The problem is, they HAVE viable guys, but they like Rinaldo's energy. Ben Holmstrom could have been up years ago, providing solid 4th line play. Eric Wellwood, prior to his injury, was slotted behind Rinaldo.

Hell, they just drafted a Rinaldo clone in the 3rd round last draft!
- Jsaquella

I think the fact that Holmstrom hasn't even sniffed NHL ice recently, is telling.

Vasiliev was a 2012 pick.
- bradleyc4

I was gonna let that one pass, but yes he was.

I think the fact that Holmstrom hasn't even sniffed NHL ice recently, is telling.
- MJL

That's because Rinaldo is a "born Flyer."

Are you sure it was the Flyers who didn't want him defecting, I mean, coming over?
- jmatchett383

i thought i read something about it but don't quote me i really don't remember the details

Yea, but if im drafting in the third round I am looking for one of two types... A guy who can project to be a hard working bottom 9 forward, or a raw, fell in the draft type player.

Third round you dont go out and accurately draft scorers. Those guys are usually gone, and when you do find one.. its usually a diamond in the rough type player..
- jak521

Another way of putting it, is if you draft a scorer in the 3rd round, most times you simply got lucky.

from bill's recent blog

Valeri Vasiliev: The Flyers organization made a decision this spring that Vasilev is not ready yet for an entry-level contract in North America. They were probably right, although Vasiliev played in the World Junior Championships for Russia and has been a regular in the KHL for the last season and a half. Shoulder injuries have set his development back a bit. He signed with a new KHL team and it may still be awhile before he plays heavy minutes. Nevertheless, Vasiliev plays an aggressive game along the lines of Montreal's Alexei Emelin and still has the upside to emerge as an NHL candidate in the next few years.

There were far better prospects on the board when he was selected. They very likely could have drafted him later, maybe as late as the fifth round. It was a bad value pick.

Id love to see him prove me wrong, but despite an improved year as an 18 year old, he's still not looking to me like a future Tocchet.
- Jsaquella

That there were far better prospects on the board when he was selected, is a matter of opinion.

That there were far better prospects on the board when he was selected, is a matter of near-universal opinion.
- MJL

fixed

That bad?
- PhillySportsGuy

The three kids they took in rounds 5-6 were high school kids. They're all attending college next year so their path is a bit longer.

Drake will be a Freshman D at UConn, Amorosa a Frosh Goalie at Providence and Madsen a first yr D at Harvard.

Who knows, don't hold your breath.

Vasiliev was a 2012 pick.

That's looking like a really good draft:

Laughton, Stolarz, Ghost, Leier, Willcox, Vasiliev
- bradleyc4

There's a chance they all become NHL players, which would be amazing.

The three kids they took in rounds 5-6 were high school kids. They're all attending college next year so their path is a bit longer.

Drake will be a Freshman D at UConn, Amorosa a Frosh Goalie at Providence and Madsen a first yr D at Harvard.

Who knows, don't hold your breath.
- mayorofangrytown

I just want Amorosa to make it

There's a chance they all become NHL players, which would be amazing.
- Feanor

Next year

The three kids they took in rounds 5-6 were high school kids. They're all attending college next year so their path is a bit longer.

Drake will be a Freshman D at UConn, Amorosa a Frosh Goalie at Providence and Madsen a first yr D at Harvard.

Who knows, don't hold your breath.
- mayorofangrytown

I think you got Amorosa and Madsen mixed up.

I just want Amorosa to make it
- PhillySportsGuy

Imagine the sandwiches the flyers will be eating.

Correct me if I'm wrong but since Goulbourne is already 20yo, wasn't it his final season in the CHL this year? So it should be AHL or ECHL for him if he signs a contract right?

There's a chance they all become NHL players, which would be amazing.
- Feanor

Yeah, a solid draft like that (or two) can really pave a team's way to the Cup... Bruins '06, 'Hawks '02-'03, etc.

I think you got Amorosa and Madsen mixed up.
- FlyersSteve118

Yes, their positions.

That hit on Lindros in game 7 of the 2000 Conference Finals sure affected the Flyers and in a negative way.

Timely hits and or fights can certainly spark a team. Problem is when you need that as your spark on a game in game out basis, that's when the problems start to show.


The more you know...........

Correct me if I'm wrong but since Goulbourne is already 20yo, wasn't it his final season in the CHL this year? So it should be AHL or ECHL for him if he signs a contract right?
- PhillySteen

Not sure. He turned 20 in January, and he's played 3 full season in the WHL plus another 2 partials, so....not sure.

That hit on Lindros in game 7 of the 2000 Conference Finals sure affected the Flyers and in a negative way.

Timely hits and or fights can certainly spark a team. Problem is when you need that as your spark on a game in game out basis, that's when the problems start to show.
- hockeylover

Stevens on Kariya didn't exactly have the same effect... the spark went to the Ducks after Kariya managed to come back to score a goal after being scraped off the ice.

The boost from big hits/decisive fights can easily go either way... it's definitely not winner takes all, as we saw w/ Carcillo/Talbot.

So I definitely would hesitate to justify Rinaldo's spot in the lineup under the assumption that his hits are a boon to the team... they could just as easily end up rallying the opposition at the worst possible time, too.

Stevens on Kariya didn't exactly have the same effect... the spark went to the Ducks after Kariya managed to come back to score a goal after being scraped off the ice.

The boost from big hits/decisive fights can easily go either way... it's definitely not winner takes all, as we saw w/ Carcillo/Talbot.

So I definitely would hesitate to justify Rinaldo's spot in the lineup under the assumption that his hits are a boon to the team... they could just as easily end up rallying the opposition at the worst possible time, too.
- Tomahawk

Yes, the fact that Kariya came back from the dead was a big lift to the Ducks. But if he had stayed dead like Lindros, it would have been demoralizing.

As for Carcillo/Talbot, it wasn't the outcome of the fight as much as the fight itself. It was basically a rallying cry for Pittsburgh, simultaneously stating both that they weren't afraid of the Flyers and that they weren't dead yet.

And I still hate Carcillo for that.

Edit: I hate Carcillo for a lot of things, but that's near the top.

Yes, the fact that Kariya came back from the dead was a big lift to the Ducks. But if he had stayed dead like Lindros, it would have been demoralizing.

As for Carcillo/Talbot, it wasn't the outcome of the fight as much as the fight itself. It was basically a rallying cry for Pittsburgh, simultaneously stating both that they weren't afraid of the Flyers and that they weren't dead yet.

And I still hate Carcillo for that.

Edit: I hate Carcillo for a lot of things, but that's near the top.
- jmatchett383

You hate Carcillo for winning a fight?

You hate Carcillo for winning a fight?
- jak521

I hated him for giving Pittsburgh a chance to gain a momentum swing when they were firmly in control of a game and had just scored a goal.

Pretty much a dumpster fire after the Hagg selection.
- bradleyc4

Not sure I'd go that far, lot of raw kids selected, for sure. Not the best class, especially compared to the previous season

I hated him for giving Pittsburgh a chance to gain a momentum swing when they were firmly in control of a game and had just scored a goal.
- jmatchett383

The only problem with that theory is that the momentum change occurred about 5 minutes before the fight.