The Defense could use one top defenseman, and a minor upgrade for the 3rd pair. The biggest thing they need to do for the defense is improve the team game.
- MJL

I am open to trading Read now more than ever in order to try and get a top guy.

I'm thinking along the lines of trading Coburn at the deadline for a 1st + another pick

Use that 1st and Read to send to St. Louis for Shattenkirk preferably or Phoenix for Yandle. Get a solid 4th line center back in the deal.

Fill in the D with UFA. Draft best available player with our pick

It's just another example of the really poor Coaching job Laviolette has done this Season. Even the kids defensive game is going in the toilet.
- MJL

I understand those who believe Lava has done a poor coaching job this 1/2 year, but to blame Coot's step back on him is overreaching.

I understand those who believe Lava has done a poor coaching job this 1/2 year, but to blame Coot's step back on him is overreaching.
- 77rams

I've had issues with Laviolette for awhile. It's more than the half year. The last two years, against the Devils and Rangers, he's 6-18-1. Add in the Bruins and it's 7-20-3. Add in Tampa and it's 9-24-4 That is horrendous.

Also, I'm not blaming him for Couturier's step back. I'm blaming him for making that step back a lot bigger than it needs to be.

There is such a huge premium on D right now that even Coburn could most likely get them at least a 1st.
- BiggE

He very well could. But unless it's a very high 1st round pick. I would not trade Coburn for a pick.

Ryan Holmer ‏@ProspectReport 1m
2013 Draft Eligible Barkov took a hit today, and went hard into the boards. Rumours from Tappara are that it's a season ending wrist injury.

I understand those who believe Lava has done a poor coaching job this 1/2 year, but to blame Coot's step back on him is overreaching.
- 77rams

It's really not overreaching. A Coach is supposed to adjust. Couturier has one of the highest defensive zone starts in the League among Forwards. He plays against one of the highest rating of quality opponents in the League. And he plays the majority of time with lesser offensive talents. It's a very tough assignment. He handled is last year. But this year, he has struggled, as has the entire team. It's clear that Couturier is frustrated, and is pressing. It would do him some good to get him away from tough matchups, and out into a different role. There are veterans on this team, such as Fedetneko, Gagne, Talbot, who can handle the tough checking assingments. Let the kid play in a different role and take some pressure off of him.
Couturier's step back didn't originate because of Laviolette. But the Coach has failed ot adjust and do much to help the kid get out of it.

Ryan Holmer ‏@ProspectReport 1m
2013 Draft Eligible Barkov took a hit today, and went hard into the boards. Rumours from Tappara are that it's a season ending wrist injury.
- Jsaquella

he's faking it so that he doesn't get drafted by the Flyers.

he's faking it so that he doesn't get drafted by the Flyers.
- wilsonecho91

he's faking it so that he doesn't get drafted by the Flyers.
- wilsonecho91

If he drops, then some of the defensemen will be higher than expected picks. Nurse could easily slide into the to 5 if Barkov drops.

It's really not overreaching. A Coach is supposed to adjust. Couturier has one of the highest defensive zone starts in the League among Forwards. He plays against one of the highest rating of quality opponents in the League. And he plays the majority of time with lesser offensive talents. It's a very tough assignment. He handled is last year. But this year, he has struggled, as has the entire team. It's clear that Couturier is frustrated, and is pressing. It would do him some good to get him away from tough matchups, and out into a different role. There are veterans on this team, such as Fedetneko, Gagne, Talbot, who can handle the tough checking assingments. Let the kid play in a different role and take some pressure off of him.
- MJL

i'm thinking that the uncertainty stemming from the lockout and the disbursement of the players all ove the world, along with no formal training camp, coupled with a load of games in a short time frame, has contributed to these problems. Not an excuse, but i think if the season was a more normal one, we'd likely see a slightly better peformance by these guys.

i'm thinking that the uncertainty stemming from the lockout and the disbursement of the players all ove the world, along with no formal training camp, coupled with a load of games in a short time frame, has contributed to these problems. Not an excuse, but i think if the season was a more normal one, we'd likely see a slightly better peformance by these guys.
- wilsonecho91

Definitely a factor. But, it also means that Laviolette had more time to gameplan and adjust to fit the team he knew he'd have on opening night.

