I hope the flyers get one of : McDavid (duh), Barzal, Rantanen, Provorov, Zacha, Werenski. I don't want Crouse, maybe at 12, not at 7 or 8. Meier maybe at 8.

I hope the flyers get one of : McDavid (duh), Barzal, Rantanen, Provorov, Zacha, Werenski. I don't want Crouse, maybe at 12, not at 7 or 8. Meier maybe at 8.
- flyerscup2011

I want either McDavid, Eichel, Hanifin, Strome, Marner, Barzal, Provorov, Rantanen or Werenski. The good news is we have a chance to get a least one of them. The bad news is I could see us taking Crouse.

who is everyone rooting for this playoffs?

many will say chicago for kimo which is fine.

im an yzerman fan so i wont mind if tampa does well.

id like to see winnipeg and nashville go deep this year.

winnepeg doesn't have the "star power" that other teams have but they have a blue collar group of hard working, character guys. wouldn't mind seeing them get rewarded.
- black_francis

Chicago vs Ottawa. Kimmo vs the underdog. Just want to see Timonen go out on a high note.

Lombardi confirmed the Kings locked Sutter out of the dressing room.
- Jsaquella

I think this is the goofiest thing I've heard.

Captain Dustin Brown is putting up bottom six offensive numbers. Sniper Jeff Carter cannot reach 30 and more and only has reached 40 once in his career. Mike Richards isn't taking the game serious enough, which is why he was traded from here and sent to the AHL by the Kings. Justin Williams is simply getting older. Regher is old.

I'm failing to understand how the Kings problems are on the Coach. In fact, judging by this lack of maturity, he hasn't been hard enough.

I want either McDavid, Eichel, Hanifin, Strome, Marner, Barzal, Provorov, Rantanen or Werenski. The good news is we have a chance to get a least one of them. The bad news is I could see us taking Crouse.
- aflyerpower8

Heading into the draft, this is one of those times where I'm worried where drafting the "Best player available" will get us. Last year after signing Vinny to become our second line center, fans were up in arms that Schenn should center the second line. Even if we didn't sign Vinny, we drafted Laughton. Fast forward to today, if we draft another center like Strome or Marner, where does the newby fit with Giroux, Couturier and next up Laughton coming on to the roster? Then when you consider drafting another defenseman strengthening our already strong defensive prospects, how do you fit in the next guy after Sanheim, Morin, Hagg, Manning and Gostisbehere already waiting within the system?

It's a good problem to have should we go in these directions but using the example of acquiring Schenn and Couturier as an example, just to draft Laughton a year later. Now we push Schenn to the wing. Isn't it just best to avoid the issue all together and fill a need when you have two firsts and a second?

Heading into the draft, this is one of those times where I'm worried where drafting the "Best player available" will get us. Last year after signing Vinny to become our second line center, fans were up in arms that Schenn should center the second line. Even if we didn't sign Vinny, we drafted Laughton. Fast forward to today, if we draft another center like Strome or Marner, where does the newby fit with Giroux, Couturier and next up Laughton coming on to the roster? Then when you consider drafting another defenseman strengthening our already strong defensive prospects, how do you fit in the next guy after Sanheim, Morin, Hagg, Manning and Gostisbehere already waiting within the system?

It's a good problem to have should we go in these directions but using the example of acquiring Schenn and Couturier as an example, just to draft Laughton a year later. Now we push Schenn to the wing. Isn't it just best to avoid the issue all together and fill a need when you have two firsts and a second?
- SuperSchennBros

Use the lottery pick on BPA than use Tampa ' s pick on need.

Heading into the draft, this is one of those times where I'm worried where drafting the "Best player available" will get us. Last year after signing Vinny to become our second line center, fans were up in arms that Schenn should center the second line. Even if we didn't sign Vinny, we drafted Laughton. Fast forward to today, if we draft another center, where does the newby fit with Giroux, Couturier and next up Laughton coming on to the roster? Then when you consider drafting another defenseman strengthening our already strong defensive prospects, how do you fit in the next guy after Sanheim, Morin, Hagg, Manning and Gostisbehere already waiting within the system?

It's a good problem to have should we go in these directions but using the example of acquiring Schenn and Couturier as an example, just to draft Laughton a year later. Now we push Schenn to the wing. Isn't it just best to avoid the issue all together and fill a need when you have two firsts and a second?
- SuperSchennBros

Do you pass up a potential number one center and draft a guy who might be a third line winger, just because you have Schenn, Couturier & Laughton? Not me.

If Barzal is the pick, he's almost immediately the most talented forward in th system. If Provorov is the pick, he's potentially the best defenseman in the system behind Sanheim. No way do I pass up that because there's others in the system or on the roster.

If they win the lottery, should they pass up McDavid?

You guys think Amac will fall to 5/6?
- Giroux_Is_God

I don't even like MacDonald but I at least view him as a 3/4 defenseman. I saw like three guys call him a 4/5 guy. Ouch!

Do you pass up a potential number one center and draft a guy who might be a third line winger, just because you have Schenn, Couturier & Laughton? Not me.

If Barzal is the pick, he's almost immediately the most talented forward in th system. If Provorov is the pick, he's potentially the best defenseman in the system behind Sanheim. No way do I pass up that because there's others in the system or on the roster.

If they win the lottery, should they pass up McDavid?
- Jsaquella

You kind of missed the point. We all know this is a deep draft, correct? Regardless of who we pick, he's not going anywhere. The guys who come into question for me now are Schenn, Couturier and Laughton. Many disagree with me but Laughton would be my odd man out. Couturier and Schenn are two very young NHL players right now. Laughton could be flipped for a prospect at a position of need. That's just my thinking.

