I wouldn't want MDZ playing 35 minutes a night. MacDonald is better defensively than MDZ, the shot attempt numbers from last season show that. But MDZ is much better offensively.

I'm quite happy that the MDZ-Schenn pairing Berube persisted with seems to be a thing of the past. MDZ's a gambler and was our best ES scorer on D because of that... and that's not someone you want paired with a slow footed guy like Luke.
- Feanor

Absolutely -- I'm not trying to sugar-coat MDZ's weaknesses. He is simply more equipped to handle bigger minutes, in today's NHL, because if he is merely adequate, he will score enough to offset

I agree: He has to have the right partner. And I admit that I don't know if it flies over 82 games

I am hoping so. That's all I got

New blob, bee-yotches

I doubt he would have refused the job over 1 player. This was probably his dream job. Even in LA, he bled orange.
- BOSS_TWEED

well if snider overruled him then that would be a red flag. one that he knows he may be overruled again at some time.

From what we've seen of Hexy's methodical team-building approach, I think it's pretty safe to say that he had very limited input into how the AMac thing went down.
- Tomahawk

I think that's poor speculation. Hextall was the assistant GM. To state that it's safe to say that Hextall had very limited input into the acquisition is to state that Holmgren kept his top assistant out of the loop and the decision making on a major acquisition. I think it's safe to say that your speculation is false.

I think that's poor speculation. Hextall was the assistant GM. To state that it's safe to say that Hextall had very limited input into the acquisition is to state that Holmgren kept his top assistant out of the loop and the decision making on a major acquisition. I think it's safe to say that your speculation is false.
- MJL

(just an excuse to put JLaw into the thread again)

Congrats!!!
- mayorofangrytown

Thanks!

(just an excuse to put JLaw into the thread again)
- Tomahawk

Well at least that's nice to look at, and nice diversion over reading the absurd suggestion that the Asst. GM was not heavily involved in a major player acquisition.

Last night was the 1st Flyers's preseason game I've seen this year.
I'm in Gatineau, Canada, just added to my cable subscription my NHL Sports package for ONLY 40$ a month.


I was really unimpressed with the play of some of the new faces and some vets also:

Gagner, Lecavalier, Gudas, Luke Schenn, Amac. They all had a poor game and some really looked terrible last night.

-Gagner was really weak on the puck, lost a few battles and got pushed off the puck easily. He didn't do much out there or show some of his playmaking abilities, creativity. I was really hoping he could add some much needed skill to this team, granted it's only one preseason game.

-Lecavalier at center wasn't effective. Didn't find any FO% stats but it looked like VLC lost most of them and made a few bad plays and passes. Didn't really notice any improvement in his skating either.

-Gudas and Luke Schenn looked really slow as expected. Often out of position and they had a few turnovers and horrible clearing attempts on the PK.

-L. Schenn, like last year, seems to play the puck like a hot potato and looks like he ''throws'' the puck away every time he feels pressured. I keep getting the impression he can't perceive correctly the time he has or the distance between him and the opposition when pressured by an opponent. When Coburn was still with the team nursing an injury and watching games from the press box, he mentioned being surprised at the time and distance players actually have watching from a distance.

On the other hand, , Laughton, Simmonds, B. Schenn, Streit and Mason looked great last night.

-Laughton looked like he belongs in the NHL last night (FO, speed, grit, made some nice plays,) even if he was on the ice for the tying goal in the last min of the 3rd. I hope he starts the season with the team this year.

-Streit played great also, he was poised with the puck, took his time made nice passes.

-Simmonds showed speed and grit, great puck possession and winning battles on the wall, typical Simmer.

-B. Schenn had a great game also, looked fast made a nice play on the PP getting the assist on the Simmonds goal.

Mason was exceptionnal.

Overall, last night was a typical Rangers - Flyers game of the past few seasons: outshot, inability to create quality scoring chances, losing the puck possession game and being caught in our Dzone with the inability to clear or have clean / crisp breakouts.

About the new ''system change'', I did notice our Dman holding our blueline a little more, more neutral zone presence when defending forcing the other team to dump and chase. Also noticed more breakouts through the center of our d-zone and the centermen getting back a little deeper.

