*Lets say they do end up re-signing Gagne. What does that mean for Scott Laughton? If they re-sign Gagne and Matt Read is also on the team Laughton would fall to the forth line. Now that would be a heck of an upgrade on the forth line wing but that would make absolutely no sense to put him there. He is being developed to be a second or third line center so moving him to the forth line would be a waste of time. I think he has a lot of potential so letting him spend another year in the AHL would do both he and the Flyers more justice. Who knows? A trade here or an injury there and he would be one of the first to get called up.
*I think the same could be said on the defensive side as well. Timonen, Streit, Schenn, Coburn, Meszaros, and Grossmann are the starting six defensemen as of right now. If nothing changes (which I think will, but…) who would be the extra defenseman that they keep on the roster? Erik Gustafsson started showing signs that he might be a legit everyday player in the NHL last year, but as a seventh man he would be spending most nights watching hockey instead of playing. Bruno Gervais is the most likely candidate for the seventh position which leads guys like Gustafsson, Lauridsen, Manning, and Konan starting the season again with the Phantoms.
*The defense can’t be that bad again next year; can it?
*I think Vincent Lecavalier will be a huge addition next season. Not only will he have a great year but he will lift up the game of others around him.
*Mason or Emery? I think I am still wrestling with who I think should be the starting netminder this upcoming season. Each one has a compelling reason to be the starter. Which is why I probably flip/flop who I want to start everyday.
*Maybe I missed it; but has there been any word on if the Flyers are going to have the Ice Girls anymore???
*Damn even training camp and the preseason can’t come soon enough.
There are a less than 50 days until the start of the regular season. When the team that you root for doesn’t even make the playoffs the year before it seems like an eternity since we last saw any meaningful hockey. So here we are in the midst of the really long and mostly boring offseason. No news, no training camps, no anything. What better time than now for some more random thoughts.