I'd do it based on points. There are 108 points remaining. Assuming 95 gets the playoffs they need 68 more points. That means they can "afford" to give up 40 points from now on.

regulation loss = -2
OT/SO loss = -1
- Scoob

Sounds about right.

Just a crazy thought... What about Luongo? FLA is in the basement.

PRO: Should cost us less (trade value) than Quick or Crawford. His contract cap hit ($4.5M) is less than Q and C. Better than what we have now. Old enough not to interfere with Hart moving up. His style doesn't rely on speed/flex as much as other goalies - he's big... He is not doing well, but neither is his team.

CON: He's old, How many more years does he have?, His contract is for another few years through 22 (which is a pro and con). Probably won't waive the NTC, he likes FLA.
- leon neon

pro: he has the best masks in the league

Just a crazy thought... What about Luongo? FLA is in the basement.

PRO: Should cost us less (trade value) than Quick or Crawford. His contract cap hit ($4.5M) is less than Q and C. Better than what we have now. Old enough not to interfere with Hart moving up. His style doesn't rely on speed/flex as much as other goalies - he's big... He is not doing well, but neither is his team.

CON: He's old, How many more years does he have?, His contract is for another few years through 22 (which is a pro and con). Probably won't waive the NTC, he likes FLA.
- leon neon

He's a huge part of the community down there. Even though it makes sense for them to shop him I just don't see it happening.

of course it is just an opinion. AS for the why hasn't he already, it is fair to say that Hak has been trying a variety of solutions, with how the Flyers are playing change should be expected. Varone has played well in the AHL and he is mature at 28, playing 5-8 minutes a night mitigates risk. I would think he has earned a look. Watch Lethera, as he moves to the puck on the PK, he is heading to the right spot but he just doesn't get there in time. Whether it is to fill the lane or break up the play. This happens on both sides of the puck for Lethera. When he has the puck, he loses control, my opinion his lack of speed lets the D get on him quicker, he then can't adjust quick enough to make the play. I'll add that the coaching staff has better info than us, once I add that to what I think, I like the move.
- wcorvette

My opinion on Lehtera is that he is a below average skater but his skating issues are overblown. I think he plays fine in a 4th line role. He plays well positionally and is strong in puck battles. His weakness is that he does not contribute enough offensively.

Lehtera has been pretty ineffective. Also, I’ve seen plenty of AHL vets come up and be effective for a short time before their play reverts to the mean. Guys like Al Hill, Don Nachbauer, Tim Tookey, Peter White and more recently Colin McDonald were able to come up play a solid couple to a few games in the past

Even Varone can only give them a couple of decent games it will still give them a bit more from the 4C spot that they have been getting recently from Lehtera. It also gives Fletcher a bit more time to address this issue. Perhaps he goes out and acquires a middle 6 LW (which should be less costly to acquire than a middle 6 center) and they can move Laughton to 4C.

Either way, there is little to risk to giving Varone a shot over Lehtera at this point.
- BiggE

i'm not questioning the idea of giving him a shot or trying something different. I was asking why he is better.

My opinion on Lehtera is that he is a below average skater but his skating issues are overblown. I think he plays fine in a 4th line role. He plays well positionally and is strong in puck battles. His weakness is that he does not contribute enough offensively.
- MJL

I don't disagree and I was right there with you, this year his foot speed has been more obvious. I like his effort and how he uses his size. I do think they believe Varone might get a point and the chances of lethera are not likely.

He is not a kid and he's not really that fast. He's 28 and at that age, there is no upside. He is a career AHL'er who has had a few cups of coffee at the NHL level. Very good AHL offensive player but who knows if that can translate to the NHL. To this point it has not.

McDavid is going to outskate any player on the Flyers.
- MJL

Was just saying kid as in person but neither here nor there. He is an above average skater, playing well for the phantoms right now, you can look up his stats, do Lehtera's numbers translate well in the NHL? He has a bunch of points right? Obviously Mcdavid is faster than both but I'd rather a kid that is one step behind him than three out there.

i'm not questioning the idea of giving him a shot or trying something different. I was asking why he is better.
- MJL

Most of aren't saying he's better because we don't know but we are saying it is 100% worth giving him a chance because Lehtera is ineffective. What don't you get?

i'm not questioning the idea of giving him a shot or trying something different. I was asking why he is better.
- MJL

It’s impossible to answer, as we haven’t seen him in that role for any length of time. You know that. What we do know is that over the last five games, Lehtera is a -5 and has generally been ineffective. He’s also seen his ice time reduced a bit too. Trying someone else in that spot makes sense.

i'm not questioning the idea of giving him a shot or trying something different. I was asking why he is better.
- MJL

I am going to move this discussion along...

Varone is a quicker skater, but unknown commodity in the NHL....no one has any facts to show you he is better than Lehtera. We just want a taste of that cow on the other side of the fence.

