They think line two is too weak on defense. I'm fine with it. It's not like Jake and Patrick are Briere out there.
- hereticpride

I also don't understand why we never experimented with raffl as a bottom 6 center he had fantastic face off numbers doesn't he and he played it at an international level. I would prefer him over defensive liability weal or brick feet lehtera for 3c.

Who is bottom 6 competition ? Lindblom simmer raffl lehtera weal weise laughton leier vorybyov veccs nak?

It's the 3C hole, I would think. If you slot G back to 1C, you go G-Coots-Patrick down the middle.

So I get it, I just don't agree with it.
- jmatchett383

I just have a feeling the 3rd line will be

Lindblom Laughton Simmonds

At least to start the season.

4th line is totally up in the air.

It's the 3C hole, I would think. If you slot G back to 1C, you go G-Coots-Patrick down the middle.

So I get it, I just don't agree with it.
- jmatchett383

I know it's been shot down numerous times here but do you wonder if that Hextall didn't go out and grab a 3c because they might feel comfortable that Frost or Vorobeyev or maybe Laughton can fill that.

Instead of being tied to a bad deal they would rather take the risk with the mistakes a rookie might make as they have enough veteran leadership to lean on.

I know it's been shot down numerous times here but do you wonder if that Hextall didn't go out and grab a 3c because they might feel comfortable that Frost or Vorobeyev or maybe Laughton can fill that.

Instead of being tied to a bad deal they would rather take the risk with the mistakes a rookie might make as they have enough veteran leadership to lean on.
- J35Bacher

The rumored consensus seemed to be that hexy didn't want more than 2 year deal for a bottom 6 center. The higher echelon of those choices were 3+ years. I don't think they have anyone readily available for it but next year I think most those guys are right there.

Yes that situation how was that allowed
- Tfaehner

Because he's Chris Porter?

I also don't understand why we never experimented with raffl as a bottom 6 center he had fantastic face off numbers doesn't he and he played it at an international level. I would prefer him over defensive liability weal or brick feet lehtera for 3c.

Who is bottom 6 competition ? Lindblom simmer raffl lehtera weal weise laughton leier vorybyov veccs nak?
- Tfaehner

Raffl's strength offensively is getting in on the forecheck and playing along the wall rather than carrying and distributing the puck.

The rumored consensus seemed to be that hexy didn't want more than 2 year deal for a bottom 6 center. The higher echelon of those choices were 3+ years. I don't think they have anyone readily available for it but next year I think most those guys are right there.
- Tfaehner

Well, who's still left? Grabovski? Nolan? Shore?

Maybe Hexy's waiting for a bargain where a guy who wants a multi-year deal has to settle?

Are Lyons and stolarz still eligible to stash in the ahl or would they have to get waived ? Lyon played well enough I think he would get claimed.
- Tfaehner

They have to clear waivers, but I very much doubt any team will claim either. Teams usually only carry 2 goalies and I don't think a team is going to take a chance on an aging prospect that played ok, but nowhere near spectacular, in a small NHL sample size or on a guy who basically missed all of last season.

The rumored consensus seemed to be that hexy didn't want more than 2 year deal for a bottom 6 center. The higher echelon of those choices were 3+ years. I don't think they have anyone readily available for it but next year I think most those guys are right there.
- Tfaehner

That's why I would wonder if they prefer to let a young 3rd line center play instead of overpaying and extending past their comfort zone on a FA.

They have solid vet leadership. Maybe they can live with Frost or Vorobyev playing 3c role.

Well, who's still left? Grabovski? Nolan? Shore?

Maybe Hexy's waiting for a bargain where a guy who wants a multi-year deal has to settle?
- jmatchett383

Shore seems like the only real center left but is he a 3rd line guy? Doe she just need the minutes to expand like Simmonds got when he came here?

Tommy Wingles interest me as a gritty PK guy but he is a wing.

That's why I would wonder if they prefer to let a young 3rd line center play instead of overpaying and extending past their comfort zone on a FA.

They have solid vet leadership. Maybe they can live with Frost or Vorobyev playing 3c role.
- J35Bacher

Frost looked good at prospect camp, but he was getting muscled off pucks behind the net.

Unless you're Johnny Gaudreau who can just flat-out fly by people, you can't play at that weight. He definitely needs to put on some muscle.

Frost looked good at prospect camp, but he was getting muscled off pucks behind the net.

Unless you're Johnny Gaudreau who can just flat-out fly by people, you can't play at that weight. He definitely needs to put on some muscle.
- jmatchett383

I don't even see him as a nhl option at this point I think its between weal lehtera laughton veccs and vorobyov. Barring an acquisition

I don't even see him as a nhl option at this point I think its between weal lehtera laughton veccs and vorobyov. Barring an acquisition
- Tfaehner

Agreed. He may jump the AHL, but I don't give him much of a chance the NHL this year.

