straws

He looks like Mid-life crisis Dad. He just bought the cool jeep he's always wanted and keeps a film canister of weed in the glove box.
- johndewar

except he has millions in the bank so he can buy the real good $hit...

Gonna go out on a limb with this one a bit, but here goes. I think the Flyers have a solid shot to win the Metro this season and here is why:

First lets take a quick look at the competition.

Washington will almost certainly suffer from some type of Cup hangover. They had 107 points last year, I can see them slipping 5-7 points this year.

Pittsburgh, IMO, did nothing to improve themselves at all and their stars are a year older with that much more wear and tear on them.

Columbus has a sticky situation on their hands with Panarin and I don't think they've made any major improvements either.

New Jersey, IMO, will be lucky to hit the 97 points they had last season.

As far as the Rags, Canes or Isles, I don't see any of them, save for possibly the Canes if all breaks right for them, even being playoff teams, let alone winning the division.

Now, lets take a look at the Flyers:

They had 98 points last year. While G may not put up quite the numbers he had last year, they will have a healthy Simmonds and JVR to add to the offense. Plus, guys like Patrick, TK and Lindblom are only going to get better. On D, Provorov will have another year's experience and kids like Sanheim, Hagg, Myers and hopefully at some point, Morin, should all be able to contribute more. Yes, their goaltending is average at best, but it was only average at best last year so I don't really see any change there.

When it's all said and done, as long as they can stay relatively healthy in regards to the key players, I can see the Flyers improving 5-10 points from last season and finishing in the 103-108 point range. I think the Metro will be a division that you can win this season with 105 points so the Flyers should be right there.
- BiggE

U may also have a regression points wise from Jake 14 ghost and Provorov. To what extent is the key. Can see the flyers with less points than last year as well.

I agree with most of this, but Pittsburgh will also have a full season with Brassard, who didn't really get acclimated last year. Not saying he's a superstar, but he's a great 3C. I think it will be the Pens and Flyers fighting for the top spot but, as always, goaltending is our question mark this year.
- jmatchett383

Isn't he going to play wing? haha

They were also pretty unlucky in the first half of last season

Isn't he going to play wing? haha

They were also pretty unlucky in the first half of last season
- YuenglingJagr

They had talked about it, but I think they'll end up with him at 3C and, even if he does move to wing, they'll still have Sheahan for a full season at 3C.

And yes, they won't have Niemi giving games away this year.

They were within 7 points last year of the Caps at the end, so it's not inconceivable.

If the PK can get better and the goaltending hold serve, they can definitely surpass what they did last year.

Even if Giroux comes back to Earth, point-wise, there is no reason to believe that JvR won't pick up some of the scoring slack.

The defense should be better, more mobile. The bottom 6 will get an infusion of young talent. I do think Laughton wins the 3C job and thrives.
- johndewar

Even a middle of the pack PK% would make a huge difference.

The 17-18 Flyers were actually even worse shorthanded than their pathetic PK% would suggest.

https://www.tsn.ca/there-...rmance-measures-1.1146974

Even a middle of the pack PK% would make a huge difference.

The 17-18 Flyers were actually even worse shorthanded than their pathetic PK% would suggest.

https://www.tsn.ca/there-...rmance-measures-1.1146974


- Feanor

Thank God some of the kids coming up look like they'll be able to be decent PK'ers. I still think Lappy needs to go though regardless.

Thank God some of the kids coming up look like they'll be able to be decent PK'ers. I still think Lappy needs to go though regardless.
- hereticpride

This. Aside from running out relatively poor players on the PK, the system itself is flawed and outdated.

He looks like Mid-life crisis Dad. He just bought the cool jeep he's always wanted and keeps a film canister of weed in the glove box.
- johndewar

lol!!!

This. Aside from running out relatively poor players on the PK, the system itself is flawed and outdated.
- jmatchett383

I am curious if you might start seeing Patrick and Lindblom get some minutes on the PK.

Just like the PP, add more talent to the PK and you should get better results.

This. Aside from running out relatively poor players on the PK, the system itself is flawed and outdated.
- jmatchett383

That's the bigger issue, imho

This. Aside from running out relatively poor players on the PK, the system itself is flawed and outdated.
- jmatchett383

Agreed. They are much to passive in their zone defense and that is due to system much more than personnel. You can fault personnel for stuff like zone entry and not getting guys out from in front of the goaltender, but it really is a mix. No matter what, they weren't going to be a top team on PK last season, but I think with better coaching/system, they at least could have come close to league average and that alone would have been enough to probably boost them to the 102-105 point range last year.

I am curious if you might start seeing Patrick and Lindblom get some minutes on the PK.

Just like the PP, add more talent to the PK and you should get better results.
- J35Bacher

I think Lindblom for sure, Patrick possibly.

If I had to guess right now, I would expect the top 6 guys based on PK TOI for 18-19 would be:

1. Couturier
2. Laughton
3. Lindblom
4. Simmonds
5. Giroux
6. Raffl or Lehtera

I think Lindblom for sure, Patrick possibly.

If I had to guess right now, I would expect the top 6 guys based on PK TOI for 18-19 would be:

1. Couturier
2. Laughton
3. Lindblom
4. Simmonds
5. Giroux
6. Raffl or Lehtera
- BiggE

This is why I hope Aube-Kubel makes the roster. With SImmonds coming off all those injuries I wouldn't mind limiting some of these minutes.

