Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Unable to Fully Recover, Lose 6-3 to Caps
- bmeltzer

I hate Zamula right now. I didn’t think he had a better camp than Andrae. Having the most points on a bad PP last season justifies his spot there. He’s been overall bad since game was of the season and yet somehow he’s nearly 20 minutes a night. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. He made the team last year because they were afraid to lose him on waivers and now this season he’s a translator for michkov. I look forward to the next young defenseman who is ready to play.

This team played better and had better cohesion when torts wasn't behind the bench. Even though it was preseason they actually shiwer signs of chemistry. I don't see any of that and as long as torts continues to juggle the lines on a shift by shift basis there won't be any chemistry

In this crap season, it is easy to overlook that Michkov is as good as advertised. Guy does not back down from everyone. If his team mates start to finish better, his production would be even better.

Right now, I like Foerster and Couts with him 5 on 5. I fully expect Torts to break up this line on Saturday. Remember Torts believes in fast skaters, not players who can play fast by their thought process, positioning, and decision making. Cannot have 3 skaters together that cannot skate above average.

I understand the desire for a top 5 pick and this team certainly needs another one for sure. The other potential benefit with being out of the playoffs early enough is the team can sell more pieces at he deadline for picks or younger prospects. But I hate the losing to be honest. It is not good to insert 18 and 19 year old kids into a losing culture, because 1. they don't develop and 2. this is what they become accustomed to. Just look at the Sabres if you want proof. So for those reasons, I would rather the Flyers winning and taking the next step, and finding a way to get the players they need via trades and free agency.
- jd250

We are a bottom team that is maxed out cap wise. We cant afford any good free agents. Danny doesnt want to trade laughts or TK, What trades do you think he is making to get top talent? Free agents should be to take a good team and sign one or two to make a great team. We need to become a good team first, and we are still far from that.

We are a bottom team that is maxed out cap wise. We cant afford any good free agents. Danny doesnt want to trade laughts or TK, What trades do you think he is making to get top talent? Free agents should be to take a good team and sign one or two to make a great team. We need to become a good team first, and we are still far from that.
- bradster

The Flyers cap situation improves greatly after this season, but I still believe the Flyers need to build a core through the draft, and then use the money to augment this building core. It's not about getting top talent with trades, its about clearing more cap space and roster spots for younger players. If you can get a prospect or two all the better.

So much was made over the 8th spot on defense the last two games of pre season. What 8th spot?

We are a bottom team that is maxed out cap wise. We cant afford any good free agents. Danny doesnt want to trade laughts or TK, What trades do you think he is making to get top talent? Free agents should be to take a good team and sign one or two to make a great team. We need to become a good team first, and we are still far from that.
- bradster

I'm not sure with the cap rising, FA is going to be a viable way to get elite talent. Supporting talent to round out a roster for sure. My thought is over the last 10 years, which FA signees have made a significant impact on their team. Trochek and Piertrangelo come to mind. Anyone else?

The Flyers cap situation improves greatly after this season, but I still believe the Flyers need to build a core through the draft, and then use the money to augment this building core. It's not about getting top talent with trades, its about clearing more cap space and roster spots for younger players. If you can get a prospect or two all the better.
- jd250

This is not a good thing, it means danny will be signing contracts when we are still years away from contending. Almost all our contracts right now are not good contracts. Maybe they can turn it around..

I'm not sure with the cap rising, FA is going to be a viable way to get elite talent. Supporting talent to round out a roster for sure. My thought is over the last 10 years, which FA signees have made a significant impact on their team. Trochek and Piertrangelo come to mind. Anyone else?
- Trox88

Reinhart ? Or was he traded? I dont think they should be signing any significant FA for at least 3 yrs.

Still think this team goes on a heater at some point in the year, keeping them in hockey purgatory.

Still think this team goes on a heater at some point in the year, keeping them in hockey purgatory.
- StepfordSam

Yup

Yeah, and they went on and on about "adjusting" to NHL ice regardless of the fact that the majority of KHL rinks are NHL sized.
- MBFlyerfan

I was thinking the same thing.

