That's an opinion which is not how your post presented itself. In my opinion Leier is not a better player over Lehtera.
- MJL

Lehtera has been invisible and I've looked for him. Filppula, on the other hand, looks like he's ready to play.

Lehtera has been invisible and I've looked for him. Filppula, on the other hand, looks like he's ready to play.
- fls13

It's pre season. Last year Leier did not impress in his call ups in my opinion in regular season NHL action. The one game I saw Lehtera play, he played well and it was obvious he was a good player. Leier needs to prove that he can be a regular in the NHL. Maybe he'll get a chance, maybe not.

You really think they'd be that pedestrian this year?

They've been a pretty solid team for a few years now haven't they? Without looking it up. Definitely a recent playoff team
- Giroux_Is_God

Well, they're possibly -- even likelier now -- rolling Schenn at center. We saw how that worked here, whatever other positives he brings on the PP. They lost Berglund, who is a real solid top 9 2-way center, for a while. Steen is starting the year on IR. Fabbri, who they expected big things from and maybe at center, is done. Bouwmeester is out for a stretch too, but that could be addition by subtraction to some extent. He's really not good anymore but gets over-used.

Like I said: Parayko and Pietrangelo can anchor them. They have a couple other decent defensemen. Vince Dunn could be a good rookie back there. Jake Allen is pretty good. Tarasenko, Schwartz, Schenn, Stastny are still reliable. Sobotka could get a bigger role. But they could end up a bubble team. Chicago, Minny, Nashville are all competing for those 3 division spots. Dallas could be re-surgent. Winnipeg is always ready to take a step (as always, see it when I believe it lol). Getting a wild card is possible, but the Pacific is probably getting 4 teams into the playoffs too.

They SHOULD be a 20-25 team in an ideal world, as they have been, but they're getting hit hard. I see a plausible scenario where St. Louis ends up 13-15. Sneaking a wild card would be a success. If that pick is top 20 even in what is a DEEEEP draft, gimme gimme.

"Louis.....who's Louis? Do I know a Louis?"

I'll post nudes when G is moved back to his proper place at C.

Re-injured his surgically repaired left knee from last year (ligament damage).

Don't root too hard there are protections, but like I said above.....root 10-15. 15-20 is still really solid.
- Mononoke

Yeah top 10 protected this year, I can't imagine them being protectably bad, let's face it

They're still too good at defense, wing, goal to finish bottom 10. Closer to 15 is now a bigger possibility. I'm sure they will make some trade.....maybe Lehtera lol?
- Mononoke

Would totally trade him back at 50% retained

Well, they're possibly -- even likelier now -- rolling Schenn at center. We saw how that worked here, whatever other positives he brings on the PP. They lost Berglund, who is a real solid top 9 2-way center, for a while. Steen is starting the year on IR. Fabbri, who they expected big things from and maybe at center, is done. Bouwmeester is out for a stretch too, but that could be addition by subtraction to some extent. He's really not good anymore but gets over-used.

Like I said: Parayko and Pietrangelo can anchor them. They have a couple other decent defensemen. Vince Dunn could be a good rookie back there. Jake Allen is pretty good. Tarasenko, Schwartz, Schenn, Stastny are still reliable. Sobotka could get a bigger role. But they could end up a bubble team. Chicago, Minny, Nashville are all competing for those 3 division spots. Dallas could be re-surgent. Winnipeg is always ready to take a step (as always, see it when I believe it lol). Getting a wild card is possible, but the Pacific is probably getting 4 teams into the playoffs too.

They SHOULD be a 20-25 team in an ideal world, as they have been, but they're getting hit hard. I see a plausible scenario where St. Louis ends up 13-15. Sneaking a wild card would be a success. If that pick is top 20 even in what is a DEEEEP draft, gimme gimme.
- Mononoke

You know prospects better than I do so I'll take your word for it. But honestly in any draft deep or not, 2 first rounders is never gonna hurt

Yes - Bill is the man!
- Scoob

You seem to have had doubt about this in the past

Any back pages worth reading??

