In all seriousness, Raffl has been a godsend.
- PhillySportsGuy

To date, given his play, I was definitely wrong about him.

I'm still not sure he's a full time top 6 guy, but he's surpassed what I thought he would be this year, for sure.

Why do I have the feeling you're making a not-so-carefully hidden snide remark about me?
- jmatchett383

Judging from 5 posts up, you have the snide remarks covered.

Sabermetrics rank Couturier as, far and away, the best penalty killing forward in hockey.
- PhillySportsGuy

Nope. Penalty kill is directly related to the amount of Max Talbot on your team.

It's not even undisciplined. He looks lazy, lost, he's making horrible decisions with the puck, and has a non-existent defensive game. Hell, I could do that.

I can live with deficiencies as long as a guy is playing hard and playing smart. The problem is, he's not. He's playing like Zherdev without an offensive game...okay, not that bad, but you get the idea.
- jmatchett383

Wow, I didn't think Downie was playing that bad. But then, I was something surprised to see him scratched. I'm still not sold on the injury thing, either (not to say it's patently false).

Judging from 5 posts up, you have the snide remarks covered.
- Tomahawk

I'm just pointing out that, just because one thing happens and a related thing changes, it's not necessarily true that the 2 are the direct cause/effect of each other.

Nope. Penalty kill is directly related to the amount of Max Talbot on your team.
- jmatchett383

We should have kept his legs.

Wow, I didn't think Downie was playing that bad. But then, I was something surprised to see him scratched. I'm still not sold on the injury thing, either (not to say it's patently false).
- BulliesPhan87

Well, we've had a lower body injury become a concussion.
We've had back spasms become a broken back.
I'm guessing Downie will be diagnosed with the black plague in a day or two.

I'm just pointing out that, just because one thing happens and a related thing changes, it's not necessarily true that the 2 are the direct cause/effect of each other.
- jmatchett383

It's a good thing I never said that then.

Just being sarcastic. Everyone was bashing Max and then he got traded for Downie. Downie went on that nice mini-tear with Coots and Read and all of a sudden he was the piece that was missing. Now that he's, well, playing like Talbot without a solid defensive game or physical attitude, he's horrible.
- jmatchett383

I wonder what our record looks like this season with Max and without Max. I wonder what the Avs record looks like with Max and without Max...

Guys, the snide-o-meter burned out again. Take it down four or five notches plz.

We should have kept his legs.
- PhillySportsGuy

Should have kept his 11/12 playoff beard shavings in an urn and traveled around with them.

Guys, the snide-o-meter burned out again. Take it down four or five notches plz.
- BulliesPhan87

Unpossible.
Welcome to Hockeybuzz.
I'm right, you're wrong.
Your opinion is stupid.

Wow, I didn't think Downie was playing that bad. But then, I was something surprised to see him scratched. I'm still not sold on the injury thing, either (not to say it's patently false).
- BulliesPhan87

I don't think it was to do with an injury. He's still practicing. I think it has to do with him being demoted to the 4th line and not taking it well. Let's not forget that he's in a contract year. He played well up until an injury then got demoted. I'd be pissed too. He just hasn't handled it well.

Well, we've had a lower body injury become a concussion.
We've had back spasms become a broken back.
I'm guessing Downie will be diagnosed with the black plague in a day or two.
- jmatchett383

Not much of a loss, if he literally lacks any positives to his game as described. But point taken.

Sabermetrics rank Couturier as, far and away, the best penalty killing forward in hockey.
- PhillySportsGuy

Actually, over the last three seasons, Couturier & Read have both been elite level PK guys.

Guys, the snide-o-meter burned out again. Take it down four or five notches plz.
- BulliesPhan87

Snideness is the backbone of a good thread

Well, we've had a lower body injury become a concussion.
We've had back spasms become a broken back.
I'm guessing Downie will be diagnosed with the black plague in a day or two.
- jmatchett383

The Black Plague is so 14th century.

I was thinking more along the lines of Consumption.

Not much of a loss, if he literally lacks any positives to his game as described. But point taken.
- BulliesPhan87

He has many positives in his game. However, he has not been displaying any of them as of late.

The Black Plague is so 14th century.

I was thinking more along the lines of Consumption.
- johndewar

How about SARS? Or maybe rabies?

Unpossible.
Welcome to Hockeybuzz.
I'm right, you're wrong.
Your opinion is stupid.
- jmatchett383

Wait, I thought the guy who caused all the strife, snideness, and general ungood conversation was banned? Wasn't all supposed to be right in the universe?!

The Black Plague is so 14th century.

I was thinking more along the lines of Consumption.
- johndewar

How about SARS? Or maybe rabies?
- jmatchett383

H1N1 is back in vogue

He has many positives in his game. However, he has not been displaying any of them as of late.
- jmatchett383

That was part of the risk when they traded for him. You don't have to worry about Talbot making bad decisions, pouting about demotions and not giving good efforts.

Downie is a better offensive player though and they were hoping for a kick start from him. Thats pretty much what he did. The Couturier line was the first line to get hot this season. Since then, the Flyers have been scoring at their usual pace.

Unpossible.
Welcome to Hockeybuzz.
I'm right, you're wrong.
Your opinion is stupid.
- jmatchett383

Circle-Jerks are exhausting.

I don't think it was to do with an injury. He's still practicing. I think it has to do with him being demoted to the 4th line and not taking it well. Let's not forget that he's in a contract year. He played well up until an injury then got demoted. I'd be pissed too. He just hasn't handled it well.
- PhillySportsGuy

If he thinks pissing and moaning is going to help his cause, with a new contract, I hope someone is in his ear, telling him otherwise.