Personally, I think Sanheim will start the season in the AHL but will be called up very soon after we purposely, and excessively, use Amac as our lead shot blocker by mid November.
- arichardson22

STAY DOWN!!!!!

Not sure I like this experiment with Giroux on the wing. Sure, it is better to test the waters in preseason and get some experience if the situation is called upon during the season, but they also lose their best and most clutch faceoff guy. On the other hand he would still be on the ice to take a draw if the center gets kicked out.

Weal...not sold at all yet. 3rd line energy guy, maybe, but top 6 *cringe*

GO FLYERS!
- Glak18

I am one that is sold on Weal, he will be fine. He plays much bigger than his size and his skillset is top six. Giroux has had issues with his wrists and faceoffs may be the reason. Either way Giroux will still be the go to guy until Konecny takes over one day down the road.

STAY DOWN!!!!!
- dragonoffrost

Can we do what Chicago did and find some previously okay ailment that now suddenly makes him medically unfit to play? Maybe we can pull a Clockwork Orange-style brainwashing on him that makes him believe he has some condition?

I think it also has to do with Morin and Hagg's lack of NHL experience. Not that I think AMac or Manning are much (or at all) better than him in a vacuum, but having 3 rookies plus a 2nd year player and one 3rd year player would be risky. At least Manning and AMac have been through the rigors of multiple NHL seasons.
- jmatchett383

Letting go of Manning and even MacDonald this early in the year would be a giant mistake for the the reasons you mentioned. Having a defense filled with young inexperienced kids without any guidance from a vet or 2 could be a disaster (Buffalo Sabres kind of disaster).

I am one that is sold on Weal, he will be fine. He plays much bigger than his size and his skillset is top six. Giroux has had issues with his wrists and faceoffs may be the reason. Either way Giroux will still be the go to guy until Konecny takes over one day down the road.
- joegreif17

Crosby is the reason for the wrists

I am one that is sold on Weal, he will be fine. He plays much bigger than his size and his skillset is top six. Giroux has had issues with his wrists and faceoffs may be the reason. Either way Giroux will still be the go to guy until Konecny takes over one day down the road.
- joegreif17

Why would Konency take over? He won't be playing center in the NHL in my lifetime.

He signed a PTO in hopes that he can get signed if they league grants Chicago LTIR for Hossa's deception.
- jmatchett383

Really curious how this turns out
... seems ..... Ridiculous

Crosby is the reason for the wrists
- dragonoffrost

You are right, Crosby and Giroux in the dot were vicious

Letting go of Manning and even MacDonald this early in the year would be a giant mistake for the the reasons you mentioned. Having a defense filled with young inexperienced kids without any guidance from a vet or 2 could be a disaster (Buffalo Sabres kind of disaster).
- Glak18

Only way I can see it maybe working is if they view Elliot as the guy to explain to them how they should do things when something goes wrong. I know I've heard he's a good communicative goalie. So maybe that is an out with the veteran presence issue?

Why would Konency take over? He won't be playing center in the NHL in my lifetime.
- Glak18

Konecny has the highest ceiling imo down the road for point production, maybe Patrick as well. Giroux is playing left wing in case you missed it. I was referring to your pp go to man and I think Konecny will replace Giroux one day in that capacity.

Only way I can see it maybe working is if they view Elliot as the guy to explain to them how they should do things when something goes wrong. I know I've heard he's a good communicative goalie. So maybe that is an out with the veteran presence issue?
- dragonoffrost

Hopefully, the goaltending is more reliable this year but here's how I see it:

Morin: Already an upgrade over what we had last year.

Hagg: Quietly effective

Sanheim: Has the highest upside of the three and seems to be getting better with each game.

I don't see a compelling reason to NOT go with the three rookies.

STAY DOWN!!!!!
- dragonoffrost

Coach Lappy: " BE MORE LIKE ME DAMNIT"

Hopefully, the goaltending is more reliable this year but here's how I see it:

Morin: Already an upgrade over what we had last year.

Hagg: Quietly effective

Sanheim: Has the highest upside of the three and seems to be getting better with each game.

I don't see a compelling reason to NOT go with the three rookies.
- fls13

Because almost every rookie, even ones touted highly like Konecny, hit a wall at some point. If we have all 3 hit that wall around December-January, our season is sunk.

Hopefully, the goaltending is more reliable this year but here's how I see it:

Morin: Already an upgrade over what we had last year.

