InHexyWeTrust Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Picking this up from the Laughton vs. Wilson thread. There was a lot of debate here during the draft when we took Laughton one pick before the Pens took Maata. Or rather a lot of clamoring that Maata should have been ours. Now the conversation could be renewed with the recent developments for both players. Laughton, who was solid in the couple games he played for the Flyers last season, has been absolutely tearing it up in the OHL and was just named captain for Canada in the WJC. A very promising future for the 19 year old, and with our current glut of centers, no hurry for him to pushed with his development. Maata, on the other hand, is in the running for the Calder, already producing at a high level in the NHL. I still think Laughton was a solid pick, and fits our needs for now and the future better than Maata. Between Morin, Hagg, Ghost, and Lauridsen, we finally have a good defensive corps in the system that should seamlessly fill in for the aging veterans (Kimmo, Streit, Mez) in the coming years. But outside of Laughton, not much offense. As good as Maata may turn out to be, I'm definitely happy with the pick. Laughton should step into a full-time 4th line role next year, and the possibility of cycling 4 lines all with offensive upside is pretty exciting (a Laughton/Hartnell/Rinaldo sounds pretty good). So, who would you guys pick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 @ Both solid picks by both organizations. Looks like you can't go wrong with either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murraycraven Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 @ Both solid picks by both organizations. Looks like you can't go wrong with either. Agreed FC... the only thing that makes me nervous is where does Laughton fit on this current roster? I would hate to see them try and convert him to wing honestly but I dont see any other way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Quigster Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Laughton is a small guy in a big man's game! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murraycraven Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Laughton is a small guy in a big man's game! Huh!? He is 6'1 and plays like a tough son of a bitch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccamsRazor Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Laughton is a small guy in a big man's game! The guy that scored the first goal last night a shortie mind you is 5' 7" Cam Atkinson....says hello...he's on pace to score 23 goals...so Laughton is fine size wise no worries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philly29 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 What do they do with B. Schenn because we know Vinny L is a stop gap so we have Giroux, Coots, Schenn or Laughton up the middle in the near future.... Trade Schenn for a winger or try to convert schenn to the wing instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InHexyWeTrust Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 What do they do with B. Schenn because we know Vinny L is a stop gap so we have Giroux, Coots, Schenn or Laughton up the middle in the near future.... Trade Schenn for a winger or try to convert schenn to the wing instead. Schenn doesn't strike me as a natural center. He was looking good on the wing with Vinny and Danny B before that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murraycraven Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Schenn doesn't strike me as a natural center. He was looking good on the wing with Vinny and Danny B before that. [/quotHis natural position is center... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doom88 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Why waste development time on the fourth line / bench? I'm glad he's in juniors this season, and hope he goes to the AHL next. No need to rush him up just to sit him down. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Podein25 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Gimme a team of Canadian centers, Swedish D-men and Québécois goalies. Homer picks between Laughton and Maatta, choosing the former. Total toss up in my opinion. Let's start hanging on to more picks, even 2nd rounders, and choosing both Laughton AND Maatta. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Laughton hasn't proven anything. OHL means nothing as many have succeeded there and failed beyond. Right now Maatta is leading by a mile.BUT... Having said that they're both very young and a lot remains to be seen. Will Maatta improve? Regress? Will Laughton get up and stick? Lots of questions... Long way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Laughton hasn't proven anything. OHL means nothing as many have succeeded there and failed beyond. Right now Maatta is leading by a mile.BUT... Having said that they're both very young and a lot remains to be seen. Will Maatta improve? Regress? Will Laughton get up and stick? Lots of questions... Long way to go. While he is still playing in the O and maatta is in the NHL there is an obvious reason for this. Pittsburghs D is decimated and Philly is stacked at center. Laughtons game translates very well to the pros. Usually guys who don't make it lack something...whether it's talent, work ethic, speed...Laughton has all of those. I'd put money on him making it without even thinking about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doom88 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 While he is still playing in the O and maatta is in the NHL there is an obvious reason for this. Pittsburghs D is decimated and Philly is stacked at center. Laughtons game translates very well to the pros. Usually guys who don't make it lack something...whether it's talent, work ethic, speed...Laughton has all of those. I'd put money on him making it without even thinking