Bottom 6 signings?

[catbellysqueezer]

I'm not sure if there are any stats available to compare our bottom six with the rest of the league, but most people have been talking about how awful they are and how little scoring opportunities they are generating this season. I don't think they've been great defensively either, but I'm no scout.

So, hypothetically, let's say the Flyers don't think any young guys are ready to come up yet next season (don't know much about development, but from reading your posts it sounds like Konecny, Cousins, or Leier are the only ones with a real shot, and none are a certainty).

If you had to pick 6 guys who are free agents next year, who you think would be most likely candidates for our bottom six, who would they be? Obviously the Flyers aren't going to replace all 6, and there's always a chance they won't replace a single one of them, but I'm just trying to get a list of possible replacements.

Not sure if this is up-to-date, but here's a list if you need it:

http://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-agents/ufa/forward/

Discuss, and thanks for any input!

Click to read more...

 

[Appleyard]

For 4th line:

Kyle Brodziak, age 31, C/RW
Boyd Gordon, age 32, C
Paul Gaustad, age 33, C
Dominic Moore, age 35, C
Vernon Fiddler, age 35, C
Matt Cullen, age 39, C

Matt Martin, age 26, LW/RW
Mike Santorelli, age 30, RW/C
Paul Byron, age 26, RW/LW/C
Scottie Upshall, age 32, RW/LW
Brandon Prust, age 31, LW/RW

are probably the best options out there at centre and wing respectively. All are pretty proven and play far tougher minutes than our 4th liners and do better or at least similarly in them.

You don't mind a 4th line guy getting ~43-46% Corsi when he is starting 50% of the time in the Dzone and only ~15% in the Ozone while playing vs 2nd lines... as that frees up your top six to get easier matchups, but when like ours they are getting more Ozone starts than our top 6, against 3rd and 4th lines... and putting up that kind of Corsi... that sucks.

The 4C FA class especially is actually about as strong as it has been in a few years... they are for the most part getting long in the tooth... but all of those 6 would be big upgrades at 4C.

 

[dats81]

I'm optimistic they can find a Veteran to solidify the Bellemare line and help improve the PK.

The Laughton line, formerly known as 3rd line, is more of a concern. It's tough to even point the finger towards what is truely wrong with combo.

 

[JDinkalage Morgoone]

Fiddler is a guy I've wanted in the past. I am still on board with that.

 

[Delete99991]

I can't imagine NYI let Martin go, but if they do please bring him to town Hexy

 

[Tripod]

Yet we have these guys all under contract or RFA:

Laughton Cousins Read
VDV PEB Umberger

Really, we should be adding 2 guys. One to replace a waived Umberger and a C that is good on faceoffs and push PEB to wing.

As others stated, if teh 4th line was actually used as a 4th line with TOI, we would be better. But getting a center that can win faceoffs is a must IMO.

And the LCR line above should be a half decent 3rd line. Not sure where Weal fits.

 

[kammy]

UFA center Frans Nielsen could be a solid vet pickup at 3C for us for the right price.

He's great at faceoffs and has been putting up around 50pts.

 

[JayRosehillMVP]

I'd give Dom Moore whatever he wants. Great 4C is worth paying for.

I like Martin and Byron too. Martin makes us tougher to play against, Byron gives us elite speed up front.

 

[klutch]

Hall was a pretty good face-off guy. What ever happened to that guy

 

[Appleyard]

UFA center Frans Nielsen could be a solid vet pickup at 3C for us for the right price.

He's great at faceoffs and has been putting up around 50pts.

There will not be a 'right price' with Nielsen...

 

[tade]

UFA center Frans Nielsen could be a solid vet pickup at 3C for us for the right price.

He's great at faceoffs and has been putting up around 50pts.

lol yeah but he will sign around 4-5M per year. Maybe even more.

 

[dats81]

Hall was a pretty good face-off guy. What ever happened to that guy

Do you remember when people compared Handzus to molasses?
Adam Hall's skating has deteriorated to that level

 

[bb12]

Yet we have these guys all under contract or RFA:

Laughton Cousins Read
VDV PEB Umberger

Really, we should be adding 2 guys. One to replace a waived Umberger and a C that is good on faceoffs and push PEB to wing.

