Bill Meltzer: Flyers Drop 12th in a Row, Lose to Stars 3-1

I wonder if we can catch the bottom 3 teams... Our draft choice is rising!

Foist!?

A state of the team presser by Chucky!! Oh wow, get your popcorn ready for that bad boy.

All we need is for the Sabres and Kraken to win a few games and the Flyers can get a shot at one of the top 4 picks in the draft. Yandle was playing so bad, that I was hoping they would sit him after breaking the record. Now I want Yandle play every game so it improves our odds at the draft. Tomorrow's game vs the Isles won't be pretty to watch.

All we need is for the Sabres and Kraken to win a few games and the Flyers can get a shot at one of the top 4 picks in the draft. Yandle was playing so bad, that I was hoping they would sit him after breaking the record. Now I want Yandle play every game so it improves our odds at the draft. Tomorrow's game vs the Isles won't be pretty to watch.
- Thors-Hammer

I hope they reach 20 games. At this point I'm all about a top 3 pick!

Anything short of Fletcher stepping down is inexcusable.

How they can continue to stand by a man who directly helped put them in this hole is lunacy.

He cannot be allowed to make deadline deals that require player/asset evaluation.

All we need is for the Sabres and Kraken to win a few games and the Flyers can get a shot at one of the top 4 picks in the draft. Yandle was playing so bad, that I was hoping they would sit him after breaking the record. Now I want Yandle play every game so it improves our odds at the draft. Tomorrow's game vs the Isles won't be pretty to watch.
- Thors-Hammer

Yeah, I could see a 6-0 Isles drubbing with them being rested and the Flyguys dressing Seeler as a forward.

Bill, I know you may not care to comment on this, but…something of note has to come out of the GM’s presser, right? A trade, a coaching change, something?

Bill, I know you may not care to comment on this, but…something of note has to come out of the GM’s presser, right? A trade, a coaching change, something?
- BroadSTmayhem

I would think some sort of big announcement. I dont think it would be a coaching change. To me it only makes sense if its a major executive change like GM stepping down or other internal guys resigning\fired. Maybe Comcast sold the team though I doubt it, news like that tends to leak. Trading a guy like Giroux might warrant such a press conference but I think it is too early with the size of his cap hit.

I think it is more likely that Fletcher is just going to come out and announce they are selling and retooling. I'd be surprised if they use the word Rebuild.

Bill, I know you may not care to comment on this, but…something of note has to come out of the GM’s presser, right? A trade, a coaching change, something?
- BroadSTmayhem

I'm personally not expecting anything imminent. Seller at the deadline, try to get some young players rather than just draft picks. Try to open cap space for the offseason. New coaching staff next season.

I expect the message to be that the team, even with all the injuries, should be better than it's been. The number one goal was to be much tougher to play against, and the numbers make it hard to dispute that they have NOT. He'll say that everyone shares blame, including the GM. But the injuries are still a factor although not an excuse, he'll say: only had Ellis, Hayes, Ristolainen and Couturier all in the lineup a single game all season. He'll hopefully provide a little more clarity on exactly what Ellis and Couturier are dealing with, whether they'll be shut down for the season.

Undoubtedly he will get questions about Giroux. He'll say that it's still his hope that Giroux spends the rest of his career in Philadelphia but he'll talk to Giroux -- whose decision it ultimately is -- and then determine a direction.

He'll get a question about the coaching staff. He'll say Yeo has done an admirable job under very tough circumstances, although the record doesn't show it. He'll reiterate that Yeo will finish the season as head coach. He'll say that everything in the organization will be evaluated, top to bottom, and the coaching is part of it. He'll also say again that he hated to fire AV but he felt a "new voice was needed."

If asked about Lehigh Valley, he'll say the Phantoms got off to very rough start but have battled hard despite their own injury and Covid issues and will praise Lappy and the LV staff.

I'm sure a lot of folks will express disappointment that there was no blood-letting immediately or specifics given. But pay attention to two things: 1) What he stops short of saying, and 2) What can be inferred between the lines. He won't tip his hand directly about anything for the off-season, because GMs just don't do that.

People who believe that CF will offer his own head on a platter obviously didn't watch the last one

🤣

The Flyers will have an off-day on Wednesday. That day, general manager Chuck Fletcher will hold a state-of-the-team press conference at 1:00 p.m. ET.
- bmeltzer

Don't anyone hold their breath in anticipation. It's going to be a BigNuttinBoiger. Timed roughly at the season mid-point, it'll pretty much just be a state-of-the-team address and really only a rehash of the last PC with some new spin.

