Im all for having 4 solid lines. Especially a fourth line.

I do not however agree with a shut-down centre and his line getting the majority of the minutes during the game. Especially on home ice. Like we saw in these last playoffs.

Play to win and for gods sake get Couturier some time away from always shutting down the other team's best players. If no other line can handle going head to head against the best we have other issues.
- flyer_nutter

With the Flyers inconsistent team defense. Playing Couturier in those key defensive situations was playing to win. That's what gave the Flyers the best chance to win.

The defensive side of the puck will be this team's weakness. You can slap some make-up on a dude and call him Betsy but he is still a dude.

Its a development phase for me in my eyes, and my biggest thing is putting the kids into the proper roles, consistent defined roles that enable them to grow and reach the upper limits of their potential.

That's my goal. Not a fart at the playoffs just so everyone can feel all warm and fuzzy. Having a guy like Umberger or LeCavalier in the top six will be annoying to me. Irrelevant players to the future.
- flyer_nutter

Flyers should play Timonen about 10 minutes a game then. Because he is irrelevant to the future.

You're right but this current GM has put a large exhumation point on development. Which is exactly why I believe Scott Laughton will likely do what I've read on the Web Site. Sure it's one blog writer's opinion but he's made a really good argument as to why Laughton should play only center and only within the top nine or simply go down to the minors. Could I be wrong within my belief? Of course I can be. I'm not asking any of you to agree with me. To me the AHL is still pro hockey and still another level above the OHL. If Laughton cannot get the proper ice time and the proper responsibility with the best suited line mates, I have zero issue with him becoming the first call up after the first injury we have at forward. Come to think of it, Brayden Schenn was about the same age Scott Laughton when he came here. I know money was apart of the reason but Schenn still saw 7 games with the Phantoms that season. Regardless of the reasons why, he still had to play those games when he was a lock to be a full time NHLer from training camp on.
- SuperSchennBros

I'd have zero problem with Laughton going to the AHL. In fact my first post on the subject flat out states that I'd only keep him if he was one of the best 9 forwards on the team.

My issue comes with how they use him if he makes the team. If he's going to be playing with Rinaldo or Rosehill and Hall (or similarly unskilled linemates) he should go back to the AHL. But if he makes the team and is in the top 9, I'd have zero issue using him as a 3rd line LW, at least for a short time, because he could help the team.

I get the whole "leave him at center" thing. But Hextall has said he likes having a lot of centers and has no issue playing them as wingers if it's best for the team.

I'd have zero problem with Laughton going to the AHL. In fact my first post on the subject flat out states that I'd only keep him if he was one of the best 9 forwards on the team.

My issue comes with how they use him if he makes the team. If he's going to be playing with Rinaldo or Rosehill and Hall (or similarly unskilled linemates) he should go back to the AHL. But if he makes the team and is in the top 9, I'd have zero issue using him as a 3rd line LW, at least for a short time, because he could help the team.

I get the whole "leave him at center" thing. But Hextall has said he likes having a lot of centers and has no issue playing them as wingers if it's best for the team.
- Jsaquella

I know you agree with this, but I will say it again.
A fourth line of Laughton centering Raffl and Bellamere or RJ would not hurt his development and likely would be a vast improvement over the 4th line we saw last yr of Hall Rosey and Rino. Benefits the player and the team.

all peter mueller got was a 700k 2 way deal and some people wanted to swap him for vinny

I know you agree with this, but I will say it again.
A fourth line of Laughton centering Raffl and Bellamere or RJ would not hurt his development and likely would be a vast improvement over the 4th line we saw last yr of Hall Rosey and Rino. Benefits the player and the team.
- Marc D

Yep. I just worry that they'll end up keeping Rinaldo & Rosehill in the lineup with him

all peter mueller got was a 700k 2 way deal and some people wanted to swap him for vinny
- 2Real

$700K for two years sounds a lot better than $4.5mm for 4 more.

$700K for two years sounds a lot better than $4.5mm for 4 more.
- Jsaquella

one year 2 way deal

but really? come on there's a reason why vinny has stuck in the NHL while mueller hasn't

only in philly would we complain about missing out on decaying garbage

one year 2 way deal

but really? come on there's a reason why vinny has stuck in the NHL while mueller hasn't

only in philly would we complain about missing out on decaying garbage
- 2Real

Even better. If he plays well, they could re-sign him. If he doesn't they don't face $4.5mm in cap space eaten by a 4th liner awash in his former glory

ok this page is haunted


edit: wait maybe im posting in two different threads and assuming posts are being deleted and reappearing

Even better. If he plays well, they could re-sign him. If he doesn't they don't face $4.5mm in cap space eaten by a 4th liner awash in his former glory
- Jsaquella

4th liner in his former glory? he's still a 2nd liner player mueller might not even play in the NHL this whole season or ever again

Even better. If he plays well, they could re-sign him. If he doesn't they don't face $4.5mm in cap space eaten by a 4th liner awash in his former glory
- Jsaquella

So Lecavalier has no shot at getting his game back if he's healthy? He's a permanent 4th line player now?