Use the lottery pick on BPA than use Tampa ' s pick on need.
- MatveiDmitrii

My thoughts exactly.

I don't even like MacDonald but I at least view him as a 3/4 defenseman. I saw like three guys call him a 4/5 guy. Ouch!
- SuperSchennBros

He has 2nd pairing ability on most teams. He did not have a stellar season.

Short enough?

He has 2nd pairing ability on most teams. He did not have a stellar season.

Short enough?
- 77rams

Agreed.

You kind of missed the point. We all know this is a deep draft, correct? Regardless of who we pick, he's not going anywhere. The guys who come into question for me now is Schenn, Couturier and Laughton. Many disagree with me but Laughton would be my odd man out. Couturier and Schenn are two very young NHL players right now. Laughton could be flipped for a prospect at a position of need. That's just my thinking.
- SuperSchennBros

I think you make a valid point. If the Flyers draft a dynamic center, that could lead to a player being traded somewhere down the line. Keep in mind, that the player they draft may not be in the NHL for a while. I don't care who they draft, I'm just excited that the Flyers will be adding some quality assets to the prospect pool.

You kind of missed the point. We all know this is a deep draft, correct? Regardless of who we pick, he's not going anywhere. The guys who come into question for me now is Schenn, Couturier and Laughton. Many disagree with me but Laughton would be my odd man out. Couturier and Schenn are two very young NHL players right now. Laughton could be flipped for a prospect at a position of need. That's just my thinking.
- SuperSchennBros

Any of them could be odd man out. Schenn has shown flashes at wing and center and said he liked playing RW. He could be a candidate to slide there, and Laughton could be the 3rd line C or 4th line C for awhile, if not traded. if they get a guy like Barzal, they can also use any of the three as trade bait. It doesn't matter to me if they have a good young player and can replace one of the guys they're dealing.

The bottom line is, they need more skill and depth, regardless of position.

He has 2nd pairing ability on most teams. He did not have a stellar season.

Short enough?
- 77rams

I thought MacDonald had a slow start to the season, but played very well in the 2nd half of the season. The biggest criticism I have towards him, is he needs to make more of an impact offensively.

I think you make a valid point. If the Flyers draft a dynamic center, that could lead to a player being traded somewhere down the line. Keep in mind, that the player they draft may not be in the NHL for a while. I don't care who they draft, I'm just excited that the Flyers will be adding some quality assets to the prospect pool.
- MJL

Over two months away but still a very exciting time simply by the two picks in a deep draft alone. When Richards and Carter were drafted in 2003, we didn't even have a young roster at that time. Richards and Carter were handed roster spots right after the lockout. Things become even more interesting now.

i really hate this playoff format.

Any of them could be odd man out. Schenn has shown flashes at wing and center and said he liked playing RW. He could be a candidate to slide there, and Laughton could be the 3rd line C or 4th line C for awhile, if not traded. if they get a guy like Barzal, they can also use any of the three as trade bait. It doesn't matter to me if they have a good young player and can replace one of the guys they're dealing.

The bottom line is, they need more skill and depth, regardless of position.
- Jsaquella

I would be thinkin good hands, skating and nature shooting ability. I think we have to walk away with a guy who can pick a spot and hit his target 8 out of 10 tries.

I thought MacDonald had a slow start to the season, but played very well in the 2nd half of the season. The biggest criticism I have towards him, is he needs to make more of an impact offensively.
- MJL

He certainly fell short of his contractual expectations this season.

i really hate this playoff format.
- stayinthefnnet

Really? I love it!! It was tough watching that terrible southern division be handed a third seed.

i really hate this playoff format.
- stayinthefnnet

You're in.

Quit whining.

He certainly fell short of his contractual expectations this season.
- 77rams

That's subjective. I think the concerns of the contract are drastically overblown, and when a team struggles as the Flyers did this year, there are players that are scapegoated. That doesn't change that I feel that there are areas where he can improve, but other then a few players, that can be said for pretty much every player on this team.

Really? I love it!! It was tough watching that terrible southern division be handed a third seed.
- SuperSchennBros

i cant get behind it.

i dont know. its not even from a pens perspective. i think the rags will dispatch them in 5, but really it doesnt matter much. i think they could have taken out ottawa, detroit, or montreal in the conference, but sans letang, they dont really have a shot against either NYR, NYI, or the caps so this just speeds up the inevitable.

but looking at some of the matchups, especially out west. its just a little annoying. chi/nash as a first round matchup is off to me. i guess one could argue that it brings intrigue to a first round series, but to me its more on the dumb side of the coin.

i also like seeing different matchups, and this arrangement makes it more difficult for those to occur.

I would be think good hands, skating and nature shooting ability. I think we have to walk away with a guy who can pick a spot and hit his target 8 out of 10 tries.
- SuperSchennBros

There might not be a pure sniper at 7 or 8, but there's going to be talented players on the board. They have enough systemic needs that position isn't a huge concern to me.

Stockpile skill and if you have a glut at one position, you can make trades to address needs.

Berube pointed out that there are other players -- Patrice Bergeron being the most notable -- who carry very heavy defensive burdens with lots of head-to-head minutes against top lines and a majority defensive zone starts but still find ways to score or at least end the shift in the offensive zone.

I don't entirely accept that explanation but there is a bit of truth to it in that I believe Couturier is still capable of doing more offensively even with his role as it is.
- bmeltzer

Not until they consistently give him decent linemates.

Top-3 players they shared ice-time with...

Bergeron: Marchand, R. Smith, D. Hamilton
Couturier: Matt Read, Nick Schultz, Umberger


And he wonders why Coots can't get out of the d-zone and light it up like Bergy?