I don't think we are arguing about Coots, at least I'm not. I'm just giving my thoughts on how best to set up their powerplay. We talked to Sanheim on the last thread and I think just about everyone here thinks that he should be in the opening night lineup.
- BiggE

Most of the stuff was from the 1st 2 pages..I get it.. and the hockey talk is fine, I just get bored with the endless debate about how good or bad Couts is.

So we're back to trading Simmonds ASAP because he may possibly decline, maybe, someday?
- jmatchett383

His decline has been scheduled for February 19, 2019, on that day he will morph into a RH version of Chris Vandevelde.

If you keep saying it does it make it true?

Couturier has never been the 3rd line center. If your matching against the other teams top line then aren't you going to be on the ice more?
- J35Bacher

i think we get to hung up in 1c, 2c and 3c. It is just match ups, if they have 3 decent lines then Courtier will be better. End of last year with Flip coming in that happen.

Most of the stuff was from the 1st 2 pages..I get it.. and the hockey talk is fine, I just get bored with the endless debate about how good or bad Couts is.
- jak521

He is a good player, but those waiting for a huge breakout season of scoring will be frustrated. Probably some more upside, but nothing crazy.

Then change the formation, isn't that at least part of the reason you bring in a new pp coach? IMO, you build the formation to best fit the talent you have rather than trying to force talent into roles that they aren't best suited for. If your most effective powerplay guys are mainly righthanded, then you take that into consideration when developing your pp units. There have been plenty times in the Flyers history where they only had one RH shot on their top pp units and yet they somehow made it work. The reverse should also be doable. To stubbornly insist on a formation that requires a LH shot where there is no good choice to fill that spot, is, IMO, both foolish and shortsighted.
- BiggE

Is it foolish and shortsighted to build the PP around the strengths of Giroux and Gostisbehere or should they build it around the RH shot player they might put in the high slot?

We're off to a great start here this morning. Keep it up!
- Scoob

We did better than the Sabres thread apparently lol

First game I've been able to watch all the way through with minimal interruptions.

I play wing on my team. Sometimes I get thrown into the center position, and when I do, I am completely lost for as long as I have to be there. I'm sure Giroux was feeling a little bit of that last night, just the other way around. Jake and him have to stop passing so damn much. I see much of the same coming this season. Not enough attack at the net from the forwards. They still don't have that guy who can do it consistently. As the ingrates at the Wells Fargo center would say, "SHOOOOOOOOOOOT".

At least these defenseman want to shoot the puck. What a blast by Sanheim, and a beautiful little play from Patrick to set him up.

Is it foolish and shortsighted to build the PP around the strengths of Giroux and Gostisbehere or should they build it around the RH shot player they might put in the high slot?
- MJL

You can build around the strengths of G and Ghost and still incorporate a RH shot into the mix. See my later post for details.

Here, I'll make it easy for you:

Movement is the key and why I think Patrick could work. You leave G where he is and Ghost can play at the top of the zone like usual. Also Simmonds would, of course, stay and do what he does at the net front. But Jake and Patrick can and should be the wildcards. Jake can drift anywhere from down low on the right side to up above the circle and across to the between the circles and crash down upon the net when the puck is in that area. Patrick can start in the middle but also swing down low behind the net, join Simmonds in front at times and/or drift over to the right circle or even the top of the right circle.

The formation doesn't have to be radically altered, but a few tweaks here and there to make the best use of the talent you have should be a no brainer.

Most of the stuff was from the 1st 2 pages..I get it.. and the hockey talk is fine, I just get bored with the endless debate about how good or bad Couts is.
- jak521

Yup. Any given day last season, you could find at least a half page debate on Couts.

At this point, he's played over 400 games in the NHL. He's what he is, a great defensive center, who can score at very well @ ES. He's been on PP2 for a while, but has not shown any real sustained success there. Part of it is where he is deployed (right wall). I would give him another chance in front of the net on PP2, but with a short leash. If he doesn't produce, get him out of there.

first full preseason game I've had the chance to watch. I haven't been a big Laughton fan, but I thought he looked solid last night and think he stays. The extra season in the AHL last year seems to have paid off hopefully. Sanheim looked like it would be hard to not keep him. Hagg looks like he's been playing here for a few season. But can they & will they have a blueline with 3 rookies, 1 second season and 1 starting his second full season, but we'll give him a 3rd year. That is a lot of youth and you know there will be growing pains.

Read and Raffl should be watching from high up and shouldn't be skating.

I know they lost, but watching them play showed signs of a brighter future, growing pains ahead but a brighter future.
- LJF

Raffl will play Opening night without question
Even Raffl-Laughton-Read as shutdown line is possibility

Honestly I have a hard time with only 2 of 3 young dmen making the team. What I mean is that they all bring a different aspect to their game. Hagg is just that steady guy, Sanheim bring an offensive/dynamic side and Morin a physicality. Eliminate their ages/experience from the equation I see all 3 making it on merit.

