We're rooting for the same team.

Letang also decked Ovechkin. It was nice.

His hit on Backstrom- definitely suspension worthy. Not nearly as brutal as Orpik though.
- Giroux_Is_God

yeah i mean obviously as a fan it sucks. theyll probably get stomped without him. say waht you want about his antics, but people thinking hes only a one way offensive guy are missing it. hes ridiculous anymore.

but i'm fine with the suspension. was an unnecessary, reckless hit. the NHL also needs to start having their referees give in game majors for it.

We're rooting for the same team.

Letang also decked Ovechkin. It was nice.

His hit on Backstrom- definitely suspension worthy. Not nearly as brutal as Orpik though.
- Giroux_Is_God

Backstrom is one of the more subtle dirty skilled players in the league. He's a fantastic two way player, but (frank) him and his entire Swedish village he came from.

definitely wasnt. but the youtube uploader can classify it as "brutal" as they want. people trying to say he deserved the same amount as orpik are delusional.
- stayinthefnnet

Definitely not the same hit, especially with Maata being hurt. Not good. Maata was out to lunch after that shot, you could just see the blank look on his face, in his eyes. Hopefully he suffers no long-term effects.

1 to 2 games for Letang was fair. I'm still completely baffled why someone with his history would throw a hit like that and paint a bigger bullseye on his chest. He's a phenomenal player, but he seems to be over-reacting to things on the ice and/or drifting over to the dark side.

yeah i mean obviously as a fan it sucks. theyll probably get stomped without him. say waht you want about his antics, but people thinking hes only a one way offensive guy are missing it. hes ridiculous anymore.

but i'm fine with the suspension. was an unnecessary, reckless hit. the NHL also needs to start having their referees give in game majors for it.
- stayinthefnnet

Justin Schultz 1g 1a. Calling it.














For the Capitals.

PaSelke doing a great job at missing his assignment there and leaving Wilson with a slam dunk

Backstrom is one of the more subtle dirty skilled players in the league. He's a fantastic two way player, but (frank) him and his entire Swedish village he came from.
- Mononoke

We need Regis to tell us exactly which Swedish village it was

We need Regis to tell us exactly which Swedish village it was
- Giroux_Is_God

Ikea

Definitely not the same hit, especially with Maata being hurt. Not good. Maata was out to lunch after that shot, you could just see the blank look on his face, in his eyes. Hopefully he suffers no long-term effects.

1 to 2 games for Letang was fair. I'm still completely baffled why someone with his history would throw a hit like that and paint a bigger bullseye on his chest. He's a phenomenal player, but he seems to be over-reacting to things on the ice and/or drifting over to the dark side.
- wolfhounds

i definitely agree. as much as i like him. he needs to stop. 0 issue with him having to sit a game. as a league, players need to just learn to stop messing around with going high.

the opportunity carlson had on crosby as he was balancing the puck coming into the zone. he had him vulnerable, and could have ended him. he still made a good, hard hit. it is hockey. nothing wrong with hitting, especially the other team's star when you get the chance. but he had respect to play the game without targeting the head.

Justin Schultz 1g 1a. Calling it.












For the Capitals.
- Mononoke

haha i dont know. could be. schultz definitely got a sheltered role in his games at the end of the season. but god damn he was actually very impressive all things considered. then in the one playoff game, he had 2 absolutely egregious deer in the headlights gaffes and then never saw the light of game.

barring another murray masterpiece and the superstars breaking out in a huge way, its gonna be a rough one tomorrow night.

I think you're right, he was lost at times. That's why his ice time was low at times. It's a big jump to the NHL, from Juniors and half a AHL season. I think it's way too early to question his hockey sense.
- MJL

I wasn't really questioning his hocker sense. Just stating my observations. I understand the jump is huge and that's why I said I'm willing to give him more time.

