Will be interesting to see if the organization values short term winning, and trying to get LeCavalier going over putting bSchenn and to a larger extent Couturier in more favourable positions.

bSchenn needs a defined role with quality line-mates, and Couturier needs to bump up to 2nd line center to get away from the continuous toughest match-ups that stunt his offensive growth.

bSchenn-Giroux-Voracek
Simmonds-Couturier-Read

JR says Mason isnt gonna bring us a cup anyways so we should just give up now
http://www.csnphilly.com/...eve-mason-isnt-answer-cup
- Trainfellow

Will solve our vinny problem. Just move him to goalie.

Will be interesting to see if the organization values short term winning, and trying to get LeCavalier going over putting bSchenn and to a larger extent Couturier in more favourable positions.

bSchenn needs a defined role with quality line-mates, and Couturier needs to bump up to 2nd line center to get away from the continuous toughest match-ups that stunt his offensive growth.

bSchenn-Giroux-Voracek
Simmonds-Couturier-Read
- flyer_nutter

That is something I worry about happening to Laughton if they try him as 4th liner. I would like to see him tried at 1st and 2nd line wing in pre-season to see how he does. Given he showed more offensive growth in his game this past junior season, I'd like to "keep it rolling" rather than stiffle it with a defense, defense, defense mentality. I agree that has caused Coots to regress a bit.

Geez why is it every time a player signs with a team his contract has to be compared to a contract on the Flyers as if every player is signed under the exact same circumstances?
- JonnyHammerstix

Teh Flyrz r teh suckz

That is something I worry about happening to Laughton if they try him as 4th liner. I would like to see him tried at 1st and 2nd line wing in pre-season to see how he does. Given he showed more offensive growth in his game this past junior season, I'd like to "keep it rolling" rather than stiffle it with a defense, defense, defense mentality. I agree that has caused Coots to regress a bit.
- juiced

Yeah, starting as the 4th line center stifled Mike Richards' development.

That is something I worry about happening to Laughton if they try him as 4th liner. I would like to see him tried at 1st and 2nd line wing in pre-season to see how he does. Given he showed more offensive growth in his game this past junior season, I'd like to "keep it rolling" rather than stiffle it with a defense, defense, defense mentality. I agree that has caused Coots to regress a bit.
- juiced

I'd be more than fine with Laughton proving himself in the AHL. In my mind, Akeson deserves a shot. I don't see a favourable position with LeCavalier in the top 6 as it takes away from bSchenn and Couturier. If LeCavalier can prove himself defensively I am by all means in favour of him moving up, but as of now the minutes and opportunity should go to younger players.

Bottom lines in my eyes:
Raffl-Umberger-Akeson
Bellamere-LeCavalier-Rinaldo

Yeah, starting as the 4th line center stifled Mike Richards' development.
- jmatchett383

False.

Yeah, starting as the 4th line center stifled Mike Richards' development.
- jmatchett383

yes....there is always exceptions. Do you not think the 3rd Center responsibilities and constant "you have to lock down" the top player hasnt caused Coots to hesitate when moving up the ice???...I feel he holds back a lot for fear of getting out of position to catch up with defensive play.

That is why I said try him out in Pre-season....I am hoping he could make the transition to wing and get decent minutes until we figure out what do with Vinny. If he ends up on 4th line or on the Phantoms I am cool with that as well.

yes....there is always exceptions. Do you not think the 3rd Center responsibilities and constant "you have to lock down" the top player hasnt caused Coots to hesitate when moving up the ice???...I feel he holds back a lot for fear of getting out of position to catch up with defensive play.

That is why I said try him out in Pre-season....I am hoping he could make the transition to wing and get decent minutes until we figure out what do with Vinny. If he ends up on 4th line or on the Phantoms I am cool with that as well.
- juiced

For the record.. Richards was 4th on the team (among the forwards) in icetime over the season. Not exactly a 4th liner.

I'm more right at the internet than both of you.
- jmatchett383

Not so fast, we should definitely argue about that.

And to distract you while I win the interwebs...

I don't think Gilbert is any less of a player because he had to accept 1-year/$1M once, because all the jobs and cap-dollars had already been accounted for around the league.

Just like I don't think that being snapped up on July 1 necessarily speaks to Orpik/Wideman/Finger's quality as players.

UFA is just messed up like that.
- Tomahawk

Well first of all Gilbert got a two year deal from Montreal, and he was available as a free agent at the same time as all the other UFA's were.

For the record.. Richards was 4th on the team (among the forwards) in icetime over the season. Not exactly a 4th liner.
- jak521

How so? He had less ice time than their top 3 centers (Forsberg, Primeau/Nedved, Handzus) as well as Gagne, Knuble, and Kapanen. That makes him 8th.

He was 4th on the team is SH TOI/G, not ATOI.

