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 wing. More importantly, he should be a staple to the second PP unit which is just god 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

Im not sold on either Cousins or Leier as full time NHL players, especially Cousins. Havent completely written them off but neither player is a sure bet moving forward.

I sure hope not, for his sake and ours!
- aantny88

I don't see it as a big issue. There has always been a high risk that he'd turn out as a tweener between the NHL and AHL. Even when he was leading the OHL in scoring.

Whether people like it or not, the 4th line is going to consist of 2/3 Bellemare and Vandevelde for the rest of this season. Take the good with the bad. They came up huge on a late game penalty kill last night but no one seems to appreciate it.

It's funny how you say something you find funny and than continuously use it, like wheels. You never bother to think of something clever, you just keep using the same juvenile crap and beat it to absolute death.
- SuperSchennBros

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

Laughton is using his speed a lot more in the AHL, and had a great individual SHG on Saturday. He's playing with Leier on the top line. I wouldn't bet against him being the Flyers 4C next season, and doing well there.

I don't see it as a big issue. There has always been a high risk that he'd turn out as a tweener between the NHL and AHL. Even when he was leading the OHL in scoring.

Whether people like it or not, the 4th line is going to consist of 2/3 Bellemare and Vandevelde for the rest of this season. Take the good with the bad. They came up huge on a late game penalty kill last night but no one seems to appreciate it.
- Baxter27

I actually don't hate the fourth line as much as others. I think Bellemare, VDV and Lube as a group are okay.

Flyers 3rd line all year up until this Schenn line has been disturbing.

Laughton is using his speed a lot more in the AHL, and had a great individual SHG on Saturday. He's playing with Leier on the top line. I wouldn't bet against him being the Flyers 4C next season, and doing well there.
- Feanor

Happy to hear they're using him as a Center again. Needs to get back to the attributes he was drafted for instead of the mixed bag of tricks he was trying to stay in the NHL line up.

Cousins is starting to move into Akeson territory for me.

- Baxter27

Akeson territory was Vladivostok for a while this season.

Did someone mention a turd??

I actually don't hate the fourth line as much as others. I think Bellemare, VDV and Lube as a group are okay.

Flyers 3rd line all year up until this Schenn line has been disturbing.
- flyer_nutter

Agreed, I did not like the 4th line being used as the 3rd. I am happy with the current Line up. Weise looks like a good fit with Schenn and Simmonds but I'd maybe look to flip him with Read to give the "top" line a little more size.

Laughton is using his speed a lot more in the AHL, and had a great individual SHG on Saturday. He's playing with Leier on the top line. I wouldn't bet against him being the Flyers 4C next season, and doing well there.
- Feanor

He needs to stick to a north south heavy game. If he is going to make it thats gonna be his style. Too many times he would try to get creative and it just doesnt work at this level. Get the puck in deep and posses the hell out of it lol. I still think he is in the lineup to start the year.

I actually don't hate the fourth line as much as others. I think Bellemare, VDV and Lube as a group are okay.
- flyer_nutter

I think they're okay with Lyubimov in there for Gordon, and their average ice time is back down to where it should be, but it's hard to accept the fact that VdV and PEB never ever get a night off unless they're injured. Their performance level is clearly not high enough to justify being immune from the odd healthy scratch. If Cousins, Weise, Konecny, Raffl and Schenn can benefit from a night in the press box, these guys surely could, too. I think our 16th ranked PK would manage without its two most common forwards somehow.

- flyer_nutter

He needs to stick to a north south heavy game. If he is going to make it thats gonna be his style. Too many times he would try to get creative and it just doesnt work at this level. Get the puck in deep and posses the hell out of it lol. I still think he is in the lineup to start the year.
- jak521

He was interviewed during the 2nd intermission on saturday, and replied to one question with: Gotta keep playing north, or words to that effect. He definitely said "north".

- Scoob

lol

- flyer_nutter

Guy would at least be warm on a day like today.

- flyer_nutter

Ghost Rider at 80?

Agreed, I did not like the 4th line being used as the 3rd. I am happy with the current Line up. Weise looks like a good fit with Schenn and Simmonds but I'd maybe look to flip him with Read to give the "top" line a little more size.
- Baxter27

Weise hasnt been good. He has been given pretty much every chance to succeed, and has been an utter flop.

I was excited to see what he could bring. He is the same guy who was a healthy scratch for the Hawks last year...

Since right before Christmas last season (82 games) he has 5 goals and 4 assists....

Did someone mention a turd??
- hockeylover

Twin one or twin two?

Weise hasnt been good. He has been given pretty much every chance to succeed, and has been an utter flop.

I was excited to see what he could bring. He is the same guy who was a healthy scratch for the Hawks last year...

Since right before Christmas last season (82 games) he has 5 goals and 4 assists....
- jak521

Brutal, I hope Las Vegas sees him as something he has clearly not been with us and selects him so we can rid his salary.

He was interviewed during the 2nd intermission on saturday, and replied to one question with: Gotta keep playing north, or words to that effect. He definitely said "north".
- Feanor

Its good to hear. I have faith that he will still end up being a pretty good #3 center. Some guys just need to find their game...

I apologize....I think I just accidentally flagged a post.

Its good to hear. I have faith that he will still end up being a pretty good #3 center. Some guys just need to find their game...
- jak521

I hope so. He seems to find his game whenever he gets to the AHL. Looks a little suspect defensively when up on the big club, but he also needs a chance to prove himself instead of 7minutes a game, and to work through his issues.

my first move as GM/Coach would be to waive Boyd Gordon...I think if the Flyers do the same, it will prove I am worthy of the position

Twin one or twin two?
- flyer_nutter

I think some of the pieces don't fit together during even strength, with respect to the bottom 6. What do you do with Brayden Schenn, for example? What is he? Does he help the bottom 6? He gets paid $5 million dollars per year and we're not even sure if he's that good.

But I definitely don't think the bottom 6 are the biggest problems the Flyers have.

The biggest problems the Flyers have, IMO, are consistency on the blue line and they are missing another Top 6 forward.