A few people think Jake is the 2nd best forward on the team

One person thinks Jake is the 3rd best forward on the team

We're arguing about this.

That's pathetic.
- Giroux_Is_God

Its July, there arent that many things left to argue about.

Haha, yeah, it was a really bad comparable. He's mean and loves to take the body... will fight, too, though.
- Tomahawk

That's what I see in Ghost. He's small, but damn he's scrappy.

Simmonds does not have the speed, puckhandling or passing ability to drive play forward.



In terms of forwards we can least afford to lose.

Giroux
Couturier
Voracek
Simmonds
BSchenn
Read
- Feanor

I'd have Read ahead of Schenn, personally, but semantics.

No, but you implied he'd be the centerpiece.
- jmatchett383

oh, he would. phoenix has been offered some pretty fat deals for him. coots would have to be involved to get it done. he fits their style of play.

and please don't think I'm saying "TRADE COOTS!". I'm not. He's extremely valuable and young with a ton of potential.

I really like the guy

I'm just saying if there is a defenseman around 20 years of age with a very high ceiling that has a good shot at being a top pairing defenseman in a year's time (for Philly), I keep it in mind.

If Gostisbehere is half as good as Trouba ends up being, he'll be the best third round pick in Flyers history.
- Jsaquella

Maybe Hextall and his crew are feeling Gostisbehere will be ready to step into lineup before end of season. ( see. Krug in Boston) and that is why no additions have been made to the blueline. After the loss to the Rangers I think most people here were hoping we didn't go into next season with the same 6, and that we needed more productivity from back.
At least I did.

I know. I think he'll be an all star-level player. I don't know if he'll ever get to Erik Karlson numbers, but I think he's a good comparison.
- jmatchett383

Not a bad one, I think Trouba has more of a mean streak in him. Not that Karlsson's a wallflower, but Trouba has some hate in him.

did I say I trade them straight up?

and the kid is projected to be a pretty serious NHL top liner. He's already got AHL experience and has thrived. He's ready. The Yotes have done pretty well with their blue line picks.
- Hesh_

Key word projected. Couturier is proven and gets better and better. Talk about gromley when he has 3 years and proven himself I. The blue line. Potential is a very tricky thing in the NHL. And that is all gromley has right now.

That's what I see in Ghost. He's small, but damn he's scrappy.
- jmatchett383

I like a fair amount of it, but if Umberger is on your 2nd line, that's bad news. He looks like he's skating through mud.

I'd flip Raffl and Akeson.

my favorite part of your line up? somebody is missing...
- Hesh_

oh , you noticed that?

oh, he would. phoenix has been offered some pretty fat deals for him. coots would have to be involved to get it done. he fits their style of play.

and please don't think I'm saying "TRADE COOTS!". I'm not. He's extremely valuable and young with a ton of potential.

I really like the guy

I'm just saying if there is a defenseman around 20 years of age with a very high ceiling that has a good shot at being a top pairing defenseman in a year's time (for Philly), I keep it in mind.
- Hesh_

We have definsive prospects. We need proven top pair d man. I'm not saying any of our prospects are projected as good as gromley but morin sure is close.

Maybe Hextall and his crew are feeling Gostisbehere will be ready to step into lineup before end of season. ( see. Krug in Boston) and that is why no additions have been made to the blueline. After the loss to the Rangers I think most people here were hoping we didn't go into next season with the same 6, and that we needed more productivity from back.
At least I did.
- 3flyerkids

What moves did you realistically expect them to make? Gill and Gus are both gone.

I've spent the entire summer calling for Giroux and Voracek to be split, regardless of Lecavalier being on the team or not.

I would further strongly consider using Simmonds with Giroux.

Splitting Voracek and Giroux gives the team more skill and dynamic possession ability throughout the lines, which likely translates into better play at 5 on 5, which is really the biggest issues(despite the slow defensemen) the team faced last season.
- Jsaquella

We're in agreement. I'm not attacking anyone. Just food for thought. I don't feel like Berube did everything within his power to improve last season but his job also isn't done. Who knows what could happen next.

