Tim Panaccio: Chasing the Pack

I do think Giroux is trying to do too much. When he shoots, it looks like he's trying to blast it through the goaltender.

When he passes, he's trying to saucer pass it cross ice over 2 sticks.

I also think he misses a guy like Jagr right now, who could buy him some room.

I don't understand what's going on with Talbot at all. He doesn't look anything like the same guy from last year. And I don't mean just the goals. I mean, he looks distracted.

Maybe the team took Couturier out and home to see what they played like without him. MAybe if Holmgren trades him for a scorer. Wishful lines for the year after being healthy and trades:

#19 Hartnell - #28 Giroux - #12 Iginla
#15 McGinn - #10 B. Schenn - #93 Voracek
#24 Read - #48 Briere - #9 Knuble
#26 Fedotenko - #25 Talbot - #36 Rinaldo

#44 Timonen - #22 L. Schenn
#5 Coburn - #8 Grossman
#41 Meszaros - #27 Gervais/ #3 Foster/ #20 Pronger (would be nice huh?)

#30 Bryzgalov
#33 Boucher ( I liked the way he played the other night!!)

Maybe the team took Couturier out and home to see what they played like without him. MAybe if Holmgren trades him for a scorer. Wishful lines for the year after being healthy and trades:

#19 Hartnell - #28 Giroux - #12 Iginla
#15 McGinn - #10 B. Schenn - #93 Voracek
#24 Read - #48 Briere - #9 Knuble
#26 Fedotenko - #25 Talbot - #36 Rinaldo

#44 Timonen - #22 L. Schenn
#5 Coburn - #8 Grossman
#41 Meszaros - #27 Gervais/ #3 Foster/ #20 Pronger (would be nice huh?)

#30 Bryzgalov
#33 Boucher ( I liked the way he played the other night!!)
- BernieKorch

Two things here. Teams don't take a player out of the lineup just to see how they would play without him. Secondly, I'm assuming that you're suggesting trading Couturer for a 37 year old Jerome Iginla? If Holmgren does that, he should be immediately fired.

Tim Panaccio: Chasing the Pack
- tpanaccio

If teams are only asking for Couturier, the Flyers should simply stand pat. Young teams, which is what the Flyers are, will be inconsistent. You're going to get nights like they had against the Leafs.

They should absolutely NOT trade Couturier, especially for a 37 year old Iginla. I hope they hold off on anything until Hartnell and Meszaros are back in the lineup.

Two things here. Teams don't take a player out of the lineup just to see how they would play without him. Secondly, I'm assuming that you're suggesting trading Couturer for a 37 year old Jerome Iginla? If Holmgren does that, he should be immediately fired.
- MJL

Im not saying they intentionally took him out of the line up, he is sick but it is giving Homer a chance to see the squad with out him... Either way between Read, Coots, and Giroux one guy has to go b/c of salary cap issues and Laughton showed to have the same skills as Coots.. I love Coots be we need a scorer and Iginla can still score, hell Jagr did at 40 years of age.

Im not saying they intentionally took him out of the line up, he is sick but it is giving Homer a chance to see the squad with out him... Either way between Read, Coots, and Giroux one guy has to go b/c of salary cap issues and Laughton showed to have the same skills as Coots.. I love Coots be we need a scorer and Iginla can still score, hell Jagr did at 40 years of age.
- BernieKorch

Laughton did NOT show the same skills as Couturier. Laughton was an effective forechecker that worked hard and could hit, Couturier has the skill to be a Selke caliber defensive forward who can score 20-25 goals.

Trading a 20 year old with Couturier's skill set for a 36 year old Jarome Iginla would be a massive mistake.

Laughton did NOT show the same skills as Couturier. Laughton was an effective forechecker that worked hard and could hit, Couturier has the skill to be a Selke caliber defensive forward who can score 20-25 goals.

Trading a 20 year old with Couturier's skill set for a 36 year old Jarome Iginla would be a massive mistake.
- Jsaquella

If Homer traded Couturier for Iginla he should never work again in the NHL. And be immediately forcibly committed to a maximum security mental facility.

Im not saying they intentionally took him out of the line up, he is sick but it is giving Homer a chance to see the squad with out him... Either way between Read, Coots, and Giroux one guy has to go b/c of salary cap issues and Laughton showed to have the same skills as Coots.. I love Coots be we need a scorer and Iginla can still score, hell Jagr did at 40 years of age.
- BernieKorch

In my opinion Laughton did not show he has the same skills. Laughton doesn't have anywhere near the same all around skills or potential that Couturier has. And this team is not a team that is a move away from winning the Cup. You don't trade such a highly regarded young player for a player the age of Iginla. And even if Laughton had the same potential of Couturier, you still don't make that trade. Trading a player who before getting mono was being considered to go #1 in the draft for a well past his prime, close to retirement player, is an awful deal from any angle.

If Homer traded Couturier for Iginla he should never work again in the NHL. And be immediately forcibly committed to a maximum security mental facility.
- MBFlyerfan

I would probably speculate that Holmgren started drinking again if he made that deal.

I would probably speculate that Holmgren started drinking again if he made that deal.
- MJL

What about Coots for Ryan? maybe even toss in laughton.

What about Coots for Ryan? maybe even toss in laughton.
- mace14

I wouldn't even do that straight up. It would have to be a bigger deal than Coots for Ryab. I'd like the idea of getting Sbisa back if we're trading with the Ducks. Ryan+Sbisa for Coots+ would be my starting point. That being said, Coots is still untouchable in my books, along with Giroux.

