It's a shame how they structured AMac's deal. It's the most puzzling thing about his contract to me. I'm sure to get roasted for this but I think he may actually be playing towards a chance of expansion draft consideration if his escalating annual salary went in the other direction.

C O N S I S T E N C Y
- jmatchett383

Consistently useless still qualifies as consistent!

Consistently useless still qualifies as consistent!
- aantny88

Exactly

It's a shame how they structured AMac's deal. It's the most puzzling thing about his contract to me.
- Baxter27

I agree

The Flyers biggest problem is that they a subpar bottom 6.

Everyone keeps talking about getting a top line sniper or something along those lines. Strengthen the bottom 6 and it will do wonders through out the lineup.

Fortunately, we have an abundance of guys who project to be just that.

Right now the Flyers have about 4 guys who could make immediate impacts as soon as next season...

Oskar Lindblom (6'2" 205, LW/RW, 20 years old) should be able to come in and play 3rd line wingers. More importantly, he should be a staple to the second PP unit which is just got awful. Having Konecny, Couts and Lindblom along with Sanheim and Provy should make for a very good second unit.

Taylor Leir (5'10" 177, LW, soon to be 23) also should be on the team at the start of next season. If you have paid any attention to Leier over his career, you will see he just continues to develop. Started his WHL career as about a .4 ppg player and finished well over a ppg. Same thing seems to be happening in the AHL. More importantly is the fact that he can be used in many different situations, and kills penalties.

Scott Laughton (6'1" 180 C/LW, 22) is getting near the end of the line. He is a RFA at the end of the season, but the Flyers shouldnt have any problem resigning him. Part of Laughton's problem is finding where he fits/ what his role in the NHL will be. He has had some success offensively despite limited roles and untimely injuries, but his defensive game (the assumed ticket to his NHL future) hasnt been there. It is very surprising to me that he hasnt been able to round things out. Hopefully finishing the year in the AHL will give him a chance to really get his game going again. The 3rd line center spot is ripe for his picking, but he needs to make some serious strides over the next 9 months.

Nick Cousins (5"10" 190, C, 23) is also a guy who could solidify a spot on the Flyers roster, and hold it down. Cousins is a bit different than the other 3. He probably has reached his NHL peak. He may put up more points, could be a 15-15 guy, but as a center he lacks a few things needed in the bottom 6. He is not a special teams player. He is rather bad at taking draws. He isnt a good defensive player (He is so-so IMO). That doesnt bode well for a 3rd/4th line center. It is likely the reason his is a healthy scratch. He could make for a good 13th forward who you can pot around the lineup when needed, but he looks like he is gonna be a tweener in my eyes.



Outside of those guys there are some other interesting players a few years away..
Fazleev could end up being a very solid 4th liner... Decent size, strong defensively, smart, some offensive skills, pretty physical along the walls..

Cooper Marody looked like he was gonna be a steal this time last year. He was playing alongside Kyle Connor for a bit at Michigan, and then was getting top 6 forward minutes until he got mono which knocked him down. He also got behind with school which made him academically ineligible until just recently.. He has been a near ppg college player so far, and has 3 points (all assists) in his two games back. He is a darkhorse top 9 guy...

Wade Allison was one of the fastest risers in the draft last year. He is in his first season at Western Mich and is having a hell of a start to his NCAA career. The big winger's (6'2" 210) game is all about strength. The kid is a moose. He also has top 9 potential IMO.
- jak521

I like what I saw from Leier in his cup of coffee with the big club. I think Cousins brings a lot of positives to the lineup but for some reason, he's on Uncle Hak's poop list. Laughton isn't exactly lighting the AHL on fire, so I'm not sure I'd include him in the future plans. Hoping that Lindblom can translate the scoring prowess he's shown to the NHL whenever he makes the team. Problem is Hexy/Hakstol love pluggers like Vandevelde, Bellemare, Weise, et al. Only so many roster spots!

Exactly
- jmatchett383

A polished turd is still a turd

Drafting and developing takes time. This was always going to be a process. While still a very good player, Giroux is already pretty much past his prime. I think Hextall will use trades and free agency when the timing is right, and the right moves present themselves.
- MJL

Right, like signing free agents Boyd Gordon and Dale Weise

A polished turd is still a turd
- aantny88

Don't get Mononoke excited

flyers are a very easy to team to play against. they need to toughen up and I don't mean by fighting. bottom lines are very soft and not that effective.

The Flyers biggest problem is that they a subpar bottom 6.

Everyone keeps talking about getting a top line sniper or something along those lines. Strengthen the bottom 6 and it will do wonders through out the lineup.

