Speaking for myself, I missed the games where McGinn played himself out of the line up. I never would have put Harry Z in to begin with and if I was ever forced to, with plays I have seen, he never would have lasted long. With this said, I also would have kept Knuble in the line up over Rusty. I haven't seen enough of Fedotenko to understand why he has never been scratched yet.
- SuperSchennBros

He is very good on the PK. He is very good defensively. He is fine for a 4th line role, but I agree with the notion that having him and Knuble on the same line, is a bad idea. May as well call it the molasses line

This will get some people's balls twisted:

Dougie Hamilton has as many goals as Couts

i don't have a problem with knuble as the 12th forward, pitching in here and there on the pk. but no playing > 15 minutes with pp time and late shifts with the game on the line
- FlyerMike18

Totally agree.

This will get some people's balls twisted:

Dougie Hamilton has as many goals as Couts
- KINGKENZO

Couts been an absolute disappointment in the offensive zone this year.

This will get some people's balls twisted:

Dougie Hamilton has as many goals as Couts
- KINGKENZO

Hamilton has a chance to be a monster. I like Couturier a lot though. Couldn't go wrong picking either player. The one issue is Hamilton is a position of a much greater need.

Fedetenko is a key PK guy. If you scratch him, Giroux is going to see even more PK time. You don't want him playing all those hard PK minutes. I don't understand why McGinn was a healthy scratch. McGinn played a very strong game in Winnipeg, he had a fight, and a goal and was one of the better Flyers on the ice. He was scratched the next game I believe.
- PLindbergh31

Knuble has killed penalities for us this season. You're though, Rusty has seen a lot of time in this area.

i don't have a problem with knuble as the 12th forward, pitching in here and there on the pk. but no playing > 15 minutes with pp time and late shifts with the game on the line
- FlyerMike18

I think having him on the PP is not a bad idea. Having Simmonds and Hartnell on the first unit kind of limits the "net presence" of the 2nd unit. Have Knuble park his big ass front of the net, screen goalies and clean up the trash. I might limit his even strength minutes to 7-8 min a game though.

Couts been an absolute disappointment in the offensive zone this year.
- stveshdy

He hasn't exactly been flanked by skilled players. Playing with Gagne should get him going a bit. I think he's generating more chances now. Last 2 games he's played very well.

Hamilton has a chance to be a monster. I like Couturier a lot though. Couldn't go wrong picking either player. The one issue is Hamilton is a position of a much greater need.
- PLindbergh31

It was still the right pick, IMO

Hamilton has a chance to be a monster. I like Couturier a lot though. Couldn't go wrong picking either player. The one issue is Hamilton is a position of a much greater need.
- PLindbergh31

We all know Homer loves to trade his forwards at some point for a defenseman.

He hasn't exactly been flanked by skilled players. Playing with Gagne should get him going a bit. I think he's generating more chances now. Last 2 games he's played very well.
- PLindbergh31

He should still be able to score more with his skills.

Couts been an absolute disappointment in the offensive zone this year.
- stveshdy

I'm going to reserve judgment on his offensive output until I see more games with Gagne. Gagne is the most skilled winger Coots has been able to play with in his entire career. Talbot had a career year last year, his offensive output this year is more indictive of his career. Coots has been playing with pretty much Talbot, Rinaldo, Sestito, and Shelley his time in the NHL. I thought he had good chemistry with Read and Knuble was also on that line for a few games.

Hamilton has a chance to be a monster. I like Couturier a lot though. Couldn't go wrong picking either player. The one issue is Hamilton is a position of a much greater need.
- PLindbergh31

definitely looks like he could be a good one. i love what couturier brings to this lineup though

He should still be able to score more with his skills.
- stveshdy

Still only a 20 year old. He plays well beyond his age already. Only going to get much better. Look where he is defensively at this age. That is usually the area of a young players game that develops last.

He hasn't exactly been flanked by skilled players. Playing with Gagne should get him going a bit. I think he's generating more chances now. Last 2 games he's played very well.
- PLindbergh31

I think Gagne should be placed with more skill. I would replace Hartnell with Gagne on that first unit of the pp in a heartbeat.

definitely looks like he could be a good one. i love what couturier brings to this lineup though
- FlyerMike18

Absolutely. A shutdown center that can be a 50+ point scorer is invaluable.

I'm going to reserve judgment on his offensive output until I see more games with Gagne. Gagne is the most skilled winger Coots has been able to play with in his entire career. Talbot had a career year last year, his offensive output this year is more indictive of his career. Coots has been playing with pretty much Talbot, Rinaldo, Sestito, and Shelley his time in the NHL. I thought he had good chemistry with Read and Knuble was also on that line for a few games.
- ravishingone

I'm not saying he won't be good offensively, I just think with his skills/talent he should of more goals.

Completely understand that he's been playing with less talent.

I think Gagne should be placed with more skill. I would replace Hartnell with Gagne on that first unit in a heartbeat.
- SuperSchennBros

I don't know about that. Had Read not gotten injured I would have left him with Voracek and Giroux and worked Hartnell in on another line. When Read went down, it made plenty of sense to put Hartnell back with Giroux.

Still only a 20 year old. He plays well beyond his age already. Only going to get much better. Look where he is defensively at this age. That is usually the area of a young players game that develops last.
- PLindbergh31

Still expected more from him offensively.

I think Gagne should be placed with more skill. I would replace Hartnell with Gagne on that first unit of the pp in a heartbeat.
- SuperSchennBros

Your suggesting Gagne with G and Voracek? I'm not so sure because wingers like Hartnell and Simmonds do the dirty work in the corner to retrieve the puck, I'm not so sure Gagne can do that with regularity. I think once Hartnell gets into better game shape, I expect the first line even to be more dynamic with Voracek-G-Hartnell.

I don't know about that. Had Read not gotten injured I would have left him with Voracek and Giroux and worked Hartnell in on another line. When Read went down, it made plenty of sense to put Hartnell back with Giroux.
- PLindbergh31

First power play unit

I think Gagne should be placed with more skill. I would replace Hartnell with Gagne on that first unit of the pp in a heartbeat.
- SuperSchennBros

Hartnell lead the team in PP goals last year. Dude goes to the nasty areas on the PP and beasts down low.

This Boston team is tough.

Hartnell lead the team in PP goals last year. Dude goes to the nasty areas on the PP and beasts down low.
- stveshdy

Last season is last season. If you want to talk history, Gagne Has been a dangerous power play weapon for most of his career. Even today has superior skill to Hartnell.

I'm not saying he won't be good offensively, I just think with his skills/talent he should of more goals.

Completely understand that he's been playing with less talent.
- stveshdy

Understood, I still feel in the end Coots or B. Schenn will be used in a trade to significantly upgrade the defense. B. Schenn has quietly had a very good year and I think his defense is getting better.

Probably won't be this year, but I would like to see a line with Read-Coots-Simmonds. I believe it would be a very effective line that could check top lines and generate a lot of offense also.