Too good was a mis-statement. What I really mean is his perfect fit would be the AHL. Juniors is too cold, NHL is too hot, AHL is jusssstttttt rrrriiigghhhttt
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed. Not necessarily too good, but he won't be maximizing his development in the OHL as opposed to the AHL. But, seeing as that's not an option.....

Will he? Right now, on the PK, I see Couturier, Read, Talbot and possibly Giroux getting ice time ahead of him. If Hall does stick, he might also get more PK time than Laughton because of his face-off abilities.

It's also possible that Raffl could be recalled when the get the LTIR handled, and he'd possibly trump Laughton for PK time.

I'd rather see him go back, play 20 minutes a game, in all situations rather than be the 4th or 5th PK forward and play with wingers that have little or no offensive ability.
- Jsaquella

This team really struggles to score when Giroux is not on the ice. I would much rather use someone else on the PK and put G in more scoring opportunities.

Too good was a mis-statement. What I really mean is his perfect fit would be the AHL. Juniors is too cold, NHL is too hot, AHL is jusssstttttt rrrriiigghhhttt
- PhillySportsGuy

The AHL would be a perfect spot for him, but if he does end up with Rinaldo & Rosehill, and seeing the 4th or 5th most PK time on the team, I'd rather him stay in junior.

Ideally he would have done what Couturier did, and force the team to keep him. They way Couts played, there was no way they could send him back. Can't say the same for Laughton.

Will he? Right now, on the PK, I see Couturier, Read, Talbot and possibly Giroux getting ice time ahead of him. If Hall does stick, he might also get more PK time than Laughton because of his face-off abilities.

It's also possible that Raffl could be recalled when the get the LTIR handled, and he'd possibly trump Laughton for PK time.

I'd rather see him go back, play 20 minutes a game, in all situations rather than be the 4th or 5th PK forward and play with wingers that have little or no offensive ability.
- Jsaquella

Not being a jerk, but out of curiosity, what would you do with him if he doesn't absolutely wow you (like Giroux in his 08/09 preseason) next year? Overage season in the OHL, AHL by default, or NHl by default?

This team really struggles to score when Giroux is not on the ice. I would much rather use someone else on the PK and put G in more scoring opportunities.
- PhillySportsGuy

So would I. But does Laviolette trust anyone else enough to take face-offs? That's one of the reason I want Hall to stick.

This team really struggles to score when Giroux is not on the ice. I would much rather use someone else on the PK and put G in more scoring opportunities.
- PhillySportsGuy

Giroux is going to get PK time. Especially in close games. No way around it. I don't see Laughton used on the PK much at all.

Not necessarily. He will be getting PK time. If he can show his worth in that department, it would be worth while to keep him.

I still think Hall outplayed him in the preseason. In terms of winning games now, I think Hall would be the better option.

Is there anyone else who would prefer Gus over Mez starting? I think the team really needs some mobility.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree that I'd send Laughton back after his 9 games and bring Hall back up to center the 4th line unless Laughton plays lights out.
I thought Hall looked pretty good in pre-season. And the face-off winning was a nice change.

Before pre-season I would have said yeah sit Mez and let Gus play. But man Gus SCARED me in the pre-season games I watched. Shaky does not begin to describe it. So no I'd prefer to give Mez the opening night start and sit Gus. With our injury rate we should just carry 8 D and cycle them all in so you sit every 8th game, hahahaha.

Agreed. Not necessarily too good, but he won't be maximizing his development in the OHL as opposed to the AHL. But, seeing as that's not an option.....
- jmatchett383

Too much talk of 1st and 2nd line center. He matched up against other team's top lines while being over a PPG player and having a very strong +/-. The top line center was probably a better scorer but not necessarily a better player.

Krejci scores more than Bergeron but isn't necessarily more valuable or better.

Not being a jerk, but out of curiosity, what would you do with him if he doesn't absolutely wow you (like Giroux in his 08/09 preseason) next year? Overage season in the OHL, AHL by default, or NHl by default?
- jmatchett383

He wouldn't need to wow me, just needs to clearly be one of the 12 best forwards on the team.

The main thing is, right now, I feel they have better options on hand and don't need to keep him just to keep him.

This team really struggles to score when Giroux is not on the ice. I would much rather use someone else on the PK and put G in more scoring opportunities.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree with this. I would keep Hall, move him to wing and put him with Laughton and Rinaldo on the 4th line. For PK, I would use:
Hall-Talbot
Couturier-Read
Talbot-Laughton
Couturier-Read

I would only use Giroux as a fill in or late in games when trailing and hoping for a shorty.

Too much talk of 1st and 2nd line center. He matched up against other team's top lines while being over a PPG player and having a very strong +/-. The top line center was probably a better scorer but not necessarily a better player.

Krejci scores more than Bergeron but isn't necessarily more valuable or better.
- PhillySportsGuy

No, Boone Jenner was/is a better player than Laughton. Oshawa had a really good top center, it wasn't case of one guy being the 1a and the other being a 1b. Jenner's a stud.

Giroux is going to get PK time. Especially in close games. No way around it. I don't see Laughton used on the PK much at all.
- PLindbergh31

I don't want that. I have no problem with G taking defensive faceoffs in the 3rd period of a close game, but they need to take some of the defensive burden away from him

Too much talk of 1st and 2nd line center. He matched up against other team's top lines while being over a PPG player and having a very strong +/-. The top line center was probably a better scorer but not necessarily a better player.

