I think it has already been established that Vinny will play center.
- MBFlyerfan

Yup, with Bellemare coming off an injury, I think he may spend the first couple weeks of the season in the AHL just to get his timing up to speed. So, with that in mind, I think the opening night roster will be as follows:

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Read-Couturier-Simmonds
Umberger-VLC-Akeson
Jones-Raffl-Rinaldo
Rosehill

AMac-Coburn
Streit-Grossmann
Schenn-MDZ
Schultz

Mason
Emery or Zepp (depends on Emery's health)

I do think Bellemare joins the roster by the beginning of November and Jones is either kept as the 13th forward or sent down.

Yup, with Bellemare coming off an injury, I think he may spend the first couple weeks of the season in the AHL just to get his timing up to speed. So, with that in mind, I think the opening night roster will be as follows:

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Read-Couturier-Simmonds
Umberger-VLC-Akeson
Jones-Raffl-Rinaldo
Rosehill

AMac-Coburn
Streit-Grossmann
Schenn-MDZ
Schultz

Mason
Emery or Zepp (depends on Emery's health)

I do think Bellemare joins the roster by the beginning of November and Jones is either kept as the 13th forward or sent down.
- BiggE

I agree with Bellemare. If he doesn't get into game action due to his injury, he could start in the AHL to get some playing time to get into game shape.

i always thought frank bathe and marty stouffer were the same guy. still do.

i always thought frank bathe and marty stouffer were the same guy. still do.
- hammarby31

Yup, with Bellemare coming off an injury, I think he may spend the first couple weeks of the season in the AHL just to get his timing up to speed. So, with that in mind, I think the opening night roster will be as follows:

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Read-Couturier-Simmonds
Umberger-VLC-Akeson
Jones-Raffl-Rinaldo
Rosehill

AMac-Coburn
Streit-Grossmann
Schenn-MDZ
Schultz

Mason
Emery or Zepp (depends on Emery's health)

I do think Bellemare joins the roster by the beginning of November and Jones is either kept as the 13th forward or sent down.
- BiggE

Seems likely on all counts. I have to admit that I have concerns about that third line though. It wasn't as if Lecavalier, Simmonds and Schenn couldn't produce last season as a line and it makes sense to have Lecavalier play with a playmaker in Akeson but that line still concerns me defensively, even with Umberger added to it. I don't expect Umberger to carry the line defensively and I'm not all that confident in Akeson or Lecavalier together in their own end.

Seems likely on all counts. I have to admit that I have concerns about that third line though. It wasn't as if Lecavalier, Simmonds and Schenn couldn't produce last season as a line and it makes sense to have Lecavalier play with a playmaker in Akeson but that line still concerns me defensively, even with Umberger added to it. I don't expect Umberger to carry the line defensively and I'm not all that confident in Akeson or Lecavalier together in their own end.
- SuperSchennBros

Agreed, and it's why I hope they can have a stronger 4th line that can match up against other lines defensively by some point in the season. Hopefully by mid season, their 4th line is: Bellemare-Laughton-Raffl.

Dave Isaac reports that both Bellemare and Couturier, as well as Giroux are practicing today. Looks like Emery is only one still out.

Dave Isaac reports that both Bellemare and Couturier, as well as Giroux are practicing today. Looks like Emery is only one still out.
- BiggE

Markstrom anyone?

Agreed, and it's why I hope they can have a stronger 4th line that can match up against other lines defensively by some point in the season. Hopefully by mid season, their 4th line is: Bellemare-Laughton-Raffl.
- BiggE

i think we'll see a lot of mixing on the 3rd/4th lines early in the season until berube lands on what he's comfortable with. regardless of the arrangements, hopefully they find a mix that allows for both lines to have similar playing time and contribute more than just being energy/shut down lines. you need the "4th line" playing more than 7 cringe-filled minutes per night.

Markstrom anyone?
- hereticpride

rob zepp to the rescue.

rob zepp to the rescue.
- hammarby31

Zepp has kept puck out, but he allows a lot of rebounds.

Markstrom anyone?
- hereticpride

Why not

Why not
- Tomahawk

I'd toss a claim in, what the heck? If Emerys hurt buys him
Time

Why not
- Tomahawk

He's the right age to be some sort of a bridge backup until Stolarz gets ample AHL experience. Could be the Phantoms main guy while we have Emery in the meantime.

