[quote=BiggE]One month in, here are some general observations

/quote]

Nice little write up!
Good to hear some rational thinking for once.

However....I would have to disagree with your Oilers observations. While I wouldn't be surprised if they do make the playoffs, I wouldn't bet on it. They had a great year last year, but how quickly have we forgotten that this has been a crappy team for many many years. They have good talent up front, but beyond that....I'm not so sure.

As well, if you look at the standings right now, that hill they must climb looks pretty steep. 6 playoff teams from last year currently sit on the outside. Those are some good teams...not just .500 or worse teams. So it's going to be a huge battle, both physically and mentally for the Oilers to overtake all of them. Can this young team overcome that? I'm not so sure.

Was absolutely blindside and late. Nothing "clean" about it, except not a head shot and not full force. BTW, I suspect that Schenn texted an apology to Couturier... was hinted at today, although not directly stated. At minimum, Schenn definitely felt bad about it. There was clearly no intent to injure but was not a necessary hit. BTW two Flyers Alumni guys I know well lamented no one on the Flyers responding on the spot.

None of that falls in with your interpretation of a good, clean play with a bad result.
- bmeltzer

What do you call blindside? The only reason it was blind is because Couts was looking behind him. Does no one here think Couts is at fault here??? My God....you can be skating east west with your head down and not expect to get hammered.
Yeah, it was a tough hit but geez...Schenn hit him as clean as anyone possibly could.

I totally agree that a teammate should have stepped up there but that's not to say Schenn did anything wrong. It simply shows your teammate that you have his back.

What do you call blindside? The only reason it was blind is because Couts was looking behind him. Does no one here think Couts is at fault here??? My God....you can be skating east west with your head down and not expect to get hammered.
Yeah, it was a tough hit but geez...Schenn hit him as clean as anyone possibly could.

I totally agree that a teammate should have stepped up there but that's not to say Schenn did anything wrong. It simply shows your teammate that you have his back.
- Mittin

his head wasn't really down and Schenn clearly came from behind him and blind sided him. not sure why you don't see that.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-teammate-sean-couturier/

We've seen many borderline to bad hits by Schenn over the years. I don't think he intends on hurting players or being dirty per se but he is reckless at times. I mean Schenn was always at his best when physical but as i said sometimes he goes over the line and is reckless. that hit was very unnecessary. it was late and it was from the blind side.

Schenn's hit was Reckless and blindside?

Come on Bill.....that hit was a perfect example of a good clean body check.
- Mittin

It wasn't a dirty hit.

If he were a Flyer, there isn't a problem. Since he's somewhere else, half the Flyers fan base is screaming blood murder, which is typical. Couturier came back to the game. It was late but not dirty.

his head wasn't really down and Schenn clearly came from behind him and blind sided him. not sure why you don't see that.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-teammate-sean-couturier/

We've seen many borderline to bad hits by Schenn over the years. I don't think he intends on hurting players or being dirty per se but he is reckless at times. I mean Schenn was always at his best when physical but as i said sometimes he goes over the line and is reckless. that hit was very unnecessary. it was late and it was from the blind side.
- nastyflyergirl

Take a look. Couts doesn't have his head down? He's looking behind him....that's a problem for him here. Schenn is right BESIDE Couts. A little late of a hit...sure. But there is noting else wrong here...other than Couts looking behind him.

It wasn't a dirty hit.

If he were a Flyer, there isn't a problem. Since he's somewhere else, half the Flyers fan base is screaming blood murder, which is typical. Couturier came back to the game. It was late but not dirty.
- SuperSchennBros

Big difference from dirty and a bad or reckless hit. it was not a clean hit and we've seen Schenn do this as a Flyers and I am pretty sure most admit when a Flyer player is worthy of a fine or suspension based on a bad hit. I don't think Schenn is a dirty player. He is at his best when he is physical and I loved the Schenn that played with an edge but come on, the guy guys over the line at times.

Take a look. Couts doesn't have his head down? He's looking behind him....that's a problem for him here. Schenn is right BESIDE Couts. A little late of a hit...sure. But there is noting else wrong here...other than Couts looking behind him.

- Mittin

Couturier is following the play where the puck is going. His head isn't down. you act like he was looking at his own feet. He was tracking the puck. Schenn comes up from behind. it was late and on the blindside. Dirty? no, I really don't think Schenn is dirty. Reckless and a bad hit? yep.

Hopefully doesn't affect Couturier's new found offensive flair.

Big difference from dirty and a bad or reckless hit. it was not a clean hit and we've seen Schenn do this as a Flyers and I am pretty sure most admit when a Flyer player is worthy of a fine or suspension based on a bad hit. I don't think Schenn is a dirty player. He is at his best when he is physical and I loved the Schenn that played with an edge but come on, the guy guys over the line at times.
- nastyflyergirl

Don't take this as an attack. You've explained yourself respectfully.

