All true; not knocking what he's done. But at the same time, just like with the Flyers' own Lecavalier/Umberger situation, what you were before isn't what you are now, and it's fair to look at what's to come
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed. He plays a very hard game, and isn't a big man. Those type of players generally come with a shelf life. Lot of hard miles on him, even though he isn't an old player.

Basically was saying, hard to feel sorry for the Kings or him, not that you were implying you did.

Yeah but his line has been generating a lot of chances since he's moved up the line up. He's made Simmonds look better at 5v5 and Schenn has continued to look good playing on his wing. He did spend the first 3 or 4 games on the fourth line where we can't expect him to produce. The offensive zone pressure and the chances are there - goals will eventually come. I don't think either line performs as well if you swap Couturier and Laughton.
- kcm57

Couturier is a much more developed player than Laughton right now; offensively and defensively.

Laughton's a good prospect, but he's finding out how hard it is to score in the NHL on a team with a poor defense. Even with quality wingers and a high percentage of OZ starts.

Yeah but his line has been generating a lot of chances since he's moved up the line up. He's made Simmonds look better at 5v5 and Schenn has continued to look good playing on his wing. He did spend the first 3 or 4 games on the fourth line where we can't expect him to produce. The offensive zone pressure and the chances are there - goals will eventually come. I don't think either line performs as well if you swap Couturier and Laughton.
- kcm57

He could probably stand to add a little more "man strength," too -- from what I see, if, and I repeat IF, he starts scoring goals, he might score quite a few. He knows where to go and he moves pretty well, better than I had thought/hoped

What amazes me is that I haven't seen a single poster complain/point out that Berube was placed into his position by firing a coach that could be in the running for an award right now taking Nashville's adequate roster to the top five in the NHL power rankings this week. Why has no one written, "only in Philly!" And then re-hashed the Richards/Carter/Williams/Sharp/Kane cups, Carcillo goal last POs, Bob, ect...? I'm disappointed in your self loathing and self depreciation Philadelphia!
- coffee junkie

Only a fool thinks the Flyers would be in Nashville's position with Laviolette. Lavi does a great job when he's got guys that can execute his system and style. He doesn't & wouldn't have that here.

Agreed. He plays a very hard game, and isn't a big man. Those type of players generally come with a shelf life. Lot of hard miles on him, even though he isn't an old player.

Basically was saying, hard to feel sorry for the Kings or him, not that you were implying you did.
- PLindbergh31

Agreed; nothing wrong with being a third/fourth line center, but that's pretty much what he is at this point

"The Flyers and Jets have been scouting each other way more than you'd expect cross-Conference teams to be keeping tabs on one another...but with good reason...

The Flyers have long liked Byfuglien and Bogosian while the Jets have always wanted Couturier and the Schenns.....There have been rumors in the past pointing towards an interest in Evander Kane, but I continue to hear Montreal and Buffalo are much higher on Evander Kane than Philly is.

Yesterday, on the Cranky Hockey Writers show, Kevin Allen and Eric Duhatchek discussed how teams used to make more player for player trades to shake up their organizations when the team appeared to be getting stale. I believe the Jets and Flyers may be thinking along those lines a little bit right now."

I would not be happy at all
- nastyflyergirl

it would be (frank)ing stupid, is what it would be.

Is Vinny actually hurt or do we call BS?
- GOA88

Who knows at this point. I guess he got injured at practice? The entire situation has become pretty embarrassing for Lecavalier you would think. He probably knows he can't play any more, but it's all about the paycheck. The almighty dollar is the most important thing.

Agreed; nothing wrong with being a third/fourth line center, but that's pretty much what he is at this point
- AllInForFlyers

Nope. I'm sure both Richards, and the Kings will survive. Just a hunch.

it would be (frank)ing stupid, is what it would be.
- hammarby31

Hammar your posts are always brimming with rage, anger, and bitterness. I dig it!

Never mind
- PhillySportsGuy

It's pretty easy to understand. Get better at 5 on 5 play, and force more offensive zone starts then the Flyers have been, and there will be more opportunities to spread around for O zone starts and less shifts having to start in the defensive zone. Not complicated.

Hammar your posts are always brimming with rage, anger, and bitterness. I dig it!


