They've got an incredible coach who runs a pretty good system for the current day and age in the NHL.. you get your guys to buy in like they have and this is what happens...

They're agressive on the forecheck but they always seem to get back and smother you going the other way.. its really impressive.. even if it does make me sick watching them do it...
- Flyersgod

It's a team where the sum, is much better than the parts. I guess Deboer is a very good tactician. He's getting every ounce out of a team that doesn't have a ton of talent.

I don't think a decision has been made public yet. I'm sure the Flyers know what they are going to do right now. I tend to agree, I think he should be returned. Not because he doesn't belong, simply because he need top 6 minutes to develop. Those aren't available to him with the Flyers.
- PLindbergh31

I don't see there being an announcement by the team made. The media may report what is going to happen. I don't believe that he needs top 6 minutes to develop here. But he does need playing time. The only way I would be against Laughton staying, is if he is a frequent healthy scratch, like Sbisa was a while back. Right now, the Flyers have a lot of depth. So I don't know how exactly it's going to work out.

I think they have till noon if i'm not mistaken to make a decision..
- Flyersgod

5 PM

It's a team where the sum, is much better than the parts. I guess Deboer is a very good tactician. He's getting every ounce out of a team that doesn't have a ton of talent.
- PLindbergh31

Yupp.. i can't believe what they can do with the talent they have...

Its mind boggling..

I don't see there being an announcement by the team made. The media may report what is going to happen. I don't believe that he needs top 6 minutes to develop here. But he does need playing time. The only way I would be against Laughton staying, is if he is a frequent healthy scratch, like Sbisa was a while back. Right now, the Flyers have a lot of depth. So I don't know how exactly it's going to work out.
- MJL

Yup, having him sit in the press box makes no sense. I don't know what is going to happen. It's a tough decision. I think the fact Briere appears to be healthy, and with the solid play of McGinn it appears like returning him makes more sense. Who knows.

Yeah.. weird start to the year...

Didn't lava win the cup after the last lockout?
- Flyersgod

Yep. I was in Carolina for it.

I'm thinking he stays also, but I'm on the side of those who say send him back.

He looks like he can handle the 11 or so minutes he's given a night but it's my belief he'd benefit more - ice time, strength, confidence, play in all situations - if he's returned to Oshawa.
- 77rams

I'm fine with how he has been used to this point. I think he'll gain highly beneficial experience that will help him more in the long run then going back to Juniors. I do however have questions on if he can continue to get those minutes. As well as taking into consideration all the factors of the Flyers current roster situation.

He's been playing on the third line more often tho. Plus Lavi moves guys all over during the course of the game. I've argued about this before, not going to get into it again. But just saying he's going to get 4th line minutes is kind of inaccurate.

To me it doesn't make a difference either way. He's already showed he can be effective at this level.
- hereticpride

The signing of Knuble and the return of Briere changed things. His I've time will go down and he will likely remain on the fourth line as long as we remain healthy.

I don't know....I was watching him skate behind the play a bit and my first thought was that I was watching an alumni game
- TheGreat28

I didn't see that at all. I saw a player that was well positioned, and knows how to play the game.

Yep. I was in Carolina for it.
- section32

Nice.. how was the arena? I'm going up there for the Flyers game in april!

It's a team where the sum, is much better than the parts. I guess Deboer is a very good tactician. He's getting every ounce out of a team that doesn't have a ton of talent.
- PLindbergh31

They play a tight checking basic system. They forecheck well and have a good neutral zone presence. They win a lot of puck battles and puck races. That's where games are won and lost. And they have enough skill to provide the offense they need.

They've got an incredible coach who runs a pretty good system for the current day and age in the NHL.. you get your guys to buy in like they have and this is what happens...

They're agressive on the forecheck but they always seem to get back and smother you going the other way.. its really impressive.. even if it does make me sick watching them do it...
- Flyersgod

The Devils roll over coaches and players often, lose skaters every year (some of them top players), have a no-name defense and seemingly a slew of role players up front and yet consistently are a huge pain in the butt to play against.

Their game plan is no secret, nothing innovative or complicated, so why is it so hard to compete like they do year in and year out?

Nice.. how was the arena? I'm going up there for the Flyers game in april!
- Flyersgod

Very nice. I lived there for 12 years and had season tickets. Was cool watching Brindy and Justin Williams. It's loud too when they are doing well.

The Devils roll over coaches and players often, lose skaters every year (some of them top players), have a no-name defense and seemingly a slew of role players up front and yet consistently are a huge pain in the butt to play against.

Their game plan is no secret, nothing innovative or complicated, so why is it so hard to compete like they do year in and year out?
- 77rams

I dunno.. if their system wasn't innovative or complicated i figure they wouldn't do so well once someone figures out how to play against them...

I dunno though.. i really don't..

They play a tight checking basic system. They forecheck well and have a good neutral zone presence. They win a lot of puck battles and puck races. That's where games are won and lost. And they have enough skill to provide the offense they need.
- MJL

Never heard of that one before!

