Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 1/21/23 @ DET

1. Flyers had the 11th pick in the draft. Had they not traded the 11th pick they could have drafted Cole correct? The answer is yes.

2. Flyers trade down now have the 14th pick in the draft. Cole was on the board. The Flyers could have drafted him correct? The answer is yes.

Therefore the flyers passed on him 2x.

1. Flyers had the 11th pick in the draft. Had they not traded the 11th pick they could have drafted Cole correct? The answer is yes.

2. Flyers trade down now have the 14th pick in the draft. Cole was on the board. The Flyers could have drafted him correct? The answer is yes.

Therefore the flyers passed on him 2x.
- hello it's me 2050

You can't select anyone with a pick you trade, and the Flyers wouldn't have had the 14th pick had they not traded the 11th. So they could only, technically at least, have passed on him once. Would you say the Flyers passed on Cam York once? I'd say they took him with the first pick they used. But the semantics, honestly, could be debated.

1. Flyers had the 11th pick in the draft. Had they not traded the 11th pick they could have drafted Cole correct? The answer is yes.

2. Flyers trade down now have the 14th pick in the draft. Cole was on the board. The Flyers could have drafted him correct? The answer is yes.

Therefore the flyers passed on him 2x.
- hello it's me 2050

Which means depending on swaps, 13 or so other GMs passed on him also... at least once... There are quite a group of over a dozen NHL GMs and organizations that can also be held to task for not rating Cole highly enough. But it seems only the Flyers and Fletch are being called on it, huh?

You can't select anyone with a pick you trade, and the Flyers wouldn't have had the 14th pick had they not traded the 11th. So they could only, technically at least, have passed on him once. Would you say the Flyers passed on Cam York once? I'd say they took him with the first pick they used. But the semantics, honestly, could be debated.
- bmeltzer

They 2 opportunities to draft him did they not? they passed. Both times.

Never had problem with the pick then or now.

Which means depending on swaps, 13 or so other GMs passed on him also... at least once... There are quite a group of over a dozen NHL GMs and organizations that can also be held to task for not rating Cole highly enough. But it seems only the Flyers and Fletch are being called on it, huh?
- ForeverFlyer16

I do not care they passed. Just stating they had 2 chances to draft him and passed both time. Why is that hard to accept?

Bill, any insight on Issac Ratcliffe? He seemed like he had a fair showing in the NHL last year but has fallen of a cliff this year with being a healthy scratch lately with the Phantoms.

Bill, any insight on Issac Ratcliffe? He seemed like he had a fair showing in the NHL last year but has fallen of a cliff this year with being a healthy scratch lately with the Phantoms.
- Hosher12

part of the lappy development program.

Bill, or anyone who sees the phantoms. How has Brink's skating looked?

Travis Konency at age 25 is currently healthy, has 24 and players for the Philadelphia Flyers. If you do certain people’s math and projection for Cole Caulfield. Didn’t we draft a potential 50 goal scorer?

This question doesn’t actually need an answer for those who attempt to.

Bill, any insight on Issac Ratcliffe? He seemed like he had a fair showing in the NHL last year but has fallen of a cliff this year with being a healthy scratch lately with the Phantoms.
- Hosher12

Came to camp with high hopes that the second half of last season was a breakthrough. Really, really struggled in NHL camp and was one of the first players Torts felt he'd seen enough to say with certainty he wouldn't make the team. He was among the first batch of cuts: waived (and cleared) and sent to the Phantoms. Got off to a slow start for the Phantoms, too, dropped to the bottom and then out of the lineup as he seemingly lost whatever confidence he had left. His game has been a mess. Now a healthy scratch for 10 straight games.

It's a shame. Ratcliffe had a good second half last year. Didn't look out of place in his 10 games with the Flyers -- even got rewarded at one point by starting a game at LW1 rather than LW4 or LW3. Was arguably the Phantoms' most consistent forward last April.

Came to camp in good shape. But he couldn't seem to repond to the never-or-never pressure of being in his 4th NHL camp, got down on himself again, and hasn't been able to bring himself back around.

