i know it has been discussed before but someone refresh me please. .. did richards play 4th line in his first nhl season ?
- -davies-

He started out on the 4th line but when Primeau went down (and when Forsberg was out), he got bumped up. But yes, the idea was to make him the 4C his first year.

i know it has been discussed before but someone refresh me please. .. did richards play 4th line in his first nhl season ?
- -davies-

Not sure if it was his first but he did play on the 4th line before, at some point

If Laughton projects as a good 3rd line center on a team with 2 other good centers, I don't see the problem with him coming in as a 4th and moving up to 3rd over time as he earns it. It's not quite like bringing in a guy who projects as a #1 C into the 4th C role.
- eayost

This is my thinking too. yes Laughton put up points in juniors but he is projected to be a defensive or 2 way center. He wouldn't be losing out by playing on the 4th line if he earns a spot thru camp. I don't think your ruining or hampering by having him play there. he can also take some PK minutes off Couturiers load so he is a little fresher at end of games or ES so he can be more offensive.

Powe is signed to an AHL only contract and is not a candidate to make the team. Vandevelde is not likely going to make the team. Rinaldo is not a center. Jones is a possibility, but not likely. White is hurt. Stortini hasn't played significant NHL games in 3 seasons. Raffl and Laughton are the best candidates. I think they need Raffl for a top 9 spot.
- MJL

I knew that about Powe, but could his contract not be upgraded if we needed it midseason? Otherwise, I think Laughton is better than all the other players, but they could each be serviceable until White comes back. The fourth line center on the Flyers will get very little time. Adam Hall got 10 minutes (including 3 minutes of SH ice time) a game last year.

I think it is enough. And with the injury to White, who is the 4th line center if it's not Laughton?
- MJL

It's still possible that Schenn and Vinny could both end up at C and all this speculation could be moot.

(or even Umburgler)

I knew that about Powe, but could his contract not be upgraded if we needed it midseason? Otherwise, I think Laughton is better than all the other players, but they could each be serviceable until White comes back. The fourth line center on the Flyers will get very little time. Adam Hall got 10 minutes (including 3 minutes of SH ice time) a game last year.
- aflyerpower8

Yes, they could sign Powe to an NHL contract if they wanted to bring him up, but I don't see that happening at the beginning of the season. 10 minutes a game would be fine for Laughton.

That stuff makes me really question Berube. Rinaldo skates well and is a great hitter. But he brings no offense, he's a subpar defender and he's undisciplined both in terms of taking penalties and staying within a structured system.

I don't see him as having done anything to earn a bigger role.
- Jsaquella

Agreed. The contract term isn't a huge deal. I just don't understand the need for a player like Rinaldo. And the timing makes little sense to me. Use this year as an evaluation, if he shows improvement in terms of play and discipline ok.. Rewarding him with an extension after a year of regression does not compute.

It's still possible that Schenn and Vinny could both end up at C and all this speculation could be moot.

(or even Umburgler)
- Tomahawk

All possibilities.

I knew that about Powe, but could his contract not be upgraded if we needed it midseason? Otherwise, I think Laughton is better than all the other players, but they could each be serviceable until White comes back. The fourth line center on the Flyers will get very little time. Adam Hall got 10 minutes (including 3 minutes of SH ice time) a game last year.
- aflyerpower8

Adam Hall got 10 minutes a night because he's Adam Hall. Scott Laughton projects to be better, as a rookie, than Adam Hall is/was during his Flyers' career. Our 4th line was awful last year, and was basically filled with warm bodies. Scott Laughton is a player who can play in all situations and should be given more ice time and a 4C like Hall.

All possibilities.
- MJL

The door's open, but he would have to be one of the best players at camp to convince them carry him to start, I'm thinking. If he's even middle of the pack, I suspect they'll play it safe and send him down.





Edit: btw, this is a real delayed reaction on my part, but can somebody explain to me how the (frank) STL ended up with Barbashev AND Fabbri from the draft?? Along w/ Allen, Rattie and all the rest of their ridiculously good young players, that team has a real embarrassment of riches.

Adam Hall got 10 minutes a night because he's Adam Hall. Scott Laughton projects to be better, as a rookie, than Adam Hall is/was during his Flyers' career. Our 4th line was awful last year, and was basically filled with warm bodies. Scott Laughton is a player who can play in all situations and should be given more ice time and a 4C like Hall.
- jmatchett383

If Laughton plays well in camp and Bellemare plays like the team thinks a line of Bellemare, Laughton, White could play more then just ten minutes. the flyers were always limited because they just didn't have a good enough 4th line to throw out there. Also limiting some minutes for read and Couturier on the PK would be nice. Yes use them in clutch situations but during the course of the season we could keep some of the hard mintues off them

The door's open, but he would have to be one of the best players at camp to convince them carry him to start, I'm thinking. If he's even middle of the pack, I suspect they'll play it safe and send him down.

- Tomahawk

If he's middle of the pack, that puts him on the team. If Umberger and Schenn are going to play on the Wing, I think Laughton stands an excellent chance of making the team.

The door's open, but he would have to be one of the best players at camp to convince them carry him to start, I'm thinking. If he's even middle of the pack, I suspect they'll play it safe and send him down.





Edit: btw, this is a real delayed reaction on my part, but can somebody explain to me how the (frank) STL ended up with Barbashev AND Fabbri from the draft?? Along w/ Allen, Rattie and all the rest of their ridiculously good young players, that team has a real embarrassment of riches.
- Tomahawk

They held the draft picks required to draft them when their selection came and they used those picks on those players, who were undrafted yet draft-eligible at that point. For more information:

http://proicehockey.about...w-The-Nhl-Draft-Works.htm

If Laughton plays well in camp and Bellemare plays like the team thinks a line of Bellemare, Laughton, White could play more then just ten minutes. the flyers were always limited because they just didn't have a good enough 4th line to throw out there. Also limiting some minutes for read and Couturier on the PK would be nice. Yes use them in clutch situations but during the course of the season we could keep some of the hard mintues off them
- J35Bacher

Exactly. The 4th line was used sparingly because you couldn't trust it for more than a few shifts here and there. It's like Parent/Bartulis/Krajicek in the 2010 SC Finals.

