Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Roster Day, Phantoms Finish Preseason

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Bill, what is the AHL roster size limit? If the Flyers waive NHL players and send them down, do the Phantoms have to demote players, or can they just have an unlimited number of healthy scratches?

Is it worth keeping Laughton this season if all he does is play the 4th line with Rosehill, Hall, and/or Rinaldo? One more season of big minutes in juniors might not be a bad thing after the 9 games.

Also, not a big deal but it says 14 forwards but you have 13 listed

Is it worth keeping Laughton this season if all he does is play the 4th line with Rosehill, Hall, and/or Rinaldo? One more season of big minutes in juniors might not be a bad thing after the 9 games.

Also, not a big deal but it says 14 forwards but you have 13 listed
- houseofcards74

Laughton hasn't impressed really in the preseason, but apparently the org thinks he can't develop anymore playing in Junior. This is why it's stupid that he can't play in the AHL.

With Adam Hall, Bruno Gervais and Marc-Andre Bourdon still not sent to the AHL, the Flyers are $1,952,022 over the salary cap.

If they sent all three down today, they would be under the cap by $86,022, if capgeek.com is correct.

I'm not sure why the Flyers are even considering not sending Bourdon to the AHL. There is no benefit to keeping him in the NHL, outside of further exploitation of the LTIR benefit.

Dave Isaac points out he could be sent to the AHL here: http://blogs.courierposto...s-place-three-on-waivers/

Laughton hasn't impressed really in the preseason, but apparently the org thinks he can't develop anymore playing in Junior. This is why it's stupid that he can't play in the AHL.
- Hextall271

I actually thought he played well in the games I saw in person. Has some good, solid positioning that won't get recognized in the play-by-play, but seemed like he won't be a liability...at least not more than anyone else on the team.

That John Mitchell trade seemed too good to be true. I bet the Flyers threw it out there hoping some other team would make a strong offer for Mez.

With Adam Hall, Bruno Gervais and Marc-Andre Bourdon still not sent to the AHL, the Flyers are $1,952,022 over the salary cap.

If they sent all three down today, they would be under the cap by $86,022, if capgeek.com is correct.

I'm not sure why the Flyers are even considering not sending Bourdon to the AHL. There is no benefit to keeping him in the NHL, outside of further exploitation of the LTIR benefit.

Dave Isaac points out he could be sent to the AHL here: http://blogs.courierposto...s-place-three-on-waivers/
- Jsaquella

A Player who is otherwise required to clear Regular Waivers and who becomes disabled while on an NHL roster can be placed on Regular Waivers and be Loaned to a minor league club

Wasn't he on the Phantoms when he got injured?
Sorry, not trying to be combative, I just thought he couldn't be waived.

Is it worth keeping Laughton this season if all he does is play the 4th line with Rosehill, Hall, and/or Rinaldo? One more season of big minutes in juniors might not be a bad thing after the 9 games.

Also, not a big deal but it says 14 forwards but you have 13 listed
- houseofcards74

Probably not, but as some have argued, if he shows he can play in the NHL, he should be in the NHL.

My view is, Laughton wasn't clearly one of the best 12 forwards, and really didn't play well enough for me to say there is no way they can send him back to Oshawa.

That said, he can stay for 9 games and get an extended look and be sent back. I'm not excited to see him stick if he's stuck playing with goons and agitators.

Is it worth keeping Laughton this season if all he does is play the 4th line with Rosehill, Hall, and/or Rinaldo? One more season of big minutes in juniors might not be a bad thing after the 9 games.

Also, not a big deal but it says 14 forwards but you have 13 listed
- houseofcards74

It's been argued on here all offseason. He's projected as a 2nd or 3rd line two-way center. He's not going to be a high scoring forward. I'd say 70% of Flyers fans feel that 4th line work at 10 minutes per night would be more beneficial than returning to Juniors. He was more than a PPG player in Juniors and was very good defensively. It's just annoying that he can't play in the AHL because he's pretty much too good for Juniors, but not quite ready for the NHL.

A Player who is otherwise required to clear Regular Waivers and who becomes disabled while on an NHL roster can be placed on Regular Waivers and be Loaned to a minor league club

Wasn't he on the Phantoms when he got injured?
Sorry, not trying to be combative, I just thought he couldn't be waived.
- jmatchett383

He's already been waived. He cleared about ten days ago, so he could be sent to the AHL.

However, Avalanche coach Patrick Roy subsequently denied that the club plans to make any trades before the start of the season.

And if there's one thing we know about NHL GMs/coaches, it's that they are ALL very forthcoming about potential personnel moves.

He's already been waived. He cleared about ten days ago, so he could be sent to the AHL.
- Jsaquella

Oh, awesome. I mean, not for him. But for the team.

Probably not, but as some have argued, if he shows he can play in the NHL, he should be in the NHL.

