Clutterbuck and Martin are going to be bastards to play against. Simmonds and co. Will have their hands full
- Just5

we have hartnell simmonds and rinaldo
not worried at all

I still stand by that whole 'the Maple Leafs couldn't buy a single cup between the first expansion and the 2004 lockout' thing.
- BulliesPhan87

Yeah... It was the Rangers that were criticized for consistently failing to buy a Cup after 1994. High payroll and no results.

I think that is wayyyy to much to expect from him this season.

40 points would be a nice improvement.
- Flyersgod

He was on a 40+ point pace over the course of an 82 game season last year.

I'm disappointed if Schenn comes away with only 40 points this year. I can assure you they are likely counting on him for more.

And as Schenn's contract is up, it would behoove him to improve his numbers.

assuming the top line remains the same on the PP. Who do you take out of the 2nd unit? Read, Couts, Schenn or Vinny?
- PhillySportsGuy

I wouldn't be opposed to using Couturier on the point, he wasn't half bad at it in the AHL. So Cooter, Jake, Streit, and Kimmo would be our triggerman across both units.

EDIT: Keep forgetting about Mez. (frank)ers been hurt for so long. He probably gets PP time over Cooter to at least try and earn the money we pay him.

The preseason Will be must watch tv if these kids are played
- Just5

It will be anyway to see how they envision the lines. No one really knows what the lines will look like. Pretty sure the only players you can pencil in right now are Giroux at 1st line center and Coots at 3rd line center.

I think that is wayyyy to much to expect from him this season.

40 points would be a nice improvement.
- Flyersgod

I don't think so. He had a cup of coffee in la, and will be going into his 3rd season here. He was a top 5 pick and at one point was the top rated prospect in hockey. With the talent and pp time he Gets in Philly exoecting 20g/35asst is too much. Now if we didn't have the talent or he didn't have the talEnt then I'd agree. Not saying if he didn't hit my expectations that I'd give uP on him a d demand be get traded but would be disappointed for sure.

I wouldn't be opposed to using Couturier on the point, he wasn't half bad at it in the AHL. So Cooter, Jake, Streit, and Kimmo would be our triggerman across both units.

EDIT: Keep forgetting about Mez. (frank)ers been hurt for so long. He probably gets PP time over Cooter to at least try and earn the money we pay him.
- mochoson

Then Vinny, Schenn and McGinn on the second unit? Or Read?

Maybe, but it's important to point out that Bickell was allowed to marinate in Rockford for four full seasons before they finally brought him up full-time.
- Tomahawk

With McGinn. That's the preferred route I hope they take. Put him on the first line on the phantoms and have him dominate for a couple years. This kid needs to bring offense for him to stick I don't see him as a bottom 6 guy

assuming the top line remains the same on the PP. Who do you take out of the 2nd unit? Read, Couts, Schenn or Vinny?
- PhillySportsGuy

If we're assuming this is with McGinn in:
Schenn - Vinny - McGinn
Streit - Coots

Coots brings good hockey sense and offensive IQ, as well as an underrated shot is why I have him up at the point. He could help run things from up there.

McGinn may not be the sexiest player, but G and Jake working off a rush and McGinn crashing the net sounds like it'd work to me. He is one hell of a big body. Kid is a rock

Crashing the net, screens, deflections, keeping plays alive on the side-boards and below the goal line....these are the things McGinn would be focusing on. With Jake and G, he'd do them well IMO.
- mochoson

You have to do more then just crash the net to be effective on a top line. When Giroux sets him up, he needs to be able to bury it. He needs to be able to make plays with the puck. He doesn't have that skill set currently. He may never have it at the level he needs to have to play on a top line. Right now, the strengths of his game are his physical play on the forecheck. But his all around game isn't at the level it needs to be, to even be a complimentary player on a top line. He needs more developmental time. And his best bet to making the NHL right now, is as a bottom 6 forward. Asking anything more is just going to be detrimental to the kid.

i don't think those know what a shootout is
- 2Real

I don't think Bickell is a first line Winger either.
- MJL

He may have to be now. He didn't look out of place in the playoffs and was a key contributer for the Hawks all season long. With the loss of Big Buff, the Hawks have found ways to replace certain players from within the organization and it's worked for them. Bickell would have been coveted by other teams such as Edmonton had the Hawk chose to move on.

