If anyone can find fault with a top 9 with these as wingers, they are just looking to complain:

Lindblom-Voracek
Konecny-Simmonds
Raffl-Schenn

That looks great on paper. Just need to get a 3C in a trade with expansion leaving some good players available or maybe a UFA. That's the only weakness in the forward group, not at wing. Then you can have Leier-Weise/Read or something on the 4th line.
- Mononoke

Now that T-Kone and Prov have graduated, how would you currently rank the top 10 prospects?

There are plenty of centers available in this year's draft. Sure it's considered weaker but we will have the opportunity to restock that position. I would seriously consider trading our 1st this year.
- Mordecai

Are there that many centers?

After the top 10 guys with a lot of centers, you have a bunch of centers who probably project more as wings, or a few centers who might be lower ceiling guys. It may be the type of draft where I might trade down and try to get more picks, or even trade our 1st+ if something presents with a young player. Who the (frank) knows before draft day, 2 minutes before we pick though.

Now that T-Kone and Prov have graduated, how would you currently rank the top 10 prospects?
- PhillySportsGuy

Skaters:

1- Travis Sanheim
2- Phil Myers
3- Oskar Lindblom

4- German Rubtsov
5- Samuel Morin
6- Pascal Laberge
7- Wade Allison
8- Mikhail Vorobyov
9- Mark Friedman

10- Nicolas Aube-Kubel
11- Danick Martel
12- Cooper Marody
13- Tanner Laczysnki

14- Taylor Leier
15- David Kase
16- Linus Hogberg
17- Radel Fazleev
18- Robert Hagg

19- David Bernhardt
20- Connor Bunnaman

I made a list over the summer that was different, but I guess this seems OK to me coming up with it right now, adjusting some guys. I could quibble with a few names in whatever order. Tried to do tiers too to account for that. Some guys I could see being big risers in 12 months. Like Hogberg. Turned 18 in September, already an SHL regular, and according to people who watch is fantastically poised as a 2-way guy. Should be on Team Sweden next year.

Just curious.

What were James can't Riemsdyk's shootout numbers when he was here (and likely not being used) and what are his attempts since playing in Toronto?

I ask because not everything done here in Philly, doesn't mean they're always the right decisions. Plenty of players on the bench.
- SuperSchennBros

How exactly does one "Reimsdyk" and why can't James do it?

Unless the Flyers are targeting someone in UFA. There is a hole in the lineup for a middle 6 center spot. It won't be filled internally this year or next by anyone realistically. So yes there's a definite need it will be interesting to see how they plan to address it.

Laughton is effing things up
- Just5

Trade. No other way other than overpaying a UFA which would bring us back to the dark Homer days.

Laughton isn't the problem, the draft guru's are. He was just another pick who fit the Flyers' hard nosed, average skating, responsible but offensively unimaginative center mold. In other words, a third liner at best.

But in their defense, it was a pretty weak draft.

Laughton isn't the problem........He was just another pick who fit the Flyers' hard nosed, average skating, responsible but offensively unimaginative center mold
- 77rams

Laughton might be the opposite of every one of those things though

@ Mononoke I wont nit pick the rest but my top 3 in order

1. Myers
2. Lindblom
3. Sanheim


Reason being is Myers was pretty much Canada's #1 D at WJC before he went down with injury and is more well rounded at the same age as Sanheim while sharing the same ceiling. Lindblom also in his 8 games was affecting it more than the bit I've watched of Sanheim on the phantoms, he's also just having a better year not to take much away from Sanheim.

