I know basically nothing about him.

Blues fans basically said he's slow and soft. Last thing this club needs is less speed.
- flyer_nutter

Yeah I read that too. The knock on him is his overall speed (they say he does have a nice first step but after that he is under average) and even though he is 6'2" and 212 he isn't very physical.

But he has great vision and hands. He is suppose to be solid in his own end. Never had eyes on him though so it is just scouting reports that I have read.

He is 30 and on the downward trend the last couple years but I have to think he can beat out the likes of Veccs and Scotty for that 4C spot. At least he should be considered to be the best contender for that spot right now. Camp could change that but that is how I see it. Which means very little. That is why I'm asking you experts.

Raffl plays the game the right way, and is a better offensive player than his recent point production might suggest. I think he and Lehtera would complement each other well and are probably at similar points on the depth chart.

I see Scott Laughton as being more likely to make the roster out of camp than Vecchione. I think that last year in the AHL he put it all together. Would love to see him and Leier together on the 4th line at some point, maybe start building some long term chemistry together.

I read somewhere when they made the trade that he was very defensively responsible. Now I only know what I read on him so I could be wrong. Anybody had eyes on him?
- peesinwind

I had a dream he was going to be the second coming of...then woke up that sucks.

Raffl plays the game the right way, and is a better offensive player than his recent point production might suggest. I think he and Lehtera would complement each other well and are probably at similar points on the depth chart.

I see Scott Laughton as being more likely to make the roster out of camp than Vecchione. I think that last year in the AHL he put it all together. Would love to see him and Leier together on the 4th line at some point, maybe start building some long term chemistry together.
- Coburns_Nose

Never understood the theory that someone is better than what they are producing..

Raffl plays the game the right way, and is a better offensive player than his recent point production might suggest. I think he and Lehtera would complement each other well and are probably at similar points on the depth chart.

I see Scott Laughton as being more likely to make the roster out of camp than Vecchione. I think that last year in the AHL he put it all together. Would love to see him and Leier together on the 4th line at some point, maybe start building some long term chemistry together.
- Coburns_Nose

As a long time Laughton detractor/basher, I do think he did learn and played pretty well down in the A. May be nice to have a 4th line that can D up and chip in.

Never understood the theory that someone is better than what they are producing..
- opeth_pa

He's better than what one single season of 50 games, where the entire team hit rock bottom in 5v5 scoring, shows. In the 3 seasons prior he has been a good middle 6 support scorer and elite possession player. So, yes, I'm willing to say he's better than what last season showed. Just like I'm willing to say Giroux and Simmonds are better than 4th line players at 5v5. Because they were last year.

He's better than what one single season of 50 games, where the entire team hit rock bottom in 5v5 scoring, shows. In the 3 seasons prior he has been a good middle 6 support scorer and elite possession player. So, yes, I'm willing to say he's better than what last season showed. Just like I'm willing to say Giroux and Simmonds are better than 4th line players at 5v5. Because they were last year.
- Mononoke

In theory..
Hopefully you are right..will only be better for the team.

He's better than what one single season of 50 games, where the entire team hit rock bottom in 5v5 scoring, shows. In the 3 seasons prior he has been a good middle 6 support scorer and elite possession player. So, yes, I'm willing to say he's better than what last season showed. Just like I'm willing to say Giroux and Simmonds are better than 4th line players at 5v5. Because they were last year.
- Mononoke

In theory..
Hopefully you are right..will only be better for the team.

As a long time Laughton detractor/basher, I do think he did learn and played pretty well down in the A. May be nice to have a 4th line that can D up and chip in.
- Konalover

You should change you name to Laughtonlover.

Looks like 'burger is on the menu for Hitch down in Dallas.

http://www.tsn.ca/umberge...eback-with-stars-1.805309

You should change you name to Laughtonlover.

Looks like 'burger is on the menu for Hitch down in Dallas.

http://www.tsn.ca/umberge...eback-with-stars-1.805309
- Feanor

Deal...If he scores over 13 goals and produces a 30 point season I will change it.

