I hope Akeson is training his butt off this summer. He will not have a greater chance to earn a spot in the top 9 then this fall. Tight against the cap and in need of LWs. the opportunity is all on him. I liked what I saw, I think he could play G's spot on the 2nd PP along the half boards.

For those who want Pouliot he leads the forwards in the playoffs in minor penalty time.

If I heard that right.

If not playing well is 20 goals and 37 points, doing everything thats asked of him from playing wing to playing 4th line... I take the chance on him. The cap will most likely go up in 2015 and maybe thats affordable - idk.

I think to unload him at this point we are eating salary or taking back a contract like we did with Gagne BUT consider if VL bounces back and is pacing for a 55-60 point season, winning 50% of his faceoffs, he'd command a kings ransom on a contender... should we decide to trade him at the TDL. Last season was really a statistical anomaly other than the injury factor (again). Its not unreasonable to expect him to bounce back to his 2012-13 form.

I'm not against trading him - for value - but to just salary dump I think we will regret it, especially as injuries pile up. I'd look to dump grossmann if we really needed to send someone packing for cap space + no NTC.
- moylander

20 goals was nice. He's still capable of being a weapon for a team that uses him right and needs finishers. I will grant that point. It's not that he's an awful player necessarily, it's that I don't see him fitting here with the style Berube has asked the team to play & the style that Hextall helped instill in LA.

I'd agree last year was a statistical anomaly, but he was also a poor possession player his last season in Tampa. More concerning to me is that everyone who spent significant time with Lecavalier ended up with better possession numbers without Lecavalier, than they did with him.

That's not necessarily his fault, but he's the one constant in a bad trend that's been developing the last two seasons. Lecavalier also was shielded more than anyone in the Flyers top 9 forwards-meaning more offensive zone starts & faced lesser competition.

If you want to ignore the numbers, let's face it, Vinny failed to pass the eye test, too. It's great he accepted being moved about the line up, but the fact is, he was moved because he was a detriment to every set of line mates he had.

To me the bottom line is, the Flyers don't need Lecavalier. They have guys who can do what he can do at this point of their careers who are younger and can get better with more ice time.

For those who want Pouliot he leads the forwards in the playoffs in minor penalty time.

If I heard that right.
- flyer_nutter

And they're not good penalties either. I've pointed this out before. This falls on deaf ears.

20 goals was nice. He's still capable of being a weapon for a team that uses him right and needs finishers. I will grant that point. It's not that he's an awful player necessarily, it's that I don't see him fitting here with the style Berube has asked the team to play & the style that Hextall helped instill in LA.

I'd agree last year was a statistical anomaly, but he was also a poor possession player his last season in Tampa. More concerning to me is that everyone who spent significant time with Lecavalier ended up with better possession numbers without Lecavalier, than they did with him.

That's not necessarily his fault, but he's the one constant in a bad trend that's been developing the last two seasons. Lecavalier also was shielded more than anyone in the Flyers top 9 forwards-meaning more offensive zone starts & faced lesser competition.

If you want to ignore the numbers, let's face it, Vinny failed to pass the eye test, too. It's great he accepted being moved about the line up, but the fact is, he was moved because he was a detriment to every set of line mates he had.

To me the bottom line is, the Flyers don't need Lecavalier. They have guys who can do what he can do at this point of their careers who are younger and can get better with more ice time.
- Jsaquella

I would assume if Vinny does return, Hexy and Berube will let him know a top 9 spot will not be guaranteed. If he earns the spot great, if not, well then back to the 4th line.

If they're willing to eat $1 million, I believe there will be a market for Vinny. Spezza will cost more assets and he is only signed for a year. Kesler will cost even more assets and has a NTC, as does Thorton. Sure, there are plenty of veteran centers possibly up for trade, but the price for Vinny will probably be the cheapest and if his cap hit is $3.5 million, I would consider it manageable.

I don't have a lot of interest having a vet taking center ice time away from B. Schenn, Coots, and Laughton.

... this is the first time in his career he's ever had to adapt to playing on a new team with entirely new teammates.
- moylander

You must not have been keeping tabs on the Bolts over the years... massive turnover in players/coaches/systems/ownership/management since Vinny's been there. He's used to having the rug pulled out from under him.

Sad fact is, he's been steeply declining at ES going back some years. This isn't a reliable player that suddenly lost it... the writing's been on the wall for some years. His legs just aren't there anymore.

I wonder if anyone has bothered to look up the Flyers record with and without him in the line up. Everyone thanks to Corsi is too fixated on what he's done while he's been in, all the while ignoring his injuries. He ends the season on the fourth line, so suddenly it has been written in stone that is where he'll remain? Really??
- SuperSchennBros

With Lecavalier: 34-24-8
Without Lecavalier: 5-6-2

So despite Lecavalier's poor play, which was pretty visible using no advanced stats, the Flyers did better with him than without him. The trouble is, Lecavalier didn't miss many games after Giroux caught fire and basically willed the team into contention.