- PLindbergh31

Would you really call them our 2nd line at this point? On paper I would certainly think that 10-49-17 has more offensive firepower than 18-14-24. Schenn is obviously better than Umberger in the offensive zone. I would say 49/14 are a wash in the offensive zone and give the edge to Cooters in the defensive zone. I'd take Simmonds over Read in the offensive zone and vice versa in the defensive zone.

I understand we want to give Couturier the opportunity to flourish offensively, but someone has to be taking defensive zone draws. Do you really want to take offensive zone time away from G/Voracek? You certainly don't want our 4th line taking the majority of D zone draws. As it stands right now - 18-14-24 is better served for D zone starts than 10-49-17.

If you want Laughton taking more D zone draws, swap Schenn back to the first line and put Raffl on Laughton's LW. Then you all can start arguing on how Laughton isn't producing and is becoming a product of his usage.
- kcm57

All true; not knocking what he's done. But at the same time, just like with the Flyers' own Lecavalier/Umberger situation, what you were before isn't what you are now, and it's fair to look at what's to come
- AllInForFlyers

If the flyers had won 2 of the last 3 cups with VLC/Umby id be ok with a production slip.

It's pretty easy to understand. Get better at 5 on 5 play, and force more offensive zone starts then the Flyers have been, and there will be more opportunities to spread around for O zone starts and less shifts having to start in the defensive zone. Not complicated.
- MJL

So basically, once they inexplicably morph into the Blackhawks, Coots will be fine?

Just like if they had inexplicably turned into the Kings over the summer, the d-corps wouldn't be an issue , right?

It's pretty easy to understand. Get better at 5 on 5 play, and force more offensive zone starts then the Flyers have been, and there will be more opportunities to spread around for O zone starts and less shifts having to start in the defensive zone. Not complicated.
- MJL

Yup. Right there in front of my face and I missed it

Only a fool thinks the Flyers would be in Nashville's position with Laviolette. Lavi does a great job when he's got guys that can execute his system and style. He doesn't & wouldn't have that here.
- Jsaquella

Obvi.

Timmy P could do a good piece on it, I'm confident in his abilities.

BTW if Lavy had his way he would have VLC on his team, just sayen.

If the flyers had won 2 of the last 3 cups with VLC/Umby id be ok with a production slip.
- Trainfellow

2 Cups in 3 years??? Can we start with one first? I'm worried we might see Halley's Comet before a Cup.

- hammarby31

Haha!

- hammarby31

BPE

Best Post Ever

Nope. You take Okafor. Deal with the issues later. What if Okafor turns out to be Duncan? You can't pass on that. Be like the Flyers passing on Hanifin because they have too many dmen in the farm system and need forwards.

Sixers could also take Mudiay
- PhillySportsGuy

Draft and trade, regardless of the player, as MCW, Nerlens, and Joel are the cornerstones of the 76ers.

So basically, once they inexplicably morph into the Blackhawks, Coots will be fine?

Just like if they had inexplicably turned into the Kings over the summer, the d-corps wouldn't be an issue , right?


- Tomahawk

McCrossin is going to hand out pills to the Flyers players, you know the ones Alice was taking in Jefferson Airplanes White Rabbit.

Haha!
- PLindbergh31

feel free to use as your next avatar. i would, but i can't change mine. i would literally die.

Yup. Right there in front of my face and I missed it
- PhillySportsGuy

BPE

Best Post Ever
- coffee junkie

I'm not saying berube should drastically reduce Couts dzone starts. He's their most effective defensive forward. I just think throwing him a few more opportunities per game would go a long way. He scored yesterday off of an offensive zone start.
- PhillySportsGuy

That's been happening lately. In the LA game, there were 50 total faceoffs. The Flyers had 7 O zone draws in the entire game. They had to take 30 faceoffs in the D zone, and 13 neutral zone faceoffs. Couturier took 7 of those D zone draws, and Giroux took 20 D zone draws. Compare that to the Devils game last night, where the Flyers only had to take 17 D zone draws. Couturier took 4 of those D zone draws. Giroux and Laughton took more. Laughton actually took the most with 7. So you can see that one, they have been lowering the number of D zone starts that Couturier has been taken. Also can see how dictating play can have an effect on how players are deployed. It's a miracle that the Flyers won that LA game.