Skaters:

1- Travis Sanheim
2- Phil Myers
3- Oskar Lindblom

4- German Rubtsov
5- Samuel Morin
6- Pascal Laberge
7- Wade Allison
8- Mikhail Vorobyov
9- Mark Friedman

10- Nicolas Aube-Kubel
11- Danick Martel
12- Cooper Marody
13- Tanner Laczysnki

14- Taylor Leier
15- David Kase
16- Linus Hogberg
17- Radel Fazleev
18- Robert Hagg

19- David Bernhardt
20- Connor Bunnaman

I made a list over the summer that was different, but I guess this seems OK to me coming up with it right now, adjusting some guys. I could quibble with a few names in whatever order. Tried to do tiers too to account for that. Some guys I could see being big risers in 12 months. Like Hogberg. Turned 18 in September, already an SHL regular, and according to people who watch is fantastically poised as a 2-way guy. Should be on Team Sweden next year.
- Mononoke

Anything on Terrance Amoroso?

Skaters:

1- Travis Sanheim
2- Phil Myers
3- Oskar Lindblom

4- German Rubtsov
5- Samuel Morin
6- Pascal Laberge
7- Wade Allison
8- Mikhail Vorobyov
9- Mark Friedman

10- Nicolas Aube-Kubel
11- Danick Martel
12- Cooper Marody
13- Tanner Laczysnki

14- Taylor Leier
15- David Kase
16- Linus Hogberg
17- Radel Fazleev
18- Robert Hagg

19- David Bernhardt
20- Connor Bunnaman

I made a list over the summer that was different, but I guess this seems OK to me coming up with it right now, adjusting some guys. I could quibble with a few names in whatever order. Tried to do tiers too to account for that. Some guys I could see being big risers in 12 months. Like Hogberg. Turned 18 in September, already an SHL regular, and according to people who watch is fantastically poised as a 2-way guy. Should be on Team Sweden next year.
- Mononoke

Has Rubtsov fallen at all in your eyes or have you always had him there?

@ Mononoke I wont nit pick the rest but my top 3 in order

1. Myers
2. Lindblom
3. Sanheim


Reason being is Myers was pretty much Canada's #1 D at WJC before he went down with injury and is more well rounded at the same age as Sanheim while sharing the same ceiling. Lindblom also in his 8 games was affecting it more than the bit I've watched of Sanheim on the phantoms, he's also just having a better year not to take much away from Sanheim.
- Just5

Sanheim has been great 2-way in the AHL. He is asked to play a defensive first role with not much PP time and ceding all the offensive minutes to the AHL vets. He looks like a pro in both zones, even playing RD which he isn't as good at. When he's on, ice suddenly gets more tilted. And yet he's allowed the fewest goals by far on the team, and among the best in the AHL.

You won't find anyone that loves Myers more than me (maybe as much), but Sanheim simply has abilities Myers will never have offensively, even though Myers is no slouch. Myers is more physical and more shoot-first though and I think he was better coached in Rouyn to some of the details. But the WJC shouldn't sway anyone one way or another. If Sanheim was on this team I could only imagine how great he'd look, instead of being horribly mishandled by a moron in Lowry. Look at 18 year old Bean and Clague getting top 4 minutes. If Myers switched places with Sanheim, you can bet all those pinches and aggressive rushes Myers does would not have flied. He'd have his ass benched for Joe Hicketts.

I ranked them 1-2, so it's not like I don't see them as neck and neck haha. Lindblom is right with them for me, but a potential 1st pair d man is > a potential 1st line winger.

Laughton might be the opposite of every one of those things though
- Mononoke

I feel like people haven't gotten past his initial scouting report. He's pretty much the opposite of what was said about him when he was drafted.

Has Rubtsov fallen at all in your eyes or have you always had him there?
- PhillySportsGuy

Where else would he be? He's #4 behind Sanheim and Myers and the 20 year old SHL points leader Lindblom. He has no case to leapfrog any of them right now. #4 is pretty dang high haha. Truthfully it's Morin I considered dropping a spot or two, but I legacied that mother(frank)er in there.

I admit it's been a tough time to evaluate him. He plays 2 minutes in the KHL or goes down to the worst scoring team in the entire MHL to lead the team in points playing in only like 1/2 their games. Or he's in the WJC now playing 4th line safe and reliable shifts. And he's a summer birthday and physically immature. The few times I actually got to see him play big minutes against his peers, he's quite a unique player though.

