Probably not, but there's no one better equipped to handle them on the current roster.

I also think it's unfair to characterize Hextall as gun-shy about playing young guys when he promoted Laughton to the NHL after he had only played 19 AHL games.
- Feanor

Oh, he'll play them if/when he has to (i.e. injuries). Once he starts letting some of the young guys have legitimate chances to make the team as permanent fixtures, I'll change my tune.

You think this is a playoff team? Just asking.
- mayorofangrytown

No, not personally. On paper they appear to be a bubble team. But there's still a lot of uncertainty to saying that. A lot of "ifs" in play. I don't they will make the playoffs, but I think we see some promising improvement this season. From individuals & the team as a whole

You think this is a playoff team? Just asking.
- mayorofangrytown

I think they will be better than last year for sure. But the odds are against them in my eyes. I see the 8 that got in last year in again. I think Boston will drop in the 12-13 range and Columbus being a bubble team.

Oh, he'll play them if/when he has to (i.e. injuries). Once he starts letting some of the young guys have legitimate chances to make the team as permanent fixtures, I'll change my tune.
- jmatchett383

But other than Laughton, has anyone proved, or at lease made a strong case for themselves that they could make the team as a permanent fixture?

Probably not, but there's no one better equipped to handle them on the current roster.

I also think it's unfair to characterize Hextall as gun-shy about playing young guys when he promoted Laughton to the NHL after he had only played 19 AHL games.
- Feanor

They needed a center when G went down but you're right, he wasn't shy about keeping him on the roster.

My problem with rookies on the roster is that their fate seems predetermined prior to camp. The roster is over full and there are no jobs to be won. I think the fact that there are no PTOs this year is a step in the right direction.

No, not personally. On paper they appear to be a bubble team. But there's still a lot of uncertainty to saying that. A lot of "ifs" in play. I don't they will make the playoffs, but I think we see some promising improvement this season. From individuals & the team as a whole
- benjichronic

My optimism lies with the coach. I have my fingers crossed that Hextall picked a winner. The front office, the coaching staff, the roster over the past 3 yrs can really get you down as a Flyers fan.

I'm really tired of listening to Toronto remake their front office and staff with such bold moves. Meanwhile we have another former player as a GM, he fired another former player as coach and replaced him with his son's former college coach...

Man I hope this all works out but it's like night and day here.

They needed a center when G went down but you're right, he wasn't shy about keeping him on the roster.

My problem with rookies on the roster is that their fate seems predetermined prior to camp. The roster is over full and there are no jobs to be won. I think the fact that there are no PTOs this year is a step in the right direction.
- mayorofangrytown

I don't think their fate is pre-determined, I think that what they'll have to do to earn a spot on the team is pre-determined. The Flyers wouldn't have much issue making room if a player forced his way on the team with his play.

My optimism lies with the coach. I have my fingers crossed that Hextall picked a winner. The front office, the coaching staff, the roster over the past 3 yrs can really get you down as a Flyers fan.

I'm really tired of listening to Toronto remake their front office and staff with such bold moves. Meanwhile we have another former player as a GM, he fired another former player as coach and replaced him with his son's former college coach...

Man I hope this all works out but it's like night and day here.
- mayorofangrytown

The Flyers as a franchise have been a lot more successful than Toronto has. If I had to choose, I'll take the Flyers team model over Toronto's

On the Flyers side of the ice, I joined the scrimmage in progress. Some things I saw:

- Gudas must have a perpetual playoff beard. His passes were not as sharp. Seemed to miss the intended target often. Got completely twisted up in his skates and tripped himself. Cursed as he picked himself off the ice. But he has a really nice shot. Hard, on net, low to thigh high.

- Umberger had decent speed on a couple of rushes. Read as well. Read scored, must have been on Neuvirth. Good rush, but honestly it looked more like the goalie flubbed it vs. an overpowering shot.

- Read looked like he was skating strong on suicides after the scrimmage.

