Would you say lavy did better in 11, 12 than hak and Berube did during their tenure yes or no?
- Tfaehner

2012 was very up and down streaky...

Oh well. The phantoms were Hexys baby this year anyway. All eyes on Lehigh valley

Oh well. The phantoms were Hexys baby this year anyway. All eyes on Lehigh valley
- Just5

Don't you know you have to win a Calder before you can make the Nhl playoffs it's an organizational requirement

2012 was very up and down streaky...
- dragonoffrost

In 48 games ?

I think they had a much better, deeper, more balanced team in 2012 than they have had since.
- jmatchett383

I think the team we have today better fits lavy style than 2012 did. I think lavy today would have a field day with this roster and the plays we have upcoming. Lavy is one the league's best coaches for a reason. We have seen organizations keep the same coach through good and bad he is one I think we should of kept.

The games against the Canes, Red Wings, Isles and Rags are gonna make or break em. 6 of the last 11 are against those teams. Win those games and get a loser point in 2 of the other 5 and they finish with 95 and are probably in. Any less than that and they are pretty much (frank)ed.

Couturier looks like a guy playing 22 minutes a night and facing 1st line checking for the first time in his career. I think he’s just out of gas and that really hurts them right now as this team badly needs it’s top 6 players to carry them.
- BiggE

I was thinking the same thing about Coots...I wonder if they should split up him and G for the rest of the season, move G back to center. That would take some of the weight off Coots and make the team a little more defensively responsible. They certainly can't afford to have 17-51-12 out there near the end of games! Lines could look something like:

17-28-12
93-14-11
54-19-24
51-21-15

- hereticpride

lol - so yes and no?

In 48 games ?
- Tfaehner

That was what lead to the 3 game firing the next year

I think the team we have today better fits lavy style than 2012 did. I think lavy today would have a field day with this roster and the plays we have upcoming. Lavy is one the league's best coaches for a reason. We have seen organizations keep the same coach through good and bad he is one I think we should of kept.
- Tfaehner

His time had come. Every coach has a shelf life, even good ones. The biggest issue I have is that they fired him 3 games into the season, and it should have happened during the offseason. So yes, he's good, but I think he'd become stale within the team. He's a good coach, and I liked him, but they needed a change.

Now, if he were available, I'd welcome him back, as I agree he'd unleash this team whereas I think Hakstol tries to reign them in too much.

I was thinking the same thing about Coots...I wonder if they should split up him and G for the rest of the season, move G back to center. That would take some of the weight off Coots and make the team a little more defensively responsible. They certainly can't afford to have 17-51-12 out there near the end of games! Lines could look something like:

17-28-12
93-14-11
54-19-24
51-21-15
- aantny88

G is clearly more productive on the wing so I'd rather they give Patrick some more minutes and cut back on Coots a little bit. The kid has earned it imo.

That was what lead to the 3 game firing the next year
- dragonoffrost

This argument has gone further than I would of expected. I'll leave it at agree to disagree. I think firing lavy especially for Berube was a bad call. You hold onto top 5 nhl coaches as long as you can.

You have way more faith than I do. They're in a St. Louis style freefall right now, and I don't see them coming out of it any time soon.

Granted, I didn't watch most of last night as a matter of principle, but from the previous 8 games, and even the back-end of the 10-0-2 streak, they just haven't looked good enough to beat anything but bottom feeders with any sort of consistency.
- jmatchett383

It's almost like they're a bubble team.

I think the team we have today better fits lavy style than 2012 did. I think lavy today would have a field day with this roster and the plays we have upcoming. Lavy is one the league's best coaches for a reason. We have seen organizations keep the same coach through good and bad he is one I think we should of kept.
- Tfaehner

Agreed! I miss Lavy. He's a great coach and got screwed by Snider's impatience and Homer's reactionary GMing. No way Hak would have almost beat the snot out of the other Pitt coach during that regular season game in 2012!

Well, we'll always have that one day in first place to look back on.....

Well, we'll always have that one day in first place to look back on.....
- hockeylover

What could we get for simmer and the 12th and 15th picks in the draft?

It's almost like they're a bubble team.
- Scoob

That's fine. I am okay with that. I just don't see them making it because, as we've seen this year, they can be very streaky. And right now, they're in a pretty horrible rut, and I don't see them getting out of it in time.

G is clearly more productive on the wing so I'd rather they give Patrick some more minutes and cut back on Coots a little bit. The kid has earned it imo.
- hereticpride

I agree he has been more productive on the wing, which I think is partially due to playing with Coots and him being healthy, but at the same time I think they need some more balance, especially with the bottom six. They're really not cutting it!

Well, we'll always have that one day in first place to look back on.....
- hockeylover

Serious question: On that day, did anyone think they'd stay in first or second place come the end of the regular season?

What could we get for simmer and the 12th and 15th picks in the draft?
- Tfaehner

Like in one trade? Hard to say. I think I'd rather keep the two picks, take best players available and then get the best NHL ready prospect and some picks for Simmonds.

Not as exciting but I don't think this team is one player away so I'd rather have strength in numbers.

Serious question: On that day, did anyone think they'd stay in first or second place come the end of the regular season?
- jmatchett383

I had us pegged as metro 3rd. Now I have us pegged as 8th or 9th in East

I agree he has been more productive on the wing, which I think is partially due to playing with Coots and him being healthy, but at the same time I think they need some more balance, especially with the bottom six. They're really not cutting it!
- aantny88

I'd split up the top line. I'd switch Coots with Patrick or I'd put G at center, move Coots wing, and put Simmonds on the top line.

Beats the definition of insanity.

Like in one trade? Hard to say. I think I'd rather keep the two picks, take best players available and then get the best NHL ready prospect and some picks for Simmonds.

Not as exciting but I don't think this team is one player away so I'd rather have strength in numbers.
- hereticpride

Yeah was being fairly doom and gloom sarcastic. I only trade those 3 in a package if I'm getting top 3 for zadina svech or dahlin.

I agree he has been more productive on the wing, which I think is partially due to playing with Coots and him being healthy, but at the same time I think they need some more balance, especially with the bottom six. They're really not cutting it!
- aantny88

I agree the bottom six is a mess but you can't let those lines dictate your top lines.

I love what the Schenn trade is shaping into but they're kind of missing that guy right now to give them more options and better depth down the lineup.

That's fine. I am okay with that. I just don't see them making it because, as we've seen this year, they can be very streaky. And right now, they're in a pretty horrible rut, and I don't see them getting out of it in time.
- jmatchett383

I didn't see them recovering after their 10-game losing streak, so you never know. Bubble teams are funny like that.

I agree the bottom six is a mess but you can't let those lines dictate your top lines.

I love what the Schenn trade is shaping into but they're kind of missing that guy right now to give them more options and better depth down the lineup.
- hereticpride

It would be interesting our long term future is obviously better but how would raffl schenn simmer look at this moment ?