5 Thoughts Going Into the Offseason

[AJgoal]

The Flyers exceeded my expectations this season. There are still a lot of question marks going forward. Still happy with the season, happy with the steps forward some players took, and the team looked way more like a team than in previous years.

 

1. The Flyers need an infusion of offense. Their defense was respectable this season, though a lot of that had to do with the stellar play of Mason and Neuvirth. The team lacks both size and skill up front. I talked briefly with @ruxpin in the chatbox about Stamkos. He'd be a perfect add for the club, IMO. He'd take pressure off of Giroux, and would be a natural guy to play with Voracek. That said, it's wishful thinking, the length and term required will be too much - even if they had the cap space to do it, I don't want to pay someone 60+ million over 6 years. I stick by my belief that Giroux and Jake need to not play together. I don't know if I stick with Schenn - Giroux - Simmonds, or if I play Schenn on the left with Voracek on the right and Couturier in the middle, and find another LW for Giroux's line. But the top 6 needs something. Other than the 8 million dollar men not disappearing for stretches. Schenn will be re-signed, but for how much? Is Konecny and/or Lindblom the answer? Leier? Laughton?

 

2. Following on that, they need to make a decision on which way to go with Couturier. He has excellent peripheral offensive stats (points/60, corsi/fenwick, etc.), but injuries and his deployment as a defensive forward limited his actual point production (He tied his career high in points in about 3/4 of the time spent on the ice). The Flyers need to decide if he's a defensive specialist or their 2nd line center. I don't think they're doing him any favors from a development standpoint if they are going to start him in the defensive zone all the time (To be fair, Hakstol did increase his OZ starts this year, but he was still under 50%).  They could have a decent to good 2nd line center, or a very good to excellent third line center in Couturier. I think they just need to decide which they prefer (To be clear, I am thinking of third line as the shutdown line, 2nd as an offensive line).

 

3. Mason and Neuvirth were impressive this year. The team doesn't make the show without them. There's going to be a tough decision for the team as the deadline approaches, especially with potential expansion looming. If they're in the dance, do they keep both? Do they deal one even if they are? I think a lot will come down to how much they believe in Stolarz. If the speculation is true and they can only keep one goalie protected, would they deal Mason, protect and re-sign Neuvirth as the insurance policy, and go into 2017 splitting starts? Do you keep Mason and hope he and Stolarz can be a 1A/1B, with the expectation of dealing Mason should Stolarz prove up to the task? What about the other goalies in their system? Lots of unknowns here, but in a good way.

 

4. Do they deal a defenseman this offseason? I think Hextall does if he wants to get one of the youngsters into the lineup. Streit, Del Zotto, Gostisbehere, Schultz, and MacDonald are all signed for next season. Gudas, Manning, and Alt are all RFAs, and they are not waiver-eligible (Well, Gudas might be, but like Gostisbehere, he's not going to the AHL at this point). MacDonald and Schultz played well down the stretch - MacDonald will never earn his contract, but that doesn't mean he was a terrible defenseman for the Flyers, either. Schultz is a perfect #7. MacDonald would be a good choice for #7 as well. I think a lot will depend on what they think of Alt's future. He and/or Manning could probably provide some ammunition for a move on the forward end, or to move up in the draft. MacDonald can be waived down to the minors. Schultz could be moved. But unless and until one of those eight gets traded or flat out let go (Manning/Alt), I don't think you can expect to see Morin/Sanheim/Provorov, etc. on the Flyers blueline to start next season.

 

5. The Flyers draft 18th, barring Nashville advancing. With two 2nds and two thirds this year, and an extra third next year, two goalies coming off outstanding seasons under contract, and some young pieces that just may not be fits, they have ammunition to do some maneuvering in the draft. It will be interesting to see if Hextall stands pat, or tries to move up to target someone specific. I haven't gotten into the draft stuff yet this year, but I would expect them to target forwards.

[flyercanuck]

7 minutes ago, AJgoal said:

The Flyers exceeded my expectations this season. There are still a lot of question marks going forward. Still happy with the season, happy with the steps forward some players took, and the team looked way more like a team than in previous years.

