If Coots plays with Schenn all year, and another skilled guy on his other wing, say Weal or TK, I see no reason why, as long as he stays healthy, that he can't put up 45 ES points. Add to that perhaps 7-9 pp points and (hopefully) 1 or 2 while shorthanded. That would give him 53-56 points, which is excellent production for a 2C that doesn't see top pp unit time.
- BiggE

I just don't see him matching the offensive output of guys like Gaudreau, Pavelski or Kuznetov. I think 40 ES is more the better target.

I think 7-9 pp points would be a huge jump. He isn't likely to receive more PP time than he gets per game already (about 1:49). That being said, let's wait until the new PP coach does.

His management of the goaltenders was similar to a lot of his lineup decisions. I was happy when Mason more or less called him out on it. He'd ride a guy into the ground, or play musical chairs.
- flyer_nutter

Again: I don't want to kill the coach. But it's fair to say that I wasn't the biggest fan of his goalie usage last season. I also can admit, though, that neither of them was exactly showing "start me" for half the year

See my post right below yours for what I meant.
- BiggE

Yeah I just don't really agree with it. I think you are downplaying how much the mental aspect can factor into their play.

We saw what happened when Mason had a defined role at two different points this season, and more specifically to post-Neuvirth extension, when Mason knew he wasn't getting an offer and could just go out and play.

I don't think the goalies should get a free pass for letting those goals up, but I don't think it is all on them. They were both garbage by their own standards.

I have to admit, I've never seen that before. I've never seen a guy produce how Couturier does it, because everything he does at ES should translate to him being able to run a PP off the wall or down low
- AllInForFlyers

I love him, but I don't know how anyone can come to the conclusion that Couturier has been anything, but bad on the PP. Not saying he can't get better or be coached up a bit, but I think he's one of the many reasons the 2nd unit stinks.

That being said, he's truly a great even strength player and likely one of the 3 most important forwards on the team. Since getting legit wingers the last two years, he is 70th in p/60 (minimum 1000 mins). That puts him in high end 2C category. Add his defense to that and he's pretty much the perfect 2C in today's NHL.

I did. Put my taint all over in when I went to the HHOF in November.
- jmatchett383

You're on a roll this morning

I'm curious how G looks next year. If anything even remote to the Claude we saw this season is the new reality, there is a huge hole to fill.

I think they expected G to keep going for a few more years without having to address his position.

Wonder a little about Galchenyuk (sp?).
- flyer_nutter

Galchenyuk still struggles playing center

I'm not someone who puts a ton of importance on face offs, but when you have a guy like G who is one of the best in the league at them there is a definite advantage in certain scenarios. Galchenyuk is absolutely horrible at face offs.

Evander Kane at 35/8 is the only guy I can think of that even comes close.
- BiggE

You're right. I forgot about him. I remember seeing that a couple months ago and being amazed at the discrepancy

My thought regarding the assistant coaches is that they are going to bring in an experienced coach to oversee ALL of the special teams. Hextall is far from stupid, and I'm sure he knows that Lappy is not the guy going forward who should be handling the PK. Lappy's new job with be working with the forwards in general, especially the kids and overseeing the scratched and/or recovering from injury players getting their skating in.

Lappy, being a relatively recently retired player, should be well suited for this type of role as he is a guy the kids are likely familiar with and can relate to.
- BiggE

And truthfully, they can and should be open to everything -- I know some will argue that this was a bubble team all along, that they didn't truly believe that they were gonna make the playoffs this year and certainly wouldn't contend.

But man, I wasn't there. I look at the Leafs and the B's and the Sens, and I'm just like WTF. I don't know how we don't squeeze out more points than them over 82 games, and when you miss the playoffs, you'd better be able to answer those questions as an organization

Cantscoreier has no business on the powerplay. That has been proven over how many seasons now? Big enough sample size to move on from that going forward.

He compliments Giroux well
- YuenglingJagr

(frank)ing brown-noser

Yeah I just don't really agree with it. I think you are downplaying how much the mental aspect can factor into their play.

We saw what happened when Mason had a defined role at two different points this season, and more specifically to post-Neuvirth extension, when Mason knew he wasn't getting an offer and could just go out and play.

I don't think the goalies should get a free pass for letting those goals up, but I don't think it is all on them. They were both garbage by their own standards.
- YuenglingJagr

Fair enough.

I love him, but I don't know how anyone can come to the conclusion that Couturier has been anything, but bad on the PP. Not saying he can't get better or be coached up a bit, but I think he's one of the many reasons the 2nd unit stinks.

That being said, he's truly a great even strength player and likely one of the 3 most important forwards on the team. Since getting legit wingers the last two years, he is 70th in p/60 (minimum 1000 mins). That puts him in high end 2C category. Add his defense to that and he's pretty much the perfect 2C in today's NHL.
- PhillySportsGuy

Absolutely

Again: I don't want to kill the coach. But it's fair to say that I wasn't the biggest fan of his goalie usage last season. I also can admit, though, that neither of them was exactly showing "start me" for half the year
- AllInForFlyers

Admit it, you do want to kill the coach.

