Straka - Cousins - Alderson
Hall - Holmstrom - Rinaldo
Voracek - Laughton - Giroux
Hartnell - Schenn - Simmonds

Lauridsen - Coburn
Manning - Alt
Grossmann - Streit

Danis
Mason

That should confuse the (frank) out of em

why do people think Laughton will play?
- Winning

Because is our other option.

Its a bad thing when your "2C" is getting 3 shots for every 7 he allows despite playing against weak competition and starting most shifts in the offensive zone.
- PhillySportsGuy

The flaw here is that Lecavalier allows 7 shots. False negatives and positives are a big factor.

Please read

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...t_id=59519&blogger_id=179
- KINGKENZO

No.

The flaw here is that Lecavalier allows 7 shots. False negatives and positives are to big of a factor.
- MJL

No he literally moved out of the way of the shooters and let them shoot. Get with it bro.

Going back to Richie... he's been to the top of mountain, he's achieved his professional goals, he's got a retirement contract in hand... must be hard to stay motivated, no matter how competitive and in love with the game you are. Being on a team with your best friend and being in a city full of diversions and beautiful people that don't really care about hockey probably doesn't help, either.
- Tomahawk

I'd hate to think that he isn't as dedicated as he could be, because while the rumors abounded while he was a Flyer, I always believed that it was a convenient method to take shots at the guy.

But professional sports...man, we all know the deal. You can't get away with the same poop at 29 that you did at 20, 21, 22. Not because your place on your team is threatened. It's what those young bucks like Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture will do to you in the open ice. Or if you do catch a break and avoid those boys, you're still giving up six inches and 35 pounds to Joe Thornton.

I don't watch the Kings enough to know if he's not as conditioned as he could/should be. But if he isn't, and doesn't want to be...it only gets uglier from here. Because other teams just don't care that he's Mike Richards. Not anymore.

No.
- Flyersgod

Ha! You don't have to read it, but you asked the question in the first place!

I would like to see a line of simmer-Vinny-Raffl

Yeah, he just seems like a guy who will take it on the chin and still come to work and be a calm, positive influence.

I don't see him ever pulling a MSL, or even quietly asking out.
- Tomahawk

Nor do I. I just wish he could play better.

I'd hate to think that he isn't as dedicated as he could be, because while the rumors abounded while he was a Flyer, I always believed that it was a convenient method to take shots at the guy.

But professional sports...man, we all know the deal. You can't get away with the same poop at 29 that you did at 20, 21, 22. Not because your place on your team is threatened. It's what those young bucks like Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture will do to you in the open ice. Or if you do catch a break and avoid those boys, you're still giving up six inches and 35 pounds to Joe Thornton.

I don't watch the Kings enough to know if he's not as conditioned as he could/should be. But if he isn't, and doesn't want to be...it only gets uglier from here. Because other teams just don't care that he's Mike Richards. Not anymore.
- AllInForFlyers

I hear what you're saying, 29 is the age where guys start breaking down physically, the body just stops healing back to 100% after a point.

But guy has literally won everything there is to win... Stanley Cup, Calder Cup, Olympic Gold, Memorial Cup, WJC Gold... I'm guessing he was happier that Carts got his gold medal than he was upset that he wasn't even considered for the team himself.

Honestly, if that were me, I wouldn't even have the motivation to get out of bed in the morning. I'd be saying (frank) it, I'm mailing it in Office Space style.

Nor do I. I just wish he could play better.
- Jsaquella

I mean, MJL's not wrong -- you could find a couple of wingers to complement him, shield him when you have to. That's coaching, and roster management. I don't know, if he's going to stay here, that you shouldn't do that. Because you should always maximize your assets.

All I'm saying right now is that come Game 4 tomorrow, it's all hands on deck, as far as I'm concerned. And the pace of play is something that everybody who is in the lineup has to be able to handle, at some point and to some degree, and if you can't, and your linemates can't cover for you...then maybe sitting this one out is best for the team.

His last few years in Tampa weren't exactly rosy either... they tried to trade him a couple of times, knocked him off the top PP, shuffled his linemates around, traded away close buddies, the whole joke that was OK Hockey LLC.... he didn't ask out of that.
- Tomahawk

Lecavalier scored at a 67 point pace last year. He scored 20 goals this season for the 13th time in his career. And if it wasn't for the injury and the position change, he's probably looking at a 25-30 goal season.

