Perhaps, but lets give him some time. Hopefully after he plays 15-20 games on the wing he will start to look comfortable there as well.
- BiggE

Well, if you want to keep him in the same spot, you need to give him a whole season. Not just 15-20 games.

I think you can be a fan and still expect your team to lose. I'm a fan of the Eagles and I expected them to lose badly last Sunday.

He's just voicing his opinion. I think it's more concern. I'll admit that I'm very concerned about this team.
- PhillySportsGuy

Concern is one thing. And the Eagles have actually played 4 games with this team and stink. But I'm so fed up and sick of fans just bashing and bad-mouthing this team before they've played a second of hockey. Let the team actually play a few games before letting the doom and gloom seep in.

Mason with the start
- phatpat44

lets hope Mason doesn't lay a brick tonight

You'd think moving from center to wing should be easy, as it's more north-south and you don't have to cover as far down low defensively. But for some reason, some guys need to be centers.
- jmatchett383

Center allows for more open space. Most forwards who make it to the NHL have been playing center their whole lives. They are then shifted to wing because of a limitation such as defense, skating, faceoffs or something else.

You'd think moving from center to wing should be easy, as it's more north-south and you don't have to cover as far down low defensively. But for some reason, some guys need to be centers.
- jmatchett383

It's just a mental thing. The Flyers have done this with many other centers before. Mel Bridgman was moved to wing often in the 70s, he didn't particularly like it, but he played just as well. Dave Poulin and Murray Craven were often bounced back and forth between LW and center, and both seemed to adjust well to either position.

Now Rod Brind'amour never liked getting moved onto the wing although there were times he played really well with Lindros. And of course we all know how Briere on the wing worked out, although at least he wasn't quite as big a defensive liability on wing as he was at center.

Lets give Schenn some time, the kid works hard and is talented and I think he will do fine on wing as long as they don't start bouncing him from line to line and position to position.

lets hope Mason doesn't lay a brick tonight
- vejim

A brick wall, maybe

knowing this team does awful against teams on a back to back i'm not optimistic

You'd think moving from center to wing should be easy, as it's more north-south and you don't have to cover as far down low defensively. But for some reason, some guys need to be centers.
- jmatchett383

Yeah -- I thought Schenn was one of those guys, to be honest. Especially if you give him a "speed winger" who carries the puck. But I've been wrong before, and will be again.

Schenn does have the size and grittiness to play on the wall...I'm hopeful. As always, the key is whether the player truly, truly embraces it.

Simon Gagne was drafted as a center; people forget that. And he turned into the 2nd-best LW this franchise has had over the last 20 years or so. (John LeClair was better, IMO).

You just have to embrace it, and I hope Schenn does. We need him to be noticeable, in good ways.

knowing this team does awful against teams on a back to back i'm not optimistic
- 2Real

What's this team's record against teams on a back to back?

Bill, have the Flyers been using Schenn and Streit together in the preseason? Schenn and Timonen were the only pairing I trusted last season. Are they just trying to spread the wealth by breaking them up?
- PhillySportsGuy

Yes, they practiced together for much of camp and worked together in games where both dressed.

I thought Coburn-Grossmann was fine as a pairing after a rough first three games last season. It was when Coburn got put with Bruno Gervais that he really started to struggle and try to do too much. Gervais is passable as the lesser-used half of a third pairing but not on the second.

Blog updated to reflect Mason as the starter.

It's just a mental thing. The Flyers have done this with many other centers before. Mel Bridgman was moved to wing often in the 70s, he didn't particularly like it, but he played just as well. Dave Poulin and Murray Craven were often bounced back and forth between LW and center, and both seemed to adjust well to either position.

Now Rod Brind'amour never liked getting moved onto the wing although there were times he played really well with Lindros. And of course we all know how Briere on the wing worked out, although at least he wasn't quite as big a defensive liability on wing as he was at center.

Lets give Schenn some time, the kid works hard and is talented and I think he will do fine on wing as long as they don't start bouncing him from line to line and position to position.
- BiggE

Brind'amour was so smart and so good on the boards, the transition wasn't difficult. Briere wasn't someone who worked the boards well. He needed space to operate.

