Okay. But was that a wasteful decision to have your 1st round pick playing 4th line minutes his first ELC year?
- jmatchett383

Doesn't matter. Richards could play at the pro ranks no matter what. Whether it was with the Flyers or Phantoms, at that time he was gonna play in Philadelphia. Richards was without a shadow of a doubt ready. I was there live in Toronto when he scored shorthanded while the Flyers were two men down on Ed Belfour. I might be mistaken but Eric Lindros might have been on the ice too. Tall task of determination. Mike Richards is his own Animal.

And again, I'm not saying he is like Mike Richards. I am asking, since people are saying it's a waste to burn a year of Laughton's ELC as a 4th line center, was it also a waste to burn a year of Richards' ELC as a 4th line center?
- jmatchett383

If Laughton is their best option for that role, then great. I'm all for it.

I'm just not of the opinion that the team NEEDS to go in that direction.

I'd rather trade for a guy like Grabovski.
- bradleyc4

He might even be bought out, especially if they can somehow find a sucker to take Komisarek's last year in a trade. I think Komisarek might be able to contribute a little somewhere still.

I'd rather trade for a guy like Grabovski.
- bradleyc4

I'd rather exercise some patience for once... they spent a boatload of money on Danny B during the summer only to see Richards and Carter break out the very next season...

A big scoring C is nothing but a luxury addition that this team can't afford. They need to save present and future $ to address more pressing needs, and to re-up the kids.

Richie's final season in junior coincided with the last NHL lockout. He also went on to play with the Phantoms in the playoffs.

Prior to Richie's final year in junior, he was better than a PPG player for 2 straight seasons with Kitchener.

Laughton, on the other hand, hadn't begun scoring at that clip until this past season. He simply doesn't have the offensive pedigree that Richards had.
- johndewar

Yeah, so what. Look at Mike Richards and then look at Jeff Carter in 2004 at the junior level and then please continue.

You can't make that comparison and say what he will or won't be compared to another junior player nearly ten years ago. It's based on how he's used and what the team around him is like. He could be a completely different player at the NHL level.

I'd rather exercise some patience for once... they spent a boatload of money on Danny B during the summer only to see Richards and Carter break out the very next season...

A big scoring C is nothing but a luxury addition that this team can't afford. They need to save present and future $ to address more pressing needs, and to re-up the kids.
- Tomahawk

Carter sucks. Trade him.

And again, I'm not saying he is like Mike Richards. I am asking, since people are saying it's a waste to burn a year of Laughton's ELC as a 4th line center, was it also a waste to burn a year of Richards' ELC as a 4th line center?
- jmatchett383

That's the thing, the Flyers didn't burn a year of Richards playing on the forth line. Richards scored in his very first NHL career game. He scored short handed in bunches. After Keith Primeau was hurt, Richards often played away from the 4th line. That's luck for Richards but he deserved it. When Forsberg would get hurt, which was pretty often, Richards played between Gagne and Knuble. I'm not sure the two can be compared. I wouldn't even try.

He's soft like a marshmellow on a hot road.
- mayorofangrytown

and Thomas is built like a marshmellow

and Thomas is built like a marshmellow
- vejim

If the marshmellow can stop the puck I'm good with it...

Well according to Eklund, and most media outlets in Chicago, Emery is resigning with the Hawks.
I have to think if the Flyers were going to trade for a goalie (which I would prefer they don't) it would have happened at the draft. That being said, my guess is that we are either looking at Tim Thomas if he will agree to a 1 year deal or Nabokov for 2 years.
Really don't know what to think as I really don't know what to expect. So many questions.
1. Can Thomas be effective at age 39 after a year off?
If the answer is yes, then a tandem of Thomas and Mason is a good one, if not, and Mason doesn't then step up and grab the starters job we are looking at another year in the draft lottery
2. Is Mason the real deal?
Who knows. However if they sign Nabokov, we all better hope Mason is for real, because Nabokov isn't a guy that will carry a team at this point in his career, although he may be enough to get them into the playoffs.

Barring a trade, I really don't see too many other options as the remaining vets available (Ellis, C Mason, Khabibulin, Theodore etc..) are purely backups at this point in their careers.

In other news, Ek is reporting that Lacavalier is between the Flyers and the Stars. I'd be very happy with Vinnie on our roster, as I think he can bring an element to our team that is lacking, mainly size down the middle and a center who can absolutely fill that 2nd line role.

Yeah, so what. Look at Mike Richards and then look at Jeff Carter in 2004 at the junior level and then please continue.

You can't make that comparison and say what he will or won't be compared to another junior player nearly ten years ago. It's based on how he's used and what the team around him is like. He could be a completely different player at the NHL level.
- mayorofangrytown

I agree completely. In fact I am sick of the Jordan Staal and Mike Richards comparisons everytime a two way forward is drafted. It's repeated too often.

Well according to Eklund, and most media outlets in Chicago, Emery is resigning with the Hawks.
I have to think if the Flyers were going to trade for a goalie (which I would prefer they don't) it would have happened at the draft. That being said, my guess is that we are either looking at Tim Thomas if he will agree to a 1 year deal or Nabokov for 2 years.
Really don't know what to think as I really don't know what to expect. So many questions.
1. Can Thomas be effective at age 39 after a year off?
If the answer is yes, then a tandem of Thomas and Mason is a good one, if not, and Mason doesn't then step up and grab the starters job we are looking at another year in the draft lottery
2. Is Mason the real deal?
Who knows. However if they sign Nabokov, we all better hope Mason is for real, because Nabokov isn't a guy that will carry a team at this point in his career, although he may be enough to get them into the playoffs.

