I thought Raffl had one of his best weekends. He was a puck hawk who made many savvy plays.
- jak521

He's a good player. He just lacks self control. This weekend could have looked much worse for Downie if the Pens had their full PP unit working together.

Raffl has been very good all season, and I do believe he has a pretty decent offensive upside. Raffl can pretty much do anything effectively. I love a player like that.
- jak521

He can be moved up and down the lineup. He is sound fundamentally. Has a phsyical edge to his game. And I really do think there is some offensive upside there. And he's good on the PK. I liked him since the beginning of the year.

Based on his (Downie's) play, I don't think teams will be lining up to give him a raise. I actually see a team giving him a 1-year reclamation deal a la Mason.

I'd like Raffl signed to a 2-year deal. He quietly turns in good games on a nightly basis.
- jmatchett383

Same. I can see Downie wanting a 1 year deal to prove himself too. THen look to cash in next year.

I am a fan, and would not mind him coming back, but realistically he is going to want a raise above the 2.5M/yr to come back and depending on what they do with the D (which is the big question at least to me) they may not be able to afford Downie.

I like your points about him battling and playing through injury.

I feel he is a legit NHL player and a known quality. Really having a tough stretch right now.
- Marc D

yeah, and as much as i stick up for the guy i don't know that they can afford to keep him either. if he's willing to sign cheap i say keep him.

I'm thinking 2 years for 1.8M for Raffl.
- MJL

You're ready to pay him more than Couturier?

900 per yr or 1.8 per?

I'm guessing 1.8 for two is what you mean.
What a bargain that would be.
- Marc D

900 per.

You're ready to pay him more than Couturier?
- Tomahawk

Nope.

He's a good player. He just lacks self control. This weekend could have looked much worse for Downie if the Pens had their full PP unit working together.
- PhillySportsGuy

I was talking about Raffl..

Downie has been on my poop list for a while. Way to many selfish penalties, and he doesnt stop whining to the refs ever. Drives me nuts. Also, if he throws his arm up in a guys face one more time when taking a hit, I might set fire to the rain.

Based on his (Downie's) play, I don't think teams will be lining up to give him a raise. I actually see a team giving him a 1-year reclamation deal a la Mason.

I'd like Raffl signed to a 2-year deal. He quietly turns in good games on a nightly basis.
- jmatchett383

could be right

I would be OK with them giving him a 1 yr deal at less then what he gets now.
I fully understand those who want nothing more to do with him, but for all his angst I like the guy for no explainable reason.

Resign Downie move up Raffl to second line. Have laughton play.

Hart G Voracek
Raffl Schenn Simmonds
Downie Coots Read
Laughton Lecavalier McGinn

Rinaldo as our 13th

I like the look of that.

yeah, and as much as i stick up for the guy i don't know that they can afford to keep him either. if he's willing to sign cheap i say keep him.
- -davies-

That's where I am -- not at $2.65m. That's too much for Downie's current production.

If he were to come in at $1.5 or so, maybe $1.75, I'd be totally fine with it -- there's nothing wrong with guys having to compete, beat players out in Training Camp.

could be right

I would be OK with them giving him a 1 yr deal at less then what he gets now.
I fully understand those who want nothing more to do with him, but for all his angst I like the guy for no explainable reason.
- Marc D

If there's a spot for him and he comes cheap (like $1.1M cheap), I'm not 100% opposed. However, I think there may be younger/cheaper/better options to fill his spot.

I didn't think Raffl played well at all this weekend but Downie headbutts some Penguano in the chest and we're spending three pages slamming him and calling him brainless?

Love these threads.
- mayorofangrytown

The 4th line had quite a few legit scoring chances, almost exclusively because of Raffl.

That's where I am -- not at $2.65m. That's too much for Downie's current production.

If he were to come in at $1.5 or so, maybe $1.75, I'd be totally fine with it -- there's nothing wrong with guys having to compete, beat players out in Training Camp.
- AllInForFlyers

And if he doesn't, you're cool with having your 13th forward sitting nightly making $1.75M?

900 per.
- MJL

Ah, think he'll get a bit more than that if he finishes around 25-30 points... in line with guys like Soderberg, Atkinson, Kruger and Letestu:

http://www.capgeek.com/co...ayer_id=1954&year_id=2014

I didn't think Raffl played well at all this weekend but Downie headbutts some Penguano in the chest and we're spending three pages slamming him and calling him brainless?

Love these threads.
- mayorofangrytown

so you're pro-headbutt?

macdonald has impressed me so far

he has his faults but overall I think he is very solid, positionally sound, and makes a great first pass

replaces some of the skill they have missed since Carle left

doesn't fix the need for a top two way guy, and will certainly get a ton of $ as all UFA D who can play get, but I don't care. He makes the team better.

The 4th line had quite a few legit scoring chances, almost exclusively because of Raffl.
- wolfhounds

And on the few shifts he had on the third line they produced some good scoring chances.

Resign Downie move up Raffl to second line. Have laughton play.

Hart G Voracek
Raffl Schenn Simmonds
Downie Coots Read
Laughton Lecavalier McGinn

Rinaldo as our 13th

I like the look of that.
- FlyersSteve118

I like Raffl, but I don't think he's the ideal choice for 82 games of second-line duty.

I don't want to bring back Downie. Whether the penalties are his fault or not, he's a liability on the ice. I feel the Flyers can either put Raffl, Laughton or an affordable free agent on that line.

Having Hartnell, Downie and Rinaldo is just too many undisciplined players.
- PhillySportsGuy

rather have downie than rinaldo by a country mile

The 4th line had quite a few legit scoring chances, almost exclusively because of Raffl.
- wolfhounds

I thought Hall and Rinaldo were OK, though -- Hall more than Rinaldo, but not because I thought Rinaldo played badly. I thought they were fairly solid all weekend.

Raffl did make one bad turnover, but you know what? It's a game of mistakes. That stuff happens.

He's a good player. He just lacks self control. This weekend could have looked much worse for Downie if the Pens had their full PP unit working together.
- PhillySportsGuy

was downie in the box for both shorties?

The 4th line had quite a few legit scoring chances, almost exclusively because of Raffl.
- wolfhounds

Every line he goes to gets better.

macdonald has impressed me so far

he has his faults but overall I think he is very solid, positionally sound, and makes a great first pass

replaces some of the skill they have missed since Carle left

doesn't fix the need for a top two way guy, and will certainly get a ton of $ as all UFA D who can play get, but I don't care. He makes the team better.
- Marc D

As much as I like the guy, I'd be fine if they traded Grossmann if they needed to make room to resign MacDonald. He's not the answer, but I can see him as a part of the solution.

I didn't think Raffl played well at all this weekend but Downie headbutts some Penguano in the chest and we're spending three pages slamming him and calling him brainless?

Love these threads.
- mayorofangrytown

For a guy coming off a recent concussion, plus several other head shots this year, to lead into a confrontation with his noggin? Well, maybe he needs further education on the causes and complications of such injuries.