If Hagelin had Brayden Schenn's hands, he'd be a perrenial all-star. He skates like the wind.

Brayden Schenn, OTOH, has to be reminded to move his feet. At age 25.
- johndewar

and if I had a million dollars I'd be rich. I don't and am not. Hagelin doesn't have Schenn's hands. No idea why we are comparing the two but given the choice its not even close to me.

Not really. He's replaceable now. I'd plug Leier in there or even Colin MacDonald.

He's not the reason for success and failure on this team, though. Not by a long shot.
- johndewar

I don't think anyone is suggesting he is the reason the Flyer's win or lose hockey games, but he does little to help them win.

Until I feel the Flyer's ice the best possible lineup, I think there is reason to complain about it. I don't think they have iced their best lineup once this season.

the mud was more like that fantastic islanders ice. gotta think they had heavy legs in the third. 4 games in 6 days is rough
- nastyflyergirl

Good point!

The ice guru was in the arena last night so maybe.. just maybe they are looking at fixing it somehow.
- dragonoffrost

The only way to really fix it is to tear up the floor, put in metal pipes and redo the floor. Sadly it will have to wait until the offseason.

It just feels like we have three fourth line centers in Bellemare, Gordon and Cousins. Cousins could be left up for debate and deserves the opportunity but in terms of all around balanced game, I like Bellemare better. Nobody would be safe in the bottom six in terms of finding away to fill that spot at third line center.
- SuperSchennBros

I have no problems with Bellemare as the 4th line center, except for his faceoff ability.

I don't think anyone is suggesting he is the reason the Flyer's win or lose hockey games, but he does little to help them win.

Until I feel the Flyer's ice the best possible lineup, I think there is reason to complain about it. I don't think they have iced their best lineup once this season.
- YuenglingJagr

I gave Hak the benefit of the doubt with Schenn suspended for the first three games, and then Raffl hurt for the next eight.

But playing VdV over Weise does not help the team win when VdV is objectively poor at killing penalties. If you play Weise and give VdV's SH TOI to Lyubimov, Read and Couturier, the team will be better off.

I gave Hak the benefit of the doubt with Schenn suspended for the first three games, and then Raffl hurt for the next eight.

But playing VdV over Weise does not help the team win when VdV is objectively poor at killing penalties. If you play Weise and give VdV's SH TOI to Lyubimov, Read and Couturier, the team will be better off.
- Feanor

and if I had a million dollars I'd be rich. I don't and am not. Hagelin doesn't have Schenn's hands. No idea why we are comparing the two but given the choice its not even close to me.
- nastyflyergirl

WHY ISN'T BRAYDEN SCHENN AS GOOD AT HOCKEY AS SIDNEY CROSBY!?!?!?!?!?

I gave Hak the benefit of the doubt with Schenn suspended for the first three games, and then Raffl hurt for the next eight.

But playing VdV over Weise does not help the team win when VdV is objectively poor at killing penalties. If you play Weise and give VdV's SH TOI to Lyubimov, Read and Couturier, the team will be better off.
- Feanor

Chris "Jesus Christ" Vandevelde - 1 goal this season
Dale "Suspended 3 games" Weise - 0 goals this season

I think it's pretty obvious that Vandevelde is the far superior player.

I have no problems with Bellemare as the 4th line center, except for his faceoff ability.
- MJL

are you okay with 2 4th line centers then? if Gordon is healthy?

In this edition of the hotstove we share our thoughts on the off-season acquisition who has best served his new club thus far.

Todd Cordell

To me it's Jonathan Marchessault and I'm not sure it's close.

He has always posted solid underlying numbers and they suggested if/when given opportunity to play meaningful minutes the points would come.

That has proven to be the case as he has six goals and 12 points in 11 games while filling in for the injured Jonathan Huberdeau on the top line.

In terms of production he is probably the best off-season acquisition. When you factor in it only took $750,000K(!!) to bring him in the addition looks even better.

