Five players who need to have big seasons this year for the Flyers to succeed, other than Giroux and Mason which are just obvious.

1. Braydon Coburn
The man with nose is going to have to be at his best for the Flyers to succeed this year. Coburn will assuredly lead the Flyers D corps in ice time and will see the hard minutes against top lines and on the PK. He needs to be consistent for this team to go anywhere.

2. Jake Voracek
He's not a kid anymore, so it's time to step up and become the star player that we all know he can be. I'd like to see 30 goals and 70 points, and I think he has the talent to do it.

3. Andrew MacDonald
AMac will need to step up and play some tougher minutes with Timonen out of the lineup. If he falters, they will be in trouble as neither Streit or MDZ is going to help much on the PK or in defending top lines.

4. Brayden Schenn
Another guy who needs to take the next step in his development. Anything short of 25 goals and 50 points would be a disappointment. For his sake, they need to pick a position for him right from the start of camp and leave him there. It does him no favors to be constantly moved back and forth from center to wing.

5. Luke Schenn
Luke needs to come into camp in the best shape of his life and ready to play some hard minutes. In order for this club to succeed, he will need to be a mainstay on the PK.
- BiggE

I think Coots should be in your top 5. He needs to be I the 20-25 goal range. He has the talent more offensive production would be huge for this whole team. I hope he gets a chance at #2 Centre.

agree with all those choices

would add that Streit as their defacto #1 offensive defenseman and Couturier will both need to have very good seasons for the team to succeed.
- Marc D

Agreed, however I'm pretty confident in Streit's ability to step up and replace Timonen on the top pp unit. It's losing Timonen on the PK that worries me.

I've already gone out and said that I think Couturier is going to have a huge breakout season this year, but I certainly agree that it is key.

I think Coots should be in your top 5. He needs to be I the 20-25 goal range. He has the talent more offensive production would be huge for this whole team. I hope he gets a chance at #2 Centre.
- 3flyerkids

Agreed and I think he will exceed all expectations.

I think Coots should be in your top 5. He needs to be I the 20-25 goal range. He has the talent more offensive production would be huge for this whole team. I hope he gets a chance at #2 Centre.
- 3flyerkids

I think eventually Couturier could be a 20-25 goal scorer. When a guy is used constantly against other top lines, as well as not seeing much PP time it's hard to crack 20. Also depends on who is linemates are.

I saw something posted the other day that surprised me, Couturier has never scored a PP goal in his career yet. I think we forget he's still only 21.

Agreed, however I'm pretty confident in Streit's ability to step up and replace Timonen on the top pp unit. It's losing Timonen on the PK that worries me.

I've already gone out and said that I think Couturier is going to have a huge breakout season this year, but I certainly agree that it is key.
- BiggE

Will Couts get a nomination for the Selke this year?

There is a lot of competition.

wiseass: adjective

someone who says obvious things in a most sarcastic manner, generally annoying as well.
- BiggE

Gloves
Status: Off

Will Couts get a nomination for the Selke this year?

There is a lot of competition.
- Marc D

I really think he will. I see him scoring 20+ goals, 50 points and being a beast on the PK with 3 or 4 shorties. I believe by seasons end, he will be considered one of the NHL's best 2 way and penalty killing forwards.

Gloves
Status: Off
- BulliesPhan87

I really think he will. I see him scoring 20+ goals, 50 points and being a beast on the PK with 3 or 4 shorties. I believe by seasons end, he will be considered one of the NHL's best 2 way and penalty killing forwards.
- BiggE

So as hell hope you're right

Agreed, however I'm pretty confident in Streit's ability to step up and replace Timonen on the top pp unit. It's losing Timonen on the PK that worries me.

