I know one poster on here who will think he was a good player. Still better than Roman Vopat.

I was a big Geoff Sanderson fan and was happy when the Flyers signed him. I was wrong.
- jmatchett383

The BETA version of Boyd Gordon

Damn forgot about the Schenn suspension. Maybe the Russian gers a look. I still don't know who he takes over for? Bellmare?

Should be fun to watch to bottom 6 guys battle.

I agree with Badreau and Leier. Could see them up if they out play Cousins or Read. But also could see them up if players are moved out.

I see Read being moved this year. I think Vandevelde will be in Lehigh Valley.

Will be interesting to see what guys battle for those bottom 6 roles.
- J35Bacher

FWIW

My guess on the forward lineup, after Schenn's 3 gamer is up, would be:

Schenn-G-Simmonds
Laughton-Coots-Jake
Raffl-Cousins-Weise
Lyub or Gordon-Gordon or Bellemare-Read
14th forward: Weal

I also think that VDV starts the season in LHV along with Leier and Bardreau and Konecny goes back to Junior.

On D, I'm predicting:

MDZ-Ghost
Provorov-Gudas
Schultz-Streit
spare: Manning

on the PK and late in games when leading, they will shorten the bench and go with:
MDZ-Gudas
Schultz-Streit

I expect AMac to be waived and sent to LHV assuming Provorov makes the team.

Damn forgot about the Schenn suspension. Maybe the Russian gers a look. I still don't know who he takes over for? Bellmare?
- Pelle31Forever

Vandevelde.

For me he is the first person off the boat.

I think the Russian or almost anyone could do what Vandevelde does and maybe add more.

Read is my second off the boat if he doesn't step up.

FWIW

My guess on the forward lineup, after Schenn's 3 gamer is up, would be:

Schenn-G-Simmonds
Laughton-Coots-Jake
Raffl-Cousins-Weise
Lyub or Gordon-Gordon or Bellemare-Read
14th forward: Weal

I also think that VDV starts the season in LHV along with Leier and Bardreau and Konecny goes back to Junior.

On D, I'm predicting:

MDZ-Ghost
Provorov-Gudas
Schultz-Streit
spare: Manning

on the PK and late in games when leading, they will shorten the bench and go with:
MDZ-Gudas
Schultz-Streit

I expect AMac to be waived and sent to LHV assuming Provorov makes the team.
- BiggE

I pretty much agree with that.

I could see Morin sneaking in on the defense if he has a good camp and Streit is moved.

Vandevelde.

For me he is the first person off the boat.

I think the Russian or almost anyone could do what Vandevelde does and maybe add more.

Read is my second off the boat if he doesn't step up.
- J35Bacher

I would be fairly upset if Vandevelde is in the opening night line up

I forgot about that.

I know Hextall is against the 9 game thing but would you keep Konecny if he has a great camp and see what happens?

Raffl - Giroux - Voracek
Konecny - Couturier- Simmonds
Laughton - Cousins - Weise
Read - Gordon - Bellemare

Unless Leier has a great camp or maybe someone like Abul-Kabel really surprises.
- J35Bacher

I think a 9 game trial for a 19 year old like Konecny should be seriously considered. Give him October to see if he is ready like Fabbri was. I don't really get Hextall's reluctance on the trials. So long as you don't burn a year off his ELC unnecessarily or waste months of his season like the Pens did with Sprong, it should not hurt the player or the team.

FWIW

My guess on the forward lineup, after Schenn's 3 gamer is up, would be:

Schenn-G-Simmonds
Laughton-Coots-Jake
Raffl-Cousins-Weise
Lyub or Gordon-Gordon or Bellemare-Read
14th forward: Weal

I also think that VDV starts the season in LHV along with Leier and Bardreau and Konecny goes back to Junior.

On D, I'm predicting:

MDZ-Ghost
Provorov-Gudas
Schultz-Streit
spare: Manning

on the PK and late in games when leading, they will shorten the bench and go with:
MDZ-Gudas
Schultz-Streit

I expect AMac to be waived and sent to LHV assuming Provorov makes the team.
- BiggE

I predict Weal gets sent down before VDV

reasoning: both are useless in the press box...vdv has more "experience" if he needs to step in...weal is better for AHL productivity

Vandevelde.

For me he is the first person off the boat.

I think the Russian or almost anyone could do what Vandevelde does and maybe add more.

Read is my second off the boat if he doesn't step up.
- J35Bacher

I excluded VDV off my initial 12 in my first post. Perhaps I'm jumping the gun, but I'm assuming he's in LV or best case 13th guy to start.

I predict Weal gets sent down before VDV

reasoning: both are useless in the press box...vdv has more "experience" if he needs to step in...weal is better for AHL productivity
- YuenglingJagr

My reasoning behind keeping Weal over VDV as 14th is mainly due to his skill set. If one the top 6 guys is out for just a game or 2, Weal can step into that role without having to mess with the other lines. Also, if the 4th line ends up being Lyub-Gordon-Read, then Bellemare is your 13th forward and its kind of redundant to carry similar players like he and VDV to be the spares.

