I will own up here and say that I did not expect to be so pleasantly surpside by the Raffl House. His first month wasn't so hot when he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn but since then he's made EVERY line he's been on better. A super nice surprise.
- FlyersGrace

Rafflhaus

Great blog, Bill. Your writing will definitely ease the pain of the Olympic break. I really like Downie and hope he can regain the form he showed early on. He seems like a hard worker and he's been through a lot off the ice. I attended the Flyers Carnival and he's the only guy I got an autograph from. I even got to chat with him for a few minutes. Seems like a real down to earth guy. I hope this break is just what he needs to heal up for the stretch run.

I will own up here and say that I did not expect to be so pleasantly surpside by the Raffl House. His first month wasn't so hot when he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn but since then he's made EVERY line he's been on better. A super nice surprise.
- FlyersGrace

I think he was tabbed to be at the AHL level this year. I don't think anyone, even the folks that scouted him, could forsee he was going to be this helpful at the NHL level this year.

Maybe. I'm just biased because 1) I hate watching him skate, he looks like a 6-year-old, 2) he's not very productive offensively (so far, this season) nor is he doing things away from the puck to be productive, and 3) we traded Max Talbot for him. So yes, my vision of him is blurred, I admit. I just do not and will not like the guy.
- jmatchett383

miss that guy

Oh no, I'm not saying that at all. I'm just saying that if it comes down to needing $$ to sign Schenn, I think they'd move another asset (Grossmann as an example) and try to fill in with an AHL player/cheaper UFA. Just an example.
- jmatchett383

Schenn's not going to be the reason they're low on cap space. He has no leverage to demand more than $3m a year at most. The worst he could do is hold out like Stepan did, and that was on the back of Stepan producing at a 75 point pace and not missing a game in the first three years of his career.

LOL @ TSN's power rankings yet again.

Flyers are 16.

Rangers are 8.
Blue Jackets are 10.

I think he was tabbed to be at the AHL level this year. I don't think anyone, even the folks that scouted him, could forsee he was going to be this helpful at the NHL level this year.
- johndewar

Flyers do a good job of getting these free agents from around the world. Almost had Dekeyser. Hopefully, they can add Gudreau

miss that guy
- stayinthefnnet

I miss him scoring against the Pens

Flyers do a good job of getting these free agents from around the world. Almost had Dekeyser. Hopefully, they can add Gudreau
- PhillySportsGuy

Gruce Gudreau?

Flyers do a good job of getting these free agents from around the world. Almost had Dekeyser. Hopefully, they can add Gudreau
- PhillySportsGuy

DeKeyser would have made such a difference here.

LOL @ TSN's power rankings yet again.

Flyers are 16.

Rangers are 8.
Blue Jackets are 10.
- Pixote Andolini

16 for the Flyers is fine, but thats high for Columbus and NYR

Gruce Gudreau?
- Pixote Andolini

LOL @ TSN's power rankings yet again.

Flyers are 16.

Rangers are 8.
Blue Jackets are 10.
- Pixote Andolini

"3-1-1 in the past five, the Blue Jackets have moved into playoff position and it's been a steady climb, going 19-10-2 since the beginning of December. "

Except that they're not in a playoff position, even taken games in hand into account.

Gruce Gudreau?
- Pixote Andolini

Sure....him too.....

"3-1-1 in the past five, the Blue Jackets have moved into playoff position and it's been a steady climb, going 19-10-2 since the beginning of December. "

Except that they're not in a playoff position, even taken games in hand into account.
- jmatchett383

The national hockey writers narrative, when it comes to the Flyers, is so painfully dismissive, it's frightening.

And actually, I'm fine with them being at 16, but CBJ and NYR that high ahead of them?

Total joke.

Flyers do a good job of getting these free agents from around the world. Almost had Dekeyser. Hopefully, they can add Gudreau
- PhillySportsGuy

Can't believe Gaudreau was a fourth round pick. 12 picks later, in the same round, the Flyers took Colin Sullenprop who...well, he will one day be able to say he was drafted. That's about it.

Can't believe Gaudreau was a fourth round pick. 12 picks later, in the same round, the Flyers took Colin Sullenprop who...well, he will one day be able to say he was drafted. That's about it.
- jmatchett383

He protects Laughton

Also, I just realized that we have our old friend Kris Versteeg (as in the very "Versteeged" meaning "to fall for a bait-and-switch") to thank for us being in a position to draft Gostisbehere. God bless you, man who refuses to wear his brightly colored mouthpiece like a normal human being.

The national hockey writers narrative, when it comes to the Flyers, is so painfully dismissive, it's frightening.

And actually, I'm fine with them being at 16, but CBJ and NYR that high ahead of them?

Total joke.
- johndewar

National narrative: Flyers playing well. If only they had some goaltending this year

Can't believe Gaudreau was a fourth round pick. 12 picks later, in the same round, the Flyers took Colin Sullenprop who...well, he will one day be able to say he was drafted. That's about it.
- jmatchett383

i really hope johnny hockey makes it in the nhl. he's a tremedous puck hander and would be thrilling to watch him play his career in philly. but man is he small.

National narrative: Flyers playing well. If only they had some goaltending this year
- PhillySportsGuy

I mean, it's beyond lazy at this point.

Steve Mason is basically the team's MVP to this point and the only thing you really find on Mason are those writers who hate his contract extension.

And usually, those same writers hate every contract because hating on contracts is the new hotness in HOT SPORTS TAKES.

National narrative: Flyers playing well. If only they had some goaltending this year
- PhillySportsGuy

One day we'll get a real goalie. Until them, we'll have to make do with these scraps and backups.

Also, I just realized that we have our old friend Kris Versteeg (as in the very "Versteeged" meaning "to fall for a bait-and-switch") to thank for us being in a position to draft Gostisbehere. God bless you, man who refuses to wear his brightly colored mouthpiece like a normal human being.
- jmatchett383

With the Versteeg pick, the Maple Leafs selected D Stuart Percy. According to hockeys future, he has a C as a probability of success and a 7.0 talent score.

Hockeys Future puts Ghost as a 7.0 talent score and C probability of success

I mean, it's beyond lazy at this point.

Steve Mason is basically the team's MVP to this point and the only thing you really find on Mason are those writers who hate his contract extension.

And usually, those same writers hate every contract because hating on contracts is the new hotness in HOT SPORTS TAKES.
- johndewar

It's just lazy journalism for most. People who think the same narrative exists for the same players and teams every year.

Flyers have no goaltending and Mason is difficult to coach.

It's easier to write that than do research and interviews.

With the Versteeg pick, the Maple Leafs selected D Stuart Percy. According to hockeys future, he has a C as a probability of success and a 7.0 talent score.

Hockeys Future puts Ghost as a 7.0 talent score and C probability of success
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd much rather have a 3rd round pick with that kind of potential. Granted, Percy has put up some nice OHL numbers. Also, I don't know what Toronto's D looks like on the ice, but Ghost (or, what he could become) is the kind of player this team could really use.

Edit: In 2011, after trading Carter and Giroux, chances are the Flyers would have used that pick to take Zack Phillips, the 6'1 center who was tearing up the Q.