The Flyers should trade Laughton straight up or with a draft pick for another teams LW prospect

(William Nylander, Nikolaj Ehlers, Brendan Perlini, Jakub Vrana, Sonny Milano. Hunter Shinkaruk, Andre Burakovsky)

Then the lines should be

(New LW) Giroux Vor
Raffl schenn Simmonds
Umberger Couts Read
Bell Vinny Atk

This way you would have 4 strong lines that could be played in any situation.

Is this a joke post? Giroux is the highest scoring player in the league this decade.

He also beat 1st overall Crosby and 2nd overall Malkin in a playoff series.
- Feanor

Giroux is hardly the problem....my god.

Is this a joke post? Giroux is the highest scoring player in the league this decade.
- Feanor

So. Do you think he is better than Stamkos? Or Crosby? Or Patrick Kane? How bout Toews?

Getting quality top players in the teens in the first round is not an exception.
- MJL

It's highly draft year dependent.

Like finding Claude Giroux in 2006 was a minor miracle, considering how poopty that 1st-round was outside of the top-5 picks.

Finding Jeff Carter and Mike Richards in 2003 on the other hand, was expected, considering that was a stupid-deep draft.

You're definitely not going to need a top-5 pick to get a good/great player this year.

Don't need to.
- MJL

apparently you do.

I think it's a mistake not giving Schenn a chance to play center. You realize the only reason their doing that, right? It's because they are scared that he'll do well, and then they'll have a huge problem on their hands when Vinnie comes

So they're again forcing a player to play out of position to cover a GM's mistake.
- TheGreat28

If the front office and coaching staff is that weak minded then this team is truly (frank)ed.

That's just based on what happened with 10/40/17 last year. I'd like to see that line together when Lecavalier comes back.
- MJL

I think you're alone there.

I get that. I think what hurts Schenn is that he isn't going to be a 2nd line center here. I think they want to get Couturier more dynamic wingers and let Laughton play his roll as a defensive thrid line center eventually. That is why they are trying to play Schenn at wing.
- J35Bacher

So, this is a prediction and we have no way to validate it. But bookmark it (actually, is there a way to bookmark a post?)

G-Couturier-Laughton will never be the 1-2-3 centers here for more than a half-year experiment. They just won't score enough goals with that trio. Hextall said he wants a dynamic 1-2 punch down the middle. I just don't see that with Couts as number 2.

Again, prediction. We can debate now, but I'll go on the record for future ribbing if I'm wrong.

It's not all on other players or on the Coach. It's mostly on Schenn. Before last night's game, he hasn't been very good. To dismiss his own play as a factor is foolish. He hasn't been getting in the open spots or going to scoring areas enough.
- MJL

And that is where i am with Schenn. You only get so many chances to make an impression. I would love to see him succeed but I think there are too many games he just doesn't seem engaged. Him and Couturier are supposed to be our building blocks with Giroux. But I feel that Couturier is pushing more and engaging himself. Even when not scoring he is still doing something. If Schenn isn't scoring it seems he really isn't bringing something else.

I think it's a mistake not giving Schenn a chance to play center. You realize the only reason their doing that, right? It's because they are scared that he'll do well, and then they'll have a huge problem on their hands when Vinnie comes back.

So they're again forcing a player to play out of position to cover a GM's mistake.
- TheGreat28

I think they're doing it because Schenn has real issues at center. Like not being a great passer, or good at faceoffs, and lacking hockey sense.

If the front office and coaching staff is that weak minded then this team is truly (frank)ed.
- JoeRussomanno

Berube implied as much.

Mike Richards didn't win a cup with the Flyers but won one with 2nd overall pick Doughty. He also never beat 1st overall Crosby and 2nd overall Malkin in a playoff series while a member of the Flyers.

As the #1 center on the Flyers, Giroux's greatest achievement has been getting rolled out the 2nd round by the New Jersey Devils. Also making team Canada last year proved he was way better than all those top 5 picked forwards on the rosters..... Oh wait. But he did get nominated for an award at the end the season. Ovechkin has won a ton of post season wards for perspective.

What exactly has Claude Giroux done to warrant so much admiration? Lindros was run out of town for not doing enough yet this guys orange Jesus. Since when did Flyers fans standards get so low.
- psuhockey

It's not Giroux's fault he hasn't been on Cup contender teams.

