You can name call all you want but here's the bottom line - last year the Kings had the biggest team in the league and won the cup and the Flyers had the 24th biggest team and they were eliminated in the first round. The Kings kept 2 fighters on their team who actually got some playing time and won the cup. If the trend in the league is going away from size and fighting, how do you explain this? I guess everyone on this board knows more about hockey than Dean Lombardi, the GM of the Kings. If the Flyers acquired some of the Kings bigger forwards like Dwight King, or Nolan, or Clifford, this board would be in an uproar. But, size, toughness, and grit are absolutely essential to win in the playoffs. The Flyers are far too small up front and this results in them losing battles in the corners far too often.

I am not pessimistic, I am a realist. As I understand Hextall's plan, he wants to preserve his nucleus of forwards -Giroux, Simmonds, Vorachek, Courtier, Schenn while the young defensemen develop in the minors (ghostebierre and hagg) and in junior (Morin and Sanheim). That makes sense to me as does keeping draft picks and developing young players. That is the long term plan. The short term plan is to remain competitive and try to make the playoffs. What I disagree with is not having an enforcer or at least a true heavyweight to protect the skill players who form the nucleus you are trying to maintain and keep together. Relying on Simmonds and Rinaldo to protect them is ludicrous and is going to get them injured. What I also disagree with is going real small at forward. I have been a Flyer's fan since the 1970s and I cannot remember a team that was real small at forward ever winning the cup. When the playoffs come around, the bigger teams force everything to the boards and grind the smaller teams down. There is not that much open ice. That is one reason the Kings were so successful.

As far as Giroux is concerned, someone said that the incident involving the cop was an isolated incident. You don't know that. It was just the first incident that was in the public domain. And, even if it was a single incident, it's bad enough. It reflects poorly on his character and calls into question his ability to lead. Let me add, his performance in the playoffs against the Rangers was miserable.
- Bergey

As far as your first point. I agree completely that toughness and grit are essential to win in the playoffs. But what I think you are misled about, is that you don't have to be big, to have toughness and grit. Giroux is not big. But he has plenty of grit. Weight wise, Simmonds is not that big. But he has plenty of grit and toughness. Player such as B Schenn, Raffle and Couturier display toughness and grit. So while it wouldn't hurt to add some more size, I don't think that is going to be the issue with the Flyers. They aren't too small up front.

What I find ironic, is that you keep referencing the LA Kings as a example of why you need an enforcer. When they don't have an enforcer on their team. Clifford and Nolan are not enforcers!
And I think even before you mentioned it, that it was known that you've been a Flyers fan since the 70's.

As far as Giroux, do you know that it wasn't an isolated incident? So how should we proceed. That is was an isolated incident? Or that it wasn't, simply because we don't know, and nothing else has been made public? Where is the logic there?
Only in your one sided view does it call his character into question. The team as a whole wasn't good against the Rangers. NHL history is full of quality players, who were team leaders and top players, who have had great success, and at some point have had a sub par playoff series.

I didn't think much of it myself especially since it was offseason.
- JoeRussomanno

It's not like he was driving around drunk or getting coked up and fighting people...he was acting like a jackass and messing around.

It's not like he was driving around drunk or getting coked up and fighting people...he was acting like a jackass and messing around.
- Jsaquella

Something that pretty much every young adult male does at one time or another. Partying and having a good time, and using some bad judgement.

It's not like he was driving around drunk or getting coked up and fighting people...he was acting like a jackass and messing around.
- Jsaquella

It's because they never rushed him. Leads to weak character.

- ob18

YAWN AT THIS!

It's because they never rushed him. Leads to weak character.
- wilsonecho91

Those 30 (frank)ing games with the Phantoms ruined him

YAWN AT THIS!

- JAKEw1234

I don't know how to post gifts from my iPad

Edit:Oh fook I figured it out

YAWN AT THIS!

- JAKEw1234

I'm still trying to figure out who the two enforcers on the Kings were

I'm still trying to figure out who the two enforcers on the Kings were
- PhillySportsGuy

Clifford and Jordan Nolan.

...why did my dancing orangutan didn't read gif get deleted?

But seriously should we not be posting "didn't read" gifs anymore?

...why did my dancing orangutan didn't read gif get deleted?

But seriously should we not be posting "didn't read" gifs anymore?
- Giroux_Is_God

It's racism, pure and simple

Clifford and Jordan Nolan.
- Jsaquella

They combined for 135 PM last season. Rosehill had 90 in 34 games played. I don't think I'd put either of them into the enforcer category. They can both actually play hockey

...why did my dancing orangutan didn't read gif get deleted?

But seriously should we not be posting "didn't read" gifs anymore?
- Giroux_Is_God

I believe we need to investigate things further

I'm still trying to figure out who the two enforcers on the Kings were
- PhillySportsGuy

I think our friend is short sellng the kings perhaps

I believe we need to investigate things further
- PhillySportsGuy

I am being serious though, just for future reference.

Jsaq said it could be seen as racist. I hope that wasn't the case! It/those kinds of gifs aren't supposed to be racist!

Here's something we can all appreciate.

They combined for 135 PM last season. Rosehill had 90 in 34 games played. I don't think I'd put either of them into the enforcer category. They can both actually play hockey
- PhillySportsGuy

Nor would I, both are solid players, who can fight.

I am being serious though, just for future reference.

Jsaq said it could be seen as racist. I hope that wasn't the case! It/those kinds of gifs aren't supposed to be racist!

