He out scored Mike Richards in all but his first junior season when he was used sparingly. Richards never had a 40 goal junior season.


Are you okay?
- mayorofangrytown

I think Laughton could end up anywhere between:
Solid 2nd line center, who puts up 20+ goals and 60 points while being the teams top guy on PK and working on the 2nd unit PP
to
Solid 3rd line center who puts up 15+ goals and 40-45 points while still being a key guy on the PK and an occasional fill-in on the PP

I really don't see much if any, chance that he will be a bust. The Flyers track record of selecting forwards in the first round over the last decade or so is excellent.

I thought he trained part of the off season with G...
- FlyersGrace

I have read that, and I've always felt Giroux's conditioning was totally fine. I thought Akeson's conditioning appeared to be totally fine, as well, during the playoffs.

The deal I'm talking about, and what I think BiggE's referring to, is his on-the-puck play, and his ability to go get it on the forecheck.

I think Akeson competes for pucks, and that's good. But it'll be tough for him to stick if he consistently loses puck battles or can't get in on the forecheck to begin with.

It's...tricky. He's not a horrific skater, and he makes up for some of it through hockey sense. But if he consistently loses puck battles because of his core strength...that might be a killer for him, if the organization isn't sold on him.

Sorry, but Akeson just looks like the kind of guy who will get exposed the more you use him. I really don't see him ever being more than an AHL star/NHL spare forward who can fill in for a short time on a scoring line.
His lack of footspeed and strength are just 2 big red flags for me and I don't think that his smarts and skill level are at a level that's high enough to overcome his flaws.
- BiggE

He played well with the third line. I would like to see him get a chance. My opinion of him differs than yours, but I think we both can agree he deserves a chance next season. They shouldn't just write him off.

He out scored Mike Richards in all but his first junior season when he was used sparingly. Richards never had a 40 goal junior season.


Are you okay?
- mayorofangrytown

Not sure where you're getting your numbers, but here's a point per game breakdown for each player:

Richards
Age 16: 0.89 per game
Age 17: 1.30 per game
Age 18: 1.53 per game
Age 19: 1.35 per game

Laughton
Age 16: 0.37 per game
Age 17: 0.83 per game
Age 18: 1.14 per game
Age 19: 1.61 per game

A huge disparity in Richards favor, imo.

I have read that, and I've always felt Giroux's conditioning was totally fine. I thought Akeson's conditioning appeared to be totally fine, as well, during the playoffs.

The deal I'm talking about, and what I think BiggE's referring to, is his on-the-puck play, and his ability to go get it on the forecheck.

I think Akeson competes for pucks, and that's good. But it'll be tough for him to stick if he consistently loses puck battles or can't get in on the forecheck to begin with.

It's...tricky. He's not a horrific skater, and he makes up for some of it through hockey sense. But if he consistently loses puck battles because of his core strength...that might be a killer for him, if the organization isn't sold on him.
- AllInForFlyers[/quote]

Exactly
If he can't use speed to get seperation nor have enough strength to win his share of puck battles, his skill and smarts will not be enough for him to succeed at the NHL level. Not sure how much he can improve his skating at this point, but he MUST get stronger if he is going to make it for the long haul.

Laughing at my post when I was saying I could see him being successful in the near future usually doesn't mean you agree with me. It usually means the other person thinks what I said was completely wrong.
- FlyersSteve118

I don't agree that it will take two or three years. I wasn't busting your chops, it was semi-sarcastic.

He's a battler though. I wouldn't completely discount him although I do tend to think along your line.
- mayorofangrytown

Yeah, a lot of the Flyers' better prospects over the years haven't been the biggest, fastest guys... but there is a through-line of a battler/determined mentality that is really hard to repress.

He played well with the third line. I would like to see him get a chance. My opinion of him differs than yours, but I think we both can agree he deserves a chance next season. They shouldn't just write him off.
- PhillySportsGuy

Absolutely, give him a fair shot in camp for sure, but I don't think you can just pencil him in and hand him a spot.

That's ok. I just don't see his fit moving forward. His skill set doesn't lend itself to the bottom six and yes he is productive but as he ages are his skills going to decline where he is more of a hinderence. I would just rather bet that in the future he isn't going to produce as much as he just did and would like a younger faster option.
- J35Bacher

Oh so give away your talent while it is still good for fear that it probably won't last? That doesn't make much sense.

His deal expires just as he turns 37. Its not ideal, but they dont have him signed into his 40s.
- PhillySportsGuy

I know but Bertuzzi is the same type of player. He is 39. He hasn't been an impact player for some time

Not sure where you're getting your numbers, but here's a point per game breakdown for each player:

Richards
Age 16: 0.89 per game
Age 17: 1.30 per game
Age 18: 1.53 per game
Age 19: 1.35 per game

Laughton
Age 16: 0.37 per game
Age 17: 0.83 per game
Age 18: 1.14 per game
Age 19: 1.61 per game

A huge disparity in Richards favor, imo.
- bradleyc4

I don't see that difference in play. Of course Richards didn't play half the game on defense either.

