Probably not, and that's part of the reason I want Vinny moved. He flat out said, during Flight Plan-the team's web show-that he couldn't play the left side. So now you have to either play an ineffective Vinny at LW, move a guy who has had good success as a RW or move a kid to LW.

I like the dude, I got the rationale behind the signing, but Schenn looked better at center to me, and he's the guy that is more likely to be part of the future.
- Jsaquella

The philosophy of Homer believing a center can easily move to LW was flawed in regards to Schenn and Vinny. It will be interesting to see how Hexy fixes this problem.

do the rangers get away with a blatant penalty every shift? i can't imagine how good the flyers would be if they were permitted to play like that
- hogweed

Watching the Rangers flop is a disgrace to me but adding an undisciplined player to an already undisciplined team should exactly be a priority.

Welp, it looks like it is time for Justin Williams to save the day, again.

The philosophy of Homer believing a center can easily move to LW was flawed in regards to Schenn and Vinny. It will be interesting to see how Hexy fixes this problem.
- ravishingone

Hexy basically said the same thing. LA has several guy who were either drafted as centers or played there for long periods of time on the wings now-Jeff Carter & Trevor Lewis to name two. Also Jordan Nolan & Tyler Toffoli were drafted as centers.

The key is identifying guys who can do it.

Rod Brind'Amour was great at both. Gagne was drafted as a center and made the switch easily. Chris Gratton was awful as a winger. Carter had issues when tried as a RW here.

Enjoying a beer and rooting for an early win by either team. I have to get up early tomorrow and the only thing keeping me up is the game
- Jsaquella

How many beers have you had? Sheesh.

because if they didn't the flyers series would have been over in 4 games and the nhl would have been pissed
- 2Real

ftfy

Enjoying a beer and rooting for an early win by either team. I have to get up early tomorrow and the only thing keeping me up is the game
- Jsaquella

hopefully that comes swift for you

Vinny doesn't fit the system and is a pure center something the Flyers have in abundance. Look for Hextall to get as much as he can for him to start to restock choices. if he can't even get a 5th the we'll have to see what happens.

Hexy basically said the same thing. LA has several guy who were either drafted as centers or played there for long periods of time on the wings now-Jeff Carter & Trevor Lewis to name two. Also Jordan Nolan & Tyler Toffoli were drafted as centers.

The key is identifying guys who can do it.

Rod Brind'Amour was great at both. Gagne was drafted as a center and made the switch easily. Chris Gratton was awful as a winger. Carter had issues when tried as a RW here.
- Jsaquella

Agreed, I'm not sure Laughton could make the swtich. Granted, we've seen very little of him at the professional level. He looks to be a tenacious defender, I believe that trait would be best served at center.

hopefully that comes swift for you
- 2Real

Yeah...sucks having to get up on your day off.

Agreed, I'm not sure Laughton could make the swtich. Granted, we've seen very little of him at the professional level. He looks to be a tenacious defender, I believe that trait would be best served at center.
- ravishingone

He's had some useage at wing in Oshawa, but it's been limited. I think he'd be OK on wing, from the bit I have seen of him, but ideally he'd be the 4th center this season, and be brought along sort of like Couturier-with more opportunities to develop an offensive game.

I saw him at rookie camp a few years back...he and Nick Cousins were stirring the pot like madmen.

Vinny doesn't fit the system and is a pure center something the Flyers have in abundance. Look for Hextall to get as much as he can for him to start to restock choices. if he can't even get a 5th the we'll have to see what happens.
- jstross

Lecavalier has to agree to where he is going. Matt Walker 2.0 anyone?

He's had some useage at wing in Oshawa, but it's been limited. I think he'd be OK on wing, from the bit I have seen of him, but ideally he'd be the 4th center this season, and be brought along sort of like Couturier-with more opportunities to develop an offensive game.

I saw him at rookie camp a few years back...he and Nick Cousins were stirring the pot like madmen.
- Jsaquella

It was only limited because he was so effective most of the time when he was asked to center the shutdown line they had no need to move him to wing.

Even when they loaded up his line with Dal Colle & Cassels often he was at center when he wasn't it was usually Cassels at center with him on wing

Vinny doesn't fit the system and is a pure center something the Flyers have in abundance. Look for Hextall to get as much as he can for him to start to restock choices. if he can't even get a 5th the we'll have to see what happens.
- jstross

I'd just really like to see him not have to eat much, if any, money.

20 goals was nice. He's still capable of being a weapon for a team that uses him right and needs finishers. I will grant that point. It's not that he's an awful player necessarily, it's that I don't see him fitting here with the style Berube has asked the team to play & the style that Hextall helped instill in LA.

I'd agree last year was a statistical anomaly, but he was also a poor possession player his last season in Tampa. More concerning to me is that everyone who spent significant time with Lecavalier ended up with better possession numbers without Lecavalier, than they did with him.