Frost looked good at prospect camp, but he was getting muscled off pucks behind the net.

Unless you're Johnny Gaudreau who can just flat-out fly by people, you can't play at that weight. He definitely needs to put on some muscle.
- jmatchett383

I know it's been shot down numerous times here but do you wonder if that Hextall didn't go out and grab a 3c because they might feel comfortable that Frost or Vorobeyev or maybe Laughton can fill that.

Instead of being tied to a bad deal they would rather take the risk with the mistakes a rookie might make as they have enough veteran leadership to lean on.
- J35Bacher

I think it's Laughton's gig to lose, unless a trade opportunity comes up that allows them to try to fill the 3C role that way.

Frankly, I think it's "poop or get off the pot" with Laughton and his stage of development. He's 24, with 300 professional games under his belt (200 of them in the NHL).

If you don't know what he is by now, you'll never know.

Well, who's still left? Grabovski? Nolan? Shore?

Maybe Hexy's waiting for a bargain where a guy who wants a multi-year deal has to settle?
- jmatchett383

Hexy basically said he feels like internal options are better then marketplace currently...then he said Giroux, Weal, Laughton were all options for center.

I just have a feeling the 3rd line will be

Lindblom Laughton Simmonds

At least to start the season.

4th line is totally up in the air.
- MBFlyerfan

Going to need someone to handle the puck on the 3rd line.

I think it's Laughton's gig to lose, unless a trade opportunity comes up that allows them to try to fill the 3C role that way.

Frankly, I think it's "poop or get off the pot" with Laughton and his stage of development. He's 24, with 300 professional games under his (200 of them in the NHL).

If you don't know what he is by now, you'll never know.
- johndewar

Yup, this is his make or break season. He can already have a career as a 4th liner, but it's up to him to prove that he can be a 3rd line player.

Agreed. He may jump the AHL, but I don't give him much of a chance the NHL this year.
- jmatchett383

I don't care AT ALL if they overcook most of these forwards. Frost can dominate in Juniors, play in the WJC's as the top option for Canada, put on some weight, and be ready to challenge for an NHL job when he is 20.

Same goes for Farabee, O'Brien, and all of these first year AHL'ers who will be making the jump this season.

I want these prospects to be ready and have long NHL careers.

Flyers did well looking at the Neal deal. 5 years at 5.75...he’ll be 31 in September. Good job Hexy

Going to need someone to handle the puck on the 3rd line.
- Just5

We will see. Personally, I think they will be a dump it in and work the corners type of line. All three are good forecheckers.

I don't care AT ALL if they overcook most of these forwards. Frost can dominate in Juniors, play in the WJC's as the top option for Canada, put on some weight, and be ready to challenge for an NHL job when he is 20.

Same goes for Farabee, O'Brien, and all of these first year AHL'ers who will be making the jump this season.

I want these prospects to be ready and have long NHL careers.
- MBFlyerfan

We will see. Personally, I think they will be a dump it in and work the corners type of line. All three are good forecheckers.
- MBFlyerfan

I want to see them spread the wealth and have at least one highly skilled, offensively creative and mobile player on each of the top 3 lines. I'm hoping to see something like:

Giroux-Couturier-Voracek
JVR-Patrick-Lindblom
Konecny-Laughton-Simmonds

For the 4th line, if no one else is added either FA or via trade. I'd be fine with:

Raffl-Lehtera-NAK (assuming he can win the spot)

This would leave Weal and Weise as the spares and Leier being waived and playing in LHV (I very much doubt anyone is gonna grab Leier off waivers and keep him on an NHL roster)

Yup, this is his make or break season. He can already have a career as a 4th liner, but it's up to him to prove that he can be a 3rd line player.
- BiggE

Exactly. He's not new here.

Put him out there and let's see what he can do. I think he hung decent numbers last year when you consider who he was playing with. Let the guy play that 3C role and grow into it.

I think it's Laughton's gig to lose, unless a trade opportunity comes up that allows them to try to fill the 3C role that way.

Frankly, I think it's "poop or get off the pot" with Laughton and his stage of development. He's 24, with 300 professional games under his belt (200 of them in the NHL).

If you don't know what he is by now, you'll never know.
- johndewar

Thing is that I really think he would make a fine winger in the NHL. I understand the reason for leaving Giroux at LW, but I would honestly prefer Laughton moved to wing and Giroux back to center. He needs to finish better though. He has a better wrist/snap than a slap shot. Laughton - Coots - Simmonds was the line in games 5 and 6, right?

Doesn't need to happen right now as I believe you are right about Laughton's gig to lose. He really wasn't given good linemates last season and still managed an okay amount of offense. Maybe with good, healthy ones he will improve his game.