After Jakub Voracek played less than 4 minutes of Thursday's third period, there was much conjecture that he
had been benched in favor of the more defensive-minded Adam Hall.

Voracek wasn't around at yesterday's practice, the official reason being a maintenance day. So was he benched?
Craig Berube wouldn't answer, except to make several pointed remarks about his team continuing to work hard
and move its feet. When someone asked whether Voracek was moving his feet Thursday night, Berube said,
"Go ask him."

let's say in 3-4 years the current forward core of giroux, voracek, couts, read, simmonds, laughton, are in or hitting their stride and straka, holmstrom, raffl, etc continue to develop; also, if lecavalier is still doing anything and downie is still around). now figure the defense gets fixed in that time (morin & hagg ready by then? possibly. still need to fill in but as far as prospects go they have quite a few on the defense. lets say it happens, somehow). now let's say mason and stolarz are both solid at that point (or at least the goal tending doesn't totally fall apart). given that, i can see this being a pretty tough team to play against.

in short, i think we have many of the pieces we need already in the stream if they can just be patient

edit much? geez, this computer is hard to use since my 2 yo plucked off half the keys

Peak point production for forwards tend to be from 24-28. Here are two studies that show that.
http://www.arcticicehocke...-points-per-game-peak-age

http://www.broadstreethoc...wards-prime-scoring-years

That means that those forwards will be exiting their prime. So the Flyers would have to hope that Schenn Couturier and or Laughton can match the production of Giroux and Voracek, who are either a point per game or close to point per game forwards against top defensive competition, this year excluded.
- psuhockey

3 Keys to a Flyers win tonight:

1. Play positionally sound hockey and keep the gaps short. The Isles are a fast team but their speed can be countered by smart positional play and short accurate passes

2. Establish a hard forecheck and put pressure on the Isles D. The Isles have struggled to get out of their own zone, don't make it easy for them, keep the pressure on

3. with the pk struggling, how bout trying a novel approach: Stop Taking Dumb Penalties (yes this means you Zac!) Play agressively but keep your cool and stay disciplined.

Go Flyers!

- -davies-

Will be really pathetic if he has Voracek in the doghouse, but Hartnell, Rosehill and Rinaldo continue to play after taking stupid penalty, after stupid penalty.

While not everyone has agreed, I've been saying all along that I don't think Giroux's been as bad as his numbers have looked -- I think he's rang five posts this year, and yeah, it would've been amazing had he been able to elevate Michael Raffl's game, I think it says something that one of his wingers from earlier this year is a healthy scratch now.

That doesn't mean I'm down on Michael Raffl; I'm not. I wish he was on the fourth line for tonight's game.

But my thing with Sean Couturier is this: When he develops "man strength"....oh, my gosh. He's already getting tougher and tougher to knock off the puck now, at age 20...and you can tell he's not quite fully grown into his frame yet, with lower-body strength.

In three years...oh, my gosh. That's why getting him two wingers was important...he needs to be allowed to think offense, create offense, see offensive chances go into the back of the net.

Personally...I think it's possible -- not probable, but possible -- that kid develops into something the likes the NHL doesn't see very often: A 6-4, 215-pound center who is devastating defensively, yet scores 25 goals/60 points, wins 55 percent of his draws, and is damn near impossible to knock off the puck.

It makes my head spin just thinking about this.
- AllInForFlyers

Sounds like you are describing Jordan Staal and I would be ecstatic if this is the way he turns out. I personally agree with you that he will.

Will be really pathetic if he has Voracek in the doghouse, but Hartnell, Rosehill and Rinaldo continue to play after taking stupid penalty, after stupid penalty.
- flyer_nutter

Apparently the Cheif feels lack of hustle is worse than lack of brains. Personally I don't like either

Apparently the Cheif feels lack of hustle is worse than lack of brains. Personally I don't like either
- BiggE

The thing I notice with Voracek every game is he is one of the last guys off the ice, if not Hall.

Always stays a little late to give praise to the goalie, as well.

