Why won't they play him? Isn't there a free Gardner website or something
- Just5

Carlyle is a douche...

Does anyone think it could be a smart move to swap Couturier straight up for Morgan Rielly of Toronto. He was the "best offensive player in the 2012 draft" and has potential equal to Coots. Plus, Toronto pretty desperately needs centers.

Carlyle is a douche...
- Philly1980

Thank you for the well thought out critique. Perhaps you could elucidate?

Does anyone think it could be a smart move to swap Couturier straight up for Morgan Rielly of Toronto. He was the "best offensive player in the 2012 draft" and has potential equal to Coots. Plus, Toronto pretty desperately needs centers.
- JAKEw1234

No

Does anyone think it could be a smart move to swap Couturier straight up for Morgan Rielly of Toronto. He was the "best offensive player in the 2012 draft" and has potential equal to Coots. Plus, Toronto pretty desperately needs centers.
- JAKEw1234

That's a tough one.. Riley had a great year in the ahl.... That's tough

No
- Flyskippy

Why is that?

Thank you for the well thought out critique. Perhaps you could elucidate?
- Flyskippy

His in carlyles dog house due to his poor defensive game

Does anyone think it could be a smart move to swap Couturier straight up for Morgan Rielly of Toronto. He was the "best offensive player in the 2012 draft" and has potential equal to Coots. Plus, Toronto pretty desperately needs centers.
- JAKEw1234

No, I don't think it's a smart move. A smart move is keeping Couturier. Only think of trading Couturier for an established young NHL defenseman.

That's a tough one.. Riley had a great year in the ahl.... That's tough
- Philly1980

Ya but you know how toronto works... He'll go play next season in toronto, play great, come back in 2 seasons, have a sophmore slump, and everyone there will hate him...

No, I don't think it's a smart move. A smart move is keeping Couturier. Only think of trading Couturier for an established young NHL defenseman.
- MJL

But couturier isn't even an established NHL forward yet

No, I don't think it's a smart move. A smart move is keeping Couturier. Only think of trading Couturier for an established young NHL defenseman.
- MJL

Yup... They are really high on him right now. Wait two years get him cheaper lol

But couturier isn't even an established NHL forward yet
- JAKEw1234

Couts had a slump this year... I blame it on lavy sticking him on 4th line duty

But couturier isn't even an established NHL forward yet
- JAKEw1234

Yes he is an established NHL Forward.


He just completed his 2nd NHL Season.

Ahh the rags loose...the king with two bad goals...

I could be wrong but did Carter ever play on the PK here? When did he ever become a defensive forward lol.

Couts had a slump this year... I blame it on lavy sticking him on 4th line duty
- Philly1980

Right but he wasn't established before his slump... and I partly blame it on the sophmore syndrome that hits many great young players, but ya playing the 4th line for most of last season didn't help at all.

But couturier isn't even an established NHL forward yet
- JAKEw1234

Uh, he's played two whole seasons in the league. He's established himself as an NHLer.

if there's nothing that makes sense on the trade front, i'd be ok with settling for a guy like zidlicky on a short deal

not ideal (probably just a 2nd pairing upgrade) but i think he could bring something of value

Right but he wasn't established before his slump... and I partly blame it on the sophmore syndrome that hits many great young players, but ya playing the 4th line for most of last season didn't help at all.
- JAKEw1234

Shutting down Malkin in the playoff and a pretty good rookie year... He's established simply due to the fact that he won't see any ahl time l

I could be wrong but did Carter ever play on the PK here? When did he ever become a defensive forward lol.
- flyerfan28

Carter played on the PK on a regular basis here. He was also used to check other teams top lines. Carter is a solid defensive player.

Shutting down Malkin in the playoff and a pretty good rookie year... He's established simply due to the fact that he won't see any ahl time l
- Philly1980

Ha it was fun to watch that. You guys are probably right about this, but getting the "top offensive defenseman at the 2012 draft" for couturier sounds alright to me. Like I said, you can't keep playing Coots on the 4th/3rd line forever, and you can't move Brayen down to the 3rd/4th line either, both will need more than that. I'd be perfectly happy if Brayden moved to the LW and played the left side for coots, and we tried to get a dman in a different way. But Morgan Rielly has a low side potential of being a top 2 defenseman, if that makes it any more clear that we should try for him.

Ha it was fun to watch that. You guys are probably right about this, but getting the "top offensive defenseman at the 2012 draft" for couturier sounds alright to me. Like I said, you can't keep playing Coots on the 4th/3rd line forever, and you can't move Brayen down to the 3rd/4th line either, both will need more than that. I'd be perfectly happy if Brayden moved to the LW and played the left side for coots, and we tried to get a dman in a different way. But Morgan Rielly has a low side potential of being a top 2 defenseman, if that makes it any more clear that we should try for him.
- JAKEw1234

Every day, you're picking a different player to target. Who will it be tomorrow? There is plenty of icetime for both Couturier and Schenn. Neither is going to be a 4th line player in the future. In today's NHL, you need 3 good lines, and a solid 4th line to win.

Every day, you're picking a different player to target. Who will it be tomorrow? There is plenty of icetime for both Couturier and Schenn. Neither is going to be a 4th line player in the future. In today's NHL, you need 3 good lines, and a solid 4th line to win.
- MJL

Ya but there's a difference between having a good 3rd line and having an overkill 3rd line and that's what it would be if Couturier was playing the 3rd line in his prime. Do you want to have an overkill 3rd line while our defense suffers from the gap left by Timonen? Or do you want an awesome 2nd line, a slightly above average 3rd line (assuming Rinaldo and Talbot are still playing there), and a killer 1st defensive pair after Timonens retirement. It'd be awesome to have an overkill 3rd line, but there are higher priorities that need to be addressed first, I believe.

Every day, you're picking a different player to target. Who will it be tomorrow? There is plenty of icetime for both Couturier and Schenn. Neither is going to be a 4th line player in the future. In today's NHL, you need 3 good lines, and a solid 4th line to win.
- MJL

i know this is probably not in line with the current convo, but i'd like to see schenn on the lw with giroux and jake next year. i think he's ready to take that next step

and then a 2nd line with hartnell and couturier (possibly read on the rw assuming no major additions)

obviously REALLY early to be thinking line combos, but that's a way they can both get plenty of ice time next year

Ya but there's a difference between having a good 3rd line and having an overkill 3rd line and that's what it would be if Couturier was playing the 3rd line in his prime. Do you want to have an overkill 3rd line while our defense suffers from the gap left by Timonen? Or do you want an awesome 2nd line, a slightly above average 3rd line (assuming Rinaldo and Talbot are still playing there), and a killer 1st defensive pair after Timonens retirement. It'd be awesome to have an overkill 3rd line, but there are higher priorities that need to be addressed first, I believe.
- JAKEw1234

Was it "overkill" with Jordan Staal playing on a 3rd line in Pittsburgh? There is no such thing. Couturier is a player that has Selke potential, as well as the potential to play on a scoring line and put up points. But I guess tonight's choice of Rielly is a sure bet to have a "killer" 1st defensive pair.