I'd rather have Eaves than anyone on the current 4th line. Only concern is that he's a bit injury prone. Unconcerned with Raffl playing, although he should be playing ahead of Rosehill.
- Jsaquella

Is it wrong to feel like Michael Raffl is the season's Mika Pyorala, Denis Telpeko, Andreas Nodl or Jiri Dopita? Just the over seas signing who's game never transfers over beyond the one season he plays here.

(Yes I'm aware Nodl was here longer than one season but it was one season too long.)

Yeah, it'd be impossible to replace a struggling, 14 minute a night, $3.5mm a year defenseman with a subpar offensive game and average-at best skating skills.
- Jsaquella

I won't take any defenseman off the table, but I wouldn't be willing to sell low on Schenn. He's a better defenseman than he's played this year.

Yeah, it'd be impossible to replace a struggling, 14 minute a night, $3.5mm a year defenseman with a subpar offensive game and average-at best skating skills.
- Jsaquella

Long term....

Is it wrong to feel like Michael Raffl is the season's Mika Pyorala, Denis Telpeko, Andreas Nodl or Jiri Dopita? Just the over seas signing who's game never transfers over beyond the one season he plays here.

(Yes I'm aware Nodl was here longer than one season but it was one season too long.)
- Schenn2shine

Raffl came in as a good two-way player. He may be able to be used on the 4th line if he can't make it work in the top 9. Nodl was a scorer when he entered the NHL. He had to score enough to be in the top 9.

Is it wrong to feel like Michael Raffl is the season's Mika Pyorala, Denis Telpeko, Andreas Nodl or Jiri Dopita? Just the over seas signing who's game never transfers over beyond the one season he plays here.

(Yes I'm aware Nodl was here longer than one season but it was one season too long.)
- Schenn2shine

Possible. He's 24 and wasn't even playing in the top level leagues in Europe. There's going to be adjustment time.

But he's a capable 4th liner. Good speed, smarts and willing to be physical. Teams need guys like him to eat minutes, so the top line guys don't get overworked. It's one of the main reasons I don't like carrying Rosehill.

In a close game like last night, Raffl can still play 10 minutes or so, maybe take a few PK shifts and slide up the lineup in case of an injury. Rosehill played 3 minutes and change last night, and his moronic penalty led to the lone Pittsburgh goal

Is it wrong to feel like Michael Raffl is the season's Mika Pyorala, Denis Telpeko, Andreas Nodl or Jiri Dopita? Just the over seas signing who's game never transfers over beyond the one season he plays here.

(Yes I'm aware Nodl was here longer than one season but it was one season too long.)
- Schenn2shine

Nodl was a college player too so not quite the same thing.

I won't take any defenseman off the table, but I wouldn't be willing to sell low on Schenn. He's a better defenseman than he's played this year.
- PhillySportsGuy

The only guy I'd be willing to sell low on right now would be Meszaros.

I won't take any defenseman off the table, but I wouldn't be willing to sell low on Schenn. He's a better defenseman than he's played this year.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think he played over his head for a stretch last season and he's exactly the players you're seeing this year.

Long term....
- Schenn2shine

Long term, I think Schenn's a second pair, physical guy at best. I doubt he'll ever be Adam Foote. He's far from irreplaceable.

I won't take any defenseman off the table, but I wouldn't be willing to sell low on Schenn. He's a better defenseman than he's played this year.
- PhillySportsGuy

The short term memory of most fans already shows. I never liked the JvR for Schenn trade. I truly believe JvR at the minimum will become a 40 goal scorer, while Schenn will never be the second coming of Shea Weber or PK Subban. Regardless of how I felt when the trade happened, last season was a miserable season but Schenn was probably one of very few bright lights from last season.

I think he played over his head for a stretch last season and he's exactly the players you're seeing this year.
- mayorofangrytown

Yeah, but you're an angry old pessimist that gets 67 MPG

The only guy I'd be willing to sell low on right now would be Meszaros.
- Jsaquella

It would really be a pointless move unless someone offered something substantial (like a third or fourth round pick). He's almost worth keeping in case this team makes the playoffs. He would be much more valuable as a 7th dman than anything they'd get for him.

If they miss the playoffs, then he walks. No big deal.

Raffl came in as a good two-way player. He may be able to be used on the 4th line if he can't make it work in the top 9. Nodl was a scorer when he entered the NHL. He had to score enough to be in the top 9.
- PhillySportsGuy

Raffl has been playing fine. Made some mistakes, but I think he'll be in the league for a while, even if not with the Flyers.

The short term memory of most fans already shows. I never liked the JvR for Schenn trade. I truly believe JvR at the minimum will become a 40 goal scorer, while Schenn will never be the second coming of Shea Weber or PK Subban. Regardless of how I felt when the trade happened, last season was a miserable season but Schenn was probably one of very few bright lights from last season.
- Schenn2shine

I think you may be overvaluing JVR. He's not Corey Perry. I do agree about short sightedness. Just let Schenn work through this and hope he regains his 2012-13 form.

It would really be a pointless move unless someone offered something substantial (like a third or fourth round pick). He's almost worth keeping in case this team makes the playoffs. He would be much more valuable as a 7th dman than anything they'd get for him.

If they miss the playoffs, then he walks. No big deal.
- PhillySportsGuy

True enough. But I'd like to get a bit of cap relief if they need to make a deadline deal.

Final

London - 5
Ottawa - 3

Stolarz finished with 19 saves

Yeah, but you're an angry old pessimist that gets 67 MPG
- Jsaquella

Talk to me when you can get off the couch without feeling light headed.

Actually, you and I are on the same page with Luke Schenn. I just think he's not as likely to become that 2nd pairing guy.

Long term, I think Schenn's a second pair, physical guy at best. I doubt he'll ever be Adam Foote. He's far from irreplaceable.
- Jsaquella

I thought Luke Schenn was awesome last season. I'm not worried about a tiny bump in the road.

Talk to me when you can get off the couch without feeling light headed.

Actually, you and I are on the same page with Luke Schenn. I just think he's not as likely to become that 2nd pairing guy.
- mayorofangrytown

Even if they pair him with the right player?

Raffl has been playing fine. Made some mistakes, but I think he'll be in the league for a while, even if not with the Flyers.
- jstross

To me, he looks like a guy who can float between the 3rd and 4th lines and play on the pk. A valuable commodity, but not someone who is indispensable.

Talk to me when you can get off the couch without feeling light headed.

Actually, you and I are on the same page with Luke Schenn. I just think he's not as likely to become that 2nd pairing guy.
- mayorofangrytown

The big problem is, he's so wildly inconsistent from year to year. Did it as a Leaf, doing it as a Flyer.

I thought Luke Schenn was awesome last season. I'm not worried about a tiny bump in the road.
- Schenn2shine

He was very solid last year. Just like he was every other season in Toronto.

That's the problem. One year he looks like he's got it figured out, the next, he's getting healthy scratched for Hal Gill

Talk to me when you can get off the couch without feeling light headed.

Actually, you and I are on the same page with Luke Schenn. I just think he's not as likely to become that 2nd pairing guy.
- mayorofangrytown

He was a 2nd pairing guy last year.

I remember him getting off to a slow start last season as well. This one may be dragging on a bit longer. Schenn seemed to excel when given more responsibility.

I thought Luke Schenn was awesome last season. I'm not worried about a tiny bump in the road.
- Schenn2shine

By a tiny bump in the road you mean the rest of his 5 yr career.

The big problem is, he's so wildly inconsistent from year to year. Did it as a Leaf, doing it as a Flyer.
- Jsaquella

You can say the same about JVR.