I highlighted in another article there are about 8 guys who are middle 6 players who have scoring touch that will be free agents next year. And all have at least a 50% chance of leaving the franchise they're with. Guys like Eriksson for one or what about Eric Staal? If we have the cap based on hexy Moves tto afford a 4-4.5 salary could be intriguing. Being a middle 6 with a shot at playing left wing for G jake could be enticing for some people. Especially if they want to attempt for one more nice contract after this one.
- Tfaehner

It's one way, but I'd rather build through the draft than add overpriced free agents. They've done a nice job adding D prospects over the last few years, now it's time to start doing the same with forwards in 2016 and 2017. I'm cool with being patient.

I would like to see them get off to faster starts. Their slow starts the last few years have coincided with the teams slow starts. And it put them in a hole it was hard to get out of.
- MBFlyerfan

Starting the game off by having to kill a 4 minute penalty probably wasn't the start they were looking for.

It's one way, but I'd rather build through the draft than add overpriced free agents. They've done a nice job adding D prospects over the last few years, now it's time to start doing the same with forwards in 2016 and 2017. I'm cool with being patient.
- BiggE

Yes, adding 2 or 3 more blue chip forward prospects to Konecny will really get us moving along.

It's one way, but I'd rather build through the draft than add overpriced free agents. They've done a nice job adding D prospects over the last few years, now it's time to start doing the same with forwards in 2016 and 2017. I'm cool with being patient.
- BiggE

Don't get me wrong. I agree draft is the best way. But I don't foresee the cap having a significant raise. There are a ton of big names getting new huge contracts meaning less and less for middle 6 players. If hextall waits out the market there are guys who could help this team without over pricing themselves. I'm not saying let's go spend 36 MMillion on a guy but I'd have no problem with a 3 year 12 million contract for a guy who could net 30.

Starting the game off by having to kill a 4 minute penalty probably wasn't the start they were looking for.

- BiggE

Yeah for sure. But I am speaking more specifically of Giroux. As he goes, this team goes, and when he starts off the season not scoring, they are done early.

.500 baby

Don't get me wrong. I agree draft is the best way. But I don't foresee the cap having a significant raise. There are a ton of big names getting new huge contracts meaning less and less for middle 6 players. If hextall waits out the market there are guys who could help this team without over pricing themselves. I'm not saying let's go spend 36 MMillion on a guy but I'd have no problem with a 3 year 12 million contract for a guy who could net 30.
- Tfaehner

If they can get a 30 goal scorer for 3 years and 12 million, absolutely.

I thought Schultz was bad last night and gagner was soft on pucks, everyone was flying around hitting getting on loose puck and he was soft. Brayden had a solid game, played the body all night, I feel like hes most effective when hes playing the body, sets the tone for the rest of his game.

Yeah for sure. But I am speaking more specifically of Giroux. As he goes, this team goes, and when he starts off the season not scoring, they are done early.
- MBFlyerfan

No doubt. They cannot even dream of being a bubble team if they are sitting 6th in the division and 5+ points out of a playoff spot by Thanksgiving. They need to win some games early to have any chance.

It's not for lack of trying though (at least in periods 1 and 2). Luongo stood on his head. He was very strong for the Panthers last night. They were in his face multiple times times, looking for screens, deflections and rebounds. By the end of the first it could have easily been 2-0; and by the end of the second it could have been 4-0.

Don't get me wrong, I would have like to see some of those chances end up in the back of the net, but I think they played the right way. There chances will come.
- VladDrag

Exactly. It would have been great for my blood pressure for them to have tacked on some insurance, but I thought they did the right things last night.

I thought Schultz was bad last night and gagner was soft on pucks, everyone was flying around hitting getting on loose puck and he was soft. Brayden had a solid game, played the body all night, I feel like hes most effective when hes playing the body, sets the tone for the rest of his game.
- ClaudeFather

Schultz played very well last night, especially on the PK. Go back and watch the tape, Schultz is a guy that you have to watch closely. He does the little things well and, much like an offensive lineman in football, you often won't really notice him at all when he's doing his job effectively.

I thought Schultz was bad last night and gagner was soft on pucks, everyone was flying around hitting getting on loose puck and he was soft. Brayden had a solid game, played the body all night, I feel like hes most effective when hes playing the body, sets the tone for the rest of his game.
- ClaudeFather

Brayden Schenn looked effective last night.

Gagner was just OK. A couple of times he turned it over and a couple of times, I thought he looked good. Honestly, I'd understand either way if they left Gagner in the lineup in favor of Umberger or if they benched Gagner.

More goals would have been nice, but getting the win was crucial. Even an OT/SO loss could have kept the team in a funk heading into a game with the champs then almost a week off.

This season may be another offensive struggle, but I think there's reason for optimism regarding our forward prospects helping in the medium term. Guys like NAK, Lindblom and Leier might not be NHL ready till 17-18, but they are all solid prospects who are playing LW.

Danick Martel is a NHL long shot since he's so short, but keep an eye on him with the Phantoms. He has the speed and feistiness a little guy needs to have a chance of succeeding in the big leagues.