- YuenglingJagr

Yeah, was hoping they'd pick him up.

But hey, we got Weise instead and he's been...able to put on skates?

Yeah, was hoping they'd pick him up.

But hey, we got Weise instead and he's been...able to put on skates?
- jmatchett383

He's not even a skate/game player

are you okay with 2 4th line centers then? if Gordon is healthy?
- YuenglingJagr

In the short term, yes. Long term no. Gordon was signed for one season. For now, they need a player, probably either Bellemare or Cousins, to lay claim to the 3rd line center spot.

Trouba resolution countdown at 27 days.

My guess is he signs a 2-year bridge deal at $5M per on November 30th.

Trouba resolution countdown at 27 days.

My guess is he signs a 2-year bridge deal at $5M per on November 30th.
- jmatchett383

My guess is that he is traded to the Islanders or Maple Leafs

In the short term, yes. Long term no. Gordon was signed for one season. For now, they need a player, probably either Bellemare or Cousins, to lay claim to the spot.
- MJL

Not sure how Bellemare is going to suddenly become better

Not sure how Bellemare is going to suddenly become better
- YuenglingJagr

I think he showed in the World Cup, what he's capable of. Ideally though, he's a 4th line player. There is just a lack of patience. We all know what areas the Flyers need to improve. It's a process. The endless complaining about Vandevelde, is ridiculous.

Not sure how Bellemare is going to suddenly become better
- YuenglingJagr

He's not and, IMO, Cousins doesn't skate well enough, nor is he good enough defensively to be a 3C on a top team. Face it, they just don't have a good 3C right now.

I think he showed in the World Cup, what he's capable of. Ideally though, he's a 4th line player. There is just a lack of patience. We all know what areas the Flyers need to improve. It's a process. The endless complaining about Vandevelde, is ridiculous.
- MJL

What is okay to complain about?

We should complain they don't play a "full 60 minutes" but not complain that they don't ice a full NHL lineup?

People are going to complain on here....it is part of the fun. I doubt it would come up as much if people stopped acting like it wasn't a problem. It is like saying a bridge is safe because it is still standing.

He's not and, IMO, Cousins doesn't skate well enough, nor is he good enough defensively to be a 3C on a top team. Face it, they just don't have a good 3C right now.
- BiggE

I think the Flyers have enough talent to play Cousins at center. I hope it works out that they find a balanced line up with him at center sooner rather than later.

I think playing Bellemare less (or at wing) and Vandevelde not at all should be the first two steps taken to making the Flyers lineup better

What is okay to complain about?

We should complain they don't play a "full 60 minutes" but not complain that they don't ice a full NHL lineup?

People are going to complain on here....it is part of the fun. I doubt it would come up as much if people stopped acting like it wasn't a problem. It is like saying a bridge is safe because it is still standing.
- YuenglingJagr

Not all of the early season problems are roster related. Nobody has acted like it's not a problem, and that the Flyers don't have to continue to upgrade the roster. You analogy is a foolish one, if you think that the frequency of people's complaints about the team is based on what other fans think.

I think he showed in the World Cup, what he's capable of. Ideally though, he's a 4th line player. There is just a lack of patience. We all know what areas the Flyers need to improve. It's a process. The endless complaining about Vandevelde, is ridiculous.
- MJL

That's one high horse right there

Not all of the early season problems are roster related. Nobody has acted like it's not a problem, and that the Flyers don't have to continue to upgrade the roster. You analogy is a foolish one, if you think that the frequency of people's complaints about the team is based on what other fans think.
- MJL

Please provide a reason why a team should ice a lineup that is worse than it should be or needs to be.

WHY ISN'T BRAYDEN SCHENN AS GOOD AT HOCKEY AS SIDNEY CROSBY!?!?!?!?!?
- jmatchett383

why isn't VDV as good at hockey as Crosby?