Observations from last night:
- Morin, Sanheim and Hagg deserves spots in the top 6 if we are going on merit. All have earned spots in my opinion and have played well so far.

- I know he is a vet and can be a solid guy but MacDonald just doesn't do enough for me to keep him in the top 6. Send him down for a little cap savings or make him the 7th dman

- Lindblom seemed to have an off game. Was just meh in the offensive zone.

- Patrick had a solid two way game. While not as dynamic at Matthews and McDavid you do see the traits that made people talk about him as a top pick. Thought his line showed good chemistry.

- Couturier had a quietly good game. he seemed to be more aggressive in the offesne zone. made some nice passes. got to the net and still played a good defensive game.

- Elliott looked good.

For me I still think a lineup like this could provide good balance:

Giroux - Couturier - Voracek
Weal - Patrick - Simmonds
Lindblom - Filppula - Konecny
Lehtara/Weise - Laughton - Raffl/Weise

Extra: Read, Weise

Provorov - Hagg
Sanheim - Gudas
Morin - Gostisbehere

7:MacDonald/Manning(one is waived)

I'd only keep Leier if they plan on playing him every night. If not, I'd rather see him playing every night at LHV. I don't expect the 14th forward is going to play that much, so Read should be perfect for that role. If a couple guys get hurt, I could see them bringing Leier up and playing him before Read though.

The only way I'd keep Leier as a spare is if they think there is a legit risk that they will lose him on waivers. If that's the case then yeah, by all means, waive Read.
- BiggE

Right now, I think Leier offers more than Read, or at least as much. Leier has a better chance of being part of the team going forward plus, if Read gets taken, that opens up cap space if needed (I think they'd also save a little more by waiving him over Leier). But I would agree, he needs to be playing. I'd just be leery of a team that needs cheap bottom 6 speed (like, say, Pittsburgh) claiming him.

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- MBFlyerfan

Kellogg's

Kellogg's
- jmatchett383

General Mills

Right now, I think Leier offers more than Read, or at least as much. Leier has a better chance of being part of the team going forward plus, if Read gets taken, that opens up cap space if needed (I think they'd also save a little more by waiving him over Leier). But I would agree, he needs to be playing. I'd just be leery of a team that needs cheap bottom 6 speed (like, say, Pittsburgh) claiming him.
- jmatchett383

I wonder when teams might start looking for deals. Seem to be some injuries recently. Read only has one year left on his deal. Maybe there might be something out there as preseason is winding down.

I factored in the eating AMac's salary to send him to Allentown in keeping Weise and also allowed for the chemistry (read lucky bounces off his body) that he and Coots had at the end of the season last year. We all know vets don't always give preseason a full effort. AMac knew he had to compete I'm not so sure Weise was 100% in competition for his slot.

I'd be fine with either roster. I just want the 6 D listed along with Patrick and Lindbolm on the opening night roster.

I'm done with Read and would waive him hoping someone claims him. Don't really need 2 in the Cote Suite. And I could see swapping Leier and Laughton. They are about the same to me I was rewarding Leier for finding the back of the net.
- dragonoffrost

I wonder when teams might start looking for deals. Seem to be some injuries recently. Read only has one year left on his deal. Maybe there might be something out there as preseason is winding down.
- J35Bacher

If they can something for Read, even if they have to retain 50% of the $$, do it.

If they can something for Read, even if they have to retain 50% of the $$, do it.
- BiggE

Yup!

Provy Sanheim and Morin were the three best defenders tonight.

Hagg looked shaky at times, but settled it. Had fits with the puck on his stick early on, but seemed to settle a bit.

Gudas was his typical Dump Truck self.. He had a solid game with a few exceptions (including getting walked big time by Marchand).

Mac- lol
- jak521

Not counting Provorov but out of the 3 rookies, Hagg has been the best in my opinion. He is very steady.

Ugh, I've had enough of Weise. From what I've seen both Lehtera and Laughton and heck even Leier have looked better than Weise. For the most part I like your roster, but I'd tweak it a bit and go with:

Lindblom-G-Jake
Raffl-Coots-Konecny
Weal-Patrick-Simmonds
Lehtera-Laughton-Filppula
spares: Weise and Read
1st call up: wing-Leier, center-Vecchione

Provorov-Gudas
Sanheim-Hagg
Morin-Ghost
spare: AMac
traded or waived: Manning
1st call up: if available Manning, if not Myers

Elliott
Neuvirth
- BiggE

I like it for the most part, but Ill go with the "G at wing" look:

G-Couts-Tk
Weal-Patrick-Jake
Lindblom-Filp-Simmer (good luck)
Raffl-Laughton-Lehtera

Weise/Read

Same defense except later Mac. Manning as your 7th.

If they can something for Read, even if they have to retain 50% of the $$, do it.
- BiggE

Arizona could be interested, and Hextall likes trading with them. Cousins is the 5th oldest active forward on their roster.

