My 3 year yahoo keeper league reboots tonight... Any websites that any uses? I printed out the top 275 players off NHL network and highlighted and scratched out certain players. I think I may take F, D, F, G with top 4 picks depending on any steals.

Any advice?

His value to other teams right now is very low as we have seen this summer.
A trade could not get done.

If he has a better season this year, with a year less on his contract his trade value goes up. If he plays this season as the second line C, with good two way forwards on his line this would be for VL the optimum scenario. If he gets to be the 2nd line C and has a difficult year, I don't think he will get any interest from other teams in a trade.
- Marc D

I agree, but really the point is, if Lecavalier looks like a spent player, it's not going to matter who he is playing with. The scouts will see that. And it will affect the Flyers ability to trade him. So really it's up to how Lecavalier plays, and if he can bounce back, more so then who he plays with, in my opinion.

My 3 year yahoo keeper league reboots tonight... Any websites that any uses? I printed out the top 275 players off NHL network and highlighted and scratched out certain players. I think I may take F, D, F, G with top 4 picks depending on any steals.

Any advice?
- AGL_91

Rinaldo's due for a breakout year. Could be a good 2nd round sleeper.

That was an amazing d rebuild with 3 former habs with cup rings.
How was your gig ?
- Steelmanpa

went well, we had a blast. How was yours?

I agree, but really the point is, if Lecavalier looks like a spent player, it's not going to matter who he is playing with. The scouts will see that. And it will affect the Flyers ability to trade him. So really it's up to how Lecavalier plays, and if he can bounce back, more so then who he plays with, in my opinion.
- MJL

Playing with better players will make him look like, as well as produce like, a better player compared to playing with less skilled players.

His value to other teams right now is very low as we have seen this summer.
A trade could not get done.

If he has a better season this year, with a year less on his contract his trade value goes up. If he plays this season as the second line C, with good two way forwards on his line this would be for VL the optimum scenario. If he gets to be the 2nd line C and has a difficult year, I don't think he will get any interest from other teams in a trade.
- Marc D

That's the conundrum with Vinny. Obviously if he plays well, it's a help to the team & his potential trade value, but where does he fit? Does the coach trust him to not only play significant minutes, but also use him in a less sheltered role.

I don't see Giroux & Voracek splitting, which means Vinny won't get Jake. Can he thrive with Simmonds? Does Berube move Read up & give Couturier Umberger & Raffl as wingers?

Playing with better players will make him look like, as well as produce like, a better player compared to playing with less skilled players.
- jmatchett383

His most common line mates were Schenn & Simmonds last season. Not sure there's more skilled guys outside of Read or Voracek.

I agree, but really the point is, if Lecavalier looks like a spent player, it's not going to matter who he is playing with. The scouts will see that. And it will affect the Flyers ability to trade him. So really it's up to how Lecavalier plays, and if he can bounce back, more so then who he plays with, in my opinion.
- MJL

I agree with most of this.

I do think playing him at center compared to RW or heaven forbid LW, makes a difference in how he plays.

Also I do think having a highly skilled puck carrying, play making winger like Voracek on his line would help him score more goals.

It may not change anything if he is a done player.

I guess with how long it takes guys to recover from back injuries we really don't know yet if he is done or if he has something left. I suspect he was never 100% all last season after the back problem.

Rinaldo's due for a breakout year. Could be a good 2nd round sleeper.
- jmatchett383

I hear he signed a new contract, although it really hasn't been discussed much here.

That's the conundrum with Vinny. Obviously if he plays well, it's a help to the team & his potential trade value, but where does he fit? Does the coach trust him to not only play significant minutes, but also use him in a less sheltered role.

I don't see Giroux & Voracek splitting, which means Vinny won't get Jake. Can he thrive with Simmonds? Does Berube move Read up & give Couturier Umberger & Raffl as wingers?
- Jsaquella

I guess if the coach puts BSchenn in the #1 LW spot, then VL will get to play center.

Maybe with Simmonds/Umberger/Akeson/Raffl.

I don't think Couts and Read get broken up.

I see them as the default 2nd line, at least based on minutes per game.
At times last year they played more minutes then the G line.

My logic is as follows:

Giroux is a world class talent who will put up numbers with any good wingers. If they played with Giroux, I could see Schenn putting up 25-30 goals and 55-65 points and Simmonds putting up 30-35 goals and 60-70 points. Plus, Giroux would still play with Jake on the PP

Jake, at ES, would be the perfect winger for VLC and Raffl provides hustle, grit and defensive awareness on the left side.

Umberger-Courturier-Read would be an excellent shut down line that can score and a 4th line featuring Laughton, Bellemare and either Akeson or Rinaldo is certainly an upgrade over last year's 4th line.
- BiggE

I don't think Akeson makes the team, if the only open slot is 4th line. From his playoff run, he deserves a legit shot at line 3 with Courturier-Read.

His most common line mates were Schenn & Simmonds last season. Not sure there's more skilled guys outside of Read or Voracek.
- Jsaquella

The problem was, who is the playmaker/puck carrier on the line?

BSchenn as a center was not super effective carrying the puck end to end or as a set up guy. Neither was Vinnie.

