Kane should be on the NHL17 cover posing with the biggest hard on he can mustard after winning the scoring title. 99 problems and all.
- SuperSchennBros

Yeah I'm gunna call an A-Yo on that.

I don't know.

Laughton was a point producer in juniors but he isn't expected to really be that in the pros.

Also they drafted a guy I think has the same type of skill set as Laughton in Samuel Dove-McFalls.

I understand he needs to step it up. Lots of guys do. Just not sure if Laughton is such a lock anymore for the future as once thought. Still time. But wouldn't be surprised if moved either
- J35Bacher

This seems like some of the talk that was said about Brayden Schenn. I see no reason at this point to have doubts about Laughton. He was a first year player, who had some struggles, which is not uncommon. I'm confident Hextall and the Flyers will exercise patience with Laughton, and let him develop into what he's going to develop into. If that's a center, that's great, if it's a hard skating forechecking winger with some scoring touch, that's great too. I still like Laughton as a player.

welcome back!
what did you think of the Caps series?
disappointed in the performance of the Flyers top guys, amazed by Neuvirth...
would love to hear your take
- Marc D

Other than the goaltending, I didn't think the Flyers overall as a team played well, especially on special teams obviously. I think that was due to poor execution and/or poor strategy. On the PK, the Flyers were obviously concerned with not allowing cross ice seam passes to Ovechkin for one timers. I'm okay with a tight box, or triangle and one formation, but they were far too passive. Either the coaching staff adjusted too slowly, or the players didn't execute the adjustments. I think the team was low on fuel as a whole, which also was a factor.

Other than the goaltending, I didn't think the Flyers overall as a team played well, especially on special teams obviously. I think that was due to poor execution and/or poor strategy. On the PK, the Flyers were obviously concerned with not allowing cross ice seam passes to Ovechkin for one timers. I'm okay with a tight box, or triangle and one formation, but they were far too passive. Either the coaching staff adjusted too slowly, or the players didn't execute the adjustments. I think the team was low on fuel as a whole, which also was a factor.
- MJL

hey dude!

He he.
- flyer_nutter

I laughed too

Other than the goaltending, I didn't think the Flyers overall as a team played well, especially on special teams obviously. I think that was due to poor execution and/or poor strategy. On the PK, the Flyers were obviously concerned with not allowing cross ice seam passes to Ovechkin for one timers. I'm okay with a tight box, or triangle and one formation, but they were far too passive. Either the coaching staff adjusted too slowly, or the players didn't execute the adjustments. I think the team was low on fuel as a whole, which also was a factor.
- MJL

The pp was nowhere near as effective as it had to be. At least the pk adjusted.

This seems like some of the talk that was said about Brayden Schenn. I see no reason at this point to have doubts about Laughton. He was a first year player, who had some struggles, which is not uncommon. I'm confident Hextall and the Flyers will exercise patience with Laughton, and let him develop into what he's going to develop into. If that's a center, that's great, if it's a hard skating forechecking winger with some scoring touch, that's great too. I still like Laughton as a player.
- MJL

I chalk the carping about Laughton up as general fan impatience, and I agree with you in that I believe the Flyers will exercise patience, and that right now Laughton isnt anywhere near where his ceiling as a player will be.

I chalk the carping about Laughton up as general fan impatience, and I agree with you in that I believe the Flyers will exercise patience, and that right now Laughton isnt anywhere near where his ceiling as a player will be.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I was dissappointed he never saw 2pp time. No reason to give up on him, but also no reason he should be handed a spot anywhere in the lineup this fall

I chalk the carping about Laughton up as general fan impatience, and I agree with you in that I believe the Flyers will exercise patience, and that right now Laughton isnt anywhere near where his ceiling as a player will be.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Laughton is only about to be 22 (it's crazy to think he's only one year younger than Coots...still young though), and he showed glimmers of what he could be: sheltered winger with speed, some tenacity, and a nice shot and offensive touch. But there are red flags about his game so far that imo go a bit deeper than fan impatience, and may impede his potential if they don't disappear. I think questioning his ceiling at the moment is legitimate. Doesn't mean he doesn't have more to offer still.

