Exactly!
- MJL

So the only way to judge a prospect is on a winning team?

That doesn't hold water.

What would you say of Lauridsen so far?

Not too mention those teams were just awful.

I went into the wikipedia worm hole for that season (91-92) and saw names like Dale Kushner and Terry Carkner. Mark Freer (remember him?) played 50 NHL games that year!

This was also the team that had an old/aging Pelle Eklund and Mark Howe.

If I were Rick Tocchet and at the top of my game, I'd want out too and it would have nothing to do with the fans.
- johndewar

I had season tickets back then, it was painful. My friends and I used to play beer drinking games at the Spectrum just to have something fun to do! I still get nightmares when I think of Brent Jones, Claude Boivin, Stew Malgunas or Al Secord!!

you're talking about a government that has miles of red tape and hides the most rudimentary things at times from public speculation. Also the backlash of revealing such a thing is unfathomable and no politician is ready to take on such controversy. It's better to let sleeping dogs lie. There are files on the JFK assassination that are sealed indefinitely, why? we could go on all day. basically the consequences of revealing such things can never be fully anticipated.
- JoeRussomanno

i mean ok... all the nuclear test they did and they are worried about a few dead monkeys? Too much to cover up that.

Re Lauridsen: The kid has played ok, but could most likely use one more season of top 4 minutes with the Phantoms. He needs to work on his puck handling skills and making quicker decisions with the puck. He definitely has potential to be a solid NHL defenseman, just don't think he is there yet.

Okay, then when is the correct time to insert young potential AHL players into the lineup? If you're going to have players such as Foster/Lilja/etc. as your 7 and 8 defensemen, when do the players in the AHL get a chance to play in the NHL? Only when the team is decimated by injuries? Granted, this team may not be a good barometer to measure a player's effectiveness by, but I'd at least like for the AHL players to have SOME experience at the higher level if the Flyers see any of them ever having a future in the NHL.
- jmatchett383

The correct time is when you feel they are ready to play some games in the NHL. when they've reached that level of development. You don't put young players in the NHL to be helathy scratches or play limited minutes when they do play. That is what veteran defenseman such as Foster and Huskins are for. It's not a tryout for a play, where you just throw somebody up there. You mention Alt and othe rplayers. What do you really know about them? Do you have any idea if they're ready to play in the NHL? Or are you just throwing names out there?

So now its Alien conspiracy theorybuzz??
- BiggE

No, I was out of work with the flu and ended up watching "Ancient Aliens" on Discovery, and it was about how religious texts and sites of ancient catastrophies were actually the doings of aliens who used atomic bombs on Earth. My favorite one concerned an ancient city they unearthed in which most of the skeletons they unearthed were laying face down and where no one seemed to leave; basically the city was destroyed in an instant. And from an aerial view, there is a clearly visible impact zone, which means that the only possible explanation was that an atomic bomb detonated there. I was explaining it to my wife before telling her what the show was about and she asked, "So what, it got hit by a meteor?" I'm just a fan of how wrapped up the alien conspiracy guys get, second only to religious doomsday prophets.

So the only way to judge a prospect is on a winning team?

That doesn't hold water.

What would you say of Lauridsen so far?
- wolfhounds

My reasoning for applying these kids to games now wouldnt be to judge them, but for them to get a feel for what the NHL game offers.

I had season tickets back then, it was painful. My friends and I used to play beer drinking games at the Spectrum just to have something fun to do! I still get nightmares when I think of Brent Jones, Claude Boivin, Stew Malgunas or Al Secord!!
- BiggE

Some other names: Brad Jones (48 GP), Al Conroy (31 GP), and Dan Kordic back in his days when he played D (46 GP).

If you had season tickets for that mess, I have no right to feel bad for this season or 2006.

To bring things full circle, that season (91-92) saw some guy named Paul Holmgren get fired as head coach.

Re Lauridsen: The kid has played ok, but could most likely use one more season of top 4 minutes with the Phantoms. He needs to work on his puck handling skills and making quicker decisions with the puck. He definitely has potential to be a solid NHL defenseman, just don't think he is there yet.
- BiggE

Right. And you judge him shift by shift taking in all the assorted variables such as pairing, play time, the opposing team, opposing lines, etc. Not just whether or not the team is playing well and/or winning.

So the only way to judge a prospect is on a winning team?

That doesn't hold water.

What would you say of Lauridsen so far?
- wolfhounds

Again, that's not what was said. Lauridsen is a player who has been a pro and has experience at the AHL level. It's a progression normally for prospects who aren't ready to step right into the NHL level.

Okay, then when is the correct time to insert young potential AHL players into the lineup? If you're going to have players such as Foster/Lilja/etc. as your 7 and 8 defensemen, when do the players in the AHL get a chance to play in the NHL? Only when the team is decimated by injuries? Granted, this team may not be a good barometer to measure a player's effectiveness by, but I'd at least like for the AHL players to have SOME experience at the higher level if the Flyers see any of them ever having a future in the NHL.
- jmatchett383

Ideally, your 7th defenseman isn't going to play a lot. Rather than have a young kid who needs ice time to develop, it's smarter to have a vet like Lilja or Huskins who can step in and play a few games here and there, and who doesn't need to play to further develop.

The other factor is the call up rule. They only have a limited number of non emergency call ups they can make after the TDL. It'd be nice to see a Laughton or Noebbels play at the NHL level, but right now they're getting more minutes in the AHL and not burning a year off the ELC, in the case of Laughton.

Not too mention those teams were just awful.

I went into the wikipedia worm hole for that season (91-92) and saw names like Dale Kushner and Terry Carkner. Mark Freer (remember him?) played 50 NHL games that year!

