Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot! Joined: 09.01.2012
Mar 30 @ 5:22 PM ET
He's been playing a bit banged up lately, but I think he's been pretty consistent since mid-December. Went on a ridiculous binge of scoring chances -- quite a few of which were self-created -- for a couple weeks earlier this month. Still needs to finish more consistently but he's legit. - bmeltzer
Not to mention he has the speed, hustle and shot. He’s actually a pretty physical player too.
A couple guys are gonna have to explain to me what their definition of inconsistent is.
Location: Driver's Seat: Mitch Marner bandwagon. Grab 'em by the Corsi. Joined: 02.04.2009
Mar 30 @ 5:32 PM ET
Brutal - Bob Habib
It's a lot like where the 'Hawks were pre-Kane/Toews... lot of quality depth, but no bus drivers. Hopefully some of these depth players in the Flyers system turn out to be Keiths or Byfugliens.
When's the last time we drafted a surefire first line forward?.. Giroux?.. JVR? - fishbulb1980
JVR was never a first line forward and never will be. So brutal that the Flyers ended up with him instead of Kane after finishing last in the league by 30 points that season. This organization is jinxed.
It's a lot like where the 'Hawks were pre-Kane/Toews... lot of quality depth, but no bus drivers. Hopefully some of these depth players in the Flyers system turn out to be Keiths or Byfugliens. - Tomahawk
he was a beast. to be like him imo you need one his size....that is rare. that size with skill and skating.
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! We have got debate, intrigue and out-of-this-world hockey talk. It’s the present day Noah Cates at center versus the hypothetical alternate reality of Cates on the wing. Which development path is best? Which do you personally value more—offense or defense? Is being an good scorer better than being an excellent defender? How many points scored outweighs goals prevented? What would losing this season’s best defensive center due to the rest of the lineup? Is there value in gaining the ability to play multiple forward positions? Is the theory of the wing hypothesis actually guaranteed to be better than our reality?
Next up we discuss Frost—from toilet seat comparisons to concrete offensive threat—his whole season revolution. From diehard supporters to longtime critics, Frost is a surprisingly hot topic. We talk about all that and so much more! Stay with us you beauties! - NC Flyers Fan
Pretty funny.But isn’t Cates’ upside pretty much Ryan Hartman. I don’t want to beat it to death or do a deep dive but I think it’s ballpark
Cates is better defensively. Hartman was horrible when he came up but I’d rate him an average defender now. Hartman is grittier and I’d say stronger on the puck. Neither is a scorer.
Hartman got a 3 year contract because he was cheap, versatile up front playing all 3 positions and bringing some sandpaper. He had an outlier season last year with 2 elite wingers. But he is a 15 goal scorer with 13-14 minutes a game. I see Cates the same way. Putting aside where Cates should play, I think the versatility of playing wing and center will be good for Cates in the future just as it has been for Hartman.
Pretty funny.But isn’t Cates’ upside pretty much Ryan Hartman. I don’t want to beat it to death or do a deep dive but I think it’s ballpark
Cates is better defensively. Hartman was horrible when he came up but I’d rate him an average defender now. Hartman is grittier and I’d say stronger on the puck. Neither is a scorer.
Hartman got a 3 year contract because he was cheap, versatile up front playing all 3 positions and bringing some sandpaper. He had an outlier season last year with 2 elite wingers. But he is a 15 goal scorer with 13-14 minutes a game. I see Cates the same way. Putting aside where Cates should play, I think the versatility of playing wing and center will be good for Cates in the future just as it has been for Hartman. - Minnyhock
I would agree and I think that’s a testament to Torts in a way. You have a guy whose skill set is akin to a Ryan Hartman, yet he’s holding his own as a 1C against tough competition as a rookie who has never played the position. He’s rising to the occasion. Based on what Torts sees day in and day out, things we do not see since we are all keyboard warriors here and not on the coaching staff, I’d say the coaching choices helped him not disappear into obscurity or get overlooked.
You know, I very much disagree with this and I can see why you marked Foerster as a future third line wing but when was the last time we drafted and developed a legitimate top line wing and when did this guy established himself as one of the best in the league in his time? Simon Gagne? I mean, Gagne was a legitimate first line winger but we didn’t see the very best of him until he played with Peter Forsberg but even without Forsberg, Gagne was a great top line two way winger. I believe Tippett and Foerster could be top line players under the right guidance and line mates. Watching Foerster on the half wall of the power play, I hesitate to say he held the puck like Giroux (he didn’t) but there was a lot of patience and no panic when pressured. Travis Konency I believe is a first line wing but we have yet to see the very best of him because this team has been a train wreck for awhile now.
Also if Cutter Gauthier develops into a second line player with our 5th overall pick, it’s been less than a year since that puck was made. That’s already a bad pick if your prediction turns out to be true.