With two 20 goal campaigns already under his belt i doubt he'd sign for $4M long term, 3 years at $4.5 would be great.
- ClaudeFather

Agreed if true. I was predicting an AAV of 5 or more.

If they can get him in on a 3 year bridge at 4.5 I would be dancing.

Why would they have to "move on from him"? He would just be playing bottom 6 and be a low cost player until, or if, he breaks out. It's not like Rubstov, Vorobyev, or any foruth line winger currently is gonna be better than him.
- ClaudeFather

Kind of like what Zacha does now for the Devils. I mean it would suck if thats what the 2nd overall pick turned into, but worst case he can be serviceable in the bottom 6.

Kind of like what Zacha does now for the Devils. I mean it would suck if thats what the 2nd overall pick turned into, but worst case he can be serviceable in the bottom 6.
- sjk540

Exactly, it would suck but good bottom 6 guy.

Why would they have to "move on from him"? He would just be playing bottom 6 and be a low cost player until, or if, he breaks out. It's not like Rubstov, Vorobyev, or any foruth line winger currently is gonna be better than him.
- ClaudeFather

If you want a preview of what could happen to Patrick if he doesn't bust out soon, go look at Sam Bennett's career. 4th-overall pick, 'NHL-ready', 'all-around', 'character guy', turned bottom-six grinder, TOI dropping year by year, trapped in mediocrity.

If you want a preview of what could happen to Patrick if he doesn't bust out soon, go look at Sam Bennett's career. 4th-overall pick, 'NHL-ready', 'all-around', 'character guy', turned bottom-six grinder, TOI dropping year by year, trapped in mediocrity.
- Tomahawk

Yes great example, this past year he really embraced the role as well.

Yes great example, this past year he really embraced the role as well.
- ClaudeFather

The argument of course is if the Flames had unloaded Bennett sooner, they could have recouped some value back.

Hanging on to him until he withered on the vine turned out to be poor asset management.

If the brass are starting to doubt NP, I hope they trade him right (frank)ing now. If he slowly fades into irrelevance, nobody wins.

The argument of course is if the Flames had unloaded Bennett sooner, they could have recouped some value back.

Hanging on to him until he withered on the vine turned out to be poor asset management.

If the brass are starting to doubt NP, I hope they trade him right (frank)ing now. If he slowly fades into irrelevance, nobody wins.
- Tomahawk

That depends on the contract. Sam Bennett is making 2.55 AAV so its not like they are paying him an exorbitant amount of money taking up a lot of cap space.

Patrick will be fine.

The argument of course is if the Flames had unloaded Bennett sooner, they could have recouped some value back.

Hanging on to him until he withered on the vine turned out to be poor asset management.

If the brass are starting to doubt NP, I hope they trade him right (frank)ing now. If he slowly fades into irrelevance, nobody wins.
- Tomahawk

I think he is going to be a really good player, has all the tools, size, vision, decent shot. Only 21 in September, I would be pissed if we gave up now and can't deal with a JVR scenario all over again. I agree with your statement though, i think the Flyers see the talent though.

I think he is going to be a really good player, has all the tools, size, vision, decent shot. Only 21 in September, I would be pissed if we gave up now and can't deal with a JVR scenario all over again. I agree with your statement though, i think the Flyers see the talent though.
- ClaudeFather

By the time this kid is 24/25, he is going to be an absolute stud. you can see flashes of it, especially in the middle of last season. In the end I think he truly becomes a better player overall than Hischier and we got lucky he got injured to make him slide to #2 OA

By the time this kid is 24/25, he is going to be an absolute stud. you can see flashes of it, especially in the middle of last season. In the end I think he truly becomes a better player overall than Hischier and we got lucky he got injured to make him slide to #2 OA
- sjk540

I tend to agree and hope that turns out to be correct. However at some point, flashes of it aren't enough. I have concerns about his usage and linemates and how that is going to effect his ability to produce well offensively.

By the time this kid is 24/25, he is going to be an absolute stud. you can see flashes of it, especially in the middle of last season. In the end I think he truly becomes a better player overall than Hischier and we got lucky he got injured to make him slide to #2 OA
- sjk540

I've said since day 1 that Hischier will be better early on, but Patrick will be better long-term. I still stand by my blanket statement and am willing to die on this hill.

