Yeah, given that he did well through 60 games this year in Edmonton, and the previous handful of years before that, I'm willing to write off his 15 Florida games as SSS with a new team.
- Mononoke

Yeah, it was more an observation than a criticism

Oil get shattenkirk
Flyers get eberle
Blues get sanheim and picks


My latest pipe dream

Five hundred and second

Oil get shattenkirk
Flyers get eberle
Blues get sanheim and picks


My latest pipe dream
- nails

Glad it's a pipe dream

I don't care about pay scale and I think Laughton is better suited to playing wing. I also think Bellemare is far better suited to wing.
- Jsaquella

Pay scale is what most of the fans on here complain about. The only difference between Read and Raffl in my mind are age. To me, these two are virtually the same style of player.

Have we seen Bellemare on the wing?

Pay scale is what most of the fans on here complain about. The only difference between Read and Raffl in my mind are age. To me, these two are virtually the same style of player.

Have we seen Bellemare on the wing?
- roenick97

Making the 3rd & 4th lines roughly the same in quality means equal ice time for each, so there isn't really a 3rd or 4th line. In terms of these lines, they would see similar ice time and usage, which is why I split Raffl and Read.

I prefer Bellemare at wing. I think he has deficiencies at center, particularly at exiting the D zone, that playing wing can mitigate or even eliminate

Oil get shattenkirk
Flyers get eberle
Blues get sanheim and picks


My latest pipe dream
- nails

Terrible trade for St Louis and Flyers

The problem for me, Matt Read isn't a 4th line player, nor is he paid as one. Laughton shouldn't be placed on the wing as a solution. That kid should get better in the milldle. I don't think Raffl should be along term dix in the middle, he's best along the boards and isn't the best playmaker in terms of passing. Raffl isn't a nature center. You could move the Bellemare to the wing but I like him best in the middle.

Too much expectation for players to adjust.
- roenick97

I don't think Laughton is being placed on the wing as a solution to anything. He was placed there because that's what his game, and how he was playing, dictated. His best attribute that he showed last season was skating down the wing and shooting the puck, and getting in on the forecheck. Just because he was a center in juniors, doesn't mean he'll be a center in the NHL.
I agree that Bellemare is a center, but he could play wing. Also agree that Raffl belongs on the wing.

Latta just strikes me as another 4th liner/13th mucker. I want to improve our bottom 6...is he better than White? Probably, but by enough?

Pirri is a poor all-around sheltered player, who, given usage he probably doesn't deserve, can score some. Needs top 6 usage; not a top 6 player. He interests me the least of the 3.

Connolly might be the most interesting. There is the issue of him playing most of his year with the duo of Bergeron and Marchand and not scoring a whole lot in those minutes. The fact that he had good possession numbers with Bergeron -- a god -- leaves me skeptical. But he did have good numbers the year before in Tampa. And he does have a potential 3rd line skillset. Not like he thrills me either, but he's the more interesting buy low project.
- Mononoke

Pretty much my take on those three players as well. All replacement-level... we have enough of those. Instead of signing those guys, just call up Leier/Straka/whoever.

Pretty much my take on those three players as well. All replacement-level... we have enough of those. Instead of signing those guys, just call up Leier/Straka/whoever.
- Tomahawk

I agree with the premise, but I think it's doubtful at this point that Straka becomes an NHL player. With the expansion draft looming, I think some of these kids deserve a shot, rather than signing marginal UFA's.

Pretty much my take on those three players as well. All replacement-level... we have enough of those. Instead of signing those guys, just call up Leier/Straka/whoever.
- Tomahawk

I wonder if Bardreau could be a dark horse for Ryan White's spot. Add him and Leier to the 4th.

So, Lucicandchong and Demers are said to have handshake agreements with the Oilers.

Pretty much my take on those three players as well. All replacement-level... we have enough of those. Instead of signing those guys, just call up Leier/Straka/whoever.
- Tomahawk

Could do that as well. I don't see a free agent out there that is worth the cost in money or term that helps.

I'd love to put Konecny's name in the mix, but unless he has a stellar camp, I can't see him making the team

So, Lucicandchong and Demers are said to have handshake agreements with the Oilers.
- Mononoke

And there are also reports saying Lucic has not agreed to anything........

And there are also reports saying Lucic has not agreed to anything........
- ob18

Could be true...could be Lucic denying it because they're not allowed to discuss term or money

What free agents are we interested in? I need to know.
- Mononoke

Pat Wiercioch is a potential value guy, but probably not a fit for the Flyers at the present unless they do something w/ Streit and/or Schultz.

