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Forums :: Blog World :: Bill Meltzer: Flyers Add Znarok and Simpson to Hockey Ops, Focus on Euro Players
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Phillywhiteout
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: West Chester, PA
Joined: 08.11.2020

Sep 9 @ 9:26 AM ET
It depends on the player. Some guys have that mental fortitude and not only adapt but thrive with a tougher coach. Others struggle. While others adapt on the fly.
I thought Brady got better as the game went on.

- landros 2
Yeah, like when Hayes and TK were benched simultaneously a couple of years ago. Hayes pouted like a little baby, and TK took it as a challenge and excelled from that point on.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Sep 9 @ 9:37 AM ET
As one of my predictions yesterday I had Fox regretting having Tom Brady as their #1 color guy. He is getting killed this morning on social media, but I didn't think he was that bad. Not sure why they didn't bring him in at #2 or #3 and let him work his way up. Olsen is much better than him! Anyway, my point here is that he actually said some insightful things at the end of the broadcast. They were talking about Mike Zimmer and how tough he is, and then Brady mentioned that he played for a tough coach for most of his career and appreciated it (said he didn't mind being criticized at all and it made him the player that he became). I guess tough coaches like Torts aren't so bad after all. You just need your players not to be a bunch of self entitled wusses!!
- Phillywhiteout


A couple of points. One, Olsen is okay but he is not a top talent in the role. They can do better and they're trying to do that

In terms of tough coaches like Tortorella aren't so bad after all and a comparison to Belichick. What are you missing there? What are you overlooking in making that silly statement? How about Belichick 6 Super Bowl wins as a head coach, two Super Bowl wins as a coordinator. Went to the AFC Championship game 13 times and went to 9 Super Bowls. Compare that to the other "tough" coach who won one Stanley Cup and hasn't done anything significant as a head coach in over 20 years!

Tough coaches are fine if they win. Any type of coach is fine if they win.
Glak18
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: "It's pretty big loogie on my face, so I was pretty psssted".", PA
Joined: 06.26.2007

Sep 9 @ 9:58 AM ET
Good points. I think 1C and 1D are equally important as it will start to let players slot into roles that they are better suited for. I have big concerns about Drysdale. This is a huge year for him to show he can stay healthy. Regardless, he's not a true top dman IMO. I really like York and hope he can continue to progress but they'll still need a top Dman or maybe 2 for the first pair. The whole thing is symbiotic. Good two way O helps take pressure off the D and G. Good puck movement from the D allows for a better transition and opportunities for the O, Solid goaltending breeds confidence that D and O take more opportunistic changes etc etc.. To me, one stark and important weakness of the current team is a sad sack PP that saps momentum and does not hold their opponents accountable for penalties they take. To fix this, they need better overall talent. MM will help, but we also need a C and proper PP QB (is that Drysdale? I don't know.)

I can't imagine that the team thinks that what they have in the system currently is enough. They have 3 1st round picks (and 6 in about the first 50) in 25 for a reason. I'd add more if they can and REAALLY re stock the system but as you say we need an elite centre so we have to pray we are very bad this year and get a top 5 guy.

- Hextall271


The amount of picks they have next draft is huge! They could potentially get 6 1st round talents (if Flyers, Anaheim, Columbus are near bottom of standings).

It becomes better if the Flyers manage a top 5 pick or are in a position to win a lottery ball. Just like SJ did the past draft and others have done in the past, winning a top pick securing high end talent allows them to move picks/players to move up to grab more talent.

The key is leverage, if you don't have leverage then packaging picks won't get much.
Dkos
Season Ticket Holder
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Gritty, PA
Joined: 01.15.2007

Sep 9 @ 10:06 AM ET
The amount of picks they have next draft is huge! They could potentially get 6 1st round talents (if Flyers, Anaheim, Columbus are near bottom of standings).

It becomes better if the Flyers manage a top 5 pick or are in a position to win a lottery ball. Just like SJ did the past draft and others have done in the past, winning a top pick securing high end talent allows them to move picks/players to move up to grab more talent.

The key is leverage, if you don't have leverage then packaging picks won't get much.

- Glak18


This is definitely a good year for them to be really bad. It'll be interesting to see how it goes.
landros 2
Season Ticket Holder
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Centre of universe
Joined: 02.07.2007

Sep 9 @ 10:08 AM ET
This is definitely a good year for them to be really bad. It'll be interesting to see how it goes.
- Dkos


I don’t see them being really bad this year unless some injuries derail them….talent wise still a bubble team.
Hextall271
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Ersson-Ville, NB, NB
Joined: 01.18.2007

Sep 9 @ 10:11 AM ET
This is definitely a good year for them to be really bad. It'll be interesting to see how it goes.
- Dkos


I think G is a real wildcard. I hope it doesn't go south, but if Feds struggles and Ersson wilts under a huge workload, this will cause us to be at the bottom IMO. Hart and Ersson were a very strong and steady due in the first half until Hart left. There's a big and very real potential it doesn't go well.
furio16
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Moscow, ID
Joined: 06.07.2007

Sep 9 @ 10:22 AM ET
The amount of picks they have next draft is huge! They could potentially get 6 1st round talents (if Flyers, Anaheim, Columbus are near bottom of standings).

It becomes better if the Flyers manage a top 5 pick or are in a position to win a lottery ball. Just like SJ did the past draft and others have done in the past, winning a top pick securing high end talent allows them to move picks/players to move up to grab more talent.

The key is leverage, if you don't have leverage then packaging picks won't get much.

- Glak18

What is the Flyers plan? Jett and the picks from 25/26 will be years away from really contributing. If at all. At that point you have an aging TK and Captain who will be way on the downside.

Depending on how the season goes I can see them very easily moving a lot of picks to speed up the process. Just get a sense there is no grand plan and take a let’s see what happens approach. Then go from there.
MJL
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Candyland, PA
Joined: 09.20.2007

Sep 9 @ 10:29 AM ET
I think G is a real wildcard. I hope it doesn't go south, but if Feds struggles and Ersson wilts under a huge workload, this will cause us to be at the bottom IMO. Hart and Ersson were a very strong and steady due in the first half until Hart left. There's a big and very real potential it doesn't go well.
- Hextall271



The Flyers goaltending last season, including the first half was average at best.
Dkos
Season Ticket Holder
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Gritty, PA
Joined: 01.15.2007

Sep 9 @ 10:53 AM ET
What is the Flyers plan? Jett and the picks from 25/26 will be years away from really contributing. If at all. At that point you have an aging TK and Captain who will be way on the downside.

Depending on how the season goes I can see them very easily moving a lot of picks to speed up the process. Just get a sense there is no grand plan and take a let’s see what happens approach. Then go from there.

- furio16


Seems like that is the grand plan to me. It would be such a great opportunity to tank this season and add some great picks, but it's not really the Flyers' way is it? Who knows, they could still accidentally do the right thing. There's a pretty good chance Captain Coots' health/mileage continues to be a problem and he plays poorly and or missed extended time, the goaltending is poor, the D is as bad as it looks like it'll be, Torts mishandles Michkov and he struggles, Frost gets sick of trying to make Torts happy and shuts him out, TK takes a step back now that he's set for life, etc.
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