We should probably trade Coburn now right? He's starting to regress.
- Flyersgod

that's cool, Homer will find a 3rd pair Dman to pay 5mill a year for 6 years

lol, this is true. But I think with hard work and dedication, they're learnable and trainable skills that a player can acquire and incorporate into their game.
- Flyers_V88

Jagr is also freakishly strong and probably in has the best cardio conditioning in the NHL. He is a one of a kind player.

I hear what you're saying, 29 is the age where guys start breaking down physically, the body just stops healing back to 100% after a point.

But guy has literally won everything there is to win... Stanley Cup, Calder Cup, Olympic Gold, Memorial Cup, WJC Gold... I'm guessing he was happier that Carts got his gold medal than he was upset that he wasn't even considered for the team himself.

Honestly, if that were me, I wouldn't even have the motivation to get out of bed in the morning. I'd be saying (frank) it, I'm mailing it in Office Space style.
- Tomahawk

I can see that...makes me sad to think it, but I can see it. He always seemed to hate the business of hockey more than most. I'd hate to see him go out like Darcy Tucker, where the coach basically says he's worn out.

Their is no scenario where I will take 29 year old Mike Richards over a 22 year old B. Schenn.

People seem to be forgetting how young B. Schenn is.

Their is no scenario where I will take 29 year old Mike Richards over a 22 year old B. Schenn.

People seem to be forgetting how young B. Schenn is.
- opeth_pa

he sort of skates like a 29yo

Flyers announce Steve Mason will start game 4
- Jsaquella

No real surprise, but still nice to hear.

IMO the only players who have performed up to or exceeded expectations in this series are:

Voracek
Raffl
MacDonald
Streit
L Schenn
Akeson
Emery (did all you can expect for a backup)

Couturier and Hartnell would be on the bubble as would Grossmann. I guess you could also say the same about Hall and Rinaldo since my expectations for both are pretty much nil.

Mason obviously gets an incomplete so far

The following need to do better:
Giroux
Simmonds
B Schenn
Vinnie
Read
Coburn
Timonen

That last group has way too many key players for my liking!

Who knows? Even a professional can have regrets.
- Jsaquella

I would guess that if he does have regrets, he will quietly ask Homer for a trade after the season.

he sort of skates like a 29yo
- vejim

Except he doesn't but that is okay..I just dont understand the desire by some, not you, to keep rehashing Flyers past.

When Holmgren is gone the thing that annoys me is I know Hextall will fill that spot.

Oh look, another ex-Flyer.

Really? Because if you look at the possession stats for his last season in Tampa Bay, they were trending the same way...Vinny's looking like a mistake.

Not just because of his stats, but he's really not a great fit for the other pieces on the roster. He's had struggles no matter what line mates he's had. He's limited to being a set piece shooter and doesn't feel comfortable playing on the wing. He's had issues keeping up to the speed of play.

It's a shame. I was all for Vinny and loved the signing initially. But he's been a major disappointment to me.
- Jsaquella

I think he can only be successful when flanked by speedy wingers, who can carry the puck up the ice AND work the wall and get it to him where he likes it. Raffl and Read would be the best pair for him IMO

I would guess that if he does have regrets, he will quietly ask Homer for a trade after the season.
- BiggE

That...would be one hell of a tricky deal.

I don't sweat the Flyers eating some dollars. But a cursory look around the league...I'm not exactly sure where Vinny could go.

People automatically think "Montreal," but with P.K. Subban coming up, I don't think they've got a ton of money lying around.

I don't quite see where Vinny could go, with just a quick glance around the league, with his contract.

Yeah...it's tough, man. The Sharks are just a bad matchup for the Kings in general, but yeah. I don't know what you do with Richards against a team like that...but from how it went down, nothing they were going to try was going to work, regardless.
- AllInForFlyers

I picked Boston vs San Jose in the finals and I have seen nothing so far that makes me want to change my mind.

Except he doesn't but that is okay..I just dont understand the desire by some, not you, to keep rehashing Flyers past.

When Holmgren is gone the thing that annoys me is I know Hextall will fill that spot.

Oh look, another ex-Flyer.
- opeth_pa

Sorry; we were only talking about Richards because of a question that was asked a few pages back.

That...would be one hell of a tricky deal.

I don't sweat the Flyers eating some dollars. But a cursory look around the league...I'm not exactly sure where Vinny could go.

People automatically think "Montreal," but with P.K. Subban coming up, I don't think they've got a ton of money lying around.

I don't quite see where Vinny could go, with just a quick glance around the league, with his contract.
- AllInForFlyers

Toronto could really use help at center, they were desperate enough to even try JVR there at one point. I could see the Leafs having some interest if the price is cheap enough.