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

bottom line for me is they are a better team with Downie in the line up

he is clearly a better hockey player the Rosehill, Vandevelde, Rinaldo and Hall

Hall because of faceoffs maybe is equal importance

bottom line for me is they are a better team with Downie in the line up

he is clearly a better hockey player the Rosehill, Vandevelde, Rinaldo and Hall

Hall because of faceoffs maybe is equal importance
- Marc D

Hall's nice to have for a late-game defensive zone draw. You can also throw him out an be relatively sure he won't hurt you much. Other than that...well, that's about it.

bottom line for me is they are a better team with Downie in the line up

he is clearly a better hockey player the Rosehill, Vandevelde, Rinaldo and Hall

Hall because of faceoffs maybe is equal importance
- Marc D

I'm truly stunned at the amount of bashing of Steve Downie there is -- the guy had his face broken and then was CLEARLY concussed against Montreal, missed, what, one or two games, and tried to get back in the lineup...and hasn't played well since the second he took that elbow to the jaw.

Why would he do that? Contract year, of course.

Marc-Andre Bourdon will tell anybody all about how when your place isn't assured in the lineup, you'll do anything to stay in it. Unfortunately.

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

Isn't that one of the Oregon Trail causes of death?

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.
- johndewar

I have a feeling thats what the benching is about.

I'm truly stunned at the amount of bashing of Steve Downie there is -- the guy had his face broken and then was CLEARLY concussed against Montreal, missed, what, one or two games, and tried to get back in the lineup...and hasn't played well since the second he took that elbow to the jaw.

Why would he do that? Contract year, of course.

Marc-Andre Bourdon will tell anybody all about how when your place isn't assured in the lineup, you'll do anything to stay in it. Unfortunately.
- AllInForFlyers

If he is injured, he'd be better off in his contract year by waiting, healing, and coming back and playing well. MAB was a guy who knew it was his only spot to stick. If Downie wasn't playing like a lazy AHLer, he'd still be in the lineup. If he plays injured and sucks, his next contract won't be all that great.

Before the Talbot trade, the Flyers had 2 wins and 11 losses (ot included)...

Since? 21 wins and 12 losses.

Colorado had 10 wins and 1 loss before the trade, and 18 wins and 16 losses since.


Now I know that theres more too that stuff, but to say that Talbot was a huge blow.. really isnt supported by their respective records...

Talbot was been in for a combined record of 20 wins and 27 losses.

Isn't that one of the Oregon Trail causes of death?
- Tomahawk

I think it was cholera.
You tried to ford the river. Your wagon has sunk. You lost 2 oxen, 1 wagon axle, 2 wagon wheels, $87, and 23 bullets.

Before the Talbot trade, the Flyers had 2 wins and 11 losses (ot included)...

Since? 21 wins and 12 losses.

Colorado had 10 wins and 1 loss before the trade, and 18 wins and 16 losses since.


Now I know that theres more too that stuff, but to say that Talbot was a huge blow.. really isnt supported by their respective records...

Talbot was been in for a combined record of 20 wins and 27 losses.
- jak521

I think Colorado got off to such a hot start that there was no way it could be sustained. Same goes for the Flyers, but the opposite.

I'm truly stunned at the amount of bashing of Steve Downie there is -- the guy had his face broken and then was CLEARLY concussed against Montreal, missed, what, one or two games, and tried to get back in the lineup...and hasn't played well since the second he took that elbow to the jaw.

Why would he do that? Contract year, of course.

Marc-Andre Bourdon will tell anybody all about how when your place isn't assured in the lineup, you'll do anything to stay in it. Unfortunately.
- AllInForFlyers

You are surprised about a player getting trashed on this bored, where the moniker fraude giroux was invented?

I think it was cholera.
You tried to ford the river. Your wagon has sunk. You lost 2 oxen, 1 wagon axle, 2 wagon wheels, $87, and 23 bullets.
- jmatchett383

Computer Labs in the 80's were the bomb.

bottom line for me is they are a better team with Downie in the line up

he is clearly a better hockey player the Rosehill, Vandevelde, Rinaldo and Hall

Hall because of faceoffs maybe is equal importance
- Marc D

That's kind of how I see it. I outright doubt the lasting concussion symptoms thing if he's practicing. If it's an attitude thing like some are saying then I really have no desire to speculate, I don't know what goes on in the locker room and I don't know how exactly coaches and management handle those situations.

If it's a matter of on ice accountability, I once again scratch my head. It's a concept that was spoken of at the start of Berube's tenure, and the word I'd use to describe him in that category is "inconsistent". I'm not saying this to rip Berube either, I think he's done a pretty decent job thus far.

