I think he will, he's been very good at every level he's ever played at, and, like Konecny, he has the ability to play either side. I'm really hoping to see a more balanced lineup that looks something like:

Giroux-Couturier-Voracek
JVR-Patrick-Lindblom
Konecny-Laughton-Simmonds
Raffl-???-Aube-Kubel

??? could be Lehtera, Weal or perhaps Vecchione.
- BiggE

I think this is a more likely lineup.

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
JVR-Patrick-Voracek
Lindblom-Weal-Simmonds
Lehtera-Laughton-Raffl
Leier, Weise

I think this is a more likely lineup.

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
JVR-Patrick-Voracek
Lindblom-Weal-Simmonds
Lehtera-Laughton-Raffl
Leier, Weise
- Feanor

I'd be fine with that except I'm really hoping that Aube-Kubel can win a spot so the 4th line would be:
Raffl-Laughton-NAK
spares: Lehtera and Weise or Leier
waived: Weise or Leier

I'd be fine with that except I'm really hoping that Aube-Kubel can win a spot so the 4th line would be:
Raffl-Laughton-NAK
spares: Lehtera and Weise or Leier
waived: Weise or Leier
- BiggE

Weise, not one of Hextall’s finer moments

I wasn’t sure about Weal at 3C when Hexy first mentioned it, but after some thought, I am sold on giving it a try. He will have good wingers. I really think Lindblom might be good at center if he can start out slowly. Maybe he can just give some face offs a go. I think that is important if he is on the PK too.

I think Weal stays on the wing, Laughton is your 3C and Lehtera is your 4C, possibly being replaced by Vorobyev or Vecc if he struggles.

I'd be fine with that except I'm really hoping that Aube-Kubel can win a spot so the 4th line would be:
Raffl-Laughton-NAK
spares: Lehtera and Weise or Leier
waived: Weise or Leier
- BiggE

I am really interested in seeing Weal in the 3C role in camp. The clips I saw of him in AHL as a center were solid. Good speed, facilitated some scoring chances.

Regardless of 3C, I hope that we give the lines enough time to gel and build chemistry. TK on top line for full year could be beneficial. Patty and JvR could be a nice pair for Jake. Lindblom and Simmer can help each other.

The defense pairs bother me far more than 3C or the 4th line. I am just not a fan of what I saw from Gudas last year. Hagg was good at even strength but I thought he was not good at PK.

The defense pairs bother me far more than 3C or the 4th line. I am just not a fan of what I saw from Gudas last year. Hagg was good at even strength but I thought he was not good at PK.
- NC Flyers Fan

Yeah, I'm not a fan of a Hagg/Gudas pairing. If they are going to keep Ghost with Provorov, then I'd go with:

Provorov-Ghost
Sanheim-Gudas
AMac-Hagg

However, as much I don't want AMac on the top pair, I think the best balanced pairings would be:

Provorov-AMac
Ghost-Hagg
Sanheim-Gudas

I am really interested in seeing Weal in the 3C role in camp. The clips I saw of him in AHL as a center were solid. Good speed, facilitated some scoring chances.

Regardless of 3C, I hope that we give the lines enough time to gel and build chemistry. TK on top line for full year could be beneficial. Patty and JvR could be a nice pair for Jake. Lindblom and Simmer can help each other.
- cdearth23

Weal, at least on paper, should be a good fit between Lindblom and Simmonds. He gives the line some offense creativity and is a good playmaker. Gotta see how it works out on the ice though.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of a Hagg/Gudas pairing. If they are going to keep Ghost with Provorov, then I'd go with:

Provorov-Ghost
Sanheim-Gudas
AMac-Hagg

However, as much I don't want AMac on the top pair, I think the best balanced pairings would be:

Provorov-AMac
Ghost-Hagg
Sanheim-Gudas
- BiggE

I like the Ghost-Hagg pairing but no matter how I think of the rest, someone ends up playing higher than ideal.

I would like to give Folin a chance over Gudas.

I like the Ghost-Hagg pairing but no matter how I think of the rest, someone ends up playing higher than ideal.

I would like to give Folin a chance over Gudas.
- NC Flyers Fan

If Folin earns it, then sure play him over Gudas. However, Folin is really just a 6/7 journeyman while Gudas, prior to last season, has been a pretty solid player most of his career. I'm hoping that Gudas bounces back to some degree.

I like the Ghost-Hagg pairing but no matter how I think of the rest, someone ends up playing higher than ideal.