Update: 3 posts in a row saying the same thing

i'm not questioning the idea of giving him a shot or trying something different. I was asking why he is better.
- MJL

We’ll have to see Varone in this 4th line role for more games to truly answer that or retract.

I am going to move this discussion along...

Varone is a quicker skater, but unknown commodity in the NHL....no one has any facts to show you he is better than Lehtera. We just want a taste of that cow on the other side of the fence.

Update: 3 posts in a row saying the same thing
- Glak18

Yours is so colorful though.

I am going to move this discussion along...

Varone is a quicker skater, but unknown commodity in the NHL....no one has any facts to show you he is better than Lehtera. We just want a taste of that cow on the other side of the fence.

Update: 3 posts in a row saying the same thing
- Glak18

Someone just can't wrap their head around it.

I am going to move this discussion along...

Varone is a quicker skater, but unknown commodity in the NHL....no one has any facts to show you he is better than Lehtera. We just want a taste of that cow on the other side of the fence.
- Glak18

This is why folks get frustrated with MJL. He throws out questions like this, which cannot be answered and, in all honestly, are silly questions to ask.

The question to ask, IMO, is: what options do the Flyers have to replace a player who has been extremely ineffective of late? The answers, based on the current roster, are Weal or Varone. Since Weal has already been ineffective playing the pivot, simple logic dictates that they give Varone a try.

When is Knight going to be back? He did fine at 4th line center and can spot G on the PK.

Luongo has been a MASH unit for the last two seasons. He missed a lot of time last year due to injury and has been on the DL twice already this season.

When he is healthy he is still a very good goalie.......but his injury history lately has been Neuvy like.
- MBFlyerfan

I didn't know that - he played 13 games thus far, seemed light but I thought it was just part of the rotation.

Was just saying kid as in person but neither here nor there. He is an above average skater, playing well for the phantoms right now, you can look up his stats, do Lehtera's numbers translate well in the NHL? He has a bunch of points right? Obviously Mcdavid is faster than both but I'd rather a kid that is one step behind him than three out there.
- ClaudeFather

Kid, upside! I knew that neither was true so I'm obviously aware of his stats. Whether McDavid is out against Lehtera or Varone, it's a mismatch either way.

When is Knight going to be back? He did fine at 4th line center and can spot G on the PK.
- NC Flyers Fan

Define "fine." "Fine" as in didn't directly cost them games and was largely a non-factor? Because beyond that, I saw nothing from him that screamed everyday NHL player.

This is why folks get frustrated with MJL. He throws out questions like this, which cannot be answered and, in all honestly, are silly questions to ask.

The question to ask, IMO, is: what options do the Flyers have to replace a player who has been extremely ineffective of late? The answers, based on the current roster, are Weal or Varone. Since Weal has already been ineffective playing the pivot, simple logic dictates that they give Varone a try.
- BiggE

I agree, it can be easy to get caught up in a contest to see who can pee the most stats and numbers.

I don't really like how the lineup looks for tonight, but we will see how it works.

This is why folks get frustrated with MJL. He throws out questions like this, which cannot be answered and, in all honestly, are silly questions to ask.

The question to ask, IMO, is: what options do the Flyers have to replace a player who has been extremely ineffective of late? The answers, based on the current roster, are Weal or Varone. Since Weal has already been ineffective playing the pivot, simple logic dictates that they give Varone a try.
- BiggE

The points I brought up are legitimate points. If that frustrates you, that's on you.

Most of aren't saying he's better because we don't know but we are saying it is 100% worth giving him a chance because Lehtera is ineffective. What don't you get?
- ClaudeFather

I didn't reply to most of you. I replied to the guy who posted he is better and asked why. How hard is that to get?

I didn't reply to most of you. I replied to the guy who posted he is better and asked why. How hard is that to get?
- MJL

Because

It’s impossible to answer, as we haven’t seen him in that role for any length of time. You know that. What we do know is that over the last five games, Lehtera is a -5 and has generally been ineffective. He’s also seen his ice time reduced a bit too. Trying someone else in that spot makes sense.
- BiggE

Someone posted he is better. It's a legitimate question to ask why he thinks that.

Define "fine." "Fine" as in didn't directly cost them games and was largely a non-factor? Because beyond that, I saw nothing from him that screamed everyday NHL player.
- jmatchett383

Well, I did. He looked really good with both Lindblom and Laughton. Played solid defense. Looked like a shiny spot on the PK too.

Edit:
Knight’s stat lines from preseason
4 1 2 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 4 18 13:11 18 65.5

3 points in 4 games, he looked good. Couldn’t get a lot going in the 3 regular season games, but it was spotty being scratched. He was still even plus/minus.

Found out, broken collarbone. Mid February at the earliest.

Someone posted he is better. It's a legitimate question to ask why he thinks that.
- MJL

I think Taryn is better than Kate Upton...ask me why