Can't wait to see the other guys, was excited about the Neuvirth signing and hearing good things about Medvedev.

Last night was the 1st Flyers's preseason game I've seen this year.
I'm in Gatineau, Canada, just added to my cable subscription my NHL Sports package for ONLY 40$ a month.


I was really unimpressed with the play of some of the new faces and some vets also:

Gagner, Lecavalier, Gudas, Luke Schenn, Amac. They all had a poor game and some really looked terrible last night.

-Gagner was really weak on the puck, lost a few battles and got pushed off the puck easily. He didn't do much out there or show some of his playmaking abilities, creativity. I was really hoping he could add some much needed skill to this team, granted it's only one preseason game.

-Lecavalier at center wasn't effective. Didn't find any FO% stats but it looked like VLC lost most of them and made a few bad plays and passes. Didn't really notice any improvement in his skating either.

-Gudas and Luke Schenn looked really slow as expected. Often out of position and they had a few turnovers and horrible clearing attempts on the PK.

-L. Schenn, like last year, seems to play the puck like a hot potato and looks like he ''throws'' the puck away every time he feels pressured. I keep getting the impression he can't perceive correctly the time he has or the distance between him and the opposition when pressured by an opponent. When Coburn was still with the team nursing an injury and watching games from the press box, he mentioned being surprised at the time and distance players actually have watching from a distance.

On the other hand, , Laughton, Simmonds, B. Schenn, Streit and Mason looked great last night.

-Laughton looked like he belongs in the NHL last night (FO, speed, grit, made some nice plays,) even if he was on the ice for the tying goal in the last min of the 3rd. I hope he starts the season with the team this year.

-Streit played great also, he was poised with the puck, took his time made nice passes.

-Simmonds showed speed and grit, great puck possession and winning battles on the wall, typical Simmer.

-B. Schenn had a great game also, looked fast made a nice play on the PP getting the assist on the Simmonds goal.

Mason was exceptionnal.

Overall, last night was a typical Rangers - Flyers game of the past few seasons: outshot, inability to create quality scoring chances, losing the puck possession game and being caught in our Dzone with the inability to clear or have clean / crisp breakouts.

About the new ''system change'', I did notice our Dman holding our blueline a little more, more neutral zone presence when defending forcing the other team to dump and chase. Also noticed more breakouts through the center of our d-zone and the centermen getting back a little deeper.

Can't wait to see the other guys, was excited about the Neuvirth signing and hearing good things about Medvedev.
- Chris48

Streit made some good play offensively last night, but his pairing with Schultz got throttled last night.

My opinion is just that, an opinion. In the big picture, worthless to how a player actually performs.
- MJL

Glad to know that you admit that your opinion is worthless in the big picture.

Let me ask you a question. Mike Milbury played NHL hockey for many years. Did that make him a good GM and evaluator of players and talent?
- MJL

Yes.

How about Paul Holmgren? Was he infallible in player evaluations?
- MJL

Yes.

Daneyko's opinion doesn't mean anything. One poster just feels he needs it to validate his opinion on a player.
- MJL

This is incorrect. And you smell like poopy.

Streit made some good play offensively last night, but his pairing with Schultz got throttled last night.
- MJL

Well I did have a sixer while watching the game. But he looked like the only Dman with his head up, poised, making reads and taking his time with the puck.

With lines today.. and reading overly into it what's everyone think of..

Raffl G jake
Schenn coots simmonds
Read Laughton umberger
Vdv white Bellemare

This was lines today if you put injured players back in their roles

I'm sure that's always the goal.

The way I see it, as things stand right now, they are not a playoff team.

That's my opinion.
- Scoob

Im with you. I think they'll be a lot better than last year and will be tougher to play against but I dont see it translating to enough points to be one of the top 8 teams in the East.

Im with you. I think they'll be a lot better than last year and will be tougher to play against but I dont see it translating to enough points to be one of the top 8 teams in the East.
- KINGKENZO

We pick between 11-16 this year

We obsess over Schenn for JvR or the Sharp trade. Are their any trades that were rumoured to happen but never did? Ray Bourque. Rick Nash was offered to Philly while JvR was still here and we passed.