Anyone have any idea when tonights roster will will announced?

I know he's a "good soldier" type, but I'd waive Schultz and see if he passes. I know he's good at getting hit with pucks, but he looks slower than last year (although, preseason, so...yeah).
- jmatchett383

Hard to judge vets like Schultz in preseason, guys like that ramp it up when it counts. Plus, I'd rather have his experience in the room to help mentor the kids.

Weal is going to the AHL. I don't think that's even in question. And I will be floored if VDV is in the starting lineup. Whatever you say about Read, with him, Leier, Lyubimov, etc. there, VDV shouldn't sniff anything but the popcorn in the pressbox at best. He's ineffective, invisible, low skilled, mediocre defensively. He's the definition of "Just a Guy." Without him, and with Pebbles shifted to wing, the 4th line has a chance to do some actual damage.

Myers is a beaut, that's for sure. I've been on his hype train for a while. Everything he has showcased so far was more than evident in juniors last year. When I started watching Rouyn-Noranda games, I almost couldn't believe what I was seeing out of an undrafted player
- Mononoke

weal just doesn't look like an nhl imo.

how myers went undrafted is mind boggling. with his size figured a team would take a shot with a 7th rd pick.

AMac has actually played well so far this preseason. I think last year may have been a wakeup call. Manning is a serviceable 6/7 defenseman, but nothing special.
- jmatchett383

AMac has been good since he got called back up last season. His playoff series against Washington wasn't as scary as he was before he went to LV. He still tends to give the blue line a little too much for my liking when he has the time and help that should allow him to stand up but if he makes the recovery and stops the play in the D zone we really can't complain too much.

Take those 3 kids, add Ghost, and soon Morin and possibly Hagg, and you have just a sick abundance of riches when it comes to young D. As someone who has followed this team since the early 70s, I can safely say that the Flyers have NEVER had this kind of depth and talent among their D prospects, not even close!


- BiggE

No question. I can't recall any period of time that comes even close when the Flyers have had the quality of defense prospects that they have now. All of the big 4 have size also, even though Provorov is not tall, but he is solid like a tank.

AMac has actually played well so far this preseason. I think last year may have been a wakeup call. Manning is a serviceable 6/7 defenseman, but nothing special.
- jmatchett383

I think all of the veteran defenseman played well last night. I also think though, that they weren't playing against an NHL lineup, so they'd better have looked good. MacDonald did look motivated last night.

No question. I can't recall any period of time that comes even close when the Flyers have had the quality of defense prospects that they have now. All of the big 4 have size also, even though Provorov is not tall, but he is solid like a tank.
- MJL

they haven't had D prospects of this caliber that I can recall and I am going back 40 years.

They are all not going to be nhl players as that would defy immense odds. Figuring out which one may not make it and trying to get value for them will be key for hextall.

they haven't had D prospects of this caliber that I can recall and I am going back 40 years.

They are all not going to be nhl players as that would defy immense odds. Figuring out which one may not make it and trying to get value for them will be key for hextall.
- rinaldo

Provorov is an NHL defenseman and Sanheim, Morin and Myers look to be NHL defenseman even if only 5/6/7 roles. That in itself is a wealth of prospects. I don't include Ghost since he's no longer a prospect. It's crazy what this team could look like in 3-4 years on the back end.

Anyone have any idea when tonights roster will will announced?
- flyers4487

more to come

Anyone have any idea when tonights roster will will announced?
- flyers4487

After morning skate

A good, high-tempo, game was played by the Orange and Black last night. Simmonds and Schenn were sniffing the net and controlling the puck very well. They will look even better when Giroux is back in between them, rather than Weal. Weal had a decent game, he just doesn't have that set-up touch that one needs to be a center in the NHL.

The "2nd" line with Raffl and Read around Miele looked pretty bad. Miele has no hope of being an NHL player, so it's hard to blame the other two, but Raffl sort-of showed why he didn't make Team Europe while a less talented player like PEB did. He hit, he got back on D, but he didn't do much with the puck and didn't find himself in good places without the puck either. Read was fine. I've always been a big fan of his, but I think at this point he's a defensive specialist-type player in the NHL. He's probably destined for the 4th line with PEB and either Gordon or Vandevelde.

Line 3 was the best on the night. Some other folks on this board have already fallen into the slag Laughton routine. That being said, he seemed to drive play just as well as Cousins and Weisse. The three of them should be a very strong 3rd line this year. Good speed through the neutral zone, and strong play down low in the offensive zone as well. I thought Laughton used his size very well, and was pretty integral in the set up for Weisse's goal though he didn't get a point for it. Weisse is going to be great for this team. Cousins has shown again that he is the best option for 3C. He really controls the middle of the ice well.

