no way are you bringing in a former 1st round pick to play 4th line center minutes he'll be lucky if he plays 5 mins a game. I rather see him in the AHL getting the development he needs.
- 215mike

History shows they've done this. Sean Couturier.

And as much promise and heart he showed his rookie season, he probably could have used another year for offensive conditioning in hindsight. His defensive play is obviously incredible for his age, but he could have used more time working on putting the puck in the net.

and yeah, wingers woulda helped.

By all accounts he's a much better center than winger. Why play him out of position? Better to trade Vinny and pick up a top winger.
- jstross

read back a page or so when we were discussing Vinny's no movement clause. It's iron clad. You've gotta make him want to move, and if he wants to move, other GMs will smell blood.

no way are you bringing in a former 1st round pick to play 4th line center minutes he'll be lucky if he plays 5 mins a game. I rather see him in the AHL getting the development he needs.
- 215mike

There's no room on this team at Center for Laughton except on the 4th line. The strategy of hording centers isn't working. Semeone needs to go to help the blue line or the wingers.

Laughton might very well start out on the 4th line. And I think the Flyers depth at center, is all the more reason to make B Schenn a full time Winger.
- MJL

Whether Schenn plays at center or wing, I think he could use a Voracek type forward who could carry the puck into the zone and allow Schenn to find shooting lanes from the circles to the goal line where he is most effective.

I wouldn't mind seeing Simmonds move up with G and possibly Voracek play with B. Schenn.

read back a page or so when we were discussing Vinny's no movement clause. It's iron clad. You've gotta make him want to move, and if he wants to move, other GMs will smell blood.
- Hesh_

I still think someone takes him. I agree with Homer that Center is critical which is why I want my young 22 year old playing that position and growing into it. Not retarding his development by flip flopping him all over the place.

his name was brought up when we were discussing NMCs.

+/-. hm.

I'm not saying Harts is bad. I'm just saying he belongs on a different line than Giroux. Giroux needs a finisher. Harts isn't that guy anymore.

That's all
- Hesh_

Yeah I agree. But I think a second line of Harts Schenn Simmer will be pretty dominant. Harts is good, but he just doesn't think the game quick enough to play with G and Jake. He is definitely top 6. They really underutilized Hartnell this year imo. They stopped driving the slot at the end of the year for whatever reason, really ticked me off.

Problem Laughton staying is where the hell is he gonna play if you keep all these centers. Your not bringing in Laughton to play the 4th line.
- 215mike

Why not? Why can't the Flyers have a good young player on the 4th line? Anaheim did this year, more than one.

There's no room on this team at Center for Laughton except on the 4th line. The strategy of hording centers isn't working. Semeone needs to go to help the blue line or the wingers.
- jstross

I know I've said this before ad nauseum, but I'd be dangling Laughton as well as Matt Read and/or our 1st rounder for Brandon Gormley.

a young defense with Gormley, Gostisbehere, Morin and Hagg could be incredible in a few years.

no way are you bringing in a former 1st round pick to play 4th line center minutes he'll be lucky if he plays 5 mins a game. I rather see him in the AHL getting the development he needs.
- 215mike

Why not? Plenty of top players drafted in the first round, started out on the 4th line in the NHL. Including Richards and Carter.

Yeah I agree. But I think a second line of Harts Schenn Simmer will be pretty dominant. Harts is good, but he just doesn't think the game quick enough to play with G and Jake. He is definitely top 6. They really underutilized Hartnell this year imo. They stopped driving the slot at the end of the year for whatever reason, really ticked me off.
- FlyersSteve118

yeah, I think he could mesh with that line just fine. I also see those guys wear down their opponents with their mixture of physicality to go with their skill level.

I'm not talking about the media. I'm talking about the idiot fans.
- Hesh_

Well if they're idiot fans, who cares what they say!

Why not? Why can't the Flyers have a good young player on the 4th line? Anaheim did this year, more than one.
- Feanor

I think the mentality of having a useless "checking" fourth line needs to hit the curb. Team needs to build a fourth line that can score. I would like to see a

Raffl Laughton Hall/Rinaldo

third line next year. And hope the fourth line as a unit can pot 20 goals.

yeah, I think he could mesh with that line just fine. I also see those guys wear down their opponents with their mixture of physicality to go with their skill level.
- Hesh_

I also think giroux could win an art ross trophy if given an elite LW.

That is a testament to the lack of scoring depth on the wing, particularly on the left side, that the Flyers have.

