Just met Raffl at Carl's Cards in Havertown...seems like a good guy.

Said he loves home games because of how loud and excited the fans get.

Just shook his head when I asked him about his missed breakaway last night...

Just met Raffl at Carl's Cards in Havertown...seems like a good guy.

Said he loves home games because of how loud and excited the fans get.

Just shook his head when I asked him about his missed breakaway last night...
- wolfhounds

Always gotta get a jab in, don't ya?

Erik Johnson
Tyson Barrie
Andre Benoit
Nick Holden
Jan Hejda
Cory Sarich
Nate Guenin
Ryan Wilson
- Flyersgod

See, I look at that, and I'm like "how in the hell does this team have 90-plus points?"

But I wasn't sure how they play as a whole -- are they physical? Puck-movers? Just chip it out, or pass it out, or carry it out?

And Schenn is playing worthy of a 2nd liner?
- Flyersgod

bSchenn to me, while being an up/down player at least has room to improve. Two players at very different points in their career imo.

London is playing Guelph in round 2, that's a really tough matchup without their best goalie & D man who broke his leg in the last game.
- ob18

What a stupid stupid penalty to take. Some valuable games he's gonna be missing.

San Jose is pretty good in that department too. thornton, Marleau, Pavelski
- PhillySportsGuy

You know, after all the poop they have gotten over the years I'd like to see the Sharks win it if not the Flyers.

Probably for nothing more than that goal horn, always liked it.

I guess this is how the Pens feel when they watch games on NBC…

Edit: Ghost with a kicksave and a beauty
- PhillySportsGuy

Ghost can really skate, very interested to see how his game translates to the pro game.

Always gotta get a jab in, don't ya?
- PhillySportsGuy

Nahhh, Raffl's my boy. I assume he missed the net by an inch on a wicked shot.

Ghost can really skate, very interested to see how his game translates to the pro game.
- ravishingone

Yeah. He's definitely ready for professional hockey. I think the AHL would be the perfect stepping stone for him. It will allow him to play against grown men, but not be overwhelmed.

Nahhh, Raffl's my boy. I assume he missed the net by an inch on a wicked shot.
- wolfhounds

I was just kidding. Everybody loves Raffl. He's hard not to like.

You know, after all the poop they have gotten over the years I'd like to see the Sharks win it if not the Flyers.

Probably for nothing more than that goal horn, always liked it.
- flyer_nutter

I think their team is constructed better now than it used to be. Their old teams were very top line heavy. This current team is very deep at forward and defense.

Nabokov wasn't a bad goalie for them, but I just trust Niemi more in the playoffs.

See, I look at that, and I'm like "how in the hell does this team have 90-plus points?"

But I wasn't sure how they play as a whole -- are they physical? Puck-movers? Just chip it out, or pass it out, or carry it out?
- AllInForFlyers

They don't ask their D to do too much, and as a group they actually move the puck decently. Not much talent there, but it's appears to be a good mix of player types and handedness.

Ghost in some pain

Ghost is hurt

Ghost took a slap shot off the hand. He looks like he's in some pretty bad pain.

Ghost is hurt
- fecondo

All is lost!

All is lost!
- PhillySportsGuy

He's since returned.

Because I'd like to hear what you think the Flyers might do for 3RW, 4LW and 4C, should Steve Downie and Adam Hall not be retained and Scott Laughton need some time in the AHL.

Obviously, Raffl is probably gonna be in one of those spots, but it feels like we're gonna need at least two forwards for next season
- AllInForFlyers

Might as well hang on to Hall, move Raffl up the lineup, and if Laughton can't go right away, I'm sure there will be decent players on waivers (or available via trade) after teams break camp and try to get cap compliant. If all else fails, stop gap with Phantoms and pull another Downie trade. I definitely don't feel like the forward group has to be set in stone before the season starts.

Ghost is hurt
- fecondo

Ghost isn't the only one -- I might've jinxed the Avalanche.

Matt Duchene collided with Jamie McGinn, sustained a knee injury. They fear it might be a bad one, but don't know for sure

Duchene has 70 points in 70 games...that'd be a huge loss and would make it a lot easier for Chicago in the first round of the playoffs if he's seriously injured

Ghost isn't the only one -- I might've jinxed the Avalanche.

Matt Duchene collided with Jamie McGinn, sustained a knee injury. They fear it might be a bad one, but don't know for sure

Duchene has 70 points in 70 games...that'd be a huge loss and would make it a lot easier for Chicago in the first round of the playoffs if he's seriously injured
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah that would be a big loss for COL. Duchenne has been fantastic all year. Hopefully he's alright.

