Rumor: Flyers working to re-sign Raffl?

[Curufinwe]

I'd be pretty surprised if Raffl has a drop off before age 30. He hasn't been worked into the ground like some guys who spent their whole careers in the NHL.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=15216

 

[McNasty]

Re-signing him makes sense if the money is right, I don't know that they have too many options already in the system and it's typically not good value when you acquire players like him in UFA.

 

[PensBrony 6 9*]

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.

No one is saying he's a bad player, but the advanced stats don't matter when the puck isn't going into the other team's net because of them. He's a guy who can't score on a team who needs scoring. If you keep him for third line money (under 2.5-2.75 MAX in my opinion), you do that, but if not, it won't hurt that much to lose him. By the way, he spent the first quarter of the season on the top powerplay unit and ruined it. It's part of the reason they're going to miss the playoffs in my opinion. The whole "he only doesn't score because he's not on the powerplay" argument is dead and buried. He doesn't put up points because he lacks skill. Where does he fit into the powerplay? simmonds' role? he doesn't have the hands in tight or the hand-eye coordination. schenn's? he can't lift the puck off the ice when he shoots. He's a great player for a third line checking role, but his lack of skill limits what else you can do with him. get a legitimate power forward in the style of hartnell or jagr to play with giroux and voracek and leave raffl in a bottom 6 checking role with no pp time where he belongs.

 

[bb12]

Raffl is an above average 3rd liner. An all senario type of player. Is he top pp material, no, but he doesn't hurt the 2nd unit if he plays there next year. Is he a top pker, no, but I wouldn't be mad if he was out there and should be over white. I would never be mad if he was out there at the end of the game and our goalie is pulled or if we are playing against a team with their goalie pulled. Wouldn't complain if he played a little in ot.

He is an all situations player but not a specialist or 1st option. Not to mention him and Schenn have easily been our most valuable players during this stretch of injuries. Moving all over the line up filling in in many different roles. Players like Raffl are important

 

[PensBrony 6 9*]

Raffl is an above average 3rd liner. An all senario type of player. Is he top pp material, no, but he doesn't hurt the 2nd unit if he plays there next year. Is he a top pker, no, but I wouldn't be mad if he was out there and should be over white. I would never be mad if he was out there at the end of the game and our goalie is pulled or if we are playing against a team with their goalie pulled. Wouldn't complain if he played a little in ot.

He is an all situations player but not a specialist or 1st option. Not to mention him and Schenn have easily been our most valuable players during this stretch of injuries. Moving all over the line up filling in in many different roles. Players like Raffl are important

he doesn't belong anywhere near the powerplay, he's got 17 points in 60 games. of course when guys get hurt, players like him can fill in for a game or two but if the plan is to roll with him in the top six/on the second powerplay, count me out. at that point you're relying on him for offense and that mistake is part of why they're missing the playoffs this year. the team desperately needs scoring and he's part of the problem in that regard (although not through any fault of his own)

 

[bb12]

he doesn't belong anywhere near the powerplay, he's got 17 points in 60 games. of course when guys get hurt, players like him can fill in for a game or two but if the plan is to roll with him in the top six/on the second powerplay, count me out. at that point you're relying on him for offense and that mistake is part of why they're missing the playoffs this year. the team desperately needs scoring and he's part of the problem in that regard (although not through any fault of his own)

Im not saying he should be, current players belong on the pp over him but him on there isn't the end of the world. Now if vdv got power play time, we riot

 

[deadhead]

Raffl has been fine with Couts and Schenn, because he can dig and they can both score, and he's a solid defensive player on a line that gets matched against opponent's top line. Put a Drouin type scorer on that line and they'd be much worse at matching up defensively - there's more than scoring, there's stopping the other guys from scoring.

Raffl is a role player, but he's far more than a "4th line winger", and if the Flyers want to be a cup contender they need to role out three solid two way lines, and having a Raffl who can fill multiple roles provides the kind of depth top teams need.

And with Hakstol's aggressive system, you can balance mobile offensive defensemen, which we're soon going to have a bunch, with responsible forwards who skate well enough to cover for those defensemen.

PP skills have value, but if the player is a liability on ES, that player is just as limited as Raffl not being a PP guy. Having guys who can play PK and ES at a high level frees your best offensive players for PP duty - we need better PK guys because you don't really want Giroux in that role (not that he can't do that, but he can be replaced on the PK easier than he can be replaced on the PP or ES).

 

[CodyTheHuman]

Raffl has been fine with Couts and Schenn, because he can dig and they can both score, and he's a solid defensive player on a line that gets matched against opponent's top line. Put a Drouin type scorer on that line and they'd be much worse at matching up defensively - there's more than scoring, there's stopping the other guys from scoring.

Raffl is a role player, but he's far more than a "4th line winger", and if the Flyers want to be a cup contender they need to role out three solid two way lines, and having a Raffl who can fill multiple roles provides the kind of depth top teams need.

And with Hakstol's aggressive system, you can balance mobile offensive defensemen, which we're soon going to have a bunch, with responsible forwards who skate well enough to cover for those defensemen.

PP skills have value, but if the player is a liability on ES, that player is just as limited as Raffl not being a PP guy. Having guys who can play PK and ES at a high level frees your best offensive players for PP duty - we need better PK guys because you don't really want Giroux in that role (not that he can't do that, but he can be replaced on the PK easier than he can be replaced on the PP or ES).

This is why I want Lindblom over to NA after this season. He has the potential to do what Raffl does, while also putting up 45+ points. He'll likely spend a year in the AHL and then get a shot on the big team.

 

[ValeriKamensky]

What??? Guys, what are you writing here? If Ron will keep Raffl, it will be so big mistake. He hasnt skills for top6, he hasn`t power and defensive skills fo 3-4 line.

 

[CodyTheHuman]

What??? Guys, what are you writing here? If Ron will keep Raffl, it will be so big mistake. He hasnt skills for top6, he hasn`t power and defensive skills fo 3-4 line.

Where does this idea of Raffl being bad defensively come from? Raffl is solid defensively and has the power to dig pucks from the boards and walls. The biggest knock on him is the fact that he doesn't score goals very often.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

What??? Guys, what are you writing here? If Ron will keep Raffl, it will be so big mistake. He hasnt skills for top6, he hasn`t power and defensive skills fo 3-4 line.

I think you have Raffl confused with someone else.

 

[Delete99991]

Where does this idea of Raffl being bad defensively come from? Raffl is solid defensively and has the power to dig pucks from the boards and walls. The biggest knock on him is the fact that he doesn't score goals very often.

He puts some away occasionally.

He's a lousy passer though.

Sorry, I can't get excited about the guy. I agree that it might not be his fault he isn't utilized on the PK but the fact is he isn't. Without that, he's highly replaceable.

 

[flyersfan187]

I'm having a feeling he might get traded because a deal isn't done yet. A playoff team could use him for their run.

 

[Prongo]

Starting to wonder how @Mirtle got that information. Hexy plays it so close he had to hear it from another GM or executive. I think something gets done shortly with Raffl. Still like what he brings to the team. Great board work and work ethic. Good puck possession guy who is serviceable for hard work needed in the corners for our scorers or even third line. Versatile as well. He should be kept. He isn't part of the problem, even if he signs at 2.5 million.

 

[tymed]

I like what Raffl brings. Many people here already made the mistake of arguing that he's 2nd line-worthy before this season. Clearly he's not, let's not pretend he is again. Pay him like a 3rd liner and that's more than fine. He brings a lot to our bottom 6 and is a great piece if he comes at a decent price for a short term.