Confirmed with Link: Michael Raffl to the Capitals for a 5th round draft pick

[hockeykicker]

Click to read more...

 

[IafrateOvie34]

I like this trade. Don't tell Adam Oates though. He loved Raffl. This could be a nice pickup.

 

[SherVaughn30]

I like this trade. Don't tell Adam Oates though. He loved Raffl. This could be a nice pickup.

What can he offer if put in the lineup?

 

[IafrateOvie34]

What can he offer if put in the lineup?

Goals and more depth.

 

[Langway]

Not so much goals as forecheck/energy and defensive play.

 

[Hivemind]

What can he offer if put in the lineup?

Relatively low-mistake play with some forechecking and PK time. Basically Panik 2.0

Raffl has played a bit of center though, so I'm curious if he's now the emergency option at C if Eller's injuries flare up again.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I liked Waffls’ game at one point....this is fine. Replaces what Panik just left with....

 

[Dr John Carlson]

I was calling for this move to happen 3 years ago. No clue as to Raffl's effectiveness these days, though.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

If he can duplicate 4 goals in 9 playoff games I think most will be happy with an upcoming UFA for only a 5th rnd pick. And as everyone stated a Panik replacement.

 

[Hivemind]

I was calling for this move to happen 3 years ago. No clue as to Raffl's effectiveness these days, though.

He's gone from being a viable Top 9 option a few years ago to pretty much just a 4th liner/PKer.

 

[Melkor]

A faster Panik basically. At least I'd describe him like that a couple of years ago but I watched him recently and he looked kinda washed. Anyways I don't think anyone gives a shit about this one right now

 

[Calicaps]

Cheap depth. Also always seemed to score on us so that's a problem solved.

 

[zappa4ever]

Fine, some depth at low cost, may/probably crack the lineup at 3LW
Pretty responsible 200ft. player
I'm guessing him and Sprong will be fighting to not be the 13th forward now that Sheary looks like he's earned a more regular spot

 

[ovikovy817]

13F

 

[Revelation]

Like it, Hagelin on a budget but with a potential Druce Pelley built in

 

[ALLCAPSALLTHETIME]

We just won the Raffle sweepstakes!

All kidding aside, this looks fine.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Cheap depth. Also always seemed to score on us so that's a problem solved.

This! Put him on the Pens and he scores every playoff game against us, lol.

 

[Stumble40]

Flyers fan here. You guys got a legitimately GOOD 4th line player. Not a guy that can just fill out a bottom 6but one that could be fourth line on a top tier team. He was well liked , he even played on the top line years ago with G and Jake and put up about 20 goals. People would make a big deal out of his versatility and being able to move up and down the lineup but his real effectiveness is as a solid 4th liner who can chip in offensively.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Can he play Center?

 

[Hivemind]

Can he play Center?

Yes, sort-of. He spent a decent chunk of time there last year, but he's a natural winger.

 

[MacDonald4MVP]

Can he play Center?

On contender no effing way. Raffl has great defensive instincts but hands of stone so if he is told to play conservative defensive style he will do great in that role but expecting him to facilitate offense is a wishful thinking and that's coming from a flyers fan. As mentioned before he really is somewhat of a budget panik and hagelin mixed all in one. Not sure what caps needs are but as far as more depth and his playoff friendly risk averse style this wasn't a mistake

 

[Portable Mink]

Replacement depth. Fine with it.

 

[Neil Racki]

Welcome aboard Michael Raffl

If he can PK and be a plus 4th liner, thats a good addition.

 

[Appleyard]

You guys should be pretty happy with getting him. Not the player he was a couple of years ago... but still a damn good bottom sixer.

Super versatile too. Has played all three fwd positions for Flyers even though maybe only 25 games at C.

Still has real speed in open ice, great forechecker, defensively responsible and high IQ. Can PK as well.


When you look at what he did over his time in Philly:

0.67 G/60 (low end 2nd line level)
1.39 P/60 (solid 3rd line level)

51.38% CF
49.55% ExGF

+3.72 CF Rel
+0.05 ExGF Rel

Hard to find many better bottom sixers in terms of quality+longevity.

He scored goals/60 over his Flyers career at the same rate guys like Kopitar, Hall, Schenn, Backstrom and Turris have over their careers.


You wont find many Flyers fans with anything bad to say about him. Which shows how good he has been since he is a bottom sixer who has limited "talent and skill" and played 500+ games here. But a great foot-soldier for a contender. Both the "fancy stats" crowd and the "old school" crowd generally united in their appreciation of him. Which is rare...

 

[g00n]

Fire up the Rafflcopter