Yup, having him sit in the press box makes no sense. I don't know what is going to happen. It's a tough decision. I think the fact Briere appears to be healthy, and with the solid play of McGinn it appears like returning him makes more sense. Who knows.
- PLindbergh31

I think right now, one of the Flyers biggest strengths, and what they have to rely on, is their depth. Flyers can roll 4 lines and wear teams down. My question is, with looking at all the factors, such as Waivers, etc. When Rinaldo and Hartnell come back, what are they going to do? McGinn and Wellwood are waiver exempt. They can move back and forth without having to go through Waivers. Rinaldo and Sestito aren't. Knuble and Shelley are veterans they aren't likely to waive. So something has to give. Sending Laughton back to Juniors to help clear the logjam is a reasonable argument.

The longer Subban remains unsigned, the more receptive Montreal should be to a trade. I would wait a couple more weeks and then offer Read, Laughton, Gustafsson a 1st in 2013 and a 2nd in 2014.

It sounds like a lot, but I look at it this way: you keep Coots and Schenn and you are giving up a 2nd line winger, a young center who will most likely end up as a quality shut down 3rd line center, a young defenseman who probably will never be more than a #5 dman who plays on the 2nd pp unit, a hopefully late 1st and a 2nd; seems a pretty fair price for a 23 year old defenseman with excellent mobility and skills and the potential to be your number one Dman.

Comments??
- BiggE

To me a "Von Hayes" would be a vast overpayment. I know I'm in the minority but to me Read + Laughton + Subban > Couturier. Don't get me wrong, I like Coots. But for some reason he reminds me of a slightly more skilled Handzus. I wonder if his foot speed hampers his offensive ability in the NHL. Yes, I know he scored a lot in Juniors but I always discount the Q a bit.

And I'm not bashing him. Just looking at him objectively. With Read I see a player who scored 24 goals playing mostly on the 2nd and 3rd lines with little PP time, can play any forward position, can play the PP or PK, and has one of the 3 best and most accurate shots on the team (along with G and Briere). The only downside is his age.

Laughton is a drop off from Couturier, but Subban makes up for that.

I'm fine with how he has been used to this point. I think he'll gain highly beneficial experience that will help him more in the long run then going back to Juniors. I do however have questions on if he can continue to get those minutes. As well as taking into consideration all the factors of the Flyers current roster situation.
- MJL

I guess it depends on Laughton's makeup whether it would benefit him or not. Some players would lose confidence and regress if they can't produce like they do in juniors, some would take the experience and realize they can keep up and continue to grow. We don't know what makes him tick so it's a coin flip for all of us.

I dunno.. if their system wasn't innovative or complicated i figure they wouldn't do so well once someone figures out how to play against them...

I dunno though.. i really don't..
- Flyersgod

It's not innovative or complicated. It's because the game never comes down to systems. It comes down to players. And execution and hard work. Winning puck battles and making plays. Here we are full circle. LA had no problem figuring out how to play against them. They must have had a better, more innovative and complicated system.

I think right now, one of the Flyers biggest strengths, and what they have to rely on, is their depth. Flyers can roll 4 lines and wear teams down. My question is, with looking at all the factors, such as Waivers, etc. When Rinaldo and Hartnell come back, what are they going to do? McGinn and Wellwood are waiver exempt. They can move back and forth without having to go through Waivers. Rinaldo and Sestito aren't. Knuble and Shelley are veterans they aren't likely to waive. So something has to give. Sending Laughton back to Juniors to help clear the logjam is a reasonable argument.
- MJL

Agreed. They have a fair amount of options. I think it's just a numbers crunch, since you aren't going to keep Laughton on hand as a replacement if there is an injury it makes sense to return him. I won't be upset if they keep him. I think if they do keep him they are making a statement that this kid is going to be in the lineup every game.

I didn't see that at all. I saw a player that was well positioned, and knows how to play the game.
- MJL

Watch the replay. I noticed this on a couple of shifts. But I will say that it looked like he was conserving energy and then showed a burst a little later in the shift when they hit the blue line. But it bears watching...

It's not innovative or complicated. It's because the game never comes down to systems. It comes down to players. And execution and hard work. Winning puck battles and making plays. Here we are full circle. LA had no problem figuring out how to play against them. They must have had a better, more innovative and complicated system.
- MJL

It comes down to who scores more goals.

The finals came down to fatigue and goaltending. Quick was great.

It's not innovative or complicated. It's because the game never comes down to systems. It comes down to players. And execution and hard work. Winning puck battles and making plays. Here we are full circle. LA had no problem figuring out how to play against them. They must have had a better, more innovative and complicated system.
- MJL

They did his name was Quick and quite a few players that played great two way hockey. Basically threw their own system in their face.

Watch the replay. I noticed this on a couple of shifts. But I will say that it looked like he was conserving energy and then showed a burst a little later in the shift when they hit the blue line. But it bears watching...
- TheGreat28

No need to watch the replay. Knuble can still be an effective player in a reduced role. He does a lot of the little things well that can help a team. He can be a net presence on the 2nd PP unit. He can kill penalties.

It comes down to who scores more goals.

The finals came down to fatigue and goaltending. Quick was great.
- Flyersgod

And all those things I mentioned, is how you score more goals. And certainly goaltending.