My view is, Laughton wasn't clearly one of the best 12 forwards, and really didn't play well enough for me to say there is no way they can send him back to Oshawa.

That said, he can stay for 9 games and get an extended look and be sent back. I'm not excited to see him stick if he's stuck playing with goons and agitators.
- Jsaquella[[/b]/quote]

Spot on. If he's playing with those type players, trying to evaluate him during the 9 games is an exercise in futility.

It's been argued on here all offseason. He's projected as a 2nd or 3rd line two-way center. He's not going to be a high scoring forward. I'd say 70% of Flyers fans feel that 4th line work at 10 minutes per night would be more beneficial than returning to Juniors. He was more than a PPG player in Juniors and was very good defensively. It's just annoying that he can't play in the AHL because he's pretty much too good for Juniors, but not quite ready for the NHL.
- PhillySportsGuy

He wasn't even the top center on his junior team, so he's not too good for juniors.

Laughton's development wouldn't suffer a bit with another year in the OHL

And if there's one thing we know about NHL GMs, it's that they are ALL very forthcoming about potential personnel moves.


- johndewar

"Jeff, look...we signed you to that extension so you can be an integral piece of this team for years."
"Gee, thanks Paul. That means a lot to me."
"Good. Here's your Greyhound ticket to Columbus. It leaves in 20 minutes."

And if there's one thing we know about NHL GMs/coaches, it's that they are ALL very forthcoming about potential personnel moves.


- johndewar

Roy also mentioned that other teams were trying to get the Avs to overpay for overpriced junk, and that they weren't going to bite.

"Jeff, look...we signed you to that extension so you can be an integral piece of this team for years."
"Gee, thanks Paul. That means a lot to me."
"Good. Here's your Greyhound ticket to Columbus. It leaves in 20 minutes."
- jmatchett383

"We're all very excited for Mike Richards to be our captain for years to come."

[quote=Jsaquella]Probably not, but as some have argued, if he shows he can play in the NHL, he should be in the NHL.

My view is, Laughton wasn't clearly one of the best 12 forwards, and really didn't play well enough for me to say there is no way they can send him back to Oshawa.

That said, he can stay for 9 games and get an extended look and be sent back. I'm not excited to see him stick if he's stuck playing with goons and agitators.
- PLindbergh31[/quote]

Spot on. If he's playing with those type players, trying to evaluate him during the 9 games is an exercise in futility.

Not necessarily. He will be getting PK time. If he can show his worth in that department, it would be worth while to keep him.

I still think Hall outplayed him in the preseason. In terms of winning games now, I think Hall would be the better option.

Is there anyone else who would prefer Gus over Mez starting? I think the team really needs some mobility.

Roy also mentioned that other teams were trying to get the Avs to overpay for overpriced junk, and that they weren't going to bite.
- Jsaquella

NHL GMs/Execs say lots of things to the press.

Some of them are even true.

He wasn't even the top center on his junior team, so he's not too good for juniors.

Laughton's development wouldn't suffer a bit with another year in the OHL
- Jsaquella

Too good was a mis-statement. What I really mean is his perfect fit would be the AHL. Juniors is too cold, NHL is too hot, AHL is jusssstttttt rrrriiigghhhttt

Not necessarily. He will be getting PK time. If he can show his worth in that department, it would be worth while to keep him.

I still think Hall outplayed him in the preseason. In terms of winning games now, I think Hall would be the better option.

Is there anyone else who would prefer Gus over Mez starting? I think the team really needs some mobility.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd prefer Gus over Mez. I don't think that either was all that stellar this preseason (I think Alt was better than both), but if one's gonna sit and it's a toss up, let it be the guy who's done at the end of the year and get the young guy some time.

Too good was a mis-statement. What I really mean is his perfect fit would be the AHL. Juniors is too cold, NHL is too hot, AHL is jusssstttttt rrrriiigghhhttt
- PhillySportsGuy

Probably true, but really, it's not like he was the consensus number one center on his team or that he killed it at World Juniors last year.

Not necessarily. He will be getting PK time. If he can show his worth in that department, it would be worth while to keep him.

I still think Hall outplayed him in the preseason. In terms of winning games now, I think Hall would be the better option.

Is there anyone else who would prefer Gus over Mez starting? I think the team really needs some mobility.
- PhillySportsGuy

Will he? Right now, on the PK, I see Couturier, Read, Talbot and possibly Giroux getting ice time ahead of him. If Hall does stick, he might also get more PK time than Laughton because of his face-off abilities.

It's also possible that Raffl could be recalled when the get the LTIR handled, and he'd possibly trump Laughton for PK time.

I'd rather see him go back, play 20 minutes a game, in all situations rather than be the 4th or 5th PK forward and play with wingers that have little or no offensive ability.