The Flyers have some holes, and some of those holes have not helped Schenn or Couturier develop as smoothly as they possibly could have with more establsihed wingers on both sides
- AllInForFlyers

Or maybe some responsibility to should be placed on the players themselves for their own development. My point was that Schenn had the same ups and downs in terms of production, regardless of who he played with.

Well if they're idiot fans, who cares what they say!
- MJL

I NEVER said you should! I was simply referring to his naysayers. That's all!

I also think giroux could win an art ross trophy if given an elite LW.
- FlyersSteve118

yes, dammit yes. this has been my point about hartnell from the start. hartnell is fine, but needs to be on a different line. Gi needs someone to meld his game with that can score.

By all accounts he's a much better center than winger. Why play him out of position? Better to trade Vinny and pick up a top winger.
- jstross

Not sure about all accounts. I personally don't think there is much of a difference. And I don't think he's a better center then a winger. I think the production, and level of play was about the same. And I personally think that his skill set is better suited to the Wing.

I NEVER said you should! I was simply referring to his naysayers. That's all!
- Hesh_

Well to be clear, I don't care what they think and never did. I think what the naysayers have to say, is irrelevant in the big picture. That is my point.

Or maybe some responsibility to should be placed on the players themselves for their own development. My point was that Schenn had the same ups and downs in terms of production, regardless of who he played with.
- MJL

Yeah Schenn is going through some growing pains trying to find out what type of player he needs to be to succeed. I really think if given the correct line mates he will flourish. I think Lecavalier was brought in in order to help him develop his game, but the two players do not seem to be capable of playing the same type of game.

I thought at first the Lecavalier signing was a great move, but in hind sight, I see that he just does not really mesh well with the team. I think he will be able to be a 60 point center on another team though.

Whether Schenn plays at center or wing, I think he could use a Voracek type forward who could carry the puck into the zone and allow Schenn to find shooting lanes from the circles to the goal line where he is most effective.

I wouldn't mind seeing Simmonds move up with G and possibly Voracek play with B. Schenn.
- ravishingone

I agree. And I think Lecavalier, is he's still here, needs the same kind of player with him.

I think the mentality of having a useless "checking" fourth line needs to hit the curb. Team needs to build a fourth line that can score. I would like to see a

Raffl Laughton Hall/Rinaldo

third line next year. And hope the fourth line as a unit can pot 20 goals.
- FlyersSteve118

What are you doing with Read?

I love the idea of scrapping the checking line. The West has been playing with 4 scoring lines, and look at how deep those teams are.

I also think, and I know this is unpopular, but I believe Rinaldo is a 13th forward. He can get under the skin of some teams and draw more penalties than he is called for, but it doesn't work on everybody. Certainly not teams like the Rangers. If it's the Penguins, he's perfect, but a lot of the better teams let him fly around until he take a stupid penalty. You gotta put a leash on him. Call him up when you know you've got an opponent susceptible to his antics. Other than that gimme some guys with a little skill. Id rather see Akeson.

I know I've said this before ad nauseum, but I'd be dangling Laughton as well as Matt Read and/or our 1st rounder for Brandon Gormley.

a young defense with Gormley, Gostisbehere, Morin and Hagg could be incredible in a few years.
- Hesh_

It would be a mistake to dangle Matt Read.

Yeah Schenn is going through some growing pains trying to find out what type of player he needs to be to succeed. I really think if given the correct line mates he will flourish. I think Lecavalier was brought in in order to help him develop his game, but the two players do not seem to be capable of playing the same type of game.

I thought at first the Lecavalier signing was a great move, but in hind sight, I see that he just does not really mesh well with the team. I think he will be able to be a 60 point center on another team though.
- FlyersSteve118

It's certainly a question going forward where Lecavalier fits in this lineup. If he's going to stay, they need to do some things to maximize the player.

Not sure about all accounts. I personally don't think there is much of a difference. And I don't think he's a better center then a winger. I think the production, and level of play was about the same. And I personally think that his skill set is better suited to the Wing.
- MJL

It could have been any number of things. He could have been playing hurt, while trying to adjust and not been able to based on his injury. He could have just been with the wrong line mates, or not being utilized in a system that fits his play.

It would be a mistake to dangle Matt Read.
- MJL

I like Read, but it's not a mistake if it lands you Gormley. You should thank your lucky stars if the Coyotes took a deal like that.

The Matt Reads of the world are easier to come by than a guy touted like Gormley.