If he is injured, he'd be better off in his contract year by waiting, healing, and coming back and playing well. MAB was a guy who knew it was his only spot to stick. If Downie wasn't playing like a lazy AHLer, he'd still be in the lineup. If he plays injured and sucks, his next contract won't be all that great.
- jmatchett383

I think it's pretty easy to say a guy's playing like a lazy AHLer when you haven't had your face broken or taken an elbow to the jaw from Alexei Emelin, but maybe that's just me.

I think it was cholera.
You tried to ford the river. Your wagon has sunk. Of course it did, you tried to walk through a damn river. Again. Stop trying this. You lost 2 oxen, 1 wagon axle, 2 wagon wheels, $87, and 23 bullets.
- jmatchett383

ftfy

That's kind of how I see it. I outright doubt the lasting concussion symptoms thing if he's practicing. If it's an attitude thing like some are saying then I really have no desire to speculate, I don't know what goes on in the locker room and I don't know how exactly coaches and management handle those situations.

If it's a matter of on ice accountability, I once again scratch my head. It's a concept that was spoken of at the start of Berube's tenure, and the word I'd use to describe him in that category is "inconsistent". I'm not saying this to rip Berube either, I think he's done a pretty decent job thus far.
- BulliesPhan87

Berube's approach has been good for the team. They needed a guy who was going to call them out. I just don't see him lasting very long with this approach. Especially, when the tough guys aren't held to the same disciplinary standard as the rest of the team.

You are surprised about a player getting trashed on this bored, where the moniker fraude giroux was invented?
- Marc D

Yeah -- I shouldn't be surprised, but I always am. Downie clearly looks like a player who has recently been concussed, but hell, it's easier to bash the guy than acknowledge that he, I don't know, was borderline unconscious when he got drilled by Emelin.

I think it's pretty easy to say a guy's playing like a lazy AHLer when you haven't had your face broken or taken an elbow to the jaw from Alexei Emelin, but maybe that's just me.
- AllInForFlyers

If that's the case, and he's not able to play well, then he shouldn't be playing.

Option A - play injured, play poorly, have stats and level of play suffer and have contract according to level of play.

Option B - sit out a until healed, play at level before injury and have contract according to level of play.

Option B is a better deal for both the team and the player.

ftfy
- BulliesPhan87

haha. Hey, why am I going to pay $50 for a ferry when I can just assume that my oxen are buoyant?

Berube's approach has been good for the team. They needed a guy who was going to call them out. I just don't see him lasting very long with this approach. Especially, when the tough guys aren't held to the same disciplinary standard as the rest of the team.
- PhillySportsGuy

Apparently he's taken a page from the Randy Carlyle Book of Coaching.

Yeah -- I shouldn't be surprised, but I always am. Downie clearly looks like a player who has recently been concussed, but hell, it's easier to bash the guy than acknowledge that he, I don't know, was borderline unconscious when he got drilled by Emelin.
- AllInForFlyers

he's a big hitter

looked terrific against Chicago in their recent game

If that's the case, and he's not able to play well, then he shouldn't be playing.

Option A - play injured, play poorly, have stats and level of play suffer and have contract according to level of play.

Option B - sit out a until healed, play at level before injury and have contract according to level of play.

Option B is a better deal for both the team and the player.
- jmatchett383

I don't think he has a concussion. He's been practicing. I think this is completely based on poor/lazy play. If he remains out for a 3rd straight game, I think there is a problem. Schenn got 2 games, so I don't see Downie being forced to sit more than that.

he's a big hitter

looked terrific against Chicago in their recent game
- Marc D

It was a cheap shot, too -- he got five and the game for it. He absolutely drilled Downie, and he hasn't looked right since.

haha. Hey, why am I going to pay $50 for a ferry when I can just assume that my oxen are buoyant?
- jmatchett383

You could also wait for conditions to continue to not matter. Or' y'know, use the only free, effective option that is floating the wagon. But I'm glad they left that "willingly march to your watery grave" button in for good measure.

Apparently he's taken a page from the Randy Carlyle Book of Coaching.
- Tomahawk

I think he has a soft spot for Rinaldo. Being an energy/tough guy isn't easy. You're one bad play away from the AHL at all times. Berube knows this and gives those guys more leash.

I think sitting Rinaldo would have done him some good. Not as a punishment, but more as a way to calm him down and gather his thoughts.

I don't think he has a concussion. He's been practicing. I think this is completely based on poor/lazy play. If he remains out for a 3rd straight game, I think there is a problem. Schenn got 2 games, so I don't see Downie being forced to sit more than that.
- PhillySportsGuy

Matt Read was playing after being concussed, was he not?