Definitely a factor. But, it also means that Laviolette had more time to gameplan and adjust to fit the team he knew he'd have on opening night.
- Jsaquella

i didn't mean to imply that Lavy gets a pass here at all. More wondering about the players' individual game.

i'm thinking that the uncertainty stemming from the lockout and the disbursement of the players all ove the world, along with no formal training camp, coupled with a load of games in a short time frame, has contributed to these problems. Not an excuse, but i think if the season was a more normal one, we'd likely see a slightly better peformance by these guys.
- wilsonecho91

Meaning? Our players aren't as talented as we thought? Lavi is a good coach who needed more time to prep? They aren't conditioned correctly? Too open ended for me...

I've had issues with Laviolette for awhile. It's more than the half year. The last two years, against the Devils and Rangers, he's 6-18-1. Add in the Bruins and it's 7-20-3. Add in Tampa and it's 9-24-4 That is horrendous.

Also, I'm not blaming him for Couturier's step back. I'm blaming him for making that step back a lot bigger than it needs to be.
- Jsaquella

How is it a lot bigger?

It seems like every aspect of Coot's play has regressed. He hasn't done anything that would warrant a belief that if he were to be moved up with scoring wingers or given more responsibilities, he'd be more productive.

His skating hasn't markedly improved. His passing is below average. His finishing touch is below average. His decision making with the puck has slipped noticeably. And it was commented earlier that his defensive game has regressed somewhat as well.

That doesn't sound like a player who should be given a larger role. That sounds like a 20 year old who should be honing his skills in the "A".

Meaning? Our players aren't as talented as we thought? Lavi is a good coach who needed more time to prep? They aren't conditioned correctly? Too open ended for me...
- FlyersGrace

I am merely positing that the environment was a more difficult one in a season where the Flyers were about to heap a lot of responsibility on these young players.

i didn't mean to imply that Lavy gets a pass here at all. More wondering about the players' individual game.
- wilsonecho91

I'm sure that guys like Hartnell, Timonen and Coburn had it rough coming off the lockout. Even two of the ley guys we had playing got hurt overseas. It's definitely a big factor.

How is it a lot bigger?

It seems like every aspect of Coot's play has regressed. He hasn't done anything that would warrant a belief that if he were to be moved up with scoring wingers or given more responsibilities, he'd be more productive.

His skating hasn't markedly improved. His passing is below average. His finishing touch is below average. His decision making with the puck has slipped noticeably. And it was commented earlier that his defensive game has regressed somewhat as well.

That doesn't sound like a player who should be given a larger role. That sounds like a 20 year old who should be honing his skills in the "A".
- 77rams

He still living with Briere? Or is he out partying? Just curious if anyone knows... Last season he stayed with Briere and was somewhat sheltered from being out on his own making crazy money for his age... I have to admit when I was 20 I was making some pretty dumb life decisions cuz they felt right not because they'd help my career.

I am merely positing that the environment was a more difficult one in a season where the Flyers were about to heap a lot of responsibility on these young players.
- wilsonecho91

Ah cool, thanks for the clarification.

i'm thinking that the uncertainty stemming from the lockout and the disbursement of the players all ove the world, along with no formal training camp, coupled with a load of games in a short time frame, has contributed to these problems. Not an excuse, but i think if the season was a more normal one, we'd likely see a slightly better peformance by these guys.
- wilsonecho91

I think it has also. But every team has had to deal with that.

He very well could. But unless it's a very high 1st round pick. I would not trade Coburn for a pick.
- MJL

Depending on how high, it may be tough. I can't see a team with a shot to pick in the top 5 giving up a first for Coburn. However I could see a bubble team like Dallas, San Jose, Carolina or perhaps even the Islanders making that deal. I would be very happy with getting a pick anywhere between 10-15 for Coburn. Add that pick to a most likely top 6 pick which they will already have and the Flyers now have the potential to draft a top forward and a top defenseman in this draft.

