I am wondering if with Hextalls philosophy we see the end of the tough guy roles on the team, Rosehill or Rinaldo type players and start moving these low salaried 2 way type players with speed and some scoring abilities on the 4th lines...
- Buzzo

LA ditched their heavies awhile ago... been going with a 4th-line that can skate a regular shift... like actually skate a regular shift, not just what Jody Shelley was supposed to have been capable of.

LA ditched their heavies awhile ago... been going with a 4th-line that can skate a regular shift... like actually skate a regular shift, not just what Jody Shelley was supposed to have been capable of.
- Tomahawk

Shelley was fully capable of skating a 4th line shift. He was strong along the boards, sound positionaly, and good in the room. Blah blah blah and the rest of the company man/yes man speak.

Looking at the 4th line of the Kings and Rangers its comical to have Rinaldo running around hitting people when the opposition has the puck 85% of the time.

Off to my bachelor party. Hopefully I remember everything
- PhillySportsGuy

Make sure someone knows a bail bondsman where you are going
Just in case

...he's 22
- mochoson

And has played one full AHL season.

And has played one full AHL season.
- Feanor

GET HIM IN THERE BABY IT'S TIME (frank)IN YOLO RIGHT?!

I want Rinaldo gone. He will be running our prospects this summer all over the ice if he thinks he won't have a job.

Timonen is a great man. I hope he gets traded if things aren't looking for the flyers next season. He deserves a cup.

Shelley was fully capable of skating a 4th line shift. He was strong along the boards, sound positionaly, and good in the room. Blah blah blah and the rest of the company man/yes man speak.

Looking at the 4th line of the Kings and Rangers its comical to have Rinaldo running around hitting people when the opposition has the puck 85% of the time.
- PLindbergh31

yea but the kings have kyle clifford

Most likely either Schenn or Grossmann. Coburn has the highest individual trade value but is not easily replaceable right now.
- bmeltzer

Yeah Coburn's probably our fastest Defensemen. We want to get faster, getting rid of our biggest and fastest guy isn't a great idea.

http://msn.foxsports.com/...captured-in-photos-061414

(frank) the media though. Seriously. Leave him alone and let him cry in piece

He'll be 23 at the start of the season and hasnt sniffed an NHL game yet. Just curious. Everyone says get Ghost or Hagg or Morin in and theoretically Alt should be the next guy up but next to no one is calling his name.
- hereticpride

Do you know how long Hextall kept Quick and Bernier in the minors? While the Kings were desperate for goal tending. Close to 3 years. Alt's had one reasonably good AHL season, Ghost & Hagg have had a handfull of AHL games and Morin isn't AHL legal yet. Everyone wanted a GM who is not going to sell off our young assets and let them develop properly. You got it, Hextall WILL NOT jump the gun on Alt, ghost, Laughton or anyone until they've had at least one dominant AHL season. I think Alt, Manning, and Lauridson is probably set as potential injury Callups, but I don't think anyone is making the transition out of training camp on general principal. That's going to be Hexy mark on this team. On the plus side, the Phantoms are going to be MUCH better this year.

Do you know how long Hextall kept Quick and Bernier in the minors? While the Kings were desperate for goal tending. Close to 3 years. Alt's had one reasonably good AHL season, Ghost & Hagg have had a handfull of AHL games and Morin isn't AHL legal yet. Everyone wanted a GM who is not going to sell off our young assets and let them develop properly. You got it, Hextall WILL NOT jump the gun on Alt, ghost, Laughton or anyone until they've had at least one dominant AHL season. I think Alt, Manning, and Lauridson is probably set as potential injury Callups, but I don't think anyone is making the transition out of training camp on general principal. That's going to be Hexy mark on this team. On the plus side, the Phantoms are going to be MUCH better this year.
- flyler

Amen

This defense isn't going to win anything with that core
blow it up

Do you know how long Hextall kept Quick and Bernier in the minors? While the Kings were desperate for goal tending. Close to 3 years. Alt's had one reasonably good AHL season, Ghost & Hagg have had a handfull of AHL games and Morin isn't AHL legal yet. Everyone wanted a GM who is not going to sell off our young assets and let them develop properly. You got it, Hextall WILL NOT jump the gun on Alt, ghost, Laughton or anyone until they've had at least one dominant AHL season. I think Alt, Manning, and Lauridson is probably set as potential injury Callups, but I don't think anyone is making the transition out of training camp on general principal. That's going to be Hexy mark on this team. On the plus side, the Phantoms are going to be MUCH better this year.
- flyler

I agree with all of this.

However, depending on what moves we make, Laughton might be on the roster by default due to his small cap hit.

I'm all for turning the Phantoms into a stud factory, though. Only guys id like to graduate to the big club for sure are McGinn, Akeson, and one of Alt/Manning/Lauridsen.

We do need to infuse some youth next season. I'm higher on Akeson and McGinn than most; I think both are capable of filling roles next year.