I agree that the hit was late. I agree it was from the blindside but I don't see the viciousness in the hit. I didn't see Schenn leave his feet, which we've seen from Schenn is the past. This is all I'm saying.

Case and point, Radko Gudas in past games. Most recently in Ottawa. Way worse hit but doesn't matter. That was a week ago and he's a Flyer.

It's like how we pick and choose our friends.

Couturier is following the play where the puck is going. His head isn't down. you act like he was looking at his own feet. He was tracking the puck. Schenn comes up from behind. it was late and on the blindside. Dirty? no, I really don't think Schenn is dirty. Reckless and a bad hit? yep.
- nastyflyergirl

Down doesn't mean literally down...it means not looking where you are going. He can't be dangling in the slot area, looking behind him and not expect to get rocked.

Here's the rule:

Rule 48.1 declares an illegal check to the head as "a hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head was the main point of contact and such contact to the head was avoidable."

Contact to the head was easily avoidable, therefore it's a penalty. Also the ref called interference. This means that the puck hadn't just come off Couturier's stick a few seconds prior to the hit. It means in the view of the official, and I agree, that the puck had been off Couturier's stick long enough for Schenn to realize and avoid the contact. He did not, mainly because he has a tendency to play recklessly.

Now you may not like the way these rules or written or how the games are officiated. But, according to NHL rules, it was an illegal hit. No one is calling for Schenn to receive a 10 game suspension, heck, I don't think he really deserves anything more than a fine at most. However, the hit should be looked at.
- BiggE

The key point of rule 48.1 is the head has to be the principle point of contact. In the replay's I've seen, that was not the case. However the hit was late in my opinion, hence the interference call. It's also a blindside hit which is a very dangerous hit.

Absolutely. My problem with AMac was that you weren't getting the value you should from a 5 million dollar cap hit, though if the Cap starts approaching 80 million, it's less of an issue and that he's really being misused as a top pair guy.

He is a solid player and if he was making 3.5 million, I don't think a lot of people would be complaining about him.
- BiggE

I think there would still be a lot of complaining especially from the analytics crowd. . Very few are willing to give him credit when it is due.

The key point of rule 48.1 is the head has to be the principle point of contact. In the replay's I've seen, that was not the case. However the hit was late in my opinion, hence the interference call. It's also a blindside hit which is a very dangerous hit.
- MJL

That's fair. To me, the key thing was it was late and could have been avoided. Schenn is looking right at him, he knows it's late and he doesn't give a damn.

To SSB: you are so full of it that it's comical. I and others on this site have ripped Gudas multiple times for late, reckless hits. We did the same in years past to guys like Rinaldo, Downey and Boulerice. Wrong is wrong. Perhaps if the perpetrator wasn't one of your beloved Schenn brothers you'd see it differently.

Take a look. Couts doesn't have his head down? He's looking behind him....that's a problem for him here. Schenn is right BESIDE Couts. A little late of a hit...sure. But there is noting else wrong here...other than Couts looking behind him.

- Mittin

It's interesting that you post a still shot that shows everything you state, is wrong! Couturier doesn't have his head down, is looking at where the puck is. Schenn is clearly approaching Couturier from his blindside. It's clear as day!

1. Couturier did not have the puck for quite a bit prior to the hit
2. Whether accidental or not, contact was made with Couturier's head
3. It was reckless and Schenn has a history of reckless hits just like that.

At the very least, the hit should be reviewed by DOP(e)S
- BiggE

I think Cout's body shielded Schenn's view and he wasn't aware the puck was already gone

the broadcast team speculated on that and I think it's likely correct

Out of curiosity I logged into nhl.tv and watched the stl brodcast when the hit happened. Their interpretation was that Schenn also wasn't looking where he was skating and it was a completely accidental collision haha. Not sure how you get that from looking at Schenn in replays.

I wouldn't suspend him, as I don't think it was a "vicious" hit, but I do think it was reckless and certainly blind side.

Don't take this as an attack. You've explained yourself respectfully.

I agree that the hit was late. I agree it was from the blindside but I don't see the viciousness in the hit. I didn't see Schenn leave his feet, which we've seen from Schenn is the past. This is all I'm saying.

Case and point, Radko Gudas in past games. Most recently in Ottawa. Way worse hit but doesn't matter. That was a week ago and he's a Flyer.

It's like how we pick and choose our friends.
- SuperSchennBros

I don't think it was vicious. The reason why Couturier went down so hard was because it came from the blindside. I think Couturier himself said he had the wind knocked out of him. No headshot was involved and as you said Schenn didn't leave his feet. He glided into him. I thought it was reckless and a bad hit. I think we are kinda saying the same thing kinda sorta

I don't wear orange color glasses when the Flyers throw a bad hit, etc.

I think Cout's body shielded Schenn's view and he wasn't aware the puck was already gone

the broadcast team speculated on that and I think it's likely correct
- Crimsoninja

thing is even if he had the puck you are no longer allowed to hit from the blind side. Mike Richards kind of saw to that rule change when he demolished Booth.