That said, next year he should be played exclusively at wing. Maybe try him out with Couturier who has a knack for bringing out the best in players and covering their deficiencies. Maybe with Raffl at center. It will probably be with Cousins though. But I liked the two of them together so that's ok. What isn't ok is giving him no PP time. He has one of the best shots on the team.....why is he sitting on the bench the entire year? Makes zero sense to me. He saw 5 minutes to VDV's 8. I also want to see him on the PK full time. His speed looked good there. Stats back it up in SSS.

I chalk the carping about Laughton up as general fan impatience, and I agree with you in that I believe the Flyers will exercise patience, and that right now Laughton isnt anywhere near where his ceiling as a player will be.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I think Laughton has way more to give in terms of production, potential, offense and defense, pretty much all aspects of his game. He has the speed, heart, and skill to become a really solid player for us down the road.

Laughton is only about to be 22 (it's crazy to think he's only one year younger than Coots...still young though), and he showed glimmers of what he could be: sheltered winger with speed, some tenacity, and a nice shot and offensive touch. But there are red flags about his game so far that imo go a bit deeper than fan impatience, and may impede his potential if they don't disappear. I think questioning his ceiling at the moment is legitimate. Doesn't mean he doesn't have more to offer still.

That said, next year he should be played exclusively at wing. Maybe try him out with Couturier who has a knack for bringing out the best in players and covering their deficiencies. Maybe with Raffl at center. It will probably be with Cousins though. But I liked the two of them together so that's ok. What isn't ok is giving him no PP time. He has one of the best shots on the team.....why is he sitting on the bench the entire year? Makes zero sense to me. He saw 5 minutes to VDV's 8. I also want to see him on the PK full time. His speed looked good there. Stats back it up in SSS.
- Mononoke

Yes, this. All of it.

Congrats to Gostisbehere on the nomination, he is very deserving. I think it will go to Panarin though, who is also very deserving. I don't think the Flyers would've made the playoffs without the offensive jolt Gostisbehere added, and I think he's going to get even better.
- MJL

MJL, hello

I dunno guys...I think Ghost ends up third
- YuenglingJagr

Wouldn't be shocked

Just so I don't clog the board up with non hockey related posts, thanks to all who have posted welcoming me back, and also thanks for the numerous PM's I've received welcoming me back. Haven't had time to read them all yet. Thanks to all!

Laughton is only about to be 22 (it's crazy to think he's only one year younger than Coots...still young though), and he showed glimmers of what he could be: sheltered winger with speed, some tenacity, and a nice shot and offensive touch. But there are red flags about his game so far that imo go a bit deeper than fan impatience, and may impede his potential if they don't disappear. I think questioning his ceiling at the moment is legitimate. Doesn't mean he doesn't have more to offer still.

That said, next year he should be played exclusively at wing. Maybe try him out with Couturier who has a knack for bringing out the best in players and covering their deficiencies. Maybe with Raffl at center. It will probably be with Cousins though. But I liked the two of them together so that's ok. What isn't ok is giving him no PP time. He has one of the best shots on the team.....why is he sitting on the bench the entire year? Makes zero sense to me. He saw 5 minutes to VDV's 8. I also want to see him on the PK full time. His speed looked good there. Stats back it up in SSS.
- Mononoke

He's a rookie, so it's not unusual for there to be red flags to a rookie's game. Working on those issues is what developing players is all about. A coach is looking for certain things from players, and how they fit into the team and it's systems play. If a coach doesn't feel like enough progress is being made with a player, or he's not correcting what he is asked to improve upon, then a coach is not going to reward the player with PP time, until he gets that part of his game in order. I agree he has a good wrist shot, but that in itself is not a reason to give a rookie PP time. If we look at those "red flags" in his game, then it makes sense from a team and player building perspective, why he didn't see time on the PP. I personally don't care for the term sheltered. I think it's a poor hockey term. Players are placed in roles and matchups that best suit the player and the team. Sheltered to me has a negative connotation to it.

