What I don't get is why anyone would want to mess with the 1 line that's getting it done to try to fix the other 3 that aren't. That makes no sense. There are 9 other players to shuffle around, leave the top 3 alone for the time being.
- wolfhounds

Right the top line is fine. And I would like to see the Read-Couturier-Downie line back because they were getting it done at ES. Then you would have 2 lines that are working. And at the begining of the year Schenn-Lecavalier-Simmonds was doing good.... 3 lines..... Hartnell is the only player that hasnt been a part of an effective line this season... other then Hall and Rinaldo.

I added to it.

The fact of the matter is, G & V "producing" and the point streak in November have little to do with one another because G & V were not producing all that much during that time frame.
- wolfhounds

And you think they have Raffl to thank, solid Power Play aside? Giroux has taken off since Novemver, Voracek isn't Giroux. Voracek's points streak was snap last night.

Right the top line is fine. And I would like to see the Read-Couturier-Downie line back because they were getting it done at ES. Then you would have 2 lines that are working. And at the begining of the year Schenn-Lecavalier-Simmonds was doing good.... 3 lines..... Hartnell is the only player that hasnt been a part of an effective line this season... other then Hall and Rinaldo.
- youarewrong

Agreed.

But he's a $4.75 million problem that cannot be traded and will only be more ineffective in a 6-10 minute per night role.

Right the top line is fine. And I would like to see the Read-Couturier-Downie line back because they were getting it done at ES. Then you would have 2 lines that are working. And at the begining of the year Schenn-Lecavalier-Simmonds was doing good.... 3 lines..... Hartnell is the only player that hasnt been a part of an effective line this season... other then Hall and Rinaldo.
- youarewrong

you guys are flying right now. i wouldnt deviate from what is working for hartnells sake. if he ends up on the fourth line, then oh well.

you guys are flying right now. i wouldnt deviate from what is working for hartnells sake. if he ends up on the fourth line, then oh well.
- stayinthefnnet

yeah--well, you guys are penguining right now.

So there!

(frank)ing Devils

I don't think we have any consistency in our lines. We didn't score a single even strength goal against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. THE EDMONTON OILERS! I think Downie needs to get back with Couturier and Read on that third line. I think Lecavalier needs to play center s nd have a much larger role created for him. I think the Schenn, Simmonds and Hartnell needs break Yuri p completely.
- Schenn2shine

And the Flyers scored all even strength goals against a much better Vancouver team last night, with Raffl getting 2 primary assists.

I have no problem shuffling the bottom 9 around, just leave the topp 3 alone for right now. We're in 8th in the division with a game or 2 in hand on those behind us. It isn't all bad. And other players get a shot with G & V on the top line after Raffl gets done killing a penalty, and you better believe that if Chief saw something, a spark of chemistry with that new player, Raffl would get bumped down very quickly.

Did you notice Raffl gets zero time on the ice during 4 on 4 OT games? And last night with the goalie pulled, 2 lines were rolled and Raffl was on neither of them. In other words, I think Berube has a pretty good handle on his personnel.

As you learned last season you cant lean on your PP to win. You need to score 5 on 5. And Raffl has been a better linemate for Giroux and Voracek then ANYONE over the last 2 seasons.

Now I'm not saying Raffl is suddenly a top notch NHL player, because I'm not. But for some reason, whatever he does, makes Giroux and Voracek look amazing. You know what it reminds me of.... Ville Lieno with Briere and Hartnell.
- youarewrong

You have to be kidding me.

Leino, Briere and Hartnell dominate and all three players produced nightly. They found ch err mistry in the second round of the playoffs and carried us to the final.

You have to be kidding me.

Leino, Briere and Hartnell dominate and all three players produced nightly. They found ch err mistry in the second round of the playoffs and carried us to the final.
- Schenn2shine

Billy Leino?

Agreed.

But he's a $4.75 million problem that cannot be traded and will only be more ineffective in a 6-10 minute per night role.
- Moose_15

I think he can be traded. I think he would waive to go to Edmonton, Calgary, and Toronto. Do I smell a Hartnell-Couturier for Kadri-Gardiner trade coming?

I think he can be traded. I think he would waive to go to Edmonton, Calgary, and Toronto. Do I smell a Hartnell-Couturier for Kadri-Gardiner trade coming?
- youarewrong

I'm sure he would be thrilled to go to Edmonton and reunite with the Bryz. In fact, I think players get NTC/NMC so they don't get traded to Edmonton, Calgary, or Winterpeg.

I think he can be traded. I think he would waive to go to Edmonton, Calgary, and Toronto. Do I smell a Hartnell-Couturier for Kadri-Gardiner trade coming?
- youarewrong

Please don't trade Couturier.

And you think they have Raffl to thank, solid Power Play aside? Giroux has taken off since Novemver, Voracek isn't Giroux. Voracek's points streak was snap last night.
- Schenn2shine

Since the losses in Florida, G has 8 goals, 1 of which came on the PP. Prior to that, he had 3 goals, with 2 on the PP.

I don't care why, I just care that it's happening.

I can tell you Raffl makes some sweet set-up passes, passes I'm pretty confident Hartnell is't completing. And Raffl is tenacious, and a solid 2 way player. I doubt he sticks on the top line all year, but he's better than the 4th line by far.

You have to be kidding me.

