Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Practice Day, Hayes, Phantoms,TIFH and More

Good morning authentic flyers fans. How we doing so far today?

Wilson is not an NHL player. To sign him to a contract to play a few games is just plain stupid. Doesn't have NHL skill, talent, or wheels. Everyt time he got the puck all he looked to do was dump it. Might has well pick up Kurtis Gabriel if going that route.

Bill did the Pens ice there AHL lineup last night do you know? Or was it a mix of ECHL/tryout players.

Wilson is not an NHL player. To sign him to a contract to play a few games is just plain stupid. Doesn't have NHL skill, talent, or wheels. Everyt time he got the puck all he looked to do was dump it. Might has well pick up Kurtis Gabriel if going that route.

Bill did the Pens ice there AHL lineup last night do you know? Or was it a mix of ECHL/tryout players.
- hello it's me 2050

Both sides had mostly their regular lineups last night. A lot more ECHL/tryout players were used by both teams in Wednesday's (dreadfully dull) preseason opener.

I do not disagree as relates to Wilson. Although he was a big scorer in junior hockey and can score a bit in the AHL when moved up in the lineup, he is basically a bottom six in the AHL and has struggled a bit in his NHL opportunities. The bar gets raised once the regular season starts. What I will say, though, is this: Not many in the AHL relish dropping the gloves with him. He's not an old-school enforcer or a big PIM guy but he can more than handle himself when he drops the gloves.

Both sides had mostly their regular lineups last night. A lot more ECHL/tryout players were used by both teams in Wednesday's (dreadfully dull) preseason opener.
- bmeltzer

Thanks. Dont recall there being a game Wednesday.

What goalie of the 3 starts in Reading do you think?

Thanks. Dont recall there being a game Wednesday.

What goalie of the 3 starts in Reading do you think?
- hello it's me 2050

Ustimenko will go to Reading.

Ustimenko will go to Reading.
- bmeltzer

Do you see Millman benig sent down as well?

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Practice Day, Hayes, Phantoms,TIFH and More
- bmeltzer

Thanks for the detailed update Bill. Fantastic news that Hayes is skating. I’m quite surprised he’s already back on the ice tbh.

Thanks for the detailed update Bill. Fantastic news that Hayes is skating. I’m quite surprised he’s already back on the ice tbh.
- Hextall271

Yeah what could go wrong with the flyers top notch medical staff..

Yeah what could go wrong with the flyers top notch medical staff..
- hello it's me 2050

I wouldn’t be rushing him back. Someone mentioned previously that core injuries like this take a long time to recover from. Ie briere was a year or more before he was back to being the same player.

I wouldn’t be rushing him back. Someone mentioned previously that core injuries like this take a long time to recover from. Ie briere was a year or more before he was back to being the same player.
- Hextall271

He has had 2 in 5 months. Just foolish really. This will likely be bad year for Hayes is my guess.

I’d be inclined to sign Wilson and have him start the season with the big club. Otherwise, the lineup has virtually no toughness, especially when it comes to matching up with teams in our own division.

There has to be better options on the waiver wire then Garrett freaking Wilson.

Do you see Millman benig sent down as well?
- hello it's me 2050

With Zamula out right now, I think Millman starts in LV. From there, we'll see how much playing time is available to him. York, Zamula (once healthy), Högberg, Seeler (waivers required) and Clendening are locks. Zech is still not close to returning from his injury. Wylie probably sticks on the third pair. But there's a window of opportunity for Millman to get into the top six.

There has to be better options on the waiver wire then Garrett freaking Wilson.
- Just5

Better? Probably. Available for the NHL minimum on a two-way? Maybe, maybe not.

Better? Probably. Available for the NHL minimum on a two-way? Maybe, maybe not.
- bmeltzer

There is 100% better. I gave 1 example. It is a waste. He brings nothing to the table that will have any bearing on the games. Nothing. You know what wilson brings. Give me Cates all day over him. This 4th line archaic thinking is comical. Unless you can have one like the isles.

He has had 2 in 5 months. Just foolish really. This will likely be bad year for Hayes is my guess.
- hello it's me 2050

And that’s fine. Poor guy has had a Terrible run of late.

And that’s fine. Poor guy has had a Terrible run of late.
- Hextall271

Well it is not fine. He would likely be a big part of any success the flyers have this year.

Well it is not fine. He would likely be a big part of any success the flyers have this year.
- hello it's me 2050

Dude lost his brother, for f-sake. None of us can say with any certainty what Hayes’ year would have been like, injury or no injury, given his mindset. Having lost a brother, it’s day to day in terms of how you get on with your day.

Bill......Whats your predictions for this team........Last year you unfortunately hit it right on with the concerns of not replacing Nisky. What is your overall thought for how this team will perform.

Thanks for posting the phantoms lineup. Was surprised to see strome at center.

Brink coming out hard this year.

Dude lost his brother, for f-sake. None of us can say with any certainty what Hayes’ year would have been like, injury or no injury, given his mindset. Having lost a brother, it’s day to day in terms of how you get on with your day.
- BroadSTmayhem

Thanks for letting me know he lost his brother.

If the flyers have any success, do you think Hayes will be a big part of it?

There is 100% better. I gave 1 example. It is a waste. He brings nothing to the table that will have any bearing on the games. Nothing. You know what wilson brings. Give me Cates all day over him. This 4th line archaic thinking is comical. Unless you can have one like the isles.
- hello it's me 2050

It was either him or Thompson. Had the puck at the red line with all kinds of open ice. Both teams were changing. Our d was coming out. Whoever it was just dumped it down the ice to the caps. No cap was close to him. That’s just not a winning philosophy or play in today’s game. The best teams hold the puck and give it back to their own D then go off for the change. There was absolutely no reason to give up possession.

What the hell happened to Linus Sandin?? I mean, I thought he had a chance to make the Flyers and now he is on the 4th line of the Phantoms. Who makes these decisions to sign these guys? Is Dave Brown still a head scout? They seem to have some serious issues evaluating talent.

It was either him or Thompson. Had the puck at the red line with all kinds of open ice. Both teams were changing. Our d was coming out. Whoever it was just dumped it down the ice to the caps. No cap was close to him. That’s just not a winning philosophy or play in today’s game. The best teams hold the puck and give it back to their own D then go off for the change. There was absolutely no reason to give up possession.
- Just5

Flyers dump the puck a lot compared to other teams imo. I just do not like this coaching staff. Do not trust them to get the best out of what the players have to offer.