Absolutely, they were a bad 5v5 team last year. Giroux and Voracek had down years as did a lot of people. I'm not singling him out. But I do also think that Giroux and Jake had down years because they've shown they can be elite in the past. Schenn has not, outside of the PP.

As I said, I'd rather have Schenn than not have him in a vacuum. But given his track record, 2 1st round picks for him is a damn good return.
- jmatchett383

It always blew my mind how solid Schenn would look next to Couturier and the combination of the two never stuck with such bright minds as Berube and Hakstol.

Toronto made the playoffs last season because they had 3 absolutely lethal scoring lines. Matthews was a big part of it but he wasn't alone.
- Baxter27

That's pretty much what I said. However if you take Matthews away, Toronto is probably average, even with how good Mitch Marner and William Nylander are.

I think Giroux will be back at center by Game 10. Just a feeling.
- jmatchett383

I wouldn't be shocked if it's before Game 1. It's an experiment. We'll see what happens.

I wouldn't be shocked if it's before Game 1. It's an experiment. We'll see what happens.
- fls13

Agreed. I don't see it lasting at all.

The issue to me, if it even is one, is less about Giroux not being the "#1 Center" and more about Giroux, Voracek and Couturier all playing on the same line. It better be one hell of an effective line or you have to distribute your horses better. I do think the Flyers are recognizing their depth as a strength which is why they're experimenting.
- Baxter27

I think Hakstol really likes Fillpula at center which is understandable. Maybe for the first time in his career, Couturier will be placed in far better ice time situations then he has been pretty much his entire career. Like anything, there are pros and cons.

I think Giroux will be back at center by Game 10. Just a feeling.
- jmatchett383

I don't think trying G out at wing necessarily needs to be a permanent thing.

Why not based on matchups or in-game situations?

I think Hakstol really likes Fillpula at center which is understandable. Maybe for the first time in his career, Couturier will be placed in far better ice time situations then he has been pretty much his entire career. Like anything, there are pros and cons.
- MJL

This could be the case

I don't think trying G out at wing necessarily needs to be a permanent thing.

Why not based on matchups or in-game situations?
- johndewar

I think breeding familiarity in the preseason is fine for him to get a feel for the left side. I just don't see it sticking permanently, if that makes it clearer.

It always blew my mind how solid Schenn would look next to Couturier and the combination of the two never stuck with such bright minds as Berube and Hakstol.
- SuperSchennBros

I agree that he seemed to have good chemistry with Couturier. I would have stuck with it, but the fact that 2 coaches, regardless of what you think of them, both decided to not stick with it, tells me that they were looking past just the effectiveness of that combo.

Two first round picks as a large haul for Schenn who was a core player before being traded. If the offer wasn't as good, Schenn would still be a Flyer.
- MJL

ok?

That's pretty much what I said. However if you take Matthews away, Toronto is probably average, even with how good Mitch Marner and William Nylander are.
- SuperSchennBros

I don't see what that has to do with Giroux at LW vs C. He doesn't just disappear because he's lining up at the hash marks instead of the dots. If the experiment works it gives the Flyers a dynamic top line. They have the depth to build solid lines beneath it.

That's pretty much what I said. However if you take Matthews away, Toronto is probably average, even with how good Mitch Marner and William Nylander are.
- SuperSchennBros

Even with Matthews they were a pretty average team. They just squeaked in.

I think Giroux will be back at center by Game 1. Just a feeling.
- jmatchett383

fixed

Well, think about the trade where Pittsburgh traded their first round pick for Ryan Reaves.

