Haven't been to Allentown for a game yet, but hear that the facility and rink is very nice. Can anyone who's been there attest to the atmosphere and game viewing experience?

Maybe the schenns could be packaged for a roster player

What a joke they've become.

I am in the minority here, but I am pretty sure each teams system is based on the premise that scoring goals is good and allowing goals is bad. Just one man's thoughts.

Not a dig at anyone BTW just my obvious thought for the evening.
- Fryman4

I'm just talking as far as coaches and the systems they implement. Always seems like coaches are preaching d first, offense from good defense.

Whatever a coach's emphasis on the balance of offensive versus defensive mindsets, and the balance of risk in that regard, there are different ways of playing offense and defense. Some coaches want players going down for shot blocks more than others, some like getting the puck out of the zone differently, some want the puck to get deep in the offensive zone more often than others. Hakstol will show us his preferences to some extent, but with all of the Assistant Coaches returning from last season, and with Hextall still at the helm, and a very similar roster, I don't think we should expect to notice massive amounts of change.

I WOULD like to see a greater emphasis on getting pucks on net and keeping the offense simple. Being successful with that approach largely comes down to decision making and puck skills from the defensemen. We might have to wait a bit until our crop of young blueliners is ready to contribute until we can have much success with Hakstol's preferred style of play, but it takes time for a new coach to implement his systems anyways. Many of our forwards are young enough to still be around when our blueliners arrive

Raffl-Giroux-Voracek
Schenn-Lecavalier-Gagner
Read-Couturier-Simmonds
Umberger-Bellemare-White

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner

"It was mandatory that we had to trade him," said Spitfires president and head coach Bob Boughner at the time. "For many, many, numerous internal reasons, the people that truly know what went on behind the scenes would understand why we had to trade him.

http://www.tsn.ca/isles-c...-showing-up-late-1.362669

He may burn what could be a good career.
- ob18

I just read a pretty good article on him. It's apparent what makes him special is also what me doom his career before it starts. I'm ok with a guy who doesn't conform completely if he brings a load of talent. But this guy is WAY beyond even my comfort zone.

I was there all day. Only 2 things Ill add to Bills blog...

-Radko Gudas looked excellent all morning. I was honestly blown away at his skating ability as well as his skill with the puck. He's not gonna put up a ton of points, but all of his passes were tape to tape and he showed really good vision and overall on ice awareness. Also has a SICK release, dude is not scared to fire the puck at all.
- mochoson

Funny, but on Wed I saw Gudas flat out miss two passes and a third was not really well placed. And as I said he embarrassingly tripped over his feet while standing at the blue line and trying to turn to forward skate to retrieve a puck.

Sounds like We'd may have just been shaking off a little rust. His shot was absolutely perfect though so hopefully Friday is more representative of what we will see.

Haven't been to Allentown for a game yet, but hear that the facility and rink is very nice. Can anyone who's been there attest to the atmosphere and game viewing experience?
- Fryman4

It's a nice arena, area is meh

Funny, but on Wed I saw Gudas flat out miss two passes and a third was not really well placed. And as I said he embarrassingly tripped over his feet while standing at the blue line and trying to turn to forward skate to retrieve a puck.

Sounds like We'd may have just been shaking off a little rust. His shot was absolutely perfect though so hopefully Friday is more representative of what we will see.
- TheGreat28

Definitely shaking off rust. I may have been one the few to watch a lot of him having lived in Tampa during the 2013-2014 season and we'll hockey is hockey and tickets are dirt cheap. He isn't a wow skater but he is a solid one. He also in my own opinion has always been a plus in the passing department. You'll get frustrated with him because he does take bad penalties and has been kicked out of games for his altercations. At the same time every time will fear him.

I'll probably get burned at the stake for this but..

Ryan white is he really guaranteed a roster spot ? He did a lot of good things for us last year but let's not fall overly in love with him. He took bad penalties the more he played often more than once in the same game and he's not exactly an enforcer though he is a tough guy. Would making a line of Gagner Laughton Schenn as your 3 and vv Bellemare umberger your 4th line be more beneficial than continuing to give Ryan white the time ? Or you can move umberger to that third line etc.

