Agree 100%

VL didn't whine and female dog and cause a distraction when moved to LW or to the 4th line. I don't see him starting now. Hopefully, if he starts the season here, he either plays on Giroux's right side or he is given wingers that complement him.

I still think that if he is healthy, and is given ample time on the pp, he can score 30 goals.
- BiggE

This is why I put VLC with Voracek. Put Simmonds with Giroux.

That was my point about VL being a real pro.

I think/hope he will put his own interest behind what is best for the team and keep it that way in his interactions with media.

Still it has to be tough for him.
- Marc D

Lecavalier is a pro and I expect him to carry himself as much but it's still going to be in the back of his mind. The guy has never been in this situation before.

Yes Jsaq, it matters. Whether or not Lecavalier is "ineffective" at his position. They went out, recruited the player and once they didn't like what they saw in one season, they publicly tried to move him, which to me as a player would be a slap in the face and being spit on. There is no defense for this. The Flyers made their bed, now they have to sleep in it.
- SuperSchennBros

I don't think they "slapped him in the face" at all. He was recruited to play in Laviolette's system and I very much doubt he was happy playing LW or on the 4th line under Berube.
However, one of the reasons they signed him was that he is a class act and a good role model for the younger players. With that in mind, I very much doubt he becomes any kind of distraction whatsoever.

quote Ek:
"Don't be shocked if Ville Leino ends up back with Philadelphia on a one-year contract. I am hearing there is mutual interest in seeing if Ville can revive his career where he had his best success."

I'd be shocked
- Marc D

As long as it is for one year and 900k or less, big whoop. If it doesn't work out, they can waive him and have no cap implication.

If they could get another puck carrying winger (like Voracek) then BSchenn would be fine in the 2C role. I think he has a very underrated shot. He has some work to do at the dot and on his two way game, but you can see he has talent.
- Marc D

Agreed he has the talent but I worry about the effort. He is prone to not moving his feet which really nullifies his offensive abilities, as well as defensively. He is young and could still put it all together but time is running out. This year should be his breakout year or he probably won't become much more than what he was last year: an inconsistent 20 goal scorer (not that that's terrible but it is not what the Flyers need him to be)

If he doesnt play center I would want to see him on G's line..

Vinny-G-Voracek
Raffl-Schenn-Simmonds
Umberger-Couts-Read
PEB-?-Rinaldo

The roster cant be set, can it?
- jak521

Putting Lecavalier on the left side again is a bad idea.

He did say he couldn't play left... man, they should have taken him seriously there.
- Tomahawk

Why wouldn't they listen to me....I told them I'd kill again !

quote Ek:
"Don't be shocked if Ville Leino ends up back with Philadelphia on a one-year contract. I am hearing there is mutual interest in seeing if Ville can revive his career where he had his best success."

I'd be shocked
- Marc D

If he takes a one-year deal at 900K, I'd take a stab. If he stinks, send him to the AHL/ECHL and all it is is one contract slot.

... and Homer would have still had his job.
- Tomahawk

Most likely.

This is why I put VLC with Voracek. Put Simmonds with Giroux.
- MBFlyerfan

I'm cool with that.

Look at Game 1. All 4 Rangers goals are scored on bad rebounds and/or (in 3 cases, both) lateral puck movement, 2 areas where Mason is markedly better than Emery. Mason may not stop the 2nd goal, but he probably gets the other 3.
- jmatchett383

The team has to not take costly penalties and the still needs to score, which they did not. If you blame Emery for game one, that's simply short sited.

I think the second scoring line is a huge question mark. I view Simmonds and Schenn as more high end role players who are opportunistic goal scorers rather then offense generators. Hopefully one of B. Schenn, Couturier, or Laughton, can become that 2nd line offensive generator. If not the Flyers will have to find one in the draft and they typically go high.
- psuhockey

Simmonds had 60 points last year didn't he? That sure makes him one hell of a role player!

Why wouldn't they listen to me....I told them I'd kill again !
- Jsaquella

I think Jake/VL would work well. Jake seems to like to cut to the middle when he enters the zone and VL likes to drift to the right and look for the one timer opportunity. Plus Jake takes the onus of puck carrying off of Vinnie too.
- BiggE

Dunno... it could work if you had a really strong playmaker on the left-side feeding them both for one-timers (like MSL)... Akeson?

