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

if they have to "score by committee", they need more skill out there on every line. no use for the likes of newbury, rosehill, and sometimes, not even rinaldo. they need more players who can up O zone time.

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.
- bradleyc4

Would you have kept Talbot there, or who would you plug into that spot instead of Simmonds?

Cant wait til Goalburned packs his bags for good.
- Just5

Reminds me of all the talk when Carle was here. Can't wait until he's gone.

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

Would you have kept Talbot there, or who would you plug into that spot instead of Simmonds?
- BulliesPhan87

Probably swap Simmonds and Raffl.

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

Crazy different lines but I like them. No need to dress Rosehill. Dear god

if they have to "score by committee", they need more skill out there on every line. no use for the likes of newbury, rosehill, and sometimes, not even rinaldo. they need more players who can up O zone time.
- isaiah520

I like the new lines because as a head coach for the opposite team I have to stop and think about who I am sending my shutdown guys against...
Vinny and G? And if so that leaves Vorachek as a dangerous playmaker against a weaker line than he's seen previously this season.
Let's get Scorachek some goals and get him out of Berube's doghouse.

Probably swap Simmonds and Raffl.
- bradleyc4

From a D perspective yes, but I'm thinking Chief is looking for a little grit. I like that line. Read and Couts should hopefully cover enough for Simmonds.

"Voracek, who had a car accident in Europe but didn’t suffer any major injuries, came back in less-than-ideal shape after spending most of the offseason in Montreal.

His conditioning level drew some ire from the coaching staff and management.

To compound matters, he then suffered a back injury in preseason, which further set his conditioning behind schedule."

From Pinotch

Is it too much to ask for these guys to come to camp in some kind of shape?? WTF....maybe the Flyers should put in offseason workout bonuses in contracts.

"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."
- Flyers_01

I would imagine the private box wait staff were very polite. C'mon, it's not like they were sitting in the upper deck chugging beers with Joe Sixpack.

No comments yet about G's playoff prediction?

He's already better defensively than both players.

His peak offensive output will determine where he lands in terms of comparison.
- bradleyc4

He reminds me so much of Handzus. He's Handzus I think

if they have to "score by committee", they need more skill out there on every line. no use for the likes of newbury, rosehill, and sometimes, not even rinaldo. they need more players who can up O zone time.
- isaiah520

Exactly. DING DING DING DING DING

I understand there will be some defensive concerns, but right now, the Flyers need to score goals. Trade goals, if necessary. Win a game 5-4 instead of losing 2-1.

I don't mind Simmonds with Couturier and Read, because at least those two are good enough defensively that I can pretend they'll hide Simmonds.

I'm hoping that McGinn-Schenn-Voracek drive puck possession -- like they did last year -- so that their obvious defensive issues are minimized to whatever degree possible.

"Voracek, who had a car accident in Europe but didn’t suffer any major injuries, came back in less-than-ideal shape after spending most of the offseason in Montreal.

His conditioning level drew some ire from the coaching staff and management.

To compound matters, he then suffered a back injury in preseason, which further set his conditioning behind schedule."

From Pinotch

Is it too much to ask for these guys to come to camp in some kind of shape?? WTF....maybe the Flyers should put in offseason workout bonuses in contracts.
- Just5

Last season same issue.
I still like to make cracks about his mother's dumplings...
Yeah he needs to stay in better shape in the offseason. (Easy to say sitting behind my comp - but I also don't get paid like he does).

"Voracek, who had a car accident in Europe but didn’t suffer any major injuries, came back in less-than-ideal shape after spending most of the offseason in Montreal.

His conditioning level drew some ire from the coaching staff and management.

To compound matters, he then suffered a back injury in preseason, which further set his conditioning behind schedule."

From Pinotch

Is it too much to ask for these guys to come to camp in some kind of shape?? WTF....maybe the Flyers should put in offseason workout bonuses in contracts.
- Just5

If this is true, it's not the first time Voracek has been criticized for this commitment to being in shape. It was one of the reasons Columbus soured on him.

From a D perspective yes, but I'm thinking Chief is looking for a little grit. I like that line. Read and Couts should hopefully cover enough for Simmonds.
- flyguy12

It's worth trying. You don't even have to stick with it for an entire game.

Last season same issue.
I still like to make cracks about his mother's dumplings...
Yeah he needs to stay in better shape in the offseason. (Easy to say sitting behind my comp - but I also don't get paid like he does).
- FlyersGrace

They guy likes food and relaxation. If it takes him a few weeks to get back up to speed, so be it, as long as "speed" is how he looked last year.

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
- steelydan

there was a sharks game last night loco scored a shoot out winner and niemi made some amazing saves
- 2Real

congratulations

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.
- bradleyc4

i have actually really liked simmonds and couturier together in the past, you no likey?

Well at least this week will knock out another excuse for them. They can't possibly use conditioning as an excuse after this week of practice. So I wonder what's next.

i have actually really liked simmonds and couturier together in the past, you no likey?
- -davies-

Just for the fact that if you're going to use a line to try to shut down the opposition's top line, I'd rather not have a weak link.

It's worth trying. You don't even have to stick with it for an entire game.
- bradleyc4

And that's true -- I'm not saying that this is signed in blood, sealed in stone.

What has me optimistic -- for the first time in weeks -- is that somebody finally realized the most obvious truths about this team:

You can't even pretend you're going to develop Sean Couturier, that you gave him a chance, if you don't give him some freaking wingers. Does everybody realize that in Peter Laviolette's last game, he had Couturier with Talbot and Rinaldo? RIDICULOUS.

I don't know what Couturier's going to be. I've always been honest about that. But I sure as hell knew what he wouldn't be, if they kept putting anchors on his feet, then be disappointed when he sinks.

So on and so forth. They need to score more, first. The roster they had, and the lines they were dressing, pre-injury, were not the lines that were giving them the best chance to do that.

There's no margin for error with this team, and I'm not blinded by the still-obvious weaknesses that will likely continue to plague this team.

But for the first time this season, I'm honestly thinking that a lineup that they will dress will actually score goals.

After this horrific stretch, from the preseason to now...that's something. It's a start.

The Cup is ours the Flyers'.

Well at least this week will knock out another excuse for them. They can't possibly use conditioning as an excuse after this week of practice. So I wonder what's next.
- Just5

They hate their "fans."

G for Jones, Forsberg, 1st and second flame on