I'm not sure NJ is better than us. Their forward situation is pretty darn bad.
- hereticpride

Yeah NJ pretty much did nothing other than drafting Zacha, but the better defense and goaltending put them over the edge for me. Also keep in mind that Flyer fans, including myself, are so used to seeing scoring depth throughout the years. Those days have been over for a bit. The Flyers offense isn't that far off of NJ if you look without the glasses.

This whole group should be just shy of brutal. All about 70-85 pts.
- Just5

Sadly, I can see the Flyers at 85-ish points as easily as I can anything else. 85 won't get it done

I thought about "what-if the Flyers got Matthews"...I don't know if the 2nd line would be any better, unless they break up Giroux and Voracek again.
- Glak18

Giroux
Matthews
Couturier
Laughton

Would be top 5 center depth in the league. Matthews isn't quite on the level with McDavid and Eichel but he's almost a year older so I'm very confident he'll be able to excel in a top 6 NHL spot as a 19 year old rookie.

Yeah NJ pretty much did nothing other than drafting Zacha, but the better defense and goaltending put them over the edge for me. Also keep in mind that Flyer fans, including myself, are so used to seeing scoring depth throughout the years. Those days have been over for a bit. The Flyers offense isn't that far off of NJ if you look without the glasses.
- Glak18

Why must your words hurt me so

I thought about "what-if the Flyers got Matthews"...I don't know if the 2nd line would be any better, unless they break up Giroux and Voracek again.
- Glak18

Matthews is very creative with the puck a true playmaker with a knack for finding the net and setting up his teammates. Coots is a more rugged forward whose finesse is not quite the same and his creativity is not on the same level. Matthews would make the line better he absolutely would. Would he make schenn and simmonds 40 goal scorers ? No. But would he tack on some more goals to their totals ? Absolutely.

A third line of read coots schenn for next year could be awesome. As a 2nd line it has questions.

Giroux
Matthews
Couturier
Laughton

Would be top 5 center depth in the league. Matthews isn't quite on the level with McDavid and Eichel but he's almost a year older so I'm very confident he'll be able to excel in a top 6 NHL spot as a 19 year old rookie.
- Feanor

That's pretty good set of centers, but much like now who plays with them? The Brayden Schenns, Matt Reads, Umbergers, Raffls don't cut it for depth unless you have a Voracek on the line with one of those centers.

Matthews is very creative with the puck a true playmaker with a knack for finding the net and setting up his teammates. Coots is a more rugged forward whose finesse is not quite the same and his creativity is not on the same level. Matthews would make the line better he absolutely would. Would he make schenn and simmonds 40 goal scorers ? No. But would he tack on some more goals to their totals ? Absolutely.

A third line of read coots schenn for next year could be awesome. As a 2nd line it has questions.
- Tfaehner

Again I am not comparing Matthews and Couturier, the bottom end wingers that get mixed and matched together to hope make a line is the problem.

Preseason ranking isn't the most exact science in the world.
Go into the way back machine and recall the predictions for the birds this year.

- FlyersFirst

I can't. Don't pay attention to that.

I asked to see where people's expectations were, not to hold people to it.

Giroux
Matthews
Couturier
Laughton

Would be top 5 center depth in the league. Matthews isn't quite on the level with McDavid and Eichel but he's almost a year older so I'm very confident he'll be able to excel in a top 6 NHL spot as a 19 year old rookie.
- Feanor

They aren't likely to land Matthews........perhaps Sam Steel, Logan Brown, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Dimitri Sokolov, Rasmus Asplund, or Travis Jost.

And maybe others as the rankings change during the season.

You think Jersey's going to be decent? I was thinking they're going to be just shy of brutal. Huh

Mine:
Philadelphia
Buffalo -- though I have to admit, they do have some good pieces that could gel
Toronto
New Jersey
Carolina
- AllInForFlyers

I see it the same. I also think the Flyers will finish ahead of Boston as well.

