Claude Lapointe was the original fourth line center. Patrick Sharp took over for him when he took time away from the game with depression. Jody Hall played here for two seasons. The first during Lindros' final season, the following season was while Lindros held out. Hall was a right winger. - SuperSchennBros
Least what happened to Rosival on the first goal hasn't happened to him yet - aflyerpower8
Yeah -- that was just as bad,. Chicago's back end is gonna get exposed if the Preds are allowed to skate through the neutral zone like they are. I'm not a coach, but they are clearly gonna have to make some adjustments
This season I've seen Mason return from injury and get learned on hard just for our goaltender to end up injured again. That's terrible to me.
- SuperSchennBros
He wasn't injured again. He had a loose piece of meniscus in his knee. They tried to treat it with rest, and then he came back to play. That piece moved and caused his knee to lock up. They then went in and removed the loose piece of meniscus. Mason was cleared to play by the medical staff. If there was any medical issue there, that is not on Berube. That is on the medical staff and Hextall. When a player is made available to play, there is no reason for the coach not to play him. Mason put up excellent numbers this season, which is evidence that he was not mishandled. He excelled this season.
I think there is a serious argument that Couturier is being learned on too heavily in D zone draws. Why doesn't Giroux see more? If I'm not mistaken Giroux has seen the more faceoffs then anyone else. If Bellemare is that good a defensive player, why couldn't Bellemare see more of those draws?
- SuperSchennBros
Claude Giroux was on the ice for 466 Defensive zone faceoffs. Couturier was on the ice for 426 defensive zone faceoffs. I think the usage for players such as Couturier is an issue, but it is an overblown issue in my opinion. It is also not a coaching issue, but a roster issue. A coach is without a legitimate top defensive pairing to use in key defensive situations, so I'm not going to criticize him for using the teams best defensive forward, and who many feel is a Selke level defender in defensive situations when looking at the makeup of the team. Laviolette did the same thing. Bellemare could take more defensive zone draws, but using Couturier more gives the the team the best chance to win.
I think Lecavalier has an argument. If you don't want to put him at center, that's fine but to say Bellemare is a pretty good player for Vinny, that's nonsense. He's a 29 year old rookie playing a fourth line role. Try Vinny on a more talented line before deciding whether or not he's good enough to play anymore. Hextall says Vinny is on the RW with a lwft shot, that's an easy one timer. Bull! Bellemare isn't Forsberg. - SuperSchennBros
Lecavalier hasn't played or produced well enough this season to warrant icetime on a scoring line.
Lecavalier has favored the right side of the ice his entire career. He has scored a ton of goals from the RW side of the ice, so it's not bull. The Flyers don't have the personnel to play with Lecavalier, to make him most effective. If he is to play at center, then he would need a playmaking LW to play with. Flyers don't have it. Lecavalier also doesn't skate well enough, or play a strong enough defensive game to be a match for Berube's center lock forecheck system.
Lecavalier needs to change his game, if he's going to be effective again in his career.
Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot! Joined: 09.01.2012
Apr 15 @ 9:47 PM ET
He wasn't injured again. He had a loose piece of meniscus in his knee. They tried to treat it with rest, and then he came back to play. That piece moved and caused his knee to lock up. They then went in and removed the loose piece of meniscus. Mason was cleared to play by the medical staff. If there was any medical issue there, that is not on Berube. That is on the medical staff and Hextall. When a player is made available to play, there is no reason for the coach not to play him. Mason put up excellent numbers this season, which is evidence that he was not mishandled. He excelled this season. - MJL
BS! Every time Mason returned to play, he would play long stretches and not go to his back up. This is an excuse you can put on the medical staff but you can also put it on Berube for over using his goalie. I believe in one weekend after returning from injury, Mason played in a back to back situation (Saturday & Sunday) not long from returning from injury.
Claude Giroux was on the ice for 466 Defensive zone faceoffs. Couturier was on the ice for 426 defensive zone faceoffs. I think the usage for players such as Couturier is an issue, but it is an overblown issue in my opinion. It is also not a coaching issue, but a roster issue. A coach is without a legitimate top defensive pairing to use in key defensive situations, so I'm not going to criticize him for using the teams best defensive forward, and who many feel is a Selke level defender in defensive situations when looking at the makeup of the team. Laviolette did the same thing. Bellemare could take more defensive zone draws, but using Couturier more gives the the team the best chance to win. - MJL
We're in agreement then that Bellemare could have been used in more defensive zone draws, but he wasn't. That's a problem. How can you be okay with Bellemare being used in a 5 on 3 PK but not at Even Strength. This doesn't make sense to me. Not even a little bit.
