Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Coburn, Akeson, VandeVelde, Pronger and More

pronger is just another reason why the union and nhl need to take a hard look at the 35 and over contract when it comes to actually injured players not able to play again and should be able to retire and wipe clean the contract/cap hit. I understand the nhl doesnt want teams to cirumvent the salary cap by signing long term contracts with players of that age group to bring down the yearly cap hit and then retire earlier then what the contract was for, but injuries that are career threatening need to be looked at.

Oh come on Hexy. Streamline the scouts??

You can never have too many scouts

Did anyone ask Berube if Akseon might get a shot on the second PP unit? It has done nothing so far this year.

Oh come on Hexy. Streamline the scouts??

You can never have too many scouts
- Giroux_Is_God

Might just be the first step in Hextall's plans to revamp the scouting department. If you have too many opinions, some of it is bound to become noise. This isn't the Sabres replacing their scouting department with a VCR

Did anyone ask Berube if Akseon might get a shot on the second PP unit? It has done nothing so far this year.
- Feanor

I'm wondering why he wasn't moved up to the first unit with VL out. I understand they want to get B Schenn going, but Akeson's forte has always been as a playmaking, offensively-inclined forward. He did win an OHL scoring title (as an overager). It seems like those skills could be utilized well on one of the PP units.

Quick, to Formenos!

Might just be the first step in Hextall's plans to revamp the scouting department. If you have too many opinions, some of it is bound to become noise. This isn't the Sabres replacing their scouting department with a VCR
- Jsaquella

I know...

I just want Prongs to stay in the organization

Did anyone ask Berube if Akseon might get a shot on the second PP unit? It has done nothing so far this year.
- Feanor

How can a guy like Akeson get on the PP when we have Umberger?

He should be in the same spot Giroux is, but on the second PP unit.

I have no issue with Berube keeping him down on the 4th line at ES - unlike Bellemare he hasn't played well enough to get promoted. But the powerplay is different, and Read, Couturier, MDZ, MacDonald and Umberger aren't exactly lighting it up.

Did anyone ask Berube if Akseon might get a shot on the second PP unit? It has done nothing so far this year.
- Feanor

Akeson doesn't dump the puck in enough for Berube's taste.

Actually, I understand Berube's thought process here, making a young guy earn more ice time. At the same time, there's such a thing as using a square peg to fill a round hole.

I'd like to see Akeson used in a role that's better suited to his abilities before complaining about his consistency when he's filling a role he's not especially suited for. But that seems to be Berube's MO. Skill guys get less rope than energy guys & small guys get less rope than bigger guys.

I know...

I just want Prongs to stay in the organization
- Giroux_Is_God

I'm just glad he made it clear he wouldn't have taken the NHL job without considering the impact on the Flyers.

I do agree that having a guy like Pronger around is rarely a bad thing for a team, though. You know he's going to give an honest opinion.

Might just be the first step in Hextall's plans to revamp the scouting department. If you have too many opinions, some of it is bound to become noise. This isn't the Sabres replacing their scouting department with a VCR
- Jsaquella

Most scouts work like dogs...can't see Pronger putting in the time, travel and dedication that most pro scouts are expected to do. he was more a special assignment guy.

Something tells me Voracek used another word here.

The Flyers just can’t figure out what to do about the shootout. They have the worst winning percentage in the tie-breaking gimmick that decides an extra point since it was established as part of the game in 2005.

Berube says he tries to go through the routine at the end of practices, but doesn’t want it to disrupt what he normally does. No one in orange and black seems to be very confident, especially after dropping back-to-back decisions via the shootout.

“I did it in Columbus,” said Jake Voracek, who was unsuccessful Tuesday night against Anaheim. “It feels like as I’m getting older, I’m losing confidence. When I was younger I had bigger (guts), I think.”

Most scouts work like dogs...can't see Pronger putting in the time, travel and dedication that most pro scouts are expected to do. he was more a special assignment guy.
- landros 2

True, but he mentioned Hextall wanted to streamline the staff. I know that they also let Brian Burke's son Patrick leave. He was a pro scout for them in the Boston area.

VandeVelde and not Rosehill

Might just be the first step in Hextall's plans to revamp the scouting department. If you have too many opinions, some of it is bound to become noise. This isn't the Sabres replacing their scouting department with a VCR
- Jsaquella

Did anyone ask Berube if Akseon might get a shot on the second PP unit? It has done nothing so far this year.
- Feanor

At the very least try the guy on the freakin shootout! The one thing Akeson does have is hands!

I know...

I just want Prongs to stay in the organization
- Giroux_Is_God

It's nice to see the Flyers not giving a guy a job just to give him a job. That also means Pronger did serve a legitimate purpose and wasn't just there as a part of Snider's Boys Club.

At the very least try the guy on the freakin shootout! The one thing Akeson does have is hands!
- BiggE

We have Vinny for the shootout.

Akeson doesn't dump the puck in enough for Berube's taste.

Actually, I understand Berube's thought process here, making a young guy earn more ice time. At the same time, there's such a thing as using a square peg to fill a round hole.

I'd like to see Akeson used in a role that's better suited to his abilities before complaining about his consistency when he's filling a role he's not especially suited for. But that seems to be Berube's MO. Skill guys get less rope than energy guys & small guys get less rope than bigger guys.
- Jsaquella

The problem is that they don't have the guys needed to fill all the spots on the top lines. If they had a legit top 6 LW, they could move Raffl to Akeson's spot and Akeson would be a spare forward that you can plug in when one of your top 6 goes down.

Oh well, just a little patience....

We have Vinny for the shootout.




- Jsaquella

Actually, when everyone is healthy, I'd be fine if our first 3 shooters were:
Giroux
VLC
Akeson

The problem is that they don't have the guys needed to fill all the spots on the top lines. If they had a legit top 6 LW, they could move Raffl to Akeson's spot and Akeson would be a spare forward that you can plug in when one of your top 6 goes down.

Oh well, just a little patience....
- BiggE

Or they could have tried Akeson with Lecavalier and Raffl, instead of Umberger to see if his smarts and playmaking ability would have better helped Vinny produce at 5 on 5.

If it worked, great. If it didn't work, at least they would have tried Akeson in a role more suitable for his skill set.

What I learned from the previous thread:

1) Jasaq is a horrible parent

2) G_I_G shouldnt have kids

Actually, when everyone is healthy, I'd be fine if our first 3 shooters were:
Giroux
VLC
Akeson
- BiggE

I'd use Giroux, Voracek and Bellemare. Vinny is 2 for his last 9 shootout attempts, and didn't even take a shot in his final season in Tampa

What I learned from the previous thread:

1) Jasaq is a horrible parent

2) G_I_G shouldnt have kids
- KINGKENZO