I agree with all of this.

However, depending on what moves we make, Laughton might be on the roster by default due to his small cap hit.

I'm all for turning the Phantoms into a stud factory, though. Only guys id like to graduate to the big club for sure are McGinn, Akeson, and one of Alt/Manning/Lauridsen.

We do need to infuse some youth next season. I'm higher on Akeson and McGinn than most; I think both are capable of filling roles next year.
- mochoson

I fully expect Akeson and Laughton to be playing with the big boys next season, for what it's worth.

Id go all in for Pk Subban

yea but the kings have kyle clifford
- 2Real

Who's actually pretty good at hockey... at least good enough to get taken 35th-overall in his draft year.

I fully expect Akeson and Laughton to be playing with the big boys next season, for what it's worth.
- Giroux_Is_God

I agree. Laughton has a spot right now due to his small cap hit. I'd like to see Bellemare, Laughton, McGinn, Rinaldo, and maybe a FA all duke it out for 4th line time.

I fully expect Akeson and Laughton to be playing with the big boys next season, for what it's worth.
- Giroux_Is_God

Akeson yeah, I think he did a great job in the playoffs and really seemed to find a good spot with Coots & Read. I'd like to see that line together with a Healthy Couturier.

I would not write off the possiblity of Laughton making the team out of camp, but I'd still be surprised. It's not just about being ready or physically able to play. Hextall is going to be looking for Mental resiliency. While I think Laughton has it, I think Hexy's course is going to be to let him have at least some time with the Phantoms, to see if he can build some confidence in the AHL.

While I think Hexy is going to push more of a building through the draft, in dealing with the Big Club now, I see him making Homer style deals for UFA's and trades to keep the big club winning. Probably within a 3 year length.

You'd think someone like Brandon Manning would be the 7th defenseman next year, right? They're probably not going to spend any money -- nor should they, IMO -- in free agency on a defender unless they do move somebody.

Not sure exactly what I WANT them to do. Because for the first time since 2007, they actually look like they may have some financial flexibility if they simply move Lecavalier and just make this year one where the team simply improves from within -- yes, they still need a forward, maybe two if Akeson or Bellemare can't cut it, or if Raffl regresses.

But I guess...I'm fine if they don't do much of anything this summer other than possibly move Vinny, find one reasonably priced winger, and take this roster into the fall and see where you are after 20, 25 games

Who's actually pretty good at hockey... at least good enough to get taken 35th-overall in his draft year.
- Tomahawk

what are your thoughts about tyrell goulborne?

what are your thoughts about tyrell goulborne?
- 2Real

I'm concerned that he doesn't seem capable of doing more w the puck in junior, despite being essentially an overager this past season. I don't have much confidence that he can even crack an NHL 4th-line... judging by their reluctance to give him a deal, I'd say the Flyers might not be too high on him anymore either anymore.

You'd think someone like Brandon Manning would be the 7th defenseman next year, right? They're probably not going to spend any money -- nor should they, IMO -- in free agency on a defender unless they do move somebody.

Not sure exactly what I WANT them to do. Because for the first time since 2007, they actually look like they may have some financial flexibility if they simply move Lecavalier and just make this year one where the team simply improves from within -- yes, they still need a forward, maybe two if Akeson or Bellemare can't cut it, or if Raffl regresses.

But I guess...I'm fine if they don't do much of anything this summer other than possibly move Vinny, find one reasonably priced winger, and take this roster into the fall and see where you are after 20, 25 games
- AllInForFlyers

vanek

vanek
- 2Real

Ha! Vanek's many things, but "reasonably priced" isn't gonna be one of them

I'm not sure I want to drop a contract on defense just for the sake of doing so. I understand this will be a challenging Summer with the Cap going up, Giroux, Mason, Read and MacDonald's deals kicking in but with Timonen taking a serious hair cut, Gustafsson jumping ship and Lecavalier looking like he's on the move, it would seem as if we're still in decent shape. Couturier's new deal is less then his last hit and I expect Schenn's hit to be less also. Even if the Flyers move a deal on defense and bring in Mark Alt, we still need a guaranteed sixth or seventh Dman because we still do not know which Alt will be.

I'd like to see a full season of

Timonen-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-Schenn

Reason being MacDonald made an instant positive impact on Luke Schenn.

Grossmann-Coburn
MacDonald-Streit
Timonen-Schenn

The second pairs I'd like to see even more through a full season because I believe you could better limit Timonen's minutes while continuing to improve Schenn's play. I also feel Coburn and Grossmann could be an effective checking top pair against the Malkin's and Thornton's of the world.

While the mix is not impressive, I'm not sure I'm ready to dive into the unknown unless we are getting a guarantee in return. We still need that legit number one defenseman. Plus comparing McDonald's deal to Schenn and Grossmann's, I don't think either guy looks that bad. There might be a serious potential for Andy MacDonald to become the next Matt Carle or Randy Jones.