MJL's right: You have to have Couturier be the No. 1 center that he is, and that means you have to give the guy the weapons he needs -- I am honestly not trying to sound arrogant or anything, but sometimes on this board, we don't give some players the credit they deserve. Couturier could've won the Selke last year -- probably should've -- and is 6-4, 215 pounds, scoring 70 points. That stuff doesn't grow on trees, man

What the Flyers need to do is ante up and get another center in here to play with JVR and/or Simmonds and Voracek. Because, again, Patrick isn't ready to do it at the level it needs to be done

It's gonna cost an asset or assets, something, we won't like. But as long as it isn't this year's first in the package, they need to pay it and move on

I just turned on the phantoms game. Can somebody tell me what the (frank) is going on?

I just turned on the phantoms game. Can somebody tell me what the (frank) is going on?
- Dkos

Teddy bear game. First goal and the fans throw bears in the ice for charity

Lyon must have watched Stolie

MJL's right: You have to have Couturier be the No. 1 center that he is, and that means you have to give the guy the weapons he needs -- I am honestly not trying to sound arrogant or anything, but sometimes on this board, we don't give some players the credit they deserve. Couturier could've won the Selke last year -- probably should've -- and is 6-4, 215 pounds, scoring 70 points. That stuff doesn't grow on trees, man

What the Flyers need to do is ante up and get another center in here to play with JVR and/or Simmonds and Voracek. Because, again, Patrick isn't ready to do it at the level it needs to be done

It's gonna cost an asset or assets, something, we won't like. But as long as it isn't this year's first in the package, they need to pay it and move on
- AllInForFlyers

I completely respect the player Couturier is. So much so that I dont think he needs Giroux on his line to be effective at both ends of the ice.

Teddy bear game. First goal and the fans throw bears in the ice for charity
- dragonoffrost

Thanks.

I completely respect the player Couturier is. So much so that I dont think he needs Giroux on his line to be effective at both ends of the ice.
- Baxter27

But we're the only board/fanbase that does it like this -- we are literally saying "take the 100-point winger from the Selke finalist No. 1 center"

Look at the Leafs. They didn't say, "We're not gonna sign William Nylander for Auston Matthews. Kasperi Kapanen's good enough."

They gave their No. 1 guy a legit, top-line winger. We shouldn't be so eager to break our guys up -- it's not the way other good teams do it

The Flyers need to pay the freight for another center, knowing that it's gonna cost. But you can't wait for Patrick or Frost or Rubstov -- you can't just always wait for tomorrow

I know a lot of you will disagree, but I don’t mind Weal in the line up for this current team. He’s a guy with a little more puck carrying skill on a team that has maybe too many dump and chase type forwards. I know his controlling the puck doesn’t often lead to goals, and he’s not really a solution for 3C, but as a bottom six winger I think he’s a decent option until he gets pushed out by a prospect.
- Marc D

Weal does not carry the puck into the zone and into the scoring areas of the ice nor does he draw defenders to open space for his linemates. In essence, whatever puck carrying skills he possesses, it is ineffective at the NHL level.

Separating Couturier from Giroux doesnt limit him to a checking role. Giving this team 3 lines will improve thier chances no matter when you feel they can contend.
- Baxter27

No it doesn't limit him. It's just most likely how he will be used if separated.

NAK throwing them

Might get in trouble. He kept gloves on.

The boys had pizza and wings!

Stoalie with the Tommy Boy line lol!

https://twitter.com/nhlfl.../1071513384208793601?s=21
- arichardson22

🤗Hex rolling in HIS GM grave now 😝

If we are so set on JvR on the top two lines. Maybe
JvR-Coots-TK
G-Patrick-Jake
Lindblom-Laughts-Simmonds
- dragonoffrost

Wow...

Nathan Gerbe scores 1-1

Holy poop Gerbe and Letestu both on Monsters

Wow...
- SuperSchennBros

Hey if G is god maybe he makes Patrick a legit 2c. It's about balance in top two lines

But we're the only board/fanbase that does it like this -- we are literally saying "take the 100-point winger from the Selke finalist No. 1 center"

Look at the Leafs. They didn't say, "We're not gonna sign William Nylander for Auston Matthews. Kasperi Kapanen's good enough."

