More Kimmo: Flyers will not rush to get him in a game before TDL. They are not going to risk his health and it's doubtful he would play before or on Feb 21st

Raffl could be back Sunday
- Jsaquella

If he is healthy this should help a lot

Raffl/G/Jake
BSchenn/Couts/Simmer

really good news on Raffl, I was expecting to hear he had some deadly rare form of pneumonia seeing its the Flyers

That isn't what I am saying -- it isn't. I really am saying that at some point, you have to evaluate players based on what they are doing, not what they might do, and understanding where they are is part of the process

I said that Couturier and Simmonds need to figure it out, not trade them
- AllInForFlyers

I know what you're saying, I'm just taking it to the next level. I just think that isolating all scoring to even strength is a bad way to pass evaluation on players. If PP production is irrelevant, then why does the NHL even keep PP conversion rates?

Please Hextall.... do not even dream of considering any of these players. Both are not what this team needs. We need character players and these two are the worst in that department
- 3flyerkids

I'd be inclined to agree with you.. I want nothing to do with them..

I know what you're saying, I'm just taking it to the next level. I just think that isolating all scoring to even strength is a bad way to pass evaluation on players. If PP production is irrelevant, then why does the NHL even keep PP conversion rates?
- jmatchett383

I agree partially, because being lethal on the PP is a weapon that shouldn't be discounted

The concern with Couturier and Schenn is that the PP points aren't really there, either

Simmonds is a different beast in that he is as dangerous as they come on the PP, and it is baffling why the ES points don't come more frequently because he does go to the net

If he is healthy this should help a lot

Raffl/G/Jake
BSchenn/Couts/Simmer

really good news on Raffl, I was expecting to hear he had some deadly rare form of pneumonia seeing its the Flyers
- Marc D

Raffl really does help this lineup more than we might realize

I'd be inclined to agree with you.. I want nothing to do with them..
- Hextall271

I kind of wanted Phaneuf when Hartnell was still here, just for the laughs, but I don't think so now.

thess may be stretching it, but in general I agree
- Marc D

having Hartnell on the team was like watching ice capades bloopers.
Umberger is about as skilled as Hartnell is, and has decent numbers for being a 3rd line player all season.

but the main idea was to shed contract length.
plus, if we traded for RJ, that means the other options on the table were worse.

More Kimmo: Flyers will not rush to get him in a game before TDL. They are not going to risk his health and it's doubtful he would play before or on Feb 21st

Raffl could be back Sunday
- Jsaquella

I can't wait to see what they do when Raffl, Coburn and Kimmo are all fit and Rinaldo is off suspension.

Moves are coming.

I agree partially, because being lethal on the PP is a weapon that shouldn't be discounted

The concern with Couturier and Schenn is that the PP points aren't really there, either

Simmonds is a different beast in that he is as dangerous as they come on the PP, and it is baffling why the ES points don't come more frequently because he does go to the net
- AllInForFlyers

Simmonds has a really good shot coming in the left side too

Couts has a good tendency to be able to throw pucks and get them through to the front of the crease, I think Simmonds could benefit from this if they stay together

I agree partially, because being lethal on the PP is a weapon that shouldn't be discounted

The concern with Couturier and Schenn is that the PP points aren't really there, either

Simmonds is a different beast in that he is as dangerous as they come on the PP, and it is baffling why the ES points don't come more frequently because he does go to the net
- AllInForFlyers

B Sxhenn can't seem to " finish" on the PP like Hartnell did.
Couturier has done nothing on 2nd PP. I think Giroux should play full 2min on PP just like Ovie does. Our 2nd PP is hopeless, so why not try it

Breaking: Flyers may or may not be in talks to trade one or several of their players to other NHL teams.
- jmatchett383

I hate you

I agree partially, because being lethal on the PP is a weapon that shouldn't be discounted

The concern with Couturier and Schenn is that the PP points aren't really there, either

Simmonds is a different beast in that he is as dangerous as they come on the PP, and it is baffling why the ES points don't come more frequently because he does go to the net
- AllInForFlyers

I think Schenn needs to come off of that top PP unit, to be honest. He's not good at that Hartnell "slot" position, and he doesn't really drive play. Honestly, I'd try putting Vinny in that spot over him, and I'm a staunch Vinny hater.

