That's my thinking. So why not give his offense a chance to really break thru by playing with playmakers like g and voracek? Obviously he is already a special d forward but he also had back to back 93 points season in the Q. Give him more of an offensive chance. It's not like his d prowess wil suffer. Plus imagine if g and voracek had couts d on their line. It would free up Giroux to be even more of an offensive force knowing couturier is there to clean up the definsive liability. I'm not saying leave him at wing for his career, I'm saying give him a season playing in an offensive role instead of just shut down no pp time c. Would it help schenn or couturier more playing on g wing? I say it would help couts more.
- 28Girouxsalem28

so you believe Coots has the prowess to bury Giroux's set ups? I'm not being a wiseass. Its a serious question.

maybe, but I'm not sold. I want someone I know can finish. Someone a little quicker on his skates, too.

Also, consider how much time this team spends on the PK. It's a lot. Coots has to be out there because he runs the show when short-handed

Think he can be productive at both roles? or will he be pretty gassed?

Couturier Giroux voracek
Read schenn simmonds
Akeson lecavier Umberger

Couturier at wing. I just feel that's a waste.

also, flip Umberger and Akeson. trivial, I know. just sayin is all.


hmmmmmmmm.....that 3rd line

Couturier at wing. I just feel that's a waste.
- Hesh_

That's because it is. He's a natural center, and he plays his best at center. There's no need to move him to wing. If you want to get more out of him, simply use him on the PP and slide him to the 2C spot.

Couturier Giroux voracek
Read schenn simmonds
Akeson lecavier Umberger
- 28Girouxsalem28

Yeah, Im gonna hafta go ahead and disagree with you on that one.

so you believe Coots has the prowess to bury Giroux's set ups? I'm not being a wiseass. Its a serious question.

maybe, but I'm not sold. I want someone I know can finish. Someone a little quicker on his skates, too.

Also, consider how much time this team spends on the PK. It's a lot. Coots has to be out there because he runs the show when short-handed

Think he can be productive at both roles? or will he be pretty gassed?
- Hesh_

with time I think he could. I just think now is the time to get couturiers offense really going. The pk time will def gas him but we also played our second and third lines alot last season and he managed fine.

That's because it is. He's a natural center, and he plays his best at center. There's no need to move him to wing. If you want to get more out of him, simply use him on the PP and slide him to the 2C spot.
- jmatchett383

I think this is gonna happen. might not be immediate, but at some point, Schenn is getting bumped with Giroux/Voracek, and Coots is anchoring the 2nd line.

Could be this outta the gate, who knows

ftfy
- BulliesPhan87

Schultz is a slug.

with time I think he could. I just think now is the time to get couturiers offense really going. The pk time will def gas him but we also played our second and third lines alot last season and he managed fine.
- 28Girouxsalem28

Couturiers offense will come on its own. He had 2 less points than Schenn last season. So tell me, what will you do to get Schenn's offense going? This is what I would do.

Schenn Giroux Simmonds
Umberger Lecavalier Voracek
Akeson Couturier Read
Bellamare Laughton Raffle

Schultz is a slug.
- PLindbergh31

meh. he's also 7th on the depth chart. 8th if you include Coburn's nose. no biggie.

That's my thinking. So why not give his offense a chance to really break thru by playing with playmakers like g and voracek? Obviously he is already a special d forward but he also had back to back 93 points season in the Q. Give him more of an offensive chance. It's not like his d prowess wil suffer. Plus imagine if g and voracek had couts d on their line. It would free up Giroux to be even more of an offensive force knowing couturier is there to clean up the definsive liability. I'm not saying leave him at wing for his career, I'm saying give him a season playing in an offensive role instead of just shut down no pp time c. Would it help schenn or couturier more playing on g wing? I say it would help couts more.
- 28Girouxsalem28

Because you have to balance the needs of the team with the player's needs. The team will still need a top defensive center, and let's face it, there's nobody on the team that can do what Couturier's done the last few seasons.

Even if Laughton makes the team, he's not as sure a bet as Couturier defensively. Schenn has struggled as a two way player, as has Lecavalier. Giroux can be asked to take on a more defensive role, but then you're increasing the load on the team's most important skater as it is.

The best way to help Couturier evolve offensively is to give him more offensive opportunity in his current role. Use his line more in the offensive zone. Give them shifts against lesser lines. Expand his PP usage.

