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Forums :: Blog World :: Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Forward lines,
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Bill Meltzer
Editor
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 07.13.2006

Aug 2 @ 7:15 AM ET
Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Forward lines,
Phillywhiteout
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: West Chester, PA
Joined: 08.11.2020

Aug 2 @ 7:25 AM ET
I really think more needed to be done with the forward core to make this off season a true success(also needed a more proven backup goalie). Perhaps they are better with better puck movers on the backend, but overall this is still a rather soft/speed challenged group of forwards. Don't think they're really gonna scare anyone.
hello it's me 2050
Location: AR
Joined: 05.14.2021

Aug 2 @ 7:50 AM ET
Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Forward lines,
- bmeltzer

If NAK is in the opening night lineup the GM failed. An even bigger failure will be the "young" players who couldn't bet him out for a spot. \

Oscar on the 4th line is a waste of his talent. How is he expected to produce playing with those 2 stiffs?

That fwd group is soft as can be. When playing against a physical team can't wait to see if they have any pushback.
jd250
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 01.12.2018

Aug 2 @ 7:59 AM ET
Likewise, it would also be transformative if Lindblom can get back to the level he played in the second half of 2018-19 and the first two-plus months of the 2019-20 campaign prior to his Ewing Sarcoma diagnosis. If he can recover something close to that level, Lindblom can once again slot higher in the Philadelphia lineup.
-BMeltzer

Two questions. First, how is Lindblom ever going to get back to the level he played like before by playing with Nate Thompson and NAK 10 minutes a night; recall Lindblom was playing with Couts and TK before he was diagnosed? Second, if somehow Lindblom did return to his level and was to slot higher, who comes down to the bottom 6; you already have a $7M player playing on the 3rd line?
Bill Meltzer
Editor
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 07.13.2006

Aug 2 @ 8:03 AM ET
If NAK is in the opening night lineup the GM failed. An even bigger failure will be the "young" players who couldn't bet him out for a spot. \

Oscar on the 4th line is a waste of his talent. How is he expected to produce playing with those 2 stiffs?

That fwd group is soft as can be. When playing against a physical team can't wait to see if they have any pushback.

- hello it's me 2050


1) This the default six weeks before camp. I would expect some things to change as roster battles shape up.

2) Agree re: Oskar but that's the depth chart as of right now unless Farabee plays RW (which he showed last season that he can do as needed).

3) While I would personally prefer if Nate Thompson is the team's 13th forward at this stage of his career, there are no "stiffs" who get even close to the 800+ game level in the NHL. Not a scorer, had to deal with some serious off-ice problems and yet he's still ticking. I think he deserves respect.

4) I'd like to see some more size (on the wing), physicality and speed injected within in the forward mix but there's only so much you can do in one offseason and so many cap dollars to go around.

jd250
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 01.12.2018

Aug 2 @ 8:05 AM ET
If NAK is in the opening night lineup the GM failed. An even bigger failure will be the "young" players who couldn't bet him out for a spot. \

Oscar on the 4th line is a waste of his talent. How is he expected to produce playing with those 2 stiffs?

That fwd group is soft as can be. When playing against a physical team can't wait to see if they have any pushback.

- hello it's me 2050

These are good points! CF did a nice job getting Risto, but other than him who in this lineup is going to hurt the other team physically, wear them down as the game goes along? The rest of the Flyers D is soft unless Morin is taking regular shifts also, and the forward group, other than Thompson, is soft. Hitting and Physicality still matters in this sport! Even the Islanders had 4 big defenseman on the backend that hit hard. I think the Flyers are still lacking sand paper in both their forward group and backend.
leon neon
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: GA
Joined: 02.16.2009

Aug 2 @ 8:07 AM ET
Claude Giroux - Sean Couturier - Travis Konecny
Joel Farabee - Kevin Hayes - Cam Atkinson
James van Riemsdyk - Scott Laughton - Wade Allison
Oskar Lindblom - Nate Thompson - Nicolas Aube-Kubel

X-factor players in training camp: Morgan Frost, Tanner Laczynski.
Vying for recalls: Jackson Cates, Linus Sandin, German Rubtsov.


Bill, I know this is all hypothetical at this point, but any reason why you put TK first line and Atkinson second? Do you think NAK and Allison are pretty safe bets for opening night? I was thinking Frost would bump one of them. However, the other two have more experience and games played over Frost. Please refresh my memory... Frost played some games last year before he got hurt, we that from the start or did start in the AHL and move? It's interesting to see Lindblom on the 4th line, but there's no room. As I recall, he played 4th line when he first played with the Flyers or was that 3rd? He should do a fine job on 4th.

