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

They're just going to try to fake it with Raffl until either Hartnell comes back and (hopefully) plays well enough to make that line work, or, if Raffl and Hartnell don't get it done, identify the need for another offensive winger.

Those lines...they're what I've been screaming for, as far at least giving them a chance to score goals. Those are the best forwards they have, in the best positions they can be slotted.

I can handle losing, if that's what happens, as long as you give the young players a chance to be successful and stop trying to play the Jay Rosehills and Kris Newburys of the world.

I see what you did there
- nastyflyergirl

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

it makes ZERO sense to have a week off during a season that will shut down for the Olympics

They're just going to try to fake it with Raffl until either Hartnell comes back and (hopefully) plays well enough to make that line work, or, if Raffl and Hartnell don't get it done, identify the need for another offensive winger.

Those lines...they're what I've been screaming for, as far at least giving them a chance to score goals. Those are the best forwards they have, in the best positions they can be slotted.

I can handle losing, if that's what happens, as long as you give the young players a chance to be successful and stop trying to play the Jay Rosehills and Kris Newburys of the world.
- AllInForFlyers

Im excited for it as well.. Finally a great mix through all 4 lines..

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 see couts more in the range between hanzal and j staal

What would you guys say to trading Scott Laughton for a young prospect winger.

I mean the Flyers are stacked down the center with G, Lecav, Schenn, Cout for atleast the next 5 years.

Even if they had to throw in a pick or another player, i think it would help the team out to get someone like Filip Forsberg, Huberdeau or even if they could manage a trade for Yakupov.

I think this team is really missing a fast, young sniper would can shoot the puck

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

Agreed, but at least we're in the midst of an NFL season (though Eagles suck) as well as plenty of good TV shows to get immersed in (Horror Story, Boardwalk Empire, Homeland, Walking Dead, Always Sunny, Leage, Brooklyn 99, etc.). Anyways, this team needed a break to practice and gel with their new coach.

All things considered, I'd rather have this break now as opposed to the middle of February........oh wait

the goalies save % is brutal
- vejim

I have been to all six Phantoms games to date. Danis has been mediocre. Two of the goals against in Hershey were the result of Phantoms' giveaways in their own end. He is not getting much help from the D either. Konan made a pass on Saturday that Danis had to save from being an own-goal. Heeter is a mess. The Baby Pens were throwning pucks at the net and they were going in. Bill, you may think that he has a great attitude, but from what he shows in the game, he does not appear to be either team's long-term goalie solution.

Perhaps next season when the Phantoms are closer to home, they will have more access to goaltending coaching. Even the vets like Leighton and Boucher started to develop bad habits during their exiles to the Northland.

Im excited for it as well.. Finally a great mix through all 4 lines..
- jak521

I'm all for changing up the lines and seeing what happens. But I have concerns defensively.

it makes ZERO sense to have a week off during a season that will shut down for the Olympics
- nastyflyergirl

Zero sense for the team, but I bet it's a nightmare trying to get 30 stadiums which do a lot more than hockey to match up with a 41 game schedule... and make it work for all 30 teams.
A giant puzzle.
Not to say it wouldn't be fun, but I bet it's not easy. I only grumble about back to back games.
They needed this downtime.
Time to start fresh.

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

Fifth line... not quite ready to return yet.

Re: Coburn comment, it's a case of people acting very differently face-to-face than from the safety and anonymity of being behind a computer or calling in a radio show. Suddenly they get all nice and supportive (and perhaps even star struck) rather than being tough-talking keyboard warriors.

What would you guys say to trading Scott Laughton for a young prospect winger.

I mean the Flyers are stacked down the center with G, Lecav, Schenn, Cout for atleast the next 5 years.

Even if they had to throw in a pick or another player, i think it would help the team out to get someone like Filip Forsberg, Huberdeau or even if they could manage a trade for Yakupov.

I think this team is really missing a fast, young sniper would can shoot the puck
- Jack-Meoff

when homer trades G for a dman, they'll need their centers...

