Are injuries factored into this? Also Richards is a 4th line center and Nielsen or Cogliano are not players I would want to strive to be like if I was Couts. Just saying....
- GOA88

The games played are similar, so I don't think injuries are a factor.

He was 51st among centers in ES scoring last year. By definition there can only be 60 first and second line centers in the league.
- Feanor

Unless you control for ice time or GP, that number could be pretty misleading. He played all 82-games last year... just by virtue of that, he's going to have more raw ES points than Datsyuk or Stamkos, who both missed half the season+.


Edit: He was tied for 105th amongst C's last season in P/60 w/ at least 500mins played.

So... he's a bottom tier 2nd line center??
- GOA88

Bottom line is 13 goals and 39 pts is just not good enough from your supposed 2nd line center. He is the perfect 3rd line center. Vinny was brought here to be the 2nd line center and that has not worked out and that is a big reason there is a lack of secondary scoring on this team.

In terms of ES scoring he's a 2nd line center who's also great defensively at 21.



All the players I listed have played around 20 games.

Nielsen had 58 points last year (35 at ES). Cogliano had 42 (37 at ES).

In terms of scoring they are absolutely the type of players Couturier should be striving to emulate.
- Feanor

Maybe I'm too used to having a 1st line center scoring 90+ pts and the 2nd scoring 70+. That is ideal I guess...

Unless you control for ice time or GP, that number could be pretty misleading. He played all 82-games last year... just by virtue of that, he's going to have more raw ES points than Datsyuk or Stamkos, who both missed half the season+.


Edit: He was tied for 114th amongst C's last season in P/60.
- Tomahawk

Ouch

194th.... That is where Couts currently sits at even strenght points with just 7. FYI
- GOA88

Yep, he is not off to a good offensive start this year. He's a bust at 21. Let's trade him.

Unless you control for ice time or GP, that number could be pretty misleading. He played all 82-games last year... just by virtue of that, he's going to have more raw ES points than Datsyuk or Stamkos, who both missed half the season+.
- Tomahawk

He scored more points per ES minute than a bunch of pretty big names.

Kesler, JStaal, Plekanec, Brad Richards, Mike Richards, Zajac, Zubrus, Vrbata, Vermette and Daniel Sedin.

Holding his lack of PP production against him when he was getting limited minutes on the broken second unit is low quality analysis.

Ouch
- GOA88

Edited my post, cut out guys who didn't play at least 500mins... still he's not in the top-100.

Yep, he is not off to a good offensive start this year. He's a bust at 21. Let's trade him.
- MJL

I'm not saying that. Just that he is not a 2nd line scoring center. Not yet anways...

194th.... That is where Couts currently sits at even strenght points with just 7. FYI
- GOA88

Anze Kopitar has 7 too.

Bottom line is 13 goals and 39 pts is just not good enough from your supposed 2nd line center. He is the perfect 3rd line center. Vinny was brought here to be the 2nd line center and that has not worked out and that is a big reason there is a lack of secondary scoring on this team.
- GOA88

I would like to get Couturier some better wingers. Be nice if he could have a playmaker on his line or a pure sniper. Right now he has to play against top lines and also be the catalyst on the offensive end. If he had a winger that could really provide some offense it would be a big help.

Unless you control for ice time or GP, that number could be pretty misleading. He played all 82-games last year... just by virtue of that, he's going to have more raw ES points than Datsyuk or Stamkos, who both missed half the season+.


Edit: He was tied for 105th amongst C's last season in P/60 w/ at least 500mins played.
- Tomahawk

If your expectations are 50+ points with stellar defense, I think you'll be happy with Couts. If you're expecting 70-80 points, you probably won't be satisfied.

I think you'll see an uptick in his numbers when Read finds his game and If Schenn gets moved back to his line

Unless you control for ice time or GP, that number could be pretty misleading. He played all 82-games last year... just by virtue of that, he's going to have more raw ES points than Datsyuk or Stamkos, who both missed half the season+.


Edit: He was tied for 105th amongst C's last season in P/60 w/ at least 500mins played.
- Tomahawk

So we should hold it against him for playing all 82 games? It's not misleading at all. Compare his ES point totals last season to Voracek and Simmonds.

Anze Kopitar has 7 too.
- NickTheKid87

Kopitar has a track record. He is excused. Kopitar is sooooo much better than Couts. Dont compare the two. Its not even fair.

I smell a trade coming today...

And it stinks.

Bottom line is 13 goals and 39 pts is just not good enough from your supposed 2nd line center. He is the perfect 3rd line center. Vinny was brought here to be the 2nd line center and that has not worked out and that is a big reason there is a lack of secondary scoring on this team.
- GOA88

When he's also playing a ton of defensive zone starts against top competition. Those offensive numbers are very strong. If this team was better defensively, and didn't have to rely on Couturier so much defensively, his point totals would climb.

I would like to get Couturier some better wingers. Be nice if he could have a playmaker on his line or a pure sniper. Right now he has to play against top lines and also be the catalyst on the offensive end. If he had a winger that could really provide some offense it would be a big help.
- J35Bacher

Im sure if Umberger played with Giroux and Voracek he would get points too... Know what Im saying??

Maybe I'm too used to having a 1st line center scoring 90+ pts and the 2nd scoring 70+. That is ideal I guess...
- GOA88

How many teams had a second line center that scored 70+ points last season?

When he's also playing a ton of defensive zone starts against top competition. Those offensive numbers are very strong. If this team was better defensively, and didn't have to rely on Couturier so much defensively, his point totals would climb.
- MJL

Hopefully Laughton can take some of those minutes in the D-zone from Couts.

Kopitar has a track record. He is excused. Kopitar is sooooo much better than Couts. Dont compare the two. Its not even fair.
- GOA88

Just looking at points is very basic for evaluating a player's offensive abilities. Couturier is not on Kopitar's level, we all know that, but there are things working against Couturier, like his offensive zone starts and the quality of competition he faces. He has only ever been used as a 3rd line shutdown center so it's not really fair to evaluate him as a 2nd line scoring center.

still a decent draft pick and the Flyers need a 2nd
- vejim

If Edmonton called and offered that, we'd be fighting on who gets to drive Luke to the airport.

Hopefully Laughton can take some of those minutes in the D-zone from Couts.
- GOA88

Some of us suggested this be done at the start of the season.

How many teams had a second line center that scored 70+ points last season?
- MJL

IDK. None? I was just saying thats what I have been used to as a Flyers fan.
Lindros/Brindy

Maybe I'm too used to having a 1st line center scoring 90+ pts and the 2nd scoring 70+. That is ideal I guess...
- GOA88

Only one center in the league scored 90+ points last season, Crosby. The only second line center who can score 70+ points these days is Malkin.

It's 2014, not 1994.

IDK. None? I was just saying thats what I have been used to as a Flyers fan.
Lindros/Brindy
- GOA88

They played in a high-offensive era to begin their careers and Lindros was a stud so it's not really fair to expect having a 100+ point center and an 80+ point center.