Leino, Briere and Hartnell dominate and all three players produced nightly. They found ch err mistry in the second round of the playoffs and carried us to the final.
- Schenn2shine

Exactly. Its a matter of players with chemisty being better as a unit then they are apart. What has Lieno done since that line was broken up. NOTHING. But whatever he did made Hartnell and Briere POP. That is what Raffl is doing for Giroux and Voracek right now.

And the Flyers scored all even strength goals against a much better Vancouver team last night, with Raffl getting 2 primary assists.

I have no problem shuffling the bottom 9 around, just leave the topp 3 alone for right now. We're in 8th in the division with a game or 2 in hand on those behind us. It isn't all bad. And other players get a shot with G & V on the top line after Raffl gets done killing a penalty, and you better believe that if Chief saw something, a spark of chemistry with that new player, Raffl would get bumped down very quickly.

Did you notice Raffl gets zero time on the ice during 4 on 4 OT games? And last night with the goalie pulled, 2 lines were rolled and Raffl was on neither of them. In other words, I think Berube has a pretty good handle on his personnel.
- wolfhounds

Your last point only adds to my argument. Giroux and Voracek will produce no matter who plays on the left side with them. Hartnell only set up the game tying goal with aheads up play last night. No big deal or anything. He only set up a player who hasn't scored a goal and 16 games.

(frank)ing Devils
- wilsonecho91

i dont know what it is about them. they arent a good team but they always just choke the penguins

Your last point only adds to argument. Giroux and Voracek will produce no matter who plays on the left side with them. Hartnell only set up the game tying goal with aheads up play. no big deal or anything. the only set up a player who hasn't scored a goal and 16 games.
- Schenn2shine

all im saying, is i would love to test this theory out and have chief put hartnell back on the first line with giroux and voracek

Exactly. Its a matter of players with chemisty being better as a unit then they are apart. What has Lieno done since that line was broken up. NOTHING. But whatever he did made Hartnell and Briere POP. That is what Raffl is doing for Giroux and Voracek right now.
- youarewrong

When Leino left the line, he left the organization. That 2010 top line was almost Legion of Doom worthy. Comparing the two is crazy to me.

I'm sure he would be thrilled to go to Edmonton and reunite with the Bryz. In fact, I think players get NTC/NMC so they don't get traded to Edmonton, Calgary, or Winterpeg.
- Moose_15

Edmonton is Hartnell's hometown. I'm sure he would love to go home. And Toronto has his Butt Buddy Lupul and is....well.... Toronto. Calgary is right by Edmonton, so yea, close to home.

Since the losses in Florida, G has 8 goals, 1 of which came on the PP. Prior to that, he had 3 goals, with 2 on the PP.

I don't care why, I just care that it's happening.

I can tell you Raffl makes some sweet set-up passes, passes I'm pretty confident Hartnell is't completing. And Raffl is tenacious, and a solid 2 way player. I doubt he sticks on the top line all year, but he's better than the 4th line by far.
- wolfhounds

giroux also isnt waiting for raffl to enter the zone every other transition like he is with hartnell. raffl can win some corner battles. even if he doesnt have a supreme skill set, he is flying around and gets to the areas of the ice and enable the three of them to produce opportunities together.

Your last point only adds to argument. Giroux and Voracek will produce no matter who plays on the left side with them. Hartnell only set up the game tying goal with aheads up play. no big deal or anything. the only set up a player who hasn't scored a goal and 16 games.
- Schenn2shine

Not really. You just want to bump up Hartnell for the sake of bumping up Hartnell, and it doesn't make sense to me, not right now. Also, while you're patting Hartnell on the back for being the primary assist on what was essentially a powerplay goal, I hope you aren't forgetting who the primary assist went to on the first 2 goals, cause they were kind of important as well.

Your last point only adds to my argument. Giroux and Voracek will produce no matter who plays on the left side with them. Hartnell only set up the game tying goal with aheads up play last night. No big deal or anything. He only set up a player who hasn't scored a goal and 16 games.
- Schenn2shine

I wish Hartnell would set Simmonds or Schenn up for an even strength goal or two. That would be nice. Or vice-versa...versa.

When Leino left the line, he left the organization. That 2010 top line was almost Legion of Doom worthy. Comparing the two is crazy to me.
- Schenn2shine

No one is compairing the 2 lines. I'm comparing similiarites between Lieno and Raffl, and how an average at best player can join a line and the entire line becomes better. Its called Chemistry, and you dont mess with it.

BTW the only thing crazy is you compairing the legion of doom to the hartnell-Briere-lieno line.... who wasnt even the top line.

giroux also isnt waiting for raffl to enter the zone every other transition like he is with hartnell. raffl can win some corner battles. even if he doesnt have a supreme skill set, he is flying around and gets to the areas of the ice and enable the three of them to produce opportunities together.
- stayinthefnnet

Yup. Raffl got speed, is tenacious, can carry the puck, makes some sweet passes, and causes a lot of turnovers with steals or by pressuring the passer. I'm happy he's on the team.

Since the losses in Florida, G has 8 goals, 1 of which came on the PP. Prior to that, he had 3 goals, with 2 on the PP.

I don't care why, I just care that it's happening.

I can tell you Raffl makes some sweet set-up passes, passes I'm pretty confident Hartnell is't completing. And Raffl is tenacious, and a solid 2 way player. I doubt he sticks on the top line all year, but he's better than the 4th line by far.
- wolfhounds

What Giroux does is on Giroux. He has help but for the most part, he is the straw that stirs the drink. I'm not saying Raffl hasn't played well, I'm saying he's a solid at player, not a top line player. Downie on the fourth line is just wrong to me.