I think Gustafsson will play like a vet. Which will be good because I see this being the year Timonen breaks down. Meszaros can be Timonen's crutch, and Gustafsson/Coburn can play off each other.
As for our bottom 6, I could still see Couturier making the line up. That last spot in the top 9 could have been filled a while ago, but management obviously wants competition for it (I didnt like that at first, but now I think that it was brilliant). And there is no doubt that of all the players fighting for that spot (Couturier, Read, Akeson, Testwuide, Nodl), Couturier is far and away the most talented.
Just a couple flashes of brilliance in camp and I think the coaching staff would be wow'd enough to hand that spot to Couturier, wise or not.
HM: Couturier (only a possibility if signed after the Flyers move some contracts around)
Other way around, they can sign him but only keep him for more than nine games once they move another contract ...
They need to fit him under the cap by the start of regular season though (Or they find a way to sign him as cheap as the Devils signed Larsson, not as expensive as Schenn).
What happened to Kalinski?
He was given a shot at an early age, played a total of 22 NHL games over 2 years and looked decent.
Now, he is struggling to even earn an AHL spot.
Did he just stagnate in his developoment or was he injured last season?
What happened to Kalinski?
He was given a shot at an early age, played a total of 22 NHL games over 2 years and looked decent.
Now, he is struggling to even earn an AHL spot.
Did he just stagnate in his developoment or was he injured last season?
He was a member of the locker room rebellion nonsense apparently.
I'm kind of shocked he and Legein are even still here considering the fate of Maroon.
nearly losing leg don't had nothing in common with slowing his progress
Nearly losing a leg could've been a major factor in why he was not given any NHL opportunities this season. That said, after recovery he was said to be 100%, and he certainly didn't seem to have any significant after effects a year or so removed from his injury.
Still, he was certainly part of some bad blood in the locker room, and I don't think the Flyers' organization was too happy with him at one point.
He was ranked Paul Holmgren's #1 prospect last year. This year he didn't even make the top 10.
It would take more than an injury that a player supposedly recovered from fully to do that. You have to drop your entire expectations of a player's future in the NHL to do something like that.
I don't know. To me, if Akeson is getting bigger and everything else, he could even make the team. Ranford could make it in the next few seasons. Read is just a guy that I think could possibly fit in with us this year. He's the oldest of our prospects you mentioned and he seems like the best choice if a spot is available. It will all come down to training camp and preseason for these guys, so we'll just have to wait and see.
Ranford seriously needs to work on his skating before having a chance making the team. He's at least 2, maybe 3 years away.
I like Akeson. Reminds me a lot like Giroux but less physical. Great playmaking abilities and look forward seeing him with the Phantoms next year.
Ranford seriously needs to work on his skating before having a chance making the team. He's at least 2, maybe 3 years away.
I like Akeson. Reminds me a lot like Giroux but less physical. Great playmaking abilities and look forward seeing him with the Phantoms next year.
If the Phantoms were under my care, I'd take Read out of the equation (put him in the NHL assuming he's ready), and hand the team over to guys like Akeson, Wellwood, Pither, McGinn, Holmstrom, Testwuide, Sestito, Legein, Kalinski, and Rinaldo.
This young group of forwards has a lot to prove at the AHL level this year after what happened last season. I want to see someone rise to the challenge.
EDIT: And yes, Ranford has some work to do. He better be doing power skating drills all summer. Ranford as a better skater would be an absolute beast.
Nearly losing a leg could've been a major factor in why he was not given any NHL opportunities this season. That said, after recovery he was said to be 100%, and he certainly didn't seem to have any significant after effects a year or so removed from his injury.
Still, he was certainly part of some bad blood in the locker room, and I don't think the Flyers' organization was too happy with him at one point.
He was ranked Paul Holmgren's #1 prospect last year. This year he didn't even make the top 10.
It would take more than an injury that a player supposedly recovered from fully to do that. You have to drop your entire expectations of a player's future in the NHL to do something like that.
and hockey players never lie about health issues... being part of mutiny certainly did not help his cause if that's true
with read's large cap hit and the bonus overages I don't think they could even afford him anymore even if they dump shelley for sestito (saves about .55mil). Purely by the numbers it works but Paul always likes to have a little breathing room.
on a completely different topic why no prospect game between the caps and flyers this year? thought they've been doing that for like three years or something. why stop now?
with read's large cap hit and the bonus overages I don't think they could even afford him anymore even if they dump shelley for sestito (saves about .55mil). Purely by the numbers it works but Paul always likes to have a little breathing room.
on a completely different topic why no prospect game between the caps and flyers this year? thought they've been doing that for like three years or something. why stop now?
Things Read doesn't has: Large Caphit, any Bonuses. He counts $900K towards the upper limit.
Things Read doesn't have: Large cap hit, any bonuses. He counts $900K towards the upper limit.
I meant relatively large, compared to Wellwood's cap hit at 580K or just carrying 12 forwards. At the end of the day Lappy will go on LTIR and Paul will do what's best for the team even if it means no cap room for a trade at the deadline I suppose. To be honest I think Shelley will be on the team next year as Paul has a man crush on him.
