man that is a tough one
- Marc D

i just cant see the potential reward justifying the risk.

exactly this. its hard to construct a team. ideally, you do want an identity. but more importantly, you need guys that can simply play. and play well TOGETHER.

i think both crosby and kessel are skilled. both fit the overall scheme of what the team is going for. but they don't work together at all.

the flyers right now, they need more puck skill up and down the lineup. and a shooter.
- stayinthefnnet

the lack of guys on D who can move the puck up ice and be part of a five man offense is killing them

hopefully that changes over the next 2-3 years

(talking about the flyers)

i just cant see the potential reward justifying the risk.
- stayinthefnnet

murray has absolutely earned the right to stay in

but if they lose game six... I mean who knows what the coach will do in that scenario

murray has absolutely earned the right to stay in

but if they lose game six... I mean who knows what the coach will do in that scenario
- Marc D

to me, unless they lose game six in the manner in which i described, it would just be like changing the tires on a car when the transmission is the problem.

i think they have a better chance of winning a game 7 they dont deserve because of murray, than they do of losing a game 7 that they owned but murray sinks their ship.

additionally, while I am a fleury fan, the guy is typically notoriously bad after a layoff. to me, a game 7 isnt the time to plop him back in there.

the lack of guys on D who can move the puck up ice and be part of a five man offense is killing them

hopefully that changes over the next 2-3 years

(talking about the flyers)
- Marc D

del zotto really would have helped in that regard. I agree with you. they just need guys that can create. I wouldn't worry about hitting a size target.

granted, these arent just things that fall out of the sky. every team is looking for them too. but the flyers first line needs a finisher/shooter. the second line needs a playmaker/guy who can direct with the puck. even if from a wing position, if coots is gonna be 2nd line center.

del zotto really would have helped in that regard. I agree with you. they just need guys that can create. I wouldn't worry about hitting a size target.

granted, these arent just things that fall out of the sky. every team is looking for them too. but the flyers first line needs a finisher/shooter. the second line needs a playmaker/guy who can direct with the puck. even if from a wing position, if coots is gonna be 2nd line center.
- stayinthefnnet

Not disagreeing here but I really think Couts has the ability to be a pretty good set up guy.

Maybe not Kuznetsov good, but he has the ability to hang onto the puck and slow the game down and wait for his winger to get open.

The past few seasons he throws the puck blindly towards the slot a lot. I think in the future we will see him with more patience connecting his passing with some great scoring set ups.

Why isn't Shayne Gotisbehere at the worlds?

Why isn't Shayne Gotisbehere at the worlds?
- wbtravis

Medical issue perhaps?

Why isn't Shayne Gotisbehere at the worlds?
- wbtravis

I wish the NHL would ban participation in all international tournaments

instead they go and create some bobo injury-risk of their own with this stupid world cup

Not disagreeing here but I really think Couts has the ability to be a pretty good set up guy.

Maybe not Kuznetsov good, but he has the ability to hang onto the puck and slow the game down and wait for his winger to get open.

The past few seasons he throws the puck blindly towards the slot a lot. I think in the future we will see him with more patience connecting his passing with some great scoring set ups.
- Marc D

the latter is what i've seen a lot. i do think coots has some skill in him, but i dont know. i think he would benefit a lot having a guy who could help him in that regard. schenn took a big step forward this year, but he's largely another net front guy. same with simmonds. and i love simmonds. but hes not a creator.

I wish the NHL would ban participation in all international tournaments

instead they go and create some bobo injury-risk of their own with this stupid world cup
- Crimsoninja

I agree with for the veteran players. This last year was a real plus for Coots. He went from Canada's 4th line to almost 20 minutes a night by the end of the tournament. I think he put up 7 pts./10 games. I believe it helped him this year.

I wish the NHL would ban participation in all international tournaments

instead they go and create some bobo injury-risk of their own with this stupid world cup
- Crimsoninja

World Cup is beyond awful. Olympics and Worlds at least have an air of legitimacy. This World Cup has an air of money grubbing. Guys playing unnecessarily right before the season...nonsense teams like "Team Europe" and "U23"...players probably don't give a flying (frank). And those damn commercials with that mother (frank)er "Reg."

World Cup is beyond awful. Olympics and Worlds at least have an air of legitimacy. This World Cup has an air of money grubbing. Guys playing unnecessarily right before the season...nonsense teams like "Team Europe" and "U23"...players probably don't give a flying (frank). And those damn commercials with that mother (frank)er "Reg."
- Mononoke

I'm not watching until there's an over 35 team

World Cup is beyond awful. Olympics and Worlds at least have an air of legitimacy. This World Cup has an air of money grubbing. Guys playing unnecessarily right before the season...nonsense teams like "Team Europe" and "U23"...players probably don't give a flying (frank). And those damn commercials with that mother (frank)er "Reg."
- Mononoke

I am very pro international tournaments but can see the case for not wanting players to go.

Personally I enjoy watching hockey on that stage, most of the time you have the best of the best going against each other. Not Columbus against New Jersey.

