Squash one argument and bring in another.
- PhillySportsGuy

Mike Richards went something like 23 games without a goal this year. That's not a drought. I think his style of play coupled with his size has taken something out of him. And I'm a big Mike Richards fan. That said, he's a perfect #3/#4 center, but if that's really what he is gonna be, LA might use a CBO, as that's a lot to pay for a #4C coughVinnycough.

Lots of time in Lehigh Valley.
- jmatchett383

Tye McGinn, Steve Downie. These are the types I want to try with Sean Couturier and Matt Read. However if McGinn has no future here, we should trade him much like Patrick Maroon and if Downie won't be resigned (and he won't), I would look at these types of players.

Ekblad projects more as an Erik Johnson than a Seth Jones/Drew Doughty. He'd have a tough time cracking the top-6 last year.
- jmatchett383

Guys in the draft are hyped every year, but it sounds like if this year's draft and last year's draft could be combined, the top 4-5 guys in last year's would go ahead of this year's guys. That's obviously not saying guys this year won't turn out better and all that, but I don't know. Doesn't sound like a draft I'd trade a ton (maybe I overvalue?) to get into the top 3.

Bullpoop. You know that all of our players suck and that the best way to fix the team is to throw them away and start over, until they hit their mid-20s, at which time we throw them away and start over again. That's the Philly fanbase way.
- jmatchett383

June: We need to be patient and draft defenseman and goalies. Then, give them time to develop into better players.

July: We need Niskanen, Vanek and Heatley!

August: What are we going to do to get cap compliant?

September: Why haven't our young players become all stars yet?

October: We should trade our young players for an established defenseman like Yandle, Byfuglien or Weber. How about Grossmann, 2nd rounder and Vasiliev for Weber.

Tye McGinn, Steve Downie. These are the types I want to try with Sean Couturier and Matt Read. However if McGinn has no future here, we should trade him much like Patrick Maroon and if Downie won't be resigned (and he won't), I would look at these types of players.
- SuperSchennBros

Tye McGinn has a streak of crazy luck when he had his 3 goals in 3 games. Much like David Laliberte scoring 2 goals in his first 2 games. He's a top-6 AHL power forward, and that's about where it ends. He's a fair callup for a game here and there, but should not be a part of the future of the NHL club. However, he can be very valuable to the AHL club, which is just as important. You don't want your AHL players to develop life in a losing culture.

Mike Richards went something like 23 games without a goal this year. That's not a drought. I think his style of play coupled with his size has taken something out of him. And I'm a big Mike Richards fan. That said, he's a perfect #3/#4 center, but if that's really what he is gonna be, LA might use a CBO, as that's a lot to pay for a #4C coughVinnycough.
- jmatchett383

Mike Richards has serious pros and serious cons when it comes to money and production. LA has some serious thinking to do.

Squash one argument and bring in another.
- PhillySportsGuy

Guys in the draft are hyped every year, but it sounds like if this year's draft and last year's draft could be combined, the top 4-5 guys in last year's would go ahead of this year's guys. That's obviously not saying guys this year won't turn out better and all that, but I don't know. Doesn't sound like a draft I'd trade a ton (maybe I overvalue?) to get into the top 3.
- eayost

There are good players in the top-15 or so, but from what I've seen and read, this draft's top-5 are nowhere near the projections from last year's. Kinda like the 2007 and 2008 drafts where, outside of Kane, none of the 2007 top-5 would crack the 2008 top-5.

I am? Pretty sure everyone agrees locally and nationally that we need more team speed/ better dmen/ and high end skill. Which of current players is going to improve with time to meet those standards? Answer : none yes we have prospects coming to help fill some of those needs but that doesn't make us a contender. For example. If we got eberle where would he play? Right on the top line with g that's where. Why? Because he's a top talent. No fuss no muss. No guessing well maybe play him here maybe play him there. Almost everyone of our players are like that. Where to play read where to play schenn. What about simmer or couts. We have some nice young tent for sure but under value I do not. Outside of g and maybe jake and couts (defensively) we do not have elite talent. But we do have enough talent to make a move to get some elite talent
- Sms401

Yea I don't disagree where you're coming from here. I guess I'm just not as sold on whether that #3 pick would be a real franchise player or not. If it was last year's draft maybe.

Mike Richards went something like 23 games without a goal this year. That's not a drought. I think his style of play coupled with his size has taken something out of him. And I'm a big Mike Richards fan. That said, he's a perfect #3/#4 center, but if that's really what he is gonna be, LA might use a CBO, as that's a lot to pay for a #4C coughVinnycough.
- jmatchett383

He's been in decline for a couple of seasons now.

People can call it a transition or a sacrifice, but he's not the same player as his peak years here.

Mike Richards has serious pros and serious cons when it comes to money and production. LA has some serious thinking to do.
- SuperSchennBros

Absolutely. I think he's still a great player, but that's a lot of cap space tied up for what he brings.

Ekblad projects more as an Erik Johnson than a Seth Jones/Drew Doughty. He'd have a tough time cracking the top-6 last year.
- jmatchett383

Cool. Put him with ghost and let ghost do his thing. Morin and McDonald 2nd pair hagg and street. Sounds good to me

Mike Richards went something like 23 games without a goal this year. That's not a drought. I think his style of play coupled with his size has taken something out of him. And I'm a big Mike Richards fan. That said, he's a perfect #3/#4 center, but if that's really what he is gonna be, LA might use a CBO, as that's a lot to pay for a #4C coughVinnycough.
- jmatchett383

I know. They have some young players ready to step in and many of those young players are going to get paid very soon.

Some say Richards has sacrificed his offense. I think Richards just lacks the offensive ability he used to have. Once he lost a step, his game really suffered.