Something needs to be done with Zamula. Reduce his ice time or sit him. He has been just awful so far this season. You cant have a guy playing 19 mins a night like this.

Something needs to be done with Zamula. Reduce his ice time or sit him. He has been just awful so far this season. You cant have a guy playing 19 mins a night like this.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I’d sit him and give andrae a chance. No way he could be worse

I understand the desire for a top 5 pick and this team certainly needs another one for sure. The other potential benefit with being out of the playoffs early enough is the team can sell more pieces at he deadline for picks or younger prospects. But I hate the losing to be honest. It is not good to insert 18 and 19 year old kids into a losing culture, because 1. they don't develop and 2. this is what they become accustomed to. Just look at the Sabres if you want proof. So for those reasons, I would rather the Flyers winning and taking the next step, and finding a way to get the players they need via trades and free agency.
- jd250

Both points are nonsense. NHL history is rife with examples of young players developing into stars starting on losing teams. They develop and the team wins. You and others keep mentioning Buffalo, which is just one team and is not proof of your position,
Chicago and San Jose are losing. Are you telling that Celebrini and Bedard aren't going to develop? How is Michkov developing on this losing team?

Tortorella is good for the tank, just saying.

Reinhart ? Or was he traded? I dont think they should be signing any significant FA for at least 3 yrs.
- bradster

Reinhart was traded for a 1st and Devon Levi. Reinhart is a blueprint on what a teams needs to do to gather talent with free agent options being sparse. Trade assets for a player under the age of 27 and then extend the player when their talent rises to the top. Fletcher tried that route with Risto, well.....

I know, but I don't agree with him. Goalies that I talk to tell me the problem is when you try to look above your defenders by the time you find the puck and see it heading towards the net, you can't get down in time to cover as much net as you can. And we have seen that happen to Fedotov this year, where pucks go right through him because he is still in the process of getting down into the butterfly position, especially at this height. Its better for him to look side to side to find the puck because he would be closer to the butterfly position.
- jd250

Here we go again with the fiction and imagination. Are those goalies 6-7? What do shorter goalies have to do to look over defenders that a 6-7 goalie doesn't have to do?

I understand the desire for a top 5 pick and this team certainly needs another one for sure. The other potential benefit with being out of the playoffs early enough is the team can sell more pieces at he deadline for picks or younger prospects. But I hate the losing to be honest. It is not good to insert 18 and 19 year old kids into a losing culture, because 1. they don't develop and 2. this is what they become accustomed to. Just look at the Sabres if you want proof. So for those reasons, I would rather the Flyers winning and taking the next step, and finding a way to get the players they need via trades and free agency.
- jd250

You can't have your cake and eat it too, as the saying goes. Gotta go through the losing to get better, that's how the system is set up. Anaheim, for instance, has drafted high'ish for the past five years, two 3rd overall's and a 2nd overall, and they're just starting to get better. There's no quick fix, you've gotta go through the process, unfortunately.

The Flyers cap situation improves greatly after this season, but I still believe the Flyers need to build a core through the draft, and then use the money to augment this building core. It's not about getting top talent with trades, its about clearing more cap space and roster spots for younger players. If you can get a prospect or two all the better.
- jd250

The Flyers cap situation improving is like putting a 20 in a junkie's pocket. He will try and score more smack.

Still think this team goes on a heater at some point in the year, keeping them in hockey purgatory.
- StepfordSam

Hard to do that when your goaltending is so suspect.

Reinhart was traded for a 1st and Devon Levi.
- Trox88

Fletcher paid more for Risto.

Fletcher paid more for Risto.
- Feanor

You would be correct- sigh!!!!

If Poehling is out and Luchanko is set down what are they doing at center?

Coots
Frost
The Room
Cates

That 3rd period penalty to Frost initially looked like a 'WTF are you doing' moment. But the replay from the other angle showed Frost leaning on the caps player and the player's skate blade broke in half, causing the fall. Just cursed there.
- atibus

That call in conjunction with the non call on the breakaway was a disgrace. By the way, I was at the game on Tuesday and watched last night. Is OV just that out of shape or is he kinda done? He looks dreadful and disinterested.