Here's something we can all appreciate.


- Giroux_Is_God

I meant the removal was racist, not the gif. The gif was (frank)ing hilarious

Clifford and Nolan had 17 fights between them - that's a lot of fights. I don't know what you definition of an enforcer is but one of them had 9 fights, the other one had 8 fights. I agree Simmonds is tough but it is difficult to win with a small team even if it has a lot of tough players. The Rangers have a gritty team but the Kings ground them down. In the 2011 playoffs, you may remember that the Bruins took the middle of the ice away from the Flyers and kept the puck near the boards which the Bruins controlled. The Flyers have so many forwards under 200 lbs which makes it difficult to come out with the puck and it also makes it difficult to be effective in front of the other teams net. Look at the size of the King's forwards, they are absolutely huge. And, they had several guys who got in a lot of fights - Nolan, Clifford, Carcillo. That's the prototype I would follow. I would have kept Rosehill. If he got the playing time Nolan and Clifford got, his goal numbers would be similar. He's probably a better skater than Nolan. I just don't see the down side. If are relying on your 4th line to score a lot of goals, you have much bigger problems than who's skating on your fourth line. You better take a look at the players on your top three lines because they are not producing enough.

I am being serious though, just for future reference.

Jsaq said it could be seen as racist. I hope that wasn't the case! It/those kinds of gifs aren't supposed to be racist!

Here's something we can all appreciate.


- Giroux_Is_God

Skip to 4:16 for the ridiculous part

Skip to 4:16 for the ridiculous part
- PhillySportsGuy

I want to meet the person responsible for the choreography because that's just not real

I want to meet the person responsible for the choreography because that's just not real
- Giroux_Is_God

I know. My sister went to OSU. She said no one would leave to get food during halftime because the band was so much fun to watch

Clifford and Nolan had 17 fights between them - that's a lot of fights. I don't know what you definition of an enforcer is but one of them had 9 fights, the other one had 8 fights. I agree Simmonds is tough but it is difficult to win with a small team even if it has a lot of tough players. The Rangers have a gritty team but the Kings ground them down. In the 2011 playoffs, you may remember that the Bruins took the middle of the ice away from the Flyers and kept the puck near the boards which the Bruins controlled. The Flyers have so many forwards under 200 lbs which makes it difficult to come out with the puck and it also makes it difficult to be effective in front of the other teams net. Look at the size of the King's forwards, they are absolutely huge. And, they had several guys who got in a lot of fights - Nolan, Clifford, Carcillo. That's the prototype I would follow. I would have kept Rosehill. If he got the playing time Nolan and Clifford got, his goal numbers would be similar. He's probably a better skater than Nolan. I just don't see the down side. If are relying on your 4th line to score a lot of goals, you have much bigger problems than who's skating on your fourth line. You better take a look at the players on your top three lines because they are not producing enough.
- Bergey

Can...can I just ask where your claim that the Kings are the "biggest" (I'm guessing talking about height here) comes from?

Let's look at the 4th line of the mighty Kings. It's no secret that was a huge reason they had such success in the playoffs along with the eventual Cup win.

They didn't goon it up. They were notorious for fighting. The House Elf rolled the 4th line out there because they were capable of playing effective hockey in all 3 zones. It was a line that could chip in (not provide) some offense, do some yoeman's work, and crank up the tempo along the boards. That's how you play effective as a bottom 6 "energy" guy/line.

A line with Rosehill on it would be exposed, on the other hand, in all 3 zones. That's not a line you'd be comfortable rolling out there. Rosehill doesn't see minutes like players do on the Kings' fourth line because he's just not that good of a hockey player. Rosehill might be a fast straight line skater, but I can't see how you can say his hands are anywhere near what they should be to be able to reach double digits (or close to that) in goals or his board play/strength on the puck is up to snuff.

Rosehill is one dimensional. Having him in the lineup just because he can fight is silly. That doesn't bulk up the team toughness, or anything like that. You're just dressing 11.5 guys at that point.

For what it's worth, the 4th line Chief has rolled this year- Rinaldo, PEB, and Akeson- that line's been awesome. They're playing more like the Kings' fourth line than they would be if they had Rosemont sitting on one of those wings.

Clifford and Nolan had 17 fights between them - that's a lot of fights. I don't know what you definition of an enforcer is but one of them had 9 fights, the other one had 8 fights. I agree Simmonds is tough but it is difficult to win with a small team even if it has a lot of tough players. The Rangers have a gritty team but the Kings ground them down. In the 2011 playoffs, you may remember that the Bruins took the middle of the ice away from the Flyers and kept the puck near the boards which the Bruins controlled. The Flyers have so many forwards under 200 lbs which makes it difficult to come out with the puck and it also makes it difficult to be effective in front of the other teams net. Look at the size of the King's forwards, they are absolutely huge. And, they had several guys who got in a lot of fights - Nolan, Clifford, Carcillo. That's the prototype I would follow. I would have kept Rosehill. If he got the playing time Nolan and Clifford got, his goal numbers would be similar. He's probably a better skater than Nolan. I just don't see the down side. If are relying on your 4th line to score a lot of goals, you have much bigger problems than who's skating on your fourth line. You better take a look at the players on your top three lines because they are not producing enough.
- Bergey

Sources tell me this post has been sent directly to Ron Hextall's Comcast in box and appears to be read. Congratulations, Flyers parade in June, jay Rosehill with the Conn Smythe!