Simmonds had 60 points last year didn't he? That sure makes him one hell of a role player!
- MJL

Simmonds needs to do more at ES, in my opinion.

It would have been insignificant if they killed it off. He came off as the culprit as if allowing 2 goals on a 4 minute PK is acceptable in the playoffs.
- PhillySportsGuy

Just glad that Chief threw him right back out there after that... cancels out dressing Hal Gill for me.

Think about how much worse it will be in 2-3 years when these guys actually start contributing
- PhillySportsGuy

oh god

i hadn't even thought of that

But at the time it was a crushing blow.
- jak521

Yeah, but stuff like that happens. Do you expect any team to go through the playoffs without having to kill a major or double minor? Great teams find ways to kill those off or get those goals back.

Flyers seemed to walk a tight rope that whole series. They needed everything to go well for them to win because they were getting dominated so much at even strength.

But at the time it was a crushing blow.
- jak521

him scoring in the next (?) game was such a nice moment

Just glad that Chief threw him right back out there after that... cancels out dressing Hal Gill for me.
- Tomahawk

I'll never be able to rid myself of watching him try and find the puck in his skates

Just glad that Chief threw him right back out there after that... cancels out dressing Hal Gill for me.
- Tomahawk

The Battleship Gill did not fare well.

He would have to be a strong checker, strong on the forecheck, and a solid defender in order to do that. It remains to be seen if he has that element to his game over the long haul.
- MJL

The best defense is keeping hold of the puck. This is why a guy like Adam Hall was -15 despite getting less 7 minutes of ES ice time a game. Hall is a strong checker and a strong defender, but he ended up defending most of the time he's on the ice because of his limited puck skills, and the even more limited puck skills of his regular 4th line mates - Rinaldo and Rosehill.

The best defense is keeping hold of the puck. This is why a guy like Adam Hall was -15 despite getting less 7 minutes of ES ice time a game. Hall is a strong checker and a strong defender, but he ended up defending most of the time he's on the ice because of his limited puck skills, and the even more limited puck skills of his regular 4th line mates - Rinaldo and Rosehill.
- Feanor

This.

Flyers had the puck 12-15% more w/ Akeson on the ice during that series (in close situations)... that's Giroux-esque territory. That's likely 12-15% less time stuck in their own zone.

And to be honest.. that bad moment was him going a little hard, and probably a direct result of trying to do too much.
- jak521

if there's a type of mistake you want to make, that was it

Simmonds needs to do more at ES, in my opinion.
- wolfhounds

Leino.

Best player I've ever seen at making 3/4 of a jaw-dropping play and then either making a bad move, whiffing on the puck, getting poke checked, or getting leveled and not finishing the play off. But he was exciting to watch and see him try.

This.

Flyers had the puck 12-15% more w/ Akeson on the ice during that series (in close situations)... that's Giroux-esque territory. That's likely 12-15% less time stuck in their own zone.
- Tomahawk

I get what you're saying. Akeson is an offensive dynamo who should be coveted with Shea Weber-like prejudice...because he can stick handle and magically makes his linemates and defensemen better stick handlers.

if there's a type of mistake you want to make, that was it
- BulliesPhan87

I'd much rather a guy get a penalty for going too hard as opposed to being lazy/selfish, granted he doesn't go for a hit similar to the one Rinaldo put on that poor Buffalo defender.

I know the sample size was small, but in those 9 games he has played, I dont think he looked bad with out the puck. Actually I was a bit surprised (pleasantly) with how he played away from the puck.
- jak521

I think he played well also.

I think he played well also.
- MJL

Same here. I didn't watch him in the AHL, just read the reports. I was very surprised with how he played and will gladly eat my words if he can stick.

Leino.

Best player I've ever seen at making 3/4 of a jaw-dropping play and then either making a bad move, whiffing on the puck, getting poke checked, or getting leveled and not finishing the play off. But he was exciting to watch and see him try.
- jmatchett383

Slick Ville, a poor man's Forsberg with the puck in the offensive zone. No reason not to give him a 1 year contract on the cheap to see if he can bounce back. I liked him when he was here.

I get what you're saying. Akeson is an offensive dynamo who should be coveted with Shea Weber-like prejudice...because he can stick handle and magically makes his linemates and defensemen better stick handlers.
- jmatchett383

Ah, my Akeson evangelism seems to be paying dividends.

Slick Ville, a poor man's Forsberg with the puck in the offensive zone. No reason not to give him a 1 year contract on the cheap to see if he can bounce back. I liked him when he was here.
- wolfhounds

Absolutely. Preferred method would be a training camp invitee, but I'm not opposed to a contract that can 100% be buried with waivers.

Ah, my Akeson evangelism seems to be paying dividends.
- Tomahawk

Praise be to Raptor Jesus, if he sees fit not to devour us!

Kings used Justin Williams on the 3rd-line for much of the PO's... his lack of strength, speed and average defensive game didn't hurt them there... at all.

There's a whole world in between guys who score, and guys who check. Akeson doesn't have to do either, or... he can just be himself and still be valuable.
- Tomahawk

Please tell me you're not comparing Akeson to Justin Williams?

If Akeson doesn't ahve to score, and doesn't have to check, what does he have to do? Just look nice out there? That's kind of non sensical. And the question is really what is Jason Akeson at the NHL level? Neither you nor I truly know what he is to know he can just be himself and still be valuable. If a player is not good enough to play in the NHL long term, then just being himself isn't good enough. Anyone who thinks he doesn't have to produce to stay in the lineup is kidding themselves.

Simmonds needs to do more at ES, in my opinion.
- wolfhounds

Majority of the team needs to do more at ES, in my opinion.

Yes, behold my lord Claude, the rock, the hard place, like a wind from Hearst he sweeps by blown far from his homeland in search of glory and honor, we walk... in the garden of his turbulence!

Absolutely. Preferred method would be a training camp invitee, but I'm not opposed to a contract that can 100% be buried with waivers.
- jmatchett383

He'll drag down Ghost and Hagg

Yes, behold my lord Claude, the rock, the hard place, like a wind from Hearst he sweeps by blown far from his homeland in search of glory and honor, we walk... in the garden of his turbulence!
- jmatchett383

Amen

Yes, behold my lord Claude, the rock, the hard place, like a wind from Hearst he sweeps by blown far from his homeland in search of glory and honor, we walk... in the garden of his turbulence!
- jmatchett383

I will fong you!!!