I wasn't really questioning his hocker sense. Just stating my observations. I understand the jump is huge and that's why I said I'm willing to give him more time.
- benjichronic

Nick Cousins has very solid hockey sense imo. Was that 1 extra year in the AHL the reason for that? Or did he always have it and just hone it? I'm going to go with the latter: hockey IQ is a very innate thing. Systems and stuff you can teach, but high IQ you generally either have or don't by a certain age.

Laughton had a tough year, in terms of usage, linemates, scratches, position changes...I see talent there, and while it's way too early to pass final judgment, in my mind he has some question marks that go beyond simple "maturation" issues. Question marks can always go away. But it is never too early to have them (within reason of course...not 5 games). If a draft eligible player has question marks, do you draft the player assuming they're just age issues and not something deeper? GMs have to make judgment calls, even early ones, and not all flaws are grown out of. That he lacks the hockey sense to play center...that's apparent to me. I'm willing to wait and see with the rest of his game as a winger. And I think a bit of confidence might go a long way with him.

Backstrom is one of the more subtle dirty skilled players in the league. He's a fantastic two way player, but (frank) him and his entire Swedish village he came from.
- Mononoke

marry me.

Nick Cousins has very solid hockey sense imo. Was that 1 extra year in the AHL the reason for that? Or did he always have it and just hone it? I'm going to go with the latter: hockey IQ is a very innate thing. Systems and stuff you can teach, but high IQ you generally either have or don't by a certain age.

Laughton had a tough year, in terms of usage, linemates, scratches, position changes...I see talent there, and while it's way too early to pass final judgment, in my mind he has some question marks that go beyond simple "maturation" issues. Question marks can always go away. But it is never too early to have them (within reason of course...not 5 games). If a draft eligible player has question marks, do you draft the player assuming they're just age issues and not something deeper? GMs have to make judgment calls, even early ones, and not all flaws are grown out of. That he lacks the hockey sense to play center...that's apparent to me. I'm willing to wait and see with the rest of his game as a winger. And I think a bit of confidence might go a long way with him.
- Mononoke

Funny thing about hockey, is that a lot of things can affect how a player looks. Look at Jake Voracek, and how he struggled in making plays down the stretch, with poor decisions, and hesitation. Does he no longer have that ability, or was he just affected by injury and confidence issues?
Secondly, I think different players develop at different rates. Laughton has issues with a concussion, and also being bounced around in and out of the lineup. I think it's far more likely those things are the issue, then a lack of hockey IQ, that he was highly touted for in his junior career. Time will tell.

Nick Cousins has very solid hockey sense imo. Was that 1 extra year in the AHL the reason for that? Or did he always have it and just hone it? I'm going to go with the latter: hockey IQ is a very innate thing. Systems and stuff you can teach, but high IQ you generally either have or don't by a certain age.

Laughton had a tough year, in terms of usage, linemates, scratches, position changes...I see talent there, and while it's way too early to pass final judgment, in my mind he has some question marks that go beyond simple "maturation" issues. Question marks can always go away. But it is never too early to have them (within reason of course...not 5 games). If a draft eligible player has question marks, do you draft the player assuming they're just age issues and not something deeper? GMs have to make judgment calls, even early ones, and not all flaws are grown out of. That he lacks the hockey sense to play center...that's apparent to me. I'm willing to wait and see with the rest of his game as a winger. And I think a bit of confidence might go a long way with him.
- Mononoke

And that's kind of where I was going.

Cousins seemed to make the most of his opportunity while Laughton didn't. Also I don't see Laughton as a high ceiling guy due to what his role is really in the NHL and his skill set. If I was able to move Laughton for similar aged natural winger I am not against that. Or a in a package that upgrades the wing.

Also looking at the forward prospects/Lehigh Valley it seems we have more bottom 6 type guys coming then high end top 6 guys.

I am not saying I am giving up on Laughton just wonder what his future really is with the team.

