So true. Compared to lack of top level talent on D, poor even strength play and little if any scoring other than the top line, Rinaldo is basically a pimple on a tumor.
- BiggE

The other lines used in Vinny's absence at least made the 5 on 5 play a bit more even.

Looking again at last night's game, prior to the final 3:30 which was entirely based on score effects(i.e. the Flyers being down 2-0 and pulling the goalie), Lecavalier was getting heavy zone starts. That is smart, because he's a poor defensive player. The trouble is, despite the high percentage of O-Zone starts, Lecavalier's line was out shot.

So even though he was shielded, he was ineffective at generating offense. The big turnaround for Vinny came late, and was due to score effects and being on ice with the two guys (Giroux and Voracek) who have consistently driven play for the team at ES for the past couple seasons.

Agreed.
A 4th line of Bellemare-Laughton-Akeson would be a major upgrade
- BiggE

No doubt, but I have no problem with Hexy keeping Laughton down if he feels it's what's best for him. His plan is to make the decisions with the top priority being what's best for our prospects. Even if it's not what's best for the flyers, I'm ok with this

He's been fine, considering the circumstances. Banished to the 4th-line, no PP time, asked to play like a plug. Imagine Brian Gibbons called up and being asked to play the role of Dan Carcillo. It's that stupid.
- Tomahawk

yep. gibbons comes to mind very much when i think of akeson. theyre not the same player, but similar situations.

I'd like to see what criteria is being used to say that Rinaldo has played well. Berube's expanded his role, and he still doesn't do much. They use him and VandeVelde on the PK, which right now is the 6th worst PK in the NHL. His line gets buried in shots against at ES and Rinaldo himself hasn't been on the ice for a single shot attempt by the Flyers since they played Los Angeles.

People can say he's played well, but there's nothing outside of opinion to back it up, while there's a lot of indicators that say he's not an effective player.
- Jsaquella

None of that points to Rinaldo not playing well. Rinaldo is not solely responsible for his line generating shots, or defending against shots. It's a team game. The criteria used is simply watching him play. And when it's stated that he's played well, that's overall. Which is quite different then saying that he hasn't had a subpar game or two. The 4th line as a whole was not good against Florida. As far as the PK is concerned, there are 5 other forwards who average more icetime on the PK, the Rinaldo and Vandevelde do. But let's blame them for the PK issues.

But what I find most interesting, is the bias, or favoritism when it comes to judging players. Rinaldo, who has been a better player then Akeson has been this season, gets criticized. And Akeson, who Rinaldo has better numbers then, well he's being misused. And not being given a chance. And I'd like to see what criteria is being used, that Akeson should be in the lineup over Rinaldo. I'll wait for that.

Exactly -- all he's giving is "empty minutes" at best, taking penalties and getting scored on at worst.

It's not just him. And he's not the only problem on the team.

But here's the thing: Zac Rinaldo is a fixable problem. Chris Vandevelde is a fixable problem.

We all get it: Can't fix the defense right now. OK. That means that the ceiling for this team has a limit.

But nothing drives me more insane as when people ignore the fixable problems because there are some problems that are bigger.

There's no law saying that the Flyers can't ice a fourth line that is high in hockey sense and skating ability and defensive acumen. You can do that. You can find players to do that.
- AllInForFlyers

Thankfully, Berube's a fixable problem, too.

A player absolutely can. Especially in hockey. That doesn't make much sense
- Just5

It makes perfect sense. Of course a player can, but he shouldn't. A player should lose his spot in the lineup due to poor play, not due to injury. That's a pretty common scenario in any sport. Not just hockey.

Agreed.
A 4th line of Bellemare-Laughton-Akeson would be a major upgrade
- BiggE

A lot of people are forgetting White. When he comes back, he'll probably be an upgrade to that line.

Agreed.
A 4th line of Bellemare-Laughton-Akeson would be a major upgrade
- BiggE

Not due to Akeson and the way he's been playing. If he was waiver exempt, he'd probably already be back with the Phantoms.

A lot of people are forgetting White. When he comes back, he'll probably be an upgrade to that line.
- JAKEw1234

Let's wait-and-see on that one -- the main reason he's not in MTL anymore is that Michel Therrien questions his hockey sense and didn't want to play him

A lot of people are forgetting White. When he comes back, he'll probably be an upgrade to that line.
- JAKEw1234

I completely forgot. But isn't he our like 6 or 8 months or something?

Thankfully, Berube's a fixable problem, too.
- Tomahawk

Ha! Yeah -- he's gotten a short deck with some of this stuff, but last night was a case of him making his job harder than it had to be

Exactly -- all he's giving is "empty minutes" at best, taking penalties and getting scored on at worst.

It's not just him. And he's not the only problem on the team.

But here's the thing: Zac Rinaldo is a fixable problem. Chris Vandevelde is a fixable problem.

