News Article: Raffl offers more than you think

[FLYguy3911]

Randy effing Jones

That was Clarke. No?

 

[laundryman]

Raffl has been selected to play for Team Austria in Sochi

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/blogpost.htm?id=24524

 

[Larry44]

They have to put Raffl on the 4th line or send him back to the AHL, he's making the rest of the wingers look bad.

What a pass and G, what a goal. And he set up the first goal by going to the net hard.

 

[Embiid]

Raffl is a funny guy like his dad... anybody catch the interview with coatsey after the Vancouver game? He said how Giroux yells at him in practice when he does stuff wrong. Coatsey asked if he liked that and he said ya because he wants him to be a better player. It was a interesting but a funny interview at the same time. I doubt G yelled at Hartnell for dragging him down since they are buds...

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

They have to put Raffl on the 4th line or send him back to the AHL, he's making the rest of the wingers look bad.

What a pass and G, what a goal. And he set up the first goal by going to the net hard.

yeah and lets put Hartnell and Schenn on the top line because you know upside and name recognition>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>chemistry

 

[Funf]

I keep hearing about Raffl's dad. Who is he???

I'm starting to think Raffl might be one of those guys that just knows how to play with 'stars'. Which is nice.

 

[Raffl House]

I keep hearing about Raffl's dad. Who is he???

I'm starting to think Raffl might be one of those guys that just knows how to play with 'stars'. Which is nice.

After a Flyers game, a lot of the player's fathers were on the ice after a home game celebrating a win. They interviewed Raffl's dad, and instead of the typical canned stuff, he gave a pretty funny interview. Coatsey at one point asked if he thought he would ever see his son play in the NHL. He said "no, not really..." He had quite a few one liners if I recall correctly in that interview. I don't see a transcript or vid online, unfortunately.

On Raffl's play...I think its mostly confidence helping him along. He has a good combination of speed, size, skill and he is playing a north-south game now. I think before he was ultra-patient and coming from a European league, it doesn't surprise me. He just doesn't have the time and space in the NHL that he once did and he is starting to figure that out.

I'm hoping that with Giroux and Voracek, he can be a good complimentary player...maybe not like you would see with, say, Kunitz, but maybe along those lines.

 

[sa cyred]

After a Flyers game, a lot of the player's fathers were on the ice after a home game celebrating a win. They interviewed Raffl's dad, and instead of the typical canned stuff, he gave a pretty funny interview. Coatsey at one point asked if he thought he would ever see his son play in the NHL. He said "no, not really..." He had quite a few one liners if I recall correctly in that interview. I don't see a transcript or vid online, unfortunately.

On Raffl's play...I think its mostly confidence helping him along. He has a good combination of speed, size, skill and he is playing a north-south game now. I think before he was ultra-patient and coming from a European league, it doesn't surprise me. He just doesn't have the time and space in the NHL that he once did and he is starting to figure that out.

I'm hoping that with Giroux and Voracek, he can be a good complimentary player...maybe not like you would see with, say, Kunitz, but maybe along those lines.

The guy he reminded me of was Mason Raymond and how he played on the Sedins line. He wasnt the most skilled but played good defensively, had speed and was able to create some good plays. If you think about it, the old Sedin-Sedin-Raymond line is decently similar to the Raffl-Giroux-Voracek line.

 

[Appleyard]

Just read that his Dad was a two time Olympian at hockey for Austria... played 20 years for the same team, won three championships and was ~PPG over 500+ games in his career in Austria.

Nice hockey playing heritage to come from.

His big brother is pretty good as well! Played over 50 times for Austria, twice Austrain champion, once European Trophy champion and in the last 3 years in Austria is just under PPG.

 

[Funf]

After a Flyers game, a lot of the player's fathers were on the ice after a home game celebrating a win. They interviewed Raffl's dad, and instead of the typical canned stuff, he gave a pretty funny interview. Coatsey at one point asked if he thought he would ever see his son play in the NHL. He said "no, not really..." He had quite a few one liners if I recall correctly in that interview. I don't see a transcript or vid online, unfortunately.

On Raffl's play...I think its mostly confidence helping him along. He has a good combination of speed, size, skill and he is playing a north-south game now. I think before he was ultra-patient and coming from a European league, it doesn't surprise me. He just doesn't have the time and space in the NHL that he once did and he is starting to figure that out.

I'm hoping that with Giroux and Voracek, he can be a good complimentary player...maybe not like you would see with, say, Kunitz, but maybe along those lines.

Ah, I see! I must have missed that.

And yeah, Raffl's timing is getting better every game. I think most of us on here figured he'd need a few months in the AHL to adjust to the larger ice surface - nice to see he's ahead of schedule.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

Sadly, there's no video of the interview of his dad.

