I'm wondering if PSG's offer for brunch still stands. I may be back in AC a couple nights a week for the next couple of weeks.

He was so reliable in a 3rd line role that could move up and down when/if needed. After this past season as a whole, I feel like he could be replaced easily. This is strictly from an eye test perspective. His initial burst of speed seems gone. Was it that high ankle injury that did it? When he has time and space he still makes some good place. It just feels like that happens less frequently lately.
- funmaster18

He was one of my favorites. He gets piled on too much imo this past year because he was still smart and capable in a bottom 6 role, but he has got to be more aggressive offensively though. He just doesn't shoot anymore. I remember he had maybe the best wrister on the team...that ability doesn't just go away. Getting those is a different story. He just lacked that spark and magic, solid as he was. He needs to find some of it. I think and hope he can. Otherwise he's a useful but overpaid bottom 6 player.

Cousins has an intangible quality that makes me want to keep him in the lineup to see where he goes. I'm not overly impressed with his skating/skill set, but he just seems to be one of those guys that has the potential to be in the right place at the right and make the right play at the right time.
- funmaster18

Transplant his brain to Laugton's head and there's your 35-40 point two way 3C.

Transplant his brain to Laugton's head and there's your 35-40 point two way 3C.
- Mononoke

part of me thinks/hopes Laughton is overly trying to simplify his game. I think if he loosened up a bit, he'd be what we thought he could be at this level. some players are better when they simplify their game and others are better when they just play THEIR game. I think that's the case with Laughton. I believe once he is comfortable out there it will all fall into place.

part of me thinks/hopes Laughton is overly trying to simplify his game. I think if he loosened up a bit, he'd be what we thought he could be at this level. some players are better when they simplify their game and others are better when they just play THEIR game. I think that's the case with Laughton. I believe once he is comfortable out there it will all fall into place.
- funmaster18

I haven't given up on Laughton; still think he can be a poor man's John Madden. He just needs to have the game slow down a little more. He still has some time, but he needs to make better use of his opportunities

Hartley sucks too though. They all suck over there led by Burke. Calgary has a dynamite top 6 and maybe the best 1-2 d in the league...but blow. That's what regressive thinking and lack of adaptability does for you.
- Mononoke

fleury's new home

I haven't given up on Laughton; still think he can be a poor man's John Madden. He just needs to have the game slow down a little more. He still has some time, but he needs to make better use of his opportunities
- AllInForFlyers

I feel like he hasn't even started let alone gotten to a place where we can give up on him. I just hope his skill set translates to the NHL over time. I've been excited for him for a while

how excited are you?
- funmaster18

pretty excited glad to see the sharks get to the finals and also the penguins have the chance to lose the cup

pretty excited glad to see the sharks get to the finals and also the penguins have the chance to lose the cup
- 2Real

That's exactly how I thought you'd be thinking

That's cool though. Always fun to have a rooting interest in the finals. Mine is for the Sharks but only so the pens don't win. I'm pretty neutral on how I feel about the sharks

That's exactly how I thought you'd be thinking

That's cool though. Always fun to have a rooting interest in the finals. Mine is for the Sharks but only so the pens don't win. I'm pretty neutral on how I feel about the sharks
- funmaster18

I won't lie: I'd be pretty stoked to see Thornton and Marleau win a Cup. They deserve one

I won't lie: I'd be pretty stoked to see Thornton and Marleau win a Cup. They deserve one
- AllInForFlyers

they do. id be pulling hard for them against anyone else.

I feel like he hasn't even started let alone gotten to a place where we can give up on him. I just hope his skill set translates to the NHL over time. I've been excited for him for a while
- funmaster18

Of course it's early, but I really don't see a center, even if he cleaned it up defensively his offensive game isn't very center like. And I am skeptical he can clean it up...bc I think it's an innate hockey sense issue. That's my gut feeling. It's not uncommon for average scorers who hustle and skate hard in juniors to get labeled "good" defensively. Maybe he was one idk.

I do think his skill translates and it has. Just as a scoring winger. That's his ticket imo.

That's three playoff series now our elite player has looked mediocre.... Just saying. I really was gonna be quiet but someone wanted to take jabs ok then.
- JoeRussomanno

Go (frank) yourself, joe. You're the worst poster on this board, a board that includes rinaldo

That's exactly how I thought you'd be thinking

That's cool though. Always fun to have a rooting interest in the finals. Mine is for the Sharks but only so the pens don't win. I'm pretty neutral on how I feel about the sharks
- funmaster18

the sharks are an awesome team to watch and the SAP center is a great place to catch a game

Go (frank) yourself, joe. You're the worst poster on this board, a board that includes rinaldo
- KINGKENZO

i thought we shipped him to boston for a 3rd

Of course it's early, but I really don't see a center, even if he cleaned it up defensively his offensive game isn't very center like. And I am skeptical he can clean it up...bc I think it's an innate hockey sense issue. That's my gut feeling. It's not uncommon for average scorers who hustle and skate hard in juniors to get labeled "good" defensively. Maybe he was one idk.