What's the latest on Patrick? I thought he was looking to come back today.

What's the latest on Patrick? I thought he was looking to come back today.
- Boyer83

Bill had tweeted that Patrick skated in a yellow jersey but then left before practice ended. He said it wasn't clear if that was the plan all along or not

Don't take this as an attack. You've explained yourself respectfully.

I agree that the hit was late. I agree it was from the blindside but I don't see the viciousness in the hit. I didn't see Schenn leave his feet, which we've seen from Schenn is the past. This is all I'm saying.

Case and point, Radko Gudas in past games. Most recently in Ottawa. Way worse hit but doesn't matter. That was a week ago and he's a Flyer.

It's like how we pick and choose our friends.
- SuperSchennBros

Literally everyone except for you and this 1 random dude thought it was a bad hit. Including the St. Louis commentators.

Stop it.

Flyers are on the wrong end of a lot of these kind of hits the last while.

Maybe that's prob #1. Insanity - I know.

Schenn's hit was Reckless and blindside?

Come on Bill.....that hit was a perfect example of a good clean body check.
- Mittin

Except for it being late and from the blindside you are right.

Wasnt a charge..Didnt leave his feet..Elbows in and I feel Schenn could have 100% destroyed him even more..

None of that changes the fact that it was late and from the blindside imo.

thing is even if he had the puck you are no longer allowed to hit from the blind side. Mike Richards kind of saw to that rule change when he demolished Booth.
- nastyflyergirl

Exactly

One month in, here are some general observations

Re the Flyers:
Hak gets a lot of criticism around here, some frivolous, some deservedly so, but he gets huge props from me for moving G to LW and coming up with that top line.

Now you see why Couturier was a top 10 pick. He is the total package. He's not Clarke or Lindros, but he is top notch 2 way center. A good Flyers comparison may be Rod Brind'amour. Different style of play, but filling the same type of role. Coots will only turn 25 later this season, so if Patrick turns out to be a legit 1, 1A center, the Flyers will be in fantastic shape.

Jordan Weal can play, period, end of story.

Looks like the Flyers handled Laughton just right last season, he's been a pleasant surprise and looks very good both at ES and on the PK. You can also pretty much say the same about Leier. The 4th line has finally been significantly upgraded.

Ghost looks to be Ghost again. This is good. Hagg, while never going to a guy who drives possession or puts up big numbers, is solid and looks to be the kind of guy you can just plug in on your 2nd pair and Pk for the next 10 years without any worry.

Sanheim has had hiccups, but man, the wheels and skill are there. Add some more muscle and experience to the package and he's going to be a very good player.

Manning takes a lot of crap around here, but all he does is give every thing he's got any time he's on the ice. Can't really ask any more from a player.

Ivan Provorov is the man.

edit: Can't leave out AMac, he's played better than I expected this season, good for him.

Now, it's not all rosy, there are some negatives too:

Gudas is off to his usual slow start and needs to pick it up. He's been around long enough to know better.

I have to think Wayne Simmonds is playing hurt, he's really struggled the last few games. This is where I'd like to see a coach take him out for a game for his own good. Simmer won't like, but it could pay off in the long run.

While at times they've been fine, Lehtera and Weise have no business playing in a good teams top 9. The sooner I don't have to see either in that role, the better.

It's sad, but Matt Read just can't cut it anymore. Thanks for giving your all and being a class guy Matty, it was a nice ride.

The goaltending still scares me. Neuvy is playing very well, but you just know that he'll eventually either go ice cold, get hurt or both. Elliott is Elliott. Ok most nights, can occasionally get hot and steal a game or 2 and he can occasionally crap the bed. They are probably good enough, if they can avoid too many more injuries, to get them in the playoffs, but that is as far as they will likely go with that tandem.


And, some quick NHL observations.

DOPs is a joke and needs to be addressed in the offseason. The lack of consistency would be funny if wasn't so sad.

Hands up, who predicted that Vegas and Jersey would get off to such good starts. Yeah, that's what I thought.

Seeing the Rangers struggle warms my heart and makes me think of rainbows and teddy bears and 30 year old scotch.

Yeah, Chicago has struggled some this year. But you know that they will make the playoffs and likely be the team that no one want's to meet in the first round.

To everyone jumping off bridges in Edmonton, relax, the Oilers will be fine and will make the playoffs.

Perhaps Steve Mason's critics knew what they were talking about. He has really struggled in the Peg.

The Leafs are loaded with young talent at forward, but not so much on D. The Flyers are loaded with young talent at D, but not as much at forward. You'd think there could be a deal to be made at some point.

That's it cept for GO FLYERS!!!
- BiggE

Really a solid summary of everything!

I have to agree with your line about Manning..THe dude is a 6/7 dman and does exactly what you need a player like that to do..If he was getting 1-4 type mins we would be in trouble but he is not so I have 0 problem with him in that role.