It's good to see Patrick getting back to around the 12 minute mark. His possession struggles aren't just because of linemates, but it would be nice to see him get to play with Raffl, or eventually Lindblom.

ESPN should make a documentary about Couturier's season so far.


- Feanor

You mean famed 3rd line defensive specialist Sean Couturier?

He had wingers. He was the 2nd lince C for a while and did nothing. He needs to be better that is it. He has played with every winger outside the top line. There is no reason to blame the wingers when guys like Fillpula and Laughton are having no trouble. Voracek is good but Raffl is still a 3rd-4th line player
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I don't think he has ever been the 2nd line center.

I am not blaming the wingers. but I also don't think the guys he has had recently compliment his game best.

I understand he needs to be better. but i think its a combination of trying to get back to 100% healthy and full speed and the wingers he plays with.

Filppula was only doing OK till he got Raffl and Jake as his wingers. They are great possession players, Flip is not.
- Feanor

Agreed, good point.

I don't think he has ever been the 2nd line center.

I am not blaming the wingers. but I also don't think the guys he has had recently compliment his game best.

I understand he needs to be better. but i think its a combination of trying to get back to 100% healthy and full speed and the wingers he plays with.
- J35Bacher

The offseason surgeries and early season concussion are huge hurdles to overcome, especially for a 19 year old rookie. Patrick is going to be an excellent player, just give him time.

The offseason surgeries and early season concussion are huge hurdles to overcome, especially for a 19 year old rookie. Patrick is going to be an excellent player, just give him time.
- BiggE

If he stays healthy which has been a problem with him

If he stays healthy which has been a problem with him
- Just5

It seems his training staff until now did him no favors. We'll see if an NHL staff handles him better. Of course this is the Flyers training staff which some believe doesn't take care of the players that great.

The offseason surgeries and early season concussion are huge hurdles to overcome, especially for a 19 year old rookie. Patrick is going to be an excellent player, just give him time.
- BiggE

Oh i know.

I think you'll see a gradual increase in his game as the season goes on.

But i also think when he gets maybe a winger like Lindblom you could see an uptick in his game too. That's why I thought Simmonds with Patrick and Weal would be a solid line.

Oh i know.

I think you'll see a gradual increase in his game as the season goes on.

But i also think when he gets maybe a winger like Lindblom you could see an uptick in his game too. That's why I thought Simmonds with Patrick and Weal would be a solid line.
- J35Bacher

Unfortunately, Weal and Simmonds aren't strong possession guys this season.

Oh i know.

I think you'll see a gradual increase in his game as the season goes on.

But i also think when he gets maybe a winger like Lindblom you could see an uptick in his game too. That's why I thought Simmonds with Patrick and Weal would be a solid line.
- J35Bacher

Yup. I'm hoping at some point this season to see:

G-Coots-Simmonds
Raffl-Filppula-Voracek
Lindblom-Patrick-Konecny
Leier-Laughton-Weal*

*I wouldn't mind seeing them try to shop Weal for a winger with decent wheels, but more size and grit to go on that 4th line. Weise and Lehtera can enjoy their popcorn in the Cote suite.

Unfortunately, Weal and Simmonds aren't strong possession guys this season.
- Feanor

The more I see of Weal, the more I understand why he spent so much time in the minors. He's just not quite good enough to play a top 6 role and he doesn't bring enough grit, defensive play, size, PK ability etc.. to play in the bottom six. He's a guy I'd look to move.

Yup. I'm hoping at some point this season to see:

G-Coots-Simmonds
Raffl-Filppula-Voracek
Lindblom-Patrick-Konecny
Leier-Laughton-Weal*

*I wouldn't mind seeing them try to shop Weal for a winger with decent wheels, but more size and grit to go on that 4th line. Weise and Lehtera can enjoy their popcorn in the Cote suite.
- BiggE

That would only work as long as Radko doesn't let Badko out again. If he gets suspended again we will have to send someone back to LHV for as long as he's in the league doghouse which if I heard correctly could be 20 games for the next one. Let's hope his 10 game $0.5 Million vacation drove the point home.