I do think his skill translates and it has. Just as a scoring winger. That's his ticket imo.
- Mononoke

Right now I would rather just insert Laughton into Reads role. 3rd line wing, PK minutes. He has good speed on the wing and a better shot then people think. Also he can makes some nice passing plays with his speed.

Colton Sceviour intrigues me, so if you can sign a center like him, maybe you can role with a 3rd line like Laughton - Sceviour - Raffl.

Alex Chaisson also peaks my interest if he doesn't get QO from Senators.

Are some of you "guys" rooting for the pens
- Landsbergfan

Yes, "some" of us "guys" are "rooting" for the "Pens."

HMMMM Blantant slashing by Crosby with 8 minutes to go...NO CALL.....whistling through the park.....nothing to see here.
- ClutchFlyer

Tampa Bay blatantly with 8 men (7 + goalie) on the ice for a good 3 seconds late in the first...NO CALL.....whistling through the park.....nothing to see here.

I think anybody who truly watched the conference finals, honestly watched many/all of the games, knows what some of us are talking about when we are lukewarm on VDV and Ryan White, or trades for guys like Erik Gudbranson

You run guys out there who can't skate or can't skate with the puck, or move it accurately, or can't think fast in their own zone...the best teams will come after you wave after wave after wave, turning you over again and again

Tampa's a good team. They deserved to be in this Game 7. Yet if you watched this series, you know that Pittsburgh was all over them in this series and that Tampa was leaking shots and chances the entire way

In this final game, Tampa could not sustain any offense because they didn't have enough defenders who could move the puck and they had, what, 8 forwards who could play at the pace Pittsburgh did

You can't play like that anymore. Your third and fourth line can't be "safe guys" who are average skaters who can only check and/or barely hold their own. Your bottom pair on defense can't leak chances and shots constantly

You will lose. Because you won't have the puck enough to win
- AllInForFlyers

Pittsburgh in the playoffs, is a 50.83 CF% team at 5 on 5 play. San Jose is at 48.56% CF at 5 on 5 play.

Matt Cullen for example, has a CF% of 39.68% at 5 on5 play. Kuhnhackl is at 39.94%. Eric Fehr is at 44.70%.

I'm wondering if PSG's offer for brunch still stands. I may be back in AC a couple nights a week for the next couple of weeks.
- funmaster18

Yeah he's cool with it

Pittsburgh in the playoffs, is a 50.83 CF% team at 5 on 5 play. San Jose is at 48.56% CF at 5 on 5 play.

Matt Cullen for example, has a CF% of 34.73% at 5 on5 play. Kuhnhackl is at 37.26%. Eric Fehr is at 38.80%. Carl Hagelin is at 45.06%.
- MJL

Did you even read what I posted? Seriously -- did you even try to understand before you posted numbers that you don't like until you do?

I didn't quote CF; I never do. I said Tampa was leaking shots and chances all series and they were -- they got outshot in every game and were outshot by FIFTY over the seven games.

Jon Cooper said after the game that Pittsburgh was simply faster as a team and that they were unable to generate any speed coming up ice because of the Pittsburgh forecheck. Is this a day where you like Jon Cooper, or no?

Pittsburgh in the playoffs, is a 50.83 CF% team at 5 on 5 play. San Jose is at 48.56% CF at 5 on 5 play.

Matt Cullen for example, has a CF% of 39.68% at 5 on5 play. Kuhnhackl is at 39.94%. Eric Fehr is at 44.70%.
- MJL

Even more awesome: Now you're going back in and editing the numbers that you hate that you introduced.

Why did you drop Hagelin? What are his numbers? Did he no longer fit your troll narrative?

Did you even read what I posted? Seriously -- did you even try to understand before you posted numbers that you don't like until you do?

I didn't quote CF; I never do. I said Tampa was leaking shots and chances all series and they were -- they got outshot in every game and were outshot by FIFTY over the seven games.

Jon Cooper said after the game that Pittsburgh was simply faster as a team and that they were unable to generate any speed coming up ice because of the Pittsburgh forecheck. Is this a day where you like Jon Cooper, or no?
- AllInForFlyers

Those numbers show what happened on the ice. They clearly show that those players, while on the ice, were losing the battle of shot suppression. The team who plays those players, is going to the Cup finals. In the playoffs, especially against good teams, there are going to be players, who are put in certain matchups, who are not going to hold their own, and are going to outshot and out chanced. That is my point. Not that Tampa wasn't outshot or outplayed as a whole, as a team, in the game. Your focus has clearly been on the Flyers 4th line, which I don't necessarily disagree with the fact that they have to upgrade there. They have to upgrade in a number of areas.

Even more awesome: Now you're going back in and editing the numbers that you hate that you introduced.

Why did you drop Hagelin? What are his numbers? Did he no longer fit your troll narrative?
- AllInForFlyers

I looked in the wrong game situation column and posted the numbers from all situations, rather than 5 on 5 play. Hagelin came in just under 50% at 5 on 5 play.

Kris Letang, and Justin Schultz were the only 2 Pens defenseman to have a CF% above 50% at 5 on 5 play.

Does ya boi JoeyR know that Giroux had hip and hernia surgery or is that being conveniently ignored as per the narrative.