I also think the flyers are putting too much emphasis on "clean slate" in interviews to think anyone could be in the doghouse already

Maybe schenn thought he could play his way into a better offer this season. We don't know if the flyers offered something and schenn turned it down. Both sides might have been unsure, who knows
- funmaster18

Yup. I really hope that's it, cause that's a player with something to prove. Add Gagner, and all the guys who under-performed last season, and we have a fair number of players with something to prove.

Yup, you're right (although Chicago is a different beast organizationally), but with the way Hexy and the Flyers locked up Jake and Couts, you'd think they'd lock up BSchenn as well. Now maybe they tried to lowball him and he refused, wanting to have a breakout season this year and get a bigger payday. I'm cool with that (as long as the payday is within reason). We'll know more soon enough.
- wolfhounds

He's a difficult player to negotiate with because his point totals are helped by being on a great PP unit. He's scored more than Couts, but he's definitely less effective than Couts overall.

Schenn is not in the doghouse, and he's not on the 5th line. He will play either as Coots's RW or as C/RW on the 3rd line. Whatever the combinations are in camp, he's a lock for one of those things. And line number distinctions mean very little in today's game. Sometimes the third line is the checking line, sometimes the second, sometimes the first on various NHL teams. At times the fourth can fill that role (think Islanders last year).

It's not a mark of shame for him to play on the "3rd line," whatever that means. Nor would it be for Simmer if he and Schenn switched line positions. Considering we seem to view Laughton as our future 3C at least, placing him with Schenn is not punitive. Heck, Schenn and Simmer played primarily with Laughts when he was with the team last season. Personally, I'd love to see Laughton center a line this year in the NHL if he's ready. I think that would be the best outcome for the team.

He's a difficult player to negotiate with because his point totals are helped by being on a great PP unit. He's scored more than Couts, but he's definitely less effective than Couts overall.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed. And it's probably not a bad thing for either side to see how this season plays out before deciding upon/finalizing a contract. That said, I definitely raised an eyebrow like a 1/4 inch when I saw where BSchenn was playing.

Yup, you're right (although Chicago is a different beast organizationally), but with the way Hexy and the Flyers locked up Jake and Couts, you'd think they'd lock up BSchenn as well. Now maybe they tried to lowball him and he refused, wanting to have a breakout season this year and get a bigger payday. I'm cool with that (as long as the payday is within reason). We'll know more soon enough.
- wolfhounds

It takes two to tango to come to a a contract agreement. All it means is that they haven't been able to come to an agreement that both sides like to this point. Nothing more, nothing less. Same way that the line combos to this point is what Hakstol wants to take a look at. Nothing more, nothing less.

Schenn is not in the doghouse, and he's not on the 5th line. He will play either as Coots's RW or as C/RW on the 3rd line. Whatever the combinations are in camp, he's a lock for one of those things. And line number distinctions mean very little in today's game. Sometimes the third line is the checking line, sometimes the second, sometimes the first on various NHL teams. At times the fourth can fill that role (think Islanders last year).

It's not a mark of shame for him to play on the "3rd line," whatever that means. Nor would it be for Simmer if he and Schenn switched line positions. Considering we seem to view Laughton as our future 3C at least, placing him with Schenn is not punitive. Heck, Schenn and Simmer played primarily with Laughts when he was with the team last season. Personally, I'd love to see Laughton center a line this year in the NHL if he's ready. I think that would be the best outcome for the team.
- Mononoke

Agreed. And it's probably not a bad thing for either side to see how this season plays out before deciding upon/finalizing a contract. That said, I definitely raised an eyebrow like a 1/4 inch when I saw where BSchenn was playing.


- wolfhounds

Think about it and look at the deal Saad signed in Columbus. If Schenn has a 25-30 goal season and 30 assists, he's looking at a good number. Probably a bigger number than he can get now. Chaching!

Off topic but what is the length of Hakstol's contact?

Schenn is not in the doghouse, and he's not on the 5th line. He will play either as Coots's RW or as C/RW on the 3rd line. Whatever the combinations are in camp, he's a lock for one of those things. And line number distinctions mean very little in today's game. Sometimes the third line is the checking line, sometimes the second, sometimes the first on various NHL teams. At times the fourth can fill that role (think Islanders last year).

It's not a mark of shame for him to play on the "3rd line," whatever that means. Nor would it be for Simmer if he and Schenn switched line positions. Considering we seem to view Laughton as our future 3C at least, placing him with Schenn is not punitive. Heck, Schenn and Simmer played primarily with Laughts when he was with the team last season. Personally, I'd love to see Laughton center a line this year in the NHL if he's ready. I think that would be the best outcome for the team.
- Mononoke

Yeah, it's not like they're playing games or anything, where 'L1' gets 20mins and 'L5' drinks gatorade all day. They're practice lines -- everybody gets reps.

Now if Schenn was w/ Umberger and/or Vinny, then you might have to worry about him being in that 'doghouse', lol.

Off topic but what is the length of Hakstol's contact?
- MatveiDmitrii

5-years $10M

Yeah, it's not like they're playing games or anything, where 'L1' gets 20mins and 'L5' drinks gatorade all day. They're practice lines -- everybody gets reps.

Now if Schenn was w/ Umberger and/or Vinny, then you might have to worry about him being in that 'doghouse', lol.


- Tomahawk

We need a much better nickname than the redemption line for umberger-vinny- gagner.

