Everyone is just really excited about how the young defenseman looked in the pre season against pre season competition. We'll see what happens when the young defenseman get in the lineup, and go through the inevitable growing pains.
- MJL

I'm interested to see the nine game trials for Draisaitl and Nurse to get some perspective on looking good in preseason versus looking good in the regular season.

Yeah, he'll get the Riley treatment lol
- TheGreat28

Say it with me: locker. room. presence.

i didnt compare him to bergeron by the way. where did i call him a bust? maybe it is just me though i expect a little more from the #8 overall pick who may have gone #1 had he not been sick.

imo i just dont see the offensive upside.
- rinaldo

I tend to agree. BUT...he really does deserve a stretch with more offensive wingers.

I think he needs a really good start and some goals/points early on. Build his confidence up a bit. If not, I could see him slipping back into that pure defensive mindset.

That is the big downside to Simmonds injury, in my opinion.

What does Berube see in this pairing that we don't?
- Feanor

Forget the pre season, it's meaningless for veteran players. Berube knows that. And there's no other combination that Berube can put together to give him a legitimate top defense pairing.

I'm happy they kept Jones over Rosehill. He only has 63 PIM in those 128 games also. Rosehill has 352 in 117 games (mostly fights obviously).
- NickTheKid87

I hope the decision was strictly hockey based. If Simmonds is out for a while, they may prefer Jones being a regular to Rosehill.

Is anyone else a little concerned about Terry Murray as the Phantoms head coach? I know they've lacked talent, but even when they had Couts and Schenn, they looked horrible.

Is anyone else a little concerned about Terry Murray as the Phantoms head coach? I know they've lacked talent, but even when they had Couts and Schenn, they looked horrible.
- PhillySportsGuy

Not in the least. Player development is the most important thing down there. And Murray is proven in that regard.

Is anyone else a little concerned about Terry Murray as the Phantoms head coach? I know they've lacked talent, but even when they had Couts and Schenn, they looked horrible.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't care if the Phantoms win or lose, as long as the young players aren't hurt in their development.

Is anyone else a little concerned about Terry Murray as the Phantoms head coach? I know they've lacked talent, but even when they had Couts and Schenn, they looked horrible.
- PhillySportsGuy

Well, we don't have to worry about them getting in a choking situation - that would imply they were good enough to choke

Forget the pre season, it's meaningless for veteran players. Berube knows that. And there's no other combination that Berube can put together to give him a legitimate top defense pairing.
- MJL

I would go Coburn-Streit before Coburn-Amac. I wouldn't mind Grossmann-Coburn either as just a shutdown pairing.

I would go Coburn-Streit before Coburn-Amac. I wouldn't mind Grossmann-Coburn either as just a shutdown pairing.
- PhillySportsGuy

Every pairing they can put together is going to have it's issues. Mark Streit, as good as he has played for the Flyers, doesn't belong matched up against top lines every game. Not that it's ideal, but MacDonald is a better choice in that situation.

i didnt compare him to bergeron by the way. where did i call him a bust? maybe it is just me though i expect a little more from the #8 overall pick who may have gone #1 had he not been sick.

imo i just dont see the offensive upside.
- rinaldo

And we are saying he is only 21 years old and has been used in a strictly defensive role so far in his career. Scored only two less points than B Schenn with less talented wingers, and is out there against the opponents best player game in and game out.

And your words are calling him a bust. You are declaring he has no offensive upside at 21 years of age. Own your comments.

I don't care if the Phantoms win or lose, as long as the young players aren't hurt in their development.
- NickTheKid87

It's hard to gain confidence when you aren't scoring or winning. I fear his system is too rigid and doesn't allow players to exercise creativity.

Joe Paterson seemed to be getting a lot out of his players despite lacking talent like Murray. I know Murray hasn't had much to work with, but which players have benefitted from playing under Murray? Couts and Schenn were awful when they came back from the AHL. Part of that was their own doing, but they didn't improve on any part of their game.

Every pairing they can put together is going to have it's issues. Mark Streit, as good as he has played for the Flyers, doesn't belong matched up against top lines every game. Not that it's ideal, but MacDonald is a better choice in that situation.
- MJL

We'll just agree to disagree in that regard.

Is anyone else a little concerned about Terry Murray as the Phantoms head coach? I know they've lacked talent, but even when they had Couts and Schenn, they looked horrible.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think he is the perfect coach of the Phantoms. His job is to teach them how to be productive NHL players, and he is among the best there is.

It's hard to gain confidence when you aren't scoring or winning. I fear his system is too rigid and doesn't allow players to exercise creativity.