To be honest, he really hasn't been very good defensively either. He's had some trouble with the Blackhawks speed. His decision making is still good, but when one of his teammates makes a mistake, he has a hard time getting back into the play. It happened on Chicago's 3rd goal last night.

He's been in decline for a couple of seasons now.

People can call it a transition or a sacrifice, but he's not the same player as his peak years here.
- bradleyc4

He isn't the 70-80 point guy anymore. That said, if he was playing in a more offensive system in a more offensive role, he's still be good for 22G/34A type of numbers. He's bought into a system and played the role he's been asked to play.

Tye McGinn has a streak of crazy luck when he had his 3 goals in 3 games. Much like David Laliberte scoring 2 goals in his first 2 games. He's a top-6 AHL power forward, and that's about where it ends. He's a fair callup for a game here and there, but should not be a part of the future of the NHL club. However, he can be very valuable to the AHL club, which is just as important. You don't want your AHL players to develop life in a losing culture.
- jmatchett383

I think it's too soon to assume this. Again, we made the same assumption of Patrick Maroon. Again, if the organization feels McGinn will only be a career AHLer, trade him.

I think we have to slow down on the whole move guy a here and put guy b here. Guys have roles. Matt Read i think plays his best with Couturier. If you look to give him more minutes or a different role, like one where he is now relied on to be a point producer, you lose what his real strengths are. Plus now you create another whole where someone else has to step in and maybe they aren't suited for that role. There is a trickle down effect. We need more skill for our top lines and actually better skill on the bottom 6. I am ok with Laughton on the 4th line but I want more then Hall, Rosehill, and Rinaldo. I want guys that can play more then 5 minutes and crate havoc while also creating chances. Thats why I advocate for players like Vern Fiddler, Leo Komarov, Brian Boyle, Dominic Moore. Guys that can be emploeyed on the 4th and maybe 3rd lines that have skill and speed but just aren't muckers. They get there nose dirty but also can create a scoring chance. They can keep momentum with a good hard shift and you don't worry they might get scored. on

He's been in decline for a couple of seasons now.

People can call it a transition or a sacrifice, but he's not the same player as his peak years here.
- bradleyc4

I like Richards as much as anyone here, but 6 more years at a $5.7mm cap hit is nuts for the player he is today. He still is a very serviceable player, still can be a good secondary piece on a good team, but he's not a franchise guy or near franchise guy

Cool. Put him with ghost and let ghost do his thing. Morin and McDonald 2nd pair hagg and street. Sounds good to me
- Sms401

So we're putting an NHL pairing of Ekblad and Ghost directly into the NHL opening day, and another pair is a player who still has a lot his game to work on with MacDonald?

You, sir, are not smart. You just aren't, on this topic. I'm sorry, but you aren't.

Also: TRADE EVERYONE FOR SOMEONE ELSE!!!

He isn't the 70-80 point guy anymore. That said, if he was playing in a more offensive system in a more offensive role, he's still be good for 22G/34A type of numbers. He's bought into a system and played the role he's been asked to play.
- jmatchett383

Sure, there are a lot of factors/context to his numbers. But he's been on their second PP all season. Still only managed 41 points and 11 goals. He's not a good top-6 player anymore, imo. Still a valuable -- albeit overpaid -- role player.

I think it's too soon to assume this. Again, we made the same assumption of Patrick Maroon. Again, if the organization feels McGinn will only be a career AHLer, trade him.
- SuperSchennBros

What have you seen to make you believe he is an NHL player? He's been given ample opportunities to succeed and he hasn't, for the most part. Maroon was never given that chance.

But again, just because a player isn't destined for the NHL doesn't mean he can't bring value to the organization.

Sure, there are a lot of factors/context to his numbers. But he's been on their second PP all season. Still only managed 41 points and 11 goals. He's not a good top-6 player anymore, imo. Still a valuable -- albeit overpaid -- role player.
- bradleyc4

Like I said, he's a good 3C/4C, and is playing in a fairly defensive system and role. He could probably reach the mid-50's/low 60's in a different system/role.

I think it's too soon to assume this. Again, we made the same assumption of Patrick Maroon. Again, if the organization feels McGinn will only be a career AHLer, trade him.
- SuperSchennBros

Maroon was a better AHL player, and was traded because of disciplinary reasons, not because they felt he had no NHL future

So we're putting an NHL pairing of Ekblad and Ghost directly into the NHL opening day, and another pair is a player who still has a lot his game to work on with MacDonald?

You, sir, are not smart. You just aren't, on this topic. I'm sorry, but you aren't.

Also: TRADE EVERYONE FOR SOMEONE ELSE!!!
- jmatchett383

I'm looking more down the line 2to 3 years from now. Does it make more sense now. I think we can all agree we can't change it all overnight. No one trade or couple moves can solve all. Look at how long it took la to get it right. Hell it might take 5 plus years and stolarz could be our goalie by then. The true good teams build for the future and tinkle the present. My whole thought process is make the moves that keep getting more talent and eventually you'll get there. Like the carter/Richards trades. They moved us forward even if for a little put us back. Then we go and f up with jvr for schenn. Then follow it up with signing Vinny.

What have you seen to make you believe he is an NHL player? He's been given ample opportunities to succeed and he hasn't, for the most part. Maroon was never given that chance.

But again, just because a player isn't destined for the NHL doesn't mean he can't bring value to the organization.
- jmatchett383

I've seen Tye McGinn play a game here and a game there in the past two seasons. Power Forward often take longer to put it all together, even Power Forwards with much higher expectation. I wouldn't keep him because he's expected to be a solid AHL player.

Maroon was a better AHL player, and was traded because of disciplinary reasons, not because they felt he had no NHL future
- Jsaquella

Maroon never got the sniff McGinn did regardless of the issues that later came to be and regardless how much better a player he was then McGinn.