Having Couturier on the 4th line this year has been a blessing. It's given Lavy the opportunity to roll with four lines, and break Sean into the league slowly.

He obviously deserves a regular top-9 role heading into next season.

As for the 4th line next year, I agree that the Flyers need to bring in another center who can play the 4th line effectively, win face-offs and play on the PK. Giroux cannot continue to play this many minutes on special teams. He needs protection.
- bradleyc4

Sami Pahlsson type 4th line center

I'd love a big bastard like Gaustad as that center but I'm not sure the Flyers could pull that off.

Big issues in previous years are irrelevant to this year. They have 14 new guys this year, counting the rookies. What happened in past years was happening to another team.
- Jsaquella

exactly. I stated as much. but why is it that it ALWAYS happens?

Sami Pahlsson type 4th line center

I'd love a big bastard like Gaustad as that center but I'm not sure the Flyers could pull that off.
- Buts16

Dominic Moore is the guy I had in mind, but there are others.

Gaustad is a beast. I love him. He might be too costly for the 4th line (same goes for D. Moore).

It's truly amazing how well the Carter/Richards trades are working out.

Funny thing is I think it would have made more sense for Richards to go the CLB and Carter to go LA looking at those two teams needs.
- Buts16

thought the same thing at the time. how some of these GMs have phucked their teams up -particularly howson- boggles the mind. CLB has more overpaid plyrs than any other team in the league. just go to capgeek and go down their roster...mind blowing

Sami Pahlsson type 4th line center

I'd love a big bastard like Gaustad as that center but I'm not sure the Flyers could pull that off.
- Buts16

Gaustad is a beaaaast!

Dominic Moore is the guy I had in mind, but there are others.

Gaustad is a beast. I love him. He might be too costly for the 4th line (same goes for D. Moore).
- bradleyc4

both would be great. The Goose would be awesome.

Moore can skate like a bastard and plays the hard minutes, he'd be a nice add.

thought the same thing at the time. how some of these GMs have phucked their teams up -particularly howson- boggles the mind. CLB has more overpaid plyrs than any other team in the league. just go to capgeek and go down their roster...mind blowing
- isaiah520

CLB has done a dreadfull job.

Having Couturier on the 4th line this year has been a blessing. It's given Lavy the opportunity to roll with four lines, and break Sean into the league slowly.

He obviously deserves a regular top-9 role heading into next season.

As for the 4th line next year, I agree that the Flyers need to bring in another center who can play the 4th line effectively, win face-offs and play on the PK. Giroux cannot continue to play this many minutes on special teams. He needs protection.
- bradleyc4

I agree that they need to add that kind of player for the future, and help out and lower the minutes of the top players such as Giroux on the PK. It wuld be nice to have right now, because Girouox isn't very good at it right now. He had a nice view of Datsyuk skating right by him to set up for a one timer goal.

CLB has done a dreadfull job.
- Buts16

How long has howson been GM?

Dominic Moore is the guy I had in mind, but there are others.

Gaustad is a beast. I love him. He might be too costly for the 4th line (same goes for D. Moore).
- bradleyc4

Need some help on defense first. Playing two rookies that may not be ready to be NHL defenseman. I think they both have done a decent job but their not ready for this level of hockey on a consistent basis. Our veteran players are also struggling which makes matters worse.

So do people still want Schenn gone?

idiots.
- Buts16

I just completed my writeup on revisiting the Richards/Schenn/Simmonds trade in the mold of the Carter one I did last week. Here is the link if you wish to read it, if not that is OK too:

http://my.hockeybuzz.com/...er_id=25345&post_id=12988

How long has howson been GM?
- funmaster18

Long enough to kill that team even more. I have to imagine Craig Patrick will be the official GM going into the offseason.

To Howson's credit he does communicate directly with the fan base through blogs on the Columbus main site in an effort to be transparent.

How long has howson been GM?
- funmaster18

Just over a year and a half now I believe (July 2010)

Well, guess it's moron hour here at the Olde Hockey Buzz....

Go figure a team with 8 or 9 rookies regularly dressing struggles. Amazing. Of course some folks think that guys come out of the box and are all stars. Or that if a guy isn't a superstar within 2 or 3 years that he's a bust.

Well, it takes time to develop a team into one as good as the Red Wings. They built from the ground up-smart drafting and player development, well considered trades and the patience to not dump a guy if he didn't develop as quickly as they would like.

Right now, there's a combination of guys hitting rookie walls, guys filling roles that they have never had to fill at the NHL level, and guys who are either out with injuries or playing through them. They have had to deal with issue in confidence and just sheer bad luck, and right now it's combining on them.

At the same time, over the past 48 hours, they have played the top two teams in the NHL, and played them evenly at 5 on 5. They got killed by breakdowns and poor special teams play. It happens. Now, they have a few days to fix what has gone wrong and refocus.

