Laughton is barely a 4C in the NHL. It speaks to the pig-headed loyalty and lack of quality centers on the roster that he is even on the roster. If Laughton is 3C, the Flyers don;t make the playoffs. Hexy wants to make the playoffs, so SOMEBODY HAS TO step up.
- hockeyal

On what basis are you stating that Laughton is barely a 4C in the NHL?

Flyers have Giroux, Couturier, and Patrick who can all play center. They have a lack of quality centers on the roster?

Unless the Flyers invent a new, heretofore unseen system in the off-season, Weal can't play defense well enough to be an NHL center, 3C, 4C, any C.

This is also the problem with JVR-Patrick-TK. Patrick is projected to be a breakout player because he was able to stop focusing on his defense in the last half of the season. Playing with wings who don't/can't play in their own end means forcing Patrick to be a defensive workhorse. Why not just split Coots and G up and put Coots as this lines center and make him a 10 goal scorer again. Also, without G and Coots, TK will vanish as he did last season. If you are taking him off the top line, you might as well send him to LV.
- hockeyal

There is no such thing as a center being able to stop focusing on defense. Patrick is projected to be a breakout player because of his talent and skill level along with his ability to play a two way game. Patrick had a better second half because he got stronger and healthier and had nothing to do with no longer focusing on defense.
The last line about sending Konency to LV based on what line he is on is absurd.

The ducks 25th anniversary jersey is fantastic! The current logo has no business being on the shoulder though

https://www.nhl.com/news/...c-299549712?tid=281396148

UuuumaumaUMAUMAumaUMAUMAumaUMA
- Giroux_Is_God

Get Uma’d.

Get Uma’d.


- Mononoke

The ducks 25th anniversary jersey is fantastic! The current logo has no business being on the shoulder though

https://www.nhl.com/news/...c-299549712?tid=281396148
- Just5

Those are absolute gems!

Looking ahead, idk 2 years(?), I can see Lindblom being shifted to RW with the emergence of Ratcliffe and maybe even Farabee further down. Then again, we also have TK, Jake, and further down Allison for RW. Looking like we are gonna have some good problems 😬
- arichardson22

Exactly what I am saying. Ratcliffe has only ever played LW. Same for Farabee.

Allison could be a good RW, in 20-21 or later. What about 18-19? 19-20? Nada.

There is no such thing as a center being able to stop focusing on defense. Patrick is projected to be a breakout player because of his talent and skill level along with his ability to play a two way game. Patrick had a better second half because he got stronger and healthier and had nothing to do with no longer focusing on defense.
The last line about sending Konency to LV based on what line he is on is absurd.
- MJL

So you are saying that Patrick had the same responsibility to carry play in the defensive zone when he was playing with Konecny as when he was playing with Simmonds, or Lindblom? Wow.


Hockey people who get paid to write about this very subject disagree with you.

On what basis are you stating that Laughton is barely a 4C in the NHL?

Flyers have Giroux, Couturier, and Patrick who can all play center. They have a lack of quality centers on the roster?
- MJL

It's hard to see any areas where he is even better than the awful version of Lehtera we saw this year. If Lehtera works hard over the summer, pushes himself to get some of his explosiveness back, then there is no way Laughton beats him out for 4C. Again, pretty much every hockey person talks about Laughton's lack of playmaking ability, he lack of speed, his marginal stick and poor shot. What is NHL calibre about his game?

I’m confused by this post. You named all of our right wingers. Plus TK is pretty good no matter who he plays with.
- SuperSchennBros

Check the stats. Not so.

It's hard to see any areas where he is even better than the awful version of Lehtera we saw this year. If Lehtera works hard over the summer, pushes himself to get some of his explosiveness back, then there is no way Laughton beats him out for 4C. Again, pretty much every hockey person talks about Laughton's lack of playmaking ability, he lack of speed, his marginal stick and poor shot. What is NHL calibre about his game?
- hockeyal

For Laughton the biggest issue is his lack of vision/playmaking. He is also poor in battling/scrums and can’t hold the puck. His foot speed is more than adequate and his wrister is at least average or better. He just has major weaknesses in areas where centers typically need to be strong.

To be clear....the flyers will be blacked out on Hulu tv correct? It says nbc Philadelphia is part of the channel list but I’d assume the flyers games will be blacked out
- Just5

I don't live in the Philly metro area, but I do get the Flyers games through Hulu TV with no blackout and the Flyers are a team that is blacked out in my area as far as the NHL Center Ice package goes.

If you looked at my original post, I was talking about future cap hit. You came in the the bright idea to sign them now. GFY.
- FlyerFan16

You sign them now, and then, when you look at the 19-20 cap you say "Oh, derp derp derp, I guess there really isn't any money there."

The point is that once you sign the extensions, then the idiot fan base will pull up capfriendly and magically obligations have appeared and they no longer want to trade for the 10 highest paid players in the league.

