Not expecting proprietary trade secrets to be revealed or anything, but you kind of expect an NHL coach to be able/willing to go a bit further than this:




- Tomahawk

WHat concerns me the most is that he likes VL with Schenn and Simmonds

Let me put it this way: I think Berube will look like a tactical genius if Paul Holmgren gets a speedy, playmaking 2LW and Jason Akeson or another person can help get Sean Couturier to 20-plus goals and 25-plus assists, and if the Flyers catch lightning in a bottle and Ghost comes in and does some Calder-type stuff

Again: They're a 94-point team with, to me, some obvious flaws. I think you could get this team to 103 points without gutting it, maybe even 108-110
- AllInForFlyers

easily. think about 7 SO losses, and a handful of games that were tied going into the 3rd where they either imploded or lost late and got nothing. this team is about 3-4 players away from being very, very good. imo.

I think he maybe deserves a little more credit for how they played after 1-7, but at the same time...hell, I don't know.

I think maybe they need another couple of pieces before I make a bold statement, here. I think they're short in a couple of spots, and those spots kinda matter.
- AllInForFlyers

I get the creeping feeling that he's a company man who will do what he's told by Homer and Snider, whereas Lavi dug his heels in and resisted the call to go full Bruins/Rangers even after Homer already dumped those kinds of players on him.

I'm still waiting to hear his philosophy on hockey and coaching beyond the usual platitudes of skating hard, getting it in deep and being 'responsible'.

I get the creeping feeling that he's a company man who will do what he's told by Homer and Snider, where Lavi dug his heels in and resisted the call to go full Bruins/Rangers even after Homer already dumped those kinds of players on him.

I'm still waiting to hear his philosophy on hockey and coaching beyond the usual platitudes of skating hard, getting it deep and being 'responsible'.
- Tomahawk

hockey's a simple game. what do you expect to hear that will shed new light?

Let me put it this way: I think Berube will look like a tactical genius if Paul Holmgren gets a speedy, playmaking 2LW and Jason Akeson or another person can help get Sean Couturier to 20-plus goals and 25-plus assists, and if the Flyers catch lightning in a bottle and Ghost comes in and does some Calder-type stuff

Again: They're a 94-point team with, to me, some obvious flaws. I think you could get this team to 103 points without gutting it, maybe even 108-110
- AllInForFlyers

I think this team would get 100 next season without any changes to the roster. They had 94 points this season, and started with only getting 9 of their first possible 30 points. If they had gone by their season point % (.573) in those first 15 games, they would've had 17 of a possible 30 points, and would've been a 102 point team. I think a big key is just coming out of the gate strong next year. Hopefully a couple offseason changes will propel them closer to 110, but we already have a solid foundation for next year.

easily. think about 7 SO losses, and a handful of games that were tied going into the 3rd where they either imploded or lost late and got nothing. this team is about 3-4 players away from being very, very good. imo.
- hammarby31

I agree with this 100%. If they make the right moves this group will be an elite team.

easily. think about 7 SO losses, and a handful of games that were tied going into the 3rd where they either imploded or lost late and got nothing. this team is about 3-4 players away from being very, very good. imo.
- hammarby31

I think they're more like 1 player away and that player is a #1 defenseman. I think the forwards are going to be pretty good moving forward.

What's the buzz today

What's the buzz today
- Sms401

mason loves twizzlers

easily. think about 7 SO losses, and a handful of games that were tied going into the 3rd where they either imploded or lost late and got nothing. this team is about 3-4 players away from being very, very good. imo.
- hammarby31

That's where I am -- they don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater to make this team extremely dangerous

They have to be on the lookout for some regression with Scott Hartnell -- it's going to happen, because Father Time remains undefeated -- but still...they've got some interesting pieces, already.

I said this earlier this year, and still feel this way: If you're gonna keep Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier, then double down and get them the pieces they need to be successful.

It's clear that Couturier looks like a different player with a RW who can pass and shoot the puck and think offensively. And as much as I respect Jason Akeson for earning his shot, I wonder what a guy like -- just throwing a name out there, not that he's available -- but I absolutely wonder what a guy like Michael Ryder would make Couturier look like.

Same with Schenn -- he clearly doesn't have gamebreaking speed or quickness, but he appears to think the game well enough. He might just need a guy with Ales Hemsky's skillset on his left side, somebody who can carry the puck in and pass well off the wing, because Schenn and Simmonds will go to the net, but I think they need someone to give them just a half-second longer to get down low.

I know you'll disagree with me but, I think it's because they aren't as good as we think they are.

They are a decent team with a great young core to build around. I'm positive about the next few seasons but right now they just aren't good enough.
- Briere

I would agree in principle. But a large part of why they aren't good enough is because of the inconsistency. When they play like they are capable of playing, they can compete with anybody. May not always win, but they can compete and battle with any team. There's no question in my mind that they have the ability to beat this Rangers team.

hockey's a simple game. what do you expect to hear that will shed new light?
- hammarby31

I don't expect anything novel or controversial out of his mouth... just an inkling of what's going on inside his head, what makes him tick, beyond the cliches.

mason loves twizzlers
- watsonnostaw

Who doesn't.

