Torts says flyers will dress lehigh and other players, maybe a couple of actual starters.
- WhiskeyMan

They shouldnt play any starters. No reason to dress regulars against an AHL team when guys will be looking to "make" and impression. You saw it with Pare against MTL and that guy who took a run at Michkov. No reason to risk it.

How is Laughton not effective? He had 39 points last season. Laughton's biggest issue last season was the defensive side.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

analytics said he was the worst player in the league or something like that.

I think Laughton can be a top 9 player on a contending team. He is capable of putting up decent numbers at ES and can play on the PK. As well as the intangibles he brings. He's the kind of depth contending teams need. Which is why they should trade him for the right offer. Agree on the latter comments.
- MJL

The problem with Laughton is that his defense has been trending down hard the last couple years.

You're not an effective 3rd liner if you produce at a reasonable clip but get outscored 63 goals to 45 at ES. He wasn't getting matched against top lines regularly as a shutdown guy.

How is Laughton not effective? He had 39 points last season. Laughton's biggest issue last season was the defensive side.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

You answered your own question there.

He's in the lineup to hold the line defensively and chip in a bit of offense. But he was so bad defensively that it completely cancelled out the offense he chipped in and then some.

The problem with Laughton is that his defense has been trending down hard the last couple years.

You're not an effective 3rd liner if you produce at a reasonable clip but get outscored 63 goals to 45 at ES. He wasn't getting matched against top lines regularly as a shutdown guy.
- Feanor

Where was he in reference to the team last year? On even strength goals for and against.

The problem with Laughton is that his defense has been trending down hard the last couple years.

You're not an effective 3rd liner if you produce at a reasonable clip but get outscored 63 goals to 45 at ES. He wasn't getting matched against top lines regularly as a shutdown guy.
- Feanor

I believe that trend would reverse if he was in the top 9 on a contending team.

I believe that trend would reverse if he was in the top 9 on a contending team.
- MJL

As a fulltime 3LW with a strong center, he could probably be very helpful.

Just the way the draft fell. Buium has top pairing potential and was a higher rated player than Luchanko. That's who the Flyers should've taken.
- MJL

The draft "experts" are wrong more than they are right these days. It's the NHL scouts and GMs that matter. Nothing against Craig Button and his peers, but the days of Non NHL employees being experts are long gone. Also you don't know who the Flyers should have drafted. Too early. Look at the York pick. The jury is still out on that one and both York and Caufield have been in the league for a bit. Right now, I don't know that I take a goal scoring winger over a potential 1st pair dman. That draft was 5 years ago and a few of the picks are still up in the air. Too early

Where was he in reference to the team last year? On even strength goals for and against.
- ClaudeFather

He had the highest ES GA/60 of all Flyer forwards. That's not want you want from a bottom 6 guy.

https://www.naturalstattr...ines=single&draftteam=ALL

I believe that trend would reverse if he was in the top 9 on a contending team.
- MJL

It would. If he played LW and not center on a good team, his goal totals would be 18 to 20 every year he would be more of a support player. +/- would be better, etc...

The draft "experts" are wrong more than they are right these days. It's the NHL scouts and GMs that matter. Nothing against Craig Button and his peers, but the days of Non NHL employees being experts are long gone. Also you don't know who the Flyers should have drafted. Too early. Look at the York pick. The jury is still out on that one and both York and Caufield have been in the league for a bit. Right now, I don't know that I take a goal scoring winger over a potential 1st pair dman. That draft was 5 years ago and a few of the picks are still up in the air. Too early
- 26912 PP

Emil Andrae was drafted 4 years ago but his name never should have been mentioned as a reason not to take Buium. I wanted to like Briere as GM cause I loved him as a player, but some of his public statements are horrifying (Laughton intangibles, Lappy's succes, etc). Maybe Luchanko ends up being a great pick, but their drafting process as they explained it to us is bad. Buium isn't even small.

Look at the York pick. The jury is still out on that one and both York and Caufield have been in the league for a bit. Right now, I don't know that I take a goal scoring winger over a potential 1st pair dman. That draft was 5 years ago and a few of the picks are still up in the air. Too early
- 26912 PP

Don't believe you'd find many folks in hockey who would take York over Caufield or Boldy in hindsight.

That's not a knock on York... he's been good, has turned into the top-4 puck mover that was advertised.

The other two are just higher impact.