For those not on the Pain-for-Shane train I apologize (and for those that are, they can thank my black-clouded bad luck curse). I didn't tune-into the game until moments before the 1st goal. I missed all of the 2nd and a good chunk of the 3rd and didn't return until minutes before the GWG.

Now if there was only a way for someone to monetize on this curse (or possible gift). Enquiring on behalf of the ghost of the Salami.

I wonder if we can catch the bottom 3 teams... Our draft choice is rising!
- Bob Habib

Gonna be hard to catch-up (or is it catch-down?) to the Habs. But this is the Flyers. Nothing surprises me with this team anymore.

All we need is for the Sabres and Kraken to win a few games and the Flyers can get a shot at one of the top 4 picks in the draft. Yandle was playing so bad, that I was hoping they would sit him after breaking the record. Now I want Yandle play every game so it improves our odds at the draft. Tomorrow's game vs the Isles won't be pretty to watch.
- Thors-Hammer

Yeah.

But Fyuck Fyandle anyway!

People who believe that CF will offer his own head on a platter obviously didn't watch the last one

🤣
- Tomahawk

Wish CF will start wearing a bag over his head as well (even if it isn't on a platter).

Wish the similarities didn't end with their appearance. One of these is eternally indestructible, despite the constant pummeling he's taken over the years. The other is perpetually gimpy.

In case darrylstanleyrinaldologouthelloits2050 wants to know, I'm currently enjoying workhouse gruel for breakfast.

Prediction: Fletcher's presser is nothing more the him putting out fires. The end.

Don't waste your time.

I'm personally not expecting anything imminent. Seller at the deadline, try to get some young players rather than just draft picks. Try to open cap space for the offseason. New coaching staff next season.

I expect the message to be that the team, even with all the injuries, should be better than it's been. The number one goal was to be much tougher to play against, and the numbers make it hard to dispute that they have NOT. He'll say that everyone shares blame, including the GM. But the injuries are still a factor although not an excuse, he'll say: only had Ellis, Hayes, Ristolainen and Couturier all in the lineup a single game all season. He'll hopefully provide a little more clarity on exactly what Ellis and Couturier are dealing with, whether they'll be shut down for the season.

Undoubtedly he will get questions about Giroux. He'll say that it's still his hope that Giroux spends the rest of his career in Philadelphia but he'll talk to Giroux -- whose decision it ultimately is -- and then determine a direction.

He'll get a question about the coaching staff. He'll say Yeo has done an admirable job under very tough circumstances, although the record doesn't show it. He'll reiterate that Yeo will finish the season as head coach. He'll say that everything in the organization will be evaluated, top to bottom, and the coaching is part of it. He'll also say again that he hated to fire AV but he felt a "new voice was needed."

If asked about Lehigh Valley, he'll say the Phantoms got off to very rough start but have battled hard despite their own injury and Covid issues and will praise Lappy and the LV staff.

I'm sure a lot of folks will express disappointment that there was no blood-letting immediately or specifics given. But pay attention to two things: 1) What he stops short of saying, and 2) What can be inferred between the lines. He won't tip his hand directly about anything for the off-season, because GMs just don't do that.
- bmeltzer

Sounds like the franchise is going to double down on the failed strategy of last summer.

I would think some sort of big announcement. I dont think it would be a coaching change. To me it only makes sense if its a major executive change like GM stepping down or other internal guys resigning\fired. Maybe Comcast sold the team though I doubt it, news like that tends to leak. Trading a guy like Giroux might warrant such a press conference but I think it is too early with the size of his cap hit.

I think it is more likely that Fletcher is just going to come out and announce they are selling and retooling. I'd be surprised if they use the word Rebuild.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

There's not going to be any sort of big announcement. The GM will simply be trying to spin this situation and blow a bunch of smoke up our asses. It will be laughable and a waste of time.

Anything short of Fletcher stepping down is inexcusable.

How they can continue to stand by a man who directly helped put them in this hole is lunacy.

He cannot be allowed to make deadline deals that require player/asset evaluation.
- FlyerFan3260

You do know the team also sucked before he got here, right? You make it sound like he drove a conference champion into the ground.

Prediction: Fletcher's presser is nothing more the him putting out fires. The end.

Don't waste your time.
- Pelle31Forever

Yup. I don’t know why anyone would expect anything more.