how many games did Flip play in that role? How many did Laughton?
- wcorvette

if laughton was the better choice he would've certainly been used there

if laughton was the better choice he would've certainly been used there
- YuenglingJagr

No no no, you're not getting the wording right.

Hakstol's primary job is to help the team win hockey games. Last year, he felt that having Filppula play the majority of games that the 3C position was the best choice.

So Carter Hart has the same birthday as Bobby Clarke...

No no no, you're not getting the wording right.

Hakstol's primary job is to help the team win hockey games. Last year, he felt that having Filppula play the majority of games that the 3C position was the best choice.
- jmatchett383

That's the problem with thinking for yourself. So much harder to get it right

I'd love to go to opening night there, for the Flyers, of course. I'm over the whole Vegas hype thing. Their 15 minutes is up. We saw the Flyers there in February and it was great. Unfortunately opening night falls on a date that is work-critical and I cannot take the time off to go.
- Scoob

Hey man I was there too. Sitting next to family friends of Brandon Manning haha

if laughton was the better choice he would've certainly been used there
- YuenglingJagr

I like Hak and I think he should be around to see the Flyers compete, but to date he tends to lean on vets too much. We will never know about Laughton v FLIP but it was painfully obvious Flip was not a 3C. I liked Flip, I liked they traded for him, he just fell off a cliff last season.

No no no, you're not getting the wording right.

Hakstol's primary job is to help the team win hockey games. Last year, he felt that having Filppula play the majority of games that the 3C position was the best choice.
- jmatchett383

or..

they won the majority of the games in spite of him being there

how many games did Flip play in that role? How many did Laughton?
- wcorvette

Doesn't matter.

I like Hak and I think he should be around to see the Flyers compete, but to date he tends to lean on vets too much. We will never know about Laughton v FLIP but it was painfully obvious Flip was not a 3C. I liked Flip, I liked they traded for him, he just fell off a cliff last season.
- wcorvette

Filppula's offensive game dropped off a cliff but he was still solid away from the puck. He filled that role all season and the Flyers would've had difficulty making the playoffs without him in my opinion. He took a lot of heavy lifting which allowed other players to play in better situations. I'd like to see Hakstol be a little looser with giving younger players more leash but I think overall Hakstol does a solid job developing young players.

I initially dismissed the "Weal as 3C" talk as well, then I did some reading. Hexy was part of the staff that drafted Weal. He had played mostly center up to that point. Also played center in AHL where he had some nice years. He has good speed, can create, and also can bury his chances. If he proves he is up to it and earns the spot in camp, I would be okay with Lindblom, Weal, Simmer as the 3rd line. Raffl, Laughton, Lehtera/NAK as the 4th line.
- cdearth23

This is where I'm at too on Weal. Would love to see him click in that spot with some skilled wingers, and Laughton solid at 4C. I do think they are gonna battle it out in camp for 3C though, Laughton's got the advantage at this point. Should be fun to watch.

Filp sucked last year, but his usage wasn't his fault. I don't know for a fact if Laughton could have handled Filp's role last year, but I do know that often times Filp couldn't handle that role, either.

I don’t have a problem with Filppula but I definitely won’t miss him. I never felt like he was an important pick up to begin with. I just wanted to trade Mark Streit for whatever we could get for him or let him walk.

Filp sucked last year, but his usage wasn't his fault. I don't know for a fact if Laughton could have handled Filp's role last year, but I do know that often times Filp couldn't handle that role, either.
- VladDrag

I agree. I think you have to let the chips fall with Laughton, which won’t happen with Filppula here.

I don’t have a problem with Filppula but I definitely won’t miss him. I never felt like he was an important pick up to begin with. I just wanted to trade Mark Streit for whatever we could get for him or let him walk.
- SuperSchennBros

Filppula was an important pickup in that he took tough minutes off other players and he had a combined 41 points in 101 games as a Flyer plus he stepped up big in Game 5 against Pittsburgh. He was no star and clearly on the downside but he served his purpose here.

So Carter Hart has the same birthday as Bobby Clarke...
- YuenglingJagr

As the old gods have prophesied.

Filppula was an important pickup in that he took tough minutes off other players and he had a combined 41 points in 101 games as a Flyer plus he stepped up big in Game 5 against Pittsburgh. He was no star and clearly on the downside but he served his purpose here.
- bmeltzer

I didn’t think he looked very good at all replacing Coots. Not even a little bit good.

I like Hak and I think he should be around to see the Flyers compete, but to date he tends to lean on vets too much. We will never know about Laughton v FLIP but it was painfully obvious Flip was not a 3C. I liked Flip, I liked they traded for him, he just fell off a cliff last season.
- wcorvette

I think he's done that partially out of necessity and partially out of developing younger players without putting them in a position to fail.

At this stage of the rebuild, I don't think Hextall is going to give Hakstol the opportunity to lean on veteran retreads like Filppula or Nick Schultz. If Hextall really wanted a veteran 3C, he could have had one by now.

if laughton was the better choice he would've certainly been used there
- YuenglingJagr

Laughton lacks VETERAN PRESENCE!!!!!

I didn’t think he looked very good at all replacing Coots. Not even a little bit good.
- SuperSchennBros

I just watched the Game 5 replay...pretty apparent where Provorov lost his arm. But yeah, Filppula got lucky on both goals he was a part of.

Filppula's offensive game dropped off a cliff but he was still solid away from the puck. He filled that role all season and the Flyers would've had difficulty making the playoffs without him in my opinion. He took a lot of heavy lifting which allowed other players to play in better situations. I'd like to see Hakstol be a little looser with giving younger players more leash but I think overall Hakstol does a solid job developing young players.
- MJL

don't disagree on Hak doing a good job and needing a longer leash. This is just summer banter.

Filppula was an important pickup in that he took tough minutes off other players and he had a combined 41 points in 101 games as a Flyer plus he stepped up big in Game 5 against Pittsburgh. He was no star and clearly on the downside but he served his purpose here.
- bmeltzer

True, and the word "sucked" that I used was probably a bit harsh, but to me it's clear he is not a 3C, and wasn't last year, either. I think he would have looked better on the wing, and still feel he can play 4LW now.

To me, there was no clear in house option to play 3C over him, but I do think that Laughton should have been given a chance to play there for more of an extended period of time. He proved that he was deserving of a chance to play. Both the eye test, as well as certain fancies proved that imo.

Filppula was an important pickup in that he took tough minutes off other players and he had a combined 41 points in 101 games as a Flyer plus he stepped up big in Game 5 against Pittsburgh. He was no star and clearly on the downside but he served his purpose here.
- bmeltzer

I did like it when they traded for him, I always like him, back from his Wings days. I do agree he served a purpose and that is a real good indication of where the Flyers were as a franchise. I am glad they are past that part of the rebuild. Could Hak have played Laughton at the 3C a little more? yes I think he could and should have, but that is easy to say when you are just watching the games. At the end Flip just got hemmed in and couldn't get out of the D zone. At the end I actually thought Lethera was playing better than Flip

mund> siiiixtyyy-niiiiiiiiiiiiiine
- hammarby31

Hello.

Lööps, bröther