General Mills
- dragonoffrost

Product 19 is a cereal number

Not counting Provorov but out of the 3 rookies, Hagg has been the best in my opinion. He is very steady.
- MJL

I agree, but last night he struggled a bit in the first period.. its gonna happen with all of them, even Provy.

I thought Sanheim's defensive game was strong last night. Had a couple of solid break ups and read shot and took away the pass on one 2v1 and completely stifled another.

Morin is massive. I gets said a lot, but it is still incredible to watch.

Hagg is one of those set'em and forget'em dmen you does pretty much everything well. He has a bit of swagger as well, which I totally didnt expect.

Ugh, I've had enough of Weise. From what I've seen both Lehtera and Laughton and heck even Leier have looked better than Weise. For the most part I like your roster, but I'd tweak it a bit and go with:

Lindblom-G-Jake
Raffl-Coots-Konecny
Weal-Patrick-Simmonds
Lehtera-Laughton-Filppula
spares: Weise and Read
1st call up: wing-Leier, center-Vecchione

Provorov-Gudas
Sanheim-Hagg
Morin-Ghost
spare: AMac
traded or waived: Manning
1st call up: if available Manning, if not Myers

Elliott
Neuvirth
- BiggE

That contract, UGHHH!

Not counting Provorov but out of the 3 rookies, Hagg has been the best in my opinion. He is very steady.
- MJL

I think all three rookies have looked solid in their own game....I too like Hagg's game. It will be interesting to see what Hextall does, as even up front there are some rookies beyond Patrick that look ready and look like they could make this team better....But how many rookies is to many?

Arizona could be interested, and Hextall likes trading with them. Cousins is the 5th oldest active forward on their roster.
- Feanor

That'll work. I also have to wonder, with JayBo out for a while, if St. Louis would be in the market for a Dman. Obviously they aren't taking AMac's contract, but maybe they would part with a 7th for Manning.

That contract, UGHHH!
- ggunky

Yeah, didn't like that one from day one. Not so much the money, it's the term. No need to offer a guy like Weise more than 3 years, ever. I would have offered, at most, 3 years, 6 million, take it or leave it.

I think all three rookies have looked solid in their own game....I too like Hagg's game. It will be interesting to see what Hextall does, as even up front there are some rookies beyond Patrick that look ready and look like they could make this team better....But how many rookies is to many?
- landros 2

I am at the point i don't even care. Look at what they did in Toronto. i know it might not work but i would rather let them play if the earned it. Could bring some excitement and actually surprise some people.

There is literally no justifiable reason to keep Amac in this lineup. He looked so bad last night, I literally can't even see how he should play a single game this year. He was easily the worst player on the ice.

Ugh, I've had enough of Weise. From what I've seen both Lehtera and Laughton and heck even Leier have looked better than Weise. For the most part I like your roster, but I'd tweak it a bit and go with:

Lindblom-G-Jake
Raffl-Coots-Konecny
Weal-Patrick-Simmonds
Lehtera-Laughton-Filppula
spares: Weise and Read
1st call up: wing-Leier, center-Vecchione

Provorov-Gudas
Sanheim-Hagg
Morin-Ghost
spare: AMac
traded or waived: Manning
1st call up: if available Manning, if not Myers

Elliott
Neuvirth
- BiggE

That lineup is so sexy it should have an R rating.

I agree, but last night he struggled a bit in the first period.. its gonna happen with all of them, even Provy.

I thought Sanheim's defensive game was strong last night. Had a couple of solid break ups and read shot and took away the pass on one 2v1 and completely stifled another.

Morin is massive. I gets said a lot, but it is still incredible to watch.

Hagg is one of those set'em and forget'em dmen you does pretty much everything well. He has a bit of swagger as well, which I totally didnt expect.
- jak521

The Flyers are in very good shape for the future defensively. If Sanheim needs a little fine tuning, he's not very far away. No doubt he can play in the NHL now.

Not counting Provorov but out of the 3 rookies, Hagg has been the best in my opinion. He is very steady.
- MJL

I know its only preseason, but Hagg plays like a veteran. Very calm.

That'll work. I also have to wonder, with JayBo out for a while, if St. Louis would be in the market for a Dman. Obviously they aren't taking AMac's contract, but maybe they would part with a 7th for Manning.
- BiggE

Montreal has a ton of cap space and I believe looking for defense. Could you make something work with MacDonald there? Take back a contract like Shaw.

Colorado only has like 4 defenseman. Couldn't there be a deal there?

So many teams lack defensman. There has to be a way to make it work.

With all the youth coming would you attach a tweener type guy like leier who might get more of a chance somewhere else to make a deal work?

I am at the point i don't even care. Look at what they did in Toronto. i know it might not work but i would rather let them play if the earned it. Could bring some excitement and actually surprise some people.
- J35Bacher

100% agree.....but I don't know if Hextall would go that route....young, hungry teams are great to watch....bang on about Toronto, they were a lot of fun to watch last year.