The NHL doesn't have a leg to stand on any more after coming up with this joke tournament. I wont be watching that.

the latter is what i've seen a lot. i do think coots has some skill in him, but i dont know. i think he would benefit a lot having a guy who could help him in that regard. schenn took a big step forward this year, but he's largely another net front guy. same with simmonds. and i love simmonds. but hes not a creator.
- stayinthefnnet

The problem with Couturier is he is going to play those big minutes no matter what.

He is so good at shutting down the other team's best that he is going to play a lot. I think the team needs to accept that and get him guys on his wings that can help score. Shutting down the other team's best players is good, but if you play 20 minutes you need to contribute offensively as well.

I want him with Brayden Schenn next season full time.

The problem with Couturier is he is going to play those big minutes no matter what.

He is so good at shutting down the other team's best that he is going to play a lot. I think the team needs to accept that and get him guys on his wings that can help score. Shutting down the other team's best players is good, but if you play 20 minutes you need to contribute offensively as well.

I want him with Brayden Schenn next season full time.
- flyer_nutter

As the Flyers become a better team, hopefully they'll spend less time in their own end, and more time on the attack, and more of those minutes can be spent on the attack. Same thing with Giroux. Has to take way too many D zone draws, and there's no doubt it has an effect.

The problem with Couturier is he is going to play those big minutes no matter what.

He is so good at shutting down the other team's best that he is going to play a lot. I think the team needs to accept that and get him guys on his wings that can help score. Shutting down the other team's best players is good, but if you play 20 minutes you need to contribute offensively as well.

I want him with Brayden Schenn next season full time.
- flyer_nutter

i think this is a good breakdown. i do think coots is a good enough player to where he can perform admirably in a shutdown role while still contributing offensively, but hes gonna need more help from his linemates. schenn can help for sure, but again, maybe its just me but i think that line would need someone who can really carry the puck there on the other wing then.

obviously doesnt need to be him exactly because i know hes a pipedream, but ideally for you guys the other winger would be a whole lot more jonathan drouin and a lot less matt read

i think this is a good breakdown. i do think coots is a good enough player to where he can perform admirably in a shutdown role while still contributing offensively, but hes gonna need more help from his linemates. schenn can help for sure, but again, maybe its just me but i think that line would need someone who can really carry the puck there on the other wing then.

obviously doesnt need to be him exactly because i know hes a pipedream, but ideally for you guys the other winger would be a whole lot more jonathan drouin and a lot less matt read
- stayinthefnnet

Read is done. I think so anyway.

I know Konecny is a center but as a R handed shot I wonder about him in couturiers wing. Seems to be able to carry the puck.

For me anyone but the Rangers or Penguins. If they play each other, I root for a lot of OT games with the underdog team with the lesser Cup chance.
- bmeltzer

This!

i think this is a good breakdown. i do think coots is a good enough player to where he can perform admirably in a shutdown role while still contributing offensively, but hes gonna need more help from his linemates. schenn can help for sure, but again, maybe its just me but i think that line would need someone who can really carry the puck there on the other wing then.

obviously doesnt need to be him exactly because i know hes a pipedream, but ideally for you guys the other winger would be a whole lot more jonathan drouin and a lot less matt read
- stayinthefnnet

You mean....like Jake? And in time Konecny?

Read is done. I think so anyway.

I know Konecny is a center but as a R handed shot I wonder about him in couturiers wing. Seems to be able to carry the puck.
- flyer_nutter

Konecny has never spent any substantial time at center in the OHL. He's a pure winger for now. He can play either side potentially though.

Are Stamkos and Stralman coming back for the next round?

You mean....like Jake? And in time Konecny?
- Mononoke

yeah exactly. i could see jake playing that role. but would you be willing to split him and giroux up at ES full time? in theory it should work. both giroux and jake are playmaking passers that excel with the puck on their stick.

admittedly, while i like what ive seen of konecny, i dont know enough about him to know how soon he will be ready. ill defer to you guys on that one.

and the phils pulled it out!

yeah exactly. i could see jake playing that role. but would you be willing to split him and giroux up at ES full time? in theory it should work. both giroux and jake are playmaking passers that excel with the puck on their stick.

admittedly, while i like what ive seen of konecny, i dont know enough about him to know how soon he will be ready. ill defer to you guys on that one.

and the phils pulled it out!
- stayinthefnnet

Jake spent half of the year away from Clode with Coots healthy. He has been split from him before and does fine. They don't need each other no matter what some say. During Jake's best stretch of this year, he was playing with Coots. Berube never paired them together, but Hak did during the 2nd half quite often. As long as Jake is healthy, that is a monster puck possession duo. Impossible to strip, always on offense. Raffl was on their left, which made it even crazier. They were a force. Wouldn't surprise me to see Hak go back to it next year. He should .G worked with 10 and 17 too.

Then Jake got injured and is now an awful player on a bad contract who obviously needs Giroux based on how he played at the end injured

Are Stamkos and Stralman coming back for the next round?
- PLindbergh31

Stam have been ready for a while,the docs just take a conservative approach