4th liner in his former glory? he's still a 2nd liner player mueller might not even play in the NHL this whole season or ever again
- 2Real

If Lecavalier can't rebound, and plays like he did last season, he's not a second liner anymore. It still remains to be seen if Berube can fit him in a spot where he can be effective...and just scoring 20 goals isn't being effective, they need him to do more than just score goals

If Lecavalier can't rebound, and plays like he did last season, he's not a second liner anymore. It still remains to be seen if Berube can fit him in a spot where he can be effective...and just scoring 20 goals isn't being effective, they need him to do more than just score goals
- Jsaquella

how is him not scoring goals not effective? would you rather he just do nothing?

how is him not scoring goals not effective? would you rather he just do nothing?
- 2Real

Just scoring goals is not being effective. He's going to need to be a better two way player, while scoring goals, to be effective. The Flyers biggest issue last year was 5 on 5 play. They were outscored at 5 on 5 by a 157-151 margin. If they're going to be a successful team in the playoffs, they need to be better at 5 on 5.

Lecavalier was a poor player at 5 on 5 last year. They have other guys that can score 20 goals who are far more effective two way players, which means he need to improve.

I'd rather he become a much better all around player, and I hope that his injury was the reason for his poor play. The funny thing is, last season Vinny actually did what you used to complain that Jeff Carter did as a Flyer.

Just scoring goals is not being effective. He's going to need to be a better two way player, while scoring goals, to be effective. The Flyers biggest issue last year was 5 on 5 play. They were outscored at 5 on 5 by a 157-151 margin. If they're going to be a successful team in the playoffs, they need to be better at 5 on 5.

Lecavalier was a poor player at 5 on 5 last year. They have other guys that can score 20 goals who are far more effective two way players, which means he need to improve.

I'd rather he become a much better all around player, and I hope that his injury was the reason for his poor play. The funny thing is, last season Vinny actually did what you used to complain that Jeff Carter did as a Flyer.
- Jsaquella

If Vinny was one the ice just taking up space, that'd be worse than not scoring at all. Vinny was playing injured last year... of course that will hurt his 5 on 5 game because he'll be exposed more. Funny thing, you used to use the Jeff Carter is injured excuse when he consistently played poorly.

If Vinny was one the ice just taking up space, that'd be worse than not scoring at all. Vinny was playing injured last year... of course that will hurt his 5 on 5 game because he'll be exposed more. Funny thing, you used to use the Jeff Carter is injured excuse when he consistently played poorly.
- 2Real

Good thing I'm not saying he should be on the ice, just taking up space then, isn't it. Vincent Lecavalier was a good player, but at age 34, he's coming off a couple of down seasons. He's still producing goals, but his overall game has been mediocre to poor the last two seasons.

If Lecavalier was still such a good player, why were teams avoiding him like he was diseased? The Flyers told him, go find a deal and he was unable to do so. The Flyers feel he's a bad fit and other teams are obviously not sold he'll be effective again, whether it's injury or age or both that is derailing him.

As for Carter, the difference is, Jeff Carter was-and is-a very good player. The only place Carter was bad was in your biased Troll World view.

Good thing I'm not saying he should be on the ice, just taking up space then, isn't it. Vincent Lecavalier was a good player, but at age 34, he's coming off a couple of down seasons. He's still producing goals, but his overall game has been mediocre to poor the last two seasons.

If Lecavalier was still such a good player, why were teams avoiding him like he was diseased? The Flyers told him, go find a deal and he was unable to do so. The Flyers feel he's a bad fit and other teams are obviously not sold he'll be effective again, whether it's injury or age or both that is derailing him.

As for Carter, the difference is, Jeff Carter was-and is-a very good player. The only place Carter was bad was in your biased Troll World view.
- Jsaquella

How do you know teams were avoiding him like the disease? Maybe Hextall values him much more than you think.

Oh really you wanna start talking about that lazy ass Jeff Carter? Jeff Carter is a fraction of what Vinny is. You'd have to be insane to take Jeff Carter of Vinny in a draft. Just 2 seasons ago Vinny was .82 PPG oh yea so horrible and declining

How do you know teams were avoiding him like the disease? Maybe Hextall values him much more than you think.

Oh really you wanna start talking about that lazy ass Jeff Carter? Jeff Carter is a fraction of what Vinny is. You'd have to be insane to take Jeff Carter of Vinny in a draft. Just 2 seasons ago Vinny was .82 PPG oh yea so horrible and declining
- 2Real

Hextall publicly told his agent to find a trade. How much value is that?

Just two injury marred seasons in his early to mid 30's....Yeah, give me the guy who has been a key contributor to a team that's won 2 Stanley Cups in the last 3 years over the aging Lecavalier.

Hextall publicly told his agent to find a trade. How much value is that?

Just two injury marred seasons in his early to mid 30's....Yeah, give me the guy who has been a key contributor to a team that's won 2 Stanley Cups in the last 3 years over the aging Lecavalier.
- Jsaquella

Jeff Carter a key contributor hahaha come on man Jeff Carter was traded twice and moped after the first one. Vinny is nothing but a class act.

Good thing I'm not saying he should be on the ice, just taking up space then, isn't it. Vincent Lecavalier was a good player, but at age 34, he's coming off a couple of down seasons. He's still producing goals, but his overall game has been mediocre to poor the last two seasons.

If Lecavalier was still such a good player, why were teams avoiding him like he was diseased? The Flyers told him, go find a deal and he was unable to do so. The Flyers feel he's a bad fit and other teams are obviously not sold he'll be effective again, whether it's injury or age or both that is derailing him.

As for Carter, the difference is, Jeff Carter was-and is-a very good player. The only place Carter was bad was in your biased Troll World view.
- Jsaquella

Lecavalier is not coming off a couple of down seasons. In the strike shortened season he scored at a 67 point pace prorated over a full 82 game seasons. Teams are reluctant to trade for him due to a back injury, and one down season. I think assuming that Lecavalier isn't a good player anymore is also a biased point of view.