 

1. The Flyers need an infusion of offense. Their defense was respectable this season, though a lot of that had to do with the stellar play of Mason and Neuvirth. The team lacks both size and skill up front. I talked briefly with @ruxpin in the chatbox about Stamkos. He'd be a perfect add for the club, IMO. He'd take pressure off of Giroux, and would be a natural guy to play with Voracek. That said, it's wishful thinking, the length and term required will be too much - even if they had the cap space to do it, I don't want to pay someone 60+ million over 6 years. I stick by my belief that Giroux and Jake need to not play together. I don't know if I stick with Schenn - Giroux - Simmonds, or if I play Schenn on the left with Voracek on the right and Couturier in the middle, and find another LW for Giroux's line. But the top 6 needs something. Other than the 8 million dollar men not disappearing for stretches. Schenn will be re-signed, but for how much? Is Konecny and/or Lindblom the answer? Leier? Laughton?

 

We've got Giroux and Voracek both at the high end of payscale..I don't see adding Stamkos as being viable. The perfect add IMO is big, fast, mean scorer Pierre Luc Dubois. But he's supposed to go top ten and I'd take him 4th if I had the pick. So back to the drawing board.

 

7 minutes ago, AJgoal said:

 

2. Following on that, they need to make a decision on which way to go with Couturier. He has excellent peripheral offensive stats (points/60, corsi/fenwick, etc.), but injuries and his deployment as a defensive forward limited his actual point production (He tied his career high in points in about 3/4 of the time spent on the ice). The Flyers need to decide if he's a defensive specialist or their 2nd line center. I don't think they're doing him any favors from a development standpoint if they are going to start him in the defensive zone all the time (To be fair, Hakstol did increase his OZ starts this year, but he was still under 50%).  They could have a decent to good 2nd line center, or a very good to excellent third line center in Couturier. I think they just need to decide which they prefer (To be clear, I am thinking of third line as the shutdown line, 2nd as an offensive line).

 

It would be nice to see what he could do with a full injury free season with decent linemates. But as we can all see, when it comes to playoffs, the game turns more into Couturiers shutdown style than the wide open offence that he gets knocked for not having.

 

7 minutes ago, AJgoal said:

 

3. Mason and Neuvirth were impressive this year. The team doesn't make the show without them. There's going to be a tough decision for the team as the deadline approaches, especially with potential expansion looming. If they're in the dance, do they keep both? Do they deal one even if they are? I think a lot will come down to how much they believe in Stolarz. If the speculation is true and they can only keep one goalie protected, would they deal Mason, protect and re-sign Neuvirth as the insurance policy, and go into 2017 splitting starts? Do you keep Mason and hope he and Stolarz can be a 1A/1B, with the expectation of dealing Mason should Stolarz prove up to the task? What about the other goalies in their system? Lots of unknowns here, but in a good way.

 

Hextall needs to stay the course. We should NOT be buying at the deadline next year...and if we're going to lose one then deal a goalie. We have the luxury of next season to make the decision...hopefully one of these guys can stay healthy and run with it.

 

7 minutes ago, AJgoal said:

 

4. Do they deal a defenseman this offseason? I think Hextall does if he wants to get one of the youngsters into the lineup. Streit, Del Zotto, Gostisbehere, Schultz, and MacDonald are all signed for next season. Gudas, Manning, and Alt are all RFAs, and they are not waiver-eligible (Well, Gudas might be, but like Gostisbehere, he's not going to the AHL at this point). MacDonald and Schultz played well down the stretch - MacDonald will never earn his contract, but that doesn't mean he was a terrible defenseman for the Flyers, either. Schultz is a perfect #7. MacDonald would be a good choice for #7 as well. I think a lot will depend on what they think of Alt's future. He and/or Manning could probably provide some ammunition for a move on the forward end, or to move up in the draft. MacDonald can be waived down to the minors. Schultz could be moved. But unless and until one of those eight gets traded or flat out let go (Manning/Alt), I don't think you can expect to see Morin/Sanheim/Provorov, etc. on the Flyers blueline to start next season.

 

Provorov should at least get the 9 game look. I'd like to keep Gudas/MDZ and Ghost. Trade any of the rest. I thought McDud had looked fine until today when he blindly threw the puck onto Washingtons sticks at least 5 times in our end. 

