Exactly... at keast someone may accidentally block a puck or something.

Also worth noting... the Flyers are 3-0 without risto! Coincidence, I'm sure
- Bob Habib

I must admit, Braun has played very well in a top 4 roll, but we know he can't sustain this given his age. I am almost afraid to watch when Risto re-enters the lineup because I can't see him playing as well as Braun is right now, but he will have to because Braun just can't sustain these minutes.

So far, a surprising 3-0 start. This in spite of the failures of management to add talent. The Flyers have played a gutsy brand of hockey these first three games. If this truly is the “Torts Effect” how long can hard work overcome a lack of talent? We’re so many of us wrong that the team is not that talented? Is CF a genius?

Certainly as a fan it’s better to win then to lose and 3-0 is awesome. Like what I’ve seen from some of the younger guys for sure and Laughton is emerging as a true leader it seems. My fear, still, is that the Torts Effect will lead the team to a 10th-11th place finish. Not good enough for the playoffs or a deep playoff run and future success, yet not good enough to get a stud prospect in the draft, and still… in cap hell. I hope I’m wrong but I need to see a lot more before I become a believer.

cap most likely will go up 3-4 million next season

Q- CF comments

I have no idea but I assume he saw the tougher matchup seeing how he seemed to be out there much more frequently. Didn’t zero in on the line matching
Edit, looks like an additional 4 minutes of ice time looking at game log
- ClaudeFather

His line wasn't matched up primarily against Kucherov and Point. His line was primarily matched up against the Stamkos line.

His line wasn't matched up primarily against Kucherov and Point. His line was primarily matched up against the Stamkos line.
- MJL

A better line than Frost was…

Potentially ... yes. I mean Mike Richards was a top 6 player. Patrice Bergeron is a top 6 player. I see a lot of the same qualities, so far in a limited sample, in this kid. Not saying he is there yet, but that play last night in the 3rd and the way he fell on the puck with 1.6 seconds left are the types of plays those top players make.
- jd250

Are you seriously saying that you see the same qualities in Noah Cates that Bergeron has? Really? LOL. Mike Richards was a first round talent.

- jd250

Point per game production with an xGF% of 50.78%

Now you tell me why he isn't

Point per game production with an xGF% of 50.78%

Now you tell me why he isn't
- MJL

Incoming "watch the games" comment.

A better line than Frost was…
- ClaudeFather

Frost shouldn't be matched up that way. Frost played primarily against Namestikov line followed by the Kucherov/Point line.

Would either team contemplate a Provorov for Horvat swap as a base for a trade. Assuming he was then signed to a new contract.

Frost shouldn't be matched up that way. Frost played primarily against Namestikov line followed by the Kucherov/Point line.
- MJL

That’s fine but when someone mentions possession stats it’s relative to the conversation when the other player had a more difficult matchup

cap most likely will go up 3-4 million next season

Q- CF comments
- wcorvette

Nothing scarier than Chuck Fletcher w/ cap space.

That’s fine but when someone mentions possession stats it’s relative to the conversation when the other player had a more difficult matchup
- ClaudeFather

Last night was a road game. The matchups had more to do with what Cooper wanted than what Torts wanted.

Maybe Coop hasn't heard that Noah Cates is the new Patrice Bergeron and he wanted Stamkos out against a rookie, while reserving his two better defensive Cs (Namestnikov and Point) out against Frost and Hayes.

Last night was a road game. The matchups had more to do with what Cooper wanted than what Torts wanted.

Maybe Coop hasn't heard that Noah Cates is the new Patrice Bergeron and he wanted Stamkos out against a rookie, while reserving his two better defensive Cs (Namestnikov and Point) out against Frost and Hayes.



- Tomahawk

Still relative to possession!

Nothing scarier than Chuck Fletcher w/ cap space.
- Tomahawk

I can't possibly guess what kind of player Chucky will go after if he gets a bunch of cap space. He's so hard to read.