Joe Paterson seemed to be getting a lot out of his players despite lacking talent like Murray. I know Murray hasn't had much to work with, but which players have benefitted from playing under Murray? Couts and Schenn were awful when they came back from the AHL. Part of that was their own doing, but they didn't improve on any part of their game.
- PhillySportsGuy

What is Murray's system?

Yes, but some of that is on Couturier too. He's said numerous times lately that the coaches wanted him to press his offense last year, but he thinks too much about his defensive responsibilities.

I agree that he now has stronger wingers and a mandate to crank up the O. How he responds has some major implications to how Hextall moves forward.
- TheGreat28

Sure it's partly on the player to take advantage of his opportunities, but the opportunities have not been as plentiful for Couturier as , say Schenn. Schenn is older and had more developmental time, and had his 20 goals, but still only had two more points than Couturier did, in a far more offensively inclined role.

He's also still a kid. If he still has scoring issues, it doesn't mean he never will develop into a good scorer

We'll just agree to disagree in that regard.
- PhillySportsGuy

Not that I think that Mark Streit is terrible defensively. But MacDonald is the superior defender to Streit.

It's hard to gain confidence when you aren't scoring or winning. I fear his system is too rigid and doesn't allow players to exercise creativity.

Joe Paterson seemed to be getting a lot out of his players despite lacking talent like Murray. I know Murray hasn't had much to work with, but which players have benefitted from playing under Murray? Couts and Schenn were awful when they came back from the AHL. Part of that was their own doing, but they didn't improve on any part of their game.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think Murray's trying to teach the players which will come at the cost of winning games. Getting them ready for the NHL is paramount. I don't think Ghost, Laughton, etc. will care if they win or lose all that much considering they are just trying to get to the NHL.

It's hard to gain confidence when you aren't scoring or winning. I fear his system is too rigid and doesn't allow players to exercise creativity.

Joe Paterson seemed to be getting a lot out of his players despite lacking talent like Murray. I know Murray hasn't had much to work with, but which players have benefitted from playing under Murray? Couts and Schenn were awful when they came back from the AHL. Part of that was their own doing, but they didn't improve on any part of their game.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree a little bit with this. I would be more worried if the Phantoms had some dynamic offensive prospects on the roster. They really only have Straka that would project to a pure offensive role. I think fixing this problem needs to be Hexy's next challenge.

The key will be the progress of Ghost. If Murray can teach him the defensive side of the game without putting a governor on his offense, then the year will be a success.

I think Murray's trying to teach the players which will come at the cost of winning games. Getting them ready for the NHL is paramount. I don't think Ghost, Laughton, etc. will care if they win or lose all that much considering they are just trying to get to the NHL.
- NickTheKid87

Sometimes it can. For instance, what is Scott Laughton going to be as an NHL player? Most likely a 3rd line checking center that can chip in some offense. So what's most important is geting Laughton ready for the pro game with his play away from the puck. So what good would pushing him to play like a #1 center and focusing more on the offesive game at the AHL level? Not saying he should ignore that part of the game. But Murray knows how a player has to play, to make a good NHL player. Murray coached the base for the success that LA has had.

in your opinion he would provide the offense. what has he shown at the p
- rinaldo[ro level that he can produce like bergeron?

so 2 coaches have failed him i suppose.

Part of it is that he's still developing, the other part of it is that he's been relied upon heavily to be a shut down guy. For the record, I think Berube did a good job last year in utilizing Couturier better. I feel Laviolette did a poor job with both him and Schenn.

As for what I've seen that makes me feel he can produce, the answer is hockey sense. The kid thinks the game like a 10 year vet. He needs to be put in situations where his primary job isn't just to shut down other teams top players, and build his confidence

Sometimes it can. For instance, what is Scott Laughton going to be as an NHL player? Most likely a 3rd line checking center that can chip in some offense. So what's most important is geting Laughton ready for the pro game with his play away from the puck. So what good would pushing him to play like a #1 center and focusing more on the offesive game at the AHL level? Not saying he should ignore that part of the game. But Murray knows how a player has to play, to make a good NHL player. Murray coached the base for the success that LA has had.
- MJL

I agree. Better to play Laughton et al as they are projected to be used in the NHL rather than using them for the sole purpose of winning AHL games.

What is Murray's system?
- MJL

Very defensive oriented. Phantoms have been at or near the bottom in goals scored since he took over. I know they've lacked talent, but even when Schenn and Couts were there, they still couldn't score.

Not that I think that Mark Streit is terrible defensively. But MacDonald is the superior defender to Streit.
- MJL

He should be, but if he keeps backing in like he did against Washington he won't be.