Until someone can step up and be an effective 3C, there will always be holes in the lineup.
- BiggE

Heres to German!!!

Assuming no trades, I still think the best bet is to try something along these lines:

Schenn-Giroux-Simmonds
Laughton/Raffl-Couturier-Voracek
Raffl/Laughton-Cousins-Weise
Lyubimov/PEB/VDV-Gordon-Read

Or

Raffl-Giroux-Voracek
Schenn-Couturier-Simmonds
Laughton-Cousins-Weise
Lyub/PEB/VDV-Gordon-Read
- Jsaquella

Sounds about right.

At least until the Oilers finally give in and send us McDavid for AMac and Read.

Heres to German!!!
- jak521

My first thought was beer, but yeah, hopefully he's the answer.

Welcome to the blog, and to being wrong
- YuenglingJagr

Thanks. But you're really comfortable entering the season with basically the same forward corps that ranked 22nd in goals scored last year? Yes, we got Weise, but we'll be lucky if he approaches the 20 goal mark. We also lost White and Gagner, so adding Weise is basically a wash. Jake should bounce back a bit, hopefully Schenn progresses. But other than that, we would need a bunch of our young guys to take big steps forward on the score sheet. Or for a new guy like Konecny to come in and just be a Ghost-like rookie sensation. Not saying its impossible for all that to happen, but rather unlikely. I'd still like to add a proven scorer, if possible. And only for the right price too. I love Hexy's patience, and I'm sure he kicked the tires on some of the UFAs out there on July 1.

Scoring depth isnt the issue. Lack of scoring in the top 6 is.
- jak521

Right. That's kinda what I was getting at, just phrased it wrong.

Thanks. But you're really comfortable entering the season with basically the same forward corps that ranked 22nd in goals scored last year? Yes, we got Weise, but we'll be lucky if he approaches the 20 goal mark. We also lost White and Gagner, so adding Weise is basically a wash. Jake should bounce back a bit, hopefully Schenn progresses. But other than that, we would need a bunch of our young guys to take big steps forward on the score sheet. Or for a new guy like Konecny to come in and just be a Ghost-like rookie sensation. Not saying its impossible for all that to happen, but rather unlikely. I'd still like to add a proven scorer, if possible. And only for the right price too. I love Hexy's patience, and I'm sure he kicked the tires on some of the UFAs out there on July 1.
- WheelSnipeCelly

There are only a couple of forwards on this team, who I would look at their scoring totals from last season, and think there isn't room for improvement. Schenn may be close to his ceiling for scoring totals, as is Simmonds, realistically. The entire rest of the forward lineup, including Giroux, can raise their scoring totals. I don't expect every single player to do that, but the possibility exists for it.

Wish the Flyers would just Trayden Schenn and the Sixers would trade Okafor, so we can all move on with our lives

Cousins accepts QO

Cousins accepts QO
- PhillySportsGuy

He's obviously ahead of Schenn on the depth chart in the team's eyes.

Scoring depth isnt the issue. Lack of scoring in the top 6 is.
- jak521

Two 60 point players. Two players a year removed from being top 5 and top 10 in the league in scoring. Another player who was on pace for over 50 points. Keep in mind, 60 points is the new elite. Is this really the case?

The bottom 6 was a horrendous eye averting mess. Looking at the top 6 vs. the bottom 6, their stats jumped off a cliff. It dragged down all the team averages. I'm confident in the top 6.

Thanks. But you're really comfortable entering the season with basically the same forward corps that ranked 22nd in goals scored last year? Yes, we got Weise, but we'll be lucky if he approaches the 20 goal mark. We also lost White and Gagner, so adding Weise is basically a wash. Jake should bounce back a bit, hopefully Schenn progresses. But other than that, we would need a bunch of our young guys to take big steps forward on the score sheet. Or for a new guy like Konecny to come in and just be a Ghost-like rookie sensation. Not saying its impossible for all that to happen, but rather unlikely. I'd still like to add a proven scorer, if possible. And only for the right price too. I love Hexy's patience, and I'm sure he kicked the tires on some of the UFAs out there on July 1.
- WheelSnipeCelly

An upgrade on the defense would do more for the offense than adding a player like Lucic. Hopefully the PP struggles were more of an anomaly.

Sounds about right.

At least until the Oilers finally give in and send us McDavid for AMac and Read.
- BiggE

To be honest, i really think trying Laughton at 1LW is worth the risk. if he clicks with them the whole roster will stabilize. you lose one of your bottom 6 forwards, which we have a dearth of. you solidify our top 6 no questions asked:

Laughts - G - Jake/Simmer
Schenn - Coots - Simmer/Jake

while also making the bottom 6 more defined without much of a logjam

Lubyimov/Raffl - Raffl/Cousins - Weise
PEB - Gordon - Read

The only real question will be is if cousins is stronger at C or Raffl is. I think Raffl is and Cousins should go back to the AHL until we need a call up or sometime in the future.

Two 60 point players. Two players a year removed from being top 5 and top 10 in the league in scoring. Another player who was on pace for over 50 points. Keep in mind, 60 points is the new elite. Is this really the case?