Hagg: Quietly effective

Sanheim: Has the highest upside of the three and seems to be getting better with each game.

I don't see a compelling reason to NOT go with the three rookies.
- fls13

Well said fls13, I totally agree with you. I also believe if Elliot can have a healthy season and get off to a good start we could be a playoff team. Elliot when healthy can steal a lot of games. He is also a first class guy and will compete every day. He was a good signing and will be a huge lift mentally for the team over Mason. Mason just shows defeat after a goal and really did not have it mentally to be a true #1. He will likely lose his job to Hellybuck in the Peg this year too.

Because almost every rookie, even ones touted highly like Konecny, hit a wall at some point. If we have all 3 hit that wall around December-January, our season is sunk.
- jmatchett383

This is true but the experience will be invaluable. I do not think we are challenging for the cup this year, maybe in two years

Coach Lappy: " BE MORE LIKE ME DAMNIT"
- arichardson22

Schultz listened to Lappy

I think it also has to do with Morin and Hagg's lack of NHL experience. Not that I think AMac or Manning are much (or at all) better than him in a vacuum, but having 3 rookies plus a 2nd year player and one 3rd year player would be risky. At least Manning and AMac have been through the rigors of multiple NHL seasons.
- jmatchett383

I agree that is a factor but after watching them play I feel more secure about that. It is only preseason so there would most definitely be growing pains but why not get that out of the way sooner rather than later. I've really been impressed by Hagg.

I agree that is a factor but after watching them play I feel more secure about that. It is only preseason so there would most definitely be growing pains but why not get that out of the way sooner rather than later. I've really been impressed by Hagg.
- MJL

Hagg just has that calm demeanor when he's on the ice. It was totally unexpected by me.

Hagg just has that calm demeanor when he's on the ice. It was totally unexpected by me.
- dragonoffrost

People have been saying that he thrives is more highly-structured game, basically more of a "do your job and everything else will be fine" sort of thing, which means that he'd actually do better at the NHL level than the AHL level. I don't think he'll ever be a top-pair type, but he could be a fine middle-4 guy or, at the least, a true top-6 guy.

Can we do what Chicago did and find some previously okay ailment that now suddenly makes him medically unfit to play? Maybe we can pull a Clockwork Orange-style brainwashing on him that makes him believe he has some condition?
- jmatchett383

I'm thinking vertigo could explain his constant backing away... The world spins in one direction for him?

I'm thinking vertigo could explain his constant backing away... The world spins in one direction for him?
- FlyersGrace

I'm telling you, he's on the hallucinogens and afraid that the sharks will eat him in the neutral zone.

I'm telling you, he's on the hallucinogens and afraid that the sharks will eat him in the neutral zone.
- jmatchett383

OK yours is WAAAAAY better.

Well said fls13, I totally agree with you. I also believe if Elliot can have a healthy season and get off to a good start we could be a playoff team. Elliot when healthy can steal a lot of games. He is also a first class guy and will compete every day. He was a good signing and will be a huge lift mentally for the team over Mason. Mason just shows defeat after a goal and really did not have it mentally to be a true #1. He will likely lose his job to Hellybuck in the Peg this year too.
- joegreif17

I watched a lot of the commentary over the off season, and while most had Mason over Elliott, the ones that preferred Elliott always mentioned his team first mentality. They just need to be steadier between the pipes. I think they will be fine with SAN-MOR-HAG on the blue line, they'll get better faster playing at the NHL level and if Hextall thought they could compete this year, why did he dump Schenn? This is the year to go all in on the rebuild that isn't a rebuild.

I watched a lot of the commentary over the off season, and while most had Mason over Elliott, the ones that preferred Elliott always mentioned his team first mentality. They just need to be steadier between the pipes. I think they will be fine with SAN-MOR-HAG on the blue line, they'll get better faster playing at the NHL level and if Hextall thought they could compete this year, why did he dump Schenn? This is the year to go all in on the rebuild that isn't a rebuild.
- fls13

I don't think dump is the proper word to describe the Schenn trade nor do I think Hexy woke up draft-day thinking let's trade Schenn today. I just think he thought the STL offer was too good to turn down as well as landing #2 pick and Lindblom's development playing a factor.

I don't think dump is the proper word to describe the Schenn trade nor do I think Hexy woke up draft-day thinking let's trade Schenn today. I just think he thought the STL offer was too good to turn down as well as landing #2 pick and Lindblom's development playing a factor.
- arichardson22

I think he knew he was trading Schenn eventually