Line 4 was fine, I suppose. Gordon is ok - not sure he really offers anything that PEB doesn't already (from the eye test). Vandevelde is his usual self - I'm not a fan, but I can appreciate why other people are. I think he's probably the 13th forward on this team with Gordon's addition. He's #14 if Konecny or some other young guy makes the team. Lyubimov was unnoticeable, I went through most of the game before i realized that he was on the ice at all.

As for the Defense: MDZ had a good game. I thought that Schultz and MacDonald both played well too. AMac seems like he's grown as a positional player, which should be good considering he's likely to be on a line with either Ghost or some other young guy this year. All three of the veterans made smart, strong, plays with the puck on their sticks and covered for some of the slip ups by their rookie partners.

I was very excited to see Provorov. He's really going to be a great player. His short stride makes him very nimble and agile, and his puck handling and strength along the boards is without question. Last night, he looked nervous: gripping the stick a little bit, as they say. His passes were off the mark and too soft. Though I am usually the guy in the stands grumbling to whomever I am at the game with about shooting lanes while others start yelling during power plays, I thought Provorov let a few chances slip by from not pulling the trigger.

Myers and Sanheim both played strong overall games. I would have liked to see Sanheim skate the puck out of his own end a little bit more, but I liked that he was keeping things simple. Myers is a big body who skates really well. He reminds me a bit of a young Braydon Coburn (which in my book in a complement). He and/or Morin look like they can be the stay-at-home half of a shut-down pair in the future, but maybe not quite yet...

Not gonna add much to what's been said, but man Myers looked good last night. Very noticeable on almost every shift.

Looked like Provorov tried to go end-to-end last night with about a minute left. Not quite as easy to do at this level. Overall though, he played a very good game, but not a "force Hextall's hand" type of game.
- jmatchett383

Completely agree. Shame about Provorov...focused a lot on watching him throughout the game and he definitely doesn't have that "wow" factor that Ghost has. I realized he's only played 2 preseason games, but knowing that Hexy is leaning towards sending him back to junior, he's going to have to do more. Thought Sanheim played very well, especially in the 2nd portion of the game. Should be a great addition to the Phantoms

Provorov is an NHL defenseman and Sanheim, Morin and Myers look to be NHL defenseman even if only 5/6/7 roles. That in itself is a wealth of prospects. I don't include Ghost since he's no longer a prospect. It's crazy what this team could look like in 3-4 years on the back end.
- dragonoffrost

I'm not sold on any of them yet, honestly. We've yet to see them have any tangible success against an NHL-level preseason lineup. Last night, Provorov, Sanheim, and especially Myers looked really good. I heard Morin was rather unimpressive in his only game thus far. I do think that both Provorov and Myers could be keepers, and Sanheim had a nice 2nd/3rd period. But I don't think I'd call any of them NHL defensemen yet.

No question. I can't recall any period of time that comes even close when the Flyers have had the quality of defense prospects that they have now. All of the big 4 have size also, even though Provorov is not tall, but he is solid like a tank.
- MJL

Provorov stays pretty low to the ice when he skates, giving him a low center of gravity for a guy that's 6 foot and around 200 pounds. Makes some solid hits and is going to be tough to knock off the puck!

they haven't had D prospects of this caliber that I can recall and I am going back 40 years.

They are all not going to be nhl players as that would defy immense odds. Figuring out which one may not make it and trying to get value for them will be key for hextall.
- rinaldo

It isnt impossible. Look at Anaheim for a very recent example and to LA/STL to a lesser extent.

-snipped

Line 4 was fine, I suppose. Gordon is ok - not sure he really offers anything that PEB doesn't already (from the eye test). Vandevelde is his usual self - I'm not a fan, but I can appreciate why other people are. I think he's probably the 13th forward on this team with Gordon's addition. He's #14 if Konecny or some other young guy makes the team. Lyubimov was unnoticeable, I went through most of the game before i realized that he was on the ice at all.

-snipped-
- ritns028

I disagree. I didn't have a roster, but just kept thinking, "Who is #27, he's just standing around not doing anything out there." Then I found out it was Gordon. However, Lyubimov, I thought, was fairly noticeable. Was getting into some battles, had a few nice chances, basically getting involved. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if both or neither (or one of them) make the team.

I'm giddy at the thought of rolling out future pairings with the likes of, Provorov, Gostisbehere, Myers, Morin, Sanheim, Hagg.... wow.

Myers is a beaut, that's for sure. I've been on his hype train for a while.
- "Mononoke"

Hype train gonna be full after this preseason, as more people get around to realizing he's in the same league as Sanheim. Maybe even Provorov.