Here's the thing about the goaltending: They were both below the bar. They absolutely were. But I thought Hakstol tried to force Neuvirth into the No. 1 slot at every opportunity, and it simply did not work often enough. I can't sit here and say that I know every single time I questioned whether Neuvirth should have been starting that Mason would've played better, because, again, neither of them were Dominik Hasek out there.

Just felt that there were a few times that I would've done it differently, but as I said during the season, he's the coach and he gets to make those calls, and ultimately, one day he has to answer for all the decisions he makes.
- AllInForFlyers

It's very difficult to defend how Hakstol deployed goaltenders this year. Neither guy ever seemed to be totally comfortable. It felt like Hak was always riding one guy. Instead of setting a schedule, he would give each guy a bunch of games in a row. Seemed like one guy was always getting overworked while the other wasn't getting enough work.

His management of the goaltenders was similar to a lot of his lineup decisions. I was happy when Mason more or less called him out on it. He'd ride a guy into the ground, or play musical chairs.
- flyer_nutter

I agree...I didn't agree with the way Hextall explained it either. Too many times Mason would get the night off after playing a stretch when he played fine. Neuvirth would have a good start and then Nuevirth would be back in the net for next 2 or 3...Mason never did anything to lose those starts.

Much of the year never made sense to me and just because your backup or 1B has a good start in the game he's tapped to start in doesn't mean that you switch to him.
It doesn't make sense

Admit it, you do want to kill the coach.
- jmatchett383

Ha! I really don't. I didn't love how he did everything last season, but at the same time, it wasn't like he was telling Mason and Neuvirth to let in some of the goals they did that cost them points.

I'm mature enough to know that I'll never quite agree with the scratches on any given day

Fair enough.
- BiggE

Not going to call me any names or work this into a 4 page argument? WTF is happening to this place

Ha! I really don't. I didn't love how he did everything last season, but at the same time, it wasn't like he was telling Mason and Neuvirth to let in some of the goals they did that cost them points.

I'm mature enough to know that I'll never quite agree with the scratches on any given day
- AllInForFlyers

Come on, admit it. You fantasize about shooting him in his cold, black, UND heart.

Not going to call me any names or work this into a 4 page argument? WTF is happening to this place
- YuenglingJagr

Don't worry, rinaldo dropped in today. Your mom.

I agree...I didn't agree with the way Hextall explained it either. Too many times Mason would get the night off after playing a stretch when he played fine. Neuvirth would have a good start and then Nuevirth would be back in the net for next 2 or 3...Mason never did anything to lose those starts.

Much of the year never made sense to me and just because your backup or 1B has a good start in the game he's tapped to start in doesn't mean that you switch to him.
It doesn't make sense
- Just5

It didn't make sense to me, that's for damn sure

It's very difficult to defend how Hakstol deployed goaltenders this year. Neither guy ever seemed to be totally comfortable. It felt like Hak was always riding one guy. Instead of setting a schedule, he would give each guy a bunch of games in a row. Seemed like one guy was always getting overworked while the other wasn't getting enough work.
- PhillySportsGuy

That's pretty much it. It just felt like Hakstol wanted Neuvrith to be the No. 1 -- which is fine. He is not the first coach, nor will he be the last, to prefer one goaltender over another.

But Neuvirth sure could've played better and justified it a bit more often

Not going to call me any names or work this into a 4 page argument? WTF is happening to this place
- YuenglingJagr

Go (frank) yourself

Go (frank) yourself
- Mordecai

ty

That's pretty much it. It just felt like Hakstol wanted Neuvrith to be the No. 1 -- which is fine. He is not the first coach, nor will he be the last, to prefer one goaltender over another.

But Neuvirth sure could've played better and justified it a bit more often
- AllInForFlyers

Neuvirth was great for the first 2-3 months of last season and has been bad/injured since then, but it's almost like the team expects him to regain that form and remain healthy when nothing in his past suggests that can happen.

The goalie market has become more of a buyer's market at this point, so I assume they'll find someone decent on a 2-3 year deal. There are always starting caliber goalies who can be had for a 2nd rounder as well. I just don't think Hexy wants to go that route.

And truthfully, they can and should be open to everything -- I know some will argue that this was a bubble team all along, that they didn't truly believe that they were gonna make the playoffs this year and certainly wouldn't contend.

But man, I wasn't there. I look at the Leafs and the B's and the Sens, and I'm just like WTF. I don't know how we don't squeeze out more points than them over 82 games, and when you miss the playoffs, you'd better be able to answer those questions as an organization
- AllInForFlyers

The Leafs were blessed with a true franchise center in Matthews and having Babcock as coach helps. Also lets face it they along with Sens, and the Bruins who are experienced as hell too, were all blessed to play in the Atlantic Division. The top 3 teams in the East and 4 of the top 5 were in the Metro this year, that really put the Flyers behind the 8 ball right from the get go.