This was also the team that had an old/aging Pelle Eklund and Mark Howe.

If I were Rick Tocchet and at the top of my game, I'd want out too and it would have nothing to do with the fans.
- johndewar

I have to get a copy of that book but it goes into detail about the fans being a driving force.

i mean ok... all the nuclear test they did and they are worried about a few dead monkeys? Too much to cover up that.
- Philly1980

jumping to conclusions, sir.

My reasoning for applying these kids to games now wouldnt be to judge them, but for them to get a feel for what the NHL game offers.
- jak521

Yup. Same for me. Konan and Noebels are both 21...they should be ready for a little taste of the NHL.

Re Lauridsen: The kid has played ok, but could most likely use one more season of top 4 minutes with the Phantoms. He needs to work on his puck handling skills and making quicker decisions with the puck. He definitely has potential to be a solid NHL defenseman, just don't think he is there yet.
- BiggE

I'd send him to work with a power skating coach this summer. Laura Stamm, Barb Underhill somebody like that. With his size, if he can become a better skater he'll find a NHL job.

Some other names: Brad Jones (48 GP), Al Conroy (31 GP), and Dan Kordic back in his days when he played D (46 GP).

If you had season tickets for that mess, I have no right to feel bad for this season or 2006.

To bring things full circle, that season (91-92) saw some guy named Paul Holmgren get fired as head coach.
- johndewar

Oh dear God not Al Conroy!!! My family had season tix from 1969 to 2001, they just got too expensive at that point. After enjoying the Bullies, the Streak team and the Keenan years, the early 90's were just torture! It even made the 1 and done early 80s look good. At least in 06-07 and this year, they had young talent and some potential. By 91-92, it was Brindamour, Ricci and a huge pile of monkey crap!

Right. And you judge him shift by shift taking in all the assorted variables such as pairing, play time, the opposing team, opposing lines, etc. Not just whether or not the team is playing well and/or winning.
- wolfhounds

Absolutely, the kid can't be blamed for the team sucking around him.

I have to get a copy of that book but it goes into detail about the fans being a driving force.
- JoeRussomanno

Tocchet moped through that last half season in Philly. The fans were tough on him, but he showed the fire of a damp wad of toilet paper that last season in Philly.

I have to get a copy of that book but it goes into detail about the fans being a driving force.
- JoeRussomanno

I don't doubt he said that and it was in the book, but do I believe it?

Well, what is easier? Throwing "the fans" under the bus or flaming the guys in the locker room, to whom, you are accountable to on the ice.

How many athletes ever come out and say their teammates stink?

And I mean someone other than Charles Barkley.

Again, that's not what was said. Lauridsen is a player who has been a pro and has experience at the AHL level. It's a progression normally for prospects who aren't ready to step right into the NHL level.
- MJL

I can't speak for others, but with 7 games left in a season that is finished but for the crying, I'm not just talking about Lauridsen.

I'd start throwing in our top prospects to see how they do for a few games each.

Tocchet moped through that last half season in Philly. The fans were tough on him, but he showed the fire of a damp wad of toilet paper that last season in Philly.
- Jsaquella

so a half season after years of being a force on a contending team who went deep in the playoffs on a usual basis, is grounds for a lynching by the fans?

Oh dear God not Al Conroy!!! My family had season tix from 1969 to 2001, they just got too expensive at that point. After enjoying the Bullies, the Streak team and the Keenan years, the early 90's were just torture! It even made the 1 and done early 80s look good. At least in 06-07 and this year, they had young talent and some potential. By 91-92, it was Brindamour, Ricci and a huge pile of monkey crap!
- BiggE

Two more: Jiri Latal and Kimbi Daniels. Those guys were supposed to be promising young guys from the system at the time.

Also, playing two games that year for the O&B: future NHL owner Wes Walz.

I'd send him to work with a power skating coach this summer. Laura Stamm, Barb Underhill somebody like that. With his size, if he can become a better skater he'll find a NHL job.
- Jsaquella

Certainly couldn't hurt, wouldn't be a bad idea to send Couturier as well. His skating is more than adequate, but I think there is room for improvement by increasing his lower body strength.

so a half season after years of being a force on a contending team who went deep in the playoffs on a usual basis, is grounds for a lynching by the fans?
- JoeRussomanno

If you (frank) around on your job for half a year, what happens?

Seravalli weighs in on...

Who stays?

One of the more pertinent questions filling the inbox these days: Which of the current Flyers unrestricted free agents has the best shot to return next season? My money is on Adam Hall.

Hall, 32, has done nothing but impress the Flyers' coaching staff since arriving as a waiver claim on April 4. He has yet to register a point, but is a valuable role player - physical, provides energy, takes faceoffs and kills penalties - at a bargain price.

Hall earns $650,000 this season. If Peter Laviolette could squeeze a bit more offense out of him, Hall could replace fellow UFA Ruslan Fedotenko for $1.1 million fewer dollars. That goes a long way under a shrinking salary cap - which drops to $64.3 million next season.

It's not out of the realm of possibility that Simon Gagne, 33 and also a free agent-to-be, remains in Philadelphia - albeit at a reduced salary. Would somewhere in the $2 million per year range work for both sides?

Zac Rinaldo and Erik Gustafsson are due raises as restricted free agents.

Jay Rosehill, Kent Huskins, Kurtis Foster and Fedotenko likely will need to find new homes this summer, while veteran good guys Mike Knuble and Jody Shelley will likely file retirement papers.

i think huskins could be brought back as a 7th guy. no reason to rush out on July 1 to bring in lilja 2.0 when an acceptable guy is already in house.
- isaiah520

I think a more pertinent question would be this: What idiot emails Frank Seravelli for hockey information or opinion?