Do you think Raffl is a top 6 talent, in general, or are you more calling out the current makeup of the Flyers by calling Raffl a "top-6 forward"?
- johndewar

I took it as "on this team." However, I believe that Voracek, Read, Simmonds, and one of Schenn/Vinny should be our top-6 wingers.

But there's no doubt we're lacking a bit in natural left wingers.

I believe he's a top-6 forward on this team - especially when you consider the winger situation. So, in my opinion, they would be misusing him in that role.
- bradleyc4

Oh, I didn't see this when I asked my question.

I don't disagree with this.....I just think Raffl's skillset is more suited to a bottom 6 role and spotting him in the top 6, as needed.

I took it as "on this team." However, I believe that Voracek, Read, Simmonds, and one of Schenn/Vinny should be our top-6 wingers.

But there's no doubt we're lacking a bit in natural left wingers.
- jmatchett383

Yup, I agree.

I understand the trepidation about Raffl, because of guys like Nodl and Thor in the past.

But I think Raffl's a much better NHL player than them and would shine if given the proper icetime and linemates.

I'm not ready to corner him as a guy who can't finish based on his rookie season.
- bradleyc4

Then he's got a month worth of training camp and preseason to impress, and even after that, he can earn his way up as the season goes on. All I'm saying is that I wouldn't hand him a top-6 role on the premise of "maybe."

I don't want a top-6 winger who has problems finishing. He's a very good skater, has fair speed, can move the puck N-S well, and is a good 2-way player. Just can't bury the damn thing with any sort of consistency.
- jmatchett383

Yup, when it come to ice time, the lines should be, IMO

1. Schenn-Giroux-Simmonds
2. Read-Couturier-Voracek
3. Umberger-VLC-Raffl
4. Bellemare-White or Laughton-Akeson or Rinaldo

Just my opinion, take it for what its worth!

He's played well, but with limited time. He has been used as a third pairing defenseman who takes the second shift on the penalty kill. He does a great job forcing dumps at the blue line and separating people from pucks, but hasn't brought a lot offensively.
- aflyerpower8

Thanks for the update, if he is playing as 3rd pair maybe it could be tough to make final roster. It would be nice to see Morin and Sanheim on the team

Do you think Raffl is a top 6 talent, in general, or are you more calling out the current makeup of the Flyers by calling Raffl a "top-6 forward"?
- johndewar

Definitely on this team. Probably not on most teams yet. But I think he'll develop into an "NHL" top-6 guy.

Yup, when it come to ice time, the lines should be, IMO

1. Schenn-Giroux-Simmonds
2. Read-Couturier-Voracek
3. Umberger-VLC-Raffl
4. Bellemare-White or Laughton-Akeson or Rinaldo

Just my opinion, take it for what its worth!
- BiggE

I'd be those are interesting lines. I don't think you're getting your money's worth of VL in that situation.

Definitely on this team. Probably not on most teams yet. But I think he'll develop into an "NHL" top-6 guy.
- bradleyc4

That's fair, I agree.

Thanks for the update, if he is playing as 3rd pair maybe it could be tough to make final roster. It would be nice to see Morin and Sanheim on the team
- 3flyerkids

I think Morin will make it, but Sanheim's a long shot.

Doesn't matter, Canada will lose either in the semifinals or finals.

Definitely on this team. Probably not on most teams yet. But I think he'll develop into an "NHL" top-6 guy.
- bradleyc4

He could. But, from what we've seen, he hasn't yet. Like I said, aside from Giroux (and Mason), I think there's tons of spots open. Pretty much every forward spot (although I wouldn't separate Giroux/Voracek). There are spots to be earned, although Simmonds probably has the 2RW spot locked up.

I'd be those are interesting lines. I don't think you're getting your money's worth of VL in that situation.
- jmatchett383

At 6 million this season, I doubt they get their money's worth no matter where they put him!


However, I would be willing to try:

Raffl-G-VLC
Read-Couturier-Voracek
Umberger-Schenn-Simmonds

This would give them a lot of balance and cause some matchup headaches for other teams. I really would like to see Couturier with Read and Jake, that has the potiential to be a really good 2 way line.

I think Morin will make it, but Sanheim's a long shot.

Doesn't matter, Canada will lose either in the semifinals or finals.
- jmatchett383

If they pick their team right, Canada should be one of the favorites for the tournament.

EDIT: Assuming half their players don't make the NHL.

From what I saw, meh

Players have a real hard time getting around/through him on the rush, positions himself real well. He is not dominant along the wall at all for the size discrepancy. Moves the puck out of the d zone well. In the O zone, his teammates weren't looking for him at all on the point when they had possession. Took a hooking penalty in front of his own net. He needs time
- Just5

He's promising, but still raw. Anyone who thinks he will play a full season in the NHL this year is kidding themselves. He needs another near in Junior to work on his stick handling and puck skills. He would not get the time and space to do that with the Flyers.

At 6 million this season, I doubt they get their money's worth no matter where they put him!


