Coburn and Couturier for their first and Ehlers. We can then draft Hanifin with their pick and Strome with ours

PS: I know Edmonton would never go for it
- TheGreat28

It would probably be more helpful if we traded with Winnipeg if you wanted Ehlers

Edmonton has no shortage of talent. If I'm them, you keep together Hall, Nugent-Hopkins and Eberle at all costs but one has to assume Justin Shultz and Nail Yakupov could get them whatever they want. Even Jeff Petry, David Perron and Benoit Pouliot can bring you back something.
- SuperSchennBros

Exactly -- how do you lose with the same guys, every night?

Identify your core, move on -- hell, isn't Eberle an '08 or '09? What's Hall? A '10? Nugent-Hopkins is an '11, I think? So they've been around long enough where if you say, "We're building around them," I'm fine with that. I get that.

But "building around them" doesn't mean keeping the same guys that have you in last place, right? You know? I don't care how many people you move out of there, you keep moving them until you find the right pieces.

Exactly -- how do you lose with the same guys, every night?

Identify your core, move on -- hell, isn't Eberle an '08 or '09? What's Hall? A '10? Nugent-Hopkins is an '11, I think? So they've been around long enough where if you say, "We're building around them," I'm fine with that. I get that.

But "building around them" doesn't mean keeping the same guys that have you in last place, right? You know? I don't care how many people you move out of there, you keep moving them until you find the right pieces.
- AllInForFlyers

The Oilers are a perfect embodiment on why hockey is a team sport. Tanking = getting a great player =/= turning your franchise around overnight. And frankly, I like that.

Not to start a poop storm- I trust it won't, but I'm not trying anyway- but this this is why I like hockey so much. It's not like basketball where Lebron took the league's worst team to the playoffs his rookie season singlehandedly.

Disclaimer: I actually don't know if the Cavs made the playoffs that year, but my point still stands.

The Oilers are a perfect embodiment on why hockey is a team sport. Tanking = getting a great player =/= turning your franchise around overnight. And frankly, I like that.

Not to start a poop storm- I trust it won't, but I'm not trying anyway- but this this is why I like hockey so much. It's not like basketball where Lebron took the league's worst team to the playoffs his rookie season singlehandedly.

Disclaimer: I actually don't know if the Cavs made the playoffs that year, but my point still stands.
- Giroux_Is_God

The Oilers are a perfect example of why you just don't go with a bunch of young players, and hope it works out. Why you continue to try and win to a point, and surround young players with veterans. And you use all the tools available, including trades, draft, and free agency. Prospects and draft picks aren't a guarantee of anything.

The Oilers are a perfect embodiment on why hockey is a team sport. Tanking = getting a great player =/= turning your franchise around overnight. And frankly, I like that.

Not to start a poop storm- I trust it won't, but I'm not trying anyway- but this this is why I like hockey so much. It's not like basketball where Lebron took the league's worst team to the playoffs his rookie season singlehandedly.

Disclaimer: I actually don't know if the Cavs made the playoffs that year, but my point still stands.
- Giroux_Is_God

They didn't. Lebron is a generational talent who will go down as one of the 10 best players of all time. Maybe top 5. You could get the first pick in the NBA for 10 straight seasons and not end up with a player close to Lebron. Just the luck of the draw in that case.

So Eklund is chirping the Coburn to Edmonton rumours again. If we humour the Rumour what would you guys want back for him? Personally I'd like a Left Winger and a D back. Obviously Flyers shouldn't deal him for the sake of dealing him but if the Oilers are willing to over pay I would sell Coburn without a second thought.

The Oilers are a perfect example of why you just don't go with a bunch of young players, and hope it works out. Why you continue to try and win to a point, and surround young players with veterans. And you use all the tools available, including trades, draft, and free agency. Prospects and draft picks aren't a guarantee of anything.
- MJL

With how "lucky" the Oil have been for getting all these top picks, they certain got unlucky in that there were no game changing D out there. If there Ekblad was on that team they'd look way different now and for the future, ya know?

It's just been forward after forward rolling into Edmonton at the top of the draft.

The Oilers are a perfect example of why you just don't go with a bunch of young players, and hope it works out. Why you continue to try and win to a point, and surround young players with veterans. And you use all the tools available, including trades, draft, and free agency. Prospects and draft picks aren't a guarantee of anything.
- MJL

Exactly -- the '07-'08 Flyers were clearly going to be Richards/Carter's team, with high hopes for Pitkanen and Coburn, but the Flyers hedged their bets by bringing in Briere, Jason Smith, Hartnell and Timonen. Lupul was brought in.

I get that not everyone wants to play in Edmonton. I understand that.

But if a guy like Coburn wouldn't mind it, WTF, Edmonton? Pay the price, move on.

With how "lucky" the Oil have been for getting all these top picks, they certain got unlucky in that there were no game changing D out there. If there Ekblad was on that team they'd look way different now and for the future, ya know?

It's just been forward after forward rolling into Edmonton at the top of the draft.
- Giroux_Is_God

Could have taken Murray instead of Yak

Could have taken Murray instead of Yak
- PhillySportsGuy

True. Murray didn't really have that "wow" factor ya know?

He's been oft injured this season, hasn't he? Kind of sucks for the Jackets.

With how "lucky" the Oil have been for getting all these top picks, they certain got unlucky in that there were no game changing D out there. If there Ekblad was on that team they'd look way different now and for the future, ya know?

It's just been forward after forward rolling into Edmonton at the top of the draft.
- Giroux_Is_God

8 of the first 10 picks were dmen in the 2012 draft. wonder if they tried to trade back

True. Murray didn't really have that "wow" factor ya know?