EDIT: (LEINO!)

Simmonds had 60 points last year didn't he? That sure makes him one hell of a role player!
- MJL

yup

... and Homer would have still had his job.
- Tomahawk

I don't think this is true. Holmgren wasn't removed due to poor performance. I think the change would've happened regardless.

Yes Jsaq, it matters. Whether or not Lecavalier is "ineffective" at his position. They went out, recruited the player and once they didn't like what they saw in one season, they publicly tried to move him, which to me as a player would be a slap in the face and being spit on. There is no defense for this. The Flyers made their bed, now they have to sleep in it.
- SuperSchennBros

So, the player being a poor performer has nothing to do with the Flyers publicly trying to trade him?

Dunno... it could work if you had a really strong playmaker on the left-side feeding them both for one-timers (like MSL)... Akeson?
- Tomahawk

I think a lot of folks on this thread overrate Akeson. He has some nice puck skills and good hockey sense, but he is pretty slow and very undersized. I see him more as a Tim Tookey/Peter White type. A guy who can put up big numbers in the AHL, but never be much more than an injury call up who can fill in on a scoring line at the NHL level.

I don't think they "slapped him in the face" at all. He was recruited to play in Laviolette's system and I very much doubt he was happy playing LW or on the 4th line under Berube.
However, one of the reasons they signed him was that he is a class act and a good role model for the younger players. With that in mind, I very much doubt he becomes any kind of distraction whatsoever.
- BiggE

I can't disagree with this view but he's never been in this situation before. I'm sure he'll respond as a pro but at the same time, if he doesn't play to expectation in Philadelphia, his situation becomes even worse. Fans won't forgive, management pushes harder to get him out, more time on the fourth line. There are a lot of ways this could play out.

So, the player being a poor performer has nothing to do with the Flyers publicly trying to trade him?
- Jsaquella

I hate when teams slap players in the face by making trades. The Flyers should no longer ever try to trade players.

quote Ek:
"Don't be shocked if Ville Leino ends up back with Philadelphia on a one-year contract. I am hearing there is mutual interest in seeing if Ville can revive his career where he had his best success."

I'd be shocked
- Marc D

We are running dangerously low on Finnish guys who grow awesome playoff beards, so I have no problem with this signing.

So, the player being a poor performer has nothing to do with the Flyers publicly trying to trade him?
- Jsaquella

The list of desirable destinations is already pretty short... and BOS/LA/CHI can only sign so many players each year... so it's either be victim to a Ed Snider's whims, or take your chances w/ Charles Wang, right?

Dunno... it could work if you had a really strong playmaker on the left-side feeding them both for one-timers (like MSL)... Akeson?

EDIT: (LEINO!)
- Tomahawk

Now Leino, if he is healthy and motivated, could be interesting. His game just might work well with VL.

Leino-VL-Voracek could be an effective line if, and it's a big if for sure, Leino is healthy and willing to work.

I think a lot of folks on this thread overrate Akeson. He has some nice puck skills and good hockey sense, but he is pretty slow and very undersized. I see him more as a Tim Tookey/Peter White type. A guy who can put up big numbers in the AHL, but never be much more than an injury call up who can fill in on a scoring line at the NHL level.
- BiggE

They've called him up twice, both times he looked like he belonged. Is he a world-beater? Probably not. But I personally haven't noticed a time when he was too slow/small to get the job done... he wasn't the worst defensive cog in that Rags series by a country mile (and he was up there w the best offensive performers).

I think a lot of folks on this thread overrate Akeson. He has some nice puck skills and good hockey sense, but he is pretty slow and very undersized. I see him more as a Tim Tookey/Peter White type. A guy who can put up big numbers in the AHL, but never be much more than an injury call up who can fill in on a scoring line at the NHL level.
- BiggE

At this point, he still deserves a shot though. He's proved himself in the AHL line up and has done a pretty decent job so far in his limited NHL stints, so I think he's earned a chance to be looked at a little further.