And before I get destroyed
Chris Porter 173 games 11-16-27 and -7 33 penalty minutes
Ryan white 175 games 11-18-29 and -11 268 penalty minutes

Everyone knocks Porter but he's an equal player who in his career shown to play better 2 way hockey than white. White can fight and take face offs. Just saying I'd hate for Laughton to miss the nhl for one them

Definitely shaking off rust. I may have been one the few to watch a lot of him having lived in Tampa during the 2013-2014 season and we'll hockey is hockey and tickets are dirt cheap. He isn't a wow skater but he is a solid one. He also in my own opinion has always been a plus in the passing department. You'll get frustrated with him because he does take bad penalties and has been kicked out of games for his altercations. At the same time every time will fear him.
- Tfaehner

Yeah, he sure wasn't a weak link in the puck-moving dept down there. I'm more concerned about him on the defensive side (running around for big hits, taking penalties) than the o-side and transition, tbh.

I'll probably get burned at the stake for this but..

Ryan white is he really guaranteed a roster spot ? He did a lot of good things for us last year but let's not fall overly in love with him. He took bad penalties the more he played often more than once in the same game and he's not exactly an enforcer though he is a tough guy. Would making a line of Gagner Laughton Schenn as your 3 and vv Bellemare umberger your 4th line be more beneficial than continuing to give Ryan white the time ? Or you can move umberger to that third line etc.

And before I get destroyed
Chris Porter 173 games 11-16-27 and -7 33 penalty minutes
Ryan white 175 games 11-18-29 and -11 268 penalty minutes

Everyone knocks Porter but he's an equal player who in his career shown to play better 2 way hockey than white. White can fight and take face offs. Just saying I'd hate for Laughton to miss the nhl for one them
- Tfaehner

Porter > White and VDV.

Porter > White and VDV.
- Tomahawk

All 3 are in the same realm in my opinion. Porter has the best defensive game which in a 4th line role would be extremely beneficial and he has a reputation of locker room stand out and leader. I'd rather see Laughton stay and umberger role 4th line and situational hockey than any of the 3 make the roster quite honestly.

Funny, but on Wed I saw Gudas flat out miss two passes and a third was not really well placed. And as I said he embarrassingly tripped over his feet while standing at the blue line and trying to turn to forward skate to retrieve a puck.

Sounds like We'd may have just been shaking off a little rust. His shot was absolutely perfect though so hopefully Friday is more representative of what we will see.
- TheGreat28

I think there is too high an expectation for Gudas, just to get Luke Schenn booted off the team.

I think there is too high an expectation for Gudas, just to get Luke Schenn booted off the team.
- SuperSchennBros

To be a solid third pairing guy ? He was a top 4 for Tampa in 2013-2014.

Maybe the schenns could be packaged for a roster player

What a joke they've become.
- Just5

Maybe we could get a ~45 point forward for them. Oh wait, BSchenn already is that.

defenseman Luke Schenn lifted up and bodyslammed left winger Michael Raffl to the ice.

Too much WWF for Luke this summer.

Both Schenns on the bubble group? Not good. And Hakstol's answer about not reading much into wasn't that convincing, especially since he didn't apparently didn't say anything about Luke. Vinny gets another crack at redemption. Interesting first day.

Too much WWF for Luke this summer.

Both Schenns on the bubble group? Not good. And Hakstol's answer about not reading much into wasn't that convincing, especially since he didn't apparently didn't say anything about Luke. Vinny gets another crack at redemption. Interesting first day.
- wolfhounds

Hasktol praised the Laughton line. My own opinion was it was our 3rd best line. I think people under estimate Porter I posted above he's an equal if not better player to white and vv

He didn't seem to like L Schenn hit in raffl though.

I'll probably get burned at the stake for this but..

