Hiesenberg
Registered User
- Jul 2, 2013
- 15,576
- 1,875
Who is ready to play in the NHL next year as a forward? Not Konecny, because he's going to slot in the Top 6.
Who is ready to play in the NHL next year as a forward? Not Konecny, because he's going to slot in the Top 6.
Would not re-sign.
This would be yet another example of Hextall's overly severe aversion to promoting young prospects to the NHL lineup.
He doesn't contribute on special teams because marginal talents like White, VandeVelde, and Bellemare have taken over as the lead penalty killers, which is the major reason why this team won't make the playoffs again this year.He's not terrible but doesn't do anything particularly well, and doesn't contribute on special teams.
Anything more than 2 years and/or $2.5m per would be disappointing.
Would not re-sign.
This would be yet another example of Hextall's overly severe aversion to promoting young prospects to the NHL lineup.
I really depends on how they plan to develop certain players.
In my mind the emergence of Nick Cousins definitely makes Ryan White expendable. Both are undersized, yet hard nosed, but are not skilled enough to make a difference.
Raffl comes with an intriguing combination of size and skating ability which makes him more versatile but Laughton could replace him if he demands too much money.
The focus should be to become better as a team, especially to improve the PK and the bottom-6 as a unit. They struggled this year but some players who excelled in that area before did not even get a fair chance to show what they can do. Next year for the first time we will actually get to see a roster that is a direct product of Hextall/Hakstol.
I'd like to think White has been used on the PK this season to try and raise his value. It certainly hasn't helped the team win games.
Raffl is entering his prime, and his advanced stats consistently have him as our 6th best forward, and it wasn't a product of playing with G & V, he's got solid advanced stats this year bouncing around lines.
He's limited offensively, but he's not a black hole. Otherwise he's a solid forward who provides flexibility, something undervalued in an 80 game season until you watch the Flyers go with 1 decent line for half the season. He can play with Couts and make that a great possession line, then move down to the 3rd or 4th line if they land or develop a LW who deserve to play on the 2nd line.
What Raffl does which is grossly underappreciated is the "dirty work," he'll chase the puck into the offensive zone, go into corners, fight for the puck and keep it in the zone - as we add more talented offensive defensemen that trait becomes more valuable - as long as he keeps opportunities alive, someone else can finish the job.
One reason his stats aren't impressive is he doesn't get any PP time, guys like Hartnell weren't much better offensively ES (because he had to be set up by his linemates, Raffl makes plays happen), and were far worse defensively. Raffl is the kind of winger who effectively eats up ES time, freeing other top wingers for PP duty.
Raffl is entering his prime, and his advanced stats consistently have him as our 6th best forward, and it wasn't a product of playing with G & V, he's got solid advanced stats this year bouncing around lines.
He's limited offensively, but he's not a black hole. Otherwise he's a solid forward who provides flexibility, something undervalued in an 80 game season until you watch the Flyers go with 1 decent line for half the season. He can play with Couts and make that a great possession line, then move down to the 3rd or 4th line if they land or develop a LW who deserve to play on the 2nd line.
What Raffl does which is grossly underappreciated is the "dirty work," he'll chase the puck into the offensive zone, go into corners, fight for the puck and keep it in the zone - as we add more talented offensive defensemen that trait becomes more valuable - as long as he keeps opportunities alive, someone else can finish the job.
One reason his stats aren't impressive is he doesn't get any PP time, guys like Hartnell weren't much better offensively ES (because he had to be set up by his linemates, Raffl makes plays happen), and were far worse defensively. Raffl is the kind of winger who effectively eats up ES time, freeing other top wingers for PP duty.
It's not just due to lack of options, his Corsi rel has been consistently in the top six on this team, just behind the "stars." Everyone makes excuses for Laughton, but Raffl has drawn linemates just as bad this year.