Niskanen
Braun
Ellis
Ristolainen
DeAngelo

You want to die on the Frost hill, be my guest
- jd250

Whatever "hill" you are defending, most will not be on it with you

Imagine trading Giroux Jake Ghost and having nothing to show for it.What
- furio16

No worries; Cam is day-today and should be good to go for opening night

His line wasn't matched up primarily against Kucherov and Point. His line was primarily matched up against the Stamkos line.
- MJL

From what Feanor shared

Frost - Opposition
Hagel - 4:31
Perry - 4:16
Namestnikov - 3:58
Colton - 3:43
Kucherov - 3:40
Point 2:58
Killorn - 2:48
Bellemare - 2:33
Paul - 2:30

Cates - Opposition
Paul - 7:10
Killorn - 6:37
Stamkos - 6:36
Point - 4:34
Kucherov - 4:15
Hagel - 4:13
Namestinikov - 2:51
Marron - 2:43
Colton - 2:46

Cates lined up against stamkos line, then points line. Frost against their third line. Thought i mostly saw him against higher competition is the point.

Those stats are from Natural Stat Trick if anyone wants to do their own research.

No worries; Cam is day-today and should be good to go for opening night
- corduroy

Ryan Ellis to return to the lineup shortly after Atkinson.

Still relative to possession!
- ClaudeFather

Yes, but then Frost saw a lot of Hughes and Bratt in the NJ game and there wasn't any real difference between Frost and Cate in terms of matchups in the VAN game.

At the end of the day, we're only three games in. I'm personally not gonna make too many assumptions and predictions based on stats with only three games of data.

But we do know that it's still possible for good two-way players to drive play under withering matchups (see: Sean Couturier, Mike Richards, etc). So Noah Cates will need to do some of that before we hand him the next ten Selke trophies lol.

Last night was a road game. The matchups had more to do with what Cooper wanted than what Torts wanted.

Maybe Coop hasn't heard that Noah Cates is the new Patrice Bergeron and he wanted Stamkos out against a rookie, while reserving his two better defensive Cs (Namestnikov and Point) out against Frost and Hayes.



- Tomahawk

Then why didn't frost line see more of the point line? he saw more of the third line. and guess cooper was wrong with his matchups. trying to take advantage of the rookie didn't pan out the way he wanted.

Yes, but then Frost saw a lot of Hughes and Bratt in the NJ game and there wasn't any real difference between Frost and Cate in terms of matchups in the VAN game.

At the end of the day, we're only three games in. I'm personally not gonna make too many assumptions and predictions based on stats with only three games of data.

But we do know that it's still possible for good two-way players to drive play under withering matchups (see: Sean Couturier, Mike Richards, etc). So Noah Cates will need to do some of that before we hand him the next ten Selke trophies lol.
- Tomahawk

I think they would be better off with the veteran Laughton at center, and why is Laughton getting so little ES TOI when he is supposedly playing 1LW? He's 8th out of the forwards. JVR is #1.

Yes, but then Frost saw a lot of Hughes and Bratt in the NJ game and there wasn't any real difference between Frost and Cate in terms of matchups in the VAN game.

At the end of the day, we're only three games in. I'm personally not gonna make too many assumptions and predictions based on stats with only three games of data.

But we do know that it's still possible for good two-way players to drive play under withering matchups (see: Sean Couturier, Mike Richards, etc). So Noah Cates will need to do some of that before we hand him the next ten Selke trophies lol.
- Tomahawk[/quote]

you are the only person who brought this up.

Would either team contemplate a Provorov for Horvat swap as a base for a trade. Assuming he was then signed to a new contract.
- furio16

VAN would do that in a heartbeat with their crappy D and 2 more years of cost certainty with Provorov. Horvat will be looking for a big payday. Last year was his first with over 30 goals and he’s been over 60 points once. It fills a hole and creates another for Philly. VAN is pretty much resigned to losing Horvat.

Then why didn't frost line see more of the point line? he saw more of the third line. and guess cooper was wrong with his matchups. trying to take advantage of the rookie didn't pan out the way he wanted.
- Peter Richards

Point line vs Hayes seems to be what Cooper wanted.

And it sure seemed like what Cooper did was working except Carter Hart wasn't having any of it. Torts was forced to shuffle his lines after all.