I'm confused. What's so bad about a Talbot/Couturier/Read 3rd line? To me, this battle is about the 4th line.
- bradleyc4

I agree. Loved how that line played. Hopefully, that's the plan.

You aren't the only one concerned. But I expect them to suck in pre-season cuz they are shaking out the kinks, trying line combos, giving kids a shot.
I'm ok waiting to see how we play tonight and even more importantly the next few weeks before I let it get to me.
And if we were more defensively sound 2 goals a game wouldn't be bad if our opponents had less. I'd be curious to see the spread for other teams pre-season games.

EDIT:
http://espn.go.com/nhl/standings
found this. Looks like Rangers and Jets didn't have a good pre-season...
We aren't near the top, but I'm ok for the moment.
- FlyersGrace

Ha! Thanks for posting that! And yes, it is preseason. (But wow, that "GF" column...wow. It's...wow.)

Really surprised at that. I think he outplayd Laughton in the Pre Season.
- MJL

I'm kind of surprised, but no doubt Bill was right about him needing more time to adjust to the NA game and rinks.

5 on 5 was the Flyers achilles heel last season, so far in pre season its the same thing...So our special teams might have to be more "special" this season although there was not a lot more room for improvement, they were both very good last year.

Yeah, Dan Carcillo scored a preseason goal that looked similar a few years back.
- jmatchett383

Cool.

I'm picturing my own rage.
- bradleyc4

haha
i think they wouldve taken him

Kalinski was never a 4th line guy, nor did he make any impact in the NHL. He played about 20 NHL games as a call up. Nodl played over 180 NHL games, including a Season in which he scored 11 goals.
Raffl has had a solid pre season and has likely earned a spot on the team. And the fact that he's not only a rookie, but is playing for the first time in the small rink in North America, he shows a lot of promise as role player in the NHL. We'll see what happens.
- MJL

Well, Raffl was sent down today so I'm not sure about him likely earning a spot. But I'm sure he will be a callup often.

edit: Laught

haha
i think they wouldve taken him
- Crimsoninja

He'd look good on a line with Couturier and Read.

I'm kind of surprised, but no doubt Bill was right about him needing more time to adjust to the NA game and rinks.
- Feanor

VanderSloot will make the team. He's got a real killer instinct.

Really surprised at that. I think he outplayd Laughton in the Pre Season.
- MJL

I think the thing is that Maxime Talbot has never scored enough to be a third-liner, even though he brings other things to the table -- and those things are great. I'm not criticizing him as a player and saying he doesn't need to be here. He's certainly effective on the penalty kill and defensively, can skate and sticks his nose into the dirty areas.

But you can't count on offense from him.

That's not a crime or a curse, being a fourth-liner. Ian Laperriere played on the fourth line for the Flyers, and brought similar attributes. But that's how Pittsburgh played him and saw him, and I think the Flyers, when they reached out to Cleary, were acknowledging that.
- AllInForFlyers

Talbot had a 19 goals Season for the Flyers. What scoring totals do you think is scoring enough for the 3rd line?

I just think there's a very real danger in overrating the talent we have, based on what they have accomplished in the past or what we want them to accomplish now.

12 goals in six games...I'm sorry. I can't help but be a little worried. I can't be the only one, right?
- AllInForFlyers

I'm not worried about the offensive talent of this team at all. I'm worried about the reason why they struggle to score.

Talbot had a 19 goals Season for the Flyers. What scoring totals do you think is scoring enough for the 3rd line?
- MJL

Seriously? If you don't want to acknowledge a career season when you see one, again, there's nothing I can tell you that's going to make a lick of sense, and I'm not even going to try.

Talbot had a 19 goals Season for the Flyers. What scoring totals do you think is scoring enough for the 3rd line?
- MJL

20.

20.
- 77rams

Couturier - 15
Read - 23
other guy - 50

Seriously? If you don't want to acknowledge a career season when you see one, again, there's nothing I can tell you that's going to make a lick of sense, and I'm not even going to try.
- AllInForFlyers

Well, what scoring totals do you think is good enough for the third line? Its a legitimate question.

I'm not worried about the offensive talent of this team at all. I'm worried about the reason why they struggle to score.
- MJL

Well, then! God forbid your talent assessment be flawed, faulty or just plain wrong!

The offensive talent getting it done tonight, then? Or is that talent going to struggle to score tonight?

Seriously? If you don't want to acknowledge a career season when you see one, again, there's nothing I can tell you that's going to make a lick of sense, and I'm not even going to try.
- AllInForFlyers

True, but he also scored 8 goals on 6% shooting the year before.

He's a 10-15 goal guy. Add in the value on defense, and he's a solid 3rd liner.

Seriously? If you don't want to acknowledge a career season when you see one, again, there's nothing I can tell you that's going to make a lick of sense, and I'm not even going to try.
- AllInForFlyers

That 19 goal career Season shows that he has enough offensive ability to play on the 3rd line. I'll ask again, in your opinion, what scoring totals would you expect for a 3rd line Winger?

Well, then! God forbid your talent assessment be flawed, faulty or just plain wrong!

The offensive talent getting it done tonight, then? Or is that talent going to struggle to score tonight?
- AllInForFlyers

Again he make a legitimate statement. Do you have a telephone pole that says "MJL" on it stuck up your ass?

20.
- 77rams

Look through the NHL scoring totals, year after year. See how many 20 goal scoring Forwards each team has.

That 19 goal career Season shows that he has enough offensive ability to play on the 3rd line. I'll ask again, in your opinion, what scoring totals would you expect for a 3rd line Winger?
- MJL

19 1/2.

Send Laughton back to Juniors

Waffle hasn't stood out




Here comes, they still could sign Gagne

TGIF
- phi1671

and i'd be fine with that

5 on 5 was the Flyers achilles heel last season, so far in pre season its the same thing...So our special teams might have to be more "special" this season although there was not a lot more room for improvement, they were both very good last year.
- Buzzo

i've said it before and i'll say it again
we need a pure sniper on this team

i've said it before and i'll say it again
we need a pure sniper on this team
- 2Real

Carter.