The more I see of Weal, the more I understand why he spent so much time in the minors. He's just not quite good enough to play a top 6 role and he doesn't bring enough grit, defensive play, size, PK ability etc.. to play in the bottom six. He's a guy I'd look to move.
- BiggE

Yeah.

Weal and Gudas are guys I think I would listen on.

I like Weal. Just think he is one of those guys that needs to right situation to be effective. Last year was a great run but you wonder if that was more an aberration then the norm.

That would only work as long as Radko doesn't let Badko out again. If he gets suspended again we will have to send someone back to LHV for as long as he's in the league doghouse which if I heard correctly could be 20 games for the next one. Let's hope his 10 game $0.5 Million vacation drove the point home.
- dragonoffrost

If a 10 game suspension doesn't teach him to tone it down, then he's hopeless.

Hagg being +14 after 30 games is probably the most surprising stat of the season so far.

http://puckbase.com/stats...lus_minus&sort_order=desc

Yeah.

Weal and Gudas are guys I think I would listen on.

I like Weal. Just think he is one of those guys that needs to right situation to be effective. Last year was a great run but you wonder if that was more an aberration then the norm.
- J35Bacher

Weal for sure. Gudas would be tough to move if they are in the playoff hunt. I hate having no RH shots on D. However, at the draft, I would be very open to listening to offers for Gudas.

At this point Patrick doesn't even look like he belongs in the NHL. Once in a while you see a flash where it looks like he belongs.

4 game winning streak, with Buffalo coming in tomorrow night. At least they have played themselves back into the mix.
- PLindbergh31

Do me a favor. Look up Joe Thornton and see what he did in his rookie year. I'm not worried about Patrick.

Ok so Ek has a 5% chance we trade with Ottawa for Erik Karlsson. What would we send them????

I have no desire to meet the request of Provy which you know is included in the starting ask.

Do me a favor. Look up Joe Thornton and see what he did in his rookie year. I'm not worried about Patrick.
- hockeylover

Cupless Joe? Who'd want a fourteen hundred point guy like that on their team.

Break up the flyers!

Oh i know.

I think you'll see a gradual increase in his game as the season goes on.

But i also think when he gets maybe a winger like Lindblom you could see an uptick in his game too. That's why I thought Simmonds with Patrick and Weal would be a solid line.
- J35Bacher

Lindblom is a player that needs to build his game to get to where it needs to be. I don't know if it's fair to put that on a young player. I think both players just need some time to develop.

Ok so Ek has a 5% chance we trade with Ottawa for Erik Karlsson. What would we send them????

I have no desire to meet the request of Provy which you know is included in the starting ask.
- dragonoffrost

Why would anyone trade for him when you can just sign him as a UFA in 2 summers?

The more I see of Weal, the more I understand why he spent so much time in the minors. He's just not quite good enough to play a top 6 role and he doesn't bring enough grit, defensive play, size, PK ability etc.. to play in the bottom six. He's a guy I'd look to move.
- BiggE

I see all that and Weal has been disappointing to this point of the season but I'm not ready to give up on him yet.

I see all that and Weal has been disappointing to this point of the season but I'm not ready to give up on him yet.
- MJL

I'm not so much giving up on him as I'm advocating that he be moved to add more size to the forward group. With Giroux, Konecny, and Leier already in the lineup, they are one of the smallest forward groups in the NHL.

ttt

Lindblom is a player that needs to build his game to get to where it needs to be. I don't know if it's fair to put that on a young player. I think both players just need some time to develop.
- MJL

True, however Lindblom has played very well offensively at LHV the past few games and has been good defensively all year. If he keeps playing the way he has the past week or so, I think he comes up at some point this season.