Bill Meltzer: Couturier Signs 6-Year Extension, Alumni and More

I love the deal. I don't think Couturier scoring 5 more goals, and adding 8 more assists to his point totals, is an unreasonable goal. If Couturier becomes a 20 goal, 30 assist player, with his all around game, that's a hell of a player.

Coooooouuuuuuts

- Crimsoninja

Bill Meltzer: Couturier Signs 6-Year Extension, Alumni and More
- bmeltzer

Hopefully Hakstol will balance Couturier's workload a bit better than Laviolette and Berube did. Hard to develop a kid's two way game if he's buried in one of, if not the, heaviest defensive roles in the league.

Couturier has areas where he has to improve, definitely. He's got to do a better job of converting the opportunities he does get. His skating needs to continue to improve. But, in a less defense first role, his confidence should grow and with better linemates, he could flourish.

Worst case, they get an elite shut down center who can score around 40 points and 15 goals

Yeah but how does everyone feel about the AMAC deal?

Earlier, I was looking at the career arcs of various players who had at least some degree of scoring success over a lengthy NHL career... and you know what? A lot of them didnt start putting up numbers until they were 23 or 24.

Of the guys who I looked at, the two who stick out in my memory are Hartnell, who had his first decent offensive year at age 23, and Briere who didnt put up numbers until he was 24.

To me, burying Couturier's career at this juncture is beyond silly.

I can see PEB sharing some of the defensive zone starts that Couts received last season.

- ob18

Hopefully Hakstol will balance Couturier's workload a bit better than Laviolette and Berube did. Hard to develop a kid's two way game if he's buried in one of, if not the, heaviest defensive roles in the league.

Couturier has areas where he has to improve, definitely. He's got to do a better job of converting the opportunities he does get. His skating needs to continue to improve. But, in a less defense first role, his confidence should grow and with better linemates, he could flourish.

Worst case, they get an elite shut down center who can score around 40 points and 15 goals
- Jsaquella

He'd nail 20 goals if he only finished half of his breakaways.

- 77rams

The emergence of the 2nd pp unit would alone raise coots totals astronomically. Got to jumble til you have 2 potent units.

I can see PEB sharing some of the defensive zone starts that Couts received last season.
- ravishingone

Vv peb and white is an extremely defensively responsible 4th line. If gagner takes a top 6 position from let's say raffl. Umberger raffl read would also be a defensively responsible line. Giving a top 6 of gagner g jake, schenn coots simmonds the opportunity to take more offensive zone starts.

I can see PEB sharing some of the defensive zone starts that Couts received last season.
- ravishingone

He could, certainly. They have guys who can pick up some of the slack, and free Couturier to further develop as a two way guy.

I just look at it this way-if you want him to be just a defensive guy, then he's been handled great. If you think he can do more and be more, then he's been handled incorrectly. I think he can do more. He got his flaws, but given more opportunity gives him a chance to fix those flaws, build confidence and become a better player.

He'd nail 20 goals if he only finished half of his breakaways.
- 77rams

That's very valid. Couturier has to take better advantage of the chances he does get. He also needs to work on his skating. I think confidence is a huge thing for him. The more success he has, the better he will play.

Very happy with the Couturier deal.

Worst case, he's a slightly over paid 3rd line C who is the clubs #1 penalty killer. Best case, he develops into a quality #2 C who puts up 20-25 goals and 50-60 points and the deal is a steal.

Just don't know when the offensive opportunities are going to come for the kid. There is really no one knocking on the door in the forward ranks to help him out. I also don't blame berube at all for locking him in the d zone. He was doing what was best for the team at the time to win games. If he didn't use him as he had last year they would have been worse.

...and the Phillies are insisting on being interesting again tonight.


It looked like Doubront was cruising through the early part of the game, and now its 3-2 Phils.

He could, certainly. They have guys who can pick up some of the slack, and free Couturier to further develop as a two way guy.

I just look at it this way-if you want him to be just a defensive guy, then he's been handled great. If you think he can do more and be more, then he's been handled incorrectly. I think he can do more. He got his flaws, but given more opportunity gives him a chance to fix those flaws, build confidence and become a better player.
- Jsaquella

I certainly believe Hexy views Couts as more then a checking center. I think the organization is putting a lot of faith in Hakstol's ability to be a coach who can mold and develop talent.

I still believe upgrade the puck handling ability of the blue line and the forward production in the top 6 will be better.

Vv peb and white is an extremely defensively responsible 4th line. If gagner takes a top 6 position from let's say raffl. Umberger raffl read would also be a defensively responsible line. Giving a top 6 of gagner g jake, schenn coots simmonds the opportunity to take more offensive zone starts.
- Tfaehner

I like how raffl fits on the top line. He's faster getting to pucks in the corner. Hes a guy I don't want to see handle the puck much so I don't like him at center

I certainly believe Hexy views Couts as more then a checking center. I think the organization is putting a lot of faith in Hakstol's ability to be a coach who can mold and develop talent.

I still believe upgrade the puck handling ability of the blue line and the forward production in the top 6 will be better.
- ravishingone

You nailed it on your last point. Basically next year should be another rough one. 16-17 look out

I certainly believe Hexy views Couts as more then a checking center. I think the organization is putting a lot of faith in Hakstol's ability to be a coach who can mold and develop talent.

I still believe upgrade the puck handling ability of the blue line and the forward production in the top 6 will be better.
- ravishingone

Yes, the ability to control the puck and move it up ice with speed will lead to more points. I do think the Flyers are a better team than they were last year. Not sure they're a playoff team, but they should be better than they were last season.

Very happy with the Couturier deal.

Worst case, he's a slightly over paid 3rd line C who is the clubs #1 penalty killer. Best case, he develops into a quality #2 C who puts up 20-25 goals and 50-60 points and the deal is a steal.
- BiggE

He was every bit as bad as read and Umberger were in the offensive zone last year. I can remember many situations where possession died on his stick. Confidence plays into it and He needs to improve his skating. His hands aren't the best and he won't ever pot much more than 50 pts. But a player like him has value to many teams around the league