
- Tomahawk

Stop making excuses, they're for losers, it's not been good enough and it needs to improve. That being said, you're right, it's hard to find one, however, in twenty one drafts I'd assume the Flyers are at the bottom of the successful list when it comes to goaltenders.

Washington Capitals have five that've played 100+ games since the 2000 entry draft, if you include Samsonov who is now their starter at age 24. He's only got 50 games in but he should get to 100 by next year.

Colorado is much the same as the Flyers, a team that struggles with the position, they've also have poor success with only two guys in the past twenty one drafts play 100+ games.

"Bobrovsky was never drafted into the NHL. Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has said that the Flyers considered drafting him during the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, but ultimately decided not to given the difficulty of signing Russian players at the time.
- DraftandDestroy[1] After playing his first four professional seasons with Metallurg Novokuznetsk in Russia, Bobrovsky signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flyers on 6 May 2010."

I actually was doing an edit to my post when you posted this. I stand corrected. But, nevertheless, it goes to the point that I think your insinuation that the Flyers draft goalies poorly is probably not in context when compared to every other NHL team. Like Tomahawk said, every NHL team drafts a couple/few goalies every year. A large majority of them we will never know who they are.

I actually was doing an edit to my post when you posted this. I stand corrected. But, nevertheless, it goes to the point that I think your insinuation that the Flyers draft goalies poorly is probably not in context when compared to every other NHL team. Like Tomahawk said, every NHL team drafts a couple/few goalies every year. A large majority of them we will never know who the are.
- Letterkenney

As an organization they should strive to be better than the other organizations, no? Why is it ok for them to be mediocre like all the other franchises?

We bitch and moan about the organization but then defend their mediocrity, you can't have it both ways, they need to be better if they intend on winning a Stanley Cup again.

Geez that was quick. Where did you go for vacation, Wawa?

Geez that was quick. Where did you go for vacation, Wawa?
- black_francis

Las Vegas from Monday to yesterday. Got back last night after a long flight delay and an awful traffic jam.

Stop making excuses, they're for losers, it's not been good enough and it needs to improve. That being said, you're right, it's hard to find one, however, in twenty one drafts I'd assume the Flyers are at the bottom of the successful list when it comes to goaltenders.

Washington Capitals have five that've played 100+ games since the 2000 entry draft, if you include Samsonov who is now their starter at age 24. He's only got 50 games in but he should get to 100 by next year.

Colorado is much the same as the Flyers, a team that struggles with the position, they've also have poor success with only two guys in the past twenty one drafts play 100+ games.
- DraftandDestroy

Caps are by far the exception.

Take Detroit for example... considered a pretty strong drafting team, been around since the beginning of the entry draft... but Jimmy Howard and Chris Osgood are the best they've come up with. Good enough to win with, but not exactly Vezina quality.

Meanwhile the Flyers have drafted/developed 3 Vezina winners (Bob, Hexy, Lindbergh).

Caps are by far the exception.

Take Detroit for example... considered a pretty strong drafting team, been around since the beginning of the entry draft... but Jimmy Howard and Chris Osgood are the best they've come up with. Good enough to win with, but not exactly Vezina quality.

Meanwhile the Flyers have drafted/developed 3 Vezina winners (Bob, Hexy, Lindbergh).

You mean 4? Hart in 2022

Buffalo is looking to move on from Eichel according to Elliott Friedman. They are already recieving calls for him. Wonder if they are looking to rebuild from scratch or get NHL players back

Buffalo is looking to move on from Eichel according to Elliott Friedman. They are already recieving calls for him. Wonder if they are looking to rebuild from scratch or get NHL players back
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

can't wait for him to go to a team other than the flyers and then have to read that we're not a destination anymore for months...

Buffalo is looking to move on from Eichel according to Elliott Friedman. They are already recieving calls for him. Wonder if they are looking to rebuild from scratch or get NHL players back
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

With his cap hit, most teams are going to HAVE to send back roster players to make the numbers work

can't wait for him to go to a team other than the flyers and then have to read that we're not a destination anymore for months...
- Ftown19125

Buffalo is looking to move on from Eichel according to Elliott Friedman. They are already recieving calls for him. Wonder if they are looking to rebuild from scratch or get NHL players back
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

How would he know that? He should cite his sources and list their contact info like any respectable “journalist”.

Sorry but I don’t trust him. Balrgh!

With his cap hit, most teams are going to HAVE to send back roster players to make the numbers work
- MBFlyerfan

Possible but some teams might gain space through expansion so it will be interesting to see. I definitely inquire. Id be willing to move any picks and prospects. Whether or not we need to send cap back depends on Seattle.

Only Guys I refuse to move are Couturier, Farabee, Hart, and Provorov