I thought about "what-if the Flyers got Matthews"...I don't know if the 2nd line would be any better, unless they break up Giroux and Voracek again.
- Glak18

I think I'll beat the Tyler Benson & Julien Gauthier drum this year

That's pretty good set of centers, but much like now who plays with them? The Brayden Schenns, Matt Reads, Umbergers, Raffls don't cut it for depth unless you have a Voracek on the line with one of those centers.
- Glak18

Raffl-G-Voracek
BSchenn-Matthews-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Konecny
Umberger-Laughton-Bellemare
Cousins, VDV

They aren't likely to land Matthews........perhaps Sam Steel, Logan Brown, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Dimitri Sokolov, or Travis Jost.

And maybe others as the rankings change during the season.
- ob18

Still way too early to know rankings, but those players will most likely be middle of the 1st to sliding to 2nd. Unless Flyers get screwed by the ping pong, i see more talented players to pass up on to draft lower.

Raffl-G-Voracek
BSchenn-Matthews-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Konecny
Umberger-Laughton-Bellemare
Cousins, VDV
- Feanor

Ugh... Umberger's still in the lineup.

Still way too early to know rankings, but those players will most likely be middle of the 1st to sliding to 2nd. Unless Flyers get screwed by the ping pong, i see more talented players to pass up on to draft lower.
- Glak18

So more or less don't focus on just Matthews is my point, this could be an even deeper draft than last year.

Buffalo has Lehner. That's going to be an issue. If I were them I'd have grabbed a goalie on waivers.

My biggest fear in Philly is Steve Mason. If he's injured, maybe only Carolina is worse.

Carolina can tank out with a Staal trade or two. They're already bad with them.

I don't see where Toronto and New Jersey are going to get offense... at all.

There's a real stew of a mess at the bottom of the East.

Buffalo
Toronto
Philly
New Jersey
Carolina
- mayorofangrytown

I actually think Buffalo will surprise some teams. Goal is a problem though. I have:

Buffalo
Philly
NJ
Toronto
Carolina

Carolina is in a toss up with Phoenix for worst team in the league. They may win with some deadline deals though.

So more or less don't focus on just Matthews is my point, this could be an even deeper draft than last year.
- ob18

Then give me your picks for who we're trading at the deadline and what picks come back please.

So more or less don't focus on just Matthews is my point, this could be an even deeper draft than last year.
- ob18

I'm not focusing on Matthews, i am looking at top 5. 0.001% chance this year is as deep as last.

Then give me your picks for who we're trading at the deadline and what picks come back please.

- mayorofangrytown

Too soon to tell sir.

I think I'll beat the Tyler Benson & Julien Gauthier drum this year
- ob18

Benson just had surgery......I think he was the top pick in the WHL bantam draft wasn't he?

Benson just had surgery......I think he was the top pick in the WHL bantam draft wasn't he?
- landros 2

Yes, was impressive is games I watched last year.

So more or less don't focus on just Matthews is my point, this could be an even deeper draft than last year.
- ob18

Logan Brown has quickly caught my attention. 6'6" Center with some high end skill. Sounds like coaches and scouts want to see some more offensive consistency from him. If he puts it together tho that kid is going to be a monster of a forward.

I thought about "what-if the Flyers got Matthews"...I don't know if the 2nd line would be any better, unless they break up Giroux and Voracek again.
- Glak18

There's the residual effects though. Schenn and Laughton BOTH become expendable.
With Konecny maturing another year, you could even more Simmonds if the right deal came along and keep Schenn.

Really, you could look at whatever the trade options are among the three to bring in a LW or 2. Or you could package one with a 2nd 1st round pick obtained in a trade to move up to get a LW.

Logan Brown has quickly caught my attention. 6'6" Center with some high end skill. Sounds like coaches and scouts want to see some more offensive consistency from him. If he puts if together tho that kids is going to a monster of a forward.
- hereticpride

He's another who is impressive and has a good all around game.

Ugh... Umberger's still in the lineup.
- mayorofangrytown

Can't afford to buyout Vinny, MacDonald and Umberger.