- Giroux scored on a neat little break on the goalie. Got almost as excited as if it were a real game. Both G and Jake almost seemed to be smiling and laughing.

- B Schenn had a nice rush and got of a great shot....and was robbed by Mason. Mason earned a big cheer from the bench.

- Medevdev also earned a rousing stick tap from the bench completely rubbing a forward out with a firm hip check.

- Couturier flubbed a couple of offensive opportunities. The second time he was noticeably pissed, slamming his stick to the ice and shouting a NSFW work. That same "shift" his line had a better rush and he got of a decent shot.

- I'm pretty sure it was Vinnie who scored on a breakaway and had a really big grin. But after the scrimmage he was doing suicides and seemed to pull up. He skated out to center ice hunched over grimacing, and stayed there for a minute or two. He skated gingerly over to the bench, stayed there for 5 minutes, and then went to the locker room. Hopefully nothing serious. Or maybe hopefully to many.
- TheGreat28

Thanks for posting the update. I am really interested in seeing what Cooter brings to the table this year. He was fantastic for Canada at the worlds and with the new contract, I really want to see him take a step forward with his offensive game... From the Worlds, you see he has it in him.. Hopefully baby Schenn keeps progressing as well.

My optimism lies with the coach. I have my fingers crossed that Hextall picked a winner. The front office, the coaching staff, the roster over the past 3 yrs can really get you down as a Flyers fan.

I'm really tired of listening to Toronto remake their front office and staff with such bold moves. Meanwhile we have another former player as a GM, he fired another former player as coach and replaced him with his son's former college coach...

Man I hope this all works out but it's like night and day here.
- mayorofangrytown

Hextall has a much better recent management record than Shanahan or his former coach that he hired as GM despite an appalling last few seasons in New Jersey. There are at least 20 other teams I'd be jealous of before even looking at the Leafs.

If you're feeling down based on the past 3 years I doubt Toronto fans are feeling better after not winning a playoff series since 2004, trading Kessel for a crappy return, and still being stuck with a $7m a year captain they don't want.

The Flyers as a franchise have been a lot more successful than Toronto has. If I had to choose, I'll take the Flyers team model over Toronto's
- MJL

Toronto is going in a completely new direction. No one can judge what they're doing yet but bringing on the personel they have in the front office and coaching staff all the way down to the Marlies should make most fans envious on reputation alone. We'll all have to wait to see how it comes together.

One of my favourite non flyers. Nothing not to like about the guy. I was hoping Montreal would poison the well for him and he'd be available but oh well. I know he can never do enough to please the media up there but I think he's turned the tide with the Habs fans.
- mayorofangrytown

Couldn't agree more. I love watching him play and his off-ice personality is awesome. I'll never understand why he was (or still is) booed here.

But other than Laughton, has anyone proved, or at lease made a strong case for themselves that they could make the team as a permanent fixture?
- VladDrag

Fair point, not really. However, his decision to keep Laughton down to start the year in favor of Umberger and Lecavalier who were CLEARLY not able to contribute last year gives me reason for concern. If you want to use the "vets take it easy in preseason" mantra, that's fine. But you'd have to think that they noticed how bad they were after 5-10 games, not 19.

Toronto is going in a completely new direction. No one can judge what they're doing yet but bringing on the personel they have in the front office and coaching staff all the way down to the Marlies should make most fans envious on reputation alone. We'll all have to wait to see how it comes together.
- mayorofangrytown

Shanahan has no experience running an NHL team before this. Lou made a mess out of his last few years in New Jersey. Why should fans be envious of that?

Fair point, not really. However, his decision to keep Laughton down to start the year in favor of Umberger and Lecavalier who were CLEARLY not able to contribute last year gives me reason for concern. If you want to use the "vets take it easy in preseason" mantra, that's fine. But you'd have to think that they noticed how bad they were after 5-10 games, not 19.
- jmatchett383

Laughton didn't have a good camp last season.