I would like to give Folin a chance over Gudas.
- NC Flyers Fan

Seems like every year we have a few players slotted above their talent level. Read and Raffl come to mind. AMac too. Raffl can be effective as 4th line wing. Similar to Reads role at end of year. Perfect for them. Only injuries should force them up line up. I hate when we start messing with lines during year. Chemistry is key.

Weise, not one of Hextall’s finer moments
- DraftandDestroy

He'd be ok as a 4th liner if he actually engages himself in the game.

If Folin earns it, then sure play him over Gudas. However, Folin is really just a 6/7 journeyman while Gudas, prior to last season, has been a pretty solid player most of his career. I'm hoping that Gudas bounces back to some degree.
- BiggE

Agreed. Gudas really had an issue with that 1st pass last year. I swear he led the league in icings... I don't mind the physical as long as he is smart. And I don't mean in practice. Took Coots out and no suspension from NHL. 😀

The defense pairs bother me far more than 3C or the 4th line. I am just not a fan of what I saw from Gudas last year. Hagg was good at even strength but I thought he was not good at PK.
- NC Flyers Fan

Truth.

Defense really isn't all that, but it's looking like in a couple seasons if these guys pan out could be a staple for quite a while.

I think this is a more likely lineup.

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
JVR-Patrick-Voracek
Lindblom-Weal-Simmonds
Lehtera-Laughton-Raffl
Leier, Weise
- Feanor

How long has it been since the Flyers had a line (that had actual hockey skill) with the size of JVR-Patrick-Voracek?

Agreed. Gudas really had an issue with that 1st pass last year. I swear he led the league in icings... I don't mind the physical as long as he is smart. And I don't mean in practice. Took Coots out and no suspension from NHL. 😀
- cdearth23

I was sour on Gudas before the Coots incident. That was accidental but really unfunny. Come on Folin!

Hextall drafts well, but he never seems to make a big move for any decent ufas. So they come here where the action is so that they can believe that their team is relevant.
- Canhockeyfan

Saw this in another thread and made me think about the impact of signing big name UFAs.

Question for anyone:

When was the last time a big name UFA signing pushed a team over the edge to win a Stanley Cup?

The names I could think of that truly made a major impact:

Scott Stevens (1991) New Jersey
Ed Belfour (1997) Dallas
Scott Niedermayer (2005) Anaheim
Zdeno Chara (2006) Boston

Mostly key positions, goaltending and defense.

Any other suggestions?

I am really interested in seeing Weal in the 3C role in camp. The clips I saw of him in AHL as a center were solid. Good speed, facilitated some scoring chances.

Regardless of 3C, I hope that we give the lines enough time to gel and build chemistry. TK on top line for full year could be beneficial. Patty and JvR could be a nice pair for Jake. Lindblom and Simmer can help each other.
- cdearth23

Yet two teams now have basically been meh on him in many ways.
Weal is what he is I would think at this point.

Seems like every year we have a few players slotted above their talent level. Read and Raffl come to mind. AMac too. Raffl can be effective as 4th line wing. Similar to Reads role at end of year. Perfect for them. Only injuries should force them up line up. I hate when we start messing with lines during year. Chemistry is key.
- cdearth23

Raffl is good on the boards, driving the play, defensively responsible and occasionally flashes Star-level offense. He is best at a bottom 6 role and PK. I think some think worse of him because he gets used outside his ideal, like the 1st line, when there is injury.

Saw this in another thread and made me think about the impact of signing big name UFAs.

Question for anyone:

When was the last time a big name UFA signing pushed a team over the edge to win a Stanley Cup?

The names I could think of that truly made a major impact:

Scott Stevens (1991) New Jersey
Ed Belfour (1997) Dallas
Scott Niedermayer (2005) Anaheim
Zdeno Chara (2006) Boston

Mostly key positions, goaltending and defense.

Any other suggestions?
- Glak18

I think Phil Kessel qualifies for Pittsburgh, 2016. He was a big UFA signing and nearly PPG.

I think Phil Kessel qualifies for Pittsburgh, 2016. He was a big UFA signing and nearly PPG.
- NC Flyers Fan

Kessel was traded to Pittsburgh from Toronto.

Kessel was traded to Pittsburgh from Toronto.
- Glak18

Scott Stevens was not acquired by NJ as a free agent. He was awarded to NJ through arbitration as compensation for the Blues signing Shanahan as an RFA.

Scott Stevens was not acquired by NJ as a free agent. He was awarded to NJ through arbitration as compensation for the Blues signing Shanahan as an RFA.
- MJL

Correct. Strike Stevens off the list.

Correct. Strike Stevens off the list.
- Glak18

How about Brett Hull in 98 for Dallas.

EDIT: And in Detroit in 2001.