Zhamnov did play well in his short time as a Flyer. Kinda ran out of steam in the later rounds of the 2004 playoffs, but he was great against NJ
- Jsaquella

Didn't read the whole thread, but, if I recall correctly, Hitch inexplicably broke up the highy successful "Blackhawk Down" line (Amonte, JR, Zhamnov) going into those later rounds. They might have had a few underwhelming shifts in a game leading up to it, but their chemistry and track record before that was pretty proven. He should have stuck with them...I thought it was premature and always held that against Hitch.

Didn't read the whole thread, but, if I recall correctly, Hitch inexplicably broke up the highy successful "Blackhawk Down" line (Amonte, JR, Zhamnov) going into those later rounds. They might have had a few underwhelming shifts in a game leading up to it, but their chemistry and track record before that was pretty proven. He should have stuck with them...I thought it was premature and always held that against Hitch.
- exlund

Can't be sure, but that probably had to do with a trickle down. Kapanen had to move to defense because of the blueline injuries, and I'm not sure what other injuries they had.

Eastern Conference Predictions 2014-2015

Atlantic
1. Tampa Bay - X
2. Boston - X
3. Detroit - X
4. Florida
5. Montreal
6. Toronto
7. Ottawa
8. Buffalo

Metro
1. NYR - X
2. Columbus - X
3. Pittsburgh - X
4. Philadelphia - X
5. NYI - X
6. New Jersey
7. Washington
8. Carolina

Is this a Dear Prudence reference??

If it's not, I'm making it a Dear Prudence reference.
- Giroux_Is_God

Peter Zezel's first NHL goal and I remember it like it was yesterday:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKN0yXWAYoA
- johndewar

Miss those days.....especially Hart, Taylor, and Van Impe in the booth.

Also, and maybe it is because it was a long time ago, but I don't remember those teams (84 - 87) ever being flat, maybe a shift or two here and there but never for a period or most of a game...hopefully Berube will change that culture.......

Dear Prudence.

That's beatles no? Always thought of it as kind of fruity boy band music.

How so? He had less ice time than their top 3 centers (Forsberg, Primeau/Nedved, Handzus) as well as Gagne, Knuble, and Kapanen. That makes him 8th.

He was 4th on the team is SH TOI/G, not ATOI.
- jmatchett383

He might be referring to this past season in LA.

He might be referring to this past season in LA.
- MJL

Oh. Since we were talking about a Flyers' rookie and his development, I figured we were talking about Flyers rookies.

Scouting Report:


You'd be really hard-pressed to determine which player they were describing... Butler or Amac (hint: it's Butler). Their games are virtually identical on the ice: skate, move the puck, block shots, eat minutes in the top-4.


ES Regular Stats:


The only key difference between the two was that AMac was used HEAVILY by the Islanders on the PP, but his production there didn't warrant all that icetime. His 3:19 with the Isles would put him in the top-20 among NHL dmen, but the paltry 11 PPP he managed with all that time was relatively poor, despite having guys like Tavares/Okposo/Vanek as his most frequent forwards. He was a non-factor on the Flyers' PP (0 points).

Ironically, Butler is actually slightly more productive at ES via P/60, despite playing with much worse players in front of him (Colborne, Stajan, Hudler).

AMac was only a slightly better shot-blocker than Butler -- it's odd that AMac gets so much praise for it, while most people don't even know who Chris Butler is.


Fancy Stats:


Neither player is very good at possession, but Butler started many more of his shifts in the d-zone, so you would expect his numbers to be much worse. Ironically, they were better, despite playing for one of the worst ES-possession teams in the league.

The Isles, despite their record, were actually a decent possession team, but were MUCH worse w/ AMac on the ice, for whatever reason.


Salary:

It's just really hard to justify the salary difference. Either the Blues got the deal of the century, or the Flyers overpaid BADLY for a mediocre defenseman. Based on the fact that Chris Butler is mostly meh as an NHL player, I'm inclined to believe the latter is more true.


TL;DR: Chris Butler and AMac are the same, but only one is swimming in Snider-bucks
- Tomahawk

Don't you mean Holmgren bucks? Imagine spending millions of your bosses money on a pile of dogpoop, and getting promoted?

Eastern Conference Predictions 2014-2015

Atlantic
1. Tampa Bay - X
2. Boston - X
3. Detroit - X
4. Florida
5. Montreal
6. Toronto
7. Ottawa
8. Buffalo

Metro
1. NYR - X
2. Columbus - X
3. Pittsburgh - X
4. Philadelphia - X
5. NYI - X
6. New Jersey
7. Washington
8. Carolina
- Streit2ThePoint

I think Montreal in, and NYI out. Otherwise I agree. I think Washington and the Flyers will battle it out for a spot.

I think Montreal in, and NYI out. Otherwise I agree. I think Washington and the Flyers will battle it out for a spot.
- PLindbergh31

Brooks Orpik will be the difference. In whose favor remains to be seen.

Brooks Orpik will be the difference. In whose favor remains to be seen.
- jmatchett383

I think the Devils could be a playoff team as well. M-Cam scored close to 30 goals last year in under 70 games I believe for an awful Calgary team.