1. Couturier
2. Laughton
3. Lindblom
4. Aube-Kubel
5. Raffl

Maybe Patrick can get some minutes. And I am not sure the pairings but I think they could find pairs that can provide more pressure on the PK instead of the passive box.

I actually like the PKs where they start putting pressure on in the NZ instead of just holding the line.

This is why I hope Aube-Kubel makes the roster. With SImmonds coming off all those injuries I wouldn't mind limiting some of these minutes.

1. Couturier
2. Laughton
3. Lindblom
4. Aube-Kubel
5. Raffl

Maybe Patrick can get some minutes. And I am not sure the pairings but I think they could find pairs that can provide more pressure on the PK instead of the passive box.

I actually like the PKs where they start putting pressure on in the NZ instead of just holding the line.
- J35Bacher

Yeah, a lot depends on the final roster, but I definitely agree that the earlier you can pressure the opposing PP, the better.

Even a middle of the pack PK% would make a huge difference.

The 17-18 Flyers were actually even worse shorthanded than their pathetic PK% would suggest.

https://www.tsn.ca/there-...rmance-measures-1.1146974


- Feanor

Devils in 5th here have Andy Greene, Ben Lovejoy, Brian Gibbons, Steve Santini, Travis Zajac, and Blake Coleman as their main PKers

Agreed. They are much to passive in their zone defense and that is due to system much more than personnel. You can fault personnel for stuff like zone entry and not getting guys out from in front of the goaltender, but it really is a mix. No matter what, they weren't going to be a top team on PK last season, but I think with better coaching/system, they at least could have come close to league average and that alone would have been enough to probably boost them to the 102-105 point range last year.
- BiggE

I've always said that you're going to give up PP goals, especially against teams like Washington and Pittsburgh. They just have too much firepower. But instead of standing back and letting them pick you apart, put pressure on them and force them to make quick decisions and hard plays under pressure. In other words, make them beat you, don't let them beat you.

Yeah, a lot depends on the final roster, but I definitely agree that the earlier you can pressure the opposing PP, the better.
- BiggE

I thought that was the main thing with the Laughton and Leier pairing. Early in the season they seemed to pressure the puck early and force turnovers or dump ins that were easy to recover and clear the zone. Then they got away from it and you saw the effect of it.

I thought that was the main thing with the Laughton and Leier pairing. Early in the season they seemed to pressure the puck early and force turnovers or dump ins that were easy to recover and clear the zone. Then they got away from it and you saw the effect of it.
- J35Bacher

Yup agreed.

Every top PK pair for the Flyers, in all eras, were successful because they pressured the hell out of the opposing pp. From Clarke/Barber to Poulin/Propp to Sutter/Craven to Brind'amour/Podein to Primeau/Kapanen to Richards/Umberger to Lappy/Betts; they all pressured the opponents from the start of their breakout and throughout the neutral zone. Why they've gotten away from this in recent years is just puzzling to say the least.

Jamie Moyer looks like he bangs single moms for a living now.
- hereticpride

He can do whatever he wants. I think he's from like Souderton or something. I was there at game 3 of the 2008 WS where he started and Ruiz won it with a walk-off swinging bunt RBI. That was also the game that the crowd started the famous "EVA!!" chant every time Evan Longoria came to the plate.

Bill, considering how many prospects the Flyers have now at the AHL level do you think that plays into drafting more kids headed to college and in Europe knowing you have more time before you need to sign them?

[quote=nastyflyergirl]Bill, considering how many prospects the Flyers have now at the AHL level do you think that plays into drafting more kids headed to college and in Europe knowing you have more time before you need to sign them?

My feeling is it will effect your tweener types. Laughton needs to have a solid season this year or he could be one of those guys that get pushed out because you have such depth in system. Leier, Weal, Marte. Guys like that start to filter out. Also you could see a vet or two pushed out as younger plays take on bigger roles.

[quote=nastyflyergirl]Bill, considering how many prospects the Flyers have now at the AHL level do you think that plays into drafting more kids headed to college and in Europe knowing you have more time before you need to sign them?

My feeling is it will effect your tweener types. Laughton needs to have a solid season this year or he could be one of those guys that get pushed out because you have such depth in system. Leier, Weal, Marte. Guys like that start to filter out. Also you could see a vet or two pushed out as younger plays take on bigger roles.
- J35Bacher

I'm just happy that we don't have guys like Danny Syvret, Petr Straka, and Stefan Legein as some of our top prospects. FWIW, I seriously was really high on Joonas Lehtivuori.

Bill, considering how many prospects the Flyers have now at the AHL level do you think that plays into drafting more kids headed to college and in Europe knowing you have more time before you need to sign them?
- nastyflyergirl

fwiw I think the recent draft was light in CHL talent so as a result it seems like it was intentional. Flyers definitely ended up NCAA/USA heavy, but I don't think it was necessarily by design

I'm just happy that we don't have guys like Danny Syvret, Petr Straka, and Stefan Legein as some of our top prospects. FWIW, I seriously was really high on Joonas Lehtivuori.
- jmatchett383

We might need Danny for the outdoor game this year