They gave their No. 1 guy a legit, top-line winger. We shouldn't be so eager to break our guys up -- it's not the way other good teams do it
- AllInForFlyers

Every team does things differently but winners do not focus on individual stats and awards. They need to create 3 effective lines.

Fletcher said he was going to look at internal options to get things in the right direction. Today was an encouraging step towards a solution for that.

Say Giroux's current line continues to tear it up while Couturier is out. Should Hakstol break them up because he feels like 14 belongs there based on past success? There is other weapons Hakstol can give Couturier to help him produce.

Hey if G is god maybe he makes Patrick a legit 2c. It's about balance in top two lines
- dragonoffrost

Apart of the argument is to put Giroux at center...

Apart of the argument is to put Giroux at center...
- SuperSchennBros

Those combos haven't been tried and it gets the 6 offensive guys in top two lines.

The real goal isn't moving G back to center. It's to get scoring from more than one line

No it doesn't limit him. It's just most likely how he will be used if separated.
- MJL

Based on what? If that's the case Hakstol isnt getting the most out of his "70 point Center". Giroux and Couturier are both great players. They can make others better, not just eachother.

Every team does things differently but winners do not focus on individual stats and awards. They need to create 3 effective lines.

Fletcher said he was going to look at internal options to get things in the right direction. Today was an encouraging step towards a solution for that.

Say Giroux's current line continues to tear it up while Couturier is out. Should Hakstol break them up because he feels like 14 belongs there based on past success? There is other weapons Hakstol can give Couturier to help him produce.
- Baxter27

I understand your point -- I honestly do -- but I think the Flyers are better served by ponying up the assets required to get another center in here

I love Giroux. He's probably the best Flyer since Lindros and certainly the most dependable and consistent

But Hakstol was right to shift him to the wing last season. 1C in today's NHL...man, that poop is no joke. Giroux even hinted at it in the postgame. He's not as young as he used to be, never been the biggest guy. If he's out there killing penalties, too...man. It's just a huge, huge ask

I understand your point -- I honestly do -- but I think the Flyers are better served by ponying up the assets required to get another center in here

I love Giroux. He's probably the best Flyer since Lindros and certainly the most dependable and consistent

But Hakstol was right to shift him to the wing last season. 1C in today's NHL...man, that poop is no joke. Giroux even hinted at it in the postgame. He's not as young as he used to be, never been the biggest guy. If he's out there killing penalties, too...man. It's just a huge, huge ask
- AllInForFlyers

Wait G himself said he's better at wing at this stage?

Lyon doing his best Stolie. Phantoms getting caved.

Wait G himself said he's better at wing at this stage?
- dragonoffrost

You know he was gonna get asked about it, and IIRC, he said all the right things, that he would do whatever the team needed, but from how I heard him answer the question, he said that this is the role he needs to play until Couts comes back

He added some extra comments about the defensive responsibilities, and I don't want to overstate or understate. I am saying that Giroux knows that 1C is a heavier lift than 1LW, and he wasn't killing himself to say he wanted to move back

Phantoms game just went old school. Very chippy

Those combos haven't been tried and it gets the 6 offensive guys in top two lines.

The real goal isn't moving G back to center. It's to get scoring from more than one line
- dragonoffrost

Man, will your head explode off your body if Giroux plays center beyond today?

We have a serious hole at center right now.

Based on what? If that's the case Hakstol isnt getting the most out of his "70 point Center". Giroux and Couturier are both great players. They can make others better, not just eachother.
- Baxter27

We have a significant history of how Couturier was used before he was moved to the top line with Giroux. If Couturier is moved off of the top line, is used in more defensive situations and plays with lesser talented player, he is no longer a 70 point center.

Will that make the current team better? Maybe. Probably.

There are two ways to look at it. What I would do to make the team better now versus what I think is best for the future are different.

I want to be clear. I'm not trying to say that you're wrong in suggesting keeping Giroux at center.