Most people that are unhappy with Lecavalier are looking at his overall play, especially the last two seasons. He hasn't played well. You want to point to his twenty goals and excuse the bad play because of his back, great. What's the excuse the season before in Tampa? Another injury? At what point can he be called injury prone? Or will we cook up another defense for him there?

You want to cherry pick and keep mentioning injuries and 20 goals, great. The Flyers had 7 20 goal scorers last season. All of them were younger than Lecavalier and more effective as overall players than he was. So, yeah, I'd rather keep the young guy that scored as much and was also more effective overall.

I would assume if Vinny does return, Hexy and Berube will let him know a top 9 spot will not be guaranteed. If he earns the spot great, if not, well then back to the 4th line.

If they're willing to eat $1 million, I believe there will be a market for Vinny. Spezza will cost more assets and he is only signed for a year. Kesler will cost even more assets and has a NTC, as does Thorton. Sure, there are plenty of veteran centers possibly up for trade, but the price for Vinny will probably be the cheapest and if his cap hit is $3.5 million, I would consider it manageable.

I don't have a lot of interest having a vet taking center ice time away from B. Schenn, Coots, and Laughton.
- ravishingone

Lecavalier is a vet. Why can't your first point be made to every forward on thr roster?

I would assume if Vinny does return, Hexy and Berube will let him know a top 9 spot will not be guaranteed. If he earns the spot great, if not, well then back to the 4th line.

If they're willing to eat $1 million, I believe there will be a market for Vinny. Spezza will cost more assets and he is only signed for a year. Kesler will cost even more assets and has a NTC, as does Thorton. Sure, there are plenty of veteran centers possibly up for trade, but the price for Vinny will probably be the cheapest and if his cap hit is $3.5 million, I would consider it manageable.

I don't have a lot of interest having a vet taking center ice time away from B. Schenn, Coots, and Laughton.
- ravishingone

If Lecavalier stays, i'd play him on RW with Giroux. It breaks up the pair of Giroux and Voracek, but it boils down to figuring out the best fit to make the team better.

I'd like to see the dynamic Voracek play with Brayden Schenn, because then it might make the second line more dangerous. Voracek is a beast. Schenn could explode with him on the wing and Vinny would give Giroux a guy who is basically a stationary shooter.

Not only that, the best way to establish value for Vinny on this team is to play with Giroux and hopefully pile up points.

Lecavalier is a vet. Why can't your first point be made to every forward on thr roster?
- SuperSchennBros

Because Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Hartnell, Couturier, Schenn & Read are locks to be in the top 9. Lecavalier is a former star who is poor two way player and declining skater.

With Lecavalier: 34-24-8
Without Lecavalier: 5-6-2

So despite Lecavalier's poor play, which was pretty visible using no advanced stats, the Flyers did better with him than without him. The trouble is, Lecavalier didn't miss many games after Giroux caught fire and basically willed the team into contention.

Most people that are unhappy with Lecavalier are looking at his overall play, especially the last two seasons. He hasn't played well. You want to point to his twenty goals and excuse the bad play because of his back, great. What's the excuse the season before in Tampa? Another injury? At what point can he be called injury prone? Or will we cook up another defense for him there?

You want to cherry pick and keep mentioning injuries and 20 goals, great. The Flyers had 7 20 goal scorers last season. All of them were younger than Lecavalier and more effective as overall players than he was. So, yeah, I'd rather keep the young guy that scored as much and was also more effective overall.
- Jsaquella

What you want to do is convince me of something and it's eating at you that you can't. I know you're gonna claim that you don't care but it sounds to me like you do.

Looks to me like the Flyers would have even better numbers with Lecavalier in the line up had the entire team had a strong start. Looks to me like this team could use all the help they could get because if Giroux comes up with a Stamkos like injury during the upcoming season, this team could be screwed.

Lecavalier is a vet. Why can't your first point be made to every forward on thr roster?
- SuperSchennBros

Because of the depth at young center, which I pointed out in my earlier post. I don't want to see any of the three young kids moved to wing. Vinny wasn't effective playing LW, which he admitted himself. Maybe he can play the right side, I really don't know.

What you want to do is convince me of something and it's eating at you that you can't. I know you're gonna claim that you don't care but it sounds to me like you do.

Looks to me like the Flyers would have an even better numbers with Lecavalier in the line up had the entire team had a strong start. Looks to me that this team could use all the help it could get because if Giroux comes up with a Stamkos like injury during the upcoming season, this team could be screwed.
- SuperSchennBros

It's not eating me at all. You want to cling to some sort of fantasy that Lecavalier is still a star level player, it's on you. Far from trying to convince you, I'm enjoying skewering your weak arguments. Most of the wins with Lecavalier came after Giroux got hot and carried the team and with Vinny in a secondary & shielded role.

