He's gotta be able to go back to jr's or ahl. One or the other???
- SMS4016

Yeah maybe your right mb.

Juniors, yes. AHL, no. So the question is, will more time in the juniors help him, or will he be better served getting his feet wet with the pros?
- BulliesPhan87

Usually you send a guy down to work on his positioning/defensive game. With Laughton and Coots that part is already pretty good/excellent. So the debate is are they better off going down and scoring against weaker players only to be culture shocked when they come up against men again?

Not going to hold my breath on ghost. Watching the under 20 championships he did fine on pp but he wasn't very strong in his own end. I think US team scratched or cut his minutes way down at the end. Solid prospect just a ways away yet
- Just5

He played great in Union's conference and NCAA playoffs. In the one game I saw (televised on ESPNU), the analyst - I think it was Melrose - was fawning all over him. Made several comments like "The Flyers got themselves a good one in this kid".

Now, how much you value Melrose's opinion is up for debate I suppose, but Ghost had a great playoffs, and the cut in his minutes on the US team was due to a suspension for a hit (see - he's the PERFECT Flyer!), not due to his play.

Yes, he's pretty much a lock unless he has an awful camp and preseason.
- bmeltzer

With his second suspension so far this year, do you think he might be branded, kind of like Downie (although Downie didn't do himself any favors in that preseason game)? He definitely has 3rd line (possibly more) potential, but I'd hate for him to be a liability out there due to his reputation.

I read somewhere but can't find the link that Mason will be RFA again next offseason. I hope Bill M can confirm this.
- phillydentist

He is only 24 and has not played 7 Accrued Seasons. So if he signs a one year deal, he will most definitely be an RFA next off season.

He played great in Union's conference and NCAA playoffs. In the one game I saw (televised on ESPNU), the analyst - I think it was Melrose - was fawning all over him. Made several comments like "The Flyers got themselves a good one in this kid".

Now, how much you value Melrose's opinion is up for debate I suppose, but Ghost had a great playoffs, and the cut in his minutes on the US team was due to a suspension for a hit (see - he's the PERFECT Flyer!), not due to his play.
- BringBack25

Melrose? Isn't that the dumbs$$ coach that refused to play some guy named stamkos?

The thing with Laughton is that he will never be much more than a 3rd line agitator/defensive specialist in the NHL who chips in a timely goal or hit on occasion. Just my opinion of course, but that is how I see him.
- MBFlyerfan

Not sure you can open and close the book on the kid before he's really had an extended NHL stay... we still don't even know what we ultimately have with B Schenn and Couturier, much less a guy who hasn't even played 10-games at the top level. Laughton could still fall anywhere between a Ben Holmstrom and a Rod Brind'Amour, it's just too hard to tell right now.

He played great in Union's conference and NCAA playoffs. In the one game I saw (televised on ESPNU), the analyst - I think it was Melrose - was fawning all over him. Made several comments like "The Flyers got themselves a good one in this kid".

Now, how much you value Melrose's opinion is up for debate I suppose, but Ghost had a great playoffs, and the cut in his minutes on the US team was due to a suspension for a hit (see - he's the PERFECT Flyer!), not due to his play.
- BringBack25

Yeah, I watched that game against Boston (College or U, I forget which). There was Gostisbehere and Gudreau on one level, and the rest of the players on another. He was flying around all over the place and was Union's most dynamic player. He needs to bulk up, thought.

My only fear with him is that he could turn into Jack Johnson. In college, Johnson was on such a different level of play that he knew he could do whatever he wanted offensively and was able to compensate defensively because of his skill. That won't cut it in the NHL (he is a career -102 right now), and for all of his offensive skill, he's a liability defensively. I think Ghost is a little more responsible than that, though.

He is only 24 and has not played 7 Accrued Seasons. So if he signs a one year deal, he will most definitely be an RFA next off season.
- MJL

Do you know if that will be his last RFA year?

I read somewhere but can't find the link that Mason will be RFA again next offseason. I hope Bill M can confirm this.
- phillydentist

Flyers win the deal IMO. Got him resigned and he is infinitely better than boost or Leighton even if his career is in shambles

Do you know if that will be his last RFA year?
- phillydentist

This next contract will represent his sixth season, if I understand it correctly. So whatever contract he signs after it, will take him to UFA status.

Great news! I think Bryz is staying another year too then.
- coffee junkie

Likely the case... they seem to really want to handle Mason conservatively until Reese has had time to build him back up technically and mentally. I honestly don't think he gets into the net more than once or twice before the season's over, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was asked to stick around the area for most of the summer to work w/ Reese.

"practice? Come on man, we talkin bout practice. Not a game, practice... Practice...practice... " I Everytime I see that video!!!

Do you know if that will be his last RFA year?
- phillydentist

Depending on his contract situation. He will be eligible for UFA status in the 14/15 Off Season.

Melrose? Isn't that the dumbs$$ coach that refused to play some guy named stamkos?
- SMS4016

Funny... probably the best thing that ever happened to Stamkos.

