Could be wrong but wasn't white listed as a center left wing last year ? White could play left and McDonald right?
- Tfaehner

White can actually play any forward position as needed.

So, cause I'm bored at work, he is how I think the standings shake out this year:
*playoff teams

EAST
Atlantic
1. Tampa*
2. Montreal*
3. Detroit*
4. Florida
5. Ottawa
6. Buffalo
7. Boston
8. Toronto

Metro
1. NY Rangers*
2. Columbus*
3. Washington*
4. Pittsburgh*
5. NY Islanders*
6. Philadelphia
7. New Jersey
8. Carolina

I think this is the year that the wheels completely come off the Bruins. For the Flyers, I think they improve to 92-95 points, but still finish 6th and miss the playoffs by 3-6 points.

WEST
Central
1. St. Louis*
2. Nashville*
3. Chicago*
4. Winnipeg*
5. Dallas*
6. Minnesota
7. Colorado

Pacific
1. Anaheim*
2. LA*
3. Calgary*
4. San Jose
5. Edmonton
6. Vancouver
7. Arizona

Yeah, James Tanner will be in for a long year and the Yotes struggle to score goals all season long. Anaheim will win the Pacific by 10+ points and Dallas will continue to improve as the season goes on and just edge out Minnesota for the last playoff spot.

So, whaddya think?
- BiggE

Think you had too much scotch last night

Regarding line shuffling looking for "clicks" - do you think shuffles occur too quickly not allowing enough time for some chemistry to form?
- Scoob

It's so hard to say. Mike Keenan shuffled lines all the time in the mid 80s and it worked pretty well for him. Shero, OTOH, kept his lines intact for the most part.

I think a lot of NHL coaches seem to be going with the philosophy of keeping pairs together and shuffling the 3rd forward in and out of various combos, but lets face it, if a team is struggling, any coach is going to start shuffling lines.

Seeing Chicago struggles to deal Bickell who has similar term and cap to vinny and umberger with slightly better production I have zero belief we can trade either one without adding significant sweetener.

We will need a different route to clear cap space.

What if the bucket of piss had a no dump clause? It just has to sit there stagnating and smelling. Still do it?
- Just5

Yup

Regarding line shuffling looking for "clicks" - do you think shuffles occur too quickly not allowing enough time for some chemistry to form?
- Scoob

Sometimes, yes. But they also get a look at combos in practice, too.

Hakstol has kept most of the forward lines pretty much intact -- except when injuries have necessitated changes -- and all four D pairs in camp have been a constant from day one of camp. He's moved Gagner around a bit positionally up front.

Think you had too much scotch last night
- Tfaehner

That's every night


What do you find so out of the realm of possibility?

Seeing Chicago struggles to deal Bickell who has similar term and cap to vinny and umberger with slightly better production I have zero belief we can trade either one without adding significant sweetener.

We will need a different route to clear cap space.
- Tfaehner

Yup

Umberger will basically be an overpaid 3rd liner or a massively overpaid 4th liner, but at least he can still play at an NHL level. Vinny, however, will be paid a fortune to practice, travel and eat popcorn.

Oleksiak is probably available. The Stars are only carrying 8 Dmen because Oleksiak is no longer waiver exempt and would be claimed despite his NHL-level struggles thus far. The Stars won't give their former first-rounder away for nothing but he should be available in the right deal.

Nichushkin isn't going anywhere. Injuries cost him almost all of last year but he showed a lot of promise as a rookie.

Doubt Honka is available unless the Flyers had one of their own top D prospects going back the other way.

Campbell has had a rough time thus far at the pro level. Reeser says he sees a lot of tools to work with -- plus we all know how long it takes for goalies to mature as pros -- but is not an untouchable.
- bmeltzer

I like Jack Campbell mostly because of the 2010 WJC team. And, if memory serves me right, he wasn't even the starter for the gold medal game, he came on in relief. He dominated the next year, the team just wasn't as good. I know his pro numbers aren't stellar, but he's a guy I'd love to add to our pool.

Honka's the one I'd really like, but as you said, it would likely require a 1st or one of our top-4 D along with the Schenn's/main package.

Yup

Umberger will basically be an overpaid 3rd liner or a massively overpaid 4th liner, but at least he can still play at an NHL level. Vinny, however, will be paid a fortune to practice, travel and eat popcorn.
- BiggE

Preeeeeeeeeetttty much.

That's every night


What do you find so out of the realm of possibility?
- BiggE

Arizona. You have them finishing too high.

I like Jack Campbell mostly because of the 2010 WJC team. And, if memory serves me right, he wasn't even the starter for the gold medal game, he came on in relief. He dominated the next year, the team just wasn't as good. I know his pro numbers aren't stellar, but he's a guy I'd love to add to our pool. Honka's the one I'd really like, but as you said, it would likely require a 1st or one of our top-4 D along with the Schenn's/main package.
- jmatchett383

honk for Honka

Arizona. You have them finishing too high.
- Scoob

White can play all 3 forward spots, it's one of the things that makes him a bit more valuable than the average 4th liner.
- BiggE

Yes, he's been a great addition so far.

I think PEB could also play wing if needed, but two coaches so far have used him pretty much exclusively at center. If Cousins makes the team next season PEB might have to move to wing, and if Cousins doesn't make the team he could be claimed on waivers. So I think he'll make the team.

