I can't believe the Bruins have played themselves into this situation. The win against Chicago was big but losing Krejci this weekend may be their end. If Florida makes a move and we stand pat it could very well be the Cats.
- mayorofangrytown

They surprise me more than the Flyers making a run. Flyers might not be a great team, but they can throw enough talent on the ice to make really good teams end up on the wrong end of the score. But Boston's-don't want to say collapse- stumble is really not characteristic of that team over the past 3-4 years

Like Laughton? Oh wait, we sent him down.
- mayorofangrytown

Yep. I'd be rolling VDV-Laughton-Bellemare, or I would go get a guy

Yep. I'd be rolling VDV-Laughton-Bellemare, or I would go get a guy
- AllInForFlyers

The reason why that might not happen is that the AHL is the best place for Laughton's development right now.

Personally, I'd try Lecavalier at RW with Schenn and Raffl, and move White with Bellemare and Vandevelde.

Frank makes some sense in his latest (Why Zac over Vinny?), though I think the boys would be even better without either of them.

http://www.philly.com/phi...in-the-Flyers-lineup.html

Frank makes some sense in his latest (Why Zac over Vinny?), though I think the boys would be even better without either of them.

http://www.philly.com/phi...in-the-Flyers-lineup.html
- tangent_man

Why not Akeson? I'm very skeptical that Voracek is going to click on the Coots line. I want to see Akeson back with Coots and Read to try that line again and Voracek with PEB and VandeVelde. Those guys go to the net and Voracek will/has found them.

Why not Akeson? I'm very skeptical that Voracek is going to click on the Coots line. I want to see Akeson back with Coots and Read to try that line again and Voracek with PEB and VandeVelde. Those guys go to the net and Voracek will/has found them.
- Just5

I don't see Voracek with Bellemare and Vandevelde as a line that you want together for an entire game. Double shifting Voracek here and there is a good thing to gain an occasional advantage. Voracek is a first line Winger, Bellemare and Vandevelde are 3rd/4th line players.

Frank makes some sense in his latest (Why Zac over Vinny?), though I think the boys would be even better without either of them.

http://www.philly.com/phi...in-the-Flyers-lineup.html
- tangent_man

So before I start reading Seravalli, has he decided to learn the game and become an actual hockey writer?

Frank makes some sense in his latest (Why Zac over Vinny?), though I think the boys would be even better without either of them.

http://www.philly.com/phi...in-the-Flyers-lineup.html
- tangent_man

I think Berube is a pretty good coach who is doing a good job, but I can't agree with him on this one. Lecavalier should be in the lineup over Rinaldo.

The reason why that might not happen is that the AHL is the best place for Laughton's development right now.

Personally, I'd try Lecavalier at RW with Schenn and Raffl, and move White with Bellemare and Vandevelde.
- MJL

If the choice is between Wheels and Rinaldo, I go with Wheels

I just would have to damn near scour every corner of the Earth to make sure those are my only two options

So before I start reading Seravalli, has he decided to learn the game and become an actual hockey writer?
- bodiva88

Have to admit, this one makes a lot of sense, no matter how you look at the game

So before I start reading Seravalli, has he decided to learn the game and become an actual hockey writer?
- bodiva88

allegedly, he's been doing better work lately. I'm skeptical, but I do recall he was solid when he first hit the scene.

Frank makes some sense in his latest (Why Zac over Vinny?), though I think the boys would be even better without either of them.

http://www.philly.com/phi...in-the-Flyers-lineup.html
- tangent_man

Yeah, I'm with you. I vote neither.

Sadly Emperor Berube does not count our votes

Yeah, I'm with you. I vote neither.

Sadly Emperor Berube does not count our votes

- BiggE

I don't think Berube really has another choice.

allegedly, he's been doing better work lately. I'm skeptical, but I do recall he was solid when he first hit the scene.
- BulliesPhan87

The change to going back to that may have happened when he attended things other reporters didn't and wanted to use quotes from those events and Frank took issue with it.