I don't think so. He had a cup of coffee in la, and will be going into his 3rd season here. He was a top 5 pick and at one point was the top rated prospect in hockey. With the talent and pp time he Gets in Philly exoecting 20g/35asst is too much. Now if we didn't have the talent or he didn't have the talEnt then I'd agree. Not saying if he didn't hit my expectations that I'd give uP on him a d demand be get traded but would be disappointed for sure.
- SMS4016

Honestly accounting for that he's going to continue to grow, and that he'll probably be playing with Lecavalier, I could see him putting up 60+ points as long as he's given the TOI.

Yeah... It was the Rangers that were criticized for consistently failing to buy a Cup after 1994. High payroll and no results.
- Flyskippy

The Neil Smith Definitive - You can't buy chemistry.

I don't mean this disrespectfully at all, so please don't take it that way, but I don't look at line-ups like their a video game. I'm not saying you do either, but that's kinda what your saying.

I'm still an active college player and a youth AA coach. My personal philosophy is maximizing 5 on 5 play and stacking talent on the powerplay.

So while McGinn certainly isn't a "first line winger" and probably never will be, I think 5 on 5 he's more than capable of playing on a line with Giroux and Jake that score's more goals than they give up.

This team, IMO, is set up so that there doesn't have to be one "top line". Right now, we have the potential to have 3 very, very good lines that are incredibly hard to match up against on any given night.

McGinn wouldn't even sniff powerplay time on this team. From what I have seen in the NHL/AHL of McGinn, I don't see him as a guy who "might" have an NHL career, so that could be our differing in opinions as well. I definitely consider him a top 9 NHL forward. How much offense he can produce consistently will dictate where he is amongst that top 9 more often than not, and how much offense he is capable of is anyone's guess right now.

But please dont' take it as disrespect the way I've worded this, it's simply a matter of differing opinions. This could work in the NHL or it could not. I think it's something worth trying in the pre-season is all I'm really saying.
- mochoson

Well said. Sometimes we do have to remember chemistry is more important then who is considered top 3.

Honestly accounting for that he's going to continue to grow, and that he'll probably be playing with Lecavalier, I could see him putting up 60+ points as long as he's given the TOI.
- JAKEw1234

Couldn't agree more.

Yeah, they trashed that team. It's a shame. They went all in on those veterans and won their Cups but when the end came it came hard. Hard to believe that team was a standard bearer not that long ago.
- mayorofangrytown

Not so hard to believe when one remembers they already lost 1 NHL team...

The Neil Smith Definitive - You can't buy chemistry.
- tangent_man

You can however buy lipstick and face balm worthy of a funeral parlor for TV.

Then Vinny, Schenn and McGinn on the second unit? Or Read?
- PhillySportsGuy

Simmonds-Giroux-Lecavlier
Streit-Voracek

Read-Schenn-Hartnell
Mez-Timonen

I'd try something along these lines, I'm really interested to see if Giroux and Lecavlier can work some magic on that first unit.

Well said. Sometimes we do have to remember chemistry is more important then who is considered top 3.
- youarewrong

What makes you think McGinn would have chemistry on the top line?

I know I'm in the minority, but I would like to see Voracek and Giroux split up. I think it would give the team tremendous depth.

Hartnell-Giroux-Lecavalier
Read-Schenn-Voracek
Gagne-Couts-Simmonds
Talbot-Laughton-Hall

Simmonds-Giroux-Lecavlier
Streit-Voracek

Read-Schenn-Hartnell
Mez-Timonen

I'd try something along these lines, I'm really interested to see if Giroux and Lecavlier can work some magic on that first unit.
- mochoson

Has Hartnell played RW in his lifetime?

Takes two to tango, maybe nobody wanted to make that deal. Not that I'm a big fan of that pick.
- BulliesPhan87

Say what?!? There is *always* a willing trade partner which is what makes Homer such a bad GM.

Simmonds-Giroux-Lecavlier
Streit-Voracek

Read-Schenn-Hartnell
Mez-Timonen

I'd try something along these lines, I'm really interested to see if Giroux and Lecavlier can work some magic on that first unit.
- mochoson

Has Hartnell played RW in his lifetime?
- JAKEw1234

Prospal-Briere-Hartnell