I've already gone out and said that I think Couturier is going to have a huge breakout season this year, but I certainly agree that it is key.
- BiggE

I think couturier is ready to take the next step. I'm just not sure the Flyers will be able to give him the opportunity to do so

I really think he will. I see him scoring 20+ goals, 50 points and being a beast on the PK with 3 or 4 shorties. I believe by seasons end, he will be considered one of the NHL's best 2 way and penalty killing forwards.
- BiggE

One of Bergeron, Toews, or Kopitar would have to be injured or have an off year.
Or Couts could go nuts and score 25 goals while getting even better on D.

Hey Bill,

This is pertaining to Ek's last blog regarding the Dallas looking for a veteran defender and talking to the Flyers. I was wondering your opinion on John Klingberg, the righted handed Swedish defenseman prospect from Dallas. Is he top 4 material, close to being ready, and somebody the Flyers should pursue if a trade can be reached?

I know you don't get into rumors, but you are very knowledgable when it comes to Swedish prospects in general as well as the Stars.
- psuhockey

I like Klingberg quite a bit. Good two-way upside. I think he will need more time in the AHL, however. Patrik Nemeth is more of a defensive D man but might be NHL ready right now; a clone of Nick Grossmann but much younger and healthier. Jyrki Jokipakka is a promising young puck mover; a tad undersized.

I think couturier is ready to take the next step. I'm just not sure the Flyers will be able to give him the opportunity to do so
- PhillySportsGuy

You would hope they will as it is quite obvious they think so highly of his game. They need to give him a chance to play that 2nd line Centre. He is valuable...a young centre who has proven he can play in his own end...now let him have a chance in the other end! Well.. I hope they do.

Five players who need to have big seasons this year for the Flyers to succeed, other than Giroux and Mason which are just obvious.

1. Braydon Coburn
The man with nose is going to have to be at his best for the Flyers to succeed this year. Coburn will assuredly lead the Flyers D corps in ice time and will see the hard minutes against top lines and on the PK. He needs to be consistent for this team to go anywhere.

2. Jake Voracek
He's not a kid anymore, so it's time to step up and become the star player that we all know he can be. I'd like to see 30 goals and 70 points, and I think he has the talent to do it.

3. Andrew MacDonald
AMac will need to step up and play some tougher minutes with Timonen out of the lineup. If he falters, they will be in trouble as neither Streit or MDZ is going to help much on the PK or in defending top lines.

4. Brayden Schenn
Another guy who needs to take the next step in his development. Anything short of 25 goals and 50 points would be a disappointment. For his sake, they need to pick a position for him right from the start of camp and leave him there. It does him no favors to be constantly moved back and forth from center to wing.

5. Luke Schenn
Luke needs to come into camp in the best shape of his life and ready to play some hard minutes. In order for this club to succeed, he will need to be a mainstay on the PK.
- BiggE

1,3,5... With no stand out line 1 defenseman, the whole team needs to play defense. This make/breaks the season.

2 Jake has consistently posted numbers 49-62 pt range. Depending on if he plays with Giroux, he can hit 70. But, whether he's 60 or 70 pts won't be a barometer on how well the team does.

4 I disagree... Although, 25/50 isn't that much more. B.Schenn has never had a "sophomore" season. I wouldn't be surprised if he has another 40+ season. But, don't think this would be the end of the world. I think his numbers will depend more on his linemates and how well he "gels" - rather than his personal development.

is it hockey season yet?
- BulliesPhan87

No

I think couturier is ready to take the next step. I'm just not sure the Flyers will be able to give him the opportunity to do so
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree. If the Flyers don't improve defensively as a team, and play a better team game, they'll have to use Couturier as they have in the past, in order to have the best chance to win. And that would prove difficult for Couturier to put up a significant increase in points.

Saturday night after a late shift at work, the NHL network had game 4 of the 1976 Stanley cup finals on. I got a beer and tuned in to watch.

Even though the Flyers lost to complete the 4 game sweep by the Habs, it was well worth watching, even just to see Moose DuPont do his dance after he scored the Flyers third goal to tie the game. I really loved Moose.

