Did I read that correctly? Hartnell on the 4th line? Ouch

"When you are out in Philadelphia, everyone is so nice," defenseman Braydon Coburn said. "Honestly, everyone knows we've had a tough start, but they had kind words and told us to get it going and that it's a long season."

http://www.philly.com/phi....html#ebi2UsYqlAMCrP9Q.99
- Flyers_01

Actually it was the 5th line. He's injured and is not ready to play.

Unfortunately, he's not that far off.

There is no immediate help available because of dismal drafting and trading away valuable picks over the years. Even if the recent crop of promising players yields a couple of NHL players, they won't be major contributors for a few years yet.
- 77rams

Seems to me that the Flyers have two young forwards on the team that haven't been full time players in McGinn and Raffl. And they also have added a young defenseman this year that hasn't been a full time regular in Gustafsson.

Lecavalier - Giroux - Raffl
McGinn - B. Schenn - Voracek
Read - Couturier - Simmonds
Hall - Talbot - Rinaldo


Oh, my gosh.

Craig Berube, you're making a believer out of me, one day at a time.

Finally, someone has done it:

1. Reunited the McGinn-Schenn-Voracek line which was ABSOLUTELY MONSTROUS in the games they played last season.

2. GIVEN SEAN COUTURIER TWO WINGERS. I could shed tears of joy right now.

3. Moved Maxime Talbot to the fourth line with Adam Hall -- which now means you can actually PLAY the fourth line, limit Talbot's minutes in offensive situations AND still get use from him on the penalty kill. More tears of joy.

Thank you, whoever made the call on these. Because these are right moves.

The Adirondack Phantoms are off to a 1-3-0-2 start to the 2013-14 season. To the dismay of defensive-minded head coach Terry Murray, the team's biggest issue right now is that the club (which features a young blueline corps) has yielded an AHL-worst 24 goals. Discipline has been lacking, as the team also leads the circuit with 178 penalty minutes.
- bmeltzer

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
- Scoob

I'm not a Murray fan, but it's hard to mold a bunch of poop into something useful.

Gut-Man has left the cupboard bare.

I'm not a Murray fan, but it's hard to mold a bunch of poop into something useful.

Gut-Man has left the cupboard bare.
- PLindbergh31

It wasn't a Murray-specific comment. It was more a commentary on the organization as a whole.

It really grinds my gears to think that Homer has really killed our farm system. We have zero hope for the future.. And to think.. they dont have a single player under 25 on either roster

Also, with no trade taking place over the weekend and with these new line combinations, that indicates to me that -- at least for now -- they're going to double down on Schenn/Couturier, make them sink or swim.

At least now, health permitting, we'll begin to know, truly know, what we have here.

Lecavalier - Giroux - Raffl
McGinn - B. Schenn - Voracek
Read - Couturier - Simmonds
Hall - Talbot - Rinaldo


Oh, my gosh.

Craig Berube, you're making a believer out of me, one day at a time.

Finally, someone has done it:

1. Reunited the McGinn-Schenn-Voracek line which was ABSOLUTELY MONSTROUS in the games they played last season.

2. GIVEN SEAN COUTURIER TWO WINGERS. I could shed tears of joy right now.

3. Moved Maxime Talbot to the fourth line with Adam Hall -- which now means you can actually PLAY the fourth line, limit Talbot's minutes in offensive situations AND still get use from him on the penalty kill. More tears of joy.

Thank you, whoever made the call on these. Because these are right moves.
- AllInForFlyers

other than G, vinny is the best shooter among the forwards. they may be ideal linemates.

Mentioned this yesterday in another realm. I'm hopeful that the addition of Hextall from the Kings organization was a step in that direction. That they're developing/using analytics, but it's just being kept under wraps for now.
- bradleyc4

" I'd guess there are a few publicly-known examples that I've missed here, and there are probably several more teams that have kept their use of analytics a secret. "

Also, with no trade taking place over the weekend and with these new line combinations, that indicates to me that -- at least for now -- they're going to double down on Schenn/Couturier, make them sink or swim.

At least now, health permitting, we'll begin to know, truly know, what we have here.
- AllInForFlyers

In my opinion, Schenn has been the best forward so far this season.. and if a couple of bounce would have gone his way, he could have had a goal in just about every game. He has really played well IMO.

Couts has impressed me with his strength. He is gonna be a verry very good player.. I cant wait to see what he does with his new line...