Fortunately, we have an abundance of guys who project to be just that.

Right now the Flyers have about 4 guys who could make immediate impacts as soon as next season...

Oskar Lindblom (6'2" 205, LW/RW, 20 years old) should be able to come in and play 3rd line wingers. More importantly, he should be a staple to the second PP unit which is just got awful. Having Konecny, Couts and Lindblom along with Sanheim and Provy should make for a very good second unit.

Taylor Leir (5'10" 177, LW, soon to be 23) also should be on the team at the start of next season. If you have paid any attention to Leier over his career, you will see he just continues to develop. Started his WHL career as about a .4 ppg player and finished well over a ppg. Same thing seems to be happening in the AHL. More importantly is the fact that he can be used in many different situations, and kills penalties.

Scott Laughton (6'1" 180 C/LW, 22) is getting near the end of the line. He is a RFA at the end of the season, but the Flyers shouldnt have any problem resigning him. Part of Laughton's problem is finding where he fits/ what his role in the NHL will be. He has had some success offensively despite limited roles and untimely injuries, but his defensive game (the assumed ticket to his NHL future) hasnt been there. It is very surprising to me that he hasnt been able to round things out. Hopefully finishing the year in the AHL will give him a chance to really get his game going again. The 3rd line center spot is ripe for his picking, but he needs to make some serious strides over the next 9 months.

Nick Cousins (5"10" 190, C, 23) is also a guy who could solidify a spot on the Flyers roster, and hold it down. Cousins is a bit different than the other 3. He probably has reached his NHL peak. He may put up more points, could be a 15-15 guy, but as a center he lacks a few things needed in the bottom 6. He is not a special teams player. He is rather bad at taking draws. He isnt a good defensive player (He is so-so IMO). That doesnt bode well for a 3rd/4th line center. It is likely the reason his is a healthy scratch. He could make for a good 13th forward who you can pot around the lineup when needed, but he looks like he is gonna be a tweener in my eyes.



Outside of those guys there are some other interesting players a few years away..
Fazleev could end up being a very solid 4th liner... Decent size, strong defensively, smart, some offensive skills, pretty physical along the walls..

Cooper Marody looked like he was gonna be a steal this time last year. He was playing alongside Kyle Connor for a bit at Michigan, and then was getting top 6 forward minutes until he got mono which knocked him down. He also got behind with school which made him academically ineligible until just recently.. He has been a near ppg college player so far, and has 3 points (all assists) in his two games back. He is a darkhorse top 9 guy...

Wade Allison was one of the fastest risers in the draft last year. He is in his first season at Western Mich and is having a hell of a start to his NCAA career. The big winger's (6'2" 210) game is all about strength. The kid is a moose. He also has top 9 potential IMO.
- jak521

really just wanted to quote this giant post

I don't think Voracek had a realistic shot of getting back on that play given how little gas he had in the tank. Once his pass didn't get thru, a 3 on 2 break the other way was inevitable.

He's won a lot of games for us in OT, so I'll cut him some slack.

I don't think Voracek had a realistic shot of getting back on that play given how little gas he had in the tank. Once his pass didn't get thru, a 3 on 2 break the other way was inevitable.

He's won a lot of games for us in OT, so I'll cut him some slack.
- Feanor

the pass needed to be better...not killing him or anything. I think he is the Flyers best player. Just wish he wouldve made a higher percentage play knowing how tired he and others were

I don't think it's tough to tell at all. Strengthening lines 2, 3, and 4 is far more important than adding a 1st line winger. Raffl is fine in that spot in my opinion. Now they could add another player to put in that spot, and use Raffl to help in strengthening the lower lines, but I wouldn't bring in a big cap hit player for that spot.
- MJL

Well it seems our prospects currently are more 2-4 liners projections than an important 1LW which is totally fine as those lines will improve with increased depth and contribution.

we are certainly trying, and sometimes that is all that matters

yvonne left the team for personal reasons though....she was great
- YuenglingJagr

Yvonne is such an Aussie name. Only Shazza is more Australian.

I like what I saw from Leier in his cup of coffee with the big club. I think Cousins brings a lot of positives to the lineup but for some reason, he's on Uncle Hak's poop list. Laughton isn't exactly lighting the AHL on fire, so I'm not sure I'd include him in the future plans. Hoping that Lindblom can translate the scoring prowess he's shown to the NHL whenever he makes the team. Problem is Hexy/Hakstol love pluggers like Vandevelde, Bellemare, Weise, et al. Only so many roster spots!
- aantny88

Cousins is tough. He does somethings well, but is terrible at others. He is great when he doesnt have to a take a faceoff.. IIRC he is like a 40% fo guy.

