Also, after a few games at home. Last change will give us a better idea how Hakstol plans to use these guys and if they are to benefit from it
- YuenglingJagr

True we have to remember home team gets last change which affects line decisions.

Before I get overly critical of the Bottom 6, I do want to see what things look like when Raffl and Laughton are healthy and Schenn back from suspension.

I can't believe that VdV and even PEB are playing regularly when the lineup is healthy.
- johndewar

I can see Vandevelde being a scratch, but not Bellemare.

Oh I rocked a mullet too back in the day. What were we thinking?
- dragonoffrost

I couldn't grow one. I was bummed. I wanted one for the Dek hockey season back when I played.

I can see Vandevelde being a scratch, but not Bellemare.
- MJL

This already should be happening

PEB just had a solid WCOH. I don't get why he's lumped in with CVDV.

I couldn't grow one. I was bummed. I wanted one for the Dek hockey season back when I played.
- johndewar

Tansboro?

I can see Vandevelde being a scratch, but not Bellemare.
- MJL

I like PEB's speed and hands when he gets a chance to play with more talented players. I just think he might get caught up in a numbers game.

PEB just had a solid WCOH. I don't get why he's lumped in with CVDV.
- Richard_wilderness

Tansboro?
- dragonoffrost

No, I grew up in Delco.

They had a Dek hockey spot on 322, but it's not there anymore.

No, I grew up in Delco.

They had a Dek hockey spot on 322, but it's not there anymore.
- johndewar

I'd have to remember where the Tansboro one was to see if it's still around.

Yep... http://www.facebook.com/dekhockey

This already should be happening
- dragonoffrost

With the injuries and suspensions the Flyers have, I don't have an issue with Vandevelde in the lineup.

I like PEB's speed and hands when he gets a chance to play with more talented players. I just think he might get caught up in a numbers game.
- johndewar

I think Bellemare centering the 3rd line isn't ideal, but then neither is Cousins. I like Bellemare as a 4th line player.

No, I grew up in Delco.

They had a Dek hockey spot on 322, but it's not there anymore.
- johndewar

Family Funspot

Played many seasons of Dek and inline. I miss that place.

Family Funspot

Played many seasons of Dek and inline. I miss that place.
- Richard_wilderness

Yep.

Only played a couple of seasons of Dek, but really loved it.

We used to play pickup games at that Dek surface all the time, though.

I agree with you in that Couturier should be used more on the PK. Hak seems to like using VDV and PEB at the beginning of the PK (At least he did last year. We need more of a sample size before judging this year) and I don't understand why. They're not particularly good, so matching them up against opposing top units is a bad idea.

Ultimately, the Flyers should have crafted a bottom six with more offensive potential. Instead, they have mostly plugs and need the top 6 to generate almost all of the 5v5 offense. I think Hak is trying to save Couturier and Giroux for more 5v5 time.

This strategy could work if the bottom six could just break even at ES and excel on the PK. Unfortunately, neither of those things is true.

The third line finally came together last year when they put Gagner and Cousins together on it. Now, they've removed Cousins and replaced him with an inferior player in PEB, and removed Gagner and replaced him with a net front guy in Weise. Weise can be better, but he needs guys around him to make things happen. He's not going to get the puck through the neutral zone like Gagner did for them last year. Maybe Read can step up and fill that void. Raffl certainly can when he comes back from injury.

I like Hak's system and I think he's shown great restraint by not handcuffing young players, but I certainly don't think he's done a great job of optimizing the lineup on a game to game basis.

end rant;
- PhillySportsGuy

Man, don't you have more important things to do?

Coots is not actually the second unit PK. He's 5th in ice time, and PEB and VDV have played already 9-10 minutes. Coots at not even 3. The players ahead of him aren't bad PKers, but Coots is a defensive God. Every minute he is out there your chances of winning and not having the opposition score increase. I understand keeping his minutes not too burdensome, but that's ridiculous. At some point, you have to put your best out there to win games. I also don't think it has any effect on his ES scoring. Show me an elite 2-way forward who isn't at or near the top of their team's PK.

As for Weise, hot take alert, I don't think he's a better 2-way player than Gagner. I think Weise is a pretty 1-way guy too, but with less skill who is more physical. Frankly, I don't miss Gagner. He's replacable in our lineup. But PEB at 3C is just a terrible idea that hurts the team's depth.

I have no idea what you're even referring to here.
- MJL

Yeaaaa.. I was just typing nonsensical stuff. Idk. Wasnt even sure what you guys were discussing honestly.

#bringbackversteeg
- Streit2ThePoint

Chris Pronger could replace VDV. Just have him sit on the bench and stare at the other team.

Chris Pronger could replace VDV. Just have him sit on the bench and stare at the other team.
- jmatchett383

Pronger plays for the Coyotes now

Yeaaaa.. I was just typing nonsensical stuff. Idk. Wasnt even sure what you guys were discussing honestly.
- jak521

King illegal forest to pig wild kill in it a is!

Pronger plays for the Coyotes now
- YuenglingJagr

Define "plays."

I'm sure we could acquire him for a 7th if we allow Arizona to retain some of his salary.

LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!
- ggunky

This!!
😍😍😍😍

I write a long ass response and MJL is the only one who responds. I gotta get a life.

Edit: Thank you S2TP
- PhillySportsGuy

I was on a plane, sorry

Man, don't you have more important things to do?

Coots is not actually the second unit PK. He's 5th in ice time, and PEB and VDV have played already 9-10 minutes. Coots at not even 3. The players ahead of him aren't bad PKers, but Coots is a defensive God. Every minute he is out there your chances of winning and not having the opposition score increase. I understand keeping his minutes not too burdensome, but that's ridiculous. At some point, you have to put your best out there to win games. I also don't think it has any effect on his ES scoring. Show me an elite 2-way forward who isn't at or near the top of their team's PK.

As for Weise, hot take alert, I don't think he's a better 2-way player than Gagner. I think Weise is a pretty 1-way guy too, but with less skill who is more physical. Frankly, I don't miss Gagner. He's replacable in our lineup. But PEB at 3C is just a terrible idea that hurts the team's depth.
- Mononoke

I took the day off. It's like school and work conspired against me to make everything due yesterday.

I thought they could have retained Gagner with no risk. I thought he'd add some nice depth in case a guy got hurt or Konecny didn't make the roster. I'm hoping Cousins is back in at 3C and he's flanked by Read and Weise. That line should be fine defensively and chip in offensively a little bit.

Couturier needs to get top PK minutes though. Like you said, all of the other top 2-way centers get regular PK minutes. If the Flyers had a capable replacement, I would understand using him less.

I was on a plane, sorry
- BiggE

Was there turbulence?

I was on a plane, sorry
- BiggE

Excuses


Enjoy Key West