News Article: Raffl offers more than you think
- Thread starter viggen
- Start date
CS
Bryzgalov's Blueline
Hartnell (6 years) - Giroux (9 years) - Voracek (3 years)
Simmonds (6 years) - Lecavalier (5 years) - Schenn (1 year + RFA)
Downie (1 year) - Couturier (3 years + RFA) - Read (5 years)
Next year, Downie is the only person in the top 9 that MIGHT not be here. Despite our early season struggles, our goaltending and defense have been holding up rather well. It was our offense, something we knew would come around eventually based on plenty of historical precedence, that was the problem.
That said, I could see the Flyers seeing Downie as a long-term kind of player to fit into the top 9.
If that's the case, I don't see room for Raffl. We have 9 potential 20 goal-scorers in the lineup should Couturier break out offensively soon. Raffl doesn't fit in this equation, and the fourth line is not where he belongs long-term.
Simmonds (6 years) - Lecavalier (5 years) - Schenn (1 year + RFA)
Downie (1 year) - Couturier (3 years + RFA) - Read (5 years)
Next year, Downie is the only person in the top 9 that MIGHT not be here. Despite our early season struggles, our goaltending and defense have been holding up rather well. It was our offense, something we knew would come around eventually based on plenty of historical precedence, that was the problem.
That said, I could see the Flyers seeing Downie as a long-term kind of player to fit into the top 9.
If that's the case, I don't see room for Raffl. We have 9 potential 20 goal-scorers in the lineup should Couturier break out offensively soon. Raffl doesn't fit in this equation, and the fourth line is not where he belongs long-term.
GKJ
Global Moderator
- Feb 27, 2002
- 186,930
- 39,033
...can someone explain why Raffl is not send back to AHL to play games but sits instead around?
...he seems to be healthty for the last 10 days, right?
...he seems to be healthty for the last 10 days, right?
GingerFetish
Registered User
- Feb 26, 2013
- 1,728
- 1
He was just made available fort he Winnipeg game but Berube didn't want to change the lineup. I don't think he has anything to gain from AHL time. He isn't exactly young. He is a 3rd 4th liner who needs to get acclimated to the speed of the NHL .
BillDineen
Former Flyer / Extinct Dinosaur Advisor
- Aug 9, 2009
- 9,375
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dats81
Registered User
Want some more? We got plenty of those Nödls and Raffls in Austria... but unfortunately just one Vanek.
BillDineen
Former Flyer / Extinct Dinosaur Advisor
- Aug 9, 2009
- 9,375
- 8,101
Protest
C`est La Vie
I agree with the idea behind this post, essentially that there just isn't room for him here, but at the same time I also think that he will be brought back next year. I think he's looked excellent all season long, and it was only a matter of time before the goals and points started to come, but I don't know if other teams have really noticed him at this point to make his value jump. I can see him signing a two year deal or so and he'll be a top-9 guy who rotates around to fill in for injuries (unless he REALLY gels with a guy like Giroux or something) and plays 4th line when everyone is healthy.
He's an RFA so he's not going to just walk, and any team that offer-sheets him I would think wouldn't give him much more than what the Flyers would be willing to match (and if they did, take the picks and run). Either that or if his value is high, deal him at the deadline for something the team needs.
Dirty but Good
but mostly dirty
raffl is really overrated,he was on the 1st line with voracek and giroux this is the only reason why he have a goal last game
His energy, backchecking and IQ really helped him on that line. He belongs on that line more than Hartnell.
Beef Invictus
Revolutionary Positivity
At least he was capable of keeping up with the first line instead of being dead weight.
Larry44
#FireTortsNOW
- Mar 1, 2002
- 11,956
- 7,288
Yes, he really skates well, uses his size, isn't afraid to stick his nose in, has good skill with the puck and has found his scoring touch. Looks good on that line or any other (was good with Vinnie too). Great signing.
Fire Tortorella
Formerly Flyersfan1406
Winston Wolf
Registered User
If I were the GM, I'd keep Raffl over Downie. In a vacuum, Downie is obviously the more valuable player, no doubt. However, he'll make at least three or four times the amount that Raffl will make and be on a long contract. Outside of Couturier and Read, this team has zero two way forwards. Raffl isn't there yet, but I see the potential for him to put up enough points to stick on an NHL third line, all while being a solid defensive player even strength and an above average penalty killer. He's physical and strong, a plus skater, has decent enough puck skills to play in the top 9, and has already shown pretty good defensive acumen and overall hockey smarts. What's not to like? Yeah, his offensive potential is obviously limited, but he brings a hell of lot more to the table than the Nodls, Somiks, Radivojevics, Dimitrakos, and the other guys who have spent a few seasons on the 3rd line here in the last decade.
Downie is great and I'd like to see him re-signed to about a three year deal if they could get rid of Hartnell, but to me, Downie, Hartnell, and Simmonds is just overkill on one team. Too slow, too one dimensional, and in Downie and Hartnell's cases, too expensive. I just have a feeling that if Downie gets a big contract, he's going to turn into the next Hartnell here.
Downie is great and I'd like to see him re-signed to about a three year deal if they could get rid of Hartnell, but to me, Downie, Hartnell, and Simmonds is just overkill on one team. Too slow, too one dimensional, and in Downie and Hartnell's cases, too expensive. I just have a feeling that if Downie gets a big contract, he's going to turn into the next Hartnell here.
I think Downie is a must keep. This team has a habit of finding players that have great chemistry with others on their team but then keep letting them go. That's why Chicago has been really good; the same guys play together for most of the years, and they integrate other pieces into players who already have chemistry.
Hockey is more than just pure individual talent - you need to play well with your teammates, too. Downie is PPG (or near it) since he joined here. Is he talented enough to be a PPG player? No, not really, but all three players compliment each others games which elevates their individual production. These are the times you overpay to keep your TEAM - can't just sub another 'Downie-like' player - it may not work.
Leino (understandably let go for $$, but maybe could have been signed earlier) - afterwards Briere really struggled and Hartnell was able to find another line again with Jagr/Giroux, but now that's gone because we let Jagr go for dicking around for another supposed superstar Parise.
Now Downie has great chemistry with two of our players - I say we keep that going as long as we can, even if you need to overpay by $500K to do it.
Imagine if Jagr had stayed and Giroux/Hartnell/Jagr still had the same chemistry - then you bump Voracek to the second line which was great as ewll for a while.
Maybe we don't get Vinny - but he hasn't really quite found his 'spot' yet.
We need to keep guys who have known chemistry. Most of the time they find chemistry for one season and are gone the next, and then you're spending half of next season to find new lines again.
BackToTheBrierePatch
Nope not today.
be interesting to see if he continues to see top line minutes. he really doesnt wow you with any one thing, but he is a pretty good player in all 3 zones. would like to see him get more of a finish on his shot. hopefully that comes with more playing time.
Beef Invictus
Revolutionary Positivity
He's a Nodl-type first liner. Can fill in, but if he's consistently there something is probably really wrong with your team.
RoDu
Registered User
People like to compare him to Nodl but Nodl played over 100 AHL games while Raffl has 2. Nodl also did play in the WCHA and USHL. What I'm saying is Nodl had a lof of time to get accustomed to the North American style of hockey while Raffl had like 3 months. He looked pretty good in the last few games and I hope he's only getting better with more and more games in the NHL (yeah, I'm Austrian btw, we only have 3 NHLers to root for 
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