They were swept by a pretty stacked Montreal squad. I wonder if having a healthy Rick MacLeish available would have turned the tide for the Flyers. MacLeish when healthy that year was terrific and a game changer. if you have the chance watch their game against the Soviet Red Army team. MacLeish was the best skater on the ice that game. All the games vs the Habs were very close, and the Flyers really missed having another scoring line besides The LCB line. Barber was fantastic in game 4 in a losing cause.


The refs let a ton of crap go without calling penalties.
A different era and game for sure.
- Marc D

They were missing bernie too

You would hope they will as it is quite obvious they think so highly of his game. They need to give him a chance to play that 2nd line Centre. He is valuable...a young centre who has proven he can play in his own end...now let him have a chance in the other end! Well.. I hope they do.
- 3flyerkids

It's less about their willingness and more about team need. They simply don't have the line balance to make that happen. If they bump Couts up to the 2nd line, they will need to shelter the 3rd and 4th line quite a bit. It puts Berube in a situation where he either needs to give Couts line or G's line the tough zone starts/matchups. Berube will, obviously, look to put G's line in more offensive situations.

Even if Couturier remains on the 3rd line, they will still have the same problem.

Losing Hartnell and Timonen will likely hurt the possession numbers for this team as well. I don't expect them to be a team with more offensive zone starts than defensive zone starts. Those offensive zone starts will, more often than not, be given to VL and G's line.

If you're looking for a silver lining, I would venture the 4th line this year will be much more reliable than last year's. I don't want to assume too much from guys who haven't played more than 5 games in the NHL, but Bellemare and Laughton will probably be better than Hall, Rinaldo and Rosehill. Maybe those guys are able to take some of the defensive burden from Couts.

Another positive going for Couts could be less PK work. He will still take his usual PK shift, but the team will probably be taking less penalties without Hartnell and (hopefully) Rinaldo. Berube has made it a point of emphasis to be more disciplined.

Taking less penalties and drawing less penalties may not be a good thing for a team that relied so heavily on special teams last year and probably will this year, but it would reduce Couts' PK minutes. Those saved minutes could equal one more ES shift per game. That alone, may help his point totals a bit. It could open up some PP time for him as well.

As it stands now, Berube uses him a lot in tough roles. I don't see any reason why Berube isn't going to continue using him in the same way.

It's very possible. Maybe the Sens feel he's got more value as a trade chip if he's signed or maybe they don't have as much faith in Lehner as previously reported.
- Jsaquella

lehner's been on a short leash. seems a bit of a head case from what i've seen of him.

C'mon, you're missing the narrative that Larry Robinson singlehandedly kicked the Broad Street Bullies' ass and restored order to the NHL Galaxy.

Don't let details like "key injuries on the Flyers" get in the way.
- johndewar

dryden's greatest achievement i'm sure...never mind the fact he didn't have to face parent at the other end of the ice.

burnsy
- aightwebang17

I like Klingberg quite a bit. Good two-way upside. I think he will need more time in the AHL, however. Patrik Nemeth is more of a defensive D man but might be NHL ready right now; a clone of Nick Grossmann but much younger and healthier. Jyrki Jokipakka is a promising young puck mover; a tad undersized.
- bmeltzer

greatest finnish name since reijo ruotsalainen.

Nope. Duck season
- PhillySportsGuy

RABBIT THEETHUN

I like Klingberg quite a bit. Good two-way upside. I think he will need more time in the AHL, however. Patrik Nemeth is more of a defensive D man but might be NHL ready right now; a clone of Nick Grossmann but much younger and healthier. Jyrki Jokipakka is a promising young puck mover; a tad undersized.
- bmeltzer

If the Stars were to target Philly's D, who would they most covet (other then Coburn)? Can you see a trade here?

Pretty sure its rabbit season.


- aflyerpower8

Nooooooooooooo you beat me!!