The nature of development is that, no matter where someone is drafted or how he fares in junior hockey, there are guarantees he'll make it. Ratcliffe has periodically shown flashes in years 1 and 2 (which was largely a lost year due to injury, but was trending up until a late season jury). Promising 2nd half last year. But this season has been a disaster.

It's a shame. Pretty much all of the Flyers prospects are really nice kids, and Ratcliffe might be the nicest and easiest to root for in the bunch. But his game just hasn't come together. I think he was yo-yoed around too much in year one, and the collapsed lung more or less ruined year two. Year three, the first half was disappointing until midseason. This season. he's been healthy but just hasn't made any sort of impact to where he'd even be a 4th line recall candidate again.

part of the lappy development program.
- hello it's me 2050

Is that good or bad?

Bill, or anyone who sees the phantoms. How has Brink's skating looked?
- Peter Richards

Some games close to last season, other days (esp 2nd game of B2B) not very good. That was expected. He's coming around game-conditioning wise. He'll always be a player who relies on hockey smarts, quickness and work ethic. He'll never be a speedster. His skating is coming around but will never be a main asset.

That's OK. Mark Recchi was small, had an odd skating style (more like running on his skates) and was never a speedster. But he was quick, had great hands and he saw the ice really well. Not saying Brink will have a career like Recchi's but am saying even the combo of being small and not a speedster can be worked around.

Came to camp with high hopes that the second half of last season was a breakthrough. Really, really struggled in NHL camp and was one of the first players Torts felt he'd seen enough to say with certainty he wouldn't make the team. He was among the first batch of cuts: waived (and cleared) and sent to the Phantoms. Got off to a slow start for the Phantoms, too, dropped to the bottom and then out of the lineup as he seemingly lost whatever confidence he had left. His game has been a mess. Now a healthy scratch for 10 straight games.

It's a shame. Ratcliffe had a good second half last year. Didn't look out of place in his 10 games with the Flyers -- even got rewarded at one point by starting a game at LW1 rather than LW4 or LW3. Was arguably the Phantoms' most consistent forward last April.

Came to camp in good shape. But he couldn't seem to repond to the never-or-never pressure of being in his 4th NHL camp, got down on himself again, and hasn't been able to bring himself back around.

The nature of development is that, no matter where someone is drafted or how he fares in junior hockey, there are guarantees he'll make it. Ratcliffe has periodically shown flashes in years 1 and 2 (which was largely a lost year due to injury, but was trending up until a late season jury). Promising 2nd half last year. But this season has been a disaster.

It's a shame. Pretty much all of the Flyers prospects are really nice kids, and Ratcliffe might be the nicest and easiest to root for in the bunch. But his game just hasn't come together. I think he was yo-yoed around too much in year one, and the collapsed lung more or less ruined year two. Year three, the first half was disappointing until midseason. This season. he's been healthy but just hasn't made any sort of impact to where he'd even be a 4th line recall candidate again.
- bmeltzer

Bill, thank you very much for the very detailed response!!

Interesting Zanetti has signed to play in Switzerland for the next two seasons. Pretty crowded d for the phantoms now and for next year. Interesting the article didn’t make it sound like the Flyers had much say….maybe they don’t see him as a prospect?

Some games close to last season, other days (esp 2nd game of B2B) not very good. That was expected. He's coming around game-conditioning wise. He'll always be a player who relies on hockey smarts, quickness and work ethic. He'll never be a speedster. His skating is coming around but will never be a main asset.

That's OK. Mark Recchi was small, had an odd skating style (more like running on his skates) and was never a speedster. But he was quick, had great hands and he saw the ice really well. Not saying Brink will have a career like Recchi's but am saying even the combo of being small and not a speedster can be worked around.
- bmeltzer

Thanks.

1. Flyers had the 11th pick in the draft. Had they not traded the 11th pick they could have drafted Cole correct? The answer is yes.

2. Flyers trade down now have the 14th pick in the draft. Cole was on the board. The Flyers could have drafted him correct? The answer is yes.