 

[viggen]

...Raffl now also starting to do some center work (not that we havent got enough, but whatever), so apart from goaltending he pretty much covered any spot on the ice, what you guys think, will he get a contract next year?

 

[Harold Bingo]

...Raffl now also starting to do some center work (not that we havent got enough, but whatever), so apart from goaltending he pretty much covered any spot on the ice, what you guys think, will he get a contract next year?

I hope so. Trade Downie or let him walk and put Raffl with Couturier and Read. At least that's what I'd do.

Raffl's awesome.

 

[King Forsberg]

...Raffl now also starting to do some center work (not that we havent got enough, but whatever), so apart from goaltending he pretty much covered any spot on the ice, what you guys think, will he get a contract next year?

Absolutely. I think Raffl is destined to be the winger on Read and Couturier's line. He's got good enough offensive skills and speed to not drag down the line and he's certainly good enough defensively to be able to continue to use that line against the other teams best.

 

[FLYguy3911]

When we first signed him I thought he would be a guy that would come in and contribute offensively. I guess my expectations were a little too high for a guy coming straight from the Allsvenskan. When you get passed that though, the guys brings a lot to the table. He can really skate, really gets on top of defenders on the forecheck, not afraid to take the body, can kill penalties (although he blocks shots like an idiot).

Offensively he is coming along. You can see him getting more comfortable the more he plays. He's making plays with the puck on his stick. He's a pretty good passer. Sometimes I would like to see him slow the pace down a bit when he has the puck. He's like Wellwood, he only goes one speed- fast. That may improve with time. Right now he's not a real good finisher. I'm not sure if that's something you can necessarily improve on, but he has been considered a goal scorer in the past, so we will see. He flashes a decent shot, although not that accurate.

All that said, Raffl was a good find. You didn't have to waste any assets to acquire him and if he turns out to be 'just' a third line winger, that's still good value. I think he's still got some upside despite being 25. He's still raw in a lot of area's, but he also hasn't played a lot of high level hockey either up to this season.

I don't see why he wouldn't be resigned, unless he wanted to go back to Europe, or received an offer he couldn't turn down.

 

[Harold Bingo]

Love the way Raffl plays. The NBC guys (both last night and the game before) said how Berube believes Raffl can/will be a scorer in this league; I don't think that's going to happen playing with Rinaldo and Hall.

Putting him with Read and Couturier just seems too obvious. There's speed on the wings, all three are defensively sound, and no doubt can all contribute offensively. Come on, Berube.

 

[ILoveStephanieBrown]

Remember when people were quick to judge him and called him the next Nodl? He's acclimated quite well to this league.

 

[Hiesenberg]

Love the way Raffl plays. The NBC guys (both last night and the game before) said how Berube believes Raffl can/will be a scorer in this league; I don't think that's going to happen playing with Rinaldo and Hall.

Putting him with Read and Couturier just seems too obvious. There's speed on the wings, all three are defensively sound, and no doubt can all contribute offensively. Come on, Berube.

Downie was Raffl insurance. It appears unneeded, so he can move up to the 3rd line next year w/ Read/Couturier

 

[AndHeMissedTheNet]

Okay, how about this question: Who would you rather have now, Raffl or Gagne?

Remember, Holmgren got killed by some fans for not re-signing Gagne, and if he did get re-signed, it's likely that Raffl isn't on this roster right now.

Honestly, i hope Raffl is around for a while. He's very promising.

 

[Garbage Goal]

Raffl is still Nodl, but he's what we really hoped Nodl would be (and obviously wasn't). Raffl and Read are two of my favorite Flyers right now just because they're both so versatile and pretty much impossible to ever be pissed at.

 

[Jack Straw]

Okay, how about this question: Who would you rather have now, Raffl or Gagne?

Remember, Holmgren got killed by some fans for not re-signing Gagne, and if he did get re-signed, it's likely that Raffl isn't on this roster right now.

Honestly, i hope Raffl is around for a while. He's very promising.

I love Gags but Raffl AINEC (first time I've ever user that!). But I'd rather have Gags than one or two other guys currently on the roster.

 

[smitty10]

I was impressed with him in last night's game. He was one of the most noticeable players on the ice for you guys. Looks like you found an NHL player in this kid!

 

[Curufinwe]

Almost like we won...

a raffle.

 

[MrRuin]

So...when is he going to be resigned? And for how much?

 

[FlyTimmo]

So...when is he going to be resigned? And for how much?

IDK, but If I had to guess the contract it would be 2yrs/4mill (2 per year)or at least something like that.