If they are in that spot I'd give strong thought to making moves to gain picks
- ob18

Absolutely. Even if they are in the hunt, but scuffling for a wildcard, I'd be shopping defensemen and veteran forwards.

Agreed. If they're missing, might as well miss by a lot and get a better pick. I'm not discounting that possibility. I'm just not discounting the possibility of them going on a bit of a run.
- Jsaquella

It's a possibility. However, I can't see Voracek keeping up this pace for 82 games, and outside of the top line, I just don't see anyone else stepping up. If Berube is going to keep rolling out VLC, Umberger, Akeson, VDV and Rinaldo every night, well, that just doesn't say playoffs to me. That's nearly 2 full lines of crap.

Absolutely. Even if they are in the hunt, but scuffling for a wildcard, I'd be shopping defensemen and veteran forwards.
- Jsaquella

Absolutely. Even if they are in the hunt, but scuffling for a wildcard, I'd be shopping defensemen and veteran forwards.
- Jsaquella

It would certainly go against what they've done in the past for the most part.

It would certainly go against what they've done in the past for the most part.
- ob18

I'm hoping new GM, new mindset

I'm hoping new GM, new mindset
- BiggE

So far the fact he's done the best he can to keep the prospects learning in the AHL shows a new mindset.

So far the fact he's done the best he can to keep the prospects learning in the AHL shows a new mindset.
- ob18

Agreed and I'm very happy with that.

It's a possibility. However, I can't see Voracek keeping up this pace for 82 games, and outside of the top line, I just don't see anyone else stepping up. If Berube is going to keep rolling out VLC, Umberger, Akeson, VDV and Rinaldo every night, well, that just doesn't say playoffs to me. That's nearly 2 full lines of crap.
- BiggE

When Schenn & MacDonald return, I'd advocate exploring a trade to add another good playmaking forward to the top six. I think that, if they're willing to consider trade a guy like Coburn, they could add that.

The reason I suggest Coburn is, as exlund and a couple others have pointed out, his contract is up in a couple years, and he's going to be demanding a sizeable raise. While I think he's still a good defenseman, there's no way in Hell I want to pay Coburn $6mm a year.

If they could do something like Coburn for Perron, with other assets mixed in (I'd really like to get a 2nd rounder back in that), I'd be all for it.

It would certainly go against what they've done in the past for the most part.
- ob18

Absolutely.

Vinny is a complete disaster. He looked horrible on the power play. Nearly falling and tripping himself several times. Nearly all of his shots getting blocked. An abomination

Agreed and I'm very happy with that.
- BiggE

Keep Laughton down until February at least

Vinny is a complete disaster. He looked horrible on the power play. Nearly falling and tripping himself several times. Nearly all of his shots getting blocked. An abomination
- Just5

Lecavalier was awful last night. Absolutely dreadful.

I'm hoping new GM, new mindset
- BiggE

/pray

When Schenn & MacDonald return, I'd advocate exploring a trade to add another good playmaking forward to the top six. I think that, if they're willing to consider trade a guy like Coburn, they could add that.

The reason I suggest Coburn is, as exlund and a couple others have pointed out, his contract is up in a couple years, and he's going to be demanding a sizeable raise. While I think he's still a good defenseman, there's no way in Hell I want to pay Coburn $6mm a year.

If they could do something like Coburn for Perron, with other assets mixed in (I'd really like to get a 2nd rounder back in that), I'd be all for it.
- Jsaquella

Coburn for Perron and the Oiler's 2nd in 2015 works for me.

Lecavalier was awful last night. Absolutely dreadful.
- Jsaquella

Honestly, I'd rather see Jones in the lineup than either VLC or Umberger at this point.

Honestly, I'd rather see Jones in the lineup than either VLC or Umberger at this point.
- BiggE

I wouldn't mind seeing Laughton. I think he's ready. He's been great in AHL. Gostisbehere had some head turning play, but had some obvious work still to do. Laughton's been the Phantoms best player.

I wouldn't mind seeing Laughton. I think he's ready. He's been great in AHL. Gostisbehere had some head turning play, but had some obvious work still to do. Laughton's been the Phantoms best player.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, I hear you. But it seems like Hexy is in no rush to bring any of the kids up. If it was up to me, I'd wait til Raffl returns, waive Umberger, waive/send down Akeson and bring up Laughton. I'd go with:

Schenn-Giroux-Jake
Raffl-Couturier-Read
Bellemare-Laughton-Simmonds
Rinaldo-VDV-Jones
spare: VLC

It ain't much of a 4th line, but they just don't have the horses to do much better and Akeson is a liability playing with Rinaldo and VDV, may as well go with the bigger, better defensively guy in Jones.

Yeah, I hear you. But it seems like Hexy is in no rush to bring any of the kids up. If it was up to me, I'd wait til Raffl returns, waive Umberger, waive/send down Akeson and bring up Laughton. I'd go with:

Schenn-Giroux-Jake
Raffl-Couturier-Read
Bellemare-Laughton-Simmonds
Rinaldo-VDV-Jones
spare: VLC

It ain't much of a 4th line, but they just don't have the horses to do much better and Akeson is a liability playing with Rinaldo and VDV, may as well go with the bigger, better defensively guy in Jones.
- BiggE

Except Jones isn't that good defensively and has been truly awful when he's gotten into the line up

I wouldn't mind seeing Laughton. I think he's ready. He's been great in AHL. Gostisbehere had some head turning play, but had some obvious work still to do. Laughton's been the Phantoms best player.
- Jsaquella

IMO, don't want any of the kids near Berube right now. Let them get their tough love, and tons of minutes, from Murray. Don't think Ghost gained anything from his call up at all.

IMO, don't want any of the kids near Berube right now. Let them get their tough love, and tons of minutes, from Murray. Don't think Ghost gained anything from his call up at all.
- Tomahawk

I wouldn't mind seeing Laughton. I think he's ready. He's been great in AHL. Gostisbehere had some head turning play, but had some obvious work still to do. Laughton's been the Phantoms best player.
- Jsaquella

I was watching the Phantoms game last night on WFMZ and Laughton looked great.
Also got to see Haag looking reasonable. They have no scoring depth, really unfortunate.
Didnt see the end of the game, went out to catch a band locally.
Unfortunately the FLyers were on all the screens at the bar

IMO, don't want any of the kids near Berube right now. Let them get their tough love, and tons of minutes, from Murray. Don't think Ghost gained anything from his call up at all.
- Tomahawk

That's a factor, but I think that Laughton would see a regular role. He's not a guy that would be playing 4 minutes or 12 as a defenseman

I was watching the Phantoms game last night on WFMZ and Laughton looked great.
Also got to see Haag looking reasonable. They have no scoring depth, really unfortunate.
Didnt see the end of the game, went out to catch a band locally.
Unfortunately the FLyers were on all the screens at the bar

- Steelmanpa

At least you were at a bar

waive/send down Akeson.
- BiggE

Guess the bright side of Chief whittling Arty's confidence to a nub is that he's even less likely to get claimed by another team now.

That's a factor, but I think that Laughton would see a regular role. He's not a guy that would be playing 4 minutes or 12 as a defenseman
- Jsaquella

I would have said the same about Ghost before he came up, too. Gus, Akeson, Coots/Read usage... can you trust this guy to prioritize development and long term goals right now? He's coaching for his life.