Frank makes some sense in his latest (Why Zac over Vinny?), though I think the boys would be even better without either of them.

http://www.philly.com/phi...in-the-Flyers-lineup.html
- tangent_man

I get scratching Lecavalier, because when he isn't scoring he's not really doing a whole lot. But to put Rinaldo in, and play the old, tired energy card...

The best part was Panaccio calling Berube tying his own hands and having to either double shift Voracek or play Rinaldo late in a tied/one goal game "a subtle, yet effective strategy"

A better strategy might be not dressing a guy you can't trust on the ice late in a game.

Apparently BUF is getting fed up w/ Zadorov already:

http://www.buffalonews.co...ng-to-odd-season-20150223

(ROR for Z and Freakorenko?)
- Tomahawk

At their current rate, the Sabres are going to a bad team for a long time to come. Their handling of Zadorov in particular but also Ristolainen to an extent (just keep putting him out there in a losing environment to struggle through the learning curve without players to show the way on being an NHL defenseman) is very questionable player development.

I don't see Voracek with Bellemare and Vandevelde as a line that you want together for an entire game. Double shifting Voracek here and there is a good thing to gain an occasional advantage. Voracek is a first line Winger, Bellemare and Vandevelde are 3rd/4th line players.
- MJL

I'd try it out...roll all the lines. Then you can double shift Jake with G.

I have to say, I'm disappointed the Flyers did nothing more to send a message to Rinaldo. He was scratched two games, but pretty much the second they found somewhere to plug him in they made the move and got him back in the line up. Maybe I've missed something, but his play hasn't exactly forced Rube's hand, either.

Aside from a little lip service, there was no visible message sent to the player.

At their current rate, the Sabres are going to a bad team for a long time to come. Their handling of Zadorov in particular but also Ristolainen to an extent (just keep putting him out there in a losing environment to struggle through the learning curve without players to show the way on being an NHL defenseman) is very questionable player development.
- bmeltzer

Agreed, both have bright futures if they can be handled better.

I don't think Berube really has another choice.
- BulliesPhan87

Akeson
7 D/spotting guys on the 4th line
Laughton
Straka
hell even Rosehill are, IMO, better choices than Rinaldo or Vinny

At their current rate, the Sabres are going to a bad team for a long time to come. Their handling of Zadorov in particular but also Ristolainen to an extent (just keep putting him out there in a losing environment to struggle through the learning curve without players to show the way on being an NHL defenseman) is very questionable player development.
- bmeltzer

I think there's some extenuating circumstances with Zadorov. One of the Sabres guys-can remember if it was a beat guy or broadcaster-was on XM's hockey channel earlier in the season and was asked about Zadorov & why they wouldn't send him back to London, and apparently the Russia team that holds his rights there would only release him this season for the NHL and would withdraw his permission to play if he was sent down to juniors.

Not sure if that is correct or not.

The change to going back to that may have happened when he attended things other reporters didn't and wanted to use quotes from those events and Frank took issue with it.
- ob18

Well, it's a welcome change. I don't want to dislike the beat, they make it difficult to take them seriously.

Akeson
7 D/spotting guys on the 4th line
Laughton
Straka
hell even Rosehill are, IMO, better choices than Rinaldo or Vinny
- BiggE

None of those guys are on the roster right now, aside from Colaiacovo. The ball's in Hextall's court at the moment.

They surprise me more than the Flyers making a run. Flyers might not be a great team, but they can throw enough talent on the ice to make really good teams end up on the wrong end of the score. But Boston's-don't want to say collapse- stumble is really not characteristic of that team over the past 3-4 years
- Jsaquella

They've always had trouble putting pucks in the net even when they were going to the finals. This is just beyond anything I envisioned when the calendar turned. I imagined them moving up the standings, not opening themselves up to being on the outside looking in.

I wonder if Chiarelli is willing to move a piece to fill that center slot?

Well, it's a welcome change. I don't want to dislike the beat, they make it difficult to take them seriously.
- BulliesPhan87

Frank has been much better this season. Even when i have disagreed with his columns, he's usually provided a decent argument and food for thought.