However, I would be willing to try:

Raffl-G-VLC
Read-Couturier-Voracek
Umberger-Schenn-Simmonds

This would give them a lot of balance and cause some matchup headaches for other teams. I really would like to see Couturier with Read and Jake, that has the potiential to be a really good 2 way line.
- BiggE

I'd rather keep G and Jake together, as I think they have amazing chemistry. But I do think one of VLC/Schenn should be a candidate for a top-6 wing spot. I like Couturier as much as the next guy, but I think he'll be fine if he plays 3C with 2 NHL players like Read/Umberger/Raffl as opposed to Read and a steel anchor.

If they pick their team right, Canada should be one of the favorites for the tournament.

EDIT: Assuming half their players don't make the NHL.
- aflyerpower8

You know they won't. They always pick the "best" players...basically how the Oilers draft. They don't pick by need, they pick by name/hype/stats. It's why Sweden and Finland were so good last year, because they built a team, not an All Star collection.

You know they won't. They always pick the "best" players...basically how the Oilers draft. They don't pick by need, they pick by name/hype/stats. It's why Sweden and Finland were so good last year, because they built a team, not an All Star collection.
- jmatchett383

It's a double edged sword. The Rangers for example picked by need when they selected Dylan McIlrath over Cam Fowler and now Cam Fowler is an olympian and McIlrath is still a year away.

The Oilers tend to draft the best player available but it's hard to fault them when the best player available is a forward and is significantly better than the next best defenseman. I think that was the case in this draft. Last year for example, they selected Nurse ahead of Horvat and Nichushkin who were arguably the best players available ahead of Nurse, but the gap wasn't that big. This year they had the 3rd overall pick and there weren't any defensemen outside Ekblad projected to really go top 10 so I can see why they picked Draistaitl especially with a hole at 2C after the Gagner trade.

You could argue they would've been better served to trade down though and get a pick like the 15th overall pick and a 2nd rounder too to draft a couple defensemen.

I'd rather keep G and Jake together, as I think they have amazing chemistry. But I do think one of VLC/Schenn should be a candidate for a top-6 wing spot. I like Couturier as much as the next guy, but I think he'll be fine if he plays 3C with 2 NHL players like Read/Umberger/Raffl as opposed to Read and a steel anchor.
- jmatchett383

I really don't want to see Vinnie on the wing unless it's Giroux's right side. Can't see it working any other way with him as a winger.

It's a double edged sword. The Rangers for example picked by need when they selected Dylan McIlrath over Cam Fowler and now Cam Fowler is an olympian and McIlrath is still a year away.

The Oilers tend to draft the best player available but it's hard to fault them when the best player available is a forward and is significantly better than the next best defenseman. I think that was the case in this draft. Last year for example, they selected Nurse ahead of Horvat and Nichushkin who were arguably the best players available ahead of Nurse, but the gap wasn't that big. This year they had the 3rd overall pick and there weren't any defensemen outside Ekblad projected to really go top 10 so I can see why they picked Draistaitl especially with a hole at 2C after the Gagner trade.

You could argue they would've been better served to trade down though and get a pick like the 15th overall pick and a 2nd rounder too to draft a couple defensemen.
- rangerdanger94

Well, when they selected Hall, it was either he or Seguin, and that basically your building block on offense as your 1C. But when it came to guys like RNH/Yakupov, you're probably better served trading back a few spots and landing some vets who fill some needs. I think Nurse and Draistaitl are actually very smart picks. But, in general, they just pick the shiniest toy they can find.

Time to go to work, well for me at least


See ya all later!

Oh, BTW. If any of you are in or near Ventnor, NJ this weekend, my duo, Fake ID, is playing Ventnor Coffee on Dorset Ave, Sunday at 6pm. Come on out if you can!

I really don't want to see Vinnie on the wing unless it's Giroux's right side. Can't see it working any other way with him as a winger.
- BiggE

Yeah, that's a good point. So, for me, VLC is your 2C, Schenn moves to the 1W, your 2nd line becomes Umberger/Read - VLC - Simmonds and then you go with Umberger/Read - VLC - Raffl.

Time to go to work, well for me at least


See ya all later!

Oh, BTW. If any of you are in or near Ventnor, NJ this weekend, my duo, Fake ID, is playing Ventnor Coffee on Dorset Ave, Sunday at 6pm. Come on out if you can!
- BiggE

DO YOU GUYS HAVE A MYSPACE PAGE!?

Well, when they selected Hall, it was either he or Seguin, and that basically your building block on offense as your 1C. But when it came to guys like RNH/Yakupov, you're probably better served trading back a few spots and landing some vets who fill some needs. I think Nurse and Draistaitl are actually very smart picks. But, in general, they just pick the shiniest toy they can find.
- jmatchett383

I liked the RNH pick because he projected to be a franchise first line center which they were missing but I agree about the Yakupov pick. When they already had Hall, Eberle, and RNH on offense, trading back and getting one of Murray, Reinhart, Rielly, Lindholm, or Dumba would've been the best move. There were a ton of great goalies available too.

I still think Yak figures it out and turns in a perennial 30+ goal scorer but if they had one of those defensive pieces back there they would be set up nicely with a few cornerstones in offense and defense.

I'm excited! Pure goal scorer

I'm excited! Pure goal scorer


- Streit2ThePoint

He totally sniped the 5-hole.