NO, it doesn't matter WHEN they sign them, except for good will, which is VERY IMPORTANT. But that's where a bunch of their cap room is going. And in two years, they need to resign Patrick, Lindblom, Myers (who will be top 4 by then), and Alex Lyon (who will be 1A/1B). So saving is good. The ONLY thing they really desperately need is someone like Enstrom or Sbisa.

For Laughton the biggest issue is his lack of vision/playmaking. He is also poor in battling/scrums and can’t hold the puck. His foot speed is more than adequate and his wrister is at least average or better. He just has major weaknesses in areas where centers typically need to be strong.
- Just5

Also, until the end of this season, he was a liability in the dot. He has managed to pick that up. Laughton leads forwards in percentage of total shot attempts that missed the net. And he doesn't take that many. His shot is about as accurate as those great offensive weapons Hagg and AMac. Plus what you said. Not bad in the AHL.

So you are saying that Patrick had the same responsibility to carry play in the defensive zone when he was playing with Konecny as when he was playing with Simmonds, or Lindblom? Wow.



- hockeyal

Yes, systems play and the responsibilities of playing a position don't change based on who your linemates are. Hockey 101. Simmonds isn't exactly a defensive stalwart either.

Hockey people who get paid to write about this very subject disagree with you.
- hockeyal

Nice fallacy but this is just another ridiculous statement that you've made with no ability to back it up. Provide some facts.

It's hard to see any areas where he is even better than the awful version of Lehtera we saw this year. If Lehtera works hard over the summer, pushes himself to get some of his explosiveness back, then there is no way Laughton beats him out for 4C. Again, pretty much every hockey person talks about Laughton's lack of playmaking ability, he lack of speed, his marginal stick and poor shot. What is NHL calibre about his game?
- hockeyal

How hard is it to see the difference in offensive contributions between Laughton and Lehtera? Lehtera can train as hard as he wants to, his skating and explosiveness will not change at this point of his career.

Nice fallacy again. Laughton has one of the better wrist shots on the team actually and plays at a high pace, especially on the forecheck. Not sure what hockey people you listen to but I pretty sure it's in the same fantasy land that your opinions are formed in.

Check the stats. Not so.
- hockeyal

Provide the stats.

You sign them now, and then, when you look at the 19-20 cap you say "Oh, derp derp derp, I guess there really isn't any money there."

The point is that once you sign the extensions, then the idiot fan base will pull up capfriendly and magically obligations have appeared and they no longer want to trade for the 10 highest paid players in the league.

NO, it doesn't matter WHEN they sign them, except for good will, which is VERY IMPORTANT. But that's where a bunch of their cap room is going. And in two years, they need to resign Patrick, Lindblom, Myers (who will be top 4 by then), and Alex Lyon (who will be 1A/1B). So saving is good. The ONLY thing they really desperately need is someone like Enstrom or Sbisa.
- hockeyal

The Flyers defense is set with more prospects on the way. They don't need Sbisa or Enstrom.

The Flyers defense is set with more prospects on the way. They don't need Sbisa or Enstrom.
- MJL

I personally believe that's an alt account from a fan of another team trying to stir things up. Notice how every one of their comments sounds like they are talking with a shoe in their mouth? Very suspicious of others I have talked to today, Just giving you an FYI.

I personally believe that's an alt account from a fan of another team trying to stir things up. Notice how every one of their comments sounds like they are talking with a shoe in their mouth? Very suspicious of others I have talked to today, Just giving you an FYI.
- Glak18

I’ve always found it weird people will do this . The internet is (frank)ing odd.

Check the stats. Not so.
- hockeyal

He’s a young kid!

G-Coots-TK (why mess with a good thing)
JVR-NoPa-Jake (can shelter defensively)
Lindblom-Laughty-Simmer (heavy duty line)
Raffl-Vorobyov-Weal (some skill on the 4th)

You sign them now, and then, when you look at the 19-20 cap you say "Oh, derp derp derp, I guess there really isn't any money there."

The point is that once you sign the extensions, then the idiot fan base will pull up capfriendly and magically obligations have appeared and they no longer want to trade for the 10 highest paid players in the league.

NO, it doesn't matter WHEN they sign them, except for good will, which is VERY IMPORTANT. But that's where a bunch of their cap room is going. And in two years, they need to resign Patrick, Lindblom, Myers (who will be top 4 by then), and Alex Lyon (who will be 1A/1B). So saving is good. The ONLY thing they really desperately need is someone like Enstrom or Sbisa.
- hockeyal

How do a Enstrom or Sbisa make sebse for this team?
Short of 1-4 dman I dont see them adding.

I don't think HockeyAl has said anything that is reasonable all day. Joe, is that you?

Luca Sbisa is a bad palyer and I don't want him anywhere near the flyers unless we are playing against him

I personally believe that's an alt account from a fan of another team trying to stir things up. Notice how every one of their comments sounds like they are talking with a shoe in their mouth? Very suspicious of others I have talked to today, Just giving you an FYI.
- Glak18

Thanks but I don't think that is the case. I think it's just an uninformed Flyers fan.