How about the buyout boys. The Bb's

5-years $10M
- Tomahawk

Just to spark debate: How long do you think Hakstol lasts through his contact?

Only reason I ask is Hextall felt that last year's team underperformed and it lead to one of the reasons Berube was let go. If Hextall feels he has a decent team , not only this year, but in seasons to come and they don't do well, will he be let go early? Do you think Hextall swallows his pride and cans a guy HE hired?

I personally feel Hakstol at least gets to see the likes of Provorov, Sanheim, Morin, etc make it to the NHL to see if he has a contending team.

I didn't want this to come across being a Debbie Downer type post predicting the demise of Hakstol. I am excited and really behind the hire. Can't wait to see how it plays out.

One thing to keep in mind is the flyers traded an old player in zhitnik for a much younger coburn. Sometimes teams make trades to get more experience and sacrifice youth. I'm not comparing the two trades directly, but hopefully we end up getting a solid younger defenseman for an older one again. I don't know much about gudas so he will be one that I'm watching closely in the preseason to see what we have
- funmaster18

Bob Hartley basically pulled the same nonsense with Coburn as Hitch did with Sharp, which is what made the trade possible.

Didn't see Provorov there. A lot of scouts were saying he could be ready to step right into the league this year. Any chance of that?
- HealthyScratch6

There's definitely a chance, skill wise.

Practically, however, there's hardly a chance. It's just not worth it at this point, and Hexy's not exactly known to push the envelope with prospects.

I feel like I'd dig a Gagner-Laughton-Schenn line

http://www.csnphilly.com/...-placed-puck-moving-day-2

Major change in neutral zone defense. The biggest difference im thinking is that Hak will want his d very involved in all zones of the ice. A more fluid 5 man operation with more interchangeable responsibilities would be my guess

LOL

I have the same "deep-seated issues" with Brayden Schenn that a guy like Dave Maloney had with Sam Gagner's 41 points last season, yet still cut him loose
- AllInForFlyers

No one in Flyers management has said anything about BSchenn that's close to being as negative as what Maloney said about Gagner. So you're admitting that your frustration with Brayden Schenn is far beyond what the guys in charge have expressed.

Schenn has been inconsistent and a bit disappointing, but he's also been a pretty solid point producer and shown flashes of high-end potential. He's also an RFA who is only making $2.5m and the Flyers don't need to make any final decisions on anytime soon. So don't let him keep you awake at night.

Quick, everybody:

Which top-9 forward opened his contract-drive season playing with two guys whose career highs in points in a season is eight and six, although one was a rookie? With one of those players on a two-way contract, and the other not subject to waivers -- meaning they could very easily not even be on the opening night roster, because the Lehigh Valley Phantoms are calling?

Was it Claude Giroux? Jakub Voracek? Wayne Simmonds?

A once-crippled R.J. Umberger? How about Coyotes discard Sam Gagner?

Nope, it was wunderkind Brayden Schenn, who, amazingly enough, no one should ask how odd it is for HIM to be on that line, of all the forwards the Flyers have

Nothing to see there!
- AllInForFlyers

He will still be in the top 9 when the regular season starts so why does it bother you so much what line he's on in training camp? Like I said, deep-seated issues.

Schenn is not in the doghouse, and he's not on the 5th line. He will play either as Coots's RW or as C/RW on the 3rd line. Whatever the combinations are in camp, he's a lock for one of those things. And line number distinctions mean very little in today's game. Sometimes the third line is the checking line, sometimes the second, sometimes the first on various NHL teams. At times the fourth can fill that role (think Islanders last year).

It's not a mark of shame for him to play on the "3rd line," whatever that means. Nor would it be for Simmer if he and Schenn switched line positions. Considering we seem to view Laughton as our future 3C at least, placing him with Schenn is not punitive. Heck, Schenn and Simmer played primarily with Laughts when he was with the team last season. Personally, I'd love to see Laughton center a line this year in the NHL if he's ready. I think that would be the best outcome for the team.
- Mononoke

The other thing is, Simmonds has a lot of experience playing on Laughton's right wing and BSchenn doesn't, so it makes sense to have them playing together in those positions in camp.

@billmeltzer 5 hours ago
Laughton had a stand-out day today during the competitive portion of practice.

He will still be in the top 9 when the regular season starts so why does it bother you so much what line he's on in training camp? Like I said, deep-seated issues.
- Feanor

The guy just isn't productive enough for the opportunities he has been given, and his inconsistency doesn't help the Flyers win games.

You want to try to paint it as something pathological, like you know me well enough to pretend like you can figure me out. When you have to call the guy a top-9 forward because he hasn't been remotely good enough to be considered more than that

I paint it as a team that has missed the playoffs twice in the last three seasons, and Brayden Schenn has been a passenger for far too many stretches

He's just another guy. You desperately want to be right about him, desperately want him to be better than he has shown himself to be, over and over and over

When sometimes, you're just another guy and are replaceable. Simple as that

5-years $10M
- Tomahawk

Wish that was A Macs contract

@billmeltzer 5 hours ago
Laughton had a stand-out day today during the competitive portion of practice.

Nice put Umbogus on waivers

Just for the benefit of my much loved fellow posters here... it's "deep-seeded" rather than "deep-seated"

Just for the benefit of my much loved fellow posters here... it's "deep-seeded" rather than "deep-seated"
- Coburns_Nose

i was about to make a papa san chair joke