He's better than what one single season of 50 games, where the entire team hit rock bottom in 5v5 scoring, shows. In the 3 seasons prior he has been a good middle 6 support scorer and elite possession player. So, yes, I'm willing to say he's better than what last season showed. Just like I'm willing to say Giroux and Simmonds are better than 4th line players at 5v5. Because they were last year.
- Mononoke

Agreed. I think Raffl is better then what he performed last year but he is what he is. I'm thinking a stronger top 9 will help everybodies numbers. Here's to hope

I'm a guitar playing , scotch drinking machine!
- BiggE

Proof that not all heroes wear capes.

You should change you name to Laughtonlover.

Looks like 'burger is on the menu for Hitch down in Dallas.

http://www.tsn.ca/umberge...eback-with-stars-1.805309
- Feanor

Good for RJ! I don't hate him and from all accounts, he was a good soldier.

I know basically nothing about him.

Blues fans basically said he's slow and soft. Last thing this club needs is less speed.
- flyer_nutter

They threw a ton of money at him, so the org must not have hated him THAT much.

If I remember how Ken Hitchcock values players, he like players that buy into his system and (...wait for it....) are predictable.

Exhibit A is a guy I consider a very underrated Flyer in Michal Handzus. That dude was slow as hell. But he seemed to get where he needed to be and he thrived under Hitch.

Maybe Hakstol's structure benefits Lehtera? We won't know until games start.

They threw a ton of money at him, so the org must not have hated him THAT much.

If I remember how Ken Hitchcock values players, he like players that buy into his system and (...wait for it....) are predictable.

Exhibit A is a guy I consider a very underrated Flyer in Michal Handzus. That dude was slow as hell. But he seemed to get where he needed to be and he thrived under Hitch.

Maybe Hakstol's structure benefits Lehtera? We won't know until games start.
- johndewar

I get they had to take him back to get two firsts. It's a low key rebuild for a bit yet.

Just don't want to see him play over say Laughton or Vech because he is a vet.

Proof that not all heroes wear capes.
- johndewar

Need to look at that 11 points properly. All of Raffl's points came in 5 on 5 play. He doesn't play on the PP. Raffl only played 52 games. Simmonds had 20 5 on 5 points in 82 games. Giroux had 18 in 82 games. Brayden Schenn had 21 in 79 games.
- MJL

I didn't know any of this and of course, this makes the need to trade Schenn so soon looks even worse in my eyes. So much talk of his PP production and how much worse he is everywhere else, most notably at ES but everyone else gets a pass.

- Feanor

You have to play the games first.

In what scenario is a 7th a worthy return for Read? There is no need for the 17-18 Flyers to shed salary. Read has 1 year left. He has shown the potential to score in the past. He could be a valuable TDL asset. Again, I see no reason to move Read. He's not keeping anyone out of the lineuup.
- steelydan

I'm okay with moving Read to clear space for a younger player, but the people who think moving Read and Raffl for nothing will help the team are crazy.

I didn't know any of this and of course, this makes the need to trade Schenn so soon looks even worse in my eyes. So much talk of his PP production and how much worse he is everywhere else, most notably at ES but everyone else gets a pass.
- SuperSchennBros

Schenn has scored at a 3rd line rate at ES for his entire career. It's not like his ES scoring troubles surfaced just last year. He had one strong season in 2015-16, but has been 3rd or 4th line level in every other season.

The Flyers also got two firsts for him, so it's not like they dumped him for nothing.

Schenn has scored at a 3rd line rate at ES for his entire career. It's not like his ES scoring troubles surfaced just last year. He had one strong season in 2015-16, but has been 3rd or 4th line level in every other season.

The Flyers also got two firsts for him, so it's not like they dumped him for nothing.
- PhillySportsGuy

So we just pretend that the rate he scored at in 15/16 was not 2nd line rate of scoring? Of forwards that played 500 minutes ore more, Schenn was tied for 59th in the league in 5 on 5 scoring. There were 30 teams in the league. You're also not accounting for development as a young player.