What the hell are you arguing? Gourde is not Weal. Weal is 26 and his career high is 21 points.

Matt Read was about the same age. Had 2 40 point seasons then went down hill. Weal is not a good player and he will most likely never be.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Weal has also never had a consistent shot to produce at the NHL level. He's in for 2 games, out for 5, in for 4 games, out for a month, etc. He's always been buried on the depth chart due to his waiver status.

I wouldn't say he's not a good player because he's been a very good player at most stages of his career. You can argue that he hasn't shown anything special at the NHL level, and most likely never will, but I'd rather he get a handful of games where he's given a realistic chance at success to find out for sure.

But saying he's a bad player is like the people who say that Henrik Lundqvist has never won a championship.

lehtera of course has the biggest line
- YuenglingJagr

Giroux-Couturier-Voracek
Lindblom-Weal-Konecny
Raffl-Laughton-Simmonds
Vorobyev-Lehterä-Weise/Knight
- ajw12

This line had some jump. At least until the 12 minute penalty on Simmonds.

Maybe - I really don't know. Or care. Weal is not St. Louis.
- Scoob

A guy like Marchessault was in Weal territory before Florida gave him a serious look.

And it's not like St. Louis even looked all that great until he was well into his time in Tampa.

Most smaller undrafteds usually never get a fair shake.

I think the training staff will have their hands full with him. He is the kind of player that will hide things from them if they allow it. We can't have him being Simmer of last year and just trying to do anything he can to be on the ice.

If he or any other player are legit hurt they need to be off the ice at game time. I am glad they finally got AMac off it because he looked horrible after coming back from injury. He definitely looked to come back too soon.
- dragonoffrost

I agree.

It's not just a question of "well, even a hurt Provorov is better than the replacement player".

That is the wrong mentality and players need to look out for their own interests, similar to Leveon Bell and what others are doing in the NFL. The team is there to take advantage of you, no matter the risk to your personal health.

I agree.

It's not just a question of "well, even a hurt Provorov is better than the replacement player".

That is the wrong mentality and players need to look out for their own interests, similar to Leveon Bell and what others are doing in the NFL. The team is there to take advantage of you, no matter the risk to your personal health.
- StepfordSam

Leveon Bell is also being compensated fairly well financially, to do a profession of his own choosing, well aware of the possible risks, and is not choosing not to perform that profession because he was only going to make $15M. It's totally a long-term financial issue. To me, that's a bit different than players hiding injuries to keep playing.

A guy like Marchessault was in Weal territory before Florida gave him a serious look.

And it's not like St. Louis even looked all that great until he was well into his time in Tampa.

Most smaller undrafteds usually never get a fair shake.
- Tomahawk

This is all I am saying.

Give him a consistent shot... maybe he makes it, maybe he doesn’t. I am not willing to write him if just yet

[quote=hockeylover]
The baby’s first present was free entry into the D zone, however the infant did a good job of blocking the scissors when the doctor went to cut the cord.

Leveon Bell is also being compensated fairly well financially, to do a profession of his own choosing, well aware of the possible risks, and is not choosing not to perform that profession because he was only going to make $15M. It's totally a long-term financial issue. To me, that's a bit different than players hiding injuries to keep playing.
- jmatchett383

I was wondering if I typed something wrong there.

You all are cold with the jokes about AMAC's new child....








But the jokes are (frank)ing hilarious. Keep them coming

The baby’s first present was free entry into the D zone, however the infant did a good job of blocking the scissors when the doctor went to cut the cord.
- BiggE

(frank)ing fantastic.

Once MacDonald is healthy I would go back to MacDonald/Provorov and Hagg/Gostisbehere and Sanheim/Gudas.
- J35Bacher

MacDonald shouldn't be anywhere near the first pairing.

He's arguing that Gourde and Weal both had about the same production in juniors and the AHL, are the same age, and Gourde just broke out last season at 25. So Weal could still be a solid NHL player under the right circumstances
- ajw12

Gourde was a rookie last year. Weal was not. Weal is not. Weal has a full season under his belt. The reason Gourde did good was because he is a good player. Good enough to not get scratched like Weal does. Hextall himself said that he didnt have high hopes for weal when the deal was made to bring him to philly. We were just desperate to get rid of Vinny and Schenn

Gourde was a rookie last year. Weal was not. Weal is not. Weal has a full season under his belt. The reason Gourde did good was because he is a good player. Good enough to not get scratched like Weal does. Hextall himself said that he didnt have high hopes for weal when the deal was made to bring him to philly. We were just desperate to get rid of Vinny and Schenn
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I'd be really interested in seeing this quote.

Weal has also never had a consistent shot to produce at the NHL level. He's in for 2 games, out for 5, in for 4 games, out for a month, etc. He's always been buried on the depth chart due to his waiver status.

I wouldn't say he's not a good player because he's been a very good player at most stages of his career. You can argue that he hasn't shown anything special at the NHL level, and most likely never will, but I'd rather he get a handful of games where he's given a realistic chance at success to find out for sure.

