I still have a suspicion -- although the Flyers and Umberger insist he's healthy and have said so ever since the trade was made in late June-- that there is some sort of physical issue. The Columbus Dispatch reported after the playoffs that Umberger was playing through a herniated disc, separated shoulder and broken finger.

With Umberger, it's clearly not a lack of effort. So for a player who has been a five-time 20 goal scorer to go that far downhill between ages 30 and 32, I can't help but wonder if he's being hindered physically by something and just doesn't want make excuses.

I have no way of proving that, of course. Umberger himself says he feels fine physically. The Flyers say he's healthy, too.
- bmeltzer

It's possible, but looking at the last game, there's a couple plays that stood out.

First, there was a play for a loose puck that would have been a close race in the first period. Umberger pulled up and the Colorado skater took control.

The second was the icing in the third. Umberger just stopped skating two or three strides from the redline and fired it in.

Maybe he is hurt and shying away from contact. Maybe the injuries from last season have him a bit gunshy. Either way, he's been really ineffective and Berube isn't handling him like a guy nursing an injury.

Too bad Seravalli ate all the fries already
- aantny88

Don't know how he managed that with Therien, Coates and Jones hanging around

I still have a suspicion -- although the Flyers and Umberger insist he's healthy and have said so ever since the trade was made in late June-- that there is some sort of physical issue. The Columbus Dispatch reported after the playoffs that Umberger was playing through a herniated disc, separated shoulder and broken finger.

With Umberger, it's clearly not a lack of effort. So for a player who has been a five-time 20 goal scorer to go that far downhill between ages 30 and 32, I can't help but wonder if he's being hindered physically by something and just doesn't want make excuses.

I have no way of proving that, of course. Umberger himself says he feels fine physically. The Flyers say he's healthy, too.
- bmeltzer

Yeah, once you have back problems they rarely go 100% away. I know this from personal experience.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Umberger, Injury Updates, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

In a game in which the Flyers needed a win or tie to clinch a playoff spot, the score was tied 2-2 in the third period. Drolet...had a golden opportunity to put Philadelphia ahead but missed the net on a backhander with goaltender Roger Crozier nowhere in sight.I remember that game very well.

I remember that game well. The call was ..."Rene Drolet, no way!!!", after he missed the wide open net.

Yeah, once you have back problems they rarely go 100% away. I know this from personal experience.
- BiggE

As does anyone who has ever had any back trouble

I like them together. It frees up 3 lines. They might as well just throw Rinaldo on that line too and GLUE THEM TO THE BENCH
- PhillySportsGuy

FTFY

Don't know how he managed that with Therien, Coates and Jones hanging around

- BiggE

Well Coatsey was probably drunk and passed out somewhere so that eliminates him

FTFY
- BiggE

I wish we could. I feel like a line of cousins-Laughton-Leier would be more effective

Who sits when Amac and Schenn return????

Right now...

Our best D-men are as follows (with how they have performed to date)
Del Zotto
Streit
Schultz
MacDonald
Grossmann
Schenn
Small Sample Sizes
Coburn
Colaiocovo

I like them together. It frees up 3 lines. They might as well just throw Rinaldo on that line too and just pray they don't get scored on
- PhillySportsGuy

I think if you gave Lecavalier wingers like Bellemare, Akeson or Raffl, that could be a decent third/secondary scoring line.

In a game in which the Flyers needed a win or tie to clinch a playoff spot, the score was tied 2-2 in the third period. Drolet...had a golden opportunity to put Philadelphia ahead but missed the net on a backhander with goaltender Roger Crozier nowhere in sight.I remember that game very well.

I remember that game well. The call was ..."Rene Drolet, no way!!!", after he missed the wide open net.
- 77rams

Wow, you must be even older than me! I can't remember much detail before the 72-73 season!

I wish we could. I feel like a line of cousins-Laughton-Leier would be more effective
- PhillySportsGuy

At the very least it would be a hell of a lot quicker.
Heck, once Raffl is back, I'd even be happy with:
Simmonds-G-Jake
Schenn-Coots-Read
Raffl-VLC-Akeson
Umberger-Bellemare-Rinaldo

Though, I'd feel really sorry for poor Bellemare.

It's possible, but looking at the last game, there's a couple plays that stood out.

First, there was a play for a loose puck that would have been a close race in the first period. Umberger pulled up and the Colorado skater took control.

The second was the icing in the third. Umberger just stopped skating two or three strides from the redline and fired it in.

Maybe he is hurt and shying away from contact. Maybe the injuries from last season have him a bit gunshy. Either way, he's been really ineffective and Berube isn't handling him like a guy nursing an injury.
- Jsaquella

Regarding the third period period where Talbot got the puck away from Umberger and then fed it to Tanguay for a goal, Chief said yesterday, "He wasn't knocked off the ice. He just lost it on the wall."