Ryan white is he really guaranteed a roster spot ? He did a lot of good things for us last year but let's not fall overly in love with him. He took bad penalties the more he played often more than once in the same game and he's not exactly an enforcer though he is a tough guy. Would making a line of Gagner Laughton Schenn as your 3 and vv Bellemare umberger your 4th line be more beneficial than continuing to give Ryan white the time ? Or you can move umberger to that third line etc.

And before I get destroyed
Chris Porter 173 games 11-16-27 and -7 33 penalty minutes
Ryan white 175 games 11-18-29 and -11 268 penalty minutes

Everyone knocks Porter but he's an equal player who in his career shown to play better 2 way hockey than white. White can fight and take face offs. Just saying I'd hate for Laughton to miss the nhl for one them
- Tfaehner

I don't think everyone knocks Porter. He was another really solid signing. But White showed surprising offensive upside last season and is younger, so I think he's going to get a chance to show if that was sustainable or just a flash in the plan. That doesn't mean he's got a guaranteed top 12 spot.

I'll probably get burned at the stake for this but..

Ryan white is he really guaranteed a roster spot ? He did a lot of good things for us last year but let's not fall overly in love with him. He took bad penalties the more he played often more than once in the same game and he's not exactly an enforcer though he is a tough guy. Would making a line of Gagner Laughton Schenn as your 3 and vv Bellemare umberger your 4th line be more beneficial than continuing to give Ryan white the time ? Or you can move umberger to that third line etc.

And before I get destroyed
Chris Porter 173 games 11-16-27 and -7 33 penalty minutes
Ryan white 175 games 11-18-29 and -11 268 penalty minutes

Everyone knocks Porter but he's an equal player who in his career shown to play better 2 way hockey than white. White can fight and take face offs. Just saying I'd hate for Laughton to miss the nhl for one them
- Tfaehner

Agreed
Guys like White and for that matter even VDV and Bellemare are never really locks to make a roster. Any 4th liner is always vulnerable to being beat out by another player.

Too much WWF for Luke this summer.

Both Schenns on the bubble group? Not good. And Hakstol's answer about not reading much into wasn't that convincing, especially since he didn't apparently didn't say anything about Luke. Vinny gets another crack at redemption. Interesting first day.
- wolfhounds

I wouldn't read that much into day 1 of camp.

I don't think everyone knocks Porter. He was another really solid signing. But White showed surprising offensive upside last season and is younger, so I think he's going to get a chance to show if that was sustainable or just a flash in the plan. That doesn't mean he's got a guaranteed top 12 spot.
- Feanor

If he scores 10 goals but takes 140 penalty minutes over 82 game season is he better than 5 goals and 10 penalty minutes but better defensive play from Porter?

My argument is not Porter > White it's a comparison to everyone was in arms that Schenn was on a line with Porter but white Porter Bellemare vv all play the same role to me and none should have a spot over a budding prospect like laughton. If yesterday is an indication of where the season is going Laughton Schenn looked like a formidable third line pairing. Which means 2 people of those 4 will be odd men out. And of Vinny makes the line up that's 3 of those 4 that have to sit.

To be a solid third pairing guy ? He was a top 4 for Tampa in 2013-2014.
- Tfaehner

So what.

If he scores 10 goals but takes 140 penalty minutes over 82 game season is he better than 5 goals and 10 penalty minutes but better defensive play from Porter?

My argument is not Porter > White it's a comparison to everyone was in arms that Schenn was on a line with Porter but white Porter Bellemare vv all play the same role to me and none should have a spot over a budding prospect like laughton. If yesterday is an indication of where the season is going Laughton Schenn looked like a formidable third line pairing. Which means 2 people of those 4 will be odd men out. And of Vinny makes the line up that's 3 of those 4 that have to sit.
- Tfaehner

Being stuck with Vinny on the roster makes it difficult to carry Laughton at the start of the season. That being said, I'd go with:

Raffl-Giroux-Voracek
Read-Couturier-Simmonds
Umberger-Gagner-Schenn

and the 4th line would be some combo of Bellemare, Porter, White and VDV with Vinny being the 14th forward.