And that is where i am with Schenn. You only get so many chances to make an impression. I would love to see him succeed but I think there are too many games he just doesn't seem engaged. Him and Couturier are supposed to be our building blocks with Giroux. But I feel that Couturier is pushing more and engaging himself. Even when not scoring he is still doing something. If Schenn isn't scoring it seems he really isn't bringing something else.
- J35Bacher

Wherever the (frank)ing light switch is located on Brayden Schenn, I wish someone would find it.

So. Do you think he is better than Stamkos? Or Crosby? Or Patrick Kane? How bout Toews?
- psuhockey

He's better than Kane and as good as Toews. Crosby is a lot better, but has health issues. The only one I'd rather have is Stamkos.

Berube implied as much.
- TheGreat28

Ok it appears i need to edit hextall's to do list... Move fire berube up between 2 and 1

I think they're doing it because Schenn has real issues at center. Like not being a great passer, or good at faceoffs, and lacking hockey sense.
- Feanor

Again, you have to play him with the right wings. The faceoff thing is something he can work on. G wasn't very good early on. Hockey sense? Well, let's play him at one position for a stretch with some offensive talent and see how he does.

I think they're doing it because Schenn has real issues at center. Like not being a great passer, or good at faceoffs, and lacking hockey sense.
- Feanor

You know....some of the things you need to be good at when you play center in hockey.

Wherever the (frank)ing light switch is located on Brayden Schenn, I wish someone would find it.
- johndewar

Its on the plane heading to winnipeg.

It's highly draft year dependent.

Like finding Claude Giroux in 2006 was a minor miracle, considering how poopty that 1st-round was outside of the top-5 picks.

Finding Jeff Carter and Mike Richards in 2003 on the other hand, was expected, considering that was a stupid-deep draft.

You're definitely not going to need a top-5 pick to get a good/great player this year.
- Tomahawk

I believe they also had Trevor Lewis and Bobby Sanguinetti ranked higher than Giroux but LA and NYR took them, respectively.

Hexy needs to build around Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Cooty, Coburn and Mason and purge the rest

I think you're alone there.
- Tomahawk

I wouldn't be so sure. CFP might go back to that line once Lecavalier returns.

He's going to get right on line combinations after he finishes writing his shootout stand-up act.

So. Do you think he is better than Stamkos? Or Crosby? Or Patrick Kane? How bout Toews?
- psuhockey

Offensive Prowess:
Yes, No, Yes, Yes

Defensive Prowess:
Push, Push, Yes, No

"Build a Team Around" Factor:
Push, No, Yes, No

Overall Assessment:
I would take Giroux over Kane any day, Stamkos and Toews are pushes, and Crosby we all know is far and away the better player.

But this is stupid, because Giroux is better than 99.9% of the players on this earth that play the forward position. People that rag on him are silly. He is a top 7, maybe 5, forward in this league.

Now I'm really done. Before I get sucked in.

Bye.

Giroux is hardly the problem....my god.
- landros 2

I am not saying Giroux is the problem. It was a discussion on talent at various points in the draft. Giroux is a great player, although my point is valid of him getting far less blame for the Flyers mediocrity than Lindros ever got even though Lindros was a far superior player. But I don't think Giroux is generational or tops at his position. I would take the top pick guys of Tavares, Stamkos, or Toews over him.

So, this is a prediction and we have no way to validate it. But bookmark it (actually, is there a way to bookmark a post?)

G-Couturier-Laughton will never be the 1-2-3 centers here for more than a half-year experiment. They just won't score enough goals with that trio. Hextall said he wants a dynamic 1-2 punch down the middle. I just don't see that with Couts as number 2.

Again, prediction. We can debate now, but I'll go on the record for future ribbing if I'm wrong.
- TheGreat28

You know having the right wingers help. Getting the right wingers with Giroux and Couturier those lines will be fine. Couturier put up back to back 96 point seasons and was talked about as the number one pick before getting mono. I think he will be find once he has the right wingers. The aren't banking on Laughton being a high point producer but more a shutdown center. But he could still put up points. A line of Laughton - Leirer would still be able to create chances while also playing solid d.

Again, you have to play him with the right wings. The faceoff thing is something he can work on. G wasn't very good early on. Hockey sense? Well, let's play him at one position for a stretch with some offensive talent and see how he does.
- TheGreat28

Who are the "right wings"? Brett Hull and Glenn Anderson?

Give me a (frank)ing break. The kid has played 200+ NHL games. I get that he's 22, but he's got experience. He'll get more, but he's not immune to criticism and shouldn't be.

Whatever bug is up his ass, he needs to kill it, because he doesn't help this team win hockey games at all.