I think playing with Giroux would benefit Schenn more. Couturier is more of a playmaker, like Giroux and Schenn is a physical player who can go in the corners and make space for Giroux.

No, Hartnell was this:




- MBFlyerfan

how dare you insult grizzly adams!!!?

Couturiers offense will come on its own. He had 2 less points than Schenn last season. So tell me, what will you do to get Schenn's offense going? This is what I would do.

Schenn Giroux Simmonds
Umberger Lecavalier Voracek
Akeson Couturier Read
Bellamare Laughton Raffle
- MBFlyerfan

I like a fair amount of it, but if Umberger is on your 2nd line, that's bad news. He looks like he's skating through mud.

I'd flip Raffl and Akeson.

my favorite part of your line up? somebody is missing...

Couturier Giroux voracek
Read schenn simmonds
Akeson lecavier Umberger
- 28Girouxsalem28

I think it's dangerous to put your 3 best even strength forwards together when your depth isn't very strong.

That third line would be a disaster

That's because it is. He's a natural center, and he plays his best at center. There's no need to move him to wing. If you want to get more out of him, simply use him on the PP and slide him to the 2C spot.
- jmatchett383

So is schenn. Schenn needs alot more devolpement at C the couturier. Unless schenn is destined to be a top line LW for his career he needs to be in center taking and winning draws and learning more. You move him to wing and it puts a stop to that. Couturier is already a proven C and shut down man. He needs his offense to really come out. Schenn is still a work in progress and he is not ready for first line duties. If rather have Laughton play top line wing then slow schenns devolpement.

meh. he's also 7th on the depth chart. 8th if you include Coburn's nose. no biggie.
- Hesh_

1+ million on that type of player? I guess it's not a huge deal, but there were better options that were cheaper.

I think it's dangerous to put your 3 best even strength forwards together when your depth isn't very strong.

That third line would be a disaster
- PhillySportsGuy

Read and simmonds are better d wise then voracek. Voracek got alot better last year but read is infinitely better on d then him.

So is schenn. Schenn needs alot more devolpement at C the couturier. Unless schenn is destined to be a top line LW for his career he needs to be in center taking and winning draws and learning more. You move him to wing and it puts a stop to that. Couturier is already a proven C and shut down man. He needs his offense to really come out. Schenn is still a work in progress and he is not ready for first line duties. If rather have Laughton play top line wing then slow schenns devolpement.
- 28Girouxsalem28

so you'd be willing to stifle Laughton's development, then.

gotta pay the piper somewhere in this equation.

1+ million on that type of player?
- PLindbergh31

he's a defenseman, so unfortunately, yeah that's about the going rate.

best choice? no. Killer? nah.

Who do you guys want to see on the second unit powerplay? It's been pretty poor the last couple of years so much so that I get up to get another beer when they come out on the ice. I think last year they never really could get going because guys were constantly being funneled in and out of that unit (Read and Coots especially). With a full training camp maybe they'll have a set unit. Would you rather Timonen and have Streit move up to the top unit? If Akeson makes the team would you like him there? Maybe even move Voracek down to balance out the units?

Read and simmonds are better d wise then voracek. Voracek got alot better last year but read is infinitely better on d then him.
- 28Girouxsalem28

Read is better defensively but voracek is a much better offensive player. I believe jake g and couts are the three best forwards on this team

Read and simmonds are better d wise then voracek. Voracek got alot better last year but read is infinitely better on d then him.
- 28Girouxsalem28

Simmonds is not a very good defensive player. Read and Couturier are very good defensive players. Voracek can be a solid two way player. Simmonds is average defensively.

so you'd be willing to stifle Laughton's development, then.

gotta pay the piper somewhere in this equation.
- Hesh_

At c postion yea. We are overloaded with centers so why not use a prospect and teach him the wing while he is still a prospect. 123c are pretty much locked up unless a trade happens. If rather have Laughton on first line wing then 4 c. Laughton will only make the team as a winger or 3c IMO. No way you play him 7/8 mins a night on 4th l

Schultz is a slug.
- PLindbergh31

When did that happen?

Read is better defensively but voracek is a much better offensive player. I believe jake g and couts are the three best forwards on this team
- PhillySportsGuy

I disagree. Other then g no one goes after a puck harder then simmonds. He is tenacious that way. Plus not many strip him of the puck and when they do he is the first to try and get it back.