We all get it: Can't fix the defense right now. OK. That means that the ceiling for this team has a limit.

But nothing drives me more insane as when people ignore the fixable problems because there are some problems that are bigger.

There's no law saying that the Flyers can't ice a fourth line that is high in hockey sense and skating ability and defensive acumen. You can do that. You can find players to do that.
- AllInForFlyers

The other stuff is fixable, or at least can be made less damaging, with smarter usage and better line combos. Wayne Simmonds has had his best success when his line has had at least one speedy guy who can make plays. Him, Brayden Schenn and Bellemare were effective as a line. Couturier and Read were playing solidly with Umberger.

There was no need to play line Yahtzee.

And I'd like to see what criteria is being used, that Akeson should be in the lineup over Rinaldo. I'll wait for that.
- MJL

Akeson doesn't get calls based on reputation, that lead to at least 3 PP-goals against in 11-games. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Let's wait-and-see on that one -- the main reason he's not in MTL anymore is that Michel Therrien questions his hockey sense and didn't want to play him
- AllInForFlyers

He's not a particularly good skater either, and we know MTL likes to play faassssttt

He's been fine, considering the circumstances. Banished to the 4th-line, no PP time, asked to play like a plug. Imagine Brian Gibbons called up and being asked to play the role of Dan Carcillo. It's that stupid.
- Tomahawk

He hasn't been asked to play like a plug. He's been asked to play like a hockey player. And he hasn't been asked to do anything differently then any other player has. He's been pretty poor, and non competitive. That has zero to do with playing on the 4th line. Players such as Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, and Patrick Sharp started out on the 4th line. But the ultra talented Jason Akeson can't. He's too good for that.

Akeson doesn't get calls based on reputation, that lead to at least 3 PP-goals against in 11-games. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
- Tomahawk

If he is playing with discipline, and playing physical, I'll live with the bad calls. At least he is involved in the game, and competing. Unlike Akeson, who doesn't deserve to be on the ice with the way he's been playing. Hopefully he's busting it in practice, to get back in there.

I completely forgot. But isn't he our like 6 or 8 months or something?
- Just5

I don't think there's a timetable.

Akeson doesn't get calls based on reputation, that lead to at least 3 PP-goals against in 11-games. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
- Tomahawk

Akeson has also shown that he can provide quality minutes when used in the proper role for his skill set. Every time Rinaldo has had a chance to expand his role, to this point, he's ended up regressing and seeing less ice time...but he's rarely a healthy scratch.

So while Akeson has struggled in a role not especially suited to his skills, Rinaldo has been ineffective in a role tailor made for his.

Akeson has also shown that he can provide quality minutes when used in the proper role for his skill set. Every time Rinaldo has had a chance to expand his role, to this point, he's ended up regressing and seeing less ice time...but he's rarely a healthy scratch.

So while Akeson has struggled in a role not especially suited to his skills, Rinaldo has been ineffective in a role tailor made for his.
- Jsaquella

I just don't understand why Akeson can't get on the second PP unit. He could help them. They need a puck handler

He hasn't been asked to play like a plug. He's been asked to play like a hockey player. And he hasn't been asked to do anything differently then any other player has. He's been pretty poor, and non competitive. That has zero to do with playing on the 4th line. Players such as Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, and Patrick Sharp started out on the 4th line. But the ultra talented Jason Akeson can't. He's too good for that.
- MJL

i will readily agree that so far this season, akeson has not performed all that well.

I just don't understand why Akeson can't get on the second PP unit. He could help them. They need a puck handler
- PhillySportsGuy

yes. this.

Akeson has also shown that he can provide quality minutes when used in the proper role for his skill set. Every time Rinaldo has had a chance to expand his role, to this point, he's ended up regressing and seeing less ice time...but he's rarely a healthy scratch.

So while Akeson has struggled in a role not especially suited to his skills, Rinaldo has been ineffective in a role tailor made for his.
- Jsaquella

Rinaldo is a 4th line player, and will likely always be. The only way his role has been expanded, is to play on the PK. And he's playing on the PK this year. Rinaldo is averaging more icetime this season, to this point, then he did all of last season. So obviously a small sample size, but it's false to say that he is seeing less icetime.

Rinaldo has had some up and down games. But he hasn't been ineffective overall. If he was, he'd be scratched, and Akeson would be playing. The proof is in the pudding.

I just don't understand why Akeson can't get on the second PP unit. He could help them. They need a puck handler
- PhillySportsGuy

A player who is non competitive in his play away from the puck, is not going to see PP time. He's scratched for a reason.

I just don't understand why Akeson can't get on the second PP unit. He could help them. They need a puck handler
- PhillySportsGuy

Because Rinaldo brings energy or something from the OHL to now.

Is this discussion an indictment of Rinaldo or Berube?