You're basing your opinion off of a 25 game stint at the end of the year that he played well. We've never seen this again. What potential has he shown this year with somewhat quality linemates?
- ClaudeFather

This year, he has never played in the position that I suggested would be best for him. We don’t have a center for the 3rd line, and we are super deep on right wing. It is a fit issue, so this season Weal has been bounced from left wing, healthy scratch, fill-in at 2C, to experiment as 3C, back to left wing and healthy scratch. Scoring 7 points in 20 games in less than ideal circumstances. That is .35 points per game. For someone who MJL and others think doesn’t belonging the NHL, that is pretty relevant to his evaluation.

I don't hate him either. But he gets to play with JVR and Wayne Simmonds and cant seem to produce. Two 30 goal scorers.

Not big enough, not fast enough, not good enough in his own end. He is that all too common tweener whose skills are above average for the AHL and below average for the NHL.

It shows us just big the gap is between the two levels.
- MBFlyerfan

I don’t hate him as a person, just hate him in the lineup I suppose is the better wording. But for how many games he has played you may as well try other guys and call someone up. Leier is in the same relm as Weal but correct me if I’m wrong, didn’t Leier PK for us last year? I know he was somewhat effective as the HoneyBees line but with how bad our PK has been and how bad Weal has been, why not give Leier a game or two?

I don't hate him either. But he gets to play with JVR and Wayne Simmonds and cant seem to produce. Two 30 goal scorers.

Not big enough, not fast enough, not good enough in his own end. He is that all too common tweener whose skills are above average for the AHL and below average for the NHL.

It shows us just big the gap is between the two levels.
- MBFlyerfan

Yep. He's not gonna all of a sudden turn into Tyler Johnson or Yanni Gourde

Those guys are the exception. As you said, Weal's a tweener. Not a crime, but it's time the Flyers acknowledged that and moved on

Yep. He's not gonna all of a sudden turn into Tyler Johnson or Yanni Gourde

Those guys are the exception. As you said, Weal's a tweener. Not a crime, but it's time the Flyers acknowledged that and moved on
- AllInForFlyers

Now he’s a center who I wouldn’t mind the Flyers targeting via trade.

Bill wrote about this about a year and a half ago. If I remember correctly he did out play Hagg, however Morin only plays one side of the ice. At the time he wasn't moving Provorov or Gudas out, and at the time Hak wasn't comfortable going into the season with half the defense with less then 2 years experience.

edit: I feel dirty arguing the same side a MJL.
- youarewrong

It’s worse than that... you also agree that Hakstol was correct.

Bill wrote about this about a year and a half ago. If I remember correctly he did out play Hagg, however Morin only plays one side of the ice. At the time he wasn't moving Provorov or Gudas out, and at the time Hak wasn't comfortable going into the season with half the defense with less then 2 years experience.

edit: I feel dirty arguing the same side a MJL.
- youarewrong

Hak or was it with recent information Hextall who didn't want that many kids playing...

Now he’s a center who I wouldn’t mind the Flyers targeting via trade.
- arichardson22

There are worse out there, for sure -- I think he's slowed down a little because he isn't the biggest player, but I also believe that at this point in time, he could really help them at 3C

This year, he has never played in the position that I suggested would be best for him. We don’t have a center for the 3rd line, and we are super deep on right wing. It is a fit issue, so this season Weal has been bounced from left wing, healthy scratch, fill-in at 2C, to experiment as 3C, back to left wing and healthy scratch. Scoring 7 points in 20 games in less than ideal circumstances. That is .35 points per game. For someone who MJL and others think doesn’t belonging the NHL, that is pretty relevant to his evaluation.
- NC Flyers Fan

Weal's play has nothing to do with the position he plays. It would be the same regardless.

In the interest of fairness, for anyone who might be fair out there, here are this season’s most used 2C, 3C, 4C stat lines.

Patrick GP 22 PTS 9 +/- -5
Weal GP 20 PTS 7 +/- +2
Lehtera GP 20 PTS 3 +/- -3

More than anything this highlights a giant weakness in our lineup.

I recall he lost an opening night spot to a numbers game last year. Too many righty's on the blue line if I recall. I don't recall him having injury plagued seasons. He'll be back this year and he will be an NHL defensemen.
- Richard_wilderness

You know the conversation is about Morin, the left handed shooting defenseman who missed most of last year and has yet to play this year? The 1st rounder drafted 5 years ago?

Now he’s a center who I wouldn’t mind the Flyers targeting via trade.
- arichardson22

suggested that in the summer and the idea was met with hostility.

In the interest of fairness, for anyone who might be fair out there, here are this season’s most used 2C, 3C, 4C stat lines.

Patrick GP 22 PTS 9 +/- -5
Weal GP 20 PTS 7 +/- +2
Lehtera GP 20 PTS 3 +/- -3

More than anything this highlights a giant weakness in our lineup.
- NC Flyers Fan

This highlights the negative impact vorobyev was having on our lineup. We should have him shooting at 8 foot high nets so he can get better shooting at the 10 footers. Can you imagine how many more games we would have lost with Laughton and vorobyev at center.... or maybe having more skill and speed than weal and lehtera would cause them to learn from their mistakes and allow them to outshine those two lesser players who don’t figure into the flyers future.