One last thing... PP and PK line up? Or you saving that for another day?
jd250
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 01.12.2018

Aug 2 @ 8:07 AM ET
1) This the default six weeks before camp. I would expect some things to change as roster battles shape up.

2) Agree re: Oskar but that's the depth chart as of right now unless Farabee plays RW (which he showed last season that he can do as needed).

3) While I would personally prefer if Nate Thompson is the team's 13th forward at this stage of his career, there are no "stiffs" who get even close to the 800+ game level in the NHL. Not a scorer, had to deal with some serious off-ice problems and yet he's still ticking. I think he deserves respect.

4) I'd like to see some more size (on the wing), physicality and speed injected within in the forward mix but there's only so much you can do in one offseason and so many cap dollars to go around.

- bmeltzer

To me, the logical next step is to trade JVR for more speed and size. You can't be playing a $7M forward on your 3rd line, and JVR is unfortunately not good enough to beat out the current top 6 on this team. The next choice to trade for me would be TK.
hello it's me 2050
Location: AR
Joined: 05.14.2021

Aug 2 @ 8:10 AM ET
1) This the default six weeks before camp. I would expect some things to change as roster battles shape up.

2) Agree re: Oskar but that's the depth chart as of right now unless Farabee plays RW (which he showed last season that he can do as needed).

3) While I would personally prefer if Nate Thompson is the team's 13th forward at this stage of his career, there are no "stiffs" who get even close to the 800+ game level in the NHL. Not a scorer, had to deal with some serious off-ice problems and yet he's still ticking. I think he deserves respect.

4) I'd like to see some more size (on the wing), physicality and speed injected within in the forward mix but there's only so much you can do in one offseason and so many cap dollars to go around.

- bmeltzer

I get it your just making an August prediction based on what they have currently. All good Bill. All good.

Stop with the there are no stiffs. You full well now what I mean. No true contending team would have him in their lineup. It was not a needed signing. You also know that AV will be playing him way more than he should. Remember when he was getting more ice time than Jake and Giroux?

Would you rather have Stephan at 1.3 or Thompson?
Hesh_
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 07.29.2013

Aug 2 @ 8:15 AM ET
To me, the logical next step is to trade JVR for more speed and size. You can't be playing a $7M forward on your 3rd line, and JVR is unfortunately not good enough to beat out the current top 6 on this team. The next choice to trade for me would be TK.


Man, people really turned quick on TK around here. Yeah, disappointing season no doubt, but I’ve seen more potential in that guy than I have a lot of others who have managed to not get as much poop thrown their way.

He shouldn’t be as bad as he was last year again. Hope not.
PLindbergh31
Location: NJ
Joined: 02.01.2008

Aug 2 @ 8:17 AM ET
Fletcher wouldn't have signed Thompson on the first day of FA if the plan was for him to be the 13th forward. Thompson will play at least 50 games take it to the bank.
PLindbergh31
Location: NJ
Joined: 02.01.2008

Aug 2 @ 8:20 AM ET
Man, people really turned quick on TK around here. Yeah, disappointing season no doubt, but I’ve seen more potential in that guy than I have a lot of others who have managed to not get as much poop thrown their way.

He shouldn’t be as bad as he was last year again. Hope not.

- Hesh_


Not only a disappointing season, how about his performance in the bubble playoffs? 16 games zero goals? You kidding me? Getting zero production from your top goal scorer in a 7 game series can't happen.
MBFlyerfan
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Be nice from now on, NJ
Joined: 03.17.2006

Aug 2 @ 8:20 AM ET
Fletcher wouldn't have signed Thompson on the first day of FA if the plan was for him to be the 13th forward. Thompson will play at least 50 games take it to the bank.
- PLindbergh31




Yep, just like Linus Sandin last season, he is guaranteed a spot.
Bill Meltzer
Editor
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 07.13.2006

Aug 2 @ 8:20 AM ET
I get it your just making an August prediction based on what they have currently. All good Bill. All good.

Stop with the there are no stiffs. You full well now what I mean. No true contending team would have him in their lineup. It was not a needed signing. You also know that AV will be playing him way more than he should. Remember when he was getting more ice time than Jake and Giroux?

Would you rather have Stephan at 1.3 or Thompson?

