Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Practice, Flahr, Phantoms, and More

Rubstov cant seem to catch a break.

Cole Caufield has 10 points in his last 7 games(including 6 goals), but according to Chucky the Flyers don't need scoring.

Blondies version of Ring Of Fire is very very good

Rubstov cant seem to catch a break.
- MBFlyerfan

Those special vitamins breaking his body down....

I apologize for the off topic post. Please pray for the independence and safety of my native Ukraine. This Russian aggression has no justification. None. Period

Blondies version of Ring Of Fire is very very good

Never heard it until now. They do a great job with that tune. Thanks

I apologize for the off topic post. Please pray for the independence and safety of my native Ukraine. This Russian aggression has no justification. None. Period
- missingmike

Its so scary watching what is happening.

Both Felix Sandström and rookie Samuel Ersson (after two recurrences) remain sidelined indefinitely with lower-body injuries.
-bmeltzer

All too familiar story around these parts. I wonder if the Flyers' medical staff approach of trying to avoid surgery on players is causing all these relapses, where in the past the player would have the surgery and be back in the known timeframe?

Please please please Bill ask the hard questions. You are our only hope

All too familiar story around these parts. I wonder if the Flyers' medical staff approach of trying to avoid surgery on players is causing all these relapses, where in the past the player would have the surgery and be back in the known timeframe?
- jd250

It seems as if the majority of the initial injuries are just bad luck types of injuries. Or at least the types of injuries training staffs have no control over.

BUT

When the injury starts to linger or reoccur as it seems to in many of these cases, you have to start focusing on that same staff to see what can be done better or changed. Its getting ridiculous.

I apologize for the off topic post. Please pray for the independence and safety of my native Ukraine. This Russian aggression has no justification. None. Period
- missingmike

🙏

Bill, there has been a lot of talk about the Flyers player development, and how it has hurt Frost and possibly other players who before turning pro were good draft picks and were developing well. Where does the approach for each player's development come from? Does it come from Fletcher and Flahr who want players to fit a specific style of play that aligns to the identity of the team? Does it come from the coaches who evaluate and work with the players on a daily basis? With Frost for example, is it a deliberate effort by Yeo and Lappy to suppress his offensive opportunities in favor of teaching him to be a perfect 200 foot player? The reason I ask is there seems to be disconnect between Fletcher and Briere stating "our top priority is to obtain more top end talent", and the development of players, even those with high offensive ceilings, to be bottom 6 forwards. I even read today that the Flyers are trying to suppress York's offensive instincts in favor of being more defensive which I think is completely stupid if true. Is it also possible that Fletcher and Flahr have seen the light and are now actively trying to change this?

Never heard it until now. They do a great job with that tune. Thanks
- dramado

yes they do

Blondies version of Ring Of Fire is very very good
- hello it's me 2050

Went to listen. Verdict of song: Meh. Verdict of Deb Harry ❤️❤️❤️

I apologize for the off topic post. Please pray for the independence and safety of my native Ukraine. This Russian aggression has no justification. None. Period
- missingmike

Its not distant to us. Philly has a large Ukrainian population and so there are local ties as well. China and Russia showing their true colors.

Our thoughts are with you.

Bill, there has been a lot of talk about the Flyers player development, and how it has hurt Frost and possibly other players who before turning pro were good draft picks and were developing well. Where does the approach for each player's development come from? Does it come from Fletcher and Flahr who want players to fit a specific style of play that aligns to the identity of the team? Does it come from the coaches who evaluate and work with the players on a daily basis? With Frost for example, is it a deliberate effort by Yeo and Lappy to suppress his offensive opportunities in favor of teaching him to be a perfect 200 foot player? The reason I ask is there seems to be disconnect between Fletcher and Briere stating "our top priority is to obtain more top end talent", and the development of players, even those with high offensive ceilings, to be bottom 6 forwards. I even read today that the Flyers are trying to suppress York's offensive instincts in favor of being more defensive which I think is completely stupid if true. Is it also possible that Fletcher and Flahr have seen the light and are now actively trying to change this?
- jd250

What Identity is that by the way?

They def take the offensive life out of their players. That cant be denied.

What do you see that Fletcher and Flahr are trying to change in terms of development?

I have said it before, if you find out Hayes, Couterier , Ellis and maybe Brassard or others had the same core injury, then there is someone to blame in the hockey staff and a forensic analysis of the drills assigned by former coaches as well as Yeo and the "medical staff"... 20 mill of worthless salaries..
That is not bad luck or chance, there is a pattern

Its not distant to us. Philly has a large Ukrainian population and so there are local ties as well. China and Russia showing their true colors.

Our thoughts are with you.
- PT21

Russia, China, Iran, North Korea > USA and whoever.

Went to listen. Verdict of song: Meh. Verdict of Deb Harry ❤️❤️❤️
- PT21

still hot at I think 75.