Any back pages worth reading??
- opeth_pa

8-11 is where I made my big entrance to liven this place up. The rest was the same old poop.

Fabbri of the blues out for the year!!!

Their pick is looking better and better!!

Fabbri of the blues out for the year!!!

Their pick is looking better and better!!
- Just5

Could very well have two mid-round picks in the 1st. Ooh la la...couple forwards hopefully?

Could very well have two mid-round picks in the 1st. Ooh la la...couple forwards hopefully?
- Giroux_Is_God

Very deep defense draft. It's easy to forget that with our defense pool finally bearing fruit, we don't have many legit prospects after them (Hogberg chiefly) and have gone pretty forward heavy 2 years in a row. There's a gap. If we take someone next June, we're talking 4 years perhaps until they're ready.

I imagine they'd prefer to take 1 D, 1 FWD with those picks, barring the unforeseen or clear BPA. Always in favor of a trade-up for that special someone. But like I said, defense could be loaded in the 1st. Having too many good young d-men never ever ever fails value-wise.

Could very well have two mid-round picks in the 1st. Ooh la la...couple forwards hopefully?
- Giroux_Is_God

I would. Skill skill skill

Very deep defense draft. It's easy to forget that with our defense pool finally bearing fruit, we don't have many legit prospects after them (Hogberg chiefly) and have gone pretty forward heavy 2 years in a row. If we take someone next June, we're talking 3-5 years perhaps until they're ready.

I imagine they'd prefer to take 1 D, 1 FWD with those picks, barring the unforeseen or clear BPA. Like I said, defense could be loaded in the 1st.
- Mononoke

That is true, the drawback of a handful of D prospects turning pro around the same time is it cleans out your pipeline all at once.

I'm a BPA guy myself, but man if both the dudes at the top of their board end up being D, this might be one time to deviate from that mindset.

I DO NOT THINK SAM MORIN IS STUPID. I AM NOT SAYING SAM MORIN IS STUPID....

But he sure *looks/sounds* like an idiot when he talks.

I DO NOT THINK SAM MORIN IS STUPID. I AM NOT SAYING SAM MORIN IS STUPID....

But he sure *looks/sounds* like an idiot when he talks.
- Boyer83

english as a second language

I DO NOT THINK SAM MORIN IS STUPID. I AM NOT SAYING SAM MORIN IS STUPID....

But he sure *looks/sounds* like an idiot when he talks.
- Boyer83

that's because he's a morin

I DO NOT THINK SAM MORIN IS STUPID. I AM NOT SAYING SAM MORIN IS STUPID....

But he sure *looks/sounds* like an idiot when he talks.
- Boyer83

Yep, dumb ass doing an interview in front of tens of thousands in his second language. What a moron.

I would. Skill skill skill
- Just5

200 Foot players only..nothing more!!

I kid.

I love Big Sam's interviews. Always gives honest answers and his enthusiasm is infectious.

Nikko Heesher with his 942nd goal of the preseason. Devils up 4-1 over the Caps and clearly destined to win the Cup this year.


P.S. Patrick is a bust.

Nikko Heesher with his 942nd goal of the preseason. Devils up 4-1 over the Caps and clearly destined to win the Cup this year.


P.S. Patrick is a bust.
- Doc_Sarcasm

You know for a guy with a supposedly elite shot, Patrick never shoots the puck. And he never scores. Why is that? He was supposed to be the better shooter of the two. But all Nico is doing is scoring. Nico has 3 points this game. Patrick does not have 3 points this pre-season I do not think. This is concerning. In conclusion, this is not good. I want to thank you for reading my post.

You know for a guy with a supposedly elite shot, Patrick never shoots the puck. And he never scores. Why is that? He was supposed to be the better shooter of the two. But all Nico is doing is scoring. Nico has 3 points this game. Patrick does not have 3 points this pre-season I do not think. This is worrisome. I want to thank you for reading my post.
- Mononoke

It gets worse. The Devils are 3 for 3 so far on the PP. Thats 3 more PP goals than the Flyers have all pre season.