 

 

7 minutes ago, AJgoal said:

 

5. The Flyers draft 18th, barring Nashville advancing. With two 2nds and two thirds this year, and an extra third next year, two goalies coming off outstanding seasons under contract, and some young pieces that just may not be fits, they have ammunition to do some maneuvering in the draft. It will be interesting to see if Hextall stands pat, or tries to move up to target someone specific. I haven't gotten into the draft stuff yet this year, but I would expect them to target forwards.

 

There should be some good players left when we draft...unfortunately the big talented guys who can skate and score will be gone for the most part. We need that up front, bad.

 

[AJgoal]

26 minutes ago, flyercanuck said:

 

We've got Giroux and Voracek both at the high end of payscale..I don't see adding Stamkos as being viable. The perfect add IMO is big, fast, mean scorer Pierre Luc Dubois. But he's supposed to go top ten and I'd take him 4th if I had the pick. So back to the drawing board.

 

Agreed. In a cap-free world, it'd be a pretty perfect match. But given the cap, it's not viable.

 

I agree to a point about Couturier. But the flip side is without more offense from somewhere, teams are going to be able to continue to concentrate on the top line in a playoff situation. If offense doesn't come from Couturier or somewhere else, you put up 6 goals in 6 games. And that won't win you much, either.

 

Agreed that they should not buy for one deadline, maybe two.

 

I don't think Streit is moveable until the deadline, though with Ghost and a healthy MDZ, the Flyers could afford to. MacDonald is unmovable. Schultz could be moved in the offseason.

 

Agreed on the last. Even Lindblom is only 6'1, 190. They desperately need some size and shooting proficiency up front. Couturier and Jake are their biggest guys. Schenn and Simmonds were their best shooting % guys, and neither would be considered a sniper.

[OccamsRazor]

10 Brayden Schenn - 28 Claude Giroux - XXXXXXXX
93 Jakub Voracek - 14 Sean Couturier  -17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl - 52 Nick Cousins - XXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXX - 78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - 25 Ryan White 
 

XXXXXXXXXX - 53 Shayne Gostisbehere
XXXXXXXXXX- 32 Mark Streit
XXXXXXXXX - 3 Radko Gudas

30 Michal Neuvirth
35 Steve Mason

 

The X's mark the spot i would fill. Not every spot is set in stone but it's a start.

 

So i would trade Read, Schultz. Waive Mcdud and Vandevelde to the AHL and let Gagner walk. RJ i would buy out. 

[ruxpin]

22 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

10 Brayden Schenn - 28 Claude Giroux - XXXXXXXX
93 Jakub Voracek - 14 Sean Couturier  -17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl - 52 Nick Cousins - XXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXX - 78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - 25 Ryan White 

 

I noticed Laughton is not there.  Is that an oversight or are you, like me, not at all sold on the guy?

[OccamsRazor]

12 minutes ago, ruxpin said:

 

I noticed Laughton is not there.  Is that an oversight or are you, like me, not at all sold on the guy?

 

 

Yeah i thought i was forgetting someone.

 

An updated version......

 

10 Brayden Schenn - 28 Claude Giroux - XXXXXXXX
93 Jakub Voracek - 14 Sean Couturier  -17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl - 52 Nick Cousins - 21 Laughton
XXXXXXXXXXX - 78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - 25 Ryan White 
 

15 Michael DelZotto - 53 Shayne Gostisbehere
XXXXXXXXXX- 32 Mark Streit
XXXXXXXXX - 3 Radko Gudas

30 Michal Neuvirth
35 Steve Mason

 

The X's mark the spot i would fill. Not every spot is set in stone but it's a start.

 

So i would trade Read, Schultz. Waive Mcdud and Vandevelde to the AHL and let Gagner walk. RJ i would buy out. 

 

[ruxpin]

3 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

Yeah i thought i was forgetting someone.

 

Cool.  I wasn't being a smart ass.  I'm really not sure how I feel about Laughton, but I also think he probably hasn't gotten enough of a look.  

 

He looks good in short spurts, but overall, so far color me not particularly impressed.  I think you have him in a good spot.  To tell you the truth, in the much shorter time I've seen Cousins, I've actually been more impressed by him.  I think ultimately he'll be harder to play against.

 

Plus, I'm now growing concerned about Laughton's health going forward.  This was his second concussion (at least), right?