The draft "experts" are wrong more than they are right these days. It's the NHL scouts and GMs that matter. Nothing against Craig Button and his peers, but the days of Non NHL employees being experts are long gone. Also you don't know who the Flyers should have drafted. Too early. Look at the York pick. The jury is still out on that one and both York and Caufield have been in the league for a bit. Right now, I don't know that I take a goal scoring winger over a potential 1st pair dman. That draft was 5 years ago and a few of the picks are still up in the air. Too early
- 26912 PP

When looking at a decision made at draft time, the only information that can be used is what is available at the time. Hindsight may eventually prove different but consensus at the time had Buium as having potential as a #1 defenseman while Luchanko has the potential as 2/3C.
If you're implying that York has potential to be a top pairing NHL defenseman, I'm not in agreement on that. I hope I'm wrong.

He had the highest ES GA/60 of all Flyer forwards. That's not want you want from a bottom 6 guy.

https://www.naturalstattr...ines=single&draftteam=ALL
- Feanor

He's got this rep as a solid 200-ft player/top PKer that is mostly undeserved. The majority of the seasons he's played on the Flyers he's been one of the weaker/weakest defensive forwards and he hasn't been effective on the PK either (aside from scoring SHG). His FO% has dropped significantly too.

He's basically turned into a weird "offensive" checking forward.

You answered your own question there.

He's in the lineup to hold the line defensively and chip in a bit of offense. But he was so bad defensively that it completely cancelled out the offense he chipped in and then some.
- Tomahawk

But it was one bad season. You dont make roster decisions based on 1 year. He didnt show any signs of declining, he was just bad

But it was one bad season. You dont make roster decisions based on 1 year. He didnt show any signs of declining, he was just bad
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

another in a long line of mediocre players the flyers refuse to move on from.

Why did Buium drop that far in the first place? Most mock drafts had him between 6 and 8ish. I think Button had him at 8. He was as high as 5th in the spring. Must be some concerns there.
- 26912 PP

Fair question.

Buium was projected as high as 3rd in some mock drafts, the second D to be picked. He ended up 12th and the 6th D overall selected. Unless many teams were drafting for need, Buium did drop fairly significantly which does raise, lets say, a pink (not necessarily a red) flag.

I just can't get too worked up over this at this time. Time will always tell. So far, as a freshly minted 18 year old, Jett looks pretty good out there. If anything, I can see why the Flyers brass were enamored with the kid.

He had the highest ES GA/60 of all Flyer forwards. That's not want you want from a bottom 6 guy.

https://www.naturalstattr...ines=single&draftteam=ALL
- Feanor

Very similar to tippet coots TK, is there much to read into that?

wish the US and Israel would just turn iran into a fn parking lot and be done with it. world would be a better place.

Fair question.

Buium was projected as high as 3rd in some mock drafts, the second D to be picked. He ended up 12th and the 6th D overall selected. Unless many teams were drafting for need, Buium did drop fairly significantly which does raise, lets say, a pink (not necessarily a red) flag.

I just can't get too worked up over this at this time. Time will always tell. So far, as a freshly minted 18 year old, Jett looks pretty good out there. If anything, I can see why the Flyers brass were enamored with the kid.
- 77rams

It's a very small sample of games that I have seen for a still very young player. Not fair to really pigeon hole him on that small sample. I can also see why they were enamored with him. Smart two way player with speed. What I didn't see was elite skill. I think he will be a pretty good player for the Flyers but I didn't see a player with star potential. Which is what they desperately need. Time will tell. Luchanko will no doubt rise in the prospect ranks. Right now though, from what I've seen, Buium is rated in the top dozen or so of NHL prospects. With #1 defenseman potential. The Flyers passed on him and reached for Luchanko.

Torts stated today Risto has been one of the top guys in camp this year. Once again, Risto is the Flyers defenseman!

Torts stated today Risto has been one of the top guys in camp this year. Once again, Risto is the Flyers defenseman!
- jd250

Lets review the pre season comments that Tortorella has made in the past concerning Hayes and Angelo

wish the US and Israel would just turn iran into a fn parking lot and be done with it. world would be a better place.
- hello it's me 2050

They are the heart of the snake while the Saudis are the head.

Torts stated today Risto has been one of the top guys in camp this year. Once again, Risto is the Flyers defenseman!
- jd250

Apparently Drysdale has to learn how to play.

Not that I disagree, it's just funny the way he said it.


And I also agree that Risto is a Flyers defenseman.

How is Laughton not effective? He had 39 points last season. Laughton's biggest issue last season was the defensive side.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Laughton got pp time and significant top 6 usage last year. So, 39 points while being mediocre defensively isn’t exactly an accomplishment