I guess if the coach puts BSchenn in the #1 LW spot, then VL will get to play center.

Maybe with Simmonds/Umberger/Akeson/Raffl.

I don't think Couts and Read get broken up.

I see them as the default 2nd line, at least based on minutes per game.
At times last year they played more minutes then the G line.
- Marc D

I agree. I'd like to see the lines I posted yesterday.

10-28-93
24-14-17
18/12-40-42/12

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Simmonds, Wearing the A, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

I was probably one of the few who felt Simmonds could be a future Captain and saw a lot of Shane Doan in him. I'd say now that things have worked out the way that they should. Looking at his point production, cap hit and attitude, it's a dream to have such a pro on the team.

I'm crossing my fingers for Coburn but won't be disappointed if Streit gets it.

I agree. I'd like to see the lines I posted yesterday.

10-28-93
24-14-17
18/12-40-42/12
- Jsaquella

Do you think Laughton starts as the 4th center?

I'd rather see Raffl in the top 9 at wing then 4th line C, at least in the regular season.
On a deep playoff team Raffl is an ideal 4th liner.

VL centering Raffl and Umby may not need to be too sheltered and could (if VL is fully recovered and can skate a bit better) turn into a decent 3rd line.

My 3 year yahoo keeper league reboots tonight... Any websites that any uses? I printed out the top 275 players off NHL network and highlighted and scratched out certain players. I think I may take F, D, F, G with top 4 picks depending on any steals.

Any advice?
- AGL_91

leftwinglock is a good one

great for starting goalies as well as their draft kit, but also check out
tools->player rankings

their goalie rank predictions are always great. Kuemper looks like a good sleeper pick

there are also some surprises in their skater ranking..
Moulson, Franzen, Tanguay, and Vinny Lecavalier!! are all ranked higher than I expected

Playing with better players will make him look like, as well as produce like, a better player compared to playing with less skilled players.
- jmatchett383

NHL scouts are capable of separating and looking at a player individually. See how strong he is, how healthy he is, how he is skating. If Lecavalier is the same player this season, as he was last season after the injury, the scouts will know and see that. Regardless of who he plays with.

If Lecavalier figures out what he needs to do under Berube and "fits" the team and plays well… they may just want to then keep him no? I'm still going to give him the benefit of the offseason and camp under the coach he'll actually play for and a month or so to draw sweeping conclusions

Rinaldo's due for a breakout year. Could be a good 2nd round sleeper.
- jmatchett383

question is
what is he breaking out from

My logic is as follows:

Giroux is a world class talent who will put up numbers with any good wingers. If they played with Giroux, I could see Schenn putting up 25-30 goals and 55-65 points and Simmonds putting up 30-35 goals and 60-70 points. Plus, Giroux would still play with Jake on the PP

Jake, at ES, would be the perfect winger for VLC and Raffl provides hustle, grit and defensive awareness on the left side.

Umberger-Courturier-Read would be an excellent shut down line that can score and a 4th line featuring Laughton, Bellemare and either Akeson or Rinaldo is certainly an upgrade over last year's 4th line.
- BiggE

Exactly my thought process.

If Lecavalier is healthy and playing well, he should be among the leaders among forwards in ES TOI/G.
- MJL

Giroux and Couturier will be ahead of him as centers. So even a 100% healthy Vinny who is playing well at his preferred position is still going to be on the third line in terms of ES minutes.

If Lecavalier figures out what he needs to do under Berube and "fits" the team and plays well… they may just want to then keep him no? I'm still going to give him the benefit of the offseason and camp under the coach he'll actually play for and a month or so to draw sweeping conclusions
- eayost

Blasphemy!

went well, we had a blast. How was yours?
- BiggE

It was good, in spite of thunderstorm threat and not having played together in 6 weeks . 4 of 7 are active full time musicians so not much of a drop off.

Another day closer to the season !

Blasphemy!
- MJL

He may very well play like dog poop for 2 months and I'll be just as frustrated about the situation as everyone else is. I just want to see whether it happens or not after the "change your game" gauntlet has been laid down. He has to make it work somewhat here, no other options.

Giroux and Couturier will be ahead of him as centers. So even a 100% healthy Vinny who is playing well at his preferred position is still going to be on the third line in terms of ES minutes.
- Feanor

So if Giroux and Couturier were ahead of Lecavalier in ES icetime, and Lecavalier was 3rd or 4th, he wouldn't be among the leaders in ES icetime among forwards?

Last season, Jake Voracek averaged 13:50 in ES icetime. Lecavalier, even with being demoted to the 4th line at times, averaged 12:42 in ES icetime per game. That's a difference of 1:08 in ES icetime per game. What is that, 2 shifts per game, maybe 3?

So what you're telling me is that even if Lecvalier comes into the season, strong, playing well, and producing, that his ES icetime isn't going to increase. Regardless of how he plays? And that his play on the ice isn't going to determine how much ES icetime he gets?

Last year Giroux averaged 15:44 of ES icetime/G and Couturier averaged 14:22. So that adds up to 30:06 of ES icetime. Now depending on penalties and PP's, still lots of ES icetime up for grabs.