The bottom 6 was a horrendous eye averting mess. Looking at the top 6 vs. the bottom 6, their stats jumped off a cliff. It dragged down all the team averages. I'm confident in the top 6.
- Mononoke

They lacked depth, so when Couturier and Jake got injured, it was such an enormous drop-off.

Two 60 point players. Two players a year removed from being top 5 and top 10 in the league in scoring. Another player who was on pace for over 50 points. Keep in mind, 60 points is the new elite. Is this really the case?

The bottom 6 was a horrendous eye averting mess. Looking at the top 6 vs. the bottom 6, their stats jumped off a cliff. It dragged down all the team averages. I'm confident in the top 6.
- Mononoke

Add a full season of Ghost and possibly Provorov to the mix will also improve offensive numbers as will the addition of Gordon. Having him to take D zone faceoffs will allow G to start more shifts in the O zone.

The new Vegas team owner? Not sure on this myself, but the Penguins' blogger seems to think so.
- copelal

George (frank)ing McPhee, lol.




(I guess it's better than Pierre, MacLean or Milbury...)

George (frank)ing McPhee, lol.




(I guess it's better than Pierre, MacLean or Milbury...)
- Tomahawk

I feel like this is the reason expansion teams struggle for so long out of the gate. They put together a front office of big names and claim to "want to win sooner rather than later."

Every expansion franchise should be looking to compete 3-4 years down the line at the earliest.

Thanks. But you're really comfortable entering the season with basically the same forward corps that ranked 22nd in goals scored last year? Yes, we got Weise, but we'll be lucky if he approaches the 20 goal mark. We also lost White and Gagner, so adding Weise is basically a wash. Jake should bounce back a bit, hopefully Schenn progresses. But other than that, we would need a bunch of our young guys to take big steps forward on the score sheet. Or for a new guy like Konecny to come in and just be a Ghost-like rookie sensation. Not saying its impossible for all that to happen, but rather unlikely. I'd still like to add a proven scorer, if possible. And only for the right price too. I love Hexy's patience, and I'm sure he kicked the tires on some of the UFAs out there on July 1.
- WheelSnipeCelly

Depending on how roles and ice time are distributed: Raffl, Laughton, Cousins, Weise, Couturier, Voracek even Read...These are all guys with potential to approach 20 goals who didn't reach it last season. Obviously expectations are higher for some than others.

Thanks. But you're really comfortable entering the season with basically the same forward corps that ranked 22nd in goals scored last year? Yes, we got Weise, but we'll be lucky if he approaches the 20 goal mark. We also lost White and Gagner, so adding Weise is basically a wash. Jake should bounce back a bit, hopefully Schenn progresses. But other than that, we would need a bunch of our young guys to take big steps forward on the score sheet. Or for a new guy like Konecny to come in and just be a Ghost-like rookie sensation. Not saying its impossible for all that to happen, but rather unlikely. I'd still like to add a proven scorer, if possible. And only for the right price too. I love Hexy's patience, and I'm sure he kicked the tires on some of the UFAs out there on July 1.
- WheelSnipeCelly

you also have to remember it took a while for them to get acclimated to Haks system. These guys, since 2013-14, have had to adapt to 3 different systems, all being extremely different than the last. they picked it up a lot towards the end of the year, and i expect that theme to continue.

as everyone else has said, its the lack of scoring from the top 6, not the actual top 6 being the problem. if we can stay somewhat healthy, with G hopefully being used more in an offensive role, Jake reverting to his career S%, and hopefully Provy joining the D ranks, i think we will be in the top half of scoring next year in the league, no problem.

George (frank)ing McPhee, lol.




(I guess it's better than Pierre, MacLean or Milbury...)
- Tomahawk

Hiring a flea bitten corpse would be better than Milbury.

They lacked depth, so when Couturier and Jake got injured, it was such an enormous drop-off.
- PhillySportsGuy

And still they had one of the best winning records during the playoff-push

Two 60 point players. Two players a year removed from being top 5 and top 10 in the league in scoring. Another player who was on pace for over 50 points. Keep in mind, 60 points is the new elite. Is this really the case?

The bottom 6 was a horrendous eye averting mess. Looking at the top 6 vs. the bottom 6, their stats jumped off a cliff. It dragged down all the team averages. I'm confident in the top 6.
- Mononoke

We only had 3 forwards with more than 15 goals. That is a problem. Having a 4th liner pot 12 goals, and all of your third liners in double digits isnt bad. You need to have two lines where you get at least four 20 goal scorers. Jake & Couts should be able to do that.

If we can get 20 goals from G, Jake, Simmer, Schenn and Couts we will be completely fine.

Until someone can step up and be an effective 3C, there will always be holes in the lineup.
- BiggE

Yep...that is how I see it

I feel like this is the reason expansion teams struggle for so long out of the gate. They put together a front office of big names and claim to "want to win sooner rather than later."

Every expansion franchise should be looking to compete 3-4 years down the line at the earliest.
- PhillySportsGuy

McPhee thinks they can make the playoffs in year one.

That's going to be tough to pull off.

He's obviously ahead of Schenn on the depth chart in the team's eyes.
- MJL

He made a joke!

If Vegas wins a cup before us, I'm burning philly to the ground.