- hello it's me 2050


Would rather have Stepan but it's a different role. Flyers were in on him even after signing Thompson but didn't land him.
PLindbergh31
Location: NJ
Joined: 02.01.2008

Aug 2 @ 8:22 AM ET
Yep, just like Linus Sandin last season, he is guaranteed a spot.
- MBFlyerfan


Are the Flyers still interested in Cizikas?
landros 2
Season Ticket Holder
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Centre of universe
Joined: 02.07.2007

Aug 2 @ 8:24 AM ET
To me, the logical next step is to trade JVR for more speed and size. You can't be playing a $7M forward on your 3rd line, and JVR is unfortunately not good enough to beat out the current top 6 on this team. The next choice to trade for me would be TK.
- jd250



I think Fletch tried to move on from JVR…and maybe he still can. If not he’s still a decent winger. I’d be careful about moving on from TK, unless they are still looking at Eichel, but from reports the Flyers are out of it now if you believe Elliot Friedman….you mentioned sand paper…to me TK is one of the guys when playing well has that.
PLindbergh31
Location: NJ
Joined: 02.01.2008

Aug 2 @ 8:27 AM ET
I think Fletch tried to move on from JVR…and maybe he still can. If not he’s still a decent winger. I’d be careful about moving on from TK, unless they are still looking at Eichel, but from reports the Flyers are out of it now if you believe Elliot Friedman….you mentioned sand paper…to me TK is one of the guys when playing well has that.
- landros 2


JVR is coming off a pretty solid season. Normally the issue with him is, when he's not scoring he doesn't really bring much to the table. He was one of the better Flyers forwards away from the puck. Flyers need his size, and net front presence on PP1.
MBFlyerfan
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Be nice from now on, NJ
Joined: 03.17.2006

Aug 2 @ 8:28 AM ET
Are the Flyers still interested in Cizikas?
- PLindbergh31


Not sure they could afford him. I would certainly prefer him over Thompson, but he wasn't coming here for 800k.

My guess is he will be 3.5 aav.


hello it's me 2050
Location: AR
Joined: 05.14.2021

Aug 2 @ 8:32 AM ET
Would rather have Stepan but it's a different role. Flyers were in on him even after signing Thompson but didn't land him.
- bmeltzer

I just do not see the value in Thompson at this stage. He doesn't help the team imo.

So Stephan picked Carolina over the flyers. Interesting. As far as role he would have made the team better either on 3rd or 4th line center imo.

Did the GM try at all to get the Sabres to retain any salary on Risto do you know?
hello it's me 2050
Location: AR
Joined: 05.14.2021

Aug 2 @ 8:33 AM ET
Fletcher wouldn't have signed Thompson on the first day of FA if the plan was for him to be the 13th forward. Thompson will play at least 50 games take it to the bank.
- PLindbergh31

I would bet he gets more than 50.
PLindbergh31
Location: NJ
Joined: 02.01.2008

Aug 2 @ 8:37 AM ET
I would bet he gets more than 50.
- hello it's me 2050


He very well could. If he truly was going to be used as a 13th forward, I'd have less issue with it. But I just don't see AV deploying him that way.
jd250
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 01.12.2018

Aug 2 @ 8:38 AM ET
I think Fletch tried to move on from JVR…and maybe he still can. If not he’s still a decent winger. I’d be careful about moving on from TK, unless they are still looking at Eichel, but from reports the Flyers are out of it now if you believe Elliot Friedman….you mentioned sand paper…to me TK is one of the guys when playing well has that.
- landros 2

I don't want Eichel, I really want nothing to do with that player. Herniated disk in his upper back requiring surgery and at his cap hit? The only way I would consider Eichel is if he was completely healthy, Buffalo covers salary, and I determined that I couldn't sign Couts for some reason.
PLindbergh31
Location: NJ
Joined: 02.01.2008

Aug 2 @ 8:40 AM ET
Not sure they could afford him. I would certainly prefer him over Thompson, but he wasn't coming here for 800k.

My guess is he will be 3.5 aav.

- MBFlyerfan


Some creativity from Fletcher and Cizikas at near that number could have been an option.
hello it's me 2050
Location: AR
Joined: 05.14.2021

Aug 2 @ 8:42 AM ET
He very well could. If he truly was going to be used as a 13th forward, I'd have less issue with it. But I just don't see AV deploying him that way.
- PLindbergh31

Correct AV will play him until proven otherwise. He has blind spots when it comes to coaching and certain players.

They had/have in house options. You those options battle it out. If in time you feel they are not doing the job then you go acquire a Nate Thompson. They are available every day of the week. Why the rush? Wait it out and I bet you can get a better player for the same contract.
hello it's me 2050
Location: AR
Joined: 05.14.2021

Aug 2 @ 8:45 AM ET
Some creativity from Fletcher and Cizikas at near that number could have been an option.
- PLindbergh31

Some players are fits for certain teams. If he came here at that salary he would be a whipping boy. No need to pay him that for how the flyers play. Not sure the coaching staff would use him properly.
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