I'm not sold on any of them yet, honestly. We've yet to see them have any tangible success against an NHL-level preseason lineup. Last night, Provorov, Sanheim, and especially Myers looked really good. I heard Morin was rather unimpressive in his only game thus far. I do think that both Provorov and Myers could be keepers, and Sanheim had a nice 2nd/3rd period. But I don't think I'd call any of them NHL defensemen yet.
- jmatchett383

I would tend to agree.

It isnt impossible. Look at Anaheim for a very recent example and to LA/STL to a lesser extent.
- YuenglingJagr

who said it is impossible. it is unlikely imo.

also depends on who you put into the group as to who will or won't make it. Do you keep it at the rushkie, myers, morin, and sanheim?

Hype train gonna be full after this preseason, as more people get around to realizing he's in the same league as Sanheim. Maybe even Provorov.
- Tomahawk

What an absolute steal if he continues his developmental trajectory.

What an absolute steal if he continues his developmental trajectory.
- flyguy12

if he never plays and nhl game but plays in the ahl it was a steal. it is a found asset.

I also think though, that they weren't playing against an NHL lineup, so they'd better have looked good.
- MJL

Pretty much my thought.

A good, high-tempo, game was played by the Orange and Black last night. Simmonds and Schenn were sniffing the net and controlling the puck very well. They will look even better when Giroux is back in between them, rather than Weal. Weal had a decent game, he just doesn't have that set-up touch that one needs to be a center in the NHL.

The "2nd" line with Raffl and Read around Miele looked pretty bad. Miele has no hope of being an NHL player, so it's hard to blame the other two, but Raffl sort-of showed why he didn't make Team Europe while a less talented player like PEB did. He hit, he got back on D, but he didn't do much with the puck and didn't find himself in good places without the puck either. Read was fine. I've always been a big fan of his, but I think at this point he's a defensive specialist-type player in the NHL. He's probably destined for the 4th line with PEB and either Gordon or Vandevelde.

Line 3 was the best on the night. Some other folks on this board have already fallen into the slag Laughton routine. That being said, he seemed to drive play just as well as Cousins and Weisse. The three of them should be a very strong 3rd line this year. Good speed through the neutral zone, and strong play down low in the offensive zone as well. I thought Laughton used his size very well, and was pretty integral in the set up for Weisse's goal though he didn't get a point for it. Weisse is going to be great for this team. Cousins has shown again that he is the best option for 3C. He really controls the middle of the ice well.

Line 4 was fine, I suppose. Gordon is ok - not sure he really offers anything that PEB doesn't already (from the eye test). Vandevelde is his usual self - I'm not a fan, but I can appreciate why other people are. I think he's probably the 13th forward on this team with Gordon's addition. He's #14 if Konecny or some other young guy makes the team. Lyubimov was unnoticeable, I went through most of the game before i realized that he was on the ice at all.

As for the Defense: MDZ had a good game. I thought that Schultz and MacDonald both played well too. AMac seems like he's grown as a positional player, which should be good considering he's likely to be on a line with either Ghost or some other young guy this year. All three of the veterans made smart, strong, plays with the puck on their sticks and covered for some of the slip ups by their rookie partners.

I was very excited to see Provorov. He's really going to be a great player. His short stride makes him very nimble and agile, and his puck handling and strength along the boards is without question. Last night, he looked nervous: gripping the stick a little bit, as they say. His passes were off the mark and too soft. Though I am usually the guy in the stands grumbling to whomever I am at the game with about shooting lanes while others start yelling during power plays, I thought Provorov let a few chances slip by from not pulling the trigger.

Myers and Sanheim both played strong overall games. I would have liked to see Sanheim skate the puck out of his own end a little bit more, but I liked that he was keeping things simple. Myers is a big body who skates really well. He reminds me a bit of a young Braydon Coburn (which in my book in a complement). He and/or Morin look like they can be the stay-at-home half of a shut-down pair in the future, but maybe not quite yet...
- ritns028

Saying that Laughton didn't look as good as Cousins or Weise is not slagging the player. It's simply an observation. For a kid playing a new position, he looked fine. The other 2 just looked better.

I'm not sold on any of them yet, honestly. We've yet to see them have any tangible success against an NHL-level preseason lineup. Last night, Provorov, Sanheim, and especially Myers looked really good. I heard Morin was rather unimpressive in his only game thus far. I do think that both Provorov and Myers could be keepers, and Sanheim had a nice 2nd/3rd period. But I don't think I'd call any of them NHL defensemen yet.
- jmatchett383

The Flyers ppl thought Morin played well on Monday. Kept things simple, which is what they want. There weren't a lot of opportunities to do more, anyway.