Well I don't know what Morin is showing other than projecting to a possible 3rd pairing NHL Dman. I wouldn't guess any scout or GM would be excited about that from a #11 overall.
- Just5

What scouts that you're aware of are projecting Morin as a possible 3rd pairing defenseman?

Matt Duchesne for Ghost, 1st, Lyon
- Just5

No way in hell.

I feel like people haven't gotten past his initial scouting report. He's pretty much the opposite of what was said about him when he was drafted.
- PhillySportsGuy

Damnit and here I was expecting a team of Mike Richards clones.

No way in hell.
- MJL

Says Colorado.

Says Colorado.
- flyer_nutter

Says Hextall hopefully if offered.

WHY do we need Duchene other than it'd be a fun luxury? We need a 30 point 3C who is solid 2-way. We don't need to spend prime assets on a top 6 scoring center, a position we don't even really need. Duchene wouldn't even play on the top PP here, which diminishes his worth. His contract is only for 2 more years. Then will you give a 28 year old a 7 year, $7mil contract? He's not exactly on the same age timeline as our d prospects either. There's consequences and other factors that go in besides: "Good player, must get."

And Colorado absolutely listens on Ghost+1st for Duchene. They desperately need LHD. And it's more than fair for them. I wouldn't do it in a million years though.

WHY do we need Duchene other than it'd be a fun luxury? We need a 30 point 3C who is solid 2-way. We don't need to spend prime assets on a top 6 scoring center, a position we don't even really need. Duchene wouldn't even play on the top PP here, which diminishes his worth. His contract is only for 2 more years. Then will you give a 28 year old a 7 year, $7mil contract? He's not exactly on the same age timeline as our d prospects either. There's consequences and other factors that go in besides: "Good player, must get."

And Colorado absolutely listens on Ghost+1st for Duchene. They desperately need LHD. And it's more than fair for them. I wouldn't do it in a million years though.
- Mononoke

I know you love Coots, and I don't mean this as a knock on him but if I think the Flyers need a more offensive minded center to put in the #2 spot. Couturier goes to 3. This team doesn't need a Handzus in my eyes.

Overall, the Flyers biggest issue is not scoring goals, it's preventing them. The Flyers are a solid scoring team. They have room for improvement at ES scoring, but they don't need to give away top young defenseman, #1 picks, and top prospects to add a player. They need to continue to draft and develop players, and tweak it when the time is right. Not at that point yet.

Matt Duchesne for Ghost, 1st, Lyon
- Just5

WHY do we need Duchene other than it'd be a fun luxury? We need a 30 point 3C who is solid 2-way. We don't need to spend prime assets on a top 6 scoring center, a position we don't even really need. Duchene wouldn't even play on the top PP here, which diminishes his worth. His contract is only for 2 more years. Then will you give a 28 year old a 7 year, $7mil contract? He's not exactly on the same age timeline as our d prospects either. There's consequences and other factors that go in besides: "Good player, must get."

And Colorado absolutely listens on Ghost+1st for Duchene. They desperately need LHD. And it's more than fair for them. I wouldn't do it in a million years though.
- Mononoke

Again love Ghost, but Duchene is a borderline proven #1 dman or elite #2. Drives play with his skill. Ghost has promise, but I take the proven guy any day of the week. The #1 pick doesn't sway me away if it's around 15-20. Duchene isn't 35.

Weak boys. Weak. Make the deal.

I just assumed it was hair spray... The mystery continues.
- WhirlingDervish

they mentioned on a previous telecast that it was visor spray

Again love Ghost, but Duchene is a borderline proven #1 dman or elite #2. Drives play with his skill. Ghost has promise, but I take the proven guy any day of the week. The #1 pick doesn't sway me away if it's around 15-20. Duchene isn't 35.
- flyer_nutter

Duchene is a center.