But saying he's a bad player is like the people who say that Henrik Lundqvist has never won a championship.
- jmatchett383

He is getting benched over the likes of Lehtera and Weise. That should speak volumes. The guy has had every chance to be a player on this team. He was supposed to be a big part of the team last year and he failed to accomplish anything playing. Top 6 has been a weak point for years. Couturier was buried on the 3rd line for years. We needed a LW for the top 2 lines desperately and he failed. Evern Raffl managed to stay in the top 6 for a year.

Couturier hasn't been used as a 3rd liner since Berube was sent packing.

Gourde was a rookie last year. Weal was not.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Weal - born 4/15/92
15-16 14 NHL games
16-17 23 NHL games
17-18 69 NHL games

Gourde - born 12/15/91
15-16 2 NHL games
16-17 20 NHL games
17-18 82 NHL games

I'd be really interested in seeing this quote.
- jmatchett383

I read it long ago, Im trying to find it but not having any luck. Cant find any quotes about the deal

Nurse: Mr. MacDonald, did you want to hold the baby?

Amac: *Sprawls on the floor of the delivery room on his belly, waving his arms*
- johndewar

LOL

He is getting benched over the likes of Lehtera and Weise. That should speak volumes. The guy has had every chance to be a player on this team. He was supposed to be a big part of the team last year and he failed to accomplish anything playing. Top 6 has been a weak point for years. Couturier was buried on the 3rd line for years. We needed a LW for the top 2 lines desperately and he failed. Evern Raffl managed to stay in the top 6 for a year.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Yes, because Weal is competing for a 4th line spot just like Weise and Lehtera. That's clearly the best way to utilize him.

I agree he was underwhelming last year. And like I said, he probably will go down as nothing more than a small footnote in team history. And like I said, he's never consistently produced, but he's also never consistently played with skilled players.

Again, he'll probably never be a big producer, but what is the harm in giving him a 10-15 game "now or never" shot? He knows he's playing for his future, which is the best motivator.

He is getting benched over the likes of Lehtera and Weise. That should speak volumes. The guy has had every chance to be a player on this team. He was supposed to be a big part of the team last year and he failed to accomplish anything playing. Top 6 has been a weak point for years. Couturier was buried on the 3rd line for years. We needed a LW for the top 2 lines desperately and he failed. Evern Raffl managed to stay in the top 6 for a year.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

He was getting benched because there weren't any spots in the top 9 open. He was never battling Lehtera or Weise. He was battling Lindblom, Vorobyev, and other top 9 players.

And if Gourde is so much better than Weal, why did he play in the ECHL instead of the AHL after he was done in juniors? Some players can be late bloomers. Weal has the skill to be a solid player on a scoring line in the NHL, his consistency just needs to match his skillset.

Couturier hasn't been used as a 3rd liner since Berube was sent packing.



Weal - born 4/15/92
15-16 14 NHL games
16-17 23 NHL games
17-18 69 NHL games

Gourde - born 12/15/91
15-16 2 NHL games
16-17 20 NHL games
17-18 82 NHL games
- Feanor

That still doesnt change anything. Gourde excelled in his rookie season, Weal didnt. End of story. You cant say that someone was going to end up like Crosby because he did well in his rookie season and is only 1 year older than another player. Players talent levels are differnt. Gourde is a good player. Weal is not. He is a fringe career AHL player.

He was getting benched because there weren't any spots in the top 9 open. He was never battling Lehtera or Weise. He was battling Lindblom, Vorobyev, and other top 9 players.

And if Gourde is so much better than Weal, why did he play in the ECHL instead of the AHL after he was done in juniors? Some players can be late bloomers. Weal has the skill to be a solid player on a scoring line in the NHL, his consistency just needs to match his skillset.
- ajw12

Not last year he wasnt.

I read it long ago, Im trying to find it but not having any luck. Cant find any quotes about the deal
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I just re-listened to the phone interview when the trade was made, and all he said was that he was skilled and dedicated, that he was accomplished at the AHL level, but that he needed to establish himself as an NHL player. Not exactly a glowing endorsement, but a far cry from him saying, "We don't really have high hopes for him, but LA made us take him."

Weal is a good depth player to have.

Thank god the Lehtera to 2C idea didn't happen.

Yes, because Weal is competing for a 4th line spot just like Weise and Lehtera. That's clearly the best way to utilize him.

I agree he was underwhelming last year. And like I said, he probably will go down as nothing more than a small footnote in team history. And like I said, he's never consistently produced, but he's also never consistently played with skilled players.

Again, he'll probably never be a big producer, but what is the harm in giving him a 10-15 game "now or never" shot? He knows he's playing for his future, which is the best motivator.
- jmatchett383

You argue this yet you criticize Hakstol for not playing kids on the 4th line. We literally had this argument weeks ago before the season started where I said kids on the 4th line was a waste. Last year Fillpula was our 3rd line C. If Weal was so good, how come he couldnt out play him. He wasnt anything special in his time in Philly