Not the Flyers?

[wbon22]

So if you haven't read Bill Meltzer today, you should. And then, just to really get your blood flowing you should read the linked articles.

In it, both point out that around the league the perception is that the Flyers simply aren't the Flyers. They are not a hard game. They don't have team speed, they aren't physically challenging, they don't bang in the corners or along the walls and they don't make life difficult in general.

It is just inconceivable that the Philadelphia Flyers are not difficult in the corners or physical in general. But...let's think about it. Who on this roster is a physical player. A real banger. A forechecking machine.

No one.

Simmonds can be for stretches. Voracek is a possession player, not a banger. Giroux is chippy, not a grinder. Umberger never was a banger, neither was Vinny. Brayden Schenn is a quiet physical player..he uses his size to absorb hits, not dish them out....

What is it that made this team so different from last year? besides the Umberger trade?

 

[chy1127]

So if you haven't read Bill Meltzer today, you should. And then, just to really get your blood flowing you should read the linked articles.

In it, both point out that around the league the perception is that the Flyers simply aren't the Flyers. They are not a hard game. They don't have team speed, they aren't physically challenging, they don't bang in the corners or along the walls and they don't make life difficult in general.

It is just inconceivable that the Philadelphia Flyers are not difficult in the corners or physical in general. But...let's think about it. Who on this roster is a physical player. A real banger. A forechecking machine.

No one.

Simmonds can be for stretches. Voracek is a possession player, not a banger. Giroux is chippy, not a grinder. Umberger never was a banger, neither was Vinny. Brayden Schenn is a quiet physical player..he uses his size to absorb hits, not dish them out....

What is it that made this team so different from last year? besides the Umberger trade?

Roster wise the real changes are Kimmo, Hartnell, Downey, Meszaros and Hall. Not a big change over but its looking like Kimmo and Hartnell are missed. I think the real issue is that other teams got better and we got older. Because Kimmo is out, other dman are playing different roles which don't fit the player. The only banger we have is L. Schenn and an occasional big hit from Grossmann. With Hartnell you had 2 lines with someone that would go into the boards hard. Hartnell on the 1st and Simmonds on the 2nd. Now we have 1. We still play dump and chase but don't have the pressure and power forward that makes a big hit for a turn over. We dump, the other teams dman gets the puck, skates it out and they are on the rush. Other team dumps it in, our defense throws it up the boards to the other team and now they are set up in our zone.

With this roster we need more puck possession. I watched the 1st against the Ducks and this was a perfect example. Although shots were 4-4, most of the time was in our zone. I don't know if there are stats but we had no pressure in the offensive zone in that period. Even on the PP we usually get set up best when Jake carries in with speed and get set up.

 

[JBM73]

Here are the links:

HockeyBuzz.com - Bill Meltzer - Meltzer's Musings: Laughton, Lecavalier, Flyers Alumni

30 Thoughts: Analytics say Oilers luck should turn - Sportsnet.ca