I would like to know if any of you truly view Laughton as a first round pick. I never compared him to Mike Richards. Scott Laughton has never had the offense. John Madden is a very good comparison. I believe Madden was never drafted and I also believe such players can be picked up in the second or third around. So was Laughton ever the best available?
- SuperSchennBros

Maybe he's not, but at the same time, there's always players picked in the high-mid 1st round who never become top-6 /top-4 guys (Fehr, Hickey, Jessiman) or sometimes don't even make it (A.J. Thelen, Sasha Pokulok, etc.). Not saying he was the best pick, but at the same time, it's not a terrible one either.

Very possible. He's played fairly well with the Flyers and then reports are he struggles with the Phantoms. Bizarre.
- PLindbergh31

Some players are skilled enough to play with the better players and contribute but not good enough to carry the play at a lower level if that makes sense

Greatest Thing Ever

Responding to all the replies to my Laughton question. I know the Flyers model is to draft the best player available but in this case we really need D. Based on the replies I've got from all of you, everyone else was a toss up. I am not at all excited about our prospects.
- SuperSchennBros

It's hard to have a deep core of solid AHL prospects when draft picks are continually traded. All of the Flyers prospects now are already good NHL players. Schenn and Couturier are 21, and 20 respectively. Most players that age aren't NHL ready, let alone contributing in the top 6 of good teams lineup.

I would like to know if any of you truly view Laughton as a first round pick. I never compared him to Mike Richards. Scott Laughton has never had the offense. John Madden is a very good comparison. I believe Madden was never drafted and I also believe such players can be picked up in the second or third around. So was Laughton ever the best available?
- SuperSchennBros

If you can draft a player like John Madden in the late first round, you did pretty well. The idea that 1st rounder needs to be a star or close to a star player in their prime is flawed.

Also, was Scott Laughton the most skilled player on the board? No. Does he have the highest upside? Definitely not. Was he the most sure thing available? Probably. That's how I think the Flyers decided on picking him over a guy like Olli Maatta. They wanted a guy that was more of a guarantee to play in the NHL and be effective. Whether that means like Mike Richards or John Madden, it didn't matter.

Some players are skilled enough to play with the better players and contribute but not good enough to carry the play at a lower level if that makes sense
- nastyflyergirl

it does make sense. Perhaps after getting a taste of NHL action, Wellwood's work ethic slipped a little after returning to Adirondack.

It's hard to have a deep core of solid AHL prospects when draft picks are continually traded. All of the Flyers prospects now are already good NHL players. Schenn and Couturier are 21, and 20 respectively. Most players that age aren't NHL ready, let alone contributing in the top 6 of good teams lineup.
- PLindbergh31

This isn't a shot at you in any way, but do we really know if the Flyers have had less draft picks over the past 5-6 years versus other teams in the league? I wouldn't be surprised if the data was compiled that the Flyers weren't just middle of the road as far as how much they move picks (compared to other contending teams, as contending teams are more likely to trade picks than bottom feeders).

My sense is their problem is outside round 1, they just don't draft very well.

I think there's a possibility that Wellwood is one of those players who is a better NHL player, then an AHL player. For whatever reason. We'll see.
- MJL

he seems to operate best when everyone's playing at full speed...kinda like a better fast break player in bball than half court. maybe tempo is a better word than speed...

I'm pro-Redden being offered a similar deal to the one Kurtis Foster nabbed. One concern is, Redden hasn't played all year. Not sure of his conditioning or readiness to step in and play.
- Jsaquella

I would take Redden for that deal as well. He's gotten labeled as this awful player which isn't entirely fair. He would never have spent two seasons in the AHL if he made something like $2 million instead of $6.5 million. I still think he is capable of being an effective top 6 defenseman.

If you can draft a player like John Madden in the late first round, you did pretty well. The idea that 1st rounder needs to be a star or close to a star player in their prime is flawed.

Also, was Scott Laughton the most skilled player on the board? No. Does he have the highest upside? Definitely not. Was he the most sure thing available? Probably. That's how I think the Flyers decided on picking him over a guy like Olli Maatta. They wanted a guy that was more of a guarantee to play in the NHL and be effective. Whether that means like Mike Richards or John Madden, it didn't matter.
- NickTheKid87

Maatta was seen as a very safe pick, too. I think that the Flyers really do see Laughton as an eventual Mike Richards type guy, and obviously we hope they're right.

I just hope that they allow him to develop at his pace.

