Eh. Read and Raffl probably shouldn't be in a good team's top 6.
- orangekrush2010

I don't think they are...I could squint hard and maybe see Raffl, but I would be looking for the upgrade

All prospects are suspects until they get the job done -- I don't mind waiting for them to develop, but it's a fallacy to say that just because you have prospects means everything is fine

Laughton has had a nice stretch, and hopefully it continues. Schenn on the LW has had mixed results, at best. But none of those other players have even sniffed the AHL yet. We can agree to disagree, but who's to say a questionable overpay is a bad thing if it solves a problem?
- AllInForFlyers

Of course prospects are not proven until they are. By that token we should trade Provorov for Boedker or the like. You take a gamble believing your guys will be better than what you trade for long term - individually or as a collective. If the prospects mostly bust, the Flyers will have a lot more to worry about than a top 6 LW.

And frankly, anyone that is young and legit proven, will cost an arm and a leg. If Konecny and NAK are successes, the Flyers pay nothing. They have to pay and dearly so in a trade. And probably give up a roster player to boot. And a pick. Unless it's a steal, that's an avenue I'm just not intrigued by. Flyers are rebuilding; they aren't competing. They won't be for a few years. By that time, the prospects will shake themselves out. There is no immediate need for a costly top 6 winger. Trading picks and prospects...Hexy is doing something new.

Travis Yost ‏@travisyost 16m16 minutes ago
Philadelphia Flyers are within $250K on Raffl. (Asking price on him is two second round picks.)





Travis is either bringing fire today or about to embarrass himself
- PhillySportsGuy

Curious as to how he has that info


2 2nds eh!?

Exactly. I think the LW/RW thing is a bit overblown. It just takes time for most guys to adjust. Voracek's production has been pretty consistent since the switch.

Tbh, I always thought he'd be more comfortable on that side because he likes to carry the puck in and see the ice. Guys who feel more comfortable on their off wing are usually shooters like Ovechkin and Neal.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yup. Barring a miracle and winning a top 3 pick, I'd be fine going into next season with something like:
Jake-G-Simmonds
Raffl-Coots-Konecny
Read-Cousins-Schenn
VDV-PEB-Laughton

If they could move Read and perhaps add some more size up front, even better. But I could live with those lines. And yes, I do think Konecny makes the team out of camp next season.

Yup. Barring a miracle and winning a top 3 pick, I'd be fine going into next season with something like:
Jake-G-Simmonds
Raffl-Coots-Konecny
Read-Cousins-Schenn
VDV-PEB-Laughton

If they could move Read and perhaps add some more size up front, even better. But I could live with those lines. And yes, I do think Konecny makes the team out of camp next season.
- BiggE

Switch Raff and Schenn. Schenn and Coots are dynamite together.

Eh. Read and Raffl probably shouldn't be in a good team's top 6.
- orangekrush2010

It will be Konecny soon

Switch Raff and Schenn. Schenn and Coots are dynamite together.
- Giroux_Is_God

Works for me

#Don'tforgetaboutNAK

Of course prospects are not proven until they are. By that token we should trade Provorov for Boedker or the like. You take a gamble believing your guys will be better than what you trade for long term - individually or as a collective. If the prospects mostly bust, the Flyers will have a lot more to worry about than a top 6 LW.

And frankly, anyone that is young and legit proven, will cost an arm and a leg. If Konecny and NAK are successes, the Flyers pay nothing. They have to pay and dearly so in a trade. And probably give up a roster player to boot. And a pick. Unless it's a steal, that's an avenue I'm just not intrigued by. Flyers are rebuilding; they aren't competing. They won't be for a few years. By that time, the prospects will shake themselves out. There is no immediate need for a costly top 6 winger. Trading picks and prospects...Hexy is doing something new.
- Mononoke

See, that's an overstatement. I didn't say move Provorov for magic beans. I said that if you identify a guy who, as was just stated, clearly moves Raffl out to the Top 6, then it isn't a crime to investigate that and pull the trigger

It has been proven in the league that you cannot draft and draft only to success. At some point, you have to sack up and make moves with pieces you have

I just hope we can publicly shame all those posters that stuck up for the RJ/Hartnell trade when it happened. Garbage.
- coffee junkie

I remain defiantly unashamed in my defense of the RJ/Hartnell trade. It was about clearing years and term. And yes, RJ has been brutal to watch, but the Flyers still arent anything more than a marginal playoff team with Hartnell.

Of course prospects are not proven until they are. By that token we should trade Provorov for Boedker or the like. You take a gamble believing your guys will be better than what you trade for long term - individually or as a collective. If the prospects mostly bust, the Flyers will have a lot more to worry about than a top 6 LW.