Couldn't agree more. I love watching him play and his off-ice personality is awesome. I'll never understand why he was (or still is) booed here.
- TobyFlenderson

Much like Crosby, first impressions last forever. And he did not make a favorable one here.

Wow, that's awesome.


Canadiens' Subban pledges $10 million to hospital

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=779258
- Streit2ThePoint

Another reason to like the guy.

Laughton didn't have a good camp last season.
- Feanor

Neither did Umberger or Vinny. The difference is, after October, Laughton had 5 goals and 7 points in 8 AHL games while Umberger and Vinny were playing about 2nd line AHL level. That should have warranted a look, to me. But what do I know, I'm just a poster on a message board.

Hextall has a much better recent management record than Shanahan or his former coach that he hired as GM despite an appalling last few seasons in New Jersey. There are at least 20 other teams I'd be jealous of before even looking at the Leafs.

If you're feeling down based on the past 3 years I doubt Toronto fans are feeling better after not winning a playoff series since 2004, trading Kessel for a crappy return, and still being stuck with a $7m a year captain they don't want.
- Feanor

Shanahan has hired Kyle Dubas, Dale Hunter, Mike Babcock, Lou Lamoriello and Sheldon Keefe.

That's not a bad management team.

I think Babcock will make them grateful they held onto Phaneuf.

- I'm pretty sure it was Vinnie who scored on a breakaway and had a really big grin. But after the scrimmage he was doing suicides and seemed to pull up. He skated out to center ice hunched over grimacing, and stayed there for a minute or two. He skated gingerly over to the bench, stayed there for 5 minutes, and then went to the locker room. Hopefully nothing serious. Or maybe hopefully to many.
- TheGreat28

I hope you're wrong and it wasn't him. Not that I want anyone else to be hurt, just that I'm rooting for him this year.

Shanahan has no experience running an NHL team before this. Lou made a mess out of his last few years in New Jersey. Why should fans be envious of that?
- Feanor

It's tough to run a team that's constantly in bankruptcy with an owner who wants to pull all the strings. Not that he doesn't have his hands dirty in NJ.

He's just a part of the Toronto management team.

Please don't make me defend Uncle Lou again. I may never get the nasty taste out of my mouth.

It's tough to run a team that's constantly in bankruptcy with an owner who wants to pull all the strings. Not that he doesn't have his hands dirty in NJ.

He's just a part of the team. Please don't make me defend Uncle Lou again. I may never get the nasty taste out of my mouth.
- mayorofangrytown

If the Devils were close to bankrupt how did Lou manage to give Ryan Clowe a $24,250,000 contract coming off a terrible season riddled with concussions? If Holmgren had done that we'd talk about it in every single blog post.

I don't see the Leafs being a playoff team this decade with the twin cap anchors of Phaneuf and Horton weighing them down.

If the Devils were close to bankrupt how did Lou manage to give Ryan Clowe a $24,250,000 contract coming off a terrible season riddled with concussions? If Holmgren had done that we'd talk about it in every single blog post.

I don't see the Leafs being a playoff team this decade with the twin cap anchors of Phaneuf and Horton weighing them down.
- Feanor

They're building heavily through the draft so money might not be a huge problem. Phaneuf isn't a bad player either. Just overpaid. Horton is LTIR, which sucks in the offseason, but can be worked around

Agreed. I don't mind some movement depending on the time of the game and man-power situations, but in general, pick a spot and leave him there.
- jmatchett383

I think you see him centering Gagner and umberger to start the year. With the possibility of a 4th liner swapping with umberger.

I'm really tired of listening to Toronto remake their front office and staff with such bold moves. Meanwhile we have another former player as a GM, he fired another former player as coach and replaced him with his son's former college coach...

Man I hope this all works out but it's like night and day here.
- mayorofangrytown

Somehow I missed this first time round, but you're criticizing Hextall for hiring Hakstol because he coached his son in college. But it's fine for Shanhan to hire his former coach as coach and hire his former GM as GM?

Those are some bizarre double standards.