F'ing flu is really pissing me off. Or maybe its my immune system. 2 hours I feel great. Then 2 hours of rollercoaster fever. JUST MAKE UP MY MIND, SICK OR NOT SICK.
sorry, if I rant at the house right now the things just think I am crazy

I would take Redden for that deal as well. He's gotten labeled as this awful player which isn't entirely fair. He would never have spent two seasons in the AHL if he made something like $2 million instead of $6.5 million. I still think he is capable of being an effective top 6 defenseman.
- NickTheKid87

On a one year deal, the risk is minimal. If he can't help, waive him and send him down to the AHL. If he can play, he helps your team. No risk, decent chance at reward

Maatta was seen as a very safe pick, too. I think that the Flyers really do see Laughton as an eventual Mike Richards type guy, and obviously we hope they're right.

I just hope that they allow him to develop at his pace.
- Jsaquella

I heard Maatta was torn apart by some scouts. Either way, I trust the Flyers ability to draft forwards and develop them. I know it frustrates people that they don't go after goalies & defensemen but you can't really argue with their track record for forwards.

This isn't a shot at you in any way, but do we really know if the Flyers have had less draft picks over the past 5-6 years versus other teams in the league? I wouldn't be surprised if the data was compiled that the Flyers weren't just middle of the road as far as how much they move picks (compared to other contending teams, as contending teams are more likely to trade picks than bottom feeders).

My sense is their problem is outside round 1, they just don't draft very well.
- eayost

Not true.....Seidenberg, Sharp, etc .........they just develop elsewhere

On a one year deal, the risk is minimal. If he can't help, waive him and send him down to the AHL. If he can play, he helps your team. No risk, decent chance at reward
- Jsaquella

No such thing as a bad 1 year deal.

No such thing as a bad 1 year deal.
- NickTheKid87

Billy Tibbets

I heard Maatta was torn apart by some scouts. Either way, I trust the Flyers ability to draft forwards and develop them. I know it frustrates people that they don't go after goalies & defensemen but you can't really argue with their track record for forwards.
- NickTheKid87

IIRC, Maatta's big knock was his ceiling. It seemed most people felt he'd become a very solid defenseman, but that he'd max at no better than a top 4 guy. Some of the other defensemen taken before him are less of a sure thing, but have higher ceilings.

Billy Tibbets
- jmatchett

That was a bad trade, not a bad contract

Detroit and Philadelphia have both made 47 total draft picks since 2006. And if you take the average of the round their picks are in, both come out an average of 4.17. So they don't necessarily just trade all their high end picks, at least when compared to Detroit, who is held up as a team who "builds through the draft".

Flyers just don't make good picks in general after round 1

Detroit and Philadelphia have both made 47 total draft picks since 2006. And if you take the average of the round their picks are in, both come out an average of 4.17. So they don't necessarily just trade all their high end picks, at least when compared to Detroit, who is held up as a team who "builds through the draft".

Flyers just don't make good picks in general after round 1
- eayost

Where the Flyers get killed is poor picks in round two. They seem to get value in rounds 3, 4, 5 & 6, but 2nd rounders have been a barren wasteland of suck

This isn't a shot at you in any way, but do we really know if the Flyers have had less draft picks over the past 5-6 years versus other teams in the league? I wouldn't be surprised if the data was compiled that the Flyers weren't just middle of the road as far as how much they move picks (compared to other contending teams, as contending teams are more likely to trade picks than bottom feeders).

My sense is their problem is outside round 1, they just don't draft very well.
- eayost

Well just off the top of my head I know the Flyers didn't have a first round pick in 2009, or 2010. That sets you back a good deal right there.

This isn't a shot at you in any way, but do we really know if the Flyers have had less draft picks over the past 5-6 years versus other teams in the league? I wouldn't be surprised if the data was compiled that the Flyers weren't just middle of the road as far as how much they move picks (compared to other contending teams, as contending teams are more likely to trade picks than bottom feeders).

My sense is their problem is outside round 1, they just don't draft very well.
- eayost

Just looked up some of their non-1st round draft picks and the only notables are Seidenberg & Sharp since 1994. Albeit they've only had 10 2nd round picks in those 18 years. Some in the same draft including 3 in 2006.

Detroit and Philadelphia have both made 47 total draft picks since 2006. And if you take the average of the round their picks are in, both come out an average of 4.17. So they don't necessarily just trade all their high end picks, at least when compared to Detroit, who is held up as a team who "builds through the draft".

Flyers just don't make good picks in general after round 1
- eayost

Basically every pick after round 2 is a lottery ticket. Majority of third rounders and later never even play an NHL game.

Billy Tibbets
- jmatchett

No such thing as a bad 1 year deal, usually.

IIRC, Maatta's big knock was his ceiling. It seemed most people felt he'd become a very solid defenseman, but that he'd max at no better than a top 4 guy. Some of the other defensemen taken before him are less of a sure thing, but have higher ceilings.
- Jsaquella

That makes more sense. I guess they'd rather have another Mike Richards-esque player than a Hal Gill sort.