You know why it just fizzles, because one player can't do it alone. One man rushes may work in juniors, but not in the NHL. That's part of the development curve for Laughton, and it's also a function of linemates. How much offense are you going to expect from Laughton playing with Vandevelde and White?
Switch Lecavalier out with Laughton and let him play with Read and Schenn.
- MJL

I do think there is some truth to that. I'd love for both him and Couturier to be played with strong wingers so we could get a sense of whether they can carry the offensive load or not. You know which way I'm leaning...but we have to put them in the best possible position to succeed.

I think this is what I'd go with, assuming everyone is ready for the opener:

Raffl - G - Jake
Read - Couturier - Simmonds
Gagner - Laughton - Schenn
Umberger - PEB - White

Give them 5 game minimum, but maybe 10 games, to let the lines gel. Read and Simmonds are good wingers. Gagner and Schenn are both near-50 points guys. If Couturier and Laughton can't succeed with those pairs, then maybe the team does need to upgrade the center position (to be clear, I mean 2C and shift Couturier to 3C).

Just a reminder to sign up for the HBSL if you havn't yet; limited spots remaining!

cheers

Why would you care about retaining salary on LSchenn? It's only for the rest of this season, and might be the only way a cap team could afford to take him on.
- Feanor

Fair point. I'm ok with salary. But offering a pick to get rid of Schenn is the same mistake that Holmgren made over and over.

Bill Meltzer: Wrapup: NYR 3 - Flyers 2 (OT); Raffl Injured; Phantoms Update
- bmeltzer

bill in your opinion what options do they really have with macdonald?
is a trade even possible at this point?

what would you do?

the only thing to do is send Mac D on a bike ride with Homer and hope for the best

I think judging on performance, Gudas should be sent down, but with waivers, it should probably be Manning demoted, and allow Gudas to try and find his game.
- MJL

gudas needs to finds his game in the ahl to work out the kinks. will he be claimed off he goes on waivers? very possible. its a a chance you take I think.

Luke is the better player and always has been imo.

Some observations from last night's game:

THE GOOD
The Pk looked good, much improved from last season and considering Couturier was not in the lineup, that's impressive. I especially thought that Laughton, Read, Schultz and Luke Schenn all stood out on the PK

The top line looks ready to go, now we just have to hope that neither Raffl or Voracek was significantly injured in last nights game.

Mason was fantastic. He is the least of my worries when it comes to the 15-16 Flyers.


THE SO-SO
For the most point, as Bill pointed out, Laughton played pretty well. However, he didn't show me that much offensively and he can't turnover the puck in OT when he's the last man back. All in all though, I'd much rather have the kid in the lineup over Vinny or Gagner

In regards to the D, I thought that Brandon Manning looked better than AMac, Gudas and Luke Schenn last night. However, I thought that overall, and especilly on the PK, that Luke outplayed Gudas and AMac.

Would have liked to see the team show a little more push back against a rival. Heck it's a preseason game, don't worry about taking penalties and stand up for yourselves. I thought the Rags played a much more physical game than did the Flyers.

THE BAD
Did they really have to skate Giroux for 21 minutes, in a preseason game??

AMac and Gudas looked pretty bad. With 5 years to go at 5 million per, AMac's contract is one of the worst in the NHL.

Was Vinny in the lineup? For a veteran on the bubble, he looked both invisible and ineffective. He has shown nothing in preseason and I can't imagine, unless its due to injury to others, that he isn't in the press box on opening night.

Gagner was just as pathetic as Vinny. He needs to be waived, IMO

Injuries. Losing Raffl and seeing Jake grimacing in pain just scares the hell out of me.

Why would you care about retaining salary on LSchenn? It's only for the rest of this season, and might be the only way a cap team could afford to take him on.
- Feanor

Why do that now? The Flyers can carry 7 defenseman and extra forwards, and still have room under the cap, for a call up if needed. Schenn is a UFA, with an expiring contract. If that's what it takes to trade him now, hold onto him until the deadline, when his value will be higher.

gudas needs to finds his game in the ahl to work out the kinks. will he be claimed off he goes on waivers? very possible. its a a chance you take I think.

Luke is the better player and always has been imo.
- rinaldo

Luke is gone at end of season no matter what. I would just try to get something for him if it is now or TDL. I guess Hextall has to figure out when he has most value.
Gudas does need work, but Manning can do the job as a 6th Dman if Luke is moved

It's easy to blame Berube as being the worst coach in NHL history but this is pretty much the same group that got Laviolette fired so why do people think a 3rd coach is going to make them better? Especially when Gagner, Medvedev and Neuvirth are the only additions from a team that finished 7th worst overall.
- psuhockey

Yep.

Oooh I'm scared


- rangerdanger94

All kidding aside, you should be. Wait til late in the season, when Sam Morin is called up and the Flyers have nothing to lose.

Raffl G jake
Read coots Simmonds
Porter Laughton Schenn
Umberger white Bellemare

If we are judging by purely who has performed thus far this would be our starting 12

Streit Schultz
Mdz Medvedev
Manning and one the 3 pillars of awesome

If we are judging purely on performance I thought Manning had a quietly good game and was able to make up for a lot of L Schenn mistakes
- Tfaehner

People are giving Porter way too much credit. He played 30+ games last year and had 1 goal and 2 points. He's this years Blair Jones.

gudas needs to finds his game in the ahl to work out the kinks. will he be claimed off he goes on waivers? very possible. its a a chance you take I think.