Cole Caufield has 10 points in his last 7 games(including 6 goals), but according to Chucky the Flyers don't need scoring.

Agreed. The only thing they got right is that they need both defensemen AND scoring forwards. One of the reasons they traded down to get York, was perhaps because they felt he wasn't big enough physically. The only problem with that thinking is that some players are just born to put the puck in the net. You have to recognize these players when you see them. DeBrincat is not big either, but is also adept at scoring.
York is going to be a really good player, if they don't suffocate his development. But this Caufield pick, which they skipped twice, is going to haunt them.

I apologize for the off topic post. Please pray for the independence and safety of my native Ukraine. This Russian aggression has no justification. None. Period
- missingmike

I too have deep family ties to the Ukraine. Can’t help but think of my grandparents turning over in their graves on a day like today. It is shocking that in 2022 a country can invade a democratic free country. Now I’m not saying the Ukraine doesn’t have problems, but murdering innocent people should never be tolerated.

What Identity is that by the way?

They def take the offensive life out of their players. That cant be denied.

What do you see that Fletcher and Flahr are trying to change in terms of development?
- hello it's me 2050

Early last season Kevin Hayes was asked what the desired identity of the team was and he replied very quickly with a very succinct answer, that included "playing fast and playing the right way". I'm sure the Flyers want to play the way successful teams like Tampa play, i.e. be a fast team that is highly skilled and well structured defensively.

I think since Fletcher and Flahr arrived they have tried to draft players with more speed, skill and a shoot first mentality, and Fletcher and Briere talk about want more top-end talent. But then I wonder when I see how Frost has been handled this year why its taken the coaching staff so long to put him on the top PP unit and just keep him there. Its not like the Flyers PP is remotely good enough to say there is no room for Frost over other players currently on the PP. I mean, I'm no NHL coach, but how many games do you have to see from players like Yandle and JVR to realize these guys don't belong any where near the PP at this stage of their careers. Its a head scratcher to me. When your PP sucks this bad, what do you have to lose to change personnel and try something different?

Early last season Kevin Hayes was asked what the desired identity of the team was and he replied very quickly with a very succinct answer, that included "playing fast and playing the right way". I'm sure the Flyers want to play the way successful teams like Tampa play, i.e. be a fast team that is highly skilled and well structured defensively.

I think since Fletcher and Flahr arrived they have tried to draft players with more speed, skill and a shoot first mentality, and Fletcher and Briere talk about want more top-end talent. But then I wonder when I see how Frost has been handled this year why its taken the coaching staff so long to put him on the top PP unit and just keep him there. Its not like the Flyers PP is remotely good enough to say there is no room for Frost over other players currently on the PP. I mean, I'm no NHL coach, but how many games do you have to see from players like Yandle and JVR to realize these guys don't belong any where near the PP at this stage of their careers. Its a head scratcher to me. When your PP sucks this bad, what do you have to lose to change personnel and try something different?
- jd250

The flyers havent had an identity in over a decade. Playing the right way is code for I have no real answer.

Fletcher's drafts will not bear fruit for a few years. Both guys they drafted in Samu and Emile havent exactly lit it up. Every team talks about top end talent. This isn't any new thought process.

For all the faith you have in Chuckle phuck why doesn't he make the coach make changes to the PP?

Early last season Kevin Hayes was asked what the desired identity of the team was and he replied very quickly with a very succinct answer, that included "playing fast and playing the right way". I'm sure the Flyers want to play the way successful teams like Tampa play, i.e. be a fast team that is highly skilled and well structured defensively.

I think since Fletcher and Flahr arrived they have tried to draft players with more speed, skill and a shoot first mentality, and Fletcher and Briere talk about want more top-end talent. But then I wonder when I see how Frost has been handled this year why its taken the coaching staff so long to put him on the top PP unit and just keep him there. Its not like the Flyers PP is remotely good enough to say there is no room for Frost over other players currently on the PP. I mean, I'm no NHL coach, but how many games do you have to see from players like Yandle and JVR to realize these guys don't belong any where near the PP at this stage of their careers. Its a head scratcher to me. When your PP sucks this bad, what do you have to lose to change personnel and try something different?
- jd250

I get what your saying but its easier for us to say here then be the coach and do it. Like I wonder if the Yandle streak thing is something that keeps him in the lineup. Yeo being just the interim coach, does he want to be the guy who ends the streak by scratching him, fair or not.

JVR. If your looking to move him aren't you hoping he shows production so he has some value?

I don't know what the right answers are with some of this stuff. My hope is that once the TDL comes and goes we start to see more of the younger kids playing in different situations and getting those minutes. Hopefully Laczynski can work his way back and eventually get up here. Like to see Allison and York get healthy and play minutes with the big club. Maybe a player like Attard signs after college and gets some games.