Lecavalier hasn't played or produced well enough this season to warrant icetime on a scoring line.
Lecavalier has favored the right side of the ice his entire career. He has scored a ton of goals from the RW side of the ice, so it's not bull. The Flyers don't have the personnel to play with Lecavalier, to make him most effective. If he is to play at center, then he would need a playmaking LW to play with. Flyers don't have it. Lecavalier also doesn't skate well enough, or play a strong enough defensive game to be a match for Berube's center lock forecheck system.
Lecavalier needs to change his game, if he's going to be effective again in his career. - MJL
How many fourth line scorers are their in the league. Outside of Alex Tanguay, I'm unaware if there is a LW playmaker out there but this is neither here nor there.
What kind of production are you expecting from Vinny realistically playing with Bellemare and Vandevelde? There was a small stretch in the middle of the season where they were productive after Vinny's 7 game scratch where it would have been fair to move him up in the line up. In fact, I'll go as far to say that outside of the top line, the fourth line was the only line that was productive. That was an opportunity Berube was unwilling to give Vinny a fair shake. Are you telling me that Vinny wouldn't have produced playing with more talented players? The idea is just impossible. Is there a fourth line playing in the league that produces offensively nightly because we all know Vinny isn't a defensive specialist?
BS! Every time Mason returned to play, he would play long stretches and not go to his back up. This is an excuse you can put on the medical staff but you can also put it on Berube for over using his goalie. I believe in one weekend after returning from injury, Mason played in a back to back situation (Saturday & Sunday) not long from returning from injury.
- SuperSchennBros
Mason wasn't overused. His use was similar to a lot of other goalies in the league. There was no medical reason for Mason not to play. No medical reason why he couldn't play in back to back games. He was cleared by the medical staff, and wasn't put on any restrictions. Mason's numbers and outstanding season is proof positive that he wasn't misused.
We're in agreement then that Bellemare could have been used in more defensive zone draws, but he wasn't. That's a problem. How can you be okay with Bellemare being used in a 5 on 3 PK but not at Even Strength. This doesn't make sense to me. Not even a little bit.
- SuperSchennBros
Couturier is the best choice as he is the teams best defensive forward. Giroux was used a lot due to his faceoff ability. I have no problem with it, with the circumstances and choices that the coach had.
How many fourth line scorers are their in the league. Outside of Alex Tanguay, I'm unaware if there is a LW playmaker out there but this is neither here nor there.
What kind of production are you expecting from Vinny realistically playing with Bellemare and Vandevelde? There was a small stretch in the middle of the season where they were productive after Vinny's 7 game scratch where it would have been fair to move him up in the line up. In fact, I'll go as far to say that outside of the top line, the fourth line was the only line that was productive. That was an opportunity Berube was unwilling to give Vinny a fair shake. Are you telling me that Vinny wouldn't have produced playing with more talented players? The idea is just impossible. Is there a fourth line playing in the league that produces offensively nightly because we all know Vinny isn't a defensive specialist? - SuperSchennBros
Vinny Lecavalier's play both offensively and defensively, simply did not warrant more ice time. Nothing to do with him playing on the 4th line, and everything to do with how he was playing, regardless of where he played.
Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot! Joined: 09.01.2012
Apr 15 @ 10:06 PM ET
Mason wasn't overused. His use was similar to a lot of other goalies in the league. There was no medical reason for Mason not to play. No medical reason why he couldn't play in back to back games. He was cleared by the medical staff, and wasn't put on any restrictions. Mason's numbers and outstanding season is proof positive that he wasn't misused. - MJL
So your gonna play dumb and ignore the fact Mason would heavily learn on Mason after his three different returns from injury? No need to ease him in, no reason to use the back up goalie. You know what? Maybe Jeff Reese deserved to be fired and had no reason to be upset after all.
Couturier is the best choice as he is the teams best defensive forward. Giroux was used a lot due to his faceoff ability. I have no problem with it, with the circumstances and choices that the coach had. - MJL
Why I don't you have a problem with the choices the coach has made? I set the table with examples. Bellemare has started on 5 on 3 PK situations all season, why can't he do it at even strength?
Vinny Lecavalier's play both offensively and defensively, simply did not warrant more ice time. Nothing to do with him playing on the 4th line, and everything to do with how he was playing, regardless of where he played. - MJL
You didn't answer any of my questions but as far as I'm concerned Vinny put up 4th line number offensively as a player placed on the fourth line. Vinny isn't a defensive player. There are a lot of top 6 players around the league who aren't very good defensively.
As I said originally, you and Hextall are the only two people who have made up excuses for Berube and these are just that. Excuses.