Apparently the Cheif feels lack of hustle is worse than lack of brains. Personally I don't like either
- BiggE

I think he's trying to motivate him. Seemed to work for Luke Schenn and Timmonen so far. I don't have a problem sending a message to any player that isn't working hard. I don't think he wants to see any regression in work ethic now that things are going well.

The thing I notice with Voracek every game is he is one of the last guys off the ice, if not Hall.

Always stays a little late to give praise to the goalie, as well.
- flyer_nutter

Im with ya, but sadly Berube's opinion is the only one that matters. However I'm willing to trust that he feels Voracek has the capability of working harder and playing better and this is just his way of pushing him.

On the other hand he most likely knows that Hartnell, Rinaldo and Rosehill probably arent going to get any smarter no matter what he does

The thing I notice with Voracek every game is he is one of the last guys off the ice, if not Hall.

Always stays a little late to give praise to the goalie, as well.
- flyer_nutter

I've noticed jake get lazy at the end of shifts at times.

Im with ya, but sadly Berube's opinion is the only one that matters. However I'm willing to trust that he feels Voracek has the capability of working harder and playing better and this is just his way of pushing him.

On the other hand he most likely knows that Hartnell, Rinaldo and Rosehill probably arent going to get any smarter no matter what he does
- BiggE

Get ready for Rinaldo to replace Voracek on point on the first PP unit

Get ready for Rinaldo to replace Voracek on point on the first PP unit
- funmaster18

That would be AMAZING.

Im with ya, but sadly Berube's opinion is the only one that matters. However I'm willing to trust that he feels Voracek has the capability of working harder and playing better and this is just his way of pushing him.

On the other hand he most likely knows that Hartnell, Rinaldo and Rosehill probably arent going to get any smarter no matter what he does
- BiggE

For some reason...I don't think that he's necessarily wrong about Voracek. It's not that I don't think he plays hard; I think 99 percent of the guys in the NHL play hard. Most people can't even get into the physical condition required to last one NHL practice, let alone play 15-18 minutes in a game.

But with Voracek...I don't think he concentrates at the level of a first-line player, at times. That doesn't make him a bad person or player. It just means that sometimes, he leaves you wanting more, because you can see what he is when he is focused and concentrating.

So apparently people are pretty high on Berube around here

Sounds like you are describing Jordan Staal and I would be ecstatic if this is the way he turns out. I personally agree with you that he will.
- Hextall271

I absolutely think he can be Jordan Staal, maybe even a little better, because Staal, to me, doesn't see the ice particularly well. I think Couturier sees the ice well enough to be able to make the kinds of little plays, the touch passes in tight, that Staal doesn't do quite as well.

So apparently people are pretty high on Berube around here
- flyer_nutter

Ha! I wouldn't necessarily say that...he's the coach when they're winning. We'll be ready to show his arse the door if they drop another 1-7 stretch on us.

Sounds like you are describing Jordan Staal and I would be ecstatic if this is the way he turns out. I personally agree with you that he will.
- Hextall271

hey i thought he was always just an overrated grinder

I absolutely think he can be Jordan Staal, maybe even a little better, because Staal, to me, doesn't see the ice particularly well. I think Couturier sees the ice well enough to be able to make the kinds of little plays, the touch passes in tight, that Staal doesn't do quite as well.
- AllInForFlyers

i loved staal and still am a big fan of his, but this is definitely a valid criticism

Is this stat right? On the year Steve Mason has a SV% of .980 when playing 5 on 5?

That is insane.

just win. thank you.

So apparently people are pretty high on Berube around here
- flyer_nutter

Wondering if this is a play on words

just win. thank you.
- hammarby31

those islanders are pesky as hell. the star power is there with JT and vanek, but their rank and file guys just perpetually grind with speed

Have to stay on top of the workload if I want to get to spend time with my kids before a game night.
- bmeltzer

if anything jason demers
- 2Real

Whenever I say his last name I say it using a South Park accent.

The thing I notice with Voracek every game is he is one of the last guys off the ice, if not Hall.

Always stays a little late to give praise to the goalie, as well.
- flyer_nutter

I thought Voracek has looked up on his skates lately.