I see the opposite, I think that 3rd line takes away from the defense. If the Couturier line is going to be the line that is used the most, to check oppostion top lines. There's know way I want Simmonds on that line. He's just not very good defensively, and he turns the puck over too much. I want Read in that spot.
- MJL

Fair point, but I've never really been a fan of using a forward line as a shutdown line. I have no problem using an individual forward to match up on someone such as using Couturier against Malkin, but I would much rather match my top defensive pairs against the other teams top lines as much as possible and go strength against strength with the forwards as many teams top lines are often not very good defensively.

Yes, they practiced together for much of camp and worked together in games where both dressed.

I thought Coburn-Grossmann was fine as a pairing after a rough first three games last season. It was when Coburn got put with Bruno Gervais that he really started to struggle and try to do too much. Gervais is passable as the lesser-used half of a third pairing but not on the second.
- bmeltzer

It seemed like every player who played with Gervais seemed to really struggle. Remember when Mez just came back from injury and was paired with him. Mez was like a -10 in 8 games during that stretch.

Blog updated to reflect Mason as the starter.
- bmeltzer

Starting Mason doesn't really surprise me. Better to try to boost his confidence right from the start and Emery is mature and confident enough that it won't affect him in the least. Besides I think they are just going to alternate goalies anyway until one of them takes the job.

It seemed like every player who played with Gervais seemed to really struggle. Remember when Mez just came back from injury and was paired with him. Mez was like a -10 in 8 games during that stretch.
- PhillySportsGuy

And that's why old Bruno is now #9 on the depth chart and could be passed at some point this season by Lauridsen and Alt.

Fair point, but I've never really been a fan of using a forward line as a shutdown line. I have no problem using an individual forward to match up on someone such as using Couturier against Malkin, but I would much rather match my top defensive pairs against the other teams top lines as much as possible and go strength against strength with the forwards as many teams top lines are often not very good defensively.
- BiggE

The best case scenario is to have good balance on 3 lines with a good defensive 4th line. The Flyers had this with Richards, Carter, Giroux and Betts. It allowed them to roll 4 lines without worrying about defensive matchups.

The way things are now, I will hold my breath when the Lecavalier line or Laughton line is matched up against the Kadri or Bozak line.

Starting Mason doesn't really surprise me. Better to try to boost his confidence right from the start and Emery is mature and confident enough that it won't affect him in the least. Besides I think they are just going to alternate goalies anyway until one of them takes the job.
- BiggE

They have a back to back this weekend, so I expect both guys to get into games quickly

I didn't really notice Briere at all last night....
- Captain_Quiffe

You shouldn't notice him until the puck is already in the back of the net... that's the beauty of Danny Briere.

You shouldn't notice him until the puck is already in the back of the net... that's the beauty of Danny Briere.


- Tomahawk

Starting Mason doesn't really surprise me. Better to try to boost his confidence right from the start and Emery is mature and confident enough that it won't affect him in the least. Besides I think they are just going to alternate goalies anyway until one of them takes the job.
- BiggE

I think Emery is better suited in a relief role. Better off to start Mason and try and let him win the job.

Would be nice to have a goalie to plug in and take the guesswork out of it. Been waiting two decades for that to happen.

You shouldn't notice him until the puck is already in the back of the net... that's the beauty of Danny Briere.


- Tomahawk

Sneaky sneaky

I agree about keeping Schenn at the same spot. I just wish it was center. He seems more comfortable there.
- PhillySportsGuy

Schenn has played the majority of his career at Center, and only a little bit on the Wing. It's only natural that he seems more comfortable there.

I dont know if I am just excited that the season is finally here, but the more I look at the actual lineup, the more optimistic I become.. Stay healthy and we really do have a pretty damn good group of guys top to bottom.

A 3rd pairing of Gros²man² and Meszy is pretty damn good when you think about other 3rd pairings around the league..

Starting Mason doesn't really surprise me. Better to try to boost his confidence right from the start and Emery is mature and confident enough that it won't affect him in the least. Besides I think they are just going to alternate goalies anyway until one of them takes the job.
- BiggE

Pretty much this.

Performance-wise, there's no clear advantage between the two.

Mason has a lot more to gain by starting game #1 than Emery does, and a whole lot more to lose if he doesn't get the call. Nice of Lavi to recognize that.