I fail to understand how the NHL has only 4 series going on, but cannot somehow arrange the games back to back instead of overlapping. - PhillySportsGuy
The NHL sucks at some things. Scheduling is definitely one of them.
- Two day gaps between games in a series
- Afternoon playoff games
- Only one game on a night when there are 8 teams left
- Overlapping games in different time zones
Location: any donut with a hole in the middle can get (frank)ed right in its hole, NJ Joined: 04.08.2012
May 5 @ 8:45 PM ET
My dream scenario. Take Barzal or Provorov at 7, trade the TB, plus other assets(maybe Laughton or another pick) to get to 12-15 and have Zacha drop to us there.
I'd literally dance naked on my lawn if that happened. - Jsaquella
If the Flyers trade a first round pick, regardless of where that pick is in the round, Laughton, who was the 20th overall pick, to move up into the middle of the first round, the player they select with that pick, better be a star, or it's an incredibly asinine move.
If the Flyers trade a first round pick, regardless of where that pick is in the round, Laughton, who was the 20th overall pick, to move up into the middle of the first round, the player they select with that pick, better be a star, or it's an incredibly asinine move. - MJL
If you're trading into the top 15 of this draft, you have a real good chance at getting a top 6 forward or a top 4 dman.
If you're trading into the top 15 of this draft, you have a real good chance at getting a top 6 forward or a top 4 dman. - JAKEw1234
Maybe, but you're also trading a player who could be a top 6 forward, and there is a good chance of getting a good player with the TB pick. If they made that deal, the player they select better be a lot more than just a top 6 forward or a top 4 defenseman.
Location: That matters less than you hope it does Joined: 07.20.2007
May 5 @ 9:31 PM ET
My dream scenario. Take Barzal or Provorov at 7, trade the TB, plus other assets(maybe Laughton or another pick) to get to 12-15 and have Zacha drop to us there.
I'd literally dance naked on my lawn if that happened. - Jsaquella
Maybe, but you're also trading a player who could be a top 6 forward, and there is a good chance of getting a good player with the TB pick. If they made that deal, the player they select better be a lot more than just a top 6 forward or a top 4 defenseman. - MJL
I think it just comes down to their projections for the picks and prospects. If they see Laughton as a bottom 6 guy, and they see most of the prospects that will probably be there when they pick at 26+ with the TB pick as bottom 6 guys, and they see whoever could be there in the top 15 if they move up as a top 6 guy, they might see it as worthwhile to trade 2 bottom 6 guys for a top 6 guy. They might end up developing differently, but all you can go on is your projection for the players.
Location: HEY. Does this pole still work?, NJ Joined: 01.14.2011
May 5 @ 9:44 PM ET
My dream scenario. Take Barzal or Provorov at 7, trade the TB, plus other assets(maybe Laughton or another pick) to get to 12-15 and have Zacha drop to us there.
I'd literally dance naked on my lawn if that happened. - Jsaquella
That would be nice and its the move I want them to make.
Provorov/Zacha or Barzal/Zacha could end up rivaling the picks of Richards/Carter.
I think it just comes down to their projections for the picks and prospects. If they see Laughton as a bottom 6 guy, and they see most of the prospects that will probably be there when they pick at 26+ with the TB pick as bottom 6 guys, and they see whoever could be there in the top 15 if they move up as a top 6 guy, they might see it as worthwhile to trade 2 bottom 6 guys for a top 6 guy. They might end up developing differently, but all you can go on is your projection for the players. - JAKEw1234
I'll make an educated guess, and speculate here, but I don't think the Flyers selected Laughton with the 20th pick in draft, thinking he was a bottom 6 forward. Why would that projection for Laughton have changed since they drafted him?