Mentioned this yesterday in another realm. I'm hopeful that the addition of Hextall from the Kings organization was a step in that direction. That they're developing/using analytics, but it's just being kept under wraps for now.
- bradleyc4

I'm hoping, seriously hoping, that the new line combinations are at least some indication that they're paying attention to what has actually taken place on the ice with the use of advanced metrics, instead of what they think should have been happening.

In my opinion, Schenn has been the best forward so far this season.. and if a couple of bounce would have gone his way, he could have had a goal in just about every game. He has really played well IMO.

Couts has impressed me with his strength. He is gonna be a verry very good player.. I cant wait to see what he does with his new line...
- jak521

Simmonds needs to pull his head out of the crack he has it in though for Coots to succeed. He seems lost.
Wait. I could just cut and paste that with a new player inserted.


In all seriousness, I like all the lines except the top one. Vinny and G, but Raffl?
I hope he proves me wrong... But I don't expect much from him.

I'm hoping, seriously hoping, that the new line combinations are at least some indication that they're paying attention to what has actually taken place on the ice with the use of advanced metrics, instead of what they think should have been happening.
- AllInForFlyers

In my opinion, Schenn has been the best forward so far this season.. and if a couple of bounce would have gone his way, he could have had a goal in just about every game. He has really played well IMO.

Couts has impressed me with his strength. He is gonna be a verry very good player.. I cant wait to see what he does with his new line...
- jak521

Offensively, yes. Ton of work to do defensively, especially if he wants to be a center in this league.

Couturier could end up having a Patrice Bergeron type of impact (which I'm assuming is underappreciated here).

Simmonds needs to pull his head out of the crack he has it in though for Coots to succeed. He seems lost.
Wait. I could just cut and paste that with a new player inserted.


In all seriousness, I like all the lines except the top one. Vinny and G, but Raffl?
I hope he proves me wrong... But I don't expect much from him.
- FlyersGrace

keeping fartsmell's spot warm for him

Offensively, yes. Ton of work to do defensively, especially if he wants to be a center in this league.

Couturier could end up having a Patrice Bergeron type of impact (which I'm assuming is underappreciated here).
- bradleyc4

It really grinds my gears to think that Homer has really killed our farm system. We have zero hope for the future.. And to think.. they dont have a single player under 25 on either roster
- jak521

I see what you did there

also, this schedule sucks. i want to watch some freaking hockey.

I'm hoping, seriously hoping, that the new line combinations are at least some indication that they're paying attention to what has actually taken place on the ice with the use of advanced metrics, instead of what they think should have been happening.
- AllInForFlyers

I highly doubt that the line changes have anything to do with stats.

Also, with no trade taking place over the weekend and with these new line combinations, that indicates to me that -- at least for now -- they're going to double down on Schenn/Couturier, make them sink or swim.

At least now, health permitting, we'll begin to know, truly know, what we have here.
- AllInForFlyers

saw a part of a Custance article surveying their worth in the minds of NHL execs and it's still pretty high. one commented that the real question for both was how much offense they will provide.

In my opinion, Schenn has been the best forward so far this season.. and if a couple of bounce would have gone his way, he could have had a goal in just about every game. He has really played well IMO.

Couts has impressed me with his strength. He is gonna be a verry very good player.. I cant wait to see what he does with his new line...
- jak521

I agree completely on both counts.

Offensively, yes. Ton of work to do defensively, especially if he wants to be a center in this league.

Couturier could end up having a Patrice Bergeron type of impact (which I'm assuming is underappreciated here).
- bradleyc4

I think it would be a MAJOR positive if he had half of a Patrice Bergeron type of impact, but I agree with you. The only way he will ever be good enough is if he scores 80 points a season...

Schenn is never gonna be a great defensive forward, and he surely needs to improve his d-game from where it is now, but looking at the positives in his game compared to last year. He seems to be setting the tone out there a bit. Isnt as hit or miss..

keeping fartsmell's spot warm for him
- -davies-

I hope not. Hartnell needs to prove he deserves that spot. And so far the stupid penalties ain't cutting it.

Simmonds needs to pull his head out of the crack he has it in though for Coots to succeed. He seems lost.
Wait. I could just cut and paste that with a new player inserted.


In all seriousness, I like all the lines except the top one. Vinny and G, but Raffl?
I hope he proves me wrong... But I don't expect much from him.
- FlyersGrace

have to think when Hartnell is back, Raffl will move to the 3rd or 4th line.