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11 Comments (5 conversations)
guadzilla
I like those new analytic numbers, Charlie – very to-the-point re offensive zone entries, and not overly dependent on cumulative statistics. A quick question: are you defining dump-in retrieval as an instance where they actually get clear possession of the puck or where they are able to get a forechecker onto a battle for the puck along the boards?
Also, I think the stats are being overly kind to Brink. He’s been doing some good stuff along the boards, but his on-ice impact is nowhere as close to being as dominant as those stats make it out to be.
Charlie O'Connor
AuthorA dump-in retrieval involves clear, uncontested possession of the puck. Basically, if a player on the retrieving team has the puck and earns himself a clear opportunity to do something with it.
guadzilla
Gotcha – so it isnt what happens immediately after but the overall outcome of the dump-in. Excellent stuff (although i dont envy you sitting and watching a game with a pen recording this :)).
Jason
I like this structure for these articles. Keep them coming.
John Starbuck
Risto had a great game that overshadowed what looked to me like Zamula’s best game of the season.
Thoughts?
Bob MCH
With the mediocre talent this team has, they have hit their ceiling. Yet, their mediocre record means they will get mediocre draft picks again in the 2025 draft. This team desperately needs elite talent, a half dozen of them, and is nowhere near achieving that necessary state for a cup. Really hard to get excited about their day in and day out mediocrity. It would be more hopeful if they would lose out, as we would know help is on the way through top draft picks. Danny has not shown he knows how to do the trades that bring in elite talent. The Drysdale trade was a loser. He has to find a way to fleece someone and get a stud talent to add to Michkov. This is going to be a long 10 year rebuild before a cup comes to Philly. What is there to get excited about? That some third liner might have a couple of great games and give the delusion that they could become a second liner? Oh boy. I wonder how long before Michkov demands a trade outta here so he can play with elite talent and go for a cup? My problem is, Torts has no business being the coach of a team trying to acquire elite talent, as his outstanding coaching will lift them far out of the top of the draft every year he is here, working against their number one need, elite top five draft picks. Brutal strategy.
guadzilla
If i felt that way, I just would stop watching the Flyers till they became relevant to me again (and that’s not a dig at you. Following sports is mean to be fun – not to cause this level of angst).
The rebuild is going to be what it is. I get that many people here are convinced that tanking is the only way to become a contender – but at some point, there needs to be a healthier way to deal with that than complaining about every little thing that the team does just because the 100% surety and knowledge of how to run a hockey team that we have as fans doesnt match what the amateurs running the team are doing.
Bob MCH
Well, they are unwatchable right now. And, as I explained above, there is NO path to being a cup contender with the plan they are executing of having a top shelf coach with a mediocre roster, and resultant perpetual first round picks in the 15 to 30 area. This is NOT how to find elite talent. Been watching sports for 50 years, studied every strategy one can think of, and without studs, elite talent, there are no championships. Flyers have one young stud and that’s it.
Rob Conrad
Hathaway was pushed into the goalie.
Charlie O'Connor
AuthorShows how Philly Hathaway is that you felt the need to defend even that little aside that could have *maybe* been interpreted as negative towards him!
guadzilla
Hathaway is awesome. But i appreciate the hard-to-play-against guys who arent dirty (f you, Claude Lemieux!).
As an aside, the one pest that I enjoyed watching even against the Flyers was Matthew Barnaby. An absolute pest of a player but really, really hard to dislike. There was a game where he actually dropped gloves with Lindros and got tuned up like crazy – he was skating back to the box, blood all over his face and GRINNING like a maniac at the boos he was getting from the Philly faithful. That’s when I became a fan. Guy fights someone 50 pound larger, gets beaten like a mule and is just flat-out having FUN. How can you dislike someone like that?