PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 08: Jakub Voracek #93 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates his game winning goal at 1:28 of overtime against the Washington Capitals at the Wells Fargo Center on January 8, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers defeated the Capitals 3-2 in overtime.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
What a week it has been for the Flyers. Carter Hart has regained his form, and net for that matter back from Brian Elliott. The Flyers are now owners of a two game winning streak. Without further delay, here are our answers to your questions.
Jakub Voracek has definitely been in the doghouse of Alain Vigneault’s for a little bit here. Part of the problem is he wants Jake to be consistent with back checking. Voracek has made some really nice plays defensively, but other times not so much. In addition, Voracek is more prone for turnovers, and that can really do damage to a team, as well.
Believe it or not stats wise Voracek has been solid. I mean he has 4 goals, and 7 assists on the season. He is on pace for an 80 point season. Voracek has to get it in gear consistently, or he might find himself getting plucked by Seattle in the Expansion Draft. I just don’t see a team taking on his salary at the moment, unless he is packaged with a high end prospect.
I wish I could answer the Nolan Patrick question. Personally, I hope he is back for the regular season. I believe in this young man, and this is horrible what has happened to him and his family, for that matter. However, I really can’t say yes or no to him playing this season, and neither can Chuck Fletcher. Last week, Fletcher could not answer the question if Patrick would indeed return to the lineup this season. This is a very unfortunate situation.
Personally, I do not think Morgan Frost will be recalled before December. There is nothing wrong with him being stashed with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for an extended period of time. The only positional need the Flyers have at the moment is a quality 4C until Nolan Patrick or Scott Laughton returns. Frost, on the other hand, needs as much ice time as possible.
As you know German Rubtsov was sent back to the Phantoms on Wednesday. However, I thought he looked a little slower than I’m used to seeing him. He did play ok against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, but usually he’s faster, and more aware of the puck. I think he could use sometime in the AHL for seasoning.
Philippe Myers looks strong, and he seems to have his legs back skating wise. He has skated well since his recall, which is a great thing. The points will come, but overall he has stabilized the back end, which is nice. Myers is here to stay.
If Nolan Patrick was healthy, I think Sean Couturier would sit a week to let it heal, however that is not the case. The Flyers want Morgan Frost to get some seasoning in the AHL before making the jump to the big club, and I do not think he makes the jump until the end of December.
With that being said, Couturier will heal before Frost earns a recall. There is sometime off during the second week of December, and around the holidays in December, as well. This should be plenty of time for Couts to heal properly. Couts knows his body, and he will not come out for this type of injury unless he absolutely has to.
Thanks for the blessings of my family. My mom continues to improve daily from that injury in July. God bless you and your family.
My most impressive Flyer thus far is Sean Couturier. Couturier is currently playing at a high level producing with a shoulder strain, that is impressive to me. Not just playing, but producing. In at second, is Matt Niskanen. For the first time in a long time, the Flyers finally have a good first pairing defensive wise, in Ivan Provorov and Matt Niskanen.
My most disappointing Flyer is JVR. I thought he would be more of a force on the Power Play this season, however it has been anything but. JVR has only tallied one goal on the PP thus far, that’s a little disappointing to me. Before the season started I had him potting 35 goals this season, as he usually plays on the top PP unit. JVR may not even sniff 25 goals this season. I know he scored last night, but still.
A trade involving Jake Voracek most likely wouldn’t happen until the off-season. There aren’t many teams that could fit in his salary at the moment. The more the Flyers win, the more unlikely it becomes for a Vet to be moved, unless it happens at the trade deadline. A move could be made for depth purposes with the hopes of having an extended playoff run. Given the unfortunate injury situation to Samuel Morin. Robert Hagg might stay here longer, as Fletcher might be leary to trade a defenseman.
Before the season began I predicted the Flyers to finish third in the Metro, and finish the season with 99 points. Some of my reasons are Goaltending, and coaching. I will stick with that prediction now. However, I think a wild card spot could be attained with 94 or 95 points.
The Flyers would make a small move if the trade deadline was today, as the youth is at the forefront right now. Personally, the Flyers would add a depth Defenseman for the playoff run. A team can never have too many Defencemen. With Samuel Morin’s injury, it’s now unlikely Robert Hagg gets dealt.
Jake Voracek could garner a pretty nice haul if he was traded. The problem is there aren’t many takers at the moment, and that solely is because of his cap hit. The majority of the teams in the NHL are currently near the cap limit. A Voracek trade more than likely would have to be done in the off-season. I think the Flyers could get a 1st or 2nd rounder, a high-end prospect, and an NHL ready player for Voracek. Voracek has averaged a combined 70.6 points per season the past three seasons. Not too bad I must say, so the Flyers should expect some in return.
Let’s pray for Samuel Morin given the injury news last night from Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher. Unbelievable. The hockey Gods have not been kind to him.
G, Hayes, Farabee
Lindblom, Couts, TK
JVR, Frost, Voracek
Raffl, Laughton, Pitlick
I agree with your lines entirely. Morgan Frost could see a call-up by December, if Patrick is not back by then.
This is a solid question, and I love the humor in it. Believe it or not there is actually a site that sells it. Use the link below to get your very own Gritty Chia Pet:
Ian Laperriere is in charge of pre-scouting duties for the next opponent. Alain Vigneault has had “Lappy,” on the bench for a period of time, and it may be a part of strategy on Vigneault’s behalf. He may consult Lappy on some tendencies that the opponent has throughout the course of the game, rather than using a headset to correlate the message from the press box. It just might be easier to have him on the bench, if Vigneault needs to consult Lappy for some insight, rather than having him in the press area. For instance, a teams tendencies while short-handed or on the power play. This is just one example of such.
Joel Farabee was disappointed, like you indicated, from being cut from the big club this past Fall. Nothing changed to be honest, Farabee has always worked hard on every hockey forum the young man was placed on. Farabee started a little slow for Boston University last season, and this season was no different (pre-season). However, Farabee made the best out of the situation with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and he proved he was too good to be in the AHL. Farabee has the work ethic, and is more mature than his 19-years of age to succeed in the NHL.
Michael Raffl has earned the minutes he has been given this season. He currently has 3 goals, and 3 assists on the season, thus far. Raffl is in a bit of slump offensively here over the course of the past few games, but he has also been juggled from the third and fourth line Wing, to fourth line Center, back to third line Wing, and now finally back to the fourth line Wing.
This is a lot for any player, but Raffl is an asset on the Penalty Kill. Raffl is a solid Penalty Killer, and hopefully he will be able to get this fourth line jump started. He wasn’t re-signed to pot 25 goals. Raffl was re-signed to provide adequate minutes as a bottom 9 player. Let’s see how the next few weeks shape up, and then one could effectively make a determination of how he is doing.
Thanks a lot for your prayers for my family it means a lot, and it goes beyond words. God bless you.
Jakub Voracek would be a very attractive piece for the new Seattle franchise. Without a doubt, Voracek could realistically be snagged by Seattle. They will have the cap space for this type of addition, plus they would receive a player that has averaged 70.6 points per season, for the past three seasons. Not bad numbers by any means, and to combine that with Veteran experience for the youth of the team.
If you would like to see your questions submitted in our weekly mailbag. Just submit your question on our Twitter page @flyersknitty using #Flyersmail, or @JameyBaskow. Thanks to all the fans for another great mailbag, and Let’s go Flyers.
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