Big body, played pretty demanding minutes, and was a + possession player. Carried his pairing w/ Codi Ceci. I think his measly 5-pts is gonna put him in deep-summer value area, but he's more of a 15-20-pt guy. He's not the fastest, but moves the puck well and is smart about picking his spots both offensively and defensively.

Could be true...could be Lucic denying it because they're not allowed to discuss term or money
- Jsaquella

True..........I'll wait for July 1.

Glad it's a pipe dream
- ob18

Not a fan of.your tone

Pat Wiercioch is a potential value guy, but probably not a fit for the Flyers at the present unless they do something w/ Streit and/or Schultz.

Big body, played pretty demanding minutes, and was a + possession player. Carried his pairing w/ Codi Ceci. I think his measly 5-pts is gonna put him in deep-summer value area, but he's more of a 15-20-pt guy. He's not the fastest guy, but moves the puck well and is smart about picking his spots both offensively and defensively.
- Tomahawk

I was more thinking forwards, but yeah, I know the analytics project that is Wiercioch. I don't know if I'd call his minutes demanding, but he'd be a positive possession big 3rd pair guy. I highly doubt they sign any d men though. Even w/ a d corps comprised of MDZ-Ghost/Provy-Gudas/Schulz-Streit, that leaves Manning and AMac still available as the #7 and #8(00). And with Schultz and/or Streit maybe departing by mid-season, Morin could need a spot too.

I was more thinking forwards, but yeah, I know the analytics project that is Wiercioch. I don't know if I'd call his minutes demanding, but he'd be a positive possession big 3rd pair guy. I highly doubt they sign any d men though. Even w/ a d corps comprised of MDZ-Ghost/Provy-Gudas/Schulz-Streit, that leaves Manning and AMac still available as the #7 and #8(00). And with Schultz and/or Streit maybe departing by mid-season, Morin could need a spot too.
- Mononoke

Without dealing at least 1 defenseman, there's really little chance they go after a defenseman. Wiercioch is an analytical favorite, though.

Without dealing at least 1 defenseman, there's really little chance they go after a defenseman. Wiercioch is an analytical favorite, though.
- Jsaquella

I wouldn't mind them signing a defenseman, though -- I guess I just don't believe that Manning and even Nick Schultz...if we can snag a clear upgrade, I would hope that it is at least considered

All the FA forwards have red flags, but I guess I come in here: There are levels of competency. I give Chris Vandevelde, PEB and White credit for being NHLers. Especially Vandevelde, who had to carve out a slot. But they aren't good enough. Even if they just being in one guy, they have to try to push somebody out in hopes of incremental improvement

Not a fan of.your tone
- nails

I wouldn't mind them signing a defenseman, though -- I guess I just don't believe that Manning and even Nick Schultz...if we can snag a clear upgrade, I would hope that it is at least considered

All the FA forwards have red flags, but I guess I come in here: There are levels of competency. I give Chris Vandevelde, PEB and White credit for being NHLers. Especially Vandevelde, who had to carve out a slot. But they aren't good enough. Even if they just being in one guy, they have to try to push somebody out in hopes of incremental improvement
- AllInForFlyers

That's more what I was looking at. I don't know though, the more I dig into Pirri, the more lukewarm I get on him. His stats really paint a picture of a one dimensional guy who really scores because of favorable use.

I'm fine with Schultz, even if Provorov makes the team. Manning or MacDonald can end up as the 7th D. I think they are good-or as good as can reasonably be expected on D.

I want to see upgrades to the bottom 6, though. I'd like to see VandeVelde as the 13th forward. Bring in Leier. Maybe add Connolly or whomever. They should still have enough cap room to add another forward, even if it's not a cheaper guy.

I just hope we're ready to accept that our 3rd....excuse me, 4th line will be VDV-PEB-White. Forever...and ever...and ever.

That's more what I was looking at. I don't know though, the more I dig into Pirri, the more lukewarm I get on him. His stats really paint a picture of a one dimensional guy who really scores because of favorable use.

I'm fine with Schultz, even if Provorov makes the team. Manning or MacDonald can end up as the 7th D. I think they are good-or as good as can reasonably be expected on D.

I want to see upgrades to the bottom 6, though. I'd like to see VandeVelde as the 13th forward. Bring in Leier. Maybe add Connolly or whomever. They should still have enough cap room to add another forward, even if it's not a cheaper guy.
- Jsaquella

I agree. Stephen Stamkos is a wonderful idea.