He's been oft injured this season, hasn't he? Kind of sucks for the Jackets.
- Giroux_Is_God

Yeah. Jackets were unlucky and poorly managed for a while. Oilers could have also traded down to collect more assets or traded the pick outright for a top pairing dman.

Yeah. Jackets were unlucky and poorly managed for a while. Oilers could have also traded down to collect more assets or traded the pick outright for a top pairing dman.
- PhillySportsGuy

Which is exactly what they should've done, IMO -- target a guy, get a deal done, even if you add a little more

Fix what you know is broken that you have to have, not draft a guy in a position you don't need

As for David Perron: I'm ambivalent. He'd be an upgrade and help the Flyers while he was here, probably wouldn't miss him all that much when he was gone

I'm not saying his (Akeson's) play has warranted a spot for him, but I also feel that he's been miscast-he's not going to be effective in an energy line role, and needs to play with more skilled guys.

Let's face it, if level of play was a requirement for being used in a better manner, Umberger would be handing out popcorn and Lecavalier would be centering Zac and VandeVelde
- Jsaquella

Yep...we're echoing each other's sentiments

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...?thread_id=121736&page=33

Yep...we're echoing each other's sentiments

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...?thread_id=121736&page=33
- exlund

The sad thing is, the same people who rip Akeson for not succeeding with lesser talent, are the ones that say you can't use Lecavalier on the 4th line because he's a bad fit there.

The sad thing is, the same people who rip Akeson for not succeeding with lesser talent, are the ones that say you can use Lecavalier on the 4th line because he's a bad fit there.
- Jsaquella

I am not anti Berube like many ....yet but his andling of Akeson irks me. I don't know if he would succeed as a 2nd or 3rd liner but why not give him a fair shake at it? esp with Raffl out.

I am not anti Berube like many ....yet but his andling of Akeson irks me. I don't know if he would succeed as a 2nd or 3rd liner but why not give him a fair shake at it? esp with Raffl out.
- nastyflyergirl

Exactly. Instead of continuing to give 14-16 minutes to Umberger, why not give Akeson the shot? It's not as if Umberger has been good at anything

The sad thing is, the same people who rip Akeson for not succeeding with lesser talent, are the ones that say you can't use Lecavalier on the 4th line because he's a bad fit there.
- Jsaquella

Who has ripped Akeson for not succeeding with lesser talent? I don't know who has done that. I've criticized Akeson for his individual play. Which has squat to do with who he has played with, or what line he played on. Scott Laughton looked great last game playing with Lecavalier and Umberger. I suspect if you put Laughton on the 4th line with Rinaldo, you'd get the same game as far as his play, than they got playing Laughton on the Lecavalier line.

Lecavalier is an offensive player at this point. His only value to the team is in putting up points. If he's not scoring then he has no value to a team.

I am not anti Berube like many ....yet but his andling of Akeson irks me. I don't know if he would succeed as a 2nd or 3rd liner but why not give him a fair shake at it? esp with Raffl out.
- nastyflyergirl

He's already had a fair shake at it. He hasn't played well enough.

Exactly. Instead of continuing to give 14-16 minutes to Umberger, why not give Akeson the shot? It's not as if Umberger has been good at anything
- Jsaquella

Even as poorly as Umberger has played, he is still better away from the puck then Akeson is. And Umberger can be used on the PK. Akeson is not playing ahead of Umberger, simply because he isn't better then Umberger is. Even as poorly as Umberger has played.

Who has ripped Akeson for not succeeding with lesser talent? I don't know who has done that. I've criticized Akeson for his individual play. Which has squat to do with who he has played with, or what line he played on. Scott Laughton looked great last game playing with Lecavalier and Umberger. I suspect if you put Laughton on the 4th line with Rinaldo, you'd get the same game as far as his play, then they got playing Laughton on the Lecavalier line.

Lecavalier is an offensive player at this point. His only value to the team is in putting up points. If he's not scoring then he has no value to a team.
- MJL

i have to think Akeson's confidence is a little shot. he looked great in the 7 game series last yr and last game of the season. small sampling yes but this yr has also been a small sampling. why not put the kid in the position to succeed

It would help to have a player that is an improvement to the player that is getting scratched. Akeson just hasn't cut it.
- MJL

Last season, as a rookie, Akeson played 8 games with good, middle six linemates (mostly Coots/Read). He played more than 100 minutes (including some pp time). and averaged .5 pts per game while playing decent defensively. He showed flashes of high end skill and was among the Flyers best players in the playoff series against the Rangers. A pretty promising start.

This season Akeson has played 12 games. He's played limited minutes (91 so far) in a miscast role with with the team's least skilled/most struggling players. He has zero points and is in the coaches doghouse.

Now what's the obvious difference between the two situations? Now, what would be the most obvious and logical reason to explain why Akeson isn't producing and showing his value this season versus last?

He's already had a fair shake at it. He hasn't played well enough.
- MJL

I disagree. what has Umberger done this year so warrant his ice time? not much if you ask me

Last season, as a rookie, Akeson played 8 games with good, middle six linemates (mostly Coots/Read). He played more than 100 minutes (including some pp time). and averaged .5 pts per game while playing decent defensively. He showed flashes of high end skill and was among the Flyers best players in the playoff series against the Rangers. A pretty promising start.

This season Akeson has played 12 games. He's played limited minutes (91 so far) in a miscast role with with the team's least skilled/most struggling players. He has zero points and is in the coaches doghouse.

Now what's the obvious difference between the two situations? Now, what would be the most obvious and logical reason to explain why Akeson isn't producing and showing his value this season versus last?
- exlund

this
I just would like to see the kid get a chance. not 5 mins of ice time and get benched for a mistake