http://www.csnphilly.com/...must-earn-his-keep-flyers
I find it funny how Raffl gets a contract for doing nothing and Cousins gets the shaft

http://www.csnphilly.com/hockey-philadelphia-flyers/pending-rfa-nick-cousins-must-earn-his-keep-flyers
I find it funny how Raffl gets a contract for doing nothing and Cousins gets the shaft
- 2Real

That's the first thought I had too.

Just so I don't clog the board up with non hockey related posts, thanks to all who have posted welcoming me back, and also thanks for the numerous PM's I've received welcoming me back. Haven't had time to read them all yet. Thanks to all!
- MJL

Have you been busy working on the latest Star Wars flick

Have you been busy working on the latest Star Wars flick
- Landsbergfan

he has to be fans wont' put up with another rehash

Just so I don't clog the board up with non hockey related posts, thanks to all who have posted welcoming me back, and also thanks for the numerous PM's I've received welcoming me back. Haven't had time to read them all yet. Thanks to all!
- MJL

what happened? the blobbers all missed you

this was my take in the Caps thread:

Could you imagine the amount of Pens fans who would want someone killed if that Letang hit was thrown by say Carlson, and the recipient was , say, Crosby?


It was an ugly, targeted hit. He doesnt drive through the chest as some Pens fans love to swear by. He instead lifts his shoulder, makes principle contact with Johanssons face, and drives his shoulder through the hit. Had he not elevated his body (he does leave his feet because of that propulsion) the hit would have been right through the shoulder/crest of Johansson... instead he took a shot at a guy just on the fringe of being late.

So:
1- While not technically late by timing, the player was no longer in possession of the puck.
2- Letang adjusts his body, driving his checking shoulder in upward direction.
3- Checking shoulder makes initial and primary contact with the head/face of Johansson.
4- The "picking of the head" was visualized by three things: Change of body position, propulsion in an upward motion, and primary contact point being head
5- No apparent injury
6- Not a repeat offender (last suspension being in 2011 (?))


He should get 3-4 games, likely will get 1-2.




As point of contact references see times:
:24
:31
:39 (especially good to see him adjust his body for a high hit)
1:07
- jak521

(frank) Slasher Letang and the glass house that is his skull. He's a dirty whiner.

Of course Pens fans think Backstrom's leap over/into Letang was the worst hit of the game. Cause they're Pens fans.

http://www.csnphilly.com/hockey-philadelphia-flyers/pending-rfa-nick-cousins-must-earn-his-keep-flyers
I find it funny how Raffl gets a contract for doing nothing and Cousins gets the shaft
- 2Real

Put down the pipe.

Raffl = 217 games, 43 goals, 38 assists for 81 points. Up and down the lineup. Defensively sound. And his cap hit is next to nothing for what he brings.

“[Cousins] did a good job for us but he’s not an established NHL player, so he’s got to come back in training camp and earn it,” the Flyers’ general manager said last week.

How outlandish.

Shane Prince. Everytime I watch him these playoffs he's creating a scoring chance. He could be breaking out in these playoffs and is s good example of why you don't give up on 21/22 year old players especially when their not costing you anything

this is pretty sweet

http://www.gamewornauctio...umeur_Letter-10467-0.html

this is pretty sweet

http://www.gamewornauctio...umeur_Letter-10467-0.html
- wilsonecho91

The game wear on this sweater is tremendous and consists of stick and slash marks, board burns, board paint transfer, un-repaired burn holes, stitch pops, heavy inner pilling, general trauma and plenty of washed out bloodstains!

'General trauma'. Love it.