Maybe Hextall and his crew are feeling Gostisbehere will be ready to step into lineup before end of season. ( see. Krug in Boston) and that is why no additions have been made to the blueline. After the loss to the Rangers I think most people here were hoping we didn't go into next season with the same 6, and that we needed more productivity from back.
At least I did.
- 3flyerkids

I think the Flyers kicked tires, considered their cap situation and decided that they were not going to get the piece they wanted without trading something they didn't want to give.

There really wasn't a massive upgrade in free agency. There were guys who play similar to players on the roster, who may have been slight upgrades or downgrades, but there wasn't a real number one defenseman out there.

I'm sure if there are injuries and some of the kids are doing well, they will get a shot, but I doubt they are counting on them to step in this season.

- Tomahawk

[Video of Ghost slashing that dude at WJC]

We're in agreement. I'm not attacking anyone. Just food for thought. I don't feel like Berube did everything within his power to improve last season but his job also isn't done. Who knows what could happen next.
- SuperSchennBros

Yep. Berube was learning on the job. I think he can do more and I hope that he gets a lot installed during camp.

We have definsive prospects. We need proven top pair d man. I'm not saying any of our prospects are projected as good as gromley but morin sure is close.
- 28Girouxsalem28

they're not as projected as high, you're right

and he'd be more comparable to Ghost than Morin, I suppose.

Like I said, I'm NOT saying trade Couturier. I'm saying for a 20 year old defenseman with that potential, I listen.

Great defensemen are harder to find than anything but reliable goalies. Stock up.

oh , you noticed that?

- MBFlyerfan

yes. I'm a big fan of coming down with the axe.

they're not as projected as high, you're right

and he'd be more comparable to Ghost than Morin, I suppose.

Like I said, I'm NOT saying trade Couturier. I'm saying for a 20 year old defenseman with that potential, I listen.

Great defensemen are harder to find than anything but reliable goalies.
- Hesh_

If its not a top d man in his prime 25-28 I wouldn't even answer the phone if couturier was the asking. Just my opinion.

they're not as projected as high, you're right

and he'd be more comparable to Ghost than Morin, I suppose.

Like I said, I'm NOT saying trade Couturier. I'm saying for a 20 year old defenseman with that potential, I listen.

Great defensemen are harder to find than anything but reliable goalies. Stock up.
- Hesh_

Were you saying Gormley would be the centerpiece, though? Because, if I'm trading Couturier, I'd want a player with more than 5 NHL games being the centerpiece. But that's just me.

[Video of Ghost slashing that dude at WJC]
- jmatchett383

Unfortunately, Ghost is never going to be 6'2 210-220 or whatever Trouba's going to fill out at.

If its not a top d man in his prime 25-28 I wouldn't even answer the phone if couturier was the asking. Just my opinion.
- 28Girouxsalem28

I like him, but I think you're valuing him through a fan's eyes.

if that's what it takes, Coots is a Flyer for a long time. Hey, that's probably not a bad thing either.

Unfortunately, Ghost is never going to be 6'2 210-220 or whatever Trouba's going to fill out at.
- Tomahawk

Nope. But like I said, he's feisty as hell and he has a freaking cannon, and seems to love to headman the puck.

He's gonna make a ton of mistakes early on in his pro career, but they're gonna be damn fun to watch.

Were you saying Gormley would be the centerpiece, though? Because, if I'm trading Couturier, I'd want a player with more than 5 NHL games being the centerpiece. But that's just me.
- jmatchett383

yeah, I tried to clarify that on one of my prior posts. He would be the centerpiece. He wouldn't be the only piece, but he would be the center.

Yep. Berube was learning on the job. I think he can do more and I hope that he gets a lot installed during camp.
- Jsaquella

Again I couldn't be more in agreement with you. I'll say over and over that I hate the Umburger deal but we also can't go into this season in fear that we'll royally screw up Schenn if he plays wing instead of center, or if it will hurt the team to split Giroux and Voracek, or whether or not Lecavalier will hurt the team overall just by being on this roster because we have no control over it and frankly none of this takes away from how good this team could be. Again, Hartnell leaves, I hate it but the silver lining is it opens the door for a younger player to step into a bigger role, whether he is ready or not.

True, I think Trouba will learn to do that as he gets older. He's still got some growing to do, but he'll never be a 6'6" 225 lb monster.
- Jsaquella

So, you're saying he'll never be as good as Morin.