I'm hoping for a speedy recovery. He's our top line center and an important part of our success.

BUT...

I know I am in the minority with this belief but Coots is not the ideal 1st line center (IMO). He flourished with G, Jake, and TK, but also seems to play very well when moved down the line-up. In the Game 6 loss, 4 of his 5 points were scored with Laughton and Simmer or Read. The last goal he was on the ice with G and Jake. If I remember correctly, due to his knee injury, Fip and G had to take his defensive responsibilities. At least 1 goal was a blown coverage by Fip. Demonstrates the importance of Coots' health.

I was in the camp of the Flyers going out and getting a solid #1 center but the cost was too high. Coots does fill that role well (Obviously after last year's performance). I just feel we would be a stronger team with him as 2C or 3C.

Just my two cents.
- cdearth23

A better way of summing this is that whoever played with G and Coots flourished, and it didn't seem to matter who they plugged in there. In fact, Raffl appears to have been better at 1R.

Hopefully the Flyers will let him have an extended rehab, because the last thing they need is for Coots' career to end like become Bill Barber's. It will be hard because they are now down to only Nolan Patrick with the proven talent to be an NHL center. I don't get the sense that Lehtera is training with any urgency, as if he is planning to move back to his lake house in Finland after the season. And Frost needs to go back to juniors. So unless Vecchione can step up, and play 2C (ulp) it won't be pretty.

Great insight, Bill. And I agree the top line clicked. The numbers don't lie. Coots flourished and allowed G to focus more on generating offense. They did feed off of each other. They will continue to do so this year. It works for us.

While you can't argue with 30+ goals for Coots and 102 pts for G, I think we have an opportunity to develop a top line center (Patrick in 19-20?) and allow Coots to play to his strengths as 2C or 3C. Not a major priority for this season as Coots and G will continue their strong play.
- cdearth23

You missed a very important nuance in Bill's comment that has a lot to do with why they were so effective. Coots shoots left and G shoots right and so they could trade faceoffs and also lends itself to complementary playmaking. Patrick shoots right like G, so all of those advantages go away. If you move Coots from 1C, you might as well put Giroux back at center.

If Patrick's line starts consistently out performing Coots line and the coach switches the ice time to give Patrick's line the top minutes every game consistently, isn't Patrick's line line 1 then?

By the way I hate line 1, line 2, line 3, line 4 designation.
- dragonoffrost

I'm thinking of it in more of a matchup sense. I just feel that Coots is effective going against the opposing top line. Doesn't always work out that way. I realize that line may get most ice time but won't always be against opposing top line. That's when players like Fip get exposed and end up on the Island.

Just August speculation...

You missed a very important nuance in Bill's comment that has a lot to do with why they were so effective. Coots shoots left and G shoots right and so they could trade faceoffs and also lends itself to complementary playmaking. Patrick shoots right like G, so all of those advantages go away. If you move Coots from 1C, you might as well put Giroux back at center.
- hockeyal

That's assuming G is still the top line winger in a season or two.

I'll stop. This is all speculation. Coots is our top line center. They played great last year. We have depth. We need goaltending. Good luck in (insert year)...

Top lines get put together. They break up. Players get hurt. Team adjust.

I’m not gonna put all my hopes on two or three players playing together because that to me is ridiculous. If Giroux and Couturier can continue their magic, that’s amazing. If they have to be split because one gets hurt, that leaves the team to explore other options. Maybe strengthen the team should Giroux find success at center with new line mates. Either way, we’ll see.

Top lines get put together. They break up. Players get hurt. Team adjust.

I’m not gonna put all my hopes on two or three players playing together because that to me is ridiculous. If Giroux and Couturier can continue their magic, that’s amazing. If they have to be split because one gets hurt, that leaves the team to explore other options. Maybe strengthen the team should Giroux find success at center with new line mates. Either way, we’ll see.
- SuperSchennBros

I understand what you are saying, but if they are without Couturier for any length of time I can’t see any way that’s a good thing.