I'd toss a claim in, what the heck? If Emerys hurt buys him
Time
- Jsaquella

He cleared

rob zepp to the rescue.
- hammarby31

A zeppelin

Agreed, and it's why I hope they can have a stronger 4th line that can match up against other lines defensively by some point in the season. Hopefully by mid season, their 4th line is: Bellemare-Laughton-Raffl.
- BiggE

In my opinion I think we were better last season. I feel with the loss of Hartnell's offense and Timonen's defense we're not as good. I feel like we've taken a step back but not 10 steps back. Still, losing Gustafsson and having Shultz back up the D has looked bad in preseason. I would have taken on a healthy Downie at 1 million but we don't know if he's healthy. I also don't want to under value Adam Hall who was very good for us. Right now we're rolling the dice on the bottom six which could go either way. With this said, I've barely noticed Giroux is missing so far, so that's a plus. I think this team has what it takes to surprise me and others. Still a bubble team though.

rob zepp to the rescue.
- hammarby31

As long as he isn't dazed and confused, I can ramble on with that. I just hope that when he gives up a goal, he will say (unlike Bryz), it was nobodys fault but mine!

flyers game on tv?

As long as he isn't dazed and confused, I can ramble on with that. I just hope that when he gives up a goal, he will say (unlike Bryz), it was nobodys fault but mine!
- BiggE

Sometimes there will be a communication breakdown, and that can be a heartbreaker. Hopefully with all the other goalies he doesn't get trampled underfoot or sent over the hills and far away to Reading in the ECHL. I'd like to get to see him when the Phantoms play down by the seaside in Atlantic city.

I've also noticed Zepp has a good stick, but using it as much as he does, he probably goes through four sticks a month.

Anyhow I'm going to California with my black dog to boogie with stu. Thank you for putting up with my puns

Sometimes there will be a communication breakdown, and that can be a heartbreaker. Hopefully with all the other goalies he doesn't get trampled underfoot or sent over the hills and far away to Reading in the ECHL. I'd like to get to see him when the Phantoms play down by the seaside in Atlantic city.

I've also noticed Zepp has a good stick, but using it as much as he does, he probably goes through four sticks a month.

Anyhow I'm going to California with my black dog to boogie with stu. Thank you for putting up with my puns
- Jsaquella

Sometimes there will be a communication breakdown, and that can be a heartbreaker. Hopefully with all the other goalies he doesn't get trampled underfoot or sent over the hills and far away to Reading in the ECHL. I'd like to get to see him when the Phantoms play down by the seaside in Atlantic city.

I've also noticed Zepp has a good stick, but using it as much as he does, he probably goes through four sticks a month.

Anyhow I'm going to California with my black dog to boogie with stu. Thank you for putting up with my puns
- Jsaquella

Zach Parise spits the Eric T wisdom:
http://www.startribune.co...ports/wild/277016651.html

In my opinion I think we were better last season. I feel with the loss of Hartnell's offense and Timonen's defense we're not as good. I feel like we've taken a step back but not 10 steps back. Still, losing Gustafsson and having Shultz back up the D has looked bad in preseason. I would have taken on a healthy Downie at 1 million but we don't know if he's healthy. I also don't want to under value Adam Hall who was very good for us. Right now we're rolling the dice on the bottom six which could go either way. With this said, I've barely noticed Giroux is missing so far, so that's a plus. I think this team has what it takes to surprise me and others. Still a bubble team though.
- SuperSchennBros

The players who have replaced Hall and Downie make the team look much more solid. Hall was a great guy, be he got destroyed at ES last season. Kimmo is the only player we lost that worries me.

Orange Team:
12 Michael Raffl
37 Jay Rosehill
42 Jason Akeson
46 Darroll Powe
49 Scott Laughton
52 Nick Cousins
58 Taylor Leier
61 Brett Hextall
64 Brandon Alederson
66 Andrew Johnston
76 Chris VandeVelde
77 Austin Fyten
15 Michael Del Zotto
22 Luke Schenn
48 Steven Delisle
50 Samuel Morin
53 Shayne Gostisbehere
60 Maxim Lamarche
67 Connor Knapp (G)
70 Martin Ouellette (G)


White Team:
10 Brayden Schenn
34 Andrew Gordon
36 Zac Rinaldo
41 Blair Jones
51 Petr Straka
57 Derek Mathers
63 Kevin Goumas
68 Matt Hatch
79 David Marshall
80 Sean Wiles
81 Marcel Noebels
38 Oliver Lauridsen
39 Mark Alt
43 Brandon Manning
54 Robert Hagg
59 Jesper Pettersson
82 Brett Flemming
65 Anthony Stolarz (G)

flyers game on tv?
- Winning

The #Flyers head to @PPLCenter to face off against @LVPhantoms at 5pm! Roster→ http://nhlflye.rs/C0pP1 Live stream→ http://nhlflye.rs/C17fy

EDIT: Take notes cause I won't be able to see this one.