Couturier is an enigma to me. His hockey sense is off the charts, but his body doesn't seem to be able to match it. I'm not asking for him to be a 35/45/80 guys, but I think a 20/30/50 season should be within his grasp. For whatever reason, the pucks just aren't going in.

having Hartnell on the team was like watching ice capades bloopers.
Umberger is about as skilled as Hartnell is, and has decent numbers for being a 3rd line player all season.

but the main idea was to shed contract length.
plus, if we traded for RJ, that means the other options on the table were worse.
- MrBigglesworth

I agree completely about shedding the contract length

disagree about talent, Hartnell even with his falls is a much better hockey player

the third part about where there better options is what drives me batpoop crazy, because I still believe there may have been something better the RJ they could have gotten... I guess we will never know about this

I can't wait to see what they do when Raffl, Coburn and Kimmo are all fit and Rinaldo is off suspension.

Moves are coming.
- Feanor

Sadly, I can totally see Berube keeping Schenn on the Giroux-Voracek line and making Raffl "fill in" a bottom-6 line.

I know what you're saying, I'm just taking it to the next level. I just think that isolating all scoring to even strength is a bad way to pass evaluation on players. If PP production is irrelevant, then why does the NHL even keep PP conversion rates?
- jmatchett383

The powerplay is important but if you look at the last 4 cup winners, they all had the best 5 on 5 goal differential in the playoffs.

I wouldn't trade Simmonds because he doesn't score more at even strength but I wouldn't not trade him either if he can acquire a more important piece at defense or center.

pissed away "extra" points are a big deal over the course of a season. see: devils, new jersey; 2013-14.

all of those SO losses have never really quite mattered for the most part - but it's aggravating as hell to continue to piss them away an entire decade later. and those points are hurting them now, as bill illustrated.

ugh.

Sadly, I can totally see Berube keeping Schenn on the Giroux-Voracek line and making Raffl "fill in" a bottom-6 line.
- jmatchett383

maybe for another week or two, but eventually Berube will figure it out

as much flak as he gets I think he has done a decent job this year given that the team has a lot of poor fits within the line up that he is forced to work with

I can't wait to see what they do when Raffl, Coburn and Kimmo are all fit and Rinaldo is off suspension.

Moves are coming.
- Feanor

Something flat-out has to be done if/when Kimmo get activated, right? Because at the very least, isn't Coliacoco only on the roster because of LTIR?

maybe for another week or two, but eventually Berube will figure it out

as much flak as he gets I think he has done a decent job this year given that theteam has a lot poor fits within the line up he is forced to work with
- Marc D

I'd try basically anything else there, as the experiment is not working. It's suffocating the 2 best players on the team. I understand giving it a try, but you need to be proactive and move on if it's not working. Hell, I'd give Umberger a shot there. Can't have much worse results.

Raffl really does help this lineup more than we might realize
- AllInForFlyers

he does a lot of the dirty work for the top line, and seems to be a better fit then BSchenn there.

Something flat-out has to be done if/when Kimmo get activated, right? Because at the very least, isn't Coliacoco only on the roster because of LTIR?
- AllInForFlyers

Coliacovo will be demoted ASAP, and the same can be done for Rinaldo if they want to. But yes, something has to give.

having Hartnell on the team was like watching ice capades bloopers.
Umberger is about as skilled as Hartnell is, and has decent numbers for being a 3rd line player all season.

but the main idea was to shed contract length.
plus, if we traded for RJ, that means the other options on the table were worse.
- MrBigglesworth

I get the contract part of the RJ/ Hartnell deal but as players... I would take Hartnell any day over Hamburglar. He plays with more of an edge, and is a better offensive player. Kept hearing about how much Zombie was going to bring to the " defensive" side of the game... He has brought zero in that department

Simmonds has a really good shot coming in the left side too

Couts has a good tendency to be able to throw pucks and get them through to the front of the crease, I think Simmonds could benefit from this if they stay together
- Marc D

I hope so -- they really need this to work, if only to take some heat off L1

I think Schenn needs to come off of that top PP unit, to be honest. He's not good at that Hartnell "slot" position, and he doesn't really drive play. Honestly, I'd try putting Vinny in that spot over him, and I'm a staunch Vinny hater.

Couturier is an enigma to me. His hockey sense is off the charts, but his body doesn't seem to be able to match it. I'm not asking for him to be a 35/45/80 guys, but I think a 20/30/50 season should be within his grasp. For whatever reason, the pucks just aren't going in.
- jmatchett383

I agree with this -- what Schenn does on the PP isn't enough to keep him on the top unit

maybe for another week or two, but eventually Berube will figure it out

as much flak as he gets I think he has done a decent job this year given that the team has a lot of poor fits within the line up that he is forced to work with
- Marc D

Agreed -- I think Chief has done enough to stay, tbh

Not his fault, some of the things that have gone down this season