In my opinion we don't truly know that. For one the Flyers have never had a really good 2nd unit. Secondly I don't think he is a fit for playing the half wall and being a PP puck distributor. He's hesitant and in that perspective not good at it. He may be good in a different role. Let him bang and hang around the net and battle for pucks and rebounds, tips etc. I think he can be good in that role.
- MJL

They've tried that too. He has moved around on the PP during his career. Yes, he has been on a 2nd unit that is more or less an afterthought most of the time. He has just never been good at scoring on the PP. His numbers with the man advantage are Giroux-5v5-esque. No one is saying Giroux should get more 5v5 time.

If he needs to play on the PP that is fine. I do think he can have some success around the net. Ideally though, there are better options for the PP and there is really no need to try to make Coots into something he is not.

See i expect him to play all situations.

i think you get the most out of him playing him in all situations.
- J35Bacher

It's interesting that some argue that he's a 2nd line center, which I agree with. Now some think he shouldn't play on the PP? What 2nd line center doesn't play on the PP?

They've tried that too. He has moved around on the PP during his career. Yes, he has been on a 2nd unit that is more or less an afterthought most of the time. He has just never been good at scoring on the PP. His numbers with the man advantage are Giroux-5v5-esque. No one is saying Giroux should get more 5v5 time.

If he needs to play on the PP that is fine. I do think he can have some success around the net. Ideally though, there are better options for the PP and there is really no need to try to make Coots into something he is not.
- YuenglingJagr

The sample size of them trying that is very small. Secondly if the puck never gets to the net, a net presence forward on the PP isn't going to produce much. More than anything they need a catalyst for that 2nd unit.

It's interesting that some argue that he's a 2nd line center, which I agree with. Now some think he shouldn't play on the PP? What 2nd line center doesn't play on the PP?
- MJL

I mean they have never had a great 2nd unit. They tried guys like Read, Raffl, Macdonald, Weise.

Now they have the depth where you could have legit talent like Weal, Konecny, Lindblom, Patrick, Hagg, Provorov.

I think Couturier at the point or down low are best places. i also think we have to see if there is a new PP philosophy or any changes with Knoblauch here now.

I mean they have never had a great 2nd unit. They tried guys like Read, Raffl, Macdonald, Weise.

Now they have the depth where you could have legit talent like Weal, Konecny, Lindblom, Patrick, Hagg, Provorov.

I think Couturier at the point or down low are best places. i also think we have to see if there is a new PP philosophy or any changes with Knoblauch here now.
- J35Bacher

It's a lot more difficult to have PP success as a 2nd unit when the majority of PP time you get is coming on the ice after the first unit has been out there for a minute or more and you have to start from deep in your end after a PK clear with 30 seconds on the clock.

It's a lot more difficult to have PP success as a 2nd unit when the majority of PP time you get is coming on the ice after the first unit has been out there for a minute or more and you have to start from deep in your end after a PK clear with 30 seconds on the clock.
- MJL

It is.

Until you retrieve the puck and make your changes your moving up the ice with 40-45 seconds on the clock. Entry in the zone and you have about 30 seconds to produce something.

It's a lot more difficult to have PP success as a 2nd unit when the majority of PP time you get is coming on the ice after the first unit has been out there for a minute or more and you have to start from deep in your end after a PK clear with 30 seconds on the clock.
- MJL

This is true. My objection to Couturier playing the pp is not that I don't think he can do it. It's just that I think he will already be playing 17-19 of the hardest minutes of the game and I don't see the need for him to take on the extra ice time. Between Patrick, Konecny, Weal and Lindblom, they should have enough forwards to put together a solid 2nd unit without him.

This is the thing. people want more offense from him but now they don't want him on the PP.

I think he needs to be on the PP to get the most out of his game. What's he likely to get on the 2nd PP. Maybe an extra 35-40 seconds?
- J35Bacher

If the top PP is Grioux, Voracek, Simmonds, Ghost and let's say Lindblom, then there will be a lot of players who got significant PP time last season who won't in 17-18.

16-17 PP TOI/GP
Couturier - 1:49 in 64 games
Filppula - 1:53 in 20 games w/ Flyers
Lehtera - 1:21 in 64 games w/ Blues
Konecny - 1:41 in 70 games
Patrick
Provorov - 1:41 in 82 games
Read - 0:39 PP in 63 games
Sanheim
Weal - 1:34 PP in 23 games
Weise - 0:58 PP in 64 games

No one should care who is left off PP2 if PP2 produces points at a good clip like it did in 15-16.