How is it a lot bigger?

It seems like every aspect of Coot's play has regressed. He hasn't done anything that would warrant a belief that if he were to be moved up with scoring wingers or given more responsibilities, he'd be more productive.

His skating hasn't markedly improved. His passing is below average. His finishing touch is below average. His decision making with the puck has slipped noticeably. And it was commented earlier that his defensive game has regressed somewhat as well.

That doesn't sound like a player who should be given a larger role. That sounds like a 20 year old who should be honing his skills in the "A".
- 77rams

It's a 20 year old that is still playing a shutdown role. He faces the hardest competition of all the Flyers forwards, except Talbot. He starts more shifts in his own end than anyone but Talbot. He plays with less talented guys and he gets his minutes cut as soon as he makes a mistake.

The cards are stacked against him. He's been playing afraid to make a mistake, which leads to more mistakes. He has no safety net. Nobody behind him saying, "Get 'em next time kid!"

You're not going to build his confidence by burying him and making him terrified of making a mistake. It's not like anything else has been working. Why not give it a shot, rather than giving the Invisible Man Danny Briere more minutes up until he got hurt.

It's really not overreaching. A Coach is supposed to adjust. Couturier has one of the highest defensive zone starts in the League among Forwards. He plays against one of the highest rating of quality opponents in the League. And he plays the majority of time with lesser offensive talents. It's a very tough assignment. He handled is last year. But this year, he has struggled, as has the entire team. It's clear that Couturier is frustrated, and is pressing. It would do him some good to get him away from tough matchups, and out into a different role. There are veterans on this team, such as Fedetneko, Gagne, Talbot, who can handle the tough checking assingments. Let the kid play in a different role and take some pressure off of him.
- MJL

I'm not sure what other role he could play. He's certainly showed no glimpses of an offensive game.

In hindsight, the best move may have been to send him to the Phantoms to work on his skating and on his scoring touch.

How they move forward will likely depend on their draft position. If they get a top 3-5 pick, they should hang on to that and draft the best guy be it McKinnon, Jones, Drouin, whomever. If they get a lower pick, maybe they think about packaging that pick and a guy (or combination of guys) like Laughton, Gus, Cousins, Lauridsen for a top end D-man. Maybe Cooter gets moved in there somewhere too, but I'd sooner have him and the organization forget this year, have him work hard over the summer, and come back next season with a fire lit under his (and hopefully the team's collective) ass. Get an upgrade on Timmo, get a big grinding 4th line center who wins faceoffs and can PK, see what the market is for scoring wingers, but the other two need addressed first. Figure out what to do with Briere (I am leaning towards buyout because he just doesn't seem to fit anywhere in the lineup)...finally they probably have to replace Lavi as soon as this abominable season ends, at the latest.

I'm not so ticked at Holmgren for failing to improve the D last offseason, as I can't blame him for going after Suter and Weber, and I'm very happy he didn't sign Matt Carle to a 6 year 30+ million dollar deal.

Where I'm upset with the GM however is that he didn't get a quality 4th line center who could win a faceoff and a decent backup goalie. Those are both relatively easy to acquire and could really helped the team at the start of the season. For example, perhaps the pk doesn't struggle so much at the start if you have a guy like Dave Steckel who can win the opening faceoff and get you a clear right off the bat, and a real backup goalie could have taken some of the load off Bryz early on too. Who knows, maybe they start 4-4 instead of 2-6 and they never sink to the point they are now. Oh well....

Depending on how high, it may be tough. I can't see a team with a shot to pick in the top 5 giving up a first for Coburn. However I could see a bubble team like Dallas, San Jose, Carolina or perhaps even the Islanders making that deal. I would be very happy with getting a pick anywhere between 10-15 for Coburn. Add that pick to a most likely top 6 pick which they will already have and the Flyers now have the potential to draft a top forward and a top defenseman in this draft.
- BiggE

Dallas and San Jose have both made trades that would indicate they are sellers.

Probably need a team like the Caps, who are surging or the Sens, who have a ton of defensemen hurting