The lines at practice according to D Isaac:

Dave Isaac ‏@davegisaac 12m
Flyers lines: 19-28-93; 15-10-17; 24-14-12; 36-40-18

I'm sure Holmger is ecstatic with his UFA-prize on the fourth line. Reactions?

Edit: And according to Bill, Read on LW and Raffl on RW.
- PhillySteen

Interesting shakeup. Read right handed on the left side and Raffl left handed on the right side.

Givin them the ol' switcheroo

Lines at morning skate, per our 50 million beat writers.
- The_Universe

I'm so happy. Ive wanted this change for a while. I don't love McGinn, but Vinny at LW just wasn't working.

I'm a big fan of the "Art Ross" Akeson jokes, but yeah. Why not at this point.
- johndewar

No reason.

No offense to McGinn, but he's not bringing much to the table. And if they sent him down at the beginning of the season when he was one of the goal leaders of the team, what does that say about their plans for him in the future?

The lines at practice according to D Isaac:

Dave Isaac ‏@davegisaac 12m
Flyers lines: 19-28-93; 15-10-17; 24-14-12; 36-40-18

I'm sure Holmger is ecstatic with his UFA-prize on the fourth line. Reactions?

Edit: And according to Bill, Read on LW and Raffl on RW.
- PhillySteen

My reaction is vinny was an excellent signing, who is more than capable of playing multiple positions on a line. Vinny is a proven commodity in this league and it's ridiculous to single him out




Now for real talk. It's about f-in time berube made a change and slotted vinny where he deserves to play, based on his play on the ice

Sure. It can't/won't hurt, for sure.

The money they are spending on him, though, is not commensurate with a 4th line center.
- johndewar

Yup. That hurts.

No reason.

No offense to McGinn, but he's not bringing much to the table. And if they sent him down at the beginning of the season when he was one of the goal leaders of the team, what does that say about their plans for him in the future?
- wolfhounds

I think the 2nd line isn't going to play as much down the stretch. They wanted to get McGinn off the third line so Berube can use them a lot more in defensive situations.

Were these the lines at practice or is this just wishful thinking?

MJL may have a heart attack.
- PhillySportsGuy

Nope, I want the Flyers to win, and if that helps them win, then I'm all for it. I don't think it's the right move, but time will tell.

Nope, I want the Flyers to win, and if that helps them win, then I'm all for it. I don't think it's the right move, but time will tell.
- MJL

I'm so happy. Ive wanted this change for a while. I don't love McGinn, but Vinny at LW just wasn't working.
- PhillySportsGuy

Do you think that McGinn is going to do better?

The lines at practice according to D Isaac:

Dave Isaac ‏@davegisaac 12m
Flyers lines: 19-28-93; 15-10-17; 24-14-12; 36-40-18

I'm sure Holmger is ecstatic with his UFA-prize on the fourth line. Reactions?

Edit: And according to Bill, Read on LW and Raffl on RW.
- PhillySteen

Freakin' love it.

If McGinn-Schenn-Simmonds can channel Hartsy-Schenn-Simmonds, that 2nd-line won't be such a liability anymore.

I think the 2nd line isn't going to play as much down the stretch. They wanted to get McGinn off the third line so Berube can use them a lot more in defensive situations.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed regarding the 3rd line. You don't want to have a question mark on the line you're relying on to be your shutdown crew. But B Schenn and Simmonds have actually been playing pretty well lately, generating some good chances 5v5...hopefully McGinn brings some energy and can chip in a bit.

Do you think that McGinn is going to do better?
- MJL

He's a natural LW. He will be in better position. He can't be much worse defensively than Vinny.

He's a natural LW. He will be in better position. He can't be much worse defensively than Vinny.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm willing to give this a go, but TBH, I'm not a Brayden Schenn fan at all.

I know he's young and yada yada yada.

But he was non-existent in the last two games when things got tight.

He's a natural LW. He will be in better position. He can't be much worse defensively than Vinny.
- PhillySportsGuy

Putting a lesser player like McGinn in a better positon, doesn't mean it's going to be better. And McGinn isn't exactly known for his defensive play.