Vorobyev recalled from Phantoms to play tonight. Wonder why the quick trimming down of the roster and then bringing a forward back up.

You can build around the strengths of G and Ghost and still incorporate a RH shot into the mix. See my later post for details.

Here, I'll make it easy for you:

Movement is the key and why I think Patrick could work. You leave G where he is and Ghost can play at the top of the zone like usual. Also Simmonds would, of course, stay and do what he does at the net front. But Jake and Patrick can and should be the wildcards. Jake can drift anywhere from down low on the right side to up above the circle and across to the between the circles and crash down upon the net when the puck is in that area. Patrick can start in the middle but also swing down low behind the net, join Simmonds in front at times and/or drift over to the right circle or even the top of the right circle.

The formation doesn't have to be radically altered, but a few tweaks here and there to make the best use of the talent you have should be a no brainer.
- BiggE

You didn't make it easy and you're overlooking a number of factors. Without that threat of a one timer in the high slot from a LH shot it makes it that much easier for the PK team to pressure Giroux on the half wall and take away his time and space. It also takes away an option for Voracek on the other side if that's a RH shot. It's all about time. You call it a no brainer but are ignoring some basic issues of why that spot should be a LH shot to be the most effective.

Honestly I have a hard time with only 2 of 3 young dmen making the team. What I mean is that they all bring a different aspect to their game. Hagg is just that steady guy, Sanheim bring an offensive/dynamic side and Morin a physicality. Eliminate their ages/experience from the equation I see all 3 making it on merit.
- nastyflyergirl

I would agree, but add in Ghost and Provorov to that and that is a very young blue line. Do you think Hextall does something like that?

Yup. Any given day last season, you could find at least a half page debate on Couts.

At this point, he's played over 400 games in the NHL. He's what he is, a great defensive center, who can score at very well @ ES. He's been on PP2 for a while, but has not shown any real sustained success there. Part of it is where he is deployed (right wall). I would give him another chance in front of the net on PP2, but with a short leash. If he doesn't produce, get him out of there.
- VladDrag

To be fair what player has shown any sustained success on PP2 in the last 2-3 seasons?

I would agree, but add in Ghost and Provorov to that and that is a very young blue line. Do you think Hextall does something like that?
- LJF

I think it's reasonable to question whether he would do something like that but he should.

first full preseason game I've had the chance to watch. I haven't been a big Laughton fan, but I thought he looked solid last night and think he stays. The extra season in the AHL last year seems to have paid off hopefully. Sanheim looked like it would be hard to not keep him. Hagg looks like he's been playing here for a few season. But can they & will they have a blueline with 3 rookies, 1 second season and 1 starting his second full season, but we'll give him a 3rd year. That is a lot of youth and you know there will be growing pains.

Read and Raffl should be watching from high up and shouldn't be skating.

I know they lost, but watching them play showed signs of a brighter future, growing pains ahead but a brighter future.
- LJF

I think Raffl has looked very solid in pre-season. Him and Laughton looked good on the PK together.

Yup. Any given day last season, you could find at least a half page debate on Couts.

At this point, he's played over 400 games in the NHL. He's what he is, a great defensive center, who can score at very well @ ES. He's been on PP2 for a while, but has not shown any real sustained success there. Part of it is where he is deployed (right wall). I would give him another chance in front of the net on PP2, but with a short leash. If he doesn't produce, get him out of there.
- VladDrag

He is? He's only 24. i think now that the Flyers are starting to bring in more depth and skill you'll see him produce more.

Patrick Sharp didn't score 20 goals until 25 and then saw steady production.

So i don't think i am ready to say he is what he is.

It's a rebuild year still. Deep breaths. As long as the kids play, whatever.

Vorobyev recalled from Phantoms to play tonight. Wonder why the quick trimming down of the roster and then bringing a forward back up.
- pinkfloydfreak

3 games in 4 days coupled with 2 guys being hurt. Not the first time they've done this. I'm sure he will go back down and get back to preparing for the AHL season once the game is over.

He hasn't been the 3rd line center since Craig Berube was fired.
- Feanor

Thanks for making my point.

Jake and G shall now be referred to as 3M when talked about. Minus money men

I wish they could let Ghost unload from the top of the circle on the pp like he does in OT. give him the ovechkin role and just let him tee off

#problemsolved #next

Vorobyev recalled from Phantoms to play tonight. Wonder why the quick trimming down of the roster and then bringing a forward back up.
- pinkfloydfreak

I wonder what that means for Lindblom?

To be fair what player has shown any sustained success on PP2 in the last 2-3 seasons?
- MJL

That is a very fair point, which is why I would keep him on PP2 to start, but give him a shorter rope.