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wbon22
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We all know that the Flyers are over the cap, under the 10% offseason allowance and none of that includes Pronger. That means any additional free agent/resigned RFA's are going to have to be in total under $5.5. That, and the fact that the 10% goes away, the Flyers will need to shed some salary. That, and the serious logjam on the roster.
Lets take a look:
Center: Giroux, Lacavalier, Coutourier, Schenn, Hall, Laughton (Purely because Hall was in the NHL)
Schenn has been bounced around his entire NHL career between Center and RW and LW. There are hockey people who believe he is better off playing LW even if he wants to be a center. I think the quickest and easiest solution to Schenn is move him to the LW. BUT, what to do with Laughton? Hall is a pure face off specialist/4th line skater. I think that will play out over the training camp and early season.
Wing: Yes, I know there are two wings but so few players are married to only playing the one even if they really should only play the "on" wing....
Hartnell, Voracek, Simmonds, Talbot, Read, Rosehill, Rinaldo, Newbury, McGinn, Gagne, Akeson
This assumes that they resign Gagne.
It is pretty set in stone that Newbury will be a swing between the Phantoms and the Flyers. Akeson is 90% going back to the Phantoms. That leaves 9 wingers. You only dress 8. I can see Rosehill and McGinn or Rinaldo rotating depending on the opponent. BUT, this isn't the greatest group for offense.
Don't forget that part of the solution to the Schenn problem was to play him on LW. And Laughton? Where does he fit in? Buried on the 4th line splitting time, or on a wing? If he is on the wing then someone else isn't. Log Jam.
Defense:
Timonen, Streit, Coburn, Schenn, Mezaros, Grossmann, Gervais, Gustafsson, Manning, Lauridsen
None this does not included anyone from this years draft who IMHO should not even be looked to for at least a full season.
Now, as a group they aren't bad...when healthy they are a bit one dimensional and not the slickest puck handlers, but they can get the job done when their goalie works with them to read the forecheck and help set up/move the puck...as demonstrated when Mason arrived last year playing behind a "Phantom" defense.
Timonen, Streit and Gustafsson are your puck movers. Timonen and Gustafsson both play a better game in the defensive zone than Streit. All three need to be paired with someone who can play back and stay in position...Coburn excelled earlier in his career playing with Timonen. Both Grossmann and Schenn are better suited as defensive defenseman. Mezaros has been so banged up the last two years that really the Flyers have been playing without him even though he was "here". It is a shame, when kept to 17-18 minutes he is a solid player. I don't know/see how Manning or Lauridsen makes the big team this year without a trade happening. A trade that is a pure salary dump.
Goal:
Mason, Emery, Danis, Heeter, Stollarz.
No logjam here. Mason and Emery can carry the load. Danis is a capable NHL player to have for emergency with the Phantoms. Heeter and Stollarz and develop.
Lets take a look:
Center: Giroux, Lacavalier, Coutourier, Schenn, Hall, Laughton (Purely because Hall was in the NHL)
Schenn has been bounced around his entire NHL career between Center and RW and LW. There are hockey people who believe he is better off playing LW even if he wants to be a center. I think the quickest and easiest solution to Schenn is move him to the LW. BUT, what to do with Laughton? Hall is a pure face off specialist/4th line skater. I think that will play out over the training camp and early season.
Wing: Yes, I know there are two wings but so few players are married to only playing the one even if they really should only play the "on" wing....
Hartnell, Voracek, Simmonds, Talbot, Read, Rosehill, Rinaldo, Newbury, McGinn, Gagne, Akeson
This assumes that they resign Gagne.
It is pretty set in stone that Newbury will be a swing between the Phantoms and the Flyers. Akeson is 90% going back to the Phantoms. That leaves 9 wingers. You only dress 8. I can see Rosehill and McGinn or Rinaldo rotating depending on the opponent. BUT, this isn't the greatest group for offense.
Don't forget that part of the solution to the Schenn problem was to play him on LW. And Laughton? Where does he fit in? Buried on the 4th line splitting time, or on a wing? If he is on the wing then someone else isn't. Log Jam.
Defense:
Timonen, Streit, Coburn, Schenn, Mezaros, Grossmann, Gervais, Gustafsson, Manning, Lauridsen
None this does not included anyone from this years draft who IMHO should not even be looked to for at least a full season.
Now, as a group they aren't bad...when healthy they are a bit one dimensional and not the slickest puck handlers, but they can get the job done when their goalie works with them to read the forecheck and help set up/move the puck...as demonstrated when Mason arrived last year playing behind a "Phantom" defense.
Timonen, Streit and Gustafsson are your puck movers. Timonen and Gustafsson both play a better game in the defensive zone than Streit. All three need to be paired with someone who can play back and stay in position...Coburn excelled earlier in his career playing with Timonen. Both Grossmann and Schenn are better suited as defensive defenseman. Mezaros has been so banged up the last two years that really the Flyers have been playing without him even though he was "here". It is a shame, when kept to 17-18 minutes he is a solid player. I don't know/see how Manning or Lauridsen makes the big team this year without a trade happening. A trade that is a pure salary dump.
Goal:
Mason, Emery, Danis, Heeter, Stollarz.
No logjam here. Mason and Emery can carry the load. Danis is a capable NHL player to have for emergency with the Phantoms. Heeter and Stollarz and develop.
