Ditto -- easily one of my favorite players, and that SOB was clutch
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed. Also, very accomodating to fans. Met him at a bar in Quebec in 06, and he invited me to have some shots with he and his junior buddies. I will always be a fan.

There is no such thing as not having the room for a quality player. Laughton is in his second pro season. Patience is a virtue.
- MJL

It seems like he's been around forever, but he hasn't had much NHL time yet. And last year, Hextall seemed hell bent on sending everyone back unless they dominated, which obviously wasn't going to happen.

While I appreciate your Pannaccio, I actually am wondering what to do with both he and Schenn. I feel like one of them has to stake down a top-9 center spot this year.
- jmatchett383

I just hope that if they decide to give Schenn the 3C a go, then they truly need to allow him to play it and not move him to LW or RW. Let's see what he can do at C.

If both Provorov and Ghost make the team (which I'd find ridiculously unlikely) this year, he's probably have to trade at least 1 vet, more likely 2-3. Gudas and Streit are probably the 2 that you can move most easily if you had to make room. Schenn and Schultz would be next. I wouldn't move MDZ right now, and I don't see AMac being moveable. Medvedev is the wild card, and I can't see them moving him either.
- jmatchett383

He's moveable, but they would need to likely eat at least 20% of the $$ and cap hit to do it.

How much longer are we going to wait for Laughton? I know last year was his first pro year but if he cant crack the top nine i think he should be moved for another prospect, we clearly don't have the room for him.
- ClaudeFather

Yup, he's an old man of 21, time to give up on him and send him packing.

It seems like he's been around forever, but he hasn't had much NHL time yet. And last year, Hextall seemed hell bent on sending everyone back unless they dominated, which obviously wasn't going to happen.
- funmaster18

With us being a bubble team and likely first-round fodder, we can't have young unknowns taking away ice time from guys like Umberger and Lecavalier.

There is no such thing as not having the room for a quality player. Laughton is in his second pro season. Patience is a virtue.
- MJL

Bottom line is if he is a quality player make the top 9 if not something has to be done. By the time we wait for the kid to make the team someone like Konecny might be ready himself and the Laughton ship will have sailed.

He's moveable, but they would need to likely eat at least 20% of the $$ and cap hit to do it.
- BiggE

If that was possible, and didn't involve sending a pick/prospect along with him, I'd do it now.

blah blah something top-4 blah blah

I think Morin has the best shot to make the team this year. But I was responding to a particular scenario (if Ghost and Provorv both make the team).
- jmatchett383

Agreed. I would say, from best to worst, here's how I'd rank our D prospects chances of making this years team from the start of the season.

Morin
Provorov
Gostisbehere
Sanheim
Hagg
Alt

Even if they don't start the season with the Flyers, I expect Morin and probably Gostisbehere to both be on the team before the end of the upcoming season.

If that was possible, and didn't involve sending a pick/prospect along with him, I'd do it now.

blah blah something top-4 blah blah
- jmatchett383

With us being a bubble team and likely first-round fodder, we can't have young unknowns taking away ice time from guys like Umberger and Lecavalier.
- jmatchett383

Bottom line is if he is a quality player make the top 9 if not something has to be done. By the time we wait for the kid to make the team someone like Konecny might be ready himself and the Laughton ship will have sailed.
- ClaudeFather

Or they will both be ready at the same time and they make room. There is no reason to think he won't pan out yet, given he has only played 36 NHL games. Hopefully this year we will see what he can do with extended playing time.

Bottom line is if he is a quality player make the top 9 if not something has to be done. By the time we wait for the kid to make the team someone like Konecny might be ready himself and the Laughton ship will have sailed.
- ClaudeFather

Look at what Detroit did with Tatar and Nyquist. There's really no rush.

Or they will both be ready at the same time and they make room. There is no reason to think he won't pan out yet, given he has only played 36 NHL games. Hopefully this year we will see what he can do with extended playing time.
- funmaster18

I just want the kid on the team this year, if he doesnt make it I'll be disappointed.

Bottom line is if he is a quality player make the top 9 if not something has to be done. By the time we wait for the kid to make the team someone like Konecny might be ready himself and the Laughton ship will have sailed.
- ClaudeFather

You convinced me, since Laughton hasn't solidified a place on the team in hist first professional season, we should get rid of him, because they might get other good players in the future. I think this approach should become the gold standard and mantra of developing young players in the NHL.

If a player isn't a top 9 player at 21, he never will be. Cut bait and move on.

Or they will both be ready at the same time and they make room. There is no reason to think he won't pan out yet, given he has only played 36 NHL games. Hopefully this year we will see what he can do with extended playing time.
- funmaster18

What I will say is that I think Hextall (and Holmgren) seem very gun-shy about playing young guys. I understand development and all, but at some point, you do have to see if these guys can sink or swim. I would have preferred not resigning Schultz and seeing if one or multiple of Manning/Morin/Ghost/Hagg/Alt could hold down the #6/#7 spots in camp. It seems like we have a logjam, even at forward, with vets, and at some point we need to make room for some of the young players to get into the lineup.