No doubt. They cannot even dream of being a bubble team if they are sitting 6th in the division and 5+ points out of a playoff spot by Thanksgiving. They need to win some games early to have any chance.
- BiggE

I would also like to see G score an even strength goal at home before Thanksgiving. I don't think he did that last season until April.

Schultz played very well last night, especially on the PK. Go back and watch the tape, Schultz is a guy that you have to watch closely. He does the little things well and, much like an offensive lineman in football, you often won't really notice him at all when he's doing his job effectively.
- BiggE

PK was HUGE last night.

Thanks Bill. A win is a win, and a much better played game. Penalties are still a sore spot, and their faceoffs need some work. In addition, the team needs to quit depending on the goalie to pull out the win. Congrats to Neuvy for the win.
Florida seems to be a more physical team than the Flyers, so they need to work on getting past the physical teams, or other teams will quickly pick up on this. Coots seemed frustrated with the physical play, but the refs are going to be biased, because of the Flyers reputation. Thus, Coots, and others will have to toughen up. Nobody said that the road to the Cup was going to be easy.

Gagner aquitted himself well... at both ends. Made some nice retrievals and outs on D in some tough spots. He's never going to be a defensive rock, but if he can make enough of those little plays, he's going to be hard to take out of the lineup again.

Gudas had quite a debut... Schenn and Manning should be worried.

Thanks Bill. A win is a win, and a much better played game. Penalties are still a sore spot, and their faceoffs need some work. In addition, the team needs to quit depending on the goalie to pull out the win. Congrats to Neuvy for the win.
Florida seems to be a more physical team than the Flyers, so they need to work on getting past the physical teams, or other teams will quickly pick up on this. Coots seemed frustrated with the physical play, but the refs are going to be biased, because of the Flyers reputation. Thus, Coots, and others will have to toughen up. Nobody said that the road to the Cup was going to be easy.
- OrangeAndBlack1

I personally feel that the idea that the refs are going to be biased based on a perceived reputation of the Flyers, is a myth. The idea that the Flyers are the Broad St. bullies is long, long gone.

Gagner aquitted himself well... at both ends. Made some nice retrievals and outs on D in some tough spots. He's never going to be a defensive rock, but if he can make enough of those little plays, he's going to be hard to take out of the lineup again.

Gudas had quite a debut... Schenn and Manning should be worried.
- Tomahawk

The guy was a menace (in a good way) out there. He moves around better than LSchenn.

4 goals in 3 games with 2 coming off the PP shouldn't surprise anyone.

They were physical, albeit too much at times, but I liked the agressivness.

PK was tight.

Wished Voracek could've buried that shot at the end of the first. Guy should ge on the score sheet already.

Gagner aquitted himself well... at both ends. Made some nice retrievals and outs on D in some tough spots. He's never going to be a defensive rock, but if he can make enough of those little plays, he's going to be hard to take out of the lineup again.

Gudas had quite a debut... Schenn and Manning should be worried.
- Tomahawk

I thought Gudas was much better than he was in the pre season which was good to see, but I don't think he was significantly better than Schenn.

4 goals in 3 games with 2 coming off the PP shouldn't surprise anyone.

They were physical, albeit too much at times, but I liked the agressivness.

PK was tight.

Wished Voracek could've buried that shot at the end of the first. Guy should ge on the score sheet already.
- MatveiDmitrii

That net didn't yawn at him. It had it's mouth forcibly held open by a dental assistant. He won't miss many of those.

Gagner aquitted himself well... at both ends. Made some nice retrievals and outs on D in some tough spots. He's never going to be a defensive rock, but if he can make enough of those little plays, he's going to be hard to take out of the lineup again.

Gudas had quite a debut... Schenn and Manning should be worried.
- Tomahawk

Over time Manning will normalize to what he is - a #7 who can fill in as needed. Gudas played much better than preseason. Maybe Gudas / MDZ and Medvedev / Schenn shake out to be the long term pairs.

Gagner is a little bit of a double-edged sword. He is definitely soft on the puck. But he brings more skill up front than just about anyone not named G or Jake. They may have to take the good with the bad.

I thought Gudas was much better than he was in the pre season which was good to see, but I don't think he was significantly better than Schenn.
- MJL

I think our Coach has the same mindset most fans had over the summer, Schenn or Gudas. I see tunnel vision in this mindset. There is no reason you can't have both in the line up, as we've had Grossmann and Schenn for the past 3 seasons. Two right handed defenseman in the line up never hurts. Manning hasn't stood out in anyway. He's doing his job but will the line up truly miss him? Nick Schultz is the guy who I think could play better.

I think our Coach has the same mindset most fans had over the summer, Schenn or Gudas. I see tunnel vision in this mindset. There is no reason you can't have both in the line up, as we've had Grossmann and Schenn for the past 3 seasons. Two right handed defenseman in the line up never hurts. Manning hasn't stood out in anyway. He's doing his job but will the line up truly miss him? Nick Schultz is the guy who I think could play better.
- SuperSchennBros

If I was the coach I would have sat Manning in place of Gudas, not Schenn.