Not sure. I'm not convinced Lecavalier will be on the team when camp starts, and also question Umberger's ability to stay healthy. I believe Raffl will play in the top 9.
Rosehill and Rinaldo are candidates for 4th line roles, which is a waste of time.
- PLindbergh31

Raffl will be one of the best 9 forwards on the team. That doesn't guarantee he'll play in the top 9 though

That would be our most significant signing of the summer.
- section32

I think you underrate Zach Stortini, and Andrew Gordon.

Raffl will be one of the best 9 forwards on the team. That doesn't guarantee he'll play in the top 9 though
- PhillySportsGuy

I like what I saw from Raffl last year. If he can start finishing a bit more, he'll be a very solid player.

Not sure. I'm not convinced Lecavalier will be on the team when camp starts, and also question Umberger's ability to stay healthy. I believe Raffl will play in the top 9.
Rosehill and Rinaldo are candidates for 4th line roles, which is a waste of time.
- PLindbergh31

I'm not optimistic they can move Lecavalier so they need to find a way to work him into the line up without hindering quicker forwards:

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Read-Couturier-Simmonds
Umberger-Vinny-Akeson
Raffl-Laughton-Bellameere
Rinaldo

I like what I saw from Raffl last year. If he can start finishing a bit more, he'll be a very solid player.
- PLindbergh31

Even if he doesn't improve upon last season, I still believe he's one of their top 9 forwards.

7th dman money.
- PLindbergh31

A Dman can't get on an NHL roster for 1.1

Even if he doesn't improve upon last season, I still believe he's one of their top 9 forwards.
- PhillySportsGuy

He'll be the second best forward on the fourth line.

He'll be the second best forward on the fourth line.
- mayorofangrytown

Rosehill

19 points in 66 games, and a +1. You confident in any of the Flyers potential 4th line wingers matching that output?

Right now the Flyers have lots of question marks up front.

The only players who you have to be fairly certain what you are going to get is the following....

Giroux, Simmonds, Read, Voracek, Couturier, and B. Schenn. After that, the rest of the forward core is one question mark after another.
- PLindbergh31

Booth is not a prototypical 4th line winger.

He is a top six guy (or used to be).

I think Winnick (who is still unsigned) would be a much better fit then Booth.

Winnick got 1.8M last year, so the $s could be an issue still with him unsigned.

I'm not optimistic they can move Lecavalier so they need to find a way to work him into the line up without hindering quicker forwards:

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Read-Couturier-Simmonds
Umberger-Vinny-Akeson
Raffl-Laughton-Bellameere
Rinaldo
- Baxter27

If this is the lineup, the 3rd and 4th lines could be a disaster. They also could be good. There are lots of unknowns there.

Even if he doesn't improve upon last season, I still believe he's one of their top 9 forwards.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree.

If this is the lineup, the 3rd and 4th lines could be a disaster. They also could be good. There are lots of unknowns there.
- PLindbergh31

I think the 4th line would be fine. The 3rd line would be a disaster

He'll be the second best forward on the fourth line.
- mayorofangrytown

Hexy likes pairs with the forwards

G/Jake
Coots/Read
Schenn/Simmonds

I'm feeling Laughton/Raffl as the 4th pair

Booth is not a prototypical 4th line winger.

He is a top six guy (or used to be).

I think Winnick (who is still unsigned) would be a much better fit then Booth.

Winnick got 1.8M last year, so the $s could be an issue still with him unsigned.
- Marc D

Fair point. When top 6 guys become less productive, they can transition to solid bottom 6 players.

Rosehill
- PhillySportsGuy

LAUGHTON!!!!

I think the 4th line would be fine. The 3rd line would be a disaster
- PhillySportsGuy

Yes it would be. Lecavalier and Akeson would be trainwrecks in their own end. You also have to consider the health of VL, and Umberger.

Booth is not a prototypical 4th line winger.

He is a top six guy (or used to be).

I think Winnick (who is still unsigned) would be a much better fit then Booth.

Winnick got 1.8M last year, so the $s could be an issue still with him unsigned.
- Marc D

I am coming around to the idea of Winnik. This team lacks grit with no Hartnell and my dream of no Rinaldo. What do you think he will get and where would he play?

Fair point. When top 6 guys become less productive, they can transition to solid bottom 6 players.
- PLindbergh31

my expectations are starting out low this year

they have some great players, but they did not fix the top end of the D
(which in reality would have created many more holes)

hopefully Ghost and Morin and the top pick this year pan out to be something good in 3-5 years

I'm not optimistic they can move Lecavalier so they need to find a way to work him into the line up without hindering quicker forwards:

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Read-Couturier-Simmonds
Umberger-Vinny-Akeson
Raffl-Laughton-Bellameere
Rinaldo
- Baxter27

I'd switch Raffl to third line to balance out team old guys. And have Akeson in the AHL as first call up for a top six unless he is dynamite in camp. Then I like the idea of Winnik and trading Rinaldo. I'm like so over him, OMG.

I am coming around to the idea of Winnik. This team lacks grit with no Hartnell and my dream of no Rinaldo. What do you think he will get and where would he play?
- coffee junkie

I guess he wants a raise from the 1.8M per he got last year and at age 29 is looking for a 4-5 yr deal

No one so far has been willing to give it to him, or he would have signed

Maybe he settles for 3 yrs at near the same 1.8 per yr?

For a rugged guy who plays LW the Flyers could likely use him.
Couts centering Winnick and Read could be a good line.

LAUGHTON!!!!

- mayorofangrytown

If Laughton is better than Raffl next year, I will be VERY happy.

Yes it would be. Lecavalier and Akeson would be trainwrecks in their own end. You also have to consider the health of VL, and Umberger.
- PLindbergh31

It's a line that looks so bad, it might just work. Similar to the Hartnell-Schenn-Simmonds line that worked so well last year.

Edit: I would bet against it though

I'm like so over him, OMG.
- coffee junkie

I had to check to see if you were a girl.

If Laughton is better than Raffl next year, I will be VERY happy.
- PhillySportsGuy

High fives and a beer... guarantee it!

High fives and a beer... guarantee it!

- mayorofangrytown

Whoever invented the high five should really give themselves a high five