We need to watch a rangers game next...

Might as well hang on to Hall, move Raffl up the lineup, and if Laughton can't go right away, I'm sure there will be decent players on waivers (or available via trade) after teams break camp and try to get cap compliant. If all else fails, stop gap with Phantoms and pull another Downie trade. I definitely don't feel like the forward group has to be set in stone before the season starts.
- Tomahawk

Huh. You think Hall has another season of 8 minutes per night left in those legs? I only ask because while I do think he can still play, you can see the stride getting shorter -- IMO, he doesn't even skate as well as he did last year, at this moment in time, though it's still adequate for the role he plays

So you are looking at, just as the baseline...

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
????-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Raffl
Hall-Lecavalier-Rinaldo

That's kinda what I was getting at -- we might actually need a Top 6 forward, which makes the offseason trickier, no?

I ask because while I think a player should be allowed to work his way back up the lineup, I'm not certain you even try to put Vinny back up on the wing, which changes the dynamic of the forward corps, if he returns

Huh. You think Hall has another season of 8 minutes per night left in those legs? I only ask because while I do think he can still play, you can see the stride getting shorter -- IMO, he doesn't even skate as well as he did last year, at this moment in time, though it's still adequate for the role he plays

So you are looking at, just as the baseline...

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
????-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Raffl
Hall-Lecavalier-Rinaldo

That's kinda what I was getting at -- we might actually need a Top 6 forward, which makes the offseason trickier, no?

I ask because while I think a player should be allowed to work his way back up the lineup, I'm not certain you even try to put Vinny back up on the wing, which changes the dynamic of the forward corps, if he returns
- AllInForFlyers

I just hesitate to think about upgrading over Hall because they really can't afford to spend more than they are right now on a guy like that. If a Malhotra, McClement or Lewis are willing to play for $600-700k, then sure.

Vinny just really messes things up in the top-6... no easy way around that without dumping somebody... hopefully it's Vinny and not B Schenn.

Huh. You think Hall has another season of 8 minutes per night left in those legs? I only ask because while I do think he can still play, you can see the stride getting shorter -- IMO, he doesn't even skate as well as he did last year, at this moment in time, though it's still adequate for the role he plays

So you are looking at, just as the baseline...

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
????-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Raffl
Hall-Lecavalier-Rinaldo

That's kinda what I was getting at -- we might actually need a Top 6 forward, which makes the offseason trickier, no?

I ask because while I think a player should be allowed to work his way back up the lineup, I'm not certain you even try to put Vinny back up on the wing, which changes the dynamic of the forward corps, if he returns
- AllInForFlyers

Is this suggesting keeping Vinny at 4th line C long term?

Huh. You think Hall has another season of 8 minutes per night left in those legs? I only ask because while I do think he can still play, you can see the stride getting shorter -- IMO, he doesn't even skate as well as he did last year, at this moment in time, though it's still adequate for the role he plays

So you are looking at, just as the baseline...

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
????-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Raffl
Hall-Lecavalier-Rinaldo

That's kinda what I was getting at -- we might actually need a Top 6 forward, which makes the offseason trickier, no?

I ask because while I think a player should be allowed to work his way back up the lineup, I'm not certain you even try to put Vinny back up on the wing, which changes the dynamic of the forward corps, if he returns
- AllInForFlyers

Lots of people state that Hall is slow and has skating issues. I don't see it. I think he is fine in his role. If they can get somebody that might be a little better offensively, while still being a good faceoff and pk guy for the same money then fine.
My view on Lecavalier is that if they're not going to play him at Center on a scoring line, then they should look to move him. But he should be centering the 2nd line in my opinion. It was only one game, and time will tell. But Lecavalier can still play if he's used properly.

Is this suggesting keeping Vinny at 4th line C long term?
- JAKEw1234

That's what I'm wondering; see, what we're looking at -- and this is just message board talk on a Saturday, no need for anyone to get upset -- is, as Tomahawk just put it, how the Flyers are in a tricky position if Vinny can't play in the Top 6, because the Schenn/LeCavalier fit appears to be questionable.

Because...then we need another Top 6 forward. Because while it's easy to say "Trade Vinny," four more years at $4.5 million ain't exactly easy to move. Doesn't mean it couldn't be done. Means that it's probably a lot easier to say it than do it, you know?