Luke is the better player and always has been imo.
- rinaldo

Luke is paid probably about 4 times as much as Gudas, so yeah....he SHOULD be the better player.

The problem is, Luke makes it closer than it should be.

I dont think I can handle watching AMac for 5 more years Bigg E

Some observations from last night's game:

THE GOOD
The Pk looked good, much improved from last season and considering Couturier was not in the lineup, that's impressive. I especially thought that Laughton, Read, Schultz and Luke Schenn all stood out on the PK

The top line looks ready to go, now we just have to hope that neither Raffl or Voracek was significantly injured in last nights game.

Mason was fantastic. He is the least of my worries when it comes to the 15-16 Flyers.


THE SO-SO
For the most point, as Bill pointed out, Laughton played pretty well. However, he didn't show me that much offensively and he can't turnover the puck in OT when he's the last man back. All in all though, I'd much rather have the kid in the lineup over Vinny or Gagner

In regards to the D, I thought that Brandon Manning looked better than AMac, Gudas and Luke Schenn last night. However, I thought that overall, and especilly on the PK, that Luke outplayed Gudas and AMac.

Would have liked to see the team show a little more push back against a rival. Heck it's a preseason game, don't worry about taking penalties and stand up for yourselves. I thought the Rags played a much more physical game than did the Flyers.

THE BAD
Did they really have to skate Giroux for 21 minutes, in a preseason game??

AMac and Gudas looked pretty bad. With 5 years to go at 5 million per, AMac's contract is one of the worst in the NHL.

Was Vinny in the lineup? For a veteran on the bubble, he looked both invisible and ineffective. He has shown nothing in preseason and I can't imagine, unless its due to injury to others, that he isn't in the press box on opening night.

Gagner was just as pathetic as Vinny. He needs to be waived, IMO

Injuries. Losing Raffl and seeing Jake grimacing in pain just scares the hell out of me.
- BiggE

I'm not going to say that MacDonald was good last night, because he wasn't. He was at best just okay. None of the defenseman were really that good last night. In combination of their individual play, and that they got no sustained offensive attack or puck possession time from the forwards last night. Flyers had one line offensively that was decent, and then really nothing. Tough to play defense when you're under siege all game. Shots attempted at ES were 62 to 35 in favor of the Rangers. MacDonald didn't play nearly as bad as some are making it out to be, he really is out there without a partner, that's how bad Gudas has been.

As Feanor pointed out, the top defense pair of Streit/Schultz got crushed. The Flyers top line was outplayed and outshot. Why didn't that make the bad list?

I think judging on performance, Gudas should be sent down, but with waivers, it should probably be Manning demoted, and allow Gudas to try and find his game.
- MJL

I guess Manning would make it through, but I'd prefer to keep him up and let Gudas work off the rust in LHV.

bill in your opinion what options do they really have with macdonald?
is a trade even possible at this point?

what would you do?
- rinaldo

I'm not Bill, but, IMO, to move AMac, the Flyers would need to eat at least 2 million per year of his contract to get a deal done.

People are giving Porter way too much credit. He played 30+ games last year and had 1 goal and 2 points. He's this years Blair Jones.
- BiggE

I agree, send him down.

I dont think I can handle watching AMac for 5 more years Bigg E
- vejim

Welcome to my world.

People are giving Porter way too much credit. He played 30+ games last year and had 1 goal and 2 points. He's this years Blair Jones.
- BiggE

Pretty much, with the "He played for Dave Hakstol at UND" kicker added in.

Luke is paid probably about 4 times as much as Gudas, so yeah....he SHOULD be the better player.

The problem is, Luke makes it closer than it should be.
- johndewar

everytime I see JVR. I get sick in my stomach

everytime I see JVR. I get sick in my stomach
- vejim

Can't unring that bell.

Why do that now? The Flyers can carry 7 defenseman and extra forwards, and still have room under the cap, for a call up if needed. Schenn is a UFA, with an expiring contract. If that's what it takes to trade him now, hold onto him until the deadline, when his value will be higher.
- MJL

I'm in no rush to do it. But I would do it to facilitate getting a decent return from a team without much cap space.

I'm in no rush to do it. But I would do it to facilitate getting a decent return from a team without much cap space.
- Feanor

If the return made it worthwhile, I would think about it. With the current level of play of Gudas, I might hold up on that.

I'm not going to say that MacDonald was good last night, because he wasn't. He was at best just okay. None of the defenseman were really that good last night. In combination of their individual play, and that they got no sustained offensive attack or puck possession time from the forwards last night. Flyers had one line offensively that was decent, and then really nothing. Tough to play defense when you're under siege all game. Shots attempted at ES were 62 to 35 in favor of the Rangers. MacDonald didn't play nearly as bad as some are making it out to be, he really is out there without a partner, that's how bad Gudas has been.
- MJL

Gudas has flat out sucked, can't argue with that. Considering he only makes a bit under 1 million, you'd probably lose him if you waive him. Therefore I'd go with:
MDZ-Medvedev
Schultz-Streit
AMac-Schenn
Gudas and Manning as spares

I'd also waive or trade Gagner and try starting the season with 13 forwards. Assuming everyone is healthy and ready to go:
Raffl-G-Jake
Read-Couts-Simmonds or Schenn
Umberger-Laughton-Schenn or Simmonds
VDV-White-Bellemare
spare: Vinny

However, if a forward gets injured severely enough to go on IR, I'd bring someone up from LHV before putting Vinny in the lineup.