Voracek needs to be and can be lights out, I believe. He started showing that last year. I'm hoping as this season goes on he continues to trend back in that direction. still love the guy and I hope he gets back to his dominating play consistently soon. the flyers need that from him. he's definitely showing signs of that again over the last few weeks
- funmaster18

The Flyers PP scoring has been so bad this year. It's killed the numbers of guys like Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds. Voracek is still a beast at even strength. Same with Giroux. The top line is honestly the least of our worries right now.

Elite players get selected to represent their teams in the Olympics.
- Streit2ThePoint

Is James van Riemsdyk elite?

Quotes not working but I was at the Pittsburgh game and watching on TV last night, I thought it was an exact clone of that. 2-0 in the first, blow it because of stupid turn overs in the second, but good thing the Jake we all know and love decided to show up in the third. His OT goal, filthy.

he's been called up a lot and never seems to play consistently. i hope it's just a learning curve. hakstol doesn't seem to have much faith in him.
- funmaster18

He does struggle with his consistency, and his defense is a in need of work, but he also gets 7-8 minutes a night with guys who shouldnt even be playing in the NHL most of the time.

Umberger is borderline terrible. Gagner is at the end of the road IMO.

I think we will see a lot of good stuff from him when he starts getting legit linemates.

I think individually he brings a lot. Good speed, good shot, great motor. He just needs to continue developing.

Elite players get selected to represent their teams in the Olympics.
- Streit2ThePoint

Agreed that makes Mark Streit an elite player.

The Flyers PP scoring has been so bad this year. It's killed the numbers of guys like Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds. Voracek is still a beast at even strength. Same with Giroux. The top line is honestly the least of our worries right now.
- PhillySportsGuy

Voracek is a solid player with the puck on his stick at even strength but the top line does get pinned into it's own zone at times. This isn't all Jake but I'm going to dare to guess this doesn't happen to all Elite players regularly.

I mean that PEB should be the the 4th line and they are getting 3rd line minutes
- funmaster18

Okay understood, but is the problem the amount of time they are on the ice or whats happening while they're on the ice? I think it is the matchups that are the problem. Hextall uses them as a defensive line sometimes and they just fail, and they dont generate offense enough to be worth that. Reducing their minutes could be nice, but they really need guys who can play those matchups better

He does struggle with his consistency, and his defense is a in need of work, but he also gets 7-8 minutes a night with guys who shouldnt even be playing in the NHL most of the time.

Umberger is borderline terrible. Gagner is at the end of the road IMO.

I think we will see a lot of good stuff from him when he starts getting legit linemates.

I think individually he brings a lot. Good speed, good shot, great motor. He just needs to continue developing.
- jak521

I hope they can put the right players around him, because he does seem like a great player. I've wanted to see him succeed for a while now. He seems like he has the tools.

Agreed that makes Mark Streit an elite player.
- johndewar

Raffl too.

Raffl too.
- PLindbergh31

That has been proven already!

The reason elite gets thrown around so much is because it means different things to different people. Elite overall? Elite defensively? Elite scorer? Jake has been scoring at an elite level for RW and he is easily one of the best players in the NHL at using his body to shield the puck and transition up the ice. I am not really sure what else he would have to do to be considered elite by more people...I guess just do it for a few more seasons.

For fun...name the 5 elite wingers. I can get to about 5 but after that its a crapshoot
- YuenglingJagr

Let's Fight! Right here! Right now!!

Kane
Perry
Nash
Hossa
Jagr
Kessel

All right wingers, all off the top of my head.

The definition of elite is best of the best. I don't know what "First Team NHL Team" means but doing it once doesn't make you elite. It has to be a yearly thing.
- SuperSchennBros

Professional hockey writers vote for the top players at each position. Voracek was regarded as the best RW in hockey last year. So, he was literally "the best of the best" last season. His possession numbers and scoring are top 5 among RWers since 2012. Not sure what else you want from him. He's not a goal scorer. Neither was Forsberg or Joe Thornton. They were both regarded as the best players in the world for a period of time.

Voracek is a solid player with the puck on his stick at even strength but the top line does get pinned into it's own zone at times. This isn't all Jake but I'm going to dare to guess this doesn't happen to all Elite players regularly.
- SuperSchennBros

So Jake gets pinned in his own zone regularly?

Come on dude. Answer my question... Which right wingers have outscored him since 2012?

Professional hockey writers vote for the top players at each position. Voracek was regarded as the best RW in hockey last year. So, he was literally "the best of the best" last season. His possession numbers and scoring are top 5 among RWers since 2012. Not sure what else you want from him. He's not a goal scorer. Neither was Forsberg or Joe Thornton. They were both regarded as the best players in the world for a period of time.
- PhillySportsGuy

For one season. What is he regarded as this season or two years ago?

Voracek is a solid player with the puck on his stick at even strength but the top line does get pinned into it's own zone at times. This isn't all Jake but I'm going to dare to guess this doesn't happen to all Elite players regularly.
- SuperSchennBros

You have a selective memory. Voracek is one of the best possession players in the league on a year to year basis.

So Jake gets pinned in his own zone regularly?

Come on dude. Answer my question... Which right wingers have outscored him since 2012?
- jak521

I DID STUPID!!

You have a selective memory. Voracek is one of the best possession players in the league on a year to year basis.
- PhillySportsGuy

Simmonds is one of the hardest workers along the boards in the league, is he elite?

Simmonds is one of the hardest workers along the boards in the league, is he elite?
- SuperSchennBros

No

Let's Fight! Right here! Right now!!

Kane
Perry
Nash
Hossa
Jagr
Kessel

All right wingers, all off the top of my head.
- SuperSchennBros

That is an elite list if I have ever seen one.

I am working off the assumption that elite players are really freaking good, and having them on your team makes your team better. Are you really trying to suggest the Flyers would be better if you replaced Voracek with any of those players or are you just simply stating they have played for longer than Jake?

I DID STUPID!!
- SuperSchennBros

Damn.. got me. Missed that.

The answer is One. Only Patrick Kane.

And the difference between the two is from Kane's goal scoring.

So over the last 4 years, only the best player in the league has scored more than him.

Sorry for being so stupid.

Simmonds is one of the hardest workers along the boards in the league, is he elite?
- SuperSchennBros

Not even close.

That is an elite list if I have ever seen one.

I am working off the assumption that elite players are really freaking good, and having them on your team makes your team better. Are you really trying to suggest the Flyers would be better if you replaced Voracek with any of those players or are you just simply stating they have played for longer than Jake?
- YuenglingJagr

I'll simplify. Elite Wingers can score and are normally lite out every year. Elite players are likely to see the Hall of Fame. Is Jake going to get into the Hall of Fame?

Damn.. got me. Missed that.

The answer is One. Only Patrick Kane.

And the difference between the two is from Kane's goal scoring.

So over the last 4 years, only the best player in the league has scored more than him.

Sorry for being so stupid.
- jak521

News Flash. Elite players also get injured from time to time. Jake doesn't.

I'll simplify. Elite Wingers can score and are normally lite out every year. Elite players are likely to see the Hall of Fame. Is Jake going to get into the Hall of Fame?
- SuperSchennBros

He's no Bobby Ryan.. thats for damn sure.

He's no Bobby Ryan.. thats for damn sure.
- jak521

Is Jake Voracek a future hall of famer?