And frankly, anyone that is young and legit proven, will cost an arm and a leg. If Konecny and NAK are successes, the Flyers pay nothing. They have to pay and dearly so in a trade. And probably give up a roster player to boot. And a pick. Unless it's a steal, that's an avenue I'm just not intrigued by. Flyers are rebuilding; they aren't competing. They won't be for a few years. By that time, the prospects will shake themselves out. There is no immediate need for a costly top 6 winger. Trading picks and prospects...Hexy is doing something new.
- Mononoke

I highly doubt NAK and/or Konecny will really show what they are on an NHL level in just a few years and shake themselves out just yet. And I know what I want would cost a lot..i mentioned building a trade around someone like sanheim. That guy has to have good value

Dammit. I thought VDV was on a 1 year deal.

Curious as to how he has that info


2 2nds eh!?
- Just5

God bless him if he gets that

See, that's an overstatement. I didn't say move Provorov for magic beans. I said that if you identify a guy who, as was just stated, clearly moves Raffl out to the Top 6, then it isn't a crime to investigate that and pull the trigger

It has been proven in the league that you cannot draft and draft only to success. At some point, you have to sack up and make moves with pieces you have
- AllInForFlyers

Yup. I would HATE to see us roll with our current top 6 and hope years down the road that one of Konecny or NAK or Lindblom can upgrade our top 6.

I highly doubt NAK and/or Konecny will really show what they are on an NHL level in just a few years and shake themselves out just yet. And I know what I want would cost a lot..i mentioned building a trade around someone like sanheim. That guy has to have good value
- orangekrush2010

Again, magical young proven player. Give a name or a few if you could. Drouin? He's far from proven.

And by 2018, when I think the Flyers can contend, I would imagine just about every prospect will be known quantities.

Pens get J. Schultz per Dreger

Important thing though is getting a player in here that can bump read/raffl down to line 3 not only makes the top 6 better, but also the top 9. Goes from a great, good, and meh line to a great line and 2 good ones. That's huge.

EDIT: Not advocating trading for one. In fact, I'd like to see what NAK/Konecny can do to the top 9 first
- Giroux_Is_God

Yeah. agreed. I just don't like the notion that Raffl and Read are easily replaceable. It just makes more sense to me to hang on to them while continuing to add. If someone makes a great offer, I'd pull the trigger, but to dump Raffl for a pick that likely never becomes better than him seems like poor asset management.

The Flyers aren't the Leafs. They'll probably contend for a playoff spot next year and may start contending for real in 2017-18.

Curious as to how he has that info


2 2nds eh!?
- Just5

Has to be from a team looking at raffl since it sounds like hextall is t saying much

I love the job Hexy has done, but I completely agree with you. Only thing I could think of is that the FLyers are "in the playoff hunt", where the Flames are done, so its easier to explain trades to ownership and fan base when your so far out of it... just playing devils advocate
- nonpoint22

The Flames also weren't going to re-sign Hudler. All indications are that the Flyers want to and intend to sign Raffl.

See, that's an overstatement. I didn't say move Provorov for magic beans. I said that if you identify a guy who, as was just stated, clearly moves Raffl out to the Top 6, then it isn't a crime to investigate that and pull the trigger

It has been proven in the league that you cannot draft and draft only to success. At some point, you have to sack up and make moves with pieces you have
- AllInForFlyers

The Flyers are a few weeks removed from..."the sky is falling let's tank for bottom 5!" Now is not the time.

Yeah. agreed. I just don't like the notion that Raffl and Read are easily replaceable. It just makes more sense to me to hang on to them while continuing to add. If someone makes a great offer, I'd pull the trigger, but to dump Raffl for a pick that likely never becomes better than him seems like poor asset management.

The Flyers aren't the Leafs. They'll probably contend for a playoff spot next year and may start contending for real in 2017-18.
- PhillySportsGuy

Would YOU do Raffl for two 2nds?

Again, magical young proven player. Give a name or a few if you could. Drouin? He's far from proven.

And by 2018, when I think the Flyers can contend, I would imagine just about every prospect will be known quantities.
- Mononoke

I don't think we knew Simmonds would be a top line PWF for a while, or Jake would be what he is now. You understate how long it takes young guys to really develop into what they are and show who they are in the league. Some guys come in and can have an immediate impact and are more predictable but thats not the norm

And i can't really give a name. I don't know who might be on the market or available. Not Drouin though. I've stated my case many times how I would not want him.

Would YOU do Raffl for two 2nds?
- Giroux_Is_God

Yes.

Dammit. I thought VDV was on a 1 year deal.
- Mononoke

If they had a real 3rd line and he was only playing 9-10 minutes a night, it wouldn't be a big deal. That being said, I think Leier takes his spot before the end of next season. I expect 16-17 to still be a transition year. Konecny and Provorov will (hopefully) make the squad out of camp, while Morin and Leier come up during the season. Add to that Ghost, Laughton and Cousins being only 2nd year players and you have to expect some growing pains. However they will be younger and faster and I think we will start to see the framework of what this team could be.

Thank you for outing yourself, very honorable.

I could care less how CLB is doing- it is irrelevant to the terrible trade which was bad at the time and, not to count eggs before they hatch, but tonight we might just get to see how bad it was.
- coffee junkie

So unless you are saying that Having Hartnell would put us firmly in a playoff spot, what does it matter?