[OccamsRazor]

@ruxpin

 

I didn't add him but i expect Provorov to make the club next year. Maybe start on the 3rd pair with Gudas.

[OccamsRazor]

1 minute ago, ruxpin said:

 I'm really not sure how I feel about Laughton

 

 

Same with Cousins i could see one of them plugging a hole in the 4th. Also i updated my update i also forgot Del Zotto!

[ruxpin]

Just now, OccamsRazor said:

@ruxpin

 

I didn't add him but i expect Provorov to make the club next year. Maybe start on the 3rd pair with Gudas.

 

I'd like to see him at least get the 9-game look @flyercanuck was talking about.

 

He'll still be juniors-eligible, right?   Honestly, I'm not sure what another year of juniors will do for him.  He showed himself to be at the top of that this year.    So, if not the Flyers, the Phantoms?   What does he gain there?  (I'm actually asking).   Some experience playing against bigger players?  

 

I've been supportive of Hextall's "go it slow" approach.  I think there's some merit to it, in general.  I'm not sure it won't ultimately hurt (or do nothing..back to hurt) Provorov's game at this point, though.

[OccamsRazor]

Also i had to worked today and recorded the game. I knew the outcome and i'm not even going to watch it. Erase.

[ruxpin]

I'm not sure I don't let Gudas move up the batting order a little bit.  And I'm okay with trading Shultz and I was not a fan in the regular season, but he was really very good in the playoffs.   I lost count of how many shots he blocked today.  He wasn't a liability out there.   If some of the kids are actually ready, you have to make room for some of them somewhere.  Right?

 

I'm okay with resigning Gagner if it's a 2-3 year deal at a modest amount.  He looked good to me down the stretch.   It would depend, for me, upon what else they're able to do.  I wouldn't want him in the way, but if they could do 2-3 years at 3.5 or even less, I'm okay with that.

 

I'm not a fan of Vandevelde and I don't think I'd remember him about 10 minutes after he's gone, but he had a decent series as well.  I was actually very happy with the fourth line all the way around and Vandy is cheap.  But...it's the fourth line.  He's replaceable.  

[ruxpin]

@OccamsRazor, I wonder if we could get Howie Rosen to teach Hextall how to trade several years of top 3 round picks to move up to #2 over all.   

[OccamsRazor]

9 minutes ago, ruxpin said:

So, if not the Flyers, the Phantoms?

 

 

He has a january birthday so it's junior or the Flyers for him. I think he has proven about everything he can prove at the junior level that is why i think if he is to grow further he needs to make the Flyers because well the Phantoms aren't an option. No way he can't find a spot amongst Schultz, Manning, Mcdud or Streit.

[OccamsRazor]

5 minutes ago, ruxpin said:

Howie Rosen

 

 

Ain't he the Rag's announcer???

 

You mean Roseman...and no stay put and take the BPA. Unless he can find a good deal.

[OccamsRazor]

9 minutes ago, ruxpin said:

I'm not sure I don't let Gudas move up the batting order a little bit.  And I'm okay with trading Shultz and I was not a fan in the regular season, but he was really very good in the playoffs.   I lost count of how many shots he blocked today.  He wasn't a liability out there.   If some of the kids are actually ready, you have to make room for some of them somewhere.  Right?

 

I'm okay with resigning Gagner if it's a 2-3 year deal at a modest amount.  He looked good to me down the stretch.   It would depend, for me, upon what else they're able to do.  I wouldn't want him in the way, but if they could do 2-3 years at 3.5 or even less, I'm okay with that.

 

I'm not a fan of Vandevelde and I don't think I'd remember him about 10 minutes after he's gone, but he had a decent series as well.  I was actually very happy with the fourth line all the way around and Vandy is cheap.  But...it's the fourth line.  He's replaceable.  

 

No way put Gagner on the street. I don't want any part of him let him move on wasn't impressed by him.

[AJgoal]

I liked Laughton better on the wing than as a center. Read can go, two down years means he's probably not going to rebound. I go back and forth on Gagner. He had some significant ups and downs this year, but he did show some skill, and there's the "devil you know" aspect. I'm just not sure he's top-6 material at this point.

[ruxpin]

8 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

 

Ain't he the Rag's announcer???

