Just an FYI - over the last 9 games, Hartnell has 0 points and is a -5.

No real point to it, just that he's in one of his 'stalled' periods.

They need something to snap them out of this funk - perhaps a classic line brawl like the one against Ottawa, or the one many moons back in Vancouver which gave birth to the Broad Street Bullies. Not to re-create that style of play, but to rally the team around each other and for them to begin to play with a chip on their shoulders again.

They're like watching The Walking Dead.
- 77rams

There is no emotion in their game. They are a team that other then the top line, is paralyzed in a mental funk. They have no confidence, and they are thinking the game instead of reacting instinctively. They are a perfect example of individual players who right now, aren't a team. There is no cohesiveness whatsoever. They really just have to simplify, and just concentrate on the fundamentals. This is a tough thing for a team to get out of. And this could snowball to the point of lasting all season, if they don't make some progress soon.

I'd consider keeping them together if Bellemare got moved up to the line, bury one stiff on the 4th line, waive the other and send him to Lehigh Valley to ride the buses. Of course, they could move Simmonds with Couturier and Bellemare and slide Read with Laughton and Raffl.

They have options up front, and this is where my criticism of Berube comes from, I think the options he chooses are poor ones. We continuously see one or both of Umberger or Lecavalier end up getting top 9 minutes.
- Jsaquella

agreed. obvi that read and couts are a little stale right now, so a change could be tried as you suggested. totally agree w/ burying rj in ahl for end of yr buyout- he's done.

i'd go 12-14-78 & 14-49-17 and also open to splitting G and Jake like brad mentioned. 220-221, whatever it takes

Just an FYI - over the last 9 games, Hartnell has 0 points and is a -5.

No real point to it, just that he's in one of his 'stalled' periods.
- tangent_man

Flyers win that deal.

agreed. obvi that read and couts are a little stale right now, so a change could be tried as you suggested. totally agree w/ burying rj in ahl for end of yr buyout- he's done.

i'd go 12-14-78 & 14-49-17 and also open to splitting G and Jake like brad mentioned. 220-221, whatever it takes
- isaiah520

Burying Umberger in the AHL doesn't do much for the team. Who is going to replace him as a regular? Vandevelde or Jones? I'd rather keep Umberger and play him on the 4th line and on the PK for this year. He is still capable of doing that right now.

Flyers win that deal.
- Jsaquella

Umberger, over the same span, is pointless and a -4, with less ice time.

So, over the last two weeks or so, yes they do.

Umberger, over the same span, is pointless and a -4, with less ice time.

So, over the last two weeks or so, yes they do.
- tangent_man

Are you in sales? If you are, you must be real good if you can sell that!

Are you in sales? If you are, you must be real good if you can sell that!

- MJL

I used to be, but my disdain toward the general public and being a Don Rickles disciple hindered my success.

Jackie Chiles might be the best recurring bit character in TV history
- Jsaquella

And he probably skates better than Umberger.

agreed. obvi that read and couts are a little stale right now, so a change could be tried as you suggested. totally agree w/ burying rj in ahl for end of yr buyout- he's done.

i'd go 12-14-78 & 14-49-17 and also open to splitting G and Jake like brad mentioned. 220-221, whatever it takes
- isaiah520

I'd love an effective fourth line, without anchors and is capable of giving a team 10 effective minutes a night. The problem is, if you have a third line that can barely do that, having a 4th line that can is a luxury that you can't really afford.

Right now, when Umberger is playing 12 or 15 minutes, it's hamstringing the team's ability to roll even three lines effectively. Bellemare, with better line mates in a bigger role would almost certainly be an improvement on Umberger or Lecavalier.

I'm open to splitting Jake and Giroux up as well. But they need to force the Umbergers and Lecavaliers earn it if they're going to play significant minutes. It's finally starting to happen, but again, after a one game "demotion" Umberger was back in the top 9 today.

Umberger, over the same span, is pointless and a -4, with less ice time.

So, over the last two weeks or so, yes they do.
- tangent_man

If they could just get what Akeson brought Friday night to the ice at Boardwalk Hall...the miracle that was Art Ross Akeson. He even found the right exit from Caesar's

And he probably skates better than Umberger.
- Lexington Flyer

Nerlens Noel might skate better than RJ now

If they could just get what Akeson brought Friday night to the ice at Boardwalk Hall...the miracle that was Art Ross Akeson. He even found the right exit from Caesar's
- Jsaquella

I heard he was serving beer between periods on the other side of the Hall from us. The kid does it all!

I heard he was serving beer between periods on the other side of the Hall from us. The kid does it all!
- tangent_man

He even took your Mountain Dew

Just an FYI - over the last 9 games, Hartnell has 0 points and is a -5.

No real point to it, just that he's in one of his 'stalled' periods.
- tangent_man

When Hartnell goes, it's gonna be ugly

That doesn't ease the pain now, but the BJs will pay for that, at some point

He even took your Mountain Dew
- Jsaquella

I hope he enjoyed it, backwash and all.

I'd love an effective fourth line, without anchors and is capable of giving a team 10 effective minutes a night. The problem is, if you have a third line that can barely do that, having a 4th line that can is a luxury that you can't really afford.

Right now, when Umberger is playing 12 or 15 minutes, it's hamstringing the team's ability to roll even three lines effectively. Bellemare, with better line mates in a bigger role would almost certainly be an improvement on Umberger or Lecavalier.

I'm open to splitting Jake and Giroux up as well. But they need to force the Umbergers and Lecavaliers earn it if they're going to play significant minutes. It's finally starting to happen, but again, after a one game "demotion" Umberger was back in the top 9 today.
- Jsaquella

RJ's done. can't have both him and VL in an NHL lineup. sucking the life out of this team.

hopefully, they can obtain a speedy, 2 way NHL depth forward to replace.

I hope he enjoyed it, backwash and all.
- tangent_man

I tried to google Akeson mountain dew and I got 400 pictures of his ass

When Hartnell goes, it's gonna be ugly

That doesn't ease the pain now, but the BJs will pay for that, at some point
- AllInForFlyers

If it happens, it'll be in the final two years that Hexy was looking to get rid of. Can't even say that he'll still be in Columbus at that point.

RJ's done. can't have both him and VL in an NHL lineup. sucking the life out of this team.

hopefully, they can obtain a speedy, 2 way NHL depth forward to replace.
- isaiah520

They have one in Bellemare. Should be able to acquire one more fairly easily.

I tried to google Akeson mountain dew and I got 400 pictures of his ass
- Jsaquella

I'll take your word on that.

I'll take your word on that.
- tangent_man

At least the Phantoms won tonight.

At least the Phantoms won tonight.
- Jsaquella

Oh, sure...now they do it.

They have one in Bellemare. Should be able to acquire one more fairly easily.
- Jsaquella

agreed. if they had ~ another $925k in cap space ( ), they should be able to make it work.

agreed. if they had ~ another $925k in cap space ( ), they should be able to make it work.
- isaiah520