Grading the 2010 Flyers: Matt Carle
by Geoff Detweiler on Jun 16, 2010 8:29 PM EDT
in Grading the Flyers
27 comments
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It really is amazing what Chris Pronger can do. Yes, this will be Matt Carle's season review, but since you can't look at his season without mentioning - maybe even crediting - Pronger, let's just get it out of the way. Pronger helped Carle go from an above average defenseman into a stud.
Now, none of that is to take away from what Matt Carle did this year. While Pronger gets a lot of credit, he doesn't just wave a wand and give Carle 35 points. No, Carle had his best year since his first full season back in 2006-07. He played more minutes than he ever has before in his career and set a personal best in plus/minus. It's safe to say Carle had a pretty good year.
Jump for full analysis.
Really, there is not much to say about Carle that can't be seen in the numbers. He played over 23 minutes a night, two minutes more than he's ever played per game in the NHL. He saw a drastic increase in the strength of his opponents as well as teammates, and he stepped up his game accordingly. No one was on the ice for more Flyers goals this year than Matt Carle, and his GFON/60 was tops on the team. On the flip side, only Blair Betts, Dan Carcillo, and Chris Pronger had a lower GAON/60.
On top of that, consistency was a pretty big part of Carle's year. While he had a 13-game stretch from the end of November to the middle of December where he failed to finish with a positive plus/minus in any single game, that was more than twice as long as any other stretch for Carle.
In the end, though, the most important thing about Matt Carle's season was what cannot be measured in stats. Yes, I said it. He was once looked at as a bust (before coming to Philadelphia, that is) who was overpaid. Now, he's a top-pairing, two-way defenseman who is spoken of in the same sentence as Pronger and Timonen. His contract expires after the 2011-2012 season, but at just under $3.5 million a year, he's a bargain.
For proof, one can start with his penchant for scoring big goals. Look no further than his tying goal against the Rangers in the 82nd regular season game. One could also look at his first period goal against the Devils when the Flyers desperately needed a win after losing 5 in a row and 6 of 7 at the end of March. But his Game 4 against Boston was pretty impressive too: 4 assists, plus-5, and the great feed on the game-winning, series-saving, season continuing goal. Yes, that play deserved all of those adjectives because when he did it AGAIN, this time in Game 3 of the Cup Finals, it was even more impressive.
Looking forward, Carle has gotten better each of the last three years and will now have a second full-year with Pronger. It will be really difficult to top this year, but even with a slight decline, Carle is suddenly becoming an integral part of this team. Beyond the next two years, what happens with Carle will largely depend on what happens with Braydon Coburn. And while it is sad to say, when Kimmo Timonen's contract expires at the end of 2012-2013, Carle is on track to be as close to a Kimmo clone as one can get. Having both of them on the team should be a treat to watch next year.
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Without reading the post… I’m just gonna wonder… why in the world did the Lightning send him away? This is the question (besides many others – Lightning related) I’m gonna ask forever.
I love the Lightning AND the Flyers... go ahead, preach me!
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego.
American Cheese, B!tch!
“Because they’re the Lightning” is a good reason.
IIRC, he was pretty weak in his time in Tampa, wasn’t he? Then again, he played like a game and a half down there.
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by Travis Hughes on Jun 16, 2010 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, you’re right. Plus I believe he wouldn’t be that good now without playing on the line with Prongs… maybe.
I love the Lightning AND the Flyers... go ahead, preach me!
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego.
American Cheese, B!tch!
He had 2 points (1 G, 1 A) in 12 games with Tampa, and was a +1.
It also freed up some cap space for Tampa – Carle made $2.95MM. Downie made $0.585MM, and Eminger $1.20MM, for a total of $1.785MM, so Tampa saved almost $1.2MM by making the trade, and they swapped rounds with the Flyers by giving up San Jose’s 3rd rounder for their own 4th rounder. With Lecavalier, Malone, and St. Louis eating up over $18MM of cap space, fitting in a team around them was a concern.
Honor is no substitute for victory.
I’m optimistic that Carle hasn’t quite reached his ceiling yet. I could definitely see him with 50 points if the team plays well next season. He is pretty clutch for a younger defenseman too. I also love that he does all this without taking penalties, even if he doesnt draw many.
