When the Scott Hartnell for R.J. Umberger deal was announced last summer, the first, two things I thought of were: all those bad penalties finally caught up to him; Umberger is quicker.
My third thought was, Umberger is NOT a suitable, first line replacement for Hartnell and doesn't deliver the net presence or scoring that No. 19 did for seven years here.
It's now pretty clear there was varying opinions within the Flyers on how people felt about Hartsy. Coach Craig Berube often railed about his lack of discipline and if a member of the leadership group isn't listening to the coaches, how can you expect others to listen?
From Ron Hextall's vantage point, it clear from the get-go he wanted to lose contract years (he lost 2) and cap dollars (he lost $150,000 per year).
The Flyers felt they were getting back a player who could give them power play AND penalty kill minutes and was quicker on his feet.
Thus far this first quarter, Umberger has given them quality time on the PK but he actually looks slower than Hartnell on the ice. The speed isn't there.
And since the offense isn't there, either it has become a one-sided deal at the moment in favor of Columbus.
At the moment, Craig Berube has three players who do not have an ideal fit anywhere in his lineup: Umberger, Vinny Lecavalier and Jason Akeson.
The irony is, this group now become a line tonight against Columbus. As Delco Times sports editor Rob Parent refers to them, they are "The Misfits."
Akeson is the fastest - by farrrr - among the three which means the other two might slow him down.
The Flyers dont have a lot of options here.
Mike Richards coming back? Another center who can't play left wing? With a cap hit that would mean losing Vinny and someone else? No way. No reason for it, either.
The left side of the Flyers is still a bone of contention with the way things are injury wise. Every team has holes somewhere in its lineup and left wing is a spot on this team. Things are bad when you have to ask a guy who's never played the position to move over from a spot where he's pretty good and that is what Wayne Simmonds has been asked to do.
That the Flyers also don't have an answer at the Phantoms is equally distressing.
All this aside, however, the Flyers are playing far better hockey now than they did a month ago and their defense has made giant strides.
I have to think the improved individual play of both Michael Del Zotto and Nick Schultz is partly responsible, as well as the fact the forwards are coming back into the zone lower to help out on the breakout.
The Flyers close out a disjointed four-game homestand tonight against Hartnell and Columbus and everyone knows the Flyers often look dreadful the first game after a 5-day layoff.
Jake Voracek was pretty candid saying he expects the team to be "sloppy" for one period buy if they muddle through, they can find themselves in time to get points out of this game.
Me? I will be watching the "Misfit Line" to see what happens in this one and whether the line has any future.
*
For more on the Flyers, check out CSNPhilly.com:
click here 
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»