I understand what you are saying, but if they are without Couturier for any length of time I can’t see any way that’s a good thing.
- BiggE

It isn’t but the same if you lose G. We still have to play the games.

Top lines get put together. They break up. Players get hurt. Team adjust.

I’m not gonna put all my hopes on two or three players playing together because that to me is ridiculous. If Giroux and Couturier can continue their magic, that’s amazing. If they have to be split because one gets hurt, that leaves the team to explore other options. Maybe strengthen the team should Giroux find success at center with new line mates. Either way, we’ll see.
- SuperSchennBros

This is very true when teams have a lot of interchangeable parts. In fact, shuffling the deck can be a good thing, even if its only for a game or two. Players like the newness of playing with other guys.

BUT, the Flyers have lots of centers, just not interchangeable ones. It remains to be seen if Vecchione, Vorobyov, Lehtera, Weal(?) can step up. I like Vecchione, but even I don't think there is any way he can handle being an even part time 1C. 3C? Maybe.

And Giroux at 1C is problematic as well. He has never shown great stats/ability except when he was paired with another elite playmaker (Coots, Jags, Jake). Is anyone going to be okay with 2014-15 Giroux? Does anyone think there is another top 9 LW on the roster just waiting to be swapped in?

It isn’t but the same if you lose G. We still have to play the games.
- SuperSchennBros

I think its fair to say that Coots is more valuable to the team than G is. He will be missed but there are more guys on the roster who can approximate what he does in different roles.

If Patrick's line starts consistently out performing Coots line and the coach switches the ice time to give Patrick's line the top minutes every game consistently, isn't Patrick's line line 1 then?

By the way I hate line 1, line 2, line 3, line 4 designation.
- dragonoffrost

I get what you're saying now but I don't see that happening. Never know though.

I realize what I am proposing sounds ridiculous especially looking at the stats from last year. But I truly believe that Coots' role is more suited for a 2C or 3C where he draws the other team's top line. Until we have someone that can fill that top line center role, he stays. Bill made a convincing point regarding how that line compliments each other. It works for us.

There have been more than a few NHL players that had career years playing with a great line. Of course, I cannot name one right now:-) but you all know examples. Not to say that Coots is a flash in the pan by any means.
- cdearth23

I think the fly in the ointment here is what you think Couturier's role is. He's no longer the checking line center that he was cast as earlier in his career. He was given the opportunity to blossom and is now developed into a #1 NHL center. Going backwards and putting him in a checking line role again wouldn't be very smart.

A better way of summing this is that whoever played with G and Coots flourished, and it didn't seem to matter who they plugged in there. In fact, Raffl appears to have been better at 1R.

Hopefully the Flyers will let him have an extended rehab, because the last thing they need is for Coots' career to end like become Bill Barber's. It will be hard because they are now down to only Nolan Patrick with the proven talent to be an NHL center. I don't get the sense that Lehtera is training with any urgency, as if he is planning to move back to his lake house in Finland after the season. And Frost needs to go back to juniors. So unless Vecchione can step up, and play 2C (ulp) it won't be pretty.
- hockeyal

Doom and gloom. No reason why Couturier shouldn't be ready to go opening game.

And Giroux at 1C is problematic as well. He has never shown great stats/ability except when he was paired with another elite playmaker (Coots, Jags, Jake). Is anyone going to be okay with 2014-15 Giroux? Does anyone think there is another top 9 LW on the roster just waiting to be swapped in?
- hockeyal

As a Flyer, which season other than 16/17 season in which he was injured did Giroux not show great ability and put up solid numbers. Giroux scored 73 points in 14/15.

As a Flyer, which season other than 16/17 season in which he was injured did Giroux not show great ability and put up solid numbers. Giroux scored 73 points in 14/15.
- MJL

For Giroux, that was always deemed as "underachieving". Based on this past season, I agree.

For Giroux, that was always deemed as "underachieving". Based on this past season, I agree.
- hockeyal

You dodged the question and failed to answer. 73 points is a solid season. That point total put Giroux in the top 10 in the league in scoring that season. You don't know what you're talking about.