If they have an effective 4th line, they can use it more. Plus, Laughton figures to see PK time and some call-up PP time, as well as possibly bumping up on lines later in games to give players extra rest. You can't just say Adam Hall got 10 minutes as a 4C so Laughton will get the same as a 4C.

wasn't that lappy's idea and berube never really did it?
- -davies-

They tried Rinaldo on other lines & the PK. Never lasted too long. I get bugged when they keep saying they want him to slide up, even if they are just paying lip service.

And honestly the action of extending his contract before it even expired says somebody feels he can handle a larger role, or at least can be more than an undisciplined agitator. I haven't seen that he can, so in that I disagree with the teams assessment

If Laughton plays well in camp and Bellemare plays like the team thinks a line of Bellemare, Laughton, White could play more then just ten minutes. the flyers were always limited because they just didn't have a good enough 4th line to throw out there. Also limiting some minutes for read and Couturier on the PK would be nice. Yes use them in clutch situations but during the course of the season we could keep some of the hard mintues off them
- J35Bacher

This!

Having a solid 2 way 4th line where all three members can kill penalties also opens up more offensive opportunities for Coots and Read.

Adam Hall got 10 minutes a night because he's Adam Hall. Scott Laughton projects to be better, as a rookie, than Adam Hall is/was during his Flyers' career. Our 4th line was awful last year, and was basically filled with warm bodies. Scott Laughton is a player who can play in all situations and should be given more ice time and a 4C like Hall.
- jmatchett383

He's got to take that ice time from someone. Giroux will keep his, Couts will stay high against the other teams top line, now he and Vinny are battling for around 20 minutes even strength and Vinny gets the better line mates.

I know people are hating the Rinaldo deal but I just can't find the hate. Yes he is a limited player. But he can be servicable. Look at a guy like Shawn Thornton. He was very useful for the Ducks and Bruins. He has also done some bonehead things too. At what they are paying Rinaldo I just don't see a reason to really hate the move if he is the 13th forward. Rinaldo might grow into a solid 4th line player. Also his deal doesn't keep him from sending him down and if he gets claimed so be it. A lot of people don't like him anyways so I guess it wouldn't be a loss.

They tried Rinaldo on other lines & the PK. Never lasted too long. I get bugged when they keep saying they want him to slide up, even if they are just paying lip service.

And honestly the action of extending his contract before it even expired says somebody feels he can handle a larger role, or at least can be more than an undisciplined agitator. I haven't seen that he can, so in that I disagree with the teams assessment
- Jsaquella

I love Rinaldo's motor. I wish other players had some of his energy. If he could just get his brain in order he could be a solid player. He can sometimes be not just a good forechecker, but a great forechecker....lots of speed to get in on the d and hits like a truck.

But then the dumb things start happening, seemingly out of nowhere and he is right back to square one. Its maddening.

They held the draft picks required to draft them when their selection came and they used those picks on those players, who were undrafted yet draft-eligible at that point. For more information:

http://proicehockey.about...w-The-Nhl-Draft-Works.htm
- jmatchett383

He's got to take that ice time from someone. Giroux will keep his, Couts will stay high against the other teams top line, now he and Vinny are battling for around 20 minutes even strength and Vinny gets the better line mates.
- aflyerpower8

Because he can rotate in the lineup, and can play with better players which means more playing time.

Let's say the Flyers have a 5-minute PK. Last year, that means that Giroux, Couturier, and Read are going to be exhausted at the end of it, but they need to get back out there because you can't trust the 4th line. Now, with better players, you can:
1) trust the 4th line to go out there to help rest your players
2) use that player as a primary PK option
3) slide a player into a spot occupied by one of your tired players for spot shifts

Just one example, but can be applied any time a player/line need a rest where you couldn't give it to them due to lack of 4th line talent. With a better 4th line, their time will increase. Boston is a prime example.

He's got to take that ice time from someone. Giroux will keep his, Couts will stay high against the other teams top line, now he and Vinny are battling for around 20 minutes even strength and Vinny gets the better line mates.
- aflyerpower8

He might take PK time from Couturier or Read and some ES time from Vinny's line but Vinny and Simmonds also get PP time that Laughton might not get. It all works out.

He's got to take that ice time from someone. Giroux will keep his, Couts will stay high against the other teams top line, now he and Vinny are battling for around 20 minutes even strength and Vinny gets the better line mates.
- aflyerpower8

Well, hopefully Laughton can take some of those "minutes against top lines", which is why he would make the team to begin with. There are plenty of minutes to go around. I would like to see less PK minutes for both G and Coots.

I love Rinaldo's motor. I wish other players had some of his energy. If he could just get his brain in order he could be a solid player. He can sometimes be not just a good forechecker, but a great forechecker....lots of speed to get in on the d and hits like a truck.

But then the dumb things start happening, seemingly out of nowhere and he is right back to square one. Its maddening.
- MBFlyerfan

I want to see Rinaldo become a hockey player first so to speak, and an agitator second. Versus the other way around.

Well, hopefully Laughton can take some of those "minutes against top lines", which is why he would make the team to begin with. There are plenty of minutes to go around. I would like to see less PK minutes for both G and Coots.
- MBFlyerfan

Not only that, but how about a 4th line that help protect a lead late in games, taking some wear and tear off of other players.