It's not about ability, it's about icetime.Without even getting into the fact that guys probably don't develop that amazingly playing third-line minutes in the AHL, we are never going to maximize the NHL point totals of the 20+ prospects we have. Nor should it be an objective.
It's not a requirement that the guys you play on your 4th line have no offensive ability.
Playing with 34-year-old Ruslan Fedotenko as a 20-year-old didn't do anything to develop Sean Couturier's offensive game but he developed anyway (while still being a huge contributor).
It's not about ability, it's about icetime.
I'm sure you were unhappy with Lindblom being on the 4th line, right? Well the reason we wanted him moved up the lineup is the same reason we don't want top 9 prospects on the 4th line. It's just a waste to have them playing so little time.
Raffl better not be back.He's better off on the 4th line than playing in the AHL. The real disgrace was NAK playing well and only getting 5 minutes a night, but I assume a non-Hakstol coach won't do that.
What I really want is to end the cycle of signing Weise types to add "grit" or whatever for the next 5 years. Give the next Twarynski/Strome/Sushko whoever 10 minutes a night instead.
For instance I like Michael Raffl and it won't be the worst thing ever to bring him back, but it's kinda pointless. Same for Varone.
the mistake was giving jake and giroux big contracts, that's what hurting us right now, that's why our defense is a mess because right now we are relying on a younger d to pick up the slack and it's not working. fletch has to improve the d core and let the younger forwards play and that's why i want giroux and jake's contracts gone, so we can have the cap space to improve the d and maybe get a goalie and not rush hart. that's my opinion.
It's really obvious how adding that 1 UFA like a Stone or Panarin makes a huge difference...pushing NAK down to the 4th line and Weise out.Right now are top two centers are G and C. No reason they can't be again next season. Long term I want Frost at center, but if he starts off as a LW, that's OK. Without even adding any free agents, you can have an improved forward lineup for 19-20.
JVR-G-TK
Lindblom-Couturier-Voracek
Frost-Patrick-NAK
Laughton-Vorobyev-Weise
No to all 3. We have 4th liners who can play over Raffl and Weise now. And with adding Myers and Morin, AMac needs to be gone.Let's go ahead and re-sign Raffl and move Weise somehow.
MacDonald and Weise no longer being Flyers next season would be really pleasant.
Personally, I see if Farabee goes back to college next year.....then steps into the NHL the following year...possibly replacing JVR or Lindblom if Oskar has not stepped up to where they want.
It's really obvious how adding that 1 UFA like a Stone or Panarin makes a huge difference...pushing NAK down to the 4th line and Weise out.
No to all 3. We have 4th liners who can play over Raffl and Weise now. And with adding Myers and Morin, AMac needs to be gone.
re-sign Manning, trade for Jori, re-sign Raffl, sign JVR, trade for Val, sign Elliott, re-sign NeuvyRe-signing Raffl would be a top 3 NHL acquisition under the Hextall regime.
re-sign Manning, trade for Jori, re-sign Raffl, sign JVR, trade for Val, sign Elliott, re-sign Neuvy
In that order?
If it were up to me
Gone- Raffl, Mac, Hagg, Weise, Lehtera
Re-signed- Gudas
Raffl is a good hockey player. Why dont people know this? Never hurts the team. Always good defensively. Chips in offensively fine relative to usage.
Yeah he does, and I won't go ape-**** if he's back. However, he's probably reaching that point where those gritty, hard-working guys with limited pure ability hit a wall and the points completely disappear, a la Matt Read last year.
Yeah, I know. So do Mac, Hagg, and Weise and unfortunately I see all of them being here until they run out.Gudy has another year left after this one.
Yeah, I know. So do Mac, Hagg, and Weise and unfortunately I see all of them being here until they run out.
But once their contracts are done, he's the only one I'd be interested in re-signing.
1. Sign JVR
2. Get Gudas as a piece in the Coburn trade
Probably toss up between Raffl and getting Sam Gagner.
I totally agree with both of these. I am a Gudas & Raffl fan. They are the type of glue guys that are on winning teams. And both are young enough, and cheap enough, that they won't turn into pumpkins unexpectedly. They are also at a level where they shouldn't garner the dumb money commitments like a Seabrook, and are replaceable from within thus protecting the team from itself.Raffl is a good hockey player. Why dont people know this? Never hurts the team. Always good defensively. Chips in offensively fine relative to usage.
We do know this. But NAK needs to play doesn't he? Neither should be on the 3rd line...and NAK and Laughton as wingers on the 4th line makes more sense than re-signing Raffl for 2-3 million.Raffl is a good hockey player. Why dont people know this? Never hurts the team. Always good defensively. Chips in offensively fine relative to usage.
I doubt we need him still at that point. I think we add a dman this summer and Myers will also be up plus Morin.
Provy
Ghost
Sanheim
Myers
Morin
Summer DMan
Hagg
Friedman
Etc.
Meh... I think the chance we find a defensemen better than Gudas this summer is pretty slim. He's a vet, top 4 quality, cheap, and won't cost us assets to acquire.
I'm perfectly fine with our D ending up as...
Provorov-Ghost
Sanheim-Gudas
Morin-Myers
... until we're forced to change it.
Hagg should **** off and I doubt Friedman will be superior to Gudas, so I'm fine with sticking with our known quantity.
I've been very unimpressed by him so far...I'd sign up for those pairings right now.
Don't count out Friedman though.
There isn't anyone in the league who can do what Ghost can for such a low cap hit.
Meh... I think the chance we find a defensemen better than Gudas this summer is pretty slim. He's a vet, top 4 quality, cheap, and won't cost us assets to acquire.
I'm perfectly fine with our D ending up as...
Provorov-Ghost
Sanheim-Gudas
Morin-Myers
... until we're forced to change it.
Hagg should **** off and I doubt Friedman will be superior to Gudas, so I'm fine with sticking with our known quantity.
Meh... I think the chance we find a defensemen better than Gudas this summer is pretty slim. He's a vet, top 4 quality, cheap, and won't cost us assets to acquire.
I'm perfectly fine with our D ending up as...
Provorov-Ghost
Sanheim-Gudas
Morin-Myers
... until we're forced to change it.
Hagg should **** off and I doubt Friedman will be superior to Gudas, so I'm fine with sticking with our known quantity.