The question doesn't make sense, seeing that he is currently seeing some PK time, and playing at ES with Voracek and Konecny. It's a catch 22 situation. Freeing up Couturier from some of the defensive responsibilities he has been burdened with in the past, so he can play in better situations, will help him offensively. The flip side of that is, that he is obviously one of the best defensive forwards and PKers on the team, so that can hurt the team on the PK, by using him less. There's good and bad. We're 3 games in so far, so we'll see how it goes.
- MJL

Just a question, but couldnt he still have the same defensive responsibilities, just with better linemates?

It's CV.

Just a question, but couldnt he still have the same defensive responsibilities, just with better linemates?
- YuenglingJagr

he could, but would you want to use Voracek and TK in that role?

Just a question, but couldnt he still have the same defensive responsibilities, just with better linemates?
- YuenglingJagr

He's gone into one of his tailspins like when you ask Siri a question it can't answer

he could, but would you want to use Voracek and TK in that role?
- MBFlyerfan

Using Voracek and Konecny to dominate the opposing team's best players? Yes, that is exactly what I would want

He's gone into one of his tailspins like when you ask Siri a question it can't answer
- PhillySportsGuy

Would you like me to search google for "Is Hillary Clinton responsible for the death of Harambe?"

he could, but would you want to use Voracek and TK in that role?
- MBFlyerfan

What role? I don't understand this whole argument. Teams like the Bruins, Panthers, Kings and Ducks use their best players on the PK and it works fine. The Flyers used to do it all the time with Richards, Carter and Gagner.

Would you like me to search google for "Is Hillary Clinton responsible for the death of Harambe?"
- YuenglingJagr

Saw John Boruk at my job today. Chatted for a few minutes and he said he thinks Ivan and G have huge nights tonight. "seems to be an energy around the team that we haven't seen yet this season. Provorov and Giroux in particular looked like men on a mission this morning when I talked to them" were his exact words

Would you like me to search google for "Is Hillary Clinton responsible for the death of Harambe?"
- YuenglingJagr

LMGTFY:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Is+H...r+the+death+of+Harambe%3F

LMGTFY:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Is+H...r+the+death+of+Harambe%3F
- johndewar

Saw John Boruk at my job today. Chatted for a few minutes and he said he thinks Ivan and G have huge nights tonight. "seems to be an energy around the team that we haven't seen yet this season. Provorov and Giroux in particular looked like men on a mission this morning when I talked to them" were his exact words
- Mordecai

Ivan going full Drago tonight? Will he skate up to Ryan Kesler and say "I MUST BREAK YOU!"

Saw John Boruk at my job today. Chatted for a few minutes and he said he thinks Ivan and G have huge nights tonight. "seems to be an energy around the team that we haven't seen yet this season. Provorov and Giroux in particular looked like men on a mission this morning when I talked to them" were his exact words
- Mordecai

Does he travel with the team?

Saw John Boruk at my job today. Chatted for a few minutes and he said he thinks Ivan and G have huge nights tonight. "seems to be an energy around the team that we haven't seen yet this season. Provorov and Giroux in particular looked like men on a mission this morning when I talked to them" were his exact words
- Mordecai

I mean....you could've asked him his thoughts on Couturier's usage and ice time and saved us a lot of trouble

he could, but would you want to use Voracek and TK in that role?
- MBFlyerfan

They matched up against Kane and Panarin last game, so they are still being used in that role. And those were away games where matching up is harder, like Kopitar was clearly put out against G and not Coots. It's too early to use Quality of Competition stats (because it's based off opponent's Corsi, it can be super out of sorts in this small sample size). But Coots and his line is leading the team in Quality of Competition time on ice, which just means his competition has seen the most ice time on their team -- pretty good indicator he's matching up against top lines. And his zone starts are still among the worst few on the team.

Fact is, TK IS on the shutdown line. Voracek saw the same minutes last year on Coots's wing. That line will be seeing the hardest minutes on the team for sure.

Saw John Boruk at my job today. Chatted for a few minutes and he said he thinks Ivan and G have huge nights tonight. "seems to be an energy around the team that we haven't seen yet this season. Provorov and Giroux in particular looked like men on a mission this morning when I talked to them" were his exact words
- Mordecai

You should've just flipped him off and said nice rainbow zoot suits dip poop

Does he travel with the team?
- Scoob

I assume he was at the morning skate/practice


Unless that bastard was lying to me...

I assume he was at the morning skate/practice


Unless that bastard was lying to me...
- Mordecai

0% chance he goes to practices

You should've just flipped him off and said nice rainbow zoot suits dip poop
- Mononoke

That was my first thought but I'm having a good day so I went easy on him

I mean....you could've asked him his thoughts on Couturier's usage and ice time and saved us a lot of trouble
- YuenglingJagr

Thank you now I don't have to back read

I assume he was at the morning skate/practice


Unless that bastard was lying to me...
- Mordecai

I was wondering about this line "seems to be an energy around the team that we haven't seen yet this season"

They've been on the road so I was wondering how much he's seen thus far.

What role? I don't understand this whole argument. Teams like the Bruins, Panthers, Kings and Ducks use their best players on the PK and it works fine. The Flyers used to do it all the time with Richards, Carter and Gagner.
- PhillySportsGuy

It baffles me to no end how being a top unit or even second unit penalty killer shackles him at ES. They have nothing to do with each other. He still sees the hardest ES usage. How is that freeing him up to score at ES exactly? I call BS: he will score the same amount whether he sees another minute or two PK or not. The "keep 'em fresh" angle also seems like baloney to me. So 18-19 minutes....fine and dandy. When he crosses that 20 minute threshold....he's (frank)ed? As you said, most every other team plays their top PK'ers as their top PK'ers, but we can't, with our oh-so effective PK the last year?

Personally, I don't think MDZ or Gudas should play PK either. We need to free them up and keep their minutes down. Manning can take their PK time.

They matched up against Kane and Panarin last game, so they are still being used in that role. And those were away games where matching up is harder, like Kopitar was clearly put out against G and not Coots. It's too early to use Quality of Competition stats (because it's based off opponent's Corsi, it can be super out of sorts in this small sample size). But Coots and his line is leading the team in Quality of Competition time on ice, which just means his competition has seen the most ice time on their team -- pretty good indicator he's matching up against top lines. And his zone starts are still among the worst few on the team.

Fact is, TK IS on the shutdown line. Voracek saw the same minutes last year on Coots's wing. That line will be seeing the hardest minutes on the team for sure.
- Mononoke

Actually Kane and Panarin matched up against them.

Actually Kane and Panarin matched up against them.
- MBFlyerfan

That team has a 1A/1B situation.

It baffles me to no end how being a top unit or even second unit penalty killer shackles him at ES. They have nothing to do with each other. He still sees the hardest ES usage. How is that freeing him up to score at ES exactly? I call BS: he will score the same amount whether he sees another minute or two PK or not. The "keep 'em fresh" angle also seems like baloney to me. So 18-19 minutes....fine and dandy. When he crosses that 20 minute threshold....he's (frank)ed? As you said, most every other team plays their top PK'ers as their top PK'ers, but we can't, with our oh-so effective PK the last year?

Personally, I don't think MDZ or Gudas should play PK either. We need to free them up and keep their minutes down. Manning can take their PK time.
- Mononoke

We proved a few years ago that any time Giroux saw more than 20 minutes the Flyers usually lost...I think it is safe to say that this is what they are trying to avoid