Ryan Reaves is a player who has a pretty good body of work to look at, and in no universe does that body of work warrant the use of a first round pick. Regardless of what he does as a member of the Penguins, it was not a good trade bacuse 1) the Pens could have acquired more for their pick or 2) given less for Reaves. The fact that they targeted and fell in love with him clouded their judgement, and it was a bad trade no matter what happens from here on out.
- jmatchett383

I would not trade a first for Reaves ever, but Schenn is a player that is worth more than two late first rounders, my opinion I guess I like the bird in hand is better than two in the bush

Toronto made the playoffs last season because they had 3 absolutely lethal scoring lines. Matthews was a big part of it but he wasn't alone.
- Baxter27

And because they were in the Atlantic division

I don't see what that has to do with Giroux at LW vs C. He doesn't just disappear because he's lining up at the hash marks instead of the dots. If the experiment works it gives the Flyers a dynamic top line. They have the depth to build solid lines beneath it.
- Baxter27

I disagree. In my opinion the number one center role is the most important spot on the ice outside of the guy in net. Think 2011-12. Jagr, Briere, Hartnell, Simmonds, Voracek, van Riemsdyk, Schenn, Couturier and a young Matt Read. Pretty good team up front without Giroux, right? We were wetting ourselves when G was out for two weeks. A legitimate number one center carries a lot of responsibility. Some teams would kill for one because they don't have one. [url]

I agree that he seemed to have good chemistry with Couturier. I would have stuck with it, but the fact that 2 coaches, regardless of what you think of them, both decided to not stick with it, tells me that they were looking past just the effectiveness of that combo.
- jmatchett383

I felt Couturier and Schenn with anyone, whether it be Weise or Read, were that good.

I would not trade a first for Reaves ever, but Schenn is a player that is worth more than two late first rounders, my opinion I guess I like the bird in hand is better than two in the bush
- joegreif17

2 first round picks regardless of where they're projected to be plus Lehtera was a pretty significant overpay for St. Louis.

Think a little forward and towards the future. The Flyers have Couturier who is 24. They lucked into Patrick with the #2 pick, who is a Center. They have Rubtsov who is highly regarded as well as Frost who is a Center I believe. I know we can't count on all of them developing but as Giroux approaches 30 and with his smaller stature it makes sense looking long term to see if Giroux can acclimate to the Wing. It could help extend his career.

Think a little forward and towards the future. The Flyers have Couturier who is 24. They lucked into Patrick with the #2 pick, who is a Center. They have Rubtsov who is highly regarded as well as Frost who is a Center I believe. I know we can't count on all of them developing but as Giroux approaches 30 and with his smaller stature it makes sense looking long term to see if Giroux can acclimate to the Wing. It could help extend his career.
- MJL

You might be right.

I disagree. In my opinion the number one center role is the most important spot on the ice outside of the guy in net. Think 2011-12. Jagr, Briere, Hartnell, Simmonds, Voracek, van Riemsdyk, Schenn, Couturier and a young Matt Read. Pretty good team up front without Giroux, right? We were wetting ourselves when G was out for two weeks. A legitimate number one center carries a lot of responsibility. Some teams would kill for one because they don't have one.
- SuperSchennBros[url]

If Giroux can't impact the game the way he's expected to, he will be moved back to Center pretty quick. If the experiment works, that line is dynamite and the team is winning, he's going to remain at LW. You don't assemble your line up based on golden rules and labels. You take the players you have and make it work one game at a time.

I would not trade a first for Reaves ever, but Schenn is a player that is worth more than two late first rounders, my opinion I guess I like the bird in hand is better than two in the bush
- joegreif17

That's fine, I'm just saying that the only way to evaluate a trade is to looks at value at the time of the trade, not with revisionist history. If you think what Brayden Schenn brought, factoring in contract and team construction, was not worth the return, that's fine. I think it was pretty even, maybe a slight advantage for the Flyers. Time will tell whether or not it ended up helping or hindering them.

LOL Brayden Schenngate? Srsly?

2 first round picks regardless of where they're projected to be plus Lehtera was a pretty significant overpay for St. Louis.
- MJL

And the Flyers have a very good track record for drafting first round picks, so they do have that going for them. Right now though, it's all about what the players on the roster can do. Tonight's game shapes up as the most interesting exe game the Flyers have had in years.

Tonight's game shapes up as the most interesting exe game the Flyers have had in years.
- fls13

As long as the referees let the two teams play. So far, what I've seen of the pre-season has been brutally unwatchable, in spite of the lineup intrigue and roster spot battles.