Maybe the team took Couturier out and home to see what they played like without him. MAybe if Holmgren trades him for a scorer. Wishful lines for the year after being healthy and trades:

#19 Hartnell - #28 Giroux - #12 Iginla
#15 McGinn - #10 B. Schenn - #93 Voracek
#24 Read - #48 Briere - #9 Knuble
#26 Fedotenko - #25 Talbot - #36 Rinaldo

#44 Timonen - #22 L. Schenn
#5 Coburn - #8 Grossman
#41 Meszaros - #27 Gervais/ #3 Foster/ #20 Pronger (would be nice huh?)

#30 Bryzgalov
#33 Boucher ( I liked the way he played the other night!!)
- BernieKorch

Nice effort, but you're gonna get ripped for suggesting Coots for UFA to be Iginla. I'd wait till Hartnell, Mesz, and Gus get back, ice a full lineup for a few weeks, then adjust if need be.

Harts-Giroux-???
Simmonds-Briere-Read
McGinn-Schenn-Voracek
Talbot-Coots-Rinaldo

Keeping that 3rd line together creates a hole on wing for line 1 or 2. Might have to bump Voracek up with Harts and G, drop Feds in on line 3 or 4.

What about Coots for Ryan? maybe even toss in laughton.
- mace14

No way! If Couturier meets his potential, he'll be twice the all around player that Bobby Ryan is. Let alone throwing in laughton.

No way! If Couturier meets his potential, he'll be twice the all around player that Bobby Ryan is. Let alone throwing in laughton.
- MJL

What do you see couturier's potential being? Do you see him being a 30+ goal scorer?

What do you see couturier's potential being? Do you see him being a 30+ goal scorer?
- mace14

No. Probably a 20-25 goal scorer that can get around 60-65 points while playing Selke level defense at the center position...that's worth more than a 30 goal winger, who can play adequate defense.

No. Probably a 20-25 goal scorer that can get around 60-65 points while playing Selke level defense at the center position...that's worth more than a 30 goal winger, who can play adequate defense.
- Jsaquella

A proven 30+ goal scorer and PROBABLY a 20-25 selke being proven is worth something.

A proven 30+ goal scorer and PROBABLY a 20-25 selke being proven is worth something.
- mace14

Being proven is worth something, but Couturier's potential is worth more, because he's likely to reach that potential.

Would you trade Couturier for Phil Kessel? He's a proven 30 goal scorer-in fact has more goals than Bobby Ryan over the last 4 years.

Being proven is worth something, but Couturier's potential is worth more, because he's likely to reach that potential.

Would you trade Couturier for Phil Kessel? He's a proven 30 goal scorer-in fact has more goals than Bobby Ryan over the last 4 years.
- Jsaquella

Phil Kessel is not what this team needs. They need a big body a true power foward to play with giroux playing with giroux could make ryans potential a 40+ goal scorer

Phil Kessel is not what this team needs. They need a big body a true power foward to play with giroux playing with giroux could make ryans potential a 40+ goal scorer
- mace14

I disagree. They have Hartnell, Simmonds and now Tye McGinn. They need a sniper for Giroux, if anything.

Ryan isn't going to score more goals with Claude Giroux than he does with Ryan Getzlaff. Getzlaff is an outstanding playmaker, if not as good as Giroux, than certainly near Giroux's class. Expecting Ryan to team up with Giroux and sudden transform into a 40 goal scorer isn't being realistic.

Kessel is outscoring Ryan while playing with Tyler Bozak and Matt Stajan level players.

I do think Giroux is trying to do too much. When he shoots, it looks like he's trying to blast it through the goaltender.

When he passes, he's trying to saucer pass it cross ice over 2 sticks.

I also think he misses a guy like Jagr right now, who could buy him some room.

I don't understand what's going on with Talbot at all. He doesn't look anything like the same guy from last year. And I don't mean just the goals. I mean, he looks distracted.
- johndewar

I loved Max when he was in Pittsburgh, but the Flyers overpaid him, and he had a career year last year. I wouldn't expect him to be anywhere near that type of player again. There is a reason the Pens let him go so easily. He is a good 4th liner that can spot play on the 3rd, but he isn't a regular third liner.

I loved Max when he was in Pittsburgh, but the Flyers overpaid him, and he had a career year last year. I wouldn't expect him to be anywhere near that type of player again. There is a reason the Pens let him go so easily. He is a good 4th liner that can spot play on the 3rd, but he isn't a regular third liner.
- bri29smith

They Flyers weren't expecting 19 goals, either. They signed him as much for his personality and presence in the room as his skills as a player. They were trying to replace Ian Laperriere.

What do you see couturier's potential being? Do you see him being a 30+ goal scorer?
- mace14

High side of his potential is 30 goals and 70 pts, along with being a Selke level defender. Along the lines of Toews. Low side is less points and a similar player to Jordan Staal.

Bobby Ryan is a very good player. But he is way over hyped by many in Flyers land.

They Flyers weren't expecting 19 goals, either. They signed him as much for his personality and presence in the room as his skills as a player. They were trying to replace Ian Laperriere.
- Jsaquella

And that's fine. I don't care of he scored either. Last year he was playing with voracek and couturier quite a bit on a 3rd line. he needs to be more of an agitator out there. I'm not sure why he doesn't seem as engaged.

And that's fine. I don't care of he scored either. Last year he was playing with voracek and couturier quite a bit on a 3rd line. he needs to be more of an agitator out there. I'm not sure why he doesn't seem as engaged.
- Just5

He hasn't played as well overall as he did last year. Perhaps he feels more pressure...one area his play has been better is on the penalty kill. He's been a big part of their recent run of success