JVR - Coots - Jake
G - Hayes - TK
Lindblom - Patrick - ?
Raffl - Laughton - Pitlick

Was trying to think of best balance in the top 6 and I feel like this might be it. Teams top line would probably match the Coots line and I feel like that Hayes line can really thrive verse lesser competition.

I tend to agree and hope that turns out to be correct. However at some point, flashes of it aren't enough. I have concerns about his usage and linemates and how that is going to effect his ability to produce well offensively.
- MJL

I don't think usage will be the issue, i see third line minutes, probably 50/50 ozone/dzone, and PP2 time. The linemates i question, can't be Lindblom and a rookie and i dont want JVR with him.

I tend to agree and hope that turns out to be correct. However at some point, flashes of it aren't enough. I have concerns about his usage and linemates and how that is going to effect his ability to produce well offensively.
- MJL

of course, flashes aren't enough in the end. But for only playing 2 seasons, one of which was hijacked by various injuries and he was unable to get into his typical off season training regimen which basically put him behind the 8 ball immediately, I think he did all he could do. Moving forward however, he needs to perform like the 2nd overall pick. I think the positive thing is that we know he will be paired with at least one talented winger, time will tell who the other winger is.

I wouldn't put it out of the realm of possibility however that he, by the end of the year, is the one driving play more so than whoever is on his line. I think this 3rd line is gonna be a pain in the ass for opponents as the season progresses to be honest.

Alizee.

That is all. You're welcome.

I've said since day 1 that Hischier will be better early on, but Patrick will be better long-term. I still stand by my blanket statement and am willing to die on this hill.
- jmatchett383

Absolutely, agree 100%, Patrick will be the better player in the end in my opinion, and if the Devils had the better of the two for the last two years, then so be it. I think starting this year it will be evident who the better player is and will be.

I've said since day 1 that Hischier will be better early on, but Patrick will be better long-term. I still stand by my blanket statement and am willing to die on this hill.
- jmatchett383

I'm on that hill...

Is it me or is this the most amount of significant RFAs holding out this long in a while? I don't ever recall a summer like this.

If you want a preview of what could happen to Patrick if he doesn't bust out soon, go look at Sam Bennett's career. 4th-overall pick, 'NHL-ready', 'all-around', 'character guy', turned bottom-six grinder, TOI dropping year by year, trapped in mediocrity.
- Tomahawk

Was Bennett ever considered to be the first overall pick in his draft year?

Sam Bennett has never gone up in production since his rookie season. Patrick has.

I've said since day 1 that Hischier will be better early on, but Patrick will be better long-term. I still stand by my blanket statement and am willing to die on this hill.
- jmatchett383

I think both the Flyers and Devils got exactly what they needed at the time Hischier and Patrick were drafted.

If and when we contend again, I’m hoping Patrick surpasses Sean Couturier as an offensive threat and star. I think we’re a much better team when Coots is assigned to the opposing team’s best superstar and asked to shut them down.

JVR - Coots - Jake
G - Hayes - TK
Lindblom - Patrick - ?
Raffl - Laughton - Pitlick

Was trying to think of best balance in the top 6 and I feel like this might be it. Teams top line would probably match the Coots line and I feel like that Hayes line can really thrive verse lesser competition.
- ClaudeFather

I like these lines. Can Rubstov be slotted in that 3rd line winger spot and make the switch from center? Or would the team be inclined to have him spend more time in the A given he's coming off an injury?

Otherwise I would want Aube-Kubel to win that spot. Please not Andreoff.

If and when we contend again, I’m hoping Patrick surpasses Sean Couturier as an offensive threat and star. I think we’re a much better team when Coots is assigned to the opposing team’s best superstar and asked to shut them down.
- SuperSchennBros

I wish he would just play with Matt Read and not score so much...

I like these lines. Can Rubstov be slotted in that 3rd line winger spot and make the switch from center? Or would the team be inclined to have him spend more time in the A given he's coming off an injury?

Otherwise I would want Aube-Kubel to win that spot. Please not Andreoff.
- bmoreflyer

I don't want a rookie with Patrick, at that point i'd rather have Rubstov centering fourth and Laughton with Patrick. Haven't seen enough with NAK, maybe.

I don't want a rookie with Patrick, at that point i'd rather have Rubstov centering fourth and Laughton with Patrick. Haven't seen enough with NAK, maybe.
- ClaudeFather

What about?

JVR - Coots - Jake
G - Hayes - TK
Lindblom - Patrick - Raffl
NAK - Laughton - Pitlick