Barring a trade, I really don't see too many other options as the remaining vets available (Ellis, C Mason, Khabibulin, Theodore etc..) are purely backups at this point in their careers.

In other news, Ek is reporting that Lacavalier is between the Flyers and the Stars. I'd be very happy with Vinnie on our roster, as I think he can bring an element to our team that is lacking, mainly size down the middle and a center who can absolutely fill that 2nd line role.
- BiggE

Stars please

That's the thing, the Flyers didn't burn a year of Richards playing on the forth line. Richards scored in his very first NHL career game. He scored short handed in bunches. After Keith Primeau was hurt, Richards often played away from the 4th line. That's luck for Richards but he deserved it. When Forsberg would get hurt, which was pretty often, Richards played between Gagne and Knuble. I'm not sure the two can be compared. I wouldn't even try.
- dingo8urbaby

So if Laughton were to score in his first game of the season, does that mean you should keep him up?


Laughton playing in a physical defensive setting, with Rinaldo and McGrinn, will not at all set him back.

If the marshmellow can stop the puck I'm good with it...
- FlyersGrace

Thomas is a fluffer nutter

Again, he's not Mike Richards. But, like Mike Richards, he's start this year as the 4th line center. So, should Mike Richards have been sent back to juniors for 2005/2006? Because we "wasted" an ELC year putting him on the 4th line.
- jmatchett383

Different management, different cap situation, different team.

I agree completely. In fact I am sick of the Jordan Staal and Mike Richards comparisons everytime a two way forward is drafted. It's repeated too often.
- dingo8urbaby

I dont think a single person here believes that Laughton is going to be Richards. What is being compared, is the style of play. Both are physical, solid defensively, and can bring offense. I thin Laughton is more of a poor mans Richards. They play a very similar style.

So if Laughton were to score in his first game of the season, does that mean you should keep him up?


Laughton playing in a physical defensive setting, with Rinaldo and McGrinn, will not at all set him back.
- jak521

You miss the point completely. We don't even know if McGrinn will make the team either.

I'd rather exercise some patience for once... they spent a boatload of money on Danny B during the summer only to see Richards and Carter break out the very next season...

A big scoring C is nothing but a luxury addition that this team can't afford. They need to save present and future $ to address more pressing needs, and to re-up the kids.
- Tomahawk

Hate to point out the obvious, but without Briere, 2010 playoffs does not happen. You need experience, and emerging youth to have sucess. You cant always keep every player, but if you want to compete you sometimes need to bring someone in

I dont think a single person here believes that Laughton is going to be Richards. What is being compared, is the style of play. Both are physical, solid defensively, and can bring offense. I thin Laughton is more of a poor mans Richards. They play a very similar style.
- jak521

I've already compared Laughton to Max Talbot which isn't a reach and Max is a pretty good NHL player himself.

I'd rather exercise some patience for once... they spent a boatload of money on Danny B during the summer only to see Richards and Carter break out the very next season...

A big scoring C is nothing but a luxury addition that this team can't afford. They need to save present and future $ to address more pressing needs, and to re-up the kids.
- Tomahawk

Patience went out the window again as soon as streit got inked. Might as well go all in and get some big cap eaters in here

Well according to Eklund, and most media outlets in Chicago, Emery is resigning with the Hawks. I have to think if the Flyers were going to trade for a goalie (which I would prefer they don't) it would have happened at the draft. That being said, my guess is that we are either looking at Tim Thomas if he will agree to a 1 year deal or Nabokov for 2 years.
Really don't know what to think as I really don't know what to expect. So many questions.
1. Can Thomas be effective at age 39 after a year off?
If the answer is yes, then a tandem of Thomas and Mason is a good one, if not, and Mason doesn't then step up and grab the starters job we are looking at another year in the draft lottery
2. Is Mason the real deal?
Who knows. However if they sign Nabokov, we all better hope Mason is for real, because Nabokov isn't a guy that will carry a team at this point in his career, although he may be enough to get them into the playoffs.

Barring a trade, I really don't see too many other options as the remaining vets available (Ellis, C Mason, Khabibulin, Theodore etc..) are purely backups at this point in their careers.

In other news, Ek is reporting that Lacavalier is between the Flyers and the Stars. I'd be very happy with Vinnie on our roster, as I think he can bring an element to our team that is lacking, mainly size down the middle and a center who can absolutely fill that 2nd line role.
- BiggE

And the Flyers announce they are signing Rick DiPietro to a 2 year 2 million dollar contract....

I've already compared Laughton to Max Talbot which isn't a reach and Max is a pretty good NHL player himself.
- dingo8urbaby

Ok.. If you are comparing him to a 3rd/4th line guy like Talbot... what is so wrong with him playing on the 4th line?

Patience went out the window again as soon as streit got inked. Might as well go all in and get some big cap eaters in here
- Just5

Homer is going with old players so he can keep his youngins

Patience went out the window again as soon as streit got inked. Might as well go all in and get some big cap eaters in here
- Just5

If we could guarantee a healthy Meszaros, we might have a guy like Jamie Mcbain in exchange.

I'd rather exercise some patience for once... they spent a boatload of money on Danny B during the summer only to see Richards and Carter break out the very next season...

A big scoring C is nothing but a luxury addition that this team can't afford. They need to save present and future $ to address more pressing needs, and to re-up the kids.
- Tomahawk

Same here.

But if they're intent on bringing in a 2C, I really like his two-way game. And he can eventually swap spots with Couturier as Sean progresses and Mikhail regresses.