IMO, we would have taken Milano, had he been available.

well the eagles d was yet another giant embarrassment
- 2Real

Rank these 4 in order from best to worst: Eagles' defense, Flyers' defense, Phillies' defense, Sixers' defense.

I'm a huge fan of Fleury, but I don't think his overall game is better than Sanheim's, to be honest. I think Sanheim is better defensively, and that should only continue as he adds more muscle.
- jmatchett383

See, and here I agree. I think Sanheim IS better positionally, but I think Fleury has better mobility.

I don't know that the two were really compared head to head though. I think Sanheim's bigger competition in camp was probably Dillon Heatherington, who played pretty great.

IMO, we would have taken Milano, had he been available.
- MrBigglesworth

Not a fan, he wore sandals.

Well, IF Canada keeps Morin and plays him as Bill predicted, I think that could be a move in the right direction. Players like Sanheim likely offer more in the way of scoring and puck movement, but Morin's game is more made for penalty killing/5v5 shutdown that most of the higher-profile CHL players.

But even Leier last year, he was a 37-goal scorer on a stacked Portland team. And what was he? He was the spare forward who got spot shifts here and there. Much like Laughton, who was near the OHL scoring leaders (if you throw away his games missed due to suspension), they preferred to play the "name" guys repeatedly, even if they weren't showing up in the score sheet. It seemed like Drouin and McDabid played close to 25 minutes/game and everyone else was just thrown in randomly.
- jmatchett383

All true, but Laughton was named Captain and pretty much served as the "shutdown" center on that team IIRC.

Thanks Bill. I hope to see White soon as well. I also wish that they would bring Jones back up. Both of those guys should bring some grit, and be tough to play against. However, I am afraid that coach likes Rinaldo too much to send him back down, or put him on waivers. It seems like coach has his favorites, and we just have to live with it; ie. Coby. In addition, I would have liked to see more of Carlo. I know that in the past he might of had injury issues, but I liked his style of play.
Keep working on those line changes, and the PK coach. Once those two issues are addressed, I think that the team confidence will continue to grow.
Thanks.

See, and here I agree. I think Sanheim IS better positionally, but I think Fleury has better mobility.

I don't know that the two were really compared head to head though. I think Sanheim's bigger competition in camp was probably Dillon Heatherington, who played pretty great.
- BINGO!

I think the big thing going against Sanheim was the 19-year-old competition as well as the "name" factor. I'm not trying to be an excuse maker, but Fleury is the sexier name that more people know. If Sanheim gets cut and they lose...well, it's on the team. If Fleury gets cut and they lose, how dare they not take Fleury. Do you know what I mean?

But yes, if we put them head-to-head, I think their overall games are fairly even with each having slight edges over the other in different areas.

Still just 18 and weighs about 180 pounds, so it's not a big surprise given the field of competition. Sanheim will go next year and may be even be a top-pairing guy for Canada next year. Just making it to this stage shows how highly regarded he is.
- bmeltzer

Good learning experience

well the eagles d was yet another giant embarrassment
- 2Real

Have we seen enough of CBs Fletcher and Williams? This unit absolutely blows!

All true, but Laughton was named Captain and pretty much served as the "shutdown" center on that team IIRC.
- MBFlyerfan

Yes, he was captain and named as the shutdown center (playing Couturier's role here). He was given little of an offensive role, and used almost exclusively to shutdown the other team's top players. So, like we've been saying with Couturier, it's great the he's able to take that role, but you'd also like to see him be able to contribute offensively. Laughton wasn't given that chance.

Have we seen enough of CBs Fletcher and Williams? This unit absolutely blows!
- BOSS_TWEED

Bring back Patrick Chung!

Motto of the season:

Flyers - Too good for Macdavid, not good enough for playoffs.

Motto of the season:

Flyers - Too good for Macdavid, not good enough for playoffs.
- PhillaBully

We don't like yer kind round ere, what with your goal scorin and fancy skatin. We like it when yah ain't got none yer teeth left and HIT SUMBUDDY!