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..
- jak521

LOVING what Schenn is doing with the puck.

Without the puck, well...

i see couts more in the range between hanzal and j staal
- isaiah520

He's already better defensively than both players.

His peak offensive output will determine where he lands in terms of comparison.

I highly doubt that the line changes have anything to do with stats.
- bradleyc4

You really don't think so? Because while those changes were obvious to me, they were so resistant to them for so long, I want to believe that somebody finally realized that you won't score when you keep playing players who can't or won't score.

Lecavalier and Hartnell getting hurt just might be the best thing that happened to this team, long term, because it forced them to put Schenn back in the middle and bring McGinn back up -- not that McGinn is the second coming of Gary Roberts, but because it made them realize that they needed a left wing who could actually score goals.

Fifth line... not quite ready to return yet.

Re: Coburn comment, it's a case of people acting very differently face-to-face than from the safety and anonymity of being behind a computer or calling in a radio show. Suddenly they get all nice and supportive (and perhaps even star struck) rather than being tough-talking keyboard warriors.
- bmeltzer

OMG, how true. Love that analogy.


We should have a militaristic name for Hockeybuzz Flyer fans. Strike fear into the hearts of our enemies!

LOVING what Schenn is doing with the puck.

Without the puck, well...
- bradleyc4

Definitely an area where he needs to improve. But he is not alone there.

You really don't think so? Because while those changes were obvious to me, they were so resistant to them for so long, I want to believe that somebody finally realized that you won't score when you keep playing players who can't or won't score.

Lecavalier and Hartnell getting hurt just might be the best thing that happened to this team, long term, because it forced them to put Schenn back in the middle and bring McGinn back up -- not that McGinn is the second coming of Gary Roberts, but because it made them realize that they needed a left wing who could actually score goals.
- AllInForFlyers

Maybe subconsciously.

But I don't think they're looking at the stats and piecing together a better "formula." I think they're just shaking up the soda bottle hoping for an explosion.

Definitely an area where he needs to improve. But he is not alone there.
- MJL

Agreed.

Maybe subconsciously.

But I don't think they're looking at the stats and piecing together a better "formula." I think they're just shaking up the soda bottle hoping for an explosion.
- bradleyc4

And as always, line combos are subject to change.

Maybe subconsciously.

But I don't think they're looking at the stats and piecing together a better "formula." I think they're just shaking up the soda bottle hoping for an explosion.
- bradleyc4

My opinion is that it's something in between. There is no exact science for player chemistry .
But what you can do is set them up to exceed and see what happens.
However if Mentos would help, I can bring some next time.

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

there was a sharks game last night loco scored a shoot out winner and niemi made some amazing saves

Fifth line... not quite ready to return yet.

Re: Coburn comment, it's a case of people acting very differently face-to-face than from the safety and anonymity of being behind a computer or calling in a radio show. Suddenly they get all nice and supportive (and perhaps even star struck) rather than being tough-talking keyboard warriors.
- bmeltzer

Cant wait til Goalburned packs his bags for good.

My opinion is that it's something in between. There is no exact science for player chemistry .
But what you can do is set them up to exceed and see what happens.
However if Mentos would help, I can bring some next time.
- FlyersGrace

I think if they were trying to set an optimal line-up, they wouldn't have Simmonds with Couturier.

And thanks for keeping with the theme.

Maybe subconsciously.

But I don't think they're looking at the stats and piecing together a better "formula." I think they're just shaking up the soda bottle hoping for an explosion.
- bradleyc4

The talent is clearly there for goals; the chemistry is not. Therefore, your only options are to stick it out and hope they gel, or switch it around and hope that it clicks. People want to talk about perfect lines, but the fact of the matter is that there is no one, perfect combination. Hartnell displayed success skating with Giroux as well as Briere. NHL players have played on hundreds of line combos throughout their hockey career, and it only takes a string of a few good games before it can be considered chemistry. And when the chemistry fades, rinse and repeat...