What I will say is that I think Hextall (and Holmgren) seem very gun-shy about playing young guys. I understand development and all, but at some point, you do have to see if these guys can sink or swim. I would have preferred not resigning Schultz and seeing if one or multiple of Manning/Morin/Ghost/Hagg/Alt could hold down the #6/#7 spots in camp. It seems like we have a logjam, even at forward, with vets, and at some point we need to make room for some of the young players to get into the lineup.
- jmatchett383

If it turns out Hextall is a hoarder we are in trouble.

What I will say is that I think Hextall (and Holmgren) seem very gun-shy about playing young guys. I understand development and all, but at some point, you do have to see if these guys can sink or swim. I would have preferred not resigning Schultz and seeing if one or multiple of Manning/Morin/Ghost/Hagg/Alt could hold down the #6/#7 spots in camp. It seems like we have a logjam, even at forward, with vets, and at some point we need to make room for some of the young players to get into the lineup.
- jmatchett383

You don't throw them into the pool, until you know they can swim. Hextall and his player development staff will have a good idea of when these players will be ready. I still don't understand the objections to re-signing Schultz. It was a quality signing. Making room is not going to be an issue.

I just want the kid on the team this year, if he doesnt make it I'll be disappointed.
- ClaudeFather

as would I, but I wouldn't be ready to ditch him just yet.

What I will say is that I think Hextall (and Holmgren) seem very gun-shy about playing young guys. I understand development and all, but at some point, you do have to see if these guys can sink or swim. I would have preferred not resigning Schultz and seeing if one or multiple of Manning/Morin/Ghost/Hagg/Alt could hold down the #6/#7 spots in camp. It seems like we have a logjam, even at forward, with vets, and at some point we need to make room for some of the young players to get into the lineup.
- jmatchett383

Schultz is probably going to get the hardest minutes on the team again. Or at least minutes you wouldn't want to give a rookie.

If they weren't going to sign a vet to make room for one of the kids it probably would have been Del Zotto or Medvedev. If Ghost had played 70 AHL games last year instead of 5 that might have been an option Hextall looked at.

What I will say is that I think Hextall (and Holmgren) seem very gun-shy about playing young guys. I understand development and all, but at some point, you do have to see if these guys can sink or swim. I would have preferred not resigning Schultz and seeing if one or multiple of Manning/Morin/Ghost/Hagg/Alt could hold down the #6/#7 spots in camp. It seems like we have a logjam, even at forward, with vets, and at some point we need to make room for some of the young players to get into the lineup.
- jmatchett383

I'm ok with what Hextall is doing. I think the logjam takes care of itself during and/or after this season. Gudas, Schenn and Medvedev are only on 1 year deals and Streit and Schultz will be going into their final year as well and could both be easily moved.

For the forwards, Umberger will likely be traded or bought out after this season, Vinny will almost certainly be gone by next offseason and White is only on a 1 year deal. Also Gagner, Raffl and B Schenn are all in their last year of their current deals as well.

What I will say is that I think Hextall (and Holmgren) seem very gun-shy about playing young guys. I understand development and all, but at some point, you do have to see if these guys can sink or swim. I would have preferred not resigning Schultz and seeing if one or multiple of Manning/Morin/Ghost/Hagg/Alt could hold down the #6/#7 spots in camp. It seems like we have a logjam, even at forward, with vets, and at some point we need to make room for some of the young players to get into the lineup.
- jmatchett383

He does, but until I see how it all pans out, I don't have an opinion on if it's right or wrong. In the past the Flyers traded young players, threw them into the fire right away and it really didn't work out. Hextall, and even Holmgren to a degree, exercised more patience and we are still waiting to see if it makes a difference. So far I like Hextall's plan and what he's done. Why not let the young kids wait and get more AHL/junior experience while the rest of the contracts we are trying to rid ourselves of expire. I don't think one or two young guys would have made a big difference last year, so might as well let them get big minutes elsewhere. This year and next year is when I'm starting to look for some of these prospects to start making the jump.

I just hope that if they decide to give Schenn the 3C a go, then they truly need to allow him to play it and not move him to LW or RW. Let's see what he can do at C.
- VladDrag

He played 2c in 13-14 didn't he? He hit the 20 goal mark that year.

He does, but until I see how it all pans out, I don't have an opinion on if it's right or wrong. In the past the Flyers traded young players, threw them into the fire right away and it really didn't work out. Hextall, and even Holmgren to a degree, exercised more patience and we are still waiting to see if it makes a difference. So far I like Hextall's plan and what he's done. Why not let the young kids wait and get more AHL/junior experience while the rest of the contracts we are trying to rid ourselves of expire. I don't think one or two young guys would have made a big difference last year, so might as well let them get big minutes elsewhere. This year and next year is when I'm starting to look for some of these prospects to start making the jump.
- funmaster18

All I know is being very patient has worked out pretty good for Detroit over the last 20+ years.

Schultz is probably going to get the hardest minutes on the team again. Or at least minutes you wouldn't want to give a rookie.

If they weren't going to sign a vet to make room for one of the kids it probably would have been Del Zotto or Medvedev. If Ghost had played 70 AHL games last year instead of 5 that might have been an option Hextall looked at.
- Feanor

If Nick Schultz is getting the hardest minutes on the team, then no, we are not making the playoffs.