Seeing Chicago struggles to deal Bickell who has similar term and cap to vinny and umberger with slightly better production I have zero belief we can trade either one without adding significant sweetener.

We will need a different route to clear cap space.
- Tfaehner

Buying out Vinny next summer should be enough to make the cap space to sign BSchenn and Raffl, or replacements if they are traded.

Umberger should be able play out the last two years as an overpaid third liner.

Yes, he's been a great addition so far.

I think PEB could also play wing if needed, but two coaches so far have used him pretty much exclusively at center. If Cousins makes the team next season PEB might have to move to wing, and if Cousins doesn't make the team he could be claimed on waivers. So I think he'll make the team.
- Feanor

They are so deep at center, it seems to me that it would be a better plan to move Cousins to wing now and let him play there all season in the AHL and see if he can make the adjustment successfully. If he can play LW, he has a much better shot at making the big club.

Buying out Vinny next summer should be enough to make the cap space to sign BSchenn and Raffl, or replacements if they are traded.

Umberger should be able play out the last two years as an overpaid third liner.
- Feanor

Or, if he's going to be replaced next season by someone on an ELC or a 4th liner, they could buyout Umberger as well.

They are so deep at center, it seems to me that it would be a better plan to move Cousins to wing now and let him play there all season in the AHL and see if he can make the adjustment successfully. If he can play LW, he has a much better shot at making the big club.
- BiggE

I know they like the bpa but you would hope that Hexy drafts wingers in 2016

They are so deep at center, it seems to me that it would be a better plan to move Cousins to wing now and let him play there all season in the AHL and see if he can make the adjustment successfully. If he can play LW, he has a much better shot at making the big club.
- BiggE

I would rather move a 31 year old to the wing where he played for previous teams next season, than move the Phantoms top center (assuming Laughton makes the Flyers) out of the middle this season.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Preseason Game Day: 10/2/15 @ NJ, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

I have not caught one single preseason game yet but based on what I gather from all comments, I do have to ask why it seems Radko Gudas is still playing ahead of Luke Schenn. I have caught some highlights and there were noticeably bad plays or handling of the puck by Gudas, so why not adjustment to possibly push him back?

Look, I want what's best for the team. The best players should play. With this said, I'm hoping the team hasn't over valued Gudas to this point. Outside of his slap shot, I'm not seeing how he could possibly be better then Luke Schenn. In fact I'm expecting Gudas to be a penalty machine and we also have to consider just how serious his injury might have been last season.

I wouldn't trade anyone. We need all hands on deck and the best players should play. Depth is important too, no matter how weak the depth might really be.

I know they like the bpa but you would hope that Hexy drafts wingers in 2016
- vejim

I'd just be happy with skilled forwards, young players often end up changing positions. Cases in point, Simon Gagne was originally drafted as a center and Claude Giroux as a RW. Just add more talent up front and I'll be happy.

I would rather move a 31 year old to the wing where he played for previous teams next season, than move the Phantoms top center (assuming Laughton makes the Flyers) out of the middle this season.
- Feanor

Do you really see Cousins playing center on any of the Flyers top 3 lines any time soon? I don't, that's why I'd rather see them at least experiment with moving him to wing.

So, cause I'm bored at work, he is how I think the standings shake out this year:
*playoff teams

EAST
Atlantic
1. Tampa*
2. Montreal*
3. Detroit*
4. Florida
5. Ottawa
6. Buffalo
7. Boston
8. Toronto

Metro
1. NY Rangers*
2. Columbus*
3. Washington*
4. Pittsburgh*
5. NY Islanders*
6. Philadelphia
7. New Jersey
8. Carolina

I think this is the year that the wheels completely come off the Bruins. For the Flyers, I think they improve to 92-95 points, but still finish 6th and miss the playoffs by 3-6 points.

WEST
Central
1. St. Louis*
2. Nashville*
3. Chicago*
4. Winnipeg*
5. Dallas*
6. Minnesota
7. Colorado

Pacific
1. Anaheim*
2. LA*
3. Calgary*
4. San Jose
5. Edmonton
6. Vancouver
7. Arizona

Yeah, James Tanner will be in for a long year and the Yotes struggle to score goals all season long. Anaheim will win the Pacific by 10+ points and Dallas will continue to improve as the season goes on and just edge out Minnesota for the last playoff spot.

So, whaddya think?
- BiggE

Wow, you really like the Jackets this year.

I have not caught one single preseason game yet but based on what I gather from all comments, I do have to ask why it seems Radko Gudas is still playing ahead of Luke Schenn. I have caught some highlights and there were noticeably bad plays or handling of the puck by Gudas, so why not adjustment to possibly push him back?

Look, I want what's best for the team. The best players should play. With this said, I'm hoping the team hasn't over valued Gudas to this point. Outside of his slap shot, I'm not seeing how he could possibly be better then Luke Schenn. In fact I'm expecting Gudas to be a penalty machine and we also have to consider just how serious his injury might have been last season.

I wouldn't trade anyone. We need all hands on deck and the best players should play. Depth is important too, no matter how weak the depth might really be.
- SuperSchennBros

I'm not sure that Gudas will be in the lineup over Schenn. None of us really know what Hakstol is thinking when it comes to AMac/Gudas vs Manning/Schenn.

Do you really see Cousins playing center on any of the Flyers top 3 lines any time soon? I don't, that's why I'd rather see them at least experiment with moving him to wing.
- BiggE

No, but I could see him on the 4th line.