I get the creeping feeling that he's a company man who will do what he's told by Homer and Snider, whereas Lavi dug his heels in and resisted the call to go full Bruins/Rangers even after Homer already dumped those kinds of players on him.

I'm still waiting to hear his philosophy on hockey and coaching beyond the usual platitudes of skating hard, getting it in deep and being 'responsible'.
- Tomahawk

I don't see any evidence whatsoever. Anecdotal or otherwise, that points to Berube being a company man and will do what he's told by Holmgren or Snider. I think he has made his philosophy on Hockey well know, and not just with platitudes. The best way to tell what a Coaches philosophy is, is to watch his team and how he's trying to get them to play. Not by what he says to the media.

hockey's a simple game. what do you expect to hear that will shed new light?
- hammarby31

Giroux doesn't seem to be getting enough shots. What do you think he should do? Shoot!

I get the creeping feeling that he's a company man who will do what he's told by Homer and Snider, whereas Lavi dug his heels in and resisted the call to go full Bruins/Rangers even after Homer already dumped those kinds of players on him.

I'm still waiting to hear his philosophy on hockey and coaching beyond the usual platitudes of skating hard, getting it in deep and being 'responsible'.
- Tomahawk

Werk heaard, get pucks on net, stay out of the box, play flyer hockey

I think this team would get 100 next season without any changes to the roster. They had 94 points this season, and started with only getting 9 of their first possible 30 points. If they had gone by their season point % (.573) in those first 15 games, they would've had 17 of a possible 30 points, and would've been a 102 point team. I think a big key is just coming out of the gate strong next year. Hopefully a couple offseason changes will propel them closer to 110, but we already have a solid foundation for next year.
- JAKEw1234

There you go -- you thought through the math more thoroughly than I did, but man, if they can address one or two of these weaknesses...

For example, the Rags, McDonagh and Girardi wouldn't find it so effing easy to shadow Giroux and Voracek if Line 2 was going off three or four times a period with puck possession, scoring opportunities and, at some point, a goal or goals

I watch a lot of Blackhawks, and you can absolutely set your team up to shut down Sharp-Toews-Hossa. It's the Saad-TBD-Kane line that effing kills you when you do, eventually

I would agree in principle. But a large part of why they aren't good enough is because of the inconsistency. When they play like they are capable of playing, they can compete with anybody. May not always win, but they can compete and battle with any team. There's no question in my mind that they have the ability to beat this Rangers team.
- MJL

But, I think they are so consistently inconsistent because they just aren't good enough to be anything else.
The Rangers are a SLIGHTLY better team than the flyers, IMHO, just slightly. Better Dmen, far better goalie, forwards are probably a wash.

I think they're more like 1 player away and that player is a #1 defenseman. I think the forwards are going to be pretty good moving forward.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree, although I think a speedy playmaker would be good for the 2nd line. But a big part of the difference between the Rangers and the Flyers, beside Lundqvist, is Girardi and McDonagh. With Timonen no longer being what he used to be.

Flyers aren't moving Vinny. It's not how they roll.

I can see us trading him and than him getting back to his old self and put up70 pts a year.

Flyers don't know how to use what they have. I wouldn't be surprised to see Rinaldo play goalie next year at this point.

easily. think about 7 SO losses, and a handful of games that were tied going into the 3rd where they either imploded or lost late and got nothing. this team is about 3-4 players away from being very, very good. imo.
- hammarby31

I agree. Add another solid dman, one more sniper, another good 2 way winger and an upgrade to the fourth line and if you can reasonably expect improvement still from Couturier and B. Schenn, they are not that far off.

I can see them, assuming they stay the course, treading water next year and finishing with 93-96 points. Then, as the young D start to make an impact, they could improve slightly to 95-100 in 15-16 and be a contender, hopefully, by 16-17.

I agree. Add another solid dman, one more sniper, another good 2 way winger and an upgrade to the fourth line and if you can reasonably expect improvement still from Couturier and B. Schenn, they are not that far off.

I can see them, assuming they stay the course, treading water next year and finishing with 93-96 points. Then, as the young D start to make an impact, they could improve slightly to 95-100 in 15-16 and be a contender, hopefully, by 16-17.
- BiggE

We don't have money or assets to do all that.

I think they're more like 1 player away and that player is a #1 defenseman. I think the forwards are going to be pretty good moving forward.
- PhillySportsGuy

Don't see any way they get that guy next season without giving up a big part of that good young forward corps and a 1st or 2.

I would love to know what was said to zack. He hasn't hit anyone this whole series. Why bother playing him

We don't have money or assets to do all that.
- Flyersgod

Agreed. It will take time. Hopefully, if Timonen retires, they can sign a guy like Niskanen or Stralman and, if they can move out VL, at least add another 2 way winger and 4th liner.

I'm really hoping they draft a forward with the 17th pick. With their track record at drafting forwards in the 1st, hopefully that guy is your sniper by 16-17.