Richards
58 pts, 50 pts, 53 pts, 36 pts

Laughton
23 pts, 53 pts, 56 pts, 87 pts

I have read that, and I've always felt Giroux's conditioning was totally fine. I thought Akeson's conditioning appeared to be totally fine, as well, during the playoffs.

The deal I'm talking about, and what I think BiggE's referring to, is his on-the-puck play, and his ability to go get it on the forecheck.

I think Akeson competes for pucks, and that's good. But it'll be tough for him to stick if he consistently loses puck battles or can't get in on the forecheck to begin with.

It's...tricky. He's not a horrific skater, and he makes up for some of it through hockey sense. But if he consistently loses puck battles because of his core strength...that might be a killer for him, if the organization isn't sold on him.
- AllInForFlyers

So you're saying we should send him the 10-min abs video...

Absolutely, give him a fair shot in camp for sure, but I don't think you can just pencil him in and hand him a spot.
- BiggE

Thats why I think Raffl is such a nice player to have. If Akeson proves to be a good 2nd line player, Raffl can anchor the 4th line and make them a viable option in more situations.

If Akeson can't crack the lineup, Raffl can be moved up to a 2nd or 3rd line role.

Oh so give away your talent while it is still good for fear that it probably won't last? That doesn't make much sense.
- FlyersSteve118

Well you trade it, nobody is saying give it away

Exactly
If he can't use speed to get seperation nor have enough strength to win his share of puck battles, his skill and smarts will not be enough for him to succeed at the NHL level. Not sure how much he can improve his skating at this point, but he MUST get stronger if he is going to make it for the long haul.
- BiggE

I think he can probably improve his "burst" speed -- he's young enough to do that, I think. I've seen enough guys to that, at his age, to make me believe he might be able to. That would certainly help.

It's just gonna take work. From what I read, the kind of grueling work that isn't always fun to do and definitely will show what kind of mindset he has.

I know but Bertuzzi is the same type of player. He is 39. He hasn't been an impact player for some time
- J35Bacher

Has there ever been a season where the HB faithful did not want to trade Hartnell?

I don't agree that it will take two or three years. I wasn't busting your chops, it was semi-sarcastic.
- mayorofangrytown

Oh I just see him as our fourth line center and possibly the 3rd line center. If we didn't have a logjam at center, I could see him being a candidate for the #2 spot, but realistically he will have to prove himself first. He only gets the number 3 spot if BOTH of vinny and schenn are dealt in the offseason. I don't see management skipping over couturier after how much heavy lifting he has done for this team.

I don't see that difference in play. Of course Richards didn't play half the game on defense either.

Richards
58 pts, 50 pts, 53 pts, 36 pts

Laughton
23 pts, 53 pts, 56 pts, 87 pts
- mayorofangrytown

You are looking at the assist column for those three years. Richards point totals in juniors were:

58
87
89
58

Oh so give away your talent while it is still good for fear that it probably won't last? That doesn't make much sense.
- FlyersSteve118

Yeah it does. You sell why there is still value before you can't move him. It's not like I am trading a 26 year old player. You have your thinking and I have mine. I just think there a better fits and would be proactive in making the move. It not because he didn't produce this year or because I hate him. just looking at the future and feel he is not going to get better as he ages and could move him while there is some value.

I don't see that difference in play. Of course Richards didn't play half the game on defense either.

Richards
58 pts, 50 pts, 53 pts, 36 pts

Laughton
23 pts, 53 pts, 56 pts, 87 pts
- mayorofangrytown

I like Laughton's improvement year over year. That's impressive in it's own right. I look forward to seeing him play and I'm ok if that's with the Phantoms for a year.

I know but Bertuzzi is the same type of player. He is 39. He hasn't been an impact player for some time
- J35Bacher

If Hartnell isn't an effective player for the last year of his deal then so be it. 5 years from now, his cap hit may be that of a 3rd line player anyway. It may not hurt the team as much as you think. Look what Clarkson got. Thats the type of deal Hartnell was looking at too. At least Hartnell is effective NOW.

Well you trade it, nobody is saying give it away
- Just5

This line taken out of context is fascinating.

So you're saying we should send him the 10-min abs video...

- FlyersGrace

Ha! That young man better be sleeping in the gym this summer! If he does that, I do think he has a chance -- and when you're undrafted, sometimes that's all you can ask.

You are looking at the assist column for those three years. Richards point totals in juniors were:

58
87
89
58
- aightwebang17

Its difficult to evaluate both players based solely on points anyway. I dont know about Richards, but Laughton was being used in a shutdown role for much of the season. He wasn't given the opportunity to play with Dal Colle a lot. If he was, his numbers would be much higher.

Its difficult to evaluate both players based solely on points anyway. I dont know about Richards, but Laughton was being used in a shutdown role for much of the season. He wasn't given the opportunity to play with Dal Colle a lot. If he was, his numbers would be much higher.
- PhillySportsGuy

Point taken sir. No need to yell.