As far as making changes, they have to be prudent. Overpaying for a rental at this point is stupid. They have a talented team that isn't playing well right now. Making a bad trade doesn't help. Neither does simply making a trade, if the players who remain do not pick up their games.
- Jsaquella

well said, besides bryz the team has overachieved imo thus far...we have no players in there "prime" we either have rookies, budding stars or old men, non of these though pertain to our d, timmo is the only one i look past.

I just completed my writeup on revisiting the Richards/Schenn/Simmonds trade in the mold of the Carter one I did last week. Here is the link if you wish to read it, if not that is OK too:

http://my.hockeybuzz.com/...er_id=25345&post_id=12988
- Gunner Staal

What you couldn't revisit the Gretzky to St. Louis trade? jk

I just completed my writeup on revisiting the Richards/Schenn/Simmonds trade in the mold of the Carter one I did last week. Here is the link if you wish to read it, if not that is OK too:

http://my.hockeybuzz.com/...er_id=25345&post_id=12988
- Gunner Staal

nice Mike Richards picture

What you couldn't revisit the Gretzky to St. Louis trade? jk
- JoeRussomanno

Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, Craig Johnson, and two draft picks.

imo, the flyeers should be sellers at the td, carle could command a good prospect and a high draft pick from a contender if we are not going to resign him, voracek+ bob the same.

also i appreciated what jagr has brought to the team early on but i think hes done all he can do at this point, for being one of the best goal scorers ever it hurts me to see him miss so many scoring chances, missing the net flubbing the shot.

Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, Craig Johnson, and two draft picks.
- Gunner Staal

I said I was kidding

imo, the flyeers should be sellers at the td, carle could command a good prospect and a high draft pick from a contender if we are not going to resign him, voracek+ bob the same.

also i appreciated what jagr has brought to the team early on but i think hes done all he can do at this point, for being one of the best goal scorers ever it hurts me to see him miss so many scoring chances, missing the net flubbing the shot.
- mydoglicks

i agree with this...if we make it into the playoffs theres no way were getting knocked out of the first round...trade bob and trade carle get some good pick for them.

I said I was kidding

- JoeRussomanno

I think that is the extent of the breakdown though, haha. That and it was Gretzky's turnover in the neutral zone that led to the best slap shot ever taken in hockey history.

imo, the flyeers should be sellers at the td, carle could command a good prospect and a high draft pick from a contender if we are not going to resign him, voracek+ bob the same.

also i appreciated what jagr has brought to the team early on but i think hes done all he can do at this point, for being one of the best goal scorers ever it hurts me to see him miss so many scoring chances, missing the net flubbing the shot.
- mydoglicks

Would Homer be willing to trade these players? I dont think he will be a seller at the TDL with a team that is currently in the playoffs.

Until something other than window dressing is done this team is going to conitue like this. Winnig some game by virtue of sheer offensive firepower. Lossing games they should win because of lack of cohesive defensive system and lack of talent on the blue line.

The something is going to mean 2 real NHL D brought in. A real full ice system installed and enforced. If the goaltending situation does not look better in that light....then that too will need to be addressed.

Since I don't forsee Homer making the moves necessary to get 2 real blue liners in hear who can play meaningful minutes and keep the others form being exposed...and we all know by now that Lavvy does not have a system, he believs in playing with Jam....the answer is self evident.

I think that is the extent of the breakdown though, haha. That and it was Gretzky's turnover in the neutral zone that led to the best slap shot ever taken in hockey history.
- Gunner Staal

No other explanation necessary.

Well, guess it's moron hour here at the Olde Hockey Buzz....

Go figure a team with 8 or 9 rookies regularly dressing struggles. Amazing. Of course some folks think that guys come out of the box and are all stars. Or that if a guy isn't a superstar within 2 or 3 years that he's a bust.

Well, it takes time to develop a team into one as good as the Red Wings. They built from the ground up-smart drafting and player development, well considered trades and the patience to not dump a guy if he didn't develop as quickly as they would like.

Right now, there's a combination of guys hitting rookie walls, guys filling roles that they have never had to fill at the NHL level, and guys who are either out with injuries or playing through them. They have had to deal with issue in confidence and just sheer bad luck, and right now it's combining on them.

At the same time, over the past 48 hours, they have played the top two teams in the NHL, and played them evenly at 5 on 5. They got killed by breakdowns and poor special teams play. It happens. Now, they have a few days to fix what has gone wrong and refocus.

As far as making changes, they have to be prudent. Overpaying for a rental at this point is stupid. They have a talented team that isn't playing well right now. Making a bad trade doesn't help. Neither does simply making a trade, if the players who remain do not pick up their games.
- Jsaquella

Well said.

That said, holy cow, the Rangers and Red Wings are friggin' good!