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.
- Feanor

He is likely a junior and an AHL season away minimally

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

Yeah, its such a shame because they have the potential for such a good team this year. I would probably pick (if all players are available):

Klimchuk-MacDavid-Virtanen
Ritchie-Lazar-Duclair
Richardinson-Horvat-Baptiste
Chase-Gauthier-Hawryluk

Fleury-Ekblad
Morin-Morrissey
Heatherington-Bowey

Desroisers
Fucale

Extras: Reinhart, Nurse, Comrie

Yeah, its such a shame because they have the potential for such a good team this year. I would probably pick (if all players are available):

Klimchuk-MacDavid-Virtanen
Ritchie-Lazar-Duclair
Richardinson-Horvat-Baptiste
Chase-Gauthier-Hawryluk

Fleury-Ekblad
Morin-Morrissey
Heatherington-Bowey

Desroisers
Fucale

Extras: Reinhart, Nurse, Comrie
- aflyerpower8

There's really nothing morin is doing that nurse can't do right now

Yeah, its such a shame because they have the potential for such a good team this year. I would probably pick (if all players are available):

Klimchuk-MacDavid-Virtanen
Ritchie-Lazar-Duclair
Richardinson-Horvat-Baptiste
Chase-Gauthier-Hawryluk

Fleury-Ekblad
Morin-Morrissey
Heatherington-Bowey

Desroisers
Fucale

Extras: Reinhart, Nurse, Comrie
- aflyerpower8

Duclair

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: White, Morin, Goaltenders and More
- bmeltzer

thanks for the goaltending piece - i always appreciate these. i've shared my view on this particular subject before - which is that i believe the middle of the pack ones in terms of size - 6'2-6'4" are the better ones. the largest ones 6'5-6'7" have issues, their size works against them - generally speaking. i'd rather choose a goalie who's 6'ish than a giant. as you noted some of the best goalies in today's nhl game are in that ballpark, and it's not a surprise to me.

it's also worth noting, as esche does, that all players have generally gotten much larger over the years, not just goalies. the tiny guys are still around, but they're a big exception to the rule.

There's really nothing moron is doing that nurse can't do right now
- Just5

Morin is a better rush defender and holds the blue line better. Nurse has a tendency to do too much which can be a bad thing. Nurse has not impressed me in the slightest over these past two games.

Duclair
- rangerdanger94

That guy has been fantastic. I had no idea who he was before watching the games, but he stood out.

That guy has been fantastic. I had no idea who he was before watching the games, but he stood out.
- aflyerpower8

They say he could compete for a roster spot this year with us. Doubt he makes it, but he looks very promising for next year.

I'm excited! Pure goal scorer


- Streit2ThePoint

Saying he's a pure goal scorer because of this is like saying the Doobie Brothers are a Christian rock band because of Jesus Is Just Alright

He is likely a junior and an AHL season away minimally
- Just5

I agree. And that's fine.

Morin is a better rush defender and holds the blue line better. Nurse has a tendency to do too much which can be a bad thing. Nurse has not impressed me in the slightest over these past two games.
- aflyerpower8

Your right in that nurse is all over the place a bit. Needs to be reeled in

Oh and in the other thread when everyone was talking about the goalies....I said Mase was one of the best in the Eastern Conference, not necessarily the NHL.

So...just wanted to clarify since Lehtonen comparisons were being made

I'm uncertain about how I see Raffl's upside, offensively.

I see the competitiveness, skating and hockey sense and I think he should score around 18-20 goals. If he can do that, then I do think he is a legitimate top 6 forward for a mid-range team.

But at the same time, his hands are questionable. I do agree that a rookie season isn't necessarily what you are, but with him...I wonder. It's not a crime if he settles in at 10-15 goals per season on the third or fourth lines, some spot duty in the top 6 with injuries. He has the size to be effective in a grinding, forechecking and defensive role.

Ultimately, I think he settles in as a good, solid third-line player, really dependable, like maybe Ruslan Fedotenko in the latter half of his career. Nothing wrong with that.

Saying he's a pure goal scorer because of this is like saying the Doobie Brothers are a Christian rock band because of Jesus Is Just Alright
- Giroux_Is_God

Pure goalscorer

Pure goalscorer


- rangerdanger94

whos that

If only Raffl didn't have Nodl hands, he'd be a perfect top-6 winger.
- jmatchett383

Raffl with Nodl's hands, MAB's anvil ass, Delmore's flair, Bartulis' Latvian superblood, Freddy Meyer III's awesome namesake, and Pitkanen's stick.

Unstoppable.

whos that
- Winning

Duclair

Duclair
- rangerdanger94

3rd round pick eh? could be a steal.

Pure goalscorer
- rangerdanger94

Awesome prospect... will be interesting to see if he can keep dipsy-doodling his way through pro defenders like that... Pat Kane and Giroux could... Sam Gagner and Rob Schremp hit a wall.

I'm uncertain about how I see Raffl's upside, offensively.

I see the competitiveness, skating and hockey sense and I think he should score around 18-20 goals. If he can do that, then I do think he is a legitimate top 6 forward for a mid-range team.

But at the same time, his hands are questionable. I do agree that a rookie season isn't necessarily what you are, but with him...I wonder. It's not a crime if he settles in at 10-15 goals per season on the third or fourth lines, some spot duty in the top 6 with injuries. He has the size to be effective in a grinding, forechecking and defensive role.

Ultimately, I think he settles in as a good, solid third-line player, really dependable, like maybe Ruslan Fedotenko in the latter half of his career. Nothing wrong with that.
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah, if he's Radek Dvorak, I'm over the moon.

Steady 30-40 points/per... sometimes able to bang out the odd 50-60 pt year w/ immense shooting luck and good linemates. I'd take that.

Yeah, if he's Radek Dvorak, I'm over the moon.

Steady 30-40 points/per... sometimes able to bang out the odd 50-60 pt year w/ immense shooting luck and good linemates. I'd take that.
- Tomahawk

Ground control to Tomahawk....

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

I agree to a certain extent. I think he's definitely a top 9 forward, not so sure about a top 6 forward. I think his best role is as a 3rd line 2 way winger.

Ground control to Tomahawk....
- Giroux_Is_God

3rd round pick eh? could be a steal.
- aightwebang17

Hopefully.

Awesome prospect... will be interesting to see if he can keep dipsy-doodling his way through pro defenders like that... Pat Kane and Giroux could... Sam Gagner and Rob Schremp hit a wall.
- Tomahawk

Yea we had a similar prospect in Christian Thomas who exploded for 50 goals after his draft year and was dubbed the steal of the draft and he fell off real quick.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: White, Morin, Goaltenders and More
- bmeltzer

Size matters!
(That's what she said)