about it.All fair points, agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 (edited) While he is still playing in the O and maatta is in the NHL there is an obvious reason for this. Pittsburghs D is decimated and Philly is stacked at center. Laughtons game translates very well to the pros. Usually guys who don't make it lack something...whether it's talent, work ethic, speed...Laughton has all of those. I'd put money on him making it without even thinking about it.Actually that's incorrect. Maatta started the season in the NHL and was NOT up as a result of injuries. That's part of why the Pens fans here were so impressed with him. No way lights could know that really unless you'd been following along but he'd earned his starts with a healthy D. The kid's been stellar!Anyone thinking a good OHL player trumps a quality NHL d-man is just trying to justify the draft selection at this point. Now as I said... Give it some time and let's compare them again in say... Three seasons? Then we may know what each squad really has. Edited December 21, 2013 by Polaris922 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B21 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 While he is still playing in the O and maatta is in the NHL there is an obvious reason for this. Pittsburghs D is decimated and Philly is stacked at center. Laughtons game translates very well to the pros. Usually guys who don't make it lack something...whether it's talent, work ethic, speed...Laughton has all of those. I'd put money on him making it without even thinking about it. No opinion on this since all I have not seen much of Laughton but....Maatta staying with the Pens had nothing to do with injuries. He got the 9-game "tryout" because Letang opened the season on IR but the Pens had all hands on deck (on D) at the time they had to decide whether to keep him or send him down. Letang, Orpik, Martin, Niskanen and Scuderi all played big minutes in the first game after they decided to keep Maatta. Even Engelland played (4th line wing). Just sayin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 @Polaris922 Nobodys saying Laughton is better than Maatta. Just that they're both good picks. If Laughton was drafted by the Leafs he might very well be their #1 center right now due to injury. There's a logjam preventing him from playing with the Flyers presently, and I'm fine with that. And yes, we can certainly have a better look at this 3,4,5 years from now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 @B21 @Polaris922 OK, I thought the injury bug had hit earlier. And I wasn't trying to say the only reason Maatta was up was because of injuries...he can clearly play in the NHL. Obviously you can't compare a center on one team with a defenceman on another, but I was just pointing out when one team has an abundance of NHL centers and the other is decimated by injury at a position it's easier for one guy to get the call over the other. Bozak is a #1 center on the Leafs. He'd likely be the Pens or the Flyers 4th line center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B21 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 @B21 @Polaris922 OK, I thought the injury bug had hit earlier. And I wasn't trying to say the only reason Maatta was up was because of injuries...he can clearly play in the NHL. Obviously you can't compare a center on one team with a defenceman on another, but I was just pointing out when one team has an abundance of NHL centers and the other is decimated by injury at a position it's easier for one guy to get the call over the other. Bozak is a #1 center on the Leafs. He'd likely be the Pens or the Flyers 4th line center. Agree. Just wasn't the case with Maatta. Likely is the case with Laughton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackStraw Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Gimme a team of Canadian centers, Swedish D-men and Québécois goalies And what, Ethiopian wingers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Podein25 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 And what, Ethiopian wingers? Actually, I was thinking Norwegian wingers who only have one nut. Also: gimme sheep for mascots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bakanekimiwa Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 No opinion on this since all I have not seen much of Laughton but....Maatta staying with the Pens had nothing to do with injuries. He got the 9-game "tryout" because Letang opened the season on IR but the Pens had all hands on deck (on D) at the time they had to decide whether to keep him or send him down. Letang, Orpik, Martin, Niskanen and Scuderi all played big minutes in the first game after they decided to keep Maatta. Even Engelland played (4th line wing). Just sayin'. maata deserves his stay with the pens D injuries or not. the kid is playing at a very high confidence level. I watched the Pens/Rags game the other night(fantastic game btw) and the kid showed poise way beyond his years. He has the confidence and hockey sense of knowing when to jump into the play and his offensive skills are quite good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B21 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 And what, Ethiopian wingers? You mean the skinny guys from the first Nintendo hockey? They were fast though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackStraw Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Actually, I was thinking Norwegian wingers who only have one nut. I should have known. Also: gimme sheep for mascots That I knew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackStraw Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 (edited) You mean the skinny guys from the first Nintendo hockey? They were fast though.I'd go with the metal guys. Very disciplined, always stayed in their lanes. Edited December 22, 2013 by JackStraw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.