As others stated, if teh 4th line was actually used as a 4th line with TOI, we would be better. But getting a center that can win faceoffs is a must IMO.

And the LCR line above should be a half decent 3rd line. Not sure where Weal fits.

Laughton, Cousins, Read, Leier, PEB and Weal/Konecy (maybe) should be what the bottom 6 is made of based on contracted players. I'd love to make a signing and push Raffl down. Trade Read possibly.

 

[KrazyKat]

If we can unload Umberger + White + Streit and Sign Boedker I think we will be in good shape.

Voracek--Giroux--Simmonds
Boedker--Couturier--Schenn
Raffl--Laughton--Konecny
Read--Cousins--Bellemare

Del Zotto--Gudas
MacDonald--Gostisbehere
Provorov--Medvedev

Mason
Nuevirth

 

[Rebels57]

If we can unload Umberger + White + Streit and Sign Boedker I think we will be in good shape.

Voracek--Giroux--Simmonds
Boedker--Couturier--Schenn
Raffl--Laughton--Konecny
Read--Cousins--Bellemare

Del Zotto--Gudas
MacDonald--Gostisbehere
Provorov--Medvedev

Mason
Nuevirth

This. You're getting pretty good at this making lineups thing. Practice makes perfect I guess.

 

[tade]

I'd LOVE to get Boedker, but he will be, most likely, very expensive... plus will demand long-term contract. And there will be a lot of teams after him. It's unlikely.

 

[Rebels57]

I'd LOVE to get Boedker, but he will be, most likely, very expensive... plus will demand long-term contract. And there will be a lot of teams after him. It's unlikely.

Sad, but true.

 

[McNasty]

Byron would be nice. He adds a speed element to the PK and is a short handed threat. Adding someone like Gaustad to the bottom 6 I think would do wonders for the team as well, if they didn't need Giroux to take every defensive zone draw.

 

[DrinkFightFlyers]

I would love to look at Tlusty if he's available. Could play up and down the lineup and on PK. Think he's under 30 too.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

I know he's a bit older, but I love Chimera's game. I can't see him get too much of a raise since he's 36 years old. He has speed, size and has still some offensive nose for the game. He's basically the Umberger we wish we had.

If we somehow made room in our cap, I'd love to pick up Boedker as well.

Voracek-Giroux-Simmonds
Boedker-Couts-Schenn
Read-Laughton-Konecny
Chimera-Cousins-Leier/Raffl

I will say though, if Konecny makes the team, we wouldn't exactly need Boedker. Put Konecny on the 2nd line, put Chimera on the 3rd line and have a line of Raffl-Cousins-Leier. All 4 lines being very good.

 

[CodyTheHuman]

I know he's a bit older, but I love Chimera's game. I can't see him get too much of a raise since he's 36 years old. He has speed, size and has still some offensive nose for the game. He's basically the Umberger we wish we had.

If we somehow made room in our cap, I'd love to pick up Boedker as well.

Voracek-Giroux-Simmonds
Boedker-Couts-Schenn
Read-Laughton-Konecny
Chimera-Cousins-Leier/Raffl

I will say though, if Konecny makes the team, we wouldn't exactly need Boedker. Put Konecny on the 2nd line, put Chimera on the 3rd line and have a line of Raffl-Cousins-Leier. All 4 lines being very good.

Konecny has never played LW, as far as I know. I don't think it would be good for him to throw him into a position he's never played the same year he makes the NHL.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

Konecny has never played LW, as far as I know. I don't think it would be good for him to throw him into a position he's never played the same year he makes the NHL.

I would think Schenn playing LW would be fine as long as he's with Couts right?

 

[Curufinwe]

There will not be a 'right price' with Nielsen...

But he'd be perfect here, apart from his age.

 

[Appleyard]

But he'd be perfect here, apart from his age.

Oh yeh, he is a fantastic player. But I doubt he wants to play 3C and he should get ~4.5-5m.

 

[Juicy Pop]

Voracek--Giroux--Simmonds
Boedker--Matthews--Schenn
Raffl--Couturier--Konecny
Read--Laughton--Bellemare

Del Zotto--Gudas
MacDonald--Gostisbehere
Provorov--Medvedev

Mason
Nuevirth

Problem solved.