We need Regis to tell us exactly which Swedish village it was
- Giroux_Is_God

He's from the small town of Valbo, population of about 7,000. His father is a Swedish hockey player who played 10 seasons for Brynas IF. Nicklas is the youngest Swedish player ever in Worlds when he played at the ripe age of 18 years and 6 months. He's a huge impact player for this team. His favorite M&M are the green ones.

/Pierre

He's from the small town of Valbo, population of about 7,000. His father is a Swedish hockey player who played 10 seasons for Brynas IF. Nicklas is the youngest Swedish player ever in Worlds when he played at the ripe age of 18 years and 6 months. He's a huge impact player for this team. His favorite M&M are the green ones.

/Pierre
- Streit2ThePoint

Fun fact...he actually has his cars insured with Progressive

Nick Cousins has very solid hockey sense imo. Was that 1 extra year in the AHL the reason for that? Or did he always have it and just hone it? I'm going to go with the latter: hockey IQ is a very innate thing. Systems and stuff you can teach, but high IQ you generally either have or don't by a certain age.

Laughton had a tough year, in terms of usage, linemates, scratches, position changes...I see talent there, and while it's way too early to pass final judgment, in my mind he has some question marks that go beyond simple "maturation" issues. Question marks can always go away. But it is never too early to have them (within reason of course...not 5 games). If a draft eligible player has question marks, do you draft the player assuming they're just age issues and not something deeper? GMs have to make judgment calls, even early ones, and not all flaws are grown out of. That he lacks the hockey sense to play center...that's apparent to me. I'm willing to wait and see with the rest of his game as a winger. And I think a bit of confidence might go a long way with him.
- Mononoke

It's kind of like Brayden Schenn... you knew there was a substantial amount of talent there, but you wondered how much of it he'd be able to tap into because a lot of the stuff you mentioned above.

I think we'll see flashes w/ Laughts for 3-4 more years before he reaches that level of consistency and familiarity where he can be an every day contributor.

He's from the small town of Valbo, population of about 7,000. His father is a Swedish hockey player who played 10 seasons for Brynas IF. Nicklas is the youngest Swedish player ever in Worlds when he played at the ripe age of 18 years and 6 months. He's a huge impact player for this team. His favorite M&M are the green ones.

/Pierre
- Streit2ThePoint

- Scoob

And that's kind of where I was going.

Cousins seemed to make the most of his opportunity while Laughton didn't. Also I don't see Laughton as a high ceiling guy due to what his role is really in the NHL and his skill set. If I was able to move Laughton for similar aged natural winger I am not against that. Or a in a package that upgrades the wing.

Also looking at the forward prospects/Lehigh Valley it seems we have more bottom 6 type guys coming then high end top 6 guys.

I am not saying I am giving up on Laughton just wonder what his future really is with the team.
- J35Bacher

Laughton, a 3rd rounder for a guy like Nino neidereitter. Do you do it? N.n. is a bigger skilled LW, a position of weakness for the flyers.

Laughton, a 3rd rounder for a guy like Nino neidereitter. Do you do it? N.n. is a bigger skilled LW, a position of weakness for the flyers.
- benjichronic

I like nino, but im not sure a trade like that is in the Flyers best interest

Laughton, a 3rd rounder for a guy like Nino neidereitter. Do you do it? N.n. is a bigger skilled LW, a position of weakness for the flyers.
- benjichronic

nope, not at all.

Laughton, a 3rd rounder for a guy like Nino neidereitter. Do you do it? N.n. is a bigger skilled LW, a position of weakness for the flyers.
- benjichronic

NN is a young established two-way 20-goal scorer... not sure MIN would go for that, especially with Laughts coming off a concussion, but he'd be a heck of an add for the Flyers.

I'm sorry... It got surly at work... Anyway, I'm quite underwhelmed with the core of this team to say the least.
- JoeRussomanno

Really, you are?

Never would have guess that.

Leight and all that but welcome back MJL.