I don't really see how that's any better.

All this Vinny and RJ bashing. The bat signal has been lit.
- PLindbergh31

Who sits when Amac and Schenn return????

Right now...

Our best D-men are as follows (with how they have performed to date)
Del Zotto
Streit
Schultz
MacDonald
Grossmann
Schenn
Small Sample Sizes
Coburn
Colaiocovo
- GOA88

Based on what I've seen from Chief, I think Colaiacovo will definitely sit and one of Schenn or Schultz.

Vinny and him have been connected at the hip... both players would probably improve instantly if they were split up. But then they'd be dragging down other lines...
- Tomahawk

Beroob has the right idea in putting Art Ross
with those two but I think Raffl would work better. Akeson passing to Vinnie if he can get in a position to shoot has potential. Raffl could turn that line into a decent forechecking and defensive line. Akeson may struggle with those two defensively.

With Umby and Vinnie the puck is never on their stick very long.

I'm not expecting much from Umby at this point.
Solid D and good PK work mainly.

That play vs Avalanche where he lost the puck along the wall to Talbot who then assisted on a goal was awful and cannot happen. You could see that it crushed Umby, his look on the bench afterwards said a lot. He has zero confidence now.

At the very least it would be a hell of a lot quicker.
Heck, once Raffl is back, I'd even be happy with:
Simmonds-G-Jake
Schenn-Coots-Read
Raffl-VLC-Akeson
Umberger-Bellemare-Rinaldo

Though, I'd feel really sorry for poor Bellemare.
- BiggE

You know maybe Umberger could do well on the 4th in a checking role. May even pot some goals against lesser competition. Flyers are just trying to maximize his value at the moment. It cant go much longer this way.....

Wow, you must be even older than me! I can't remember much detail before the 72-73 season!

- BiggE

Who sits when Amac and Schenn return????

Right now...

Our best D-men are as follows (with how they have performed to date)
Del Zotto
Streit
Schultz
MacDonald
Grossmann
Schenn
Small Sample Sizes
Coburn
Colaiocovo
- GOA88

CC sits for sure, hell, it would be miracle if he's still in one piece by the time they both return! After that it really gets tricky. MDZ, Streit, Coburn and Grossmann are locks and, if healthy, AMac likely is too. That leaves Schultz or Schenn. Gonna be a tough call, but right now I'd have to lean towards Schenn. Schultz has clearly outplayed him.

Who sits when Amac and Schenn return????

Right now...

Our best D-men are as follows (with how they have performed to date)
Del Zotto
Streit
Schultz
MacDonald
Grossmann
Schenn
Small Sample Sizes
Coburn
Colaiocovo
- GOA88

The ice time tells all. Whoever is getting the least ice time is almost always the first to sit unless it's a lineup balance/ sides issue.

Based on what I've seen from Chief, I think Colaiacovo will definitely sit and one of Schenn or Schultz.
- aantny88

Colaiocovo looks good.....
If they sit Schenn.. he is getting shipped out. No doubt.

Regarding the third period period where Talbot got the puck away from Umberger and then fed it to Tanguay for a goal, Chief said yesterday, "He wasn't knocked off the ice. He just lost it on the wall."

I don't really see how that's any better.
- bmeltzer

That's coach speak for "yeah, Umberger was totally out worked on that play, but I'm stuck with him so what can I do"

I think if you gave Lecavalier wingers like Bellemare, Akeson or Raffl, that could be a decent third/secondary scoring line.
- Jsaquella

I think Raffl should be on the top line when he gets back. I would try PEB and Akeson with him. It would make the 4th line very weak though

Beroob has the right idea in putting Art Ross
with those two but I think Raffl would work better. Akeson passing to Vinnie if he can get in a position to shoot has potential. Raffl could turn that line into a decent forechecking and defensive line. Akeson may struggle with those two defensively.

With Umby and Vinnie the puck is never on their stick very long.

I'm not expecting much from Umby at this point.
Solid D and good PK work mainly.

That play vs Avalanche where he lost the puck along the wall to Talbot who then assisted on a goal was awful and cannot happen. You could see that it crushed Umby, his look on the bench afterwards said a lot. He has zero confidence now.
- Marc D

Simmer-G-Jake
Schenn-Coots-Read
Raffl-Vinny-Akeson *
Rinaldo-Bellemare-Umberger


* ofc, I'd rather see Raffl-PEB-Akeson, but gotta temper my expectations.

You know maybe Umberger could do well on the 4th in a checking role. May even pot some goals against lesser competition. Flyers are just trying to maximize his value at the moment. It cant go much longer this way.....
- GOA88

Makes sense. Seems like Raffl and Akeson would give VLC what he needs to be successful as well. One winger who can skate, work the wall and be responsible defensively and one who can be creative with the puck and get it to him where he likes it.