Not Bill, but I'll weigh in. I never liked the Morin pick. He was always going to be a project. As Bill and others have said numerous times, he would likely take 4-5 years before he'd make an impact in the league. There was always a chance he'd be a bust. Holmgren wanted the second coming of Pronger and IMO reached for him.

But at this point he's the player we got and I think eventually he can be an asset as a strong defensive defenseman. Shutdown? Maybe, maybe not. But considering some of the offensive minded guys we now have, he should complement them.

Overall, it's a good mix of guys. But if they're still pursuing Zaitsev, maybe they're not as close as we all think either.
- TheGreat28

Just because they are looking at another dman doesn't mean the others are not close.
Signing the Rushkie only cost $$..nothing wrong with pursueing him at all

With that kind of size and strength, he would be a great screen in front of the net on the power play - don't you think? Do you know what pairing he is on?

Hope they can come away with 5-8 points on this trip. Need a confidence boost in the worst way.
- Pelle31Forever

I would take 5-8 goals for the road trip

With that kind of size and strength, he would be a great screen in front of the net on the power play - don't you think? Do you know what pairing he is on?
- Bergey

I'd look out for this guy's October update. He watches and reports on all the Phantoms games.

@TonyAndrock_TCG 22 hours ago Pennsylvania, USA
So many of you have been asking about how certain guys have looked w/ @LVPhantoms. Decided I will do a monthly grades report. #StayTuned

It's good to see that Sanheim is still considered a better prospect than DeAngelo. But, a kid averaging a point a game in the AHL fresh out of junior is pretty impressive. I'll definitely check out those Phantoms' reports.

Something kind of odd I noticed looking at the possession stats for October. Gagner and Bellemare have the lowest OZ start % among forwards. PEB makes sense, but why is Hakstol using Gagner like that?

http://www.naturalstattri...6&stype=2&team=PHI&sit=ev

Going to the Phantoms game in Hershey today! Pretty pumped to see ghost and Morin. Too bad Haag is out though.

10 games isn't a tiny sample size anymore.

Averaging 2 goals a game 28th in the League is absolutely pathetic. So not only is the blue line a dumpster fire, but they can't score goals either. Great combination.

The last 3 games, a clown show vs. the Devils, sandwiched by two losses to the Sabres is absurd. They went through the motions 3 straight games against garbage competition. Unacceptable.

Voracek better start putting up points, that's all that has to happen is another albatross contract.
- PLindbergh31

Luke Schenn hasn't been that bad

I miss Jeff Carter
- Winning

not really he was propped up by richards gagne forsberg knuble etc

luke schenn 4 points in 6 jvr 5 in 10

Going to the Phantoms game in Hershey today! Pretty pumped to see ghost and Morin. Too bad Haag is out though.
- Fryman4

Nice! Report back afterwards if you can

not really he was propped up by richards gagne forsberg knuble etc
- 2Real

He seems to be doing pretty well away from those guys in LA.

That's a good point. I was thinking the same thing when they drafted Provorov. Maybe the Flyers' defensive prospects aren't as good as advertised. I know Provorov was supposedly the highest player on their board, but if their defensive prospects were so good, they could have traded down and picked a forward.
- Bergey

http://highlandparkhockey...g-to-play-in-nhl.html?m=1

Morin interview from this week.

He seems to be doing pretty well away from those guys in LA.
- Feanor

Yeah, everyone always mentions the biggest difference between 2010 and now is Pronger. That's true to some degree. But that team also had three lines that put legitimate pressure on the opponent at any time. Richards, Carter, Briere, Giroux, Hartnell, Leino, JVR, Gagne, etc.

Hate to break it to you, but it is a relatively small sample.

Case in point, those Mase October numbers that Bill cited from last season... .878 to start, .928 to finish.

This isn't Vinny who was trending down for years at ES before he got here, or AMac who came with more (obvious) red flags than a Chinese embassy. Jake is a terrific hockey player with a long history of driving play, making guys around him better, and finding the net.

I'm not worried -- water finds its level.

Just as the team's early record was an unsustainable mirage, so is Jake's 0% shooting and getting outscored by RJ Umberger.


- Tomahawk

I hear you man. Just very frustrating watching the last 3 games. I expected an uneven season, but coming out 3 games in a row with piss poor efforts is unacceptable.

So if 10 games is a small sample, 2 games is a microscopic sample. We can expect Vinny to go off any game now right?!

Hate to break it to you, but it is a relatively small sample.

Case in point, those Mase October numbers that Bill cited from last season... .878 to start, .928 to finish.

This isn't Vinny who was trending down for years at ES before he got here, or AMac who came with more (obvious) red flags than a Chinese embassy. Jake is a terrific hockey player with a long history of driving play, making guys around him better, and finding the net.

I'm not worried -- water finds its level.

Just as the team's early record was an unsustainable mirage, so is Jake's 0% shooting and getting outscored by RJ Umberger.


- Tomahawk

Not that I'm disagreeing with you on your view of Jake, last season was the only time he ever looked like an 8 million dollar player in his entire career. It wasn't until last season that he finally put all those tools together and be the player we all know he can be.

Recalled Conner

Recalled Conner
- wilsonecho91

Makes sense. They weren't going to go on a west coast swing with only 12 healthy forwards. Hopefully they dress him instead of the guy who keeps going out there in the Lecavalier jersey.

Tell me about Connor.

Tell me about Connor.
- Marc D

Pint-sized forward, great wheels, proven AHL scorer but strictly a fill-in caliber player at the NHL level.

Pint-sized forward, great wheels, proven AHL scorer but strictly a fill-in caliber player at the NHL level.
- bmeltzer

Who would you rather see in the lineup Monday, Connor or Vinny?

Who would you rather see in the lineup Monday, Connor or Vinny?
- BiggE

Who would you rather see in the lineup Monday, Connor or Vinny?
- BiggE

Great wheels over "wheels"

Pint-sized forward, great wheels, proven AHL scorer but strictly a fill-in caliber player at the NHL level.
- bmeltzer

Does he play LW?

Who would you rather see in the lineup Monday, Connor or Vinny?
- BiggE

austin mathews