Tortorella's way is to give his golden boys lots and lots of rope. He loves those "two-way players" without much on the offensive side of "two-way". His whipping boys get very littl rope. He goes by his gut and tends to be rather fickle and emotion-driven. It's how he's always been. He'll give lip service til the cows come home about not stifling offense... but then he'll stifle offense.

Specific to Laughton, he's still a very good penalty killer (NHL's shorthanded scoring leader over the past two seasons in fact). He's still versatile and never gripes about being yo-yoed from C to LW or vice versa, top-nine or fourth line. Plus he IS still the internal voice and finger on the pulse in the room. So there's still a spot for him.

Here's the thing, as I see it. Individually, there's room for any of Laughton, Cates or Poehling. Collectively, though, it gets a bit redundant. They're not identical players, mind you, but they take multiple slots of what I think is more ideally slots for 1 or 2 (max).

Do I have a fear that Luchanko will not be properly developed as an offensive player up to his ceiling because they're satisfied with his speed and defensive upside? Yes, I do have that concern.
- bmeltzer

Hard to disagree with any of this and i hate to bring this up but what is the NHL's largest analytics department up to these days if they aren't helping the big club on game days?

Got to admit, Jett has looked solid. He is a nice surprise. I was caught of guard when they traded down and then picked him. He wasn’t on my radar.

I’m starting to warm up to the pick. He may not stick in the NHL (I would be surprised again if he sticks), but he has shown lots of promise.

Now back to Michkov talk. That guy is fun to watch. Almost every shift he sticks out in a good way.

Preseason has been enjoyable with him on the ice. The team has a long way to go but it is nice to have a talent like him on the team.

His vision and passing reminds me of the 22 year old G.

Typical phoolies. But how about that exit velocity on Schwarbomb?!
- StepfordSam

That is the problem with the Phils -- it is a ton of batters that hit 245 ish, a few that can flirt with 290, and a few with speed that is never utilized. The BP has been an issue to me all season, and getting a crappy closer did nothing to help the BP

Wheeler did his job - the team failed him -- The Boys PE teacher at my school is a yankess fan -- I told him mets in 4 - he was shocked -- the Phillies have been mediocre since London

Ther are no similarities between Coots and Luchenko. Coots was a checking center because the talent around him demanded it. Luchenko has a lot more skill to work with on hios wing with his wingers likely being Farabee and Brink. Couiturier was often blocked as well. Flyers always had someone playing above him. Luchenko has Torts favour while Coots and Frost do not. If he performs well he will be elevated. It isnt as if Coots never hit hios ceiling either. It just took him maybe a year or two longer.

That being said, I still dont think he sticks with the team for the full season.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Again, you missed the point. The premise is that regardless of what the reasoning was, which is your incorrect focus in saying that there is no similarity, is that the players development will be held back based on role and deployment. Similar to how Couturier was. Couturier's development into a a high point producer happens much later than just a year or two longer.

Hard to disagree with any of this and i hate to bring this up but what is the NHL's largest analytics department up to these days if they aren't helping the big club on game days?
- Flyers_01

I'm still cracked up about Tortorella's recent comments about how he pondered during the Summer about the Flyers needing to focus more on scoring more greasy goals around the net to increase scoring. A few points are that's how most goals are scored in the NHL and all coaches have a tool to use to show them things like that during the season. Which only a couple of conclusions to draw from that. Either the Flyers analytics department is not good and is not supplying the coach with the right info. Or the coach is asleep at the wheel.

That is the problem with the Phils -- it is a ton of batters that hit 245 ish, a few that can flirt with 290, and a few with speed that is never utilized. The BP has been an issue to me all season, and getting a crappy closer did nothing to help the BP

Wheeler did his job - the team failed him -- The Boys PE teacher at my school is a yankess fan -- I told him mets in 4 - he was shocked -- the Phillies have been mediocre since London
- corduroy

The Phils haven't been a good team in months. 33-33 since the all star break. Momentum and being the hot team matters and the Phils are not the hot team. They just fired their best bullet in Wheeler and lost. They're cooked.

That is the problem with the Phils -- it is a ton of batters that hit 245 ish, a few that can flirt with 290, and a few with speed that is never utilized. The BP has been an issue to me all season, and getting a crappy closer did nothing to help the BP

Wheeler did his job - the team failed him -- The Boys PE teacher at my school is a yankess fan -- I told him mets in 4 - he was shocked -- the Phillies have been mediocre since London
- corduroy

And the Mets have been the hottest 🔥 team in the second part of the season.

That is the problem with the Phils -- it is a ton of batters that hit 245 ish, a few that can flirt with 290, and a few with speed that is never utilized. The BP has been an issue to me all season, and getting a crappy closer did nothing to help the BP

Wheeler did his job - the team failed him -- The Boys PE teacher at my school is a yankess fan -- I told him mets in 4 - he was shocked -- the Phillies have been mediocre since London
- corduroy

That’s a bingo

Again, you missed the point. The premise is that regardless of what the reasoning was, which is your incorrect focus in saying that there is no similarity, is that the players development will be held back based on role and deployment. Similar to how Couturier was. Couturier's development into a a high point producer happens much later than just a year or two longer.
- MJL

And what makes you think, if they sent coots back down that he would produce into a high point producer any sooner