My favorite part of it all is that he could be playing the exact same way with the same amount of scoring chances, but if he had 10 points we would hearing the sounds of organizational development success stories shouted from the hills.

- YuenglingJagr

Morgan Frost is tied for the OHL lead in points now (110). Had a goal and 2 assists last night. Nice little surge at the end of the regular season

Luchuk has an extra game left though
- YuenglingJagr

That plus about 700 days. Pretty impressive that Frost is up there with an overager and a draft +2 at the top of the league.

That's what everyone is missing. The effects overall on the team. You state that it wasn't effective. I would disagree and state that is was. It allowed him to use other lines in different ways and deployments to gain an edge in other areas. It may not be the most ideal role for Filppula but is the best choice among the choices the coach has available to him in my opinion. Filppula has gotten a lot of criticism but in my opinion he is an unsung hero on this team because he has taken on a lot of heavy lifting to allow other players to be protected and put in better roles. We know that by far Couturier is the best defensive center on the team. Should they separate him from Giroux and use him in a checking role, or keep where he is while he is on his way to a 30 goal, 70 point season? Patrick needed to be protected early on and as he has gotten better, he's getting a bigger piece. Hakstol searched for a way to maximize the roster that he has and while some of it is not ideal and needs to be improved for this team to take the next step but for now it is the best deployment and usage of available players that has this team is a good position to make the playoffs.
- MJL

I do think Filp has been asked to more of the heavy lifting then he should have been doing.
I guess you can say it worked, based on their results. Another view would be, to ask if he had tried something else, could they have been better? Agree that the coach had limited choices with the roster as constructed.

Should Read have been on the team in place of Weise? Looks like it now.

Should Laughton or Patrick been given a bigger role this season? For me I think they have managed Patrick and his minutes nearly perfectly.


I would have liked to see what Laughton could do in a shut down role, with Raffl and maybe Lehterä replacing Leier. I liked Laughton Raffl and Leier to start the year, but don’t think Leier could handle shut down vs top lines.

Hakstol is fine I just don't think this team has the leadership to make it more than a couple games in the playoffs.
- BINGO!

More it’s the bottom two D pairs and bottom six F will be exploited by a top team in a seven game series. Their leadership and top D pair are pretty good.

Hakstol is fine I just don't think this team has the leadership to make it more than a couple games in the playoffs.
- BINGO!

Just a hunch, but I think the leadership group could make it AT LEAST 4 games IMO.

More it’s the bottom two D pairs and bottom six F will be exploited by a top team in a seven game series. Their leadership and top D pair are pretty good.
- Marc D

Yep, totally agree. The leadership thing is so overblown. Giroux is, and has been, a damn good captain. Plus you have Simmonds, vets like Filppula and I think guys like Coots are developing into leaders throughout this season.

If they don't make it far in the playoffs it will more than likely be due to their roster being worse than whoever beats them, not because they have poor leaders.

Just a hunch, but I think the leadership group could make it AT LEAST 4 games IMO.
- Fryman4

No only 2. 3 at most.

And I actually dont think Vitalogy is all that great. The first 2 are masterpieces however.
- MBFlyerfan

Agreed, I think.

Ten and Vs. are flat out fantastic.
Vitalogy doesn't live up to the first two but is still pretty good.
The rest are, well, up to Binaural they are okay, after that I have no idea because they lost me.

Just a hunch, but I think the leadership group could make it AT LEAST 4 games IMO.
- Fryman4

The math checks out

More it’s the bottom two D pairs and bottom six F will be exploited by a top team in a seven game series. Their leadership and top D pair are pretty good.
- Marc D

This team is the epitome of mediocre. They've won as many as they've lost and scored as much as they've given up.

The Island of Misfit Toys line made me cringe every time they took the ice. I'm pretty sure mixing them up has created two bad lines. Filpula is -40 CF in the last 6 weeks. That pretty indefensible. Laughton at least drives play. You could possibly get bunched up over his plus minus lately, but lots of supporting GF have dried up across the forward lines..