My only fear with him is that he could turn into Jack Johnson. In college, Johnson was on such a different level of play that he knew he could do whatever he wanted offensively and was able to compensate defensively because of his skill. That won't cut it in the NHL (he is a career -102 right now), and for all of his offensive skill, he's a liability defensively. I think Ghost is a little more responsible than that, though.
- jmatchett383

Johnson was so physically gifted (size, speed, shot, hands, etc) that he got away with having zero hockey sense until he broke into the NHL. The poor kid is still a work in progress in all three zones.

Smaller guys like Ghost tend to compensate by having to think the game a step ahead, especially defensively, otherwise they have a hard time surviving against big NCAA forwards.

Not sure you can open and close the book on the kid before he's really had an extended NHL stay... we still don't even know what we ultimately have with B Schenn and Couturier, much less a guy who hasn't even played 10-games at the top level. Laughton could still fall anywhere between a Ben Holmstrom and a Rod Brind'Amour, it's just too hard to tell right now.
- Tomahawk

He's not closing the book on the kid. He gave a realistic take on Laughton's potential. Anytime you're dealing with potential, there are players who far excced it. And players who fall short.

completely OK with that extension

Johnson was so physically gifted (size, speed, shot, hands, etc) that he got away with having zero hockey sense until he broke into the NHL. The poor kid is still a work in progress in all three zones.

Smaller guys like Ghost tend to compensate by having to think the game a step ahead, especially defensively, otherwise they have a hard time surviving against big NCAA forwards.
- Tomahawk

That seems to be Ghosts best attribute. He knows how to play the game. Also, for a smaller guy.. he has a cannon (thats accurate) from the point.

I agree, but with that lower cap hit for the backup I think it is a better chance of Bryz staying.

Edit: I agree with Timmy P (oddly) it is either Briere or Bryz being bought out this summer. I think it will be Briere since our forward depth is our strength.
- coffee junkie

Briere has trade value, especially to struggling teams, as he is still a big name and Veteran and his salary is now less than his cap hit, making teams trying to reach the cap floor happy. He's never been asked to waive his no Movement clause so nobody knows how he will react to that. Buying him out without trying to move him for picks (at least) at say the trade deadline would be foolish. Like many players before him, he does not want to go, but he probably doesn't want to stay where he's not wanted, should that be the case.

I think the only guy getting Bought out is Pronger.

Briere has trade value, especially to struggling teams, as he is still a big name and Veteran and his salary is now less than his cap hit, making teams trying to reach the cap floor happy. He's never been asked to waive his no Movement clause so nobody knows how he will react to that. Buying him out without trying to move him for picks (at least) at say the trade deadline would be foolish. Like many players before him, he does not want to go, but he probably doesn't want to stay where he's not wanted, should that be the case.

I think the only guy getting Bought out is Pronger.
- flyler

Pronger cant be bought out.

Not sure you can open and close the book on the kid before he's really had an extended NHL stay... we still don't even know what we ultimately have with B Schenn and Couturier, much less a guy who hasn't even played 10-games at the top level. Laughton could still fall anywhere between a Ben Holmstrom and a Rod Brind'Amour, it's just too hard to tell right now.
- Tomahawk

"Mike Richards is probably never going to be more than a 3rd line center." -- said almost everyone in 2003

Briere has trade value, especially to struggling teams, as he is still a big name and Veteran and his salary is now less than his cap hit, making teams trying to reach the cap floor happy. He's never been asked to waive his no Movement clause so nobody knows how he will react to that. Buying him out without trying to move him for picks (at least) at say the trade deadline would be foolish. Like many players before him, he does not want to go, but he probably doesn't want to stay where he's not wanted, should that be the case.

I think the only guy getting Bought out is Pronger.
- flyler

No chance that Pronger get's bought out. And Briere is going to be very difficult to trade. And the trade deadline has already passed.

Flyers win the deal IMO. Got him resigned and he is infinitely better than boost or Leighton even if his career is in shambles
- Just5

I think he has greater potential than Boosh or Leights as he's only 24 and has played better in the past. But currently he's still been all over the map as far as consistancy. I think the upgrade and chance to grow and get his game back is worth the Pick and losing Leighton is just icing on the cake. But it's hard to think of this deal as a win when the last goalie deal we made with Columbus invovling a backup has landed that Goalie as the frontrunner for this year's Vezina (Bob).

I think he has greater potential than Boosh or Leights as he's only 24 and has played better in the past. But currently he's still been all over the map as far as consistancy. I think the upgrade and chance to grow and get his game back is worth the Pick and losing Leighton is just icing on the cake. But it's hard to think of this deal as a win when the last goalie deal we made with Columbus invovling a backup has landed that Goalie as the frontrunner for this year's Vezina (Bob).
- flyler

Even if Bob wins the Vezina in this shortened season, let's wait and see how he does after this year and compare his career to Mason's career before we close the book on either.