New Zealand's 4th best Philadelphia Flyers fan
I love seeing people who have nothing better to do other than to vote ‘F’. Assuming they aren’t a member of BSH, they have nothing better to do with their time than go to another site, see a poll, and just can’t help but vote like an asshole. It’s like those people who vote (actually go to the polling place and write-in) Homer Simpson for President.
Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Jun 16, 2010 9:12 PM EDT reply actions
But what if you feel Homer would be a better president?
by JerseyDriver on Jun 16, 2010 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions
But Geoff, why are you being so easy on the 3 jackoffs that voted him a ‘C’? I guess they were looking for more from Carle in the playoffs… why couldn’t he have put his stick up his rear and swept out the game winner from behind Leighton while clearing the crease? Guy is a slacker.
Because F is clearly someone with nothing better to do with their time. People who voted C just disagree.
Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Jun 17, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Cmon — C? That’s about as unrealistic as an F. I agree that giving that season an F is just an asshat move, but giving him a C is probably worse, because those people are actually kidding themselves that they’re assessing his season fairly. You want to be tough — give him a ‘B’ then.
I don’t disagree. But I distinguish because, as you said, the people who graded him a ‘C’ at least thought they were being fair. The people who graded him an ‘F’ did it to be a jackass. I’d much rather someone grade honestly – even if I wholeheartedly disagree – than act like an 8-year old and think it’s funny.
Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Jun 17, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I actually argued with Mario earlier when I said they gave him away. I know we all kind of think of the guy as a throw away, but in Tampa’s defense they traded an underachieving D-man for a future 22 goal scorer who was a +14 on the season. This trade actually worked out well for both teams to be honest. Neither of these guys accomplishes what they did without a change of scenery.
Formerly... "You don't have to be sweet, to be good"
Things I like about Matt Carle
1. Steady improvement = the maturity needed to be a top 4 D long term. The old truism holds: D men take longer to develop/mature (with rare exceptions).
2. His play complimented the play of his partner too. The pairing worked both ways: his skating, shot, and physical play complimented Pronger while playing with Pronger allowed him a bigger development year than he would have had otherwise.
3. He had that brief “slump” but he stuck with it, didn’t make any big changes or panic, and came out of it pretty quickly. Having Pronger beside him helped of course, but he showed the consistency a top 4 D has to show.
4. He’s 25.
5. He’s 25!
6. He’s freakin" 25!!!!
January 11, 1976
did you mention hes 25? this kid is only going to get better. not to mention hes the former hobby baker award winner.
Damn, he's only freakin' 25!!!
I can’t believe I didn’t mention that! I mean if he’s only 25 he’s got (Hockey Gods willing) 10 years minimum of solid, possibly allstar play ahead of him
Thanks man, you saved me there.
January 11, 1976
by TopShelfTony on Jun 17, 2010 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Hi, I am a long time reader (was reading all throughout the playoff run but didn’t want to join because I was afraid it jinx us, lol). It was a great playoff run, one that I will remember for the rest of my life. I figure this is the best place to introduce myself. I am a Southeastern PA native who went to New York City for school studying Forensic Science and still live there. It sucks being in a city and every sports team here I hate, but it makes great rivalry with friends, and I proudly wear my Flyers jerseys (and Phillies and Eagles too).
Now that I got that out of the way, I think Carle had a great season. I was excited when we picked him up in ’08, but was hoping he could do better this season. We all know how he did. I agree that this season he is the most improved Flyer. Yes Pronger had a lot to do with that, but he has been very solid on his own. He made some really nice assists during the playoffs, and he never sticks out in my mind making any dumb defensive mistakes.
I’m glad we have him signed for another 2 years for a pretty modest cap hit. I have a feeling that over those seasons we will be saying how he’ll be worth more than that.
I love these player reviews, can’t wait for the next one.
Grade = A
#1 Flyers Fan in New York City
Thanks!!! Looking forward to talking some Flyers Hockey with everybody on here!
#1 Flyers Fan in New York
by Lindbergh 31 on Jun 17, 2010 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I gave him a B. Overall, he had a very solid season. Unfortunately for him, he was like the main character in this nursery rhyme. And no, I’m not questioning his masculinity or manliness or what have you:
There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very, very good,
But when she was bad, she was horrid.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Actually...
… you could apply that rhyme to the Flyers as a whole this year.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
You could indeed
but there’d be a long list of players ahead of his that it would apply to more aptly.
January 11, 1976
by TopShelfTony on Jun 17, 2010 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
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