And I actually dont think Vitalogy is all that great. The first 2 are masterpieces however.
- MBFlyerfan

Vitalogy is 50/50 to me. Spin the Black Circle is great, and it's got maybe 3-4 other good tracks, and the rest is garbage.

This team is the epitome of mediocre. They've won as many as they've lost and scored as much as they've given up.

The Island of Misfit Toys line made me cringe every time they took the ice. I'm pretty sure mixing them up has created two bad lines. Filpula is -40 CF in the last 6 weeks. That pretty indefensible. Laughton at least drives play. You could possibly get bunched up over his plus minus lately, but lots of supporting GF have dried up across the forward lines..
- mayorofangrytown

Mediocre but with some very good players.
Probably enough to get into the playoffs, but they could implode and miss easily.
I do have faith they are moving the right direction. Sanheim will be a big part of it starting next year and maybe Morin too.
The GM has to get a good bottom six center unless Laughton can be the guy, at least until Frost and maybe Rubtsov are ready.

And I actually dont think Vitalogy is all that great. The first 2 are masterpieces however.
- MBFlyerfan

I think i agree with this. I don't think Riot Act is that far of a drop from Vitalogy either.

Mediocre but with some very good players.
Probably enough to get into the playoffs, but they could implode and miss easily.
I do have faith they are moving the right direction. Sanheim will be a big part of it starting next year and maybe Morin too.
The GM has to get a good bottom six center unless Laughton can be the guy, at least until Frost and maybe Rubtsov are ready.
- Marc D

I have no faith in Rubstov ever becoming an NHL player but I'm excited by the draft picks they've made in general. They do have depth coming but they need one or two of the forwards they drafted to show up ready to go in a year or two. Two of Sanheim, Morin or Myers need to fill out the bottom 4. Their D prospects after those three fall of dramatically.

There's lots of growth built into the current lineup. I'm still concerned over the goaltending long term.

5318008

More it’s the bottom two D pairs and bottom six F will be exploited by a top team in a seven game series. Their leadership and top D pair are pretty good.
- Marc D

A line of 51-21-12 could be very effective in that role, but then you'd really have a hole in your lineup.

I have no faith in Rubstov ever becoming an NHL player but I'm excited by the draft picks they've made in general. They do have depth coming but they need one or two of the forwards they drafted to show up ready to go in a year or two. Two of Sanheim, Morin or Myers need to fill out the bottom 4. Their D prospects after those three fall of dramatically.

There's lots of growth built into the current lineup. I'm still concerned over the goaltending long term.
- mayorofangrytown

Do you think Rubstov isn't a good player or do you think this because they can't keep him healthy?

5318008
- jmatchett383

tee-hee

Do you think Rubstov isn't a good player or do you think this because they can't keep him healthy?
- johndewar

I believe MOAT has an issue with his chutzpah.

Do you think Rubstov isn't a good player or do you think this because they can't keep him healthy?
- johndewar

It's his Chutzpah

I believe MOAT has an issue with his chutzpah.
- FlyersGrace

Do you think Rubstov isn't a good player or do you think this because they can't keep him healthy?
- johndewar

I think it's mostly the starting and stopping with his health situation. It's hard to improve your game when you aren't playing. Look at Labeberge... who knows where he'd be without his health issues. Today he's fighting for an entry level deal. I'd be hard pressed to sign either of them today if I was forced to decide.

I think it's mostly the starting and stopping with his health situation. It's hard to improve your game when you aren't playing. Look at Labeberge... who knows where he'd be without his health issues. Today he's fighting for an entry level deal. I'd be hard pressed to sign either of them today if I was forced to decide.
- mayorofangrytown

must win tonight

This team is the epitome of mediocre. They've won as many as they've lost and scored as much as they've given up.

The Island of Misfit Toys line made me cringe every time they took the ice. I'm pretty sure mixing them up has created two bad lines. Filpula is -40 CF in the last 6 weeks. That pretty indefensible. Laughton at least drives play. You could possibly get bunched up over his plus minus lately, but lots of supporting GF have dried up across the forward lines..
- mayorofangrytown

Lets keep rolling Flip out though