This highlights the negative impact vorobyev was having on our lineup. We should have him shooting at 8 foot high nets so he can get better shooting at the 10 footers. Can you imagine how many more games we would have lost with Laughton and vorobyev at center.... or maybe having more skill and speed than weal and lehtera would cause them to learn from their mistakes and allow them to outshine those two lesser players who don’t figure into the flyers future.
- Shrike

wut

In the interest of fairness, for anyone who might be fair out there, here are this season’s most used 2C, 3C, 4C stat lines.

Patrick GP 22 PTS 9 +/- -5
Weal GP 20 PTS 7 +/- +2
Lehtera GP 20 PTS 3 +/- -3

More than anything this highlights a giant weakness in our lineup.
- NC Flyers Fan

Weal is not bad on the D side of the puck, he has made some nice back checks, but for him to be successful he needs to put up points. It does feel like the puck is in the O zone more than the D zone when he is on the ice. But man does he dangle on the boards, he needs to get there and make a play (he does get there, unlike others) You are correct the 3 you listed above highlight the glaring need for a 2C not a 3C. you did forget laughton 10 points and +3.

Center is a big hole, if they keep winning so be it, if not put G back in the middle.

Simmer and JVR don't appear to be a good combination of wingers

Y'all a bunch of Weal haters up in here.
- MJL

Live, knowing you are using Weal as the scapegoat of roster holes that go far beyond just his play.

Weal is not bad on the D side of the puck, he has made some nice back checks, but for him to be successful he needs to put up points. It does feel like the puck is in the O zone more than the D zone when he is on the ice. But man does he dangle on the boards, he needs to get there and make a play (he does get there, unlike others) You are correct the 3 you listed above highlight the glaring need for a 2C not a 3C. you did forget laughton 10 points and +3.

Center is a big hole, if they keep winning so be it, if not put G back in the middle.

Simmer and JVR don't appear to be a good combination of wingers
- wcorvette

I didn’t list Laughton because he has only been given a couple games at center.

Live, knowing you are using Weal as the scapegoat of roster holes that go far beyond just his play.
- NC Flyers Fan

this is true, the fit on this team, beyond line 1 is terrible. Why I dont understand all the hate on Jake (lazy sometimes) he is bouncing around the line up, he does have a good variety.


Put G back in the middle, put Jake on his wing, have Coots carry a line, get Patrick matched up against 3C's

This year, he has never played in the position that I suggested would be best for him. We don’t have a center for the 3rd line, and we are super deep on right wing. It is a fit issue, so this season Weal has been bounced from left wing, healthy scratch, fill-in at 2C, to experiment as 3C, back to left wing and healthy scratch. Scoring 7 points in 20 games in less than ideal circumstances. That is .35 points per game. For someone who MJL and others think doesn’t belonging the NHL, that is pretty relevant to his evaluation.
- NC Flyers Fan

Look I get that he tries hard and all but he doesn't bring much to the table. I'd give Laughton the look at 3C and scratch Weal. There is no room for him in the top 9 and call me old school but I'd rather have a bigger body on the fourth line, not Lehtera but a mobile bigger body.

wut
- ajw12

It's obviously a troll saying the complete opposite of things.

wut
- ajw12

I’m stating how having weal and lehtera at center is pointless, especially when you have more talented players who would benefit from playing time against nhlers. You could even say that hakstol is sacrificing next years team so that we may scrape into the playoffs with players Hextall was unwilling to buyout or release this year.

this is true, the fit on this team, beyond line 1 is terrible. Why I dont understand all the hate on Jake (lazy sometimes) he is bouncing around the line up, he does have a good variety.


Put G back in the middle, put Jake on his wing, have Coots carry a line, get Patrick matched up against 3C's
- wcorvette

I'll say this: I don't necessarily WANT to do that. But anything and everything should be on the table

I’m stating how having weal and lehtera at center is pointless, especially when you have more talented players who would benefit from playing time against nhlers. You could even say that hakstol is sacrificing next years team so that we may scrape into the playoffs with players Hextall was unwilling to buyout or release this year.
- Shrike

I got the complete opposite of that from your previous comment. It must of been poorly constructed sarcasm.

It's obviously a troll saying the complete opposite of things.
- Glak18

Technically it’s satire.

Live, knowing you are using Weal as the scapegoat of roster holes that go far beyond just his play.
- NC Flyers Fan

What I'm doing is laying out a case for why Weal is not a good NHL player

I’m stating how having weal and lehtera at center is pointless, especially when you have more talented players who would benefit from playing time against nhlers. You could even say that hakstol is sacrificing next years team so that we may scrape into the playoffs with players Hextall was unwilling to buyout or release this year.
- Shrike

I agree that Laughton is a better center than those two and he has been playing center recently but as much as I love Vorobyev's potential he simply did not play well enough when given the opportunity.

As for the unwillingness to buy out Lehtera. What's the point of buying him out and having him hit the books this year and next year when you can just let the season play out with him still here and then he's off the books for good? I mean it's not like he's been horrible when playing this year.