Location: HEY. Does this pole still work?, NJ Joined: 01.14.2011
May 5 @ 9:48 PM ET
I think it just comes down to their projections for the picks and prospects. If they see Laughton as a bottom 6 guy, and they see most of the prospects that will probably be there when they pick at 26+ with the TB pick as bottom 6 guys, and they see whoever could be there in the top 15 if they move up as a top 6 guy, they might see it as worthwhile to trade 2 bottom 6 guys for a top 6 guy. They might end up developing differently, but all you can go on is your projection for the players. - JAKEw1234
Exactly. They are dealing from a position of wealth with Laughton. They can get themselves a better punch at the 2nd and 3rd line center spots by drafting Barzal or Zacha and moving Coots down(eventually). Let's face it Coots and Laughton down the middle after G with struggling wingers is no recipe for offensive success.
I'll make an educated guess, and speculate here, but I don't think the Flyers selected Laughton with the 20th pick in draft, thinking he was a bottom 6 forward. Why would that projection for Laughton have changed since they drafted him? - MJL
Neither of us really know how they projected him at the draft, and even if they did see him as a good 3rd liner realistically, they might've also rated him higher because of his work ethic and intangibles. But neither of us really know. Their projection for him could have improved or diminished since the draft. He's played 3 more seasons of hockey since then, including an extended look in the NHL. In fact, they probably do view him differently today than they did on draft day.
All I'm saying is that we don't know how they project him, but for a trade like that, they have to take how they project him, and how they project some of the guys who will be there at 26-30, and weigh it against how they project a guy who will be there in the top 15 or top 12.
In my opinion as a fan, I'd support moving up, but I'd be looking for other pieces that aren't Laughton to move up with. I personally project Laughton as the kind of guy that you put in your bottom 6 to put it over the top, and provide excellent leadership. I project him as the type of 3rd line center you play for 16+ minutes every night in all situations. The type of bottom 6 guy that really improves your chances in the playoffs, and sets you apart from some of the poorer built teams that bring in bottom 6 rentals at the deadline cause they don't have the depth themselves.
Neither of us really know how they projected him at the draft, and even if they did see him as a good 3rd liner realistically, they might've also rated him higher because of his work ethic and intangibles. But neither of us really know. Their projection for him could have improved or diminished since the draft. He's played 3 more seasons of hockey since then, including an extended look in the NHL. In fact, they probably do view him differently today than they did on draft day.
All I'm saying is that we don't know how they project him, but for a trade like that, they have to take how they project him, and how they project some of the guys who will be there at 26-30, and weigh it against how they project a guy who will be there in the top 15 or top 12.
In my opinion as a fan, I'd support moving up, but I'd be looking for other pieces that aren't Laughton to move up with. I personally project Laughton as the kind of guy that you put in your bottom 6 to put it over the top, and provide excellent leadership. I project him as the type of 3rd line center you play for 16+ minutes every night in all situations. The type of bottom 6 guy that really improves your chances in the playoffs, and sets you apart from some of the poorer built teams. - JAKEw1234
I disagree. The fact that they picked him with the 20th pick in the draft gives us a pretty good idea of how they projected him. A team doesn't pick a player in the first round that they project as a bottom 6 forward. I think there's a lot of fans, that have penciled in Laughton as a 3rd line player, and there's a lot of shiny new toys and a new model that they fancy. If you're going to make a deal like that, better be damn sure you're getting an all star caliber player as much as you can, or it's not worth it.
Exactly. They are dealing from a position of wealth with Laughton. They can get themselves a better punch at the 2nd and 3rd line center spots by drafting Barzal or Zacha and moving Coots down(eventually). Let's face it Coots and Laughton down the middle after G with struggling wingers is no recipe for offensive success. - hereticpride
Couturier and Laughton still probably have two more NHL seasons before they would be competing with Barzal for a spot at center. Like Strome in 2011, he's a smaller guy who could do with extra time to develop in Junior. Zacha has great NHL size, but is still getting used to the smaller ice and needs at least one more year in Junior, hopefully one where he can play more than 40-something games and score more than PPG.