Therefore the flyers passed on him 2x.
- hello it's me 2050

Yawn

Which means depending on swaps, 13 or so other GMs passed on him also... at least once... There are quite a group of over a dozen NHL GMs and organizations that can also be held to task for not rating Cole highly enough. But it seems only the Flyers and Fletch are being called on it, huh?


ForeverFlyer16

Among those 13 or so teams, some are pretty happy with their choice to not draft Caufield. I doubt the Devils regret taking Hughes, Wings with Seider, Buffalo with Cozens, Ducks with Zegras, probably even Wild with Boldy. Still early and some other teams might not regret it in the long run.

Among those 13 or so teams, some are pretty happy with their choice to not draft Caufield. I doubt the Devils regret taking Hughes, Wings with Seider, Buffalo with Cozens, Ducks with Zegras, probably even Wild with Boldy. Still early and some other teams might not regret it in the long run.
- dcz28

Time will tell right. Cam York also looks to be a pretty good player. Second pairing, fringe PP1 guy if I were to guess.

Bill, any insight on Issac Ratcliffe? He seemed like he had a fair showing in the NHL last year but has fallen of a cliff this year with being a healthy scratch lately with the Phantoms.
- Hosher12

Does not have NHL wheels. Never had never will. Bill will defend that he does though.

Came to camp with high hopes that the second half of last season was a breakthrough. Really, really struggled in NHL camp and was one of the first players Torts felt he'd seen enough to say with certainty he wouldn't make the team. He was among the first batch of cuts: waived (and cleared) and sent to the Phantoms. Got off to a slow start for the Phantoms, too, dropped to the bottom and then out of the lineup as he seemingly lost whatever confidence he had left. His game has been a mess. Now a healthy scratch for 10 straight games.

It's a shame. Ratcliffe had a good second half last year. Didn't look out of place in his 10 games with the Flyers -- even got rewarded at one point by starting a game at LW1 rather than LW4 or LW3. Was arguably the Phantoms' most consistent forward last April.

Came to camp in good shape. But he couldn't seem to repond to the never-or-never pressure of being in his 4th NHL camp, got down on himself again, and hasn't been able to bring himself back around.

The nature of development is that, no matter where someone is drafted or how he fares in junior hockey, there are guarantees he'll make it. Ratcliffe has periodically shown flashes in years 1 and 2 (which was largely a lost year due to injury, but was trending up until a late season jury). Promising 2nd half last year. But this season has been a disaster.

It's a shame. Pretty much all of the Flyers prospects are really nice kids, and Ratcliffe might be the nicest and easiest to root for in the bunch. But his game just hasn't come together. I think he was yo-yoed around too much in year one, and the collapsed lung more or less ruined year two. Year three, the first half was disappointing until midseason. This season. he's been healthy but just hasn't made any sort of impact to where he'd even be a 4th line recall candidate again.
- bmeltzer

Cant skate..plain and simple. Could get away with that in Jrs caught up to him as a pro.

Interesting Zanetti has signed to play in Switzerland for the next two seasons. Pretty crowded d for the phantoms now and for next year. Interesting the article didn’t make it sound like the Flyers had much say….maybe they don’t see him as a prospect?
- landros 2

Listen to Monday's Prospect Pipeline podcast. Brent Flahr discusses Zanetti among many others. Since he was drafted out of Switzerland, the Flyers have a four-year window to sign him. Needs to add a lot muscle to his frame. Playing against pros in Switzerland for the next two seasons (leading up to when the Flyers will need to make an ELC decision) works well for both sides.

Cant skate..plain and simple. Could get away with that in Jrs caught up to him as a pro.
- hfc355

He skates OK. No worse -- actually better -- of a skater than some guys who've made it the NHL like Patrick Maroon or Tomas Holmström. Did Ratcliffe have trouble keeping up in his 10-game NHL stint last season? No, he didn't.

Ratcliffe's problem is that he doesn't use his size/strength consistently enough. They want him to be a trenches/netfront guy. But they've also tried to develop him as a checker/PK. He's never really found what works for him on a sustained basis. It happens.

Collinsworth slobbering of Mahomes is unbearable

What are your opinions on the all star jerseys this year?

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