The BETA version of Boyd Gordon
- YuenglingJagr

I'd say Boyd Gordon is closer to Blair Betts than Geoff Sanderson.

FWIW

My guess on the forward lineup, after Schenn's 3 gamer is up, would be:

Schenn-G-Simmonds
Laughton-Coots-Jake
Raffl-Cousins-Weise
Lyub or Gordon-Gordon or Bellemare-Read
14th forward: Weal

I also think that VDV starts the season in LHV along with Leier and Bardreau and Konecny goes back to Junior.

On D, I'm predicting:

MDZ-Ghost
Provorov-Gudas
Schultz-Streit
spare: Manning

on the PK and late in games when leading, they will shorten the bench and go with:
MDZ-Gudas
Schultz-Streit

I expect AMac to be waived and sent to LHV assuming Provorov makes the team.
- BiggE

My only concern with that line up is it's setting up Gudas to be claimed in the expansion draft. That's of course without Manning signing a 2 year deal and getting in 14 games of action.

I excluded VDV off my initial 12 in my first post. Perhaps I'm jumping the gun, but I'm assuming he's in LV or best case 13th guy to start.
- Pelle31Forever

VdV is definitely going to need a good camp to stay on the team.

I think that Russian player takes his job.

I think a 9 game trial for a 19 year old like Konecny should be seriously considered. Give him October to see if he is ready like Fabbri was. I don't really get Hextall's reluctance on the trials. So long as you don't burn a year off his ELC unnecessarily or waste months of his season like the Pens did with Sprong, it should not hurt the player or the team.
- Feanor

I am hoping that try Konecky on the Giroux-Simmonds line so we get our own version of the Kane-Bread man connection!

My only concern with that line up is it's setting up Gudas to be claimed in the expansion draft. That's of course without Manning signing a 2 year deal and getting in 14 games of action.
- Baxter27

I think Manning will get enough games in to make it a non issue.

VdV is definitely going to need a good camp to stay on the team.

I think that Russian player takes his job.
- johndewar

I am hoping so.

Read somethings about him and feel he could be more Raffl type than Vandevelde. Maybe not 20 goal raffl but play a solid 2 way game and pot 10-12 goals.

I'd say Boyd Gordon is closer to Blair Betts than Geoff Sanderson.
- johndewar

I would agree...but Geoff Sanderson got mentioned, not Blair Betts

My only concern with that line up is it's setting up Gudas to be claimed in the expansion draft. That's of course without Manning signing a 2 year deal and getting in 14 games of action.
- Baxter27

That or they resign Schultz bahaha

My reasoning behind keeping Weal over VDV as 14th is mainly due to his skill set. If one the top 6 guys is out for just a game or 2, Weal can step into that role without having to mess with the other lines. Also, if the 4th line ends up being Lyub-Gordon-Read, then Bellemare is your 13th forward and its kind of redundant to carry similar players like he and VDV to be the spares.
- BiggE

Yeah I understand and I am not opposed to that...just saying I have a slight feeling towards Weal in the AHL

I would agree...but Geoff Sanderson got mentioned, not Blair Betts
- YuenglingJagr

Yes, but you brought up Boyd Gordon.

Sanderson had a few 40 goal seasons, a few 30-goal seasons, and was coming off of 25 goals the year prior. I don't think Boyd Gordon will ever pass 15, at most.

It would be the only goal and point of Divisek's brief NHL career.

At least the kid made it count. "Good on ya!"

Yes, but you brought up Boyd Gordon.

Sanderson had a few 40 goal seasons, a few 30-goal seasons, and was coming off of 25 goals the year prior. I don't think Boyd Gordon will ever pass 15, at most.
- jmatchett383

Okay fine to clarify...the reference was not made in comparison to similarities in hair color, goal scoring, point production, dominant handedness, sexual preference, political affiliation, jersey number, or first letter of their first names...it was only in reference to being happy when they signed him only to end up being disappointed

Okay fine to clarify...the reference was not made in comparison to similarities in hair color, goal scoring, point production, dominant handedness, sexual preference, political affiliation, jersey number, or first letter of their first names...it was only in reference to being happy when they signed him only to end up being disappointed
- YuenglingJagr

Aside from MJL, I don't think anyone was really "happy" about it. More of an, "Oh, okay, I guess he'll be adequate" sense from the masses.

I think Manning will get enough games in to make it a non issue.
- BiggE

He still needs a 2 year deal to make it a non issue. Thankfully they can elect to do so even if it gets to arbitration.

Aside from MJL, I don't think anyone was really "happy" about it. More of an, "Oh, okay, I guess he'll be adequate" sense from the masses.
- jmatchett383

Pretty much. He was on the downside of his career, but he was still a good skater and I think we all expected that he could at least still be an effective middle 6 winger.

In his defense, he did average .50 points per game with us that season, but he was god awful defensively and was clearly shying away from physical contact by that time.