I'm not interested in it either, but I think he has to. He'll lose Vinny right away if he starts him at 4C or on the bench.

If Vinny plays himself out of the top 9, I think it's easier to take.
- PhillySportsGuy

If Vinny doesn't play well enough in the preseason, he shouldn't get any position. i don't think the coach needs to worry about losing vinny. I think Vinny needs to worry about losing his coach.

This is perfect for the NJ Devils:


- Pixote Andolini

I was a bit disappointed that Schenn didn't get a game at Center. Last night would have been perfect because you know Vinnie was not going to play back to back. I really would have liked to see Umberger - Schenn - Konecny. Konecny could really complement Schenn's game. Ideally there would be a set of better hands on the other side, but they just don't have that on their roster.

They could also be giving Laughton and Vinnie longer looks to see if they show anything, with a fallback option of Schenn at 3C.
- TheGreat28

Did B Schenn play left wing on Monday? I know he played right yesterday. I wonder if he still gets a shot at center, though Hakstol hasn't tried him there in practice yet, as far as I know. I thought he would get a look too, but it seems to be between VLC and Laughton.

Yay or Nay?

I think he has shown enough. He was a good player before the concussion last year. I think he was solid last night. Vinny and Umberger have never been solid.

I agree about starting Vinny at 3C, but Laughton can get 4th line minutes then slowly work his way up the lineup. He'll get PK time and Hakstol has said he wants to balance the minutes a bit more than Berube did, so it's not like Laughton will get the Akeson 5 minutes each night. 12 minutes in the NHL is better than 18 minutes in the AHL for him. Theres really nothing else for him to learn in the AHL.
- PhillySportsGuy

Really disagree. Laughton played 31 games last year and had a whopping 6 points. That's SIX points. Telling that Cousins got the call-up at the end of last year instead of Laughton. He really needs to develop offense if he is going to be anything more than a 4C. He won't do that in the NHL.

I don't agree with that.

But let's put it another way. Who has stood out more - Konecny or Laughton? Ok, everyone knows the answer. And yet the best thing for Konecny's long-term future is probably to give him another year of seasoning. So, if that is true of Konecny, and he outplayed (significantly) Laughton, why is it not true for Laughton?
- TheGreat28

Konecny has more potential than Laughton and makes ton of flash plays. Laughton's game is more about being calm and in the right place. Konecny also needs to add muscle if he wants to continue to play the way he does. Flyers can delay Konecny's ELC for two more years while Laughton is entering the second year of his regardless of where he plays.

Yay or Nay?
- Pixote Andolini

Nay. Not enough excitement.

I'd like to see prov and konecky stay a game. But everyone and anyone else junior eligible goes.

Gost stood out offensively but I don't think he cracks this nhl line up.

Medvedev impressed me I thought Laughton was solid and did the right things though he isn't a pretty player

Underwhelming was Schultz (supposively our top pairing D man) Sanheim and gagner. Gagner is just meh. He makes me hate him every time he just stands around aloof. He could score 20 goals and I'd probably still dislike him. He is actually a more lazy than Schenn never thought I'd say that
- Tfaehner

Gagner reminds me of Zherdev. Agree on Schultz.

Thats who he's competing with
- PhillySportsGuy

everyone. he hasn't stood out in any way shape or form.
let him play in the ahl to work on his overall game. with or without laughton the flyers are no better or worse right now.

Also, we did hear Sanheim's name on the first two Ranger goals.

But it's OK, he's going to have a great 19 year old season in the WHL.
- Feanor

2nd goal he got left to dry by a Ghost pinch and Simmonds tried to hold the line...

everyone. he hasn't stood out in any way shape or form.
- rinaldo

I don't agree that he hasn't stood out at all. Just less than I hoped.

Nay. Not enough excitement.
- funmaster18

- Pixote Andolini

getting warmer, but not quite there yet

2nd goal he got left to dry by a Ghost pinch and Simmonds tried to hold the line...
- ClaudeFather

Sanheim looked meh last night. He didn't have a shot to make the team this year anyway, so no biggie. Next year he will hopefully start making you think.

- Pixote Andolini

Is that Ronda Rousey?

Really disagree. Laughton played 31 games last year and had a whopping 6 points. That's SIX points. Telling that Cousins got the call-up at the end of last year instead of Laughton. He really needs to develop offense if he is going to be anything more than a 4C. He won't do that in the NHL.
- TheGreat28

He's going to be fine. Just give him regular minutes in the top 9. Not sure why people would rather use players like Umberger and Vinny in the top 9 instead of seeing what Laughton has to offer.

Gagner reminds me of Zherdev. Agree on Schultz.
- jmatchett383

Really? That seems like a pretty big reach.

- Pixote Andolini

Now we are making progress

Sanheim looked meh last night. He didn't have a shot to make the team this year anyway, so no biggie. Next year he will hopefully start making you think.
- funmaster18

Yea, no way he makes the team this year. I liked what I saw from Medvedev.

He's going to be fine. Just give him regular minutes in the top 9. Not sure why people would rather use players like Umberger and Vinny in the top 9 instead of seeing what Laughton has to offer.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agree here, although Umberger has looked night and day compared to last year. Still, an Umberger-Laughton-Schenn line would be nice to me. I wouldn't be upset if they healthy scratch Lecavalier and Gagner to start the year, although a certain someone on here would belittle the amount of $$ in the press box, because that apparently matters.

Really? That seems like a pretty big reach.
- TheGreat28

Okay. He reminds me of a slower Zherdev.

On Konecny

It's funny that Jonesy said it reminds him of the Simon Gagne decision in 99. That thought entered my mind. It's tough to send a guy that makes things happen so often back when we have a few wingers that disappear for long stretches. I hope he gets a look with NHL caliber guys.


It's gotta be tempting for hexy, although there is plenty of camp left.