Bill Meltzer: Looking Ahead: Tough Decision Looming on Simmonds Next Summer
- bmeltzer

We lost Hartnell, we lost JvR, we lost Schenn, we lost Mason. If we lose Simmonds and keep G and Jake, I'm burning this mother down!!

This is true. My objection to Couturier playing the pp is not that I don't think he can do it. It's just that I think he will already be playing 17-19 of the hardest minutes of the game and I don't see the need for him to take on the extra ice time. Between Patrick, Konecny, Weal and Lindblom, they should have enough forwards to put together a solid 2nd unit without him.
- BiggE

But here is the thing. I DO think Couturier is one of the better offensive players on the team so i would want him out there.

This is true. My objection to Couturier playing the pp is not that I don't think he can do it. It's just that I think he will already be playing 17-19 of the hardest minutes of the game and I don't see the need for him to take on the extra ice time. Between Patrick, Konecny, Weal and Lindblom, they should have enough forwards to put together a solid 2nd unit without him.
- BiggE

In my opinion Couturier is a physical horse and is more than capable of it. We're talking like 1:30 of ice time per game. If there is a game where he is spending a high amount of ice time on the PK then they can substitute for him especially if he's playing around the net.

cliché
- MJL

props on the acute accent mark

I despise apple products that would literally be hell omg
- Mordecai

I hate good things, too

It's interesting that some argue that he's a 2nd line center, which I agree with. Now some think he shouldn't play on the PP? What 2nd line center doesn't play on the PP?
- MJL

So we have to play him on the power play in order to call him a 2nd line center? Who the hell cares. We have 6 seasons of data showing he is an excellent 5v5 player and not a very good 5v4 player. We now have even more options for PP personnel.

If they decide to put him out there I am okay with it because I think he is good enough, but I don't think it is the smartest use of the players on the team.

We lost Hartnell, we lost JvR, we lost Schenn, we lost Mason. If we lose Simmonds and keep G and Jake, I'm burning this mother down!!
- SuperSchennBros

we lost two Schenn's

So we have to play him on the power play in order to call him a 2nd line center? Who the hell cares. We have 6 seasons of data showing he is an excellent 5v5 player and not a very good 5v4 player. We now have even more options for PP personnel.

If they decide to put him out there I am okay with it, but I don't think it is the smartest use of the players on the team
- YuenglingJagr

The whole second unit hasn't been great.

I think the smartest thing is getting our best players on the ice, which i feel Couturier is one of them.

So we have to play him on the power play in order to call him a 2nd line center? Who the hell cares. We have 6 seasons of data showing he is an excellent 5v5 player and not a very good 5v4 player. We now have even more options for PP personnel.

If they decide to put him out there I am okay with it, but I don't think it is the smartest use of the players on the team
- YuenglingJagr

You can call him whatever you want even if he sits in the press box. The obvious point is 2nd line centers play on the PP and so should Couturier. Many of the other options don't have a track record to definitively state it's not the smartest use of the players on the team.

In my opinion Couturier is a physical horse and is more than capable of it. We're talking like 1:30 of ice time per game. If there is a game where he is spending a high amount of ice time on the PK then they can substitute for him especially if he's playing around the net.
- MJL

Even though I view him more like Michal Handzus, Couturier is our current Mike Richards or Keith Primeau. He might lack the same leadership but he's assigned to the toughest assignments easily. I would give him the "A" based on this alone.

The whole second unit hasn't been great.

I think the smartest thing is getting our best players on the ice, which i feel Couturier is one of them.
- J35Bacher

Not every player is great in all situations

You can call him whatever you want even if he sits in the press box. The obvious point is 2nd line centers play on the PP and so should Couturier.
- MJL

okay good point...play him due to the contractual obligation of being a 2nd line center (even though the team got better last year once he was able to be a 3C )

I'm dead
- Mordecai

sympathies or congratulations? i'm not sure which to offer.

sympathies or congratulations? i'm not sure which to offer.
- hammarby31

he has been askin for it

Haag isn't a blue chip and not so sure Morin is either. Doesn't matter any to me but I wouldn't classify them as blue chip.

Coming up short = not making it to me.
- rinaldo

how dare you.

I mean they have never had a great 2nd unit. They tried guys like Read, Raffl, Macdonald, Weise.

Now they have the depth where you could have legit talent like Weal, Konecny, Lindblom, Patrick, Hagg, Provorov.
- J35Bacher

Hagg is not a legit PP talent. He barely got any PP time or points in the AHL.

It's better this way
- Mordecai

ah. so... congratulations.