Confirmed with Link: Attard Traded to Edmonton for Ben Gleason

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deadhead

Registered User
Feb 26, 2014
50,675
22,131
Attard is a good example not to take SSS heaters seriously (Lesson to self).
He flashed his skills, he is a very good goal scorer for a defenseman, he's got size.
But the longer he played, the more his defensive and skating deficiencies were revealed.
And after three years, they probably have a good idea if he'll ever compensate for them.

Same applies to Andrae right now, he looks smooth out there, but the league will challenge him in the D-zone physically, hoping to panic him into mistakes. We'll see if he is exposed or rises to the challenge and keeps improving.

There's an interview with Middleton and he's got a great story that applies to any pro sport, about the need for players to adjust:

In 2010, we’re playing the Rockies out in Denver. Roy Halladay is pitching one of those days. His father lives about an hour away. And his father and I are sitting there watching Doc mow them down. I turned to his father and say, “I understand that you were Doc’s first pitching coach.” He said, “That’s right.” I said, “How many of his pitches that he uses today did you teach him?” And he said, “None.” None? “None.” Not even a fastball? “No.” He said when (Roy) was sent back down to the low minors, he jettisoned every pitch and he learned five new pitches. He said, “I’m not going to be successful (in the majors) if I don’t change.” So I said, “Oh, he’s using those pitches?” No. Over time, he was afraid he was too predictable. People knew his pitches. He either completely changed or materially altered every single pitch.

So I’m kind of incredulous about this whole thing. Two weeks later, I’m sitting with Mike Schmidt at a game. I relate this story about Doc’s father. And Mike just looks at me and he goes, “Yeah, I can understand that.” I said, “Really? All that change?” He goes, “John, in my career, I had three completely different swings. Every one of those three swings, I made a significant adjustment to the swing about halfway through. People adjust to you. You have to adjust to them.”

 

blackjackmulligan

Registered User
Jun 17, 2022
3,582
1,711
Attard is a good example not to take SSS heaters seriously (Lesson to self).
He flashed his skills, he is a very good goal scorer for a defenseman, he's got size.
But the longer he played, the more his defensive and skating deficiencies were revealed.
And after three years, they probably have a good idea if he'll ever compensate for them.

Same applies to Andrae right now, he looks smooth out there, but the league will challenge him in the D-zone physically, hoping to panic him into mistakes. We'll see if he is exposed or rises to the challenge and keeps improving.

There's an interview with Middleton and he's got a great story that applies to any pro sport, about the need for players to adjust:

In 2010, we’re playing the Rockies out in Denver. Roy Halladay is pitching one of those days. His father lives about an hour away. And his father and I are sitting there watching Doc mow them down. I turned to his father and say, “I understand that you were Doc’s first pitching coach.” He said, “That’s right.” I said, “How many of his pitches that he uses today did you teach him?” And he said, “None.” None? “None.” Not even a fastball? “No.” He said when (Roy) was sent back down to the low minors, he jettisoned every pitch and he learned five new pitches. He said, “I’m not going to be successful (in the majors) if I don’t change.” So I said, “Oh, he’s using those pitches?” No. Over time, he was afraid he was too predictable. People knew his pitches. He either completely changed or materially altered every single pitch.

So I’m kind of incredulous about this whole thing. Two weeks later, I’m sitting with Mike Schmidt at a game. I relate this story about Doc’s father. And Mike just looks at me and he goes, “Yeah, I can understand that.” I said, “Really? All that change?” He goes, “John, in my career, I had three completely different swings. Every one of those three swings, I made a significant adjustment to the swing about halfway through. People adjust to you. You have to adjust to them.”

So you were incorrect in your assessment/prediction of where Attard would be at this time.

Was it a bad pick or bad development? They knew what he was in college. Doesn't seem to me they invested the development in him.
 

deadhead

Registered User
Feb 26, 2014
50,675
22,131
So you were incorrect in your assessment/prediction of where Attard would be at this time.

Was it a bad pick or bad development? They knew what he was in college. Doesn't seem to me they invested the development in him.
He was a late 3rd rd pick, not a high probability of success.
He had traits worthy of a gamble (remember when people got excited about Millman in the 4th b/c he was a better skater?). Size, plus shot, good feel for attacking the O-zone.
Sometimes players make the adjustment, his was from college rover to NHL D-man
Sometimes players improve their skating.

I think Attard could contribute in a sheltered role, but I doubt any HC would trust him with major minutes or with the game on the line.
 

blackjackmulligan

Registered User
Jun 17, 2022
3,582
1,711
He was a late 3rd rd pick, not a high probability of success.
He had traits worthy of a gamble (remember when people got excited about Millman in the 4th b/c he was a better skater?). Size, plus shot, good feel for attacking the O-zone.
Sometimes players make the adjustment, his was from college rover to NHL D-man
Sometimes players improve their skating.

I think Attard could contribute in a sheltered role, but I doubt any HC would trust him with major minutes or with the game on the line.
You really didn't answer my question, however. Do the Flyers hold any blame for this not working out? Yes or no. Don't need a long winded response.
 

Rebels57

HFBoards Sponsor
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Sep 28, 2014
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Yawn.

Good for Attard. Hopefully he gets a chance there. He's better than several Flyers defensemen.
 

deadhead

Registered User
Feb 26, 2014
50,675
22,131
You really didn't answer my question, however. Do the Flyers hold any blame for this not working out? Yes or no. Don't need a long winded response.
That's impossible to answer.

Every player is different, so how do you know if it's bad coaching or the player is dumb as a bag of rocks.

The best you can do is look at a population of prospects, and see how many over/under perform relative to their pre-Flyer performance (i.e. not draft position but D+1, D+2 before they get to the AHL). And compare that to other organizations (is the failure rate above or below average).

But since most players "fail," you'd expect most prospects to fail.
 

blackjackmulligan

Registered User
Jun 17, 2022
3,582
1,711
Yawn.

Good for Attard. Hopefully he gets a chance there. He's better than several Flyers defensemen.
Who is he better than when the Flyers are healthy? No one is the answer.

That's impossible to answer.

Every player is different, so how do you know if it's bad coaching or the player is dumb as a bag of rocks.

The best you can do is look at a population of prospects, and see how many over/under perform relative to their pre-Flyer performance (i.e. not draft position but D+1, D+2 before they get to the AHL). And compare that to other organizations (is the failure rate above or below average).

But since most players "fail," you'd expect most prospects to fail.
Based on the Flyers history with defensemen. Pretty easy where to place the blame.

So it is impossible to answer if the Flyers hold any of the blame? Wow
 
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freakydallas13

Registered User
Jan 30, 2007
7,441
18,240
Victoria, BC
Based on the Flyers history with defensemen. Pretty easy where to place the blame.

So it is impossible to answer if the Flyers hold any of the blame? Wow
No, you see it's impossible to tell if the team that is probably the worst in the league at picking/developing defencemen is actually at fault or not. They just have astronomically bad luck!
 
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Shrike

Registered User
Dec 5, 2019
847
1,617
You really didn't answer my question, however. Do the Flyers hold any blame for this not working out? Yes or no. Don't need a long winded response.
Deadhead never answers questions. The trick is to not care what deadhead thinks. One post he goes on for paragraphs about how something is wrong, the next, he explains how he can’t answer because he is ill informed.
 
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FLYguy3911

Sanheim Lover
Oct 19, 2006
54,603
89,753
Sooo....he didn't become the next Erik Cernak?

Was never the biggest fan, but Attard actually has good NHL numbers in his sample. The Flyers, always sound in their process, valued one preseason game over ~30 regular season NHL games.
 
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