He also isnt the best defensively. Those two things are almost necessary for bottom 6 center..

I don't know weather they need an upgrade at 1LW or 2C more, either. It all comes down to weather you think Coots is a legit 2C (aka do you believe in hand-picked #fancystats).
- jmatchett383

If how many points a center scores while playing on his team's 2nd line are "fancy", you probably think a ham sandwich is a gourmet meal.

If how many points a center scores while playing on his team's 2nd line are "fancy", you probably think a ham sandwich is a gourmet meal.
- Feanor

well once you put fries and coleslaw on it...

Well it seems our prospects currently are more 2-4 liners projections than an important 1LW which is totally fine as those lines will improve with increased depth and contribution.
- arichardson22

Exactly.. but we may already have a 1 LW in Konecny. Say two of the 4 guys I listed make it up next year. Say Sanheim also makes the jump. You could realistically have a roster that looks like this....

Konecny-Giroux-Simmer
Schenn-Couts-Jake (I loved this group)
Lindblom-Laughton/Cousins-Read
Raffl-Laughton/Cousins/?-Weise
Luby/Leier

Provy-anyone not named MacDonald (Gudas)
Ghost-MDZ (resigned)
Sanhiem/Morin/Manning/Macdonald

Mason (resigned) Stolarz

Cousins is tough. He does somethings well, but is terrible at others. He is great when he doesnt have to a take a faceoff.. IIRC he is like a 40% fo guy.

He also isnt the best defensively. Those two things are almost necessary for bottom 6 center..
- jak521

I do think he'd be better slotted as a wing, especially with faceoff numbers that poor. Though that is a skill that can be worked on/improved over time. Not sure 78 or 27 will ever improve their speed or finishing ability.

well once you put fries and coleslaw on it...
- YuenglingJagr

Sounds like a Shi!!sburgh special to me...

I do think he'd be better slotted as a wing, especially with faceoff numbers that poor. Though that is a skill that can be worked on/improved over time. Not sure 78 or 27 will ever improve their speed or finishing ability.
- aantny88

Our 4th line is bad. Hell it would be bad in the year 2000 version of the NHL. They were so over matched yesterday it was scary. Anytime they were out there it was long times spent in our own zone.

If we can get a bottom 6 of
Lindblom-Laughton (please wake up buddy)-Read
Raffl-?-Luby/Weise things could be much much better...

Also, Cole Bardeau was a dark horse to make the squad out of camp this year, but got hurt. He hasnt had such a great year so far offensively, but he could still make a push. Not sure how he fares at the dot, but the guy doesnt quit.

I do think he'd be better slotted as a wing, especially with faceoff numbers that poor. Though that is a skill that can be worked on/improved over time. Not sure 78 or 27 will ever improve their speed or finishing ability.
- aantny88

Cousins is starting to move into Akeson territory for me.

Has a higher skill level and better agitator but still lacks a niche in the line up. That's why he can't consistently fill a role. Not explosive enough for the top 6/not dependable enough for the bottom 6.

I'd still waive Gordon before him but he's next on the list.

Our 4th line is bad. Hell it would be bad in the year 2000 version of the NHL. They were so over matched yesterday it was scary. Anytime they were out there it was long times spent in our own zone.

If we can get a bottom 6 of
Lindblom-Laughton (please wake up buddy)-Read
Raffl-?-Luby/Weise things could be much much better...

Also, Cole Bardeau was a dark horse to make the squad out of camp this year, but got hurt. He hasnt had such a great year so far offensively, but he could still make a push. Not sure how he fares at the dot, but the guy doesnt quit.
- jak521

It's a shi! show in progress every night...even when they have good offensive zone pressure, they don't know what the hell to do with the puck! Hartnell and Gagner (who the Flyers didn't resign)on the 4th line for Columbus is so much better than the Flyers fourth line and it isn't even close. Not sure what Laughton's deal is, or if the concussions did him in, but he's really fallen off a cliff. Saw some really good things from him at times, but he didn't sustain them. Bardeau is an interesting case...guess we'll have to see how that works out.

Cousins is starting to move into Akeson territory for me.

Has a higher skill level and better agitator but still lacks a niche in the line up. That's why he can't consistently fill a role. Not explosive enough for the top 6/not dependable enough for the bottom 6.

I'd still waive Gordon before him but he's next on the list.
- Baxter27

I sure hope not, for his sake and ours!

If how many points a center scores while playing on his team's 2nd line are "fancy", you probably think a ham sandwich is a gourmet meal.
- Feanor

An off-the-bone ham sandwich on a kaiser role is fantastic.