know what? I am very patient about the season. I mean, while I want to see them make the playoffs and win, I am more than accepting of the direction Hextall is taking the organization. I am accepting of another non playoff season which is probably going to happen. but I just would like to see young players get a chance when the status quo is just bad. - nastyflyergirl
I was right where you are in early November... last season.
Location: this space for rent, PA Joined: 09.19.2006
Jan 27 @ 2:39 PM ET
Would also like to see those young players being put in a position to succeed/develop. Asking a 20-yo to carry the corpse of RJ Umberger around is a tough thing to do.
I guess it kind of opens up the debate about whether this team should be prioritizing winning the next game over long-term goals/development right now. I'm a firm believer that it should be the latter. - Tomahawk
Would also like to see those young players being put in a position to succeed/develop. Asking a 20-yo to carry the corpse of RJ Umberger around is a tough thing to do.
I guess it kind of opens up the debate about whether this team should be prioritizing winning the next game over long-term goals/development right now. I'm a firm believer that it should be the latter. - Tomahawk
It's too early for that. When the time comes, if they are realistically out of it, there will be plenty of time to shift focus to long term development of players.
Location: this space for rent, PA Joined: 09.19.2006
Jan 27 @ 2:43 PM ET
They aren't that far back. They could definitely push their way in. - mayorofangrytown
they are 7 points from a spot and 5 points from the worse record. they have to leap like 6 teams. is there anything about this team that makes you think they can be this year's Ottawa? with that bottom 6?
Would also like to see those young players being put in a position to succeed/develop. Asking a 20-yo to carry the corpse of RJ Umberger around is a tough thing to do.
I guess it kind of opens up the debate about whether this team should be prioritizing winning the next game over long-term goals/development right now. I'm a firm believer that it should be the latter. - Tomahawk
I don't see those two things as mutually exclusive. The Florida Panthers have 6 guys on entry level deals this season. (I believe that's what they said last night) Yesterday the GM said he'd like to get 4 of his rookies on the roster for next season.
they are 7 points from a spot and 5 points from the worse record. they have to leap like 6 teams. is there anything about this team that makes you think they can be this year's Ottawa? with that bottom 6? - nastyflyergirl
Ummmmm... the Flyers? They aren't doing squat.
I was talking about the Phantoms. It's a little easier to go on a run at the AHL level if you get a break or 2.
Location: this space for rent, PA Joined: 09.19.2006
Jan 27 @ 2:45 PM ET
It's too early for that. When the time comes, if they are realistically out of it, there will be plenty of time to shift focus to long term development of players. - MJL
my wanting Weal or another kid in for Umberger or Gagner is for the now because I just don't think they are effective on this team.
they are 7 points from a spot and 5 points from the worse record. they have to leap like 6 teams. is there anything about this team that makes you think they can be this year's Ottawa? with that bottom 6? - nastyflyergirl
I thought he was talking about the Phantoms.
I agree with you about the Flyers. The season is half over. We know what they are, and a playoff team isn't it.
Location: I'd do anything to get you humans out of my forest! Joined: 07.19.2015
Jan 27 @ 2:52 PM ET
Would also like to see those young players being put in a position to succeed/develop. Asking a 20-yo to carry the corpse of RJ Umberger around is a tough thing to do.
I guess it kind of opens up the debate about whether this team should be prioritizing winning the next game over long-term goals/development right now. I'm a firm believer that it should be the latter. - Tomahawk
Coots was the same age last season as Laughton is this season. And he didn't play with a healthy Read and relatively healthy (as in not currently undergoing putrefaction) Umberger. He played with a hobbled Read and the Sloth man from Se7en. And they didn't play as the sheltered 4th. They played as the second most minutes shutdown line. Let that sink in.
Would also like to see those young players being put in a position to succeed/develop. Asking a 20-yo to carry the corpse of RJ Umberger around is a tough thing to do.
I guess it kind of opens up the debate about whether this team should be prioritizing winning the next game over long-term goals/development right now. I'm a firm believer that it should be the latter. - Tomahawk
Laughton is 21 and his GF% and CF% actually get worse when you take Umberger away from him. And I don't think RJ is causing him to only win 41.6% of his faceoffs.
Location: The East Coast Dump, NJ Joined: 10.12.2015
Jan 27 @ 3:05 PM ET
Laughton is 21 and his GF% and CF% actually get worse when you take Umberger away from him. And I don't think RJ is causing him to only win 41.6% of his faceoffs. - Feanor
oh crap there's that structure RJ provides.... we're stuck with RJ!
they are 7 points from a spot and 5 points from the worse record. they have to leap like 6 teams. is there anything about this team that makes you think they can be this year's Ottawa? with that bottom 6? - nastyflyergirl
They're likely first round fodder for Washington if they got in. That doesn't change that Hextall is not going to abandon the playoff chase too early. He owes that to players such as Giroux, Voracek, Streit, Schultz, etc. They're playoff hopes are slim now, when it becomes clear that it's not going to happen, then he can fairly start to make some changes, and integrate some youth for the stretch run of the regular season.
Location: I'd do anything to get you humans out of my forest! Joined: 07.19.2015
Jan 27 @ 3:16 PM ET
Laughton is 21 and his GF% and CF% actually get worse when you take Umberger away from him. And I don't think RJ is causing him to only win 41.6% of his faceoffs. - Feanor
RJ's numbers go down too away from Laughton. Worse than Laughts' actually. Much of Laughton's time away has been with VDV and White. RJ's sample away is 1/3 that of Laughton's too, and much of his time away has been with White too. Their WoWY don't reveal all that much using each other. Two poor possession players playing with equally poor players away from each other. You know what I learn from their WoWY? Man, Matt Read is terrific.
Laughton is a poor possession player. No two ways about it. He's also young, has room to grow, and has shown plus scoring and skating ability. With Read, his possession numbers are in plus territory. That leads me to believe that playing with another capable player can give them decent enough numbers. I am a move-him-to-wing fan, but it's because of more than just his faceoff numbers. If he did everything else right, that poop gets mitigated. White is a great faceoff man, puts up poor possession numbers. Because he's just a poor possession player -- even if they win a faceoff. Laughton's faceoffs are near the bottom of why I want him moved to wing tbh. Poor def acumen and inability to control the game flow are more glaring to me.
Hextall loved that the return on his two traded veterans was very high, but he says that he was reluctant to totally tear apart a Flyers club that will go into Tuesday's home game against the Calgary Flames six points out of a playoff spot.
"I like the moves that we made," Hextall said. "I think we're in a good spot. I think we left our team in a spot where we can continue to battle for the playoffs. We could have depleted the troops here, and we didn't choose to do that. We want to give them a fair shot. In saying that, I told you guys before we weren't going to trade picks or young players to try to get into the playoffs, but also we're not going to trade away pieces that take us right out of there. So we're happy with where we're at right now."