Krejci scores more than Bergeron but isn't necessarily more valuable or better.
- PhillySportsGuy

Uh, not for nothing, but no, Boone Jenner's a better player. That's not a slight to Scott Laughton. But Boone Jenner, at this point of their careers, was a better player last year and, to this point in preparing to break camp. That being said, he's also one year older than Laughton.

I agree with this. I would keep Hall, move him to wing and put him with Laughton and Rinaldo on the 4th line. For PK, I would use:
Hall-Talbot
Couturier-Read
Talbot-Laughton
Couturier-Read

I would only use Giroux as a fill in or late in games when trailing and hoping for a shorty.
- BiggE

+1

I don't want that. I have no problem with G taking defensive faceoffs in the 3rd period of a close game, but they need to take some of the defensive burden away from him
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't disagree, but I don't think his PK time will be cut. Especially if Hall doesn't make the team.

Uh, not for nothing, but no, Boone Jenner's a better player. That's not a slight to Scott Laughton. But Boone Jenner, at this point of their careers, was a better player last year and, to this point in preparing to break camp. That being said, he's also one year older than Laughton.
- AllInForFlyers

Well what I'm saying is that Laughton had an impressive season regardless of where he played.

No matter what they do, I don't think it will hurt Laughton's development. I think we're all just a bit disappointed that he hasn't stood out after a good preseason last year and a strong season in Juniors.

I was ready to pencil him in to the 4th line because I thought he'd be ready. Im not afraid to admit that I've been wrong up to this point.

I don't want that. I have no problem with G taking defensive faceoffs in the 3rd period of a close game, but they need to take some of the defensive burden away from him
- PhillySportsGuy

Honestly, in a perfect world, Giroux would see as much PK time as Crosby, who was 7th among Pens forwards with an average of 0:41 per game on the PK...just don't see it happening.

So would I. But does Laviolette trust anyone else enough to take face-offs? That's one of the reason I want Hall to stick.
- Jsaquella

This is a very good point and another reason I hope Hall sticks with the team. If it was me, I'd prefer to have Laughton go back to the OHL, but if he has been responsible defensively, then they prob want to roll with him at least until he gets to 9 games.

I agree that I'd send Laughton back after his 9 games and bring Hall back up to center the 4th line unless Laughton plays lights out.
I thought Hall looked pretty good in pre-season. And the face-off winning was a nice change.

Before pre-season I would have said yeah sit Mez and let Gus play. But man Gus SCARED me in the pre-season games I watched. Shaky does not begin to describe it. So no I'd prefer to give Mez the opening night start and sit Gus. With our injury rate we should just carry 8 D and cycle them all in so you sit every 8th game, hahahaha.
- FlyersGrace

I feel like Gus was paired with Gil and Gervais a lot in the pre season. If he's put with Grossmann for an extended period of time, I think he would find consistency. Especially getting 3rd pairing minutes.

I agree that I'd send Laughton back after his 9 games and bring Hall back up to center the 4th line unless Laughton plays lights out.
I thought Hall looked pretty good in pre-season. And the face-off winning was a nice change.

Before pre-season I would have said yeah sit Mez and let Gus play. But man Gus SCARED me in the pre-season games I watched. Shaky does not begin to describe it. So no I'd prefer to give Mez the opening night start and sit Gus. With our injury rate we should just carry 8 D and cycle them all in so you sit every 8th game, hahahaha.
- FlyersGrace

If Gus scared you, Meszaros should have had you hiding under the bed with a crucifix and garlic.

I agree that I'd send Laughton back after his 9 games and bring Hall back up to center the 4th line unless Laughton plays lights out.
I thought Hall looked pretty good in pre-season. And the face-off winning was a nice change.

Before pre-season I would have said yeah sit Mez and let Gus play. But man Gus SCARED me in the pre-season games I watched. Shaky does not begin to describe it. So no I'd prefer to give Mez the opening night start and sit Gus. With our injury rate we should just carry 8 D and cycle them all in so you sit every 8th game, hahahaha.
- FlyersGrace

Gus...was scary. I'm just hoping that it was just rust. Really, really hoping.

Honestly, in a perfect world, Giroux would see as much PK time as Crosby, who was 7th among Pens forwards with an average of 0:41 per game on the PK...just don't see it happening.
- Jsaquella

The PK was great last year. I don't see why they can't experiment with either Laughton or Hall in Giroux's place.

They could really use a guy like John Mitchell.

I feel like Gus was paired with Gil and Gervais a lot in the pre season. If he's put with Grossmann for an extended period of time, I think he would find consistency. Especially getting 3rd pairing minutes.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think so, too. He needs to get top 6 minutes this year so they know whether he's worth keeping long term.

Gus...was scary. I'm just hoping that it was just rust. Really, really hoping.
- AllInForFlyers

Gus seems to be a slow starter every year. Just give him minutes and let him work through it.

He is always playing his best at the end of the year.

This is a very good point and another reason I hope Hall sticks with the team. If it was me, I'd prefer to have Laughton go back to the OHL, but if he has been responsible defensively, then they prob want to roll with him at least until he gets to 9 games.
- Hextall271

I'm OK with him getting the 9 games. My main issue with the "moves" they've made so far is deciding to risk Hall rather than Rosehill to waivers. If Hall did get claimed, they'd really have few options besides Laughton to stick as the 4th line center.

If Laughton does stick, I want him getting a lot of extra time on the PK and occasionally getting a shot to jump up to a better line or even get spotted on the PP.