Lecavalier keeps getting knocked for his defense, but multiple times in recent games, coverages have been blown by Brayden Schenn. Check out the first goal in the Rangers game as the most recent.

I'm willing to give this a go, but TBH, I'm not a Brayden Schenn fan at all.

I know he's young and yada yada yada.

But he was non-existent in the last two games when things got tight.
- johndewar

Ive always wanted him to get away from VL and Briere last year. His best moments have come on lines when those two aren't with him. Think about how good he was with Hartnell and Simmonds earlier this year. That was the only time he played center without VL on his line this year.

Ive always wanted him to get away from VL and Briere last year. His best moments have come on lines when those two aren't with him. Think about how good he was with Hartnell and Simmonds earlier this year. That was the only time he played center without VL on his line this year.
- PhillySportsGuy

This.

The lines at practice according to D Isaac:

Dave Isaac ‏@davegisaac 12m
Flyers lines: 19-28-93; 15-10-17; 24-14-12; 36-40-18

I'm sure Holmger is ecstatic with his UFA-prize on the fourth line. Reactions?

Edit: And according to Bill, Read on LW and Raffl on RW.
- PhillySteen

With those high powered forwards on Lecavalier's wing, it might be the kick in the ass he needs.

Putting a lesser player like McGinn in a better positon, doesn't mean it's going to be better. And McGinn isn't exactly known for his defensive play.

Lecavalier keeps getting knocked for his defense, but multiple times in recent games, coverages have been blown by Brayden Schenn. Check out the first goal in the Rangers game as the most recent.
- MJL

Vinny is a cherry picker right now. He leaves the zone too early and constantly wanders from one side to the other.

His offense is purely based on getting breakaways, odd man rushes or PPGs. Whens the last time you saw him score from the result of a good forecheck or cycle? Its not like he plays with bad forecheckers or guys who can't cycle. He, constantly, tries finesse moves in tight spaces, which result in turnovers.

McGinn is not as talented as Vinny, but at least he won't play selfishly.

Ive always wanted him to get away from VL and Briere last year. His best moments have come on lines when those two aren't with him. Think about how good he was with Hartnell and Simmonds earlier this year. That was the only time he played center without VL on his line this year.
- PhillySportsGuy

Schenn was just as effective, if not moreso when he was playing Wing on Lecavalier's line.

Schenn was just as effective, if not moreso when he was playing Wing on Lecavalier's line.
- MJL

You're the only one who believes this. Most people think Vinny is an anchor. Even the coaches seem at a loss when asked about him. I feel like Berube just wants to say "I don't know. What the (frank) do you want me to do with him?"

I know you hate it, but the advanced stats tell this stuff too.

The lines at practice according to D Isaac:

Dave Isaac ‏@davegisaac 12m
Flyers lines: 19-28-93; 15-10-17; 24-14-12; 36-40-18

I'm sure Holmger is ecstatic with his UFA-prize on the fourth line. Reactions?

Edit: And according to Bill, Read on LW and Raffl on RW.
- PhillySteen

I like moving Raffl up to play with Read and Couturier. Been saying that for a while. And I agree that the 2nd line needed to be broken up because of their speed and transition issues. But Vinny on the 4th line is not what I would have done. I would have put Vinny with Giroux and Simmonds, and have Schenn Hartnell and Voracek on the 2nd line, 3rd line as stated and put McGinn or Valveeta on the 4th.

Ive always wanted him to get away from VL and Briere last year. His best moments have come on lines when those two aren't with him. Think about how good he was with Hartnell and Simmonds earlier this year. That was the only time he played center without VL on his line this year.
- PhillySportsGuy

You might be right and I think what Chief is doing is smart here, just to tease apart what it would take to make that 2nd line go.

I'm so happy. Ive wanted this change for a while. I don't love McGinn, but Vinny at LW just wasn't working.
- PhillySportsGuy

Neither is Schenn at center.