That's not necessarily his fault, but he's the one constant in a bad trend that's been developing the last two seasons. Lecavalier also was shielded more than anyone in the Flyers top 9 forwards-meaning more offensive zone starts & faced lesser competition.

If you want to ignore the numbers, let's face it, Vinny failed to pass the eye test, too. It's great he accepted being moved about the line up, but the fact is, he was moved because he was a detriment to every set of line mates he had.

To me the bottom line is, the Flyers don't need Lecavalier. They have guys who can do what he can do at this point of their careers who are younger and can get better with more ice time.
- Jsaquella

For me its more about not selling low on Vinny. He's capable of so much more than what we got last season, even at age 33. Let's give him a shot before we run him out of town like we did JVR. You are correct - the flyers don't NEED him. I'm not even saying don't trade him - I'm saying just not now - let's get some leverage first and fetch a decent return.

I will point out - you talk about passing the eye test - How soon we forget that VL was the best forward to start the season when the rest of them struggled mightily. Before his back issues he had 9 goals, 15 points in 22 games and he looked dare I say it...good. Remember this is a guy who normally wins 50%+ of faceoffs too. There is a good chance with a healthy back that we get this version of Vinny back.

It was only limited because he was so effective most of the time when he was asked to center the shutdown line they had no need to move him to wing.

Even when they loaded up his line with Dal Colle & Cassels often he was at center when he wasn't it was usually Cassels at center with him on wing
- ob18

Exactly.

If they have to force Laughton or Schenn to LW, I want it to be another young center doing the pushing, not some fading former star with a big name

Exactly.

If they have to force Laughton or Schenn to LW, I want it to be another young center doing the pushing, not some fading former star with a big name
- Jsaquella

It will be interesting how they use him in camp, will they put him on the wing to check things out or only use him in the middle.

Lecavalier has to agree to where he is going. Matt Walker 2.0 anyone?
- SuperSchennBros

I dont think VL signs in Philly with Berube's system so I think he'll waive for the right team.

For me its more about not selling low on Vinny. He's capable of so much more than what we got last season, even at age 33. Let's give him a shot before we run him out of town like we did JVR. You are correct - the flyers don't NEED him. I'm not even saying don't trade him - I'm saying just not now - let's get some leverage first and fetch a decent return.

I will point out - you talk about passing the eye test - How soon we forget that VL was the best forward to start the season when the rest of them struggled mightily. Before his back issues he had 9 goals, 15 points in 22 games and he looked dare I say it...good. Remember this is a guy who normally wins 50%+ of faceoffs too. There is a good chance with a healthy back that we get this version of Vinny back.
- moylander

He was providing offense, but he wasn't exactly good. He did have 9 goals. 3 of them came against the Isles, playing RW with Giroux. 5 of them were PP goals. He was still middling, at best, 5 on 5.

To me it boils down to how he fits. I just don't see where he does, unless he's pushing a young player out of position.

As for selling low, I'm usually one of the biggest advocates of maximizing assets. In this case, the biggest assets for me are the cap relief & opening a spot for a natural LW to be added to the roster.

I dont think VL signs in Philly with Berube's system so I think he'll waive for the right team.
- jstross

Anything is possible. The key is three different sides agreeing on the terms of a trade. Where Lecavalier wants to go, if the team wants him and what they're willing to part with to receive him.

Before his back issues he had 9 goals, 15 points in 22 games and he looked dare I say it... good.
- moylander

9 of those 15 pts were on the PP... even in his healthiest stretch, playing under a mostly-Lavi system, he wasn't good at ES.

Yeah...sucks having to get up on your day off.
- Jsaquella

yea i can understand that
kid stuff?

It will be interesting how they use him in camp, will they put him on the wing to check things out or only use him in the middle.
- ob18

The summer could be wide open. It's not impossible that they end up trading both Lecavalier & B. Schenn, which would probably put Couturier at 2C and free up a spot for Laughton at 3C.

Who knows, if they trade Schenn to address LW or D and keep Vinny, maybe they'll try Lecavalier at 2C yet again with a guy like Read or a FA addition who can mitigate his skating deficiency

Anything is possible. The key is three different sides agreeing on the terms of a trade. Where Lecavalier wants to go, if the team wants him and what they're willing to part with to receive him.
- SuperSchennBros

I'm not trading him if they only get a 5th and have to eat $$$. I'd like a 4th and eat no money at least or I don't blink.

yea i can understand that
kid stuff?
- 2Real

We have family plans. Wife demands us to go to church-I agree to go because it means I get left alone during hockey games- and then we're headed out. But I have to pack car, get gas, make sure the kids bring the stuff they need to bring...would have done it tonight, but we had soccer & softball playoffs and I worked until 6