This team CAN use all the help it can get, because it signed a fading 33 year old player who is a detriment to his team and he's eating cap space that the team could use to add a player that can help Giroux.

Because of the depth at young center, which I pointed out in my earlier post. I don't want to see any of the three young kids moved to wing. Vinny wasn't effective playing LW, which he admitted himself. Maybe he can play the right side, I really don't know.
- ravishingone

This really isn't a good enough reason though. You don't want any of the kids on the wing, we have four young centers if you include Scott Laughton making the team out of camp and you've pointed out that Lecavalier cannot play LW. So how exactly does Lecavalier center the fourth line without moving a young kid to wing? You just don't want Lecavalier on the roster, which is fine but your expecting the team to offer an impossible ultimatum.

It's not eating me at all. You want to cling to some sort of fantasy that Lecavalier is still a star level player, it's on you. Far from trying to convince you, I'm enjoying skewering your weak arguments. Most of the wins with Lecavalier came after Giroux got hot and carried the team and with Vinny in a secondary & shielded role.

This team CAN use all the help it can get, because it signed a fading 33 year old player who is a detriment to his team and he's eating cap space that the team could use to add a player that can help Giroux.
- Jsaquella

When did I say Vincent Lecavalier was still a star level player?

Because of the depth at young center, which I pointed out in my earlier post. I don't want to see any of the three young kids moved to wing. Vinny wasn't effective playing LW, which he admitted himself. Maybe he can play the right side, I really don't know.
- ravishingone

He had a bit of success playing with Giroux on the RW early in the season.

If he's still here next season, I don't see a spot where he fits better. I don't want him bumping a youngster from center, I don't want to shuffle a guy like Voracek onto his line and see Jake struggle because Vinny is a lead weight at center and incapable of playing the left side. Schenn & Simmonds performed markedly worse at ES with Vinny, so that line isn't really feasible long term unless something changes.

When did I say Vincent Lecavalier was still a star level player?
- SuperSchennBros

So that's what you cherry pick from the entire post.

I'm going to go back to ignoring you, and whatever other banned profiles you used to post under, Roenick

So that's what you cherry pick from the entire post.

I'm going to go back to ignoring you, and whatever other banned profiles you used to post under, Roenick
- Jsaquella

He had a bit of success playing with Giroux on the RW early in the season.

If he's still here next season, I don't see a spot where he fits better. I don't want him bumping a youngster from center, I don't want to shuffle a guy like Voracek onto his line and see Jake struggle because Vinny is a lead weight at center and incapable of playing the left side. Schenn & Simmonds performed markedly worse at ES with Vinny, so that line isn't really feasible long term unless something changes.
- Jsaquella

Unfortunately, the current top 3 RWs are pretty good (Voracek, Simmonds, and Read). I'm not sure Berube is willing to tinker with moving those guys over to the left side in an attempt to hopefully Vinny adapt to the right side.

So that's what you cherry pick from the entire post.

I'm going to go back to ignoring you, and whatever other banned profiles you used to post under, Roenick
- Jsaquella

Smells like desperation and it's clear you care a great deal changing my mind. I on the other hand have my view, in which we differ.

Now, I never once said that Lecavalier was still a star level player. I've made the point that he can still contribute. Should the Flyers lose Giroux at any point during the season, I'll be happy to have Lecavalier but if Lecavalier goes, I'm not losing sleep over it.

Unfortunately, the current top 3 RWs are pretty good (Voracek, Simmonds, and Read). I'm not sure Berube is willing to tinker with moving those guys over to the left side in an attempt to hopefully Vinny adapt to the right side.
- ravishingone

Probably not, and that's part of the reason I want Vinny moved. He flat out said, during Flight Plan-the team's web show-that he couldn't play the left side. So now you have to either play an ineffective Vinny at LW, move a guy who has had good success as a RW or move a kid to LW.

I like the dude, I got the rationale behind the signing, but Schenn looked better at center to me, and he's the guy that is more likely to be part of the future.

Probably not, and that's part of the reason I want Vinny moved. He flat out said, during Flight Plan-the team's web show-that he couldn't play the left side. So now you have to either play an ineffective Vinny at LW, move a guy who has had good success as a RW or move a kid to LW.

I like the dude, I got the rationale behind the signing, but Schenn looked better at center to me, and he's the guy that is more likely to be part of the future.
- Jsaquella

how's life

And they're not good penalties either. I've pointed this out before. This falls on deaf ears.
- SuperSchennBros

do the rangers get away with a blatant penalty every shift? i can't imagine how good the flyers would be if they were permitted to play like that

do the rangers get away with a blatant penalty every shift? i can't imagine how good the flyers would be if they were permitted to play like that
- hogweed

because if they didn't this series would be over in 4 games and the nhl would look bad

how's life
- 2Real

Enjoying a beer and rooting for an early win by either team. I have to get up early tomorrow and the only thing keeping me up is the game