 

You mean Roseman...and no stay put and take the BPA. Unless he can find a good deal.

 

Yes. LOL   He is a Beaver alum, right?

 

What the hell?  LONG DAY!  LOL

[ruxpin]

1 minute ago, AJgoal said:

I liked Laughton better on the wing than as a center. Read can go, two down years means he's probably not going to rebound. I go back and forth on Gagner. He had some significant ups and downs this year, but he did show some skill, and there's the "devil you know" aspect. I'm just not sure he's top-6 material at this point.

 

Completely agree on Read.   I was really high on him when he first came on board.  He's entirely worthless now.

 

I thought Gagner had a fairly sound second half of the year.  I have no problem kicking him to the curb if his roster spot is in the way of something better (Konecny? FA?).  But if we do get rid of Read and Vandevalde (I never remember the spelling and really don't care), then there may still be room for a $3M guy for 2 years.

 

I will not be heartbroken either way.

[NRH]

We really don't have the luxury to just deal a goalie, You should really learn to stop trying to entertain terrible ideas.

[ruxpin]

^^^  I don't know.  I'd entertain reading the entire post.

[AJgoal]

46 minutes ago, ruxpin said:

 

Plus, I'm now growing concerned about Laughton's health going forward.  This was his second concussion (at least), right?

 

I don't think Laughton was concussed, looked like back/neck and he was set to skate tomorrow.

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

To me, Gudas had cemented himself as a top four guy on this club. I don't think he gets moved anytime shortly and he's going to get a nice deal from the Flyers. He was HUGE for the club this treat. 

 

I also thought Del Zotto played well in the shut down role this year. I think next year he gets rewarded with more offensive play and is a 45 point defenseman. He played most of the year with a bad artist and he really changed his game. I think it's safe to say that he replaces Streit.

 

I don't think Hextall is going to move a lot of bodies on defense though. He'll move Streit to get out under that contact, but I don't think he'll move Mac Donald or Shultz. I think he keeps the veterans and calls up Alt to play the Manning role. Honestly, I don't even think Hextall qualifies him.

 

That leaves one open spot for one if the other prizes. We know Gostisbehere will be in the top four, but who plays on the third pairing with Shultz? All things being equal, I see the following happen - Provorov gets the third pairing spot with Shultz. By mid season, Provorov moves tip the top pairing with Del Zotto. However, Hextall moves Shultz and calls up Morin full time to play on a third pairing with Gudas. Now if Morin shows up to training camp at 240 pounds, he's going to get top billing to start in Lehigh Valley, and he's going to tear it up. By the time he's called up, I expect his confidence to be at an all time high and his transition should be seamless. That third pairing will probably play 18 minutes a night and drive the opposition nuts.

 

Hextall will more than likely make changes at forward. Read is gone. He doesn't' fit in anymore and his role has disgressed. I also think Hextall let's someone from the fourth line to go. I really think White looks yup be the odds man out. I'm also convinced Gagner is gone too. 

 

The first replacement, in my mind, is Travis Konecny. I think he gets a third line spot with Laughton and Cousins. I think Raffl becomes the fourth line center between PEB and VandeVelde. 

 

The top line should be Schenn - Giroux - Simmonds. They compliment each other very well and in one long stretch, was the club's best line. Put that line back together and leave it. If they do, I can easily see Simmonds get 40 goals and Schenn could be good for 35.

 

The last change is the second line. Voracek looked good on a line with Couturier. That pairing starts. The left winger on the line? Drake Caggiula. I'm convinced Hextall and Hakstol will get him. He fills out that line.

 

That's four rookies in the lineup. I think they'll step up, but there's going to be some growing pains. I don't know if they return to the playoffs next year, but they should the year after that. This has the potential to be an incredible group going forward, but there has to be some bumps now. 

[AJgoal]

^^ I think that's expecting a lot more movement this offseason than is feasible, but I'd be ok with most of those moves. I'd rather demote Vandevelde and keep White, though. I could see Colin McDonald displacing VDV on the 4th line.

[AJgoal]

He hasn't filed the paperwork yet, but it appears the Flyers will indeed get an extra 2.25 million in cap space this offseason: http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2016/04/24/vincent-lecavalier-says-hes-going-to-retire/