Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Laughton's Development, Ashbee's Birthday, Quick Hits

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Laughton's Development, Ashbee's Birthday, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

My view on Laughton is simple. If he's one of the 9 best forwards in camp, keep him. If he's not, let him go to the Phantoms and play top line minutes in all situations and be ready for an injury call up.

If he doesn't kick the door down, and make it impossible for the Flyers to keep him, I'd rather he stay in the AHL for a bit

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Laughton's Development, Ashbee's Birthday, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Scott Laughton = Mike Ricci

Scott Laughton = Mike Ricci
- Tomahawk

I'll take it... gladly

My view on Laughton is simple. If he's one of the 9 best forwards in camp, keep him. If he's not, let him go to the Phantoms and play top line minutes in all situations and be ready for an injury call up.

If he doesn't kick the door down, and make it impossible for the Flyers to keep him, I'd rather he stay in the AHL for a bit
- Jsaquella

Agreed. Nothing wrong with having one of your top prospects preparing and staying fresh in the AHL and calling them up when they're ready or needed due to injury like the Red Wings handled Tatar and Nyquist.

I just hope he isn't traded before he hits the ice with the pro club. Since we are stacked at center and if he possibly gets stuck because of that.

Scott Laughton = Mike Ricci
- Tomahawk

I agree with Bill...If Laughton has Ricci's career-and team success-I'm all in

I'll take it... gladly
- bmeltzer

AGREED

Scott Laughton = Mike Ricci
- Tomahawk

but does he have the nose for it?

but does he have the nose for it?
- nails

I think two factors are going to decide where Laughton starts the season, rather then a premeditated view point on how the Flyers are going to treat young players. Whether Lecavalier is still here. And how Laughton plays in camp and in the pre season.

My view on Laughton is simple. If he's one of the 9 best forwards in camp, keep him. If he's not, let him go to the Phantoms and play top line minutes in all situations and be ready for an injury call up.

If he doesn't kick the door down, and make it impossible for the Flyers to keep him, I'd rather he stay in the AHL for a bit
- Jsaquella

Same here. What if he does look really good though? He has next to no experience at wing. If he looks like a top 9 player does that push Vinny to 4th line duty?

Scott Laughton = Mike Ricci
- Tomahawk

I won't have it. Mike ricci is one of my top hate players of all time.

I won't have it. Mike ricci is one of my top hate players of all time.
- AGL_91

what was there to hate about Ricci?

I won't have it. Mike ricci is one of my top hate players of all time.
- AGL_91

Wha? He was the best.

I think two factors are going to decide where Laughton starts the season, rather then a premeditated view point on how the Flyers are going to treat young players. Whether Lecavalier is still here. And how Laughton plays in camp and in the pre season.
- MJL

If I'm the GM. Lecavaliers status with the team has nothing to do with how I'm approaching handling Laughton.

I'm ok with the top 9 thing, however I'm inclined to have him start in the AHL regardless of his camp

If I'm the GM. Lecavaliers status with the team has nothing to do with how I'm approaching handling Laughton.

I'm ok with the top 9 thing, however I'm inclined to have him start in the AHL regardless of his camp
- Just5

How can it not be a factor in whether Laughton makes the team? There are only 4 center positions available. What the Flyers wind up doing with Lecavalier is certainly going to be a factor is whether Laughton makes the team. Certainly not the only factor, but a factor nonetheless. If Lecavalier is traded, or moved to the RW, that is going to possibly increase the chances of Laughton making the team. Also depends on what they do with B Schenn.

Same here. What if he does look really good though? He has next to no experience at wing. If he looks like a top 9 player does that push Vinny to 4th line duty?
- hereticpride

If Laughton makes the top 9, it'd likely be as the 3rd line LW. Despite lack of experience, I'd be willing to trying him there. In terms of Vinny, if he's incapable of being effective in a scoring line role(which means more than just potting goals), then put him wherever he hurts the team the least.

Agreed. Nothing wrong with having one of your top prospects preparing and staying fresh in the AHL and calling them up when they're ready or needed due to injury like the Red Wings handled Tatar and Nyquist.
- five4fighting10

I just don't see the benefit of Laughton playing limited minutes, with a clown like Rinaldo as one of his wingers.

Personally, I hope the Flyers give him 10-20 games in the AHL, at a minimum, just to see how he adjusts to the pace and playing against men.

It's not a crime to start in the AHL and be called up. He's not going to get any kind of bonus for making the team out of training camp, or starting on the fourth line.

To me, there's nothing wrong with trying to develop him into the best player he possibly can be, and I'm not sure that happens by playing limited minutes on the fourth line, when he could be playing significant minutes in the AHL.

Just my opinion.

My view on Laughton is simple. If he's one of the 9 best forwards in camp, keep him. If he's not, let him go to the Phantoms and play top line minutes in all situations and be ready for an injury call up.

If he doesn't kick the door down, and make it impossible for the Flyers to keep him, I'd rather he stay in the AHL for a bit
- Jsaquella

I could see him being one of the nine best forwards out of camp.
With a log jam at center he could still be slotted into the 4th line C and pick up some mintes on the PK.

I don't think that role, if he is getting 12-13+ minutes a game hurts his development at all.

I am also OK with him starting in the AHL this year.
But the way the roster looks now I think he is the best option for the 4th line C.
At least the way I want to see their 4th line constructed.
A line of plus skaters that are effective 2 way players capable of 10-12 mintes a game including tight one goal games.

I could see him being one of the nine best forwards out of camp.
With a log jam at center he could still be slotted into the 4th line C and pick up some mintes on the PK.

I don't think that role, if he is getting 12-13+ minutes a game hurts his development at all.

I am also OK with him starting in the AHL this year.
But the way the roster looks now I think he is the best option for the 4th line C.
At least the way I want to see their 4th line constructed.
A line of plus skaters that are effective 2 way players capable of 10-12 mintes a game including tight one goal games.
- Marc D

If he's one of the best 9 guys in camp, I'd rather see him at LW with Couturier & Read(assuming Berube keeps his defined pairs intact) than playing 8-10 minutes with Zac Attack.

Now, if the 4th line is Bellemare, Laughton & Raffl, great, play him at 4th line

* Former Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton has terminated his 2014-15 KHL contract with HC Sochi, citing an illness. Former center Vyacheslav Butsayev, who is now Sochi's head coach, issued a statement yesterday wishing Leighton well and saying he has no hard feelings about the goalie's decision because he acted honestly.
- bmeltzer

Wow, must be a new way of going about things for him. Wonder how his back is feeling.

Ideally, Laughton would have been allowed to play in the American Hockey League last season; which was probably the most appropriate level of competition for him at his rate of development. Unfortunately, as a 19-year-old CHL-affiliated player, he was ineligible to play in the AHL, so it had to be either the Flyers or Generals.

Dumb rule.

How can it not be a factor in whether Laughton makes the team? There are only 4 center positions available. What the Flyers wind up doing with Lecavalier is certainly going to be a factor is whether Laughton makes the team. Certainly not the only factor, but a factor nonetheless. If Lecavalier is traded, or moved to the RW, that is going to possibly increase the chances of Laughton making the team. Also depends on what they do with B Schenn.
- MJL

I think the flyers should sign a 4c if lecavalier is moved. If he isn't I'd like to see vinny at 4c. So I think it doesn't affect Laughton much. I'd really like the flyers not move Laughton to the wing. I say start him in the A.