That will likely be one of the preseason games next year. As much as we're all hoping, it's unlikely that all 4 of them become NHL regulars. That's why you need prospect depth, so that if only 1-2 of your top prospects make it, you have some more guys in the pipeline who will get their chance in another 1-2 years.
- jmatchett383

you don't think all 4 will be regulars? if so, which ones do you think won't be/will be?

Well, IF Canada keeps Morin and plays him as Bill predicted, I think that could be a move in the right direction. Players like Sanheim likely offer more in the way of scoring and puck movement, but Morin's game is more made for penalty killing/5v5 shutdown that most of the higher-profile CHL players.

But even Leier last year, he was a 37-goal scorer on a stacked Portland team. And what was he? He was the spare forward who got spot shifts here and there. Much like Laughton, who was near the OHL scoring leaders (if you throw away his games missed due to suspension), they preferred to play the "name" guys repeatedly, even if they weren't showing up in the score sheet. It seemed like Drouin and McDabid played close to 25 minutes/game and everyone else was just thrown in randomly.
- jmatchett383

Well I think that can be more of a coaching problem. I think they went in with the assumption that if they stacked the top 2 lines, they'd score six goals every game and never lose.

Still, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. If I were them, I would spread the talent throughout the lineup and roll 4 lines and 3 pairings. I think you're doing the other team a favor when you load up the talent on one or two lines.

I think the big thing going against Sanheim was the 19-year-old competition as well as the "name" factor. I'm not trying to be an excuse maker, but Fleury is the sexier name that more people know. If Sanheim gets cut and they lose...well, it's on the team. If Fleury gets cut and they lose, how dare they not take Fleury. Do you know what I mean?

But yes, if we put them head-to-head, I think their overall games are fairly even with each having slight edges over the other in different areas.
- jmatchett383

Didn't McKenzie at the draft say that Sanheim could actually become the best of the players taken in the first round. He was pretty high on him and the year before he was high on Morin and nailed the Flyers taking him.

If Sanheim can become our McDonaugh it is hard to be disappointed in the pick.

Motto of the season:

Flyers - Too good for Macdavid, not good enough for playoffs.
- PhillaBully

highest non playoff team has a higher chance at 1st overall now

you don't think all 4 will be regulars? if so, which ones do you think won't be/will be?
- arichardson22

I'm not going to predict which ones will/won't be. I'm just stating that not all top juniors/NCAA/European prospects turn out the be NHL regulars, so I don't think we can say with any type of assurance that all 4 will be NHL regulars for the next 5-10 years.

We don't like yer kind round ere, what with your goal scorin and fancy skatin. We like it when yah ain't got none yer teeth left and HIT SUMBUDDY!
- jmatchett383

says hi

Maybe Couturier was just so good at shutting players down that he accidentally shut himself down and just realized this as of recent

you don't think all 4 will be regulars? if so, which ones do you think won't be/will be?
- arichardson22

I think it is more that it is hard to hit on every prospect. Injuries and things happen that maybe hinder a prospects development. Sometime players just don't develop like you thought they would.

highest non playoff team has a higher chance at 1st overall now
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I'm not going to predict which ones will/won't be. I'm just stating that not all top juniors/NCAA/European prospects turn out the be NHL regulars, so I don't think we can say with any type of assurance that all 4 will be NHL regulars for the next 5-10 years.
- jmatchett383

I agree. I'd say there is a good chance that at least one or two of the big four prospects never develops into anything more than a third pairing guy

Didn't McKenzie at the draft say that Sanheim could actually become the best of the players taken in the first round. He was pretty high on him and the year before he was high on Morin and nailed the Flyers taking him.

If Sanheim can become our McDonaugh it is hard to be disappointed in the pick.
- J35Bacher

I don't know if he said that, as Ekblad is regarded as a potential franchise player. But he did make the comparison to McDonaugh. I have to admit, I wasn't a fan of the pick, but after watching him, that is the player he reminds me of. Will be interesting to see him as he matures.

Maybe Couturier was just so good at shutting players down that he accidentally shut himself down and just realized this as of recent
- Trainfellow

I actually think this was probably true to an extent. You get in to a certain mindset. It is nice to see him start to assert himself offensively, we know he can do it.