Couturier was floating in the slot on that first one, too. He had an opportunity to do more than try a weak poke at the puck, but was barely moving his feet.
- tangent_man

VL and Cooter are bringing each other down. Not to mention Rinaldo or Downie who has been just brutal. THat line cannot get the puck up the ice and its awful all around. Where the hell is Read?

They tried Vinny on the top line and it didn't really work. They've tried several people and the current group has done the best by far.
- PhillySportsGuy

I understand that. But when it all shakes out, this is the way it has to be. Vincent Lecavalier is NOT going to be playing on the 4th line.

And that top line, when he was there, was a much a product of Giroux and Voracek not producing.

Raffl will be the "odd man out" of the top 9. It is the way it has to be.

Injuries can and will just screw it all up anyway, and the point will be moot.

Couturier was floating in the slot on that first one, too. He had an opportunity to do more than try a weak poke at the puck, but was barely moving his feet.
- tangent_man

Emery did not help himself on that Jagr pass that was practically through the blue paint.

I understand that. But when it all shakes out, this is the way it has to be. Vincent Lecavalier is NOT going to be playing on the 4th line.

And that top line, when he was there, was a much a product of Giroux and Voracek not producing.

Raffl will be the "odd man out" of the top 9. It is the way it has to be.

Injuries can and will just screw it all up anyway, and the point will be moot.
- MBFlyerfan

What happens when the top line becomes ineffective with Vinny?

Emery did not help himself on that Jagr pass that was practically through the blue paint.
- johndewar

I don't really blame him for either of those goals

I don't really blame him for either of those goals
- PhillySportsGuy

Emery to me played like a back up last night. Did not look comfortable and was flopping all over the place. It seemed like he had no clue where his post was all night.

Emery to me played like a back up last night. Did not look comfortable and was flopping all over the place. It seemed like he had no clue where his post was all night.
- AGL_91

He wasn't great, but neither of the goals he allowed were stoppable. Going into this season, we all knew he wasn't a very good pipe to pipe goalie. He is much more structurally sound. If he's facing the shooter, he's at his best. I'd be nervous playing him full time if Mason went down. He's an adequate backup though.

Guess you can't be happy when your team turns a corner anymore, no matter how small.

I just believe in playing the best players at that time. If Vinny isn't one of the best 9 players, then he shouldn't be in the top 9.
- PhillySportsGuy

.

Vinny is still showing the effects of his back fracture. I'd play him more if he's beginning to feel better, not less. If the Flyers want to make a serious run to the PO's, they'd be better served by getting Vinny acclimated and getting more important minutes.

I'm not looking to take Raffl off the first line yet, But I'm not advocating dropping a player like Lecavalier to the fourth line. That's ludicrous.

Interesting stat about a particular flyer from Todd Cordell in his blog today....

Lets play name that Flyer!

"The Flyers did not register a shot attempt in his 7:34 of 5 vs 5 ice and they allowed 10. That's not very good where I come from."

Yeah this guy has been flat out ineffective all year. How many more chances will he get?

Hmmmm. Maybe all those hockey guys who questioned the length of LeCavalier's contract were on to something?

Nahh, that could never be it.

.

Vinny is still showing the effects of his back fracture. I'd play him more if he's beginning to feel better, not less. If the Flyers want to make a serious run to the PO's, they'd be better served by getting Vinny acclimated and getting more important minutes.

I'm not looking to take Raffl off the first line yet, But I'm not advocating dropping a player like Lecavalier to the fourth line. That's ludicrous.
- 77rams

Im not touching B Schenn's line. We need to see how far this line can take us. Raffl doesnt go anywhere either. I like he idea of sprinkling Lecavalier on the top line throughout the game just to shake things up

There is a huge correlation between B Schenn suddenly looking very good and Couturier's line looking very bad.

One common denominator.
- bradleyc4

I like Vinny but I just think the issue is Schenn, Couturier and Vinny all being better at center.

Interesting stat about a particular flyer from Todd Cordell in his blog today....

Lets play name that Flyer!

"The Flyers did not register a shot attempt in his 7:34 of 5 vs 5 ice and they allowed 10. That's not very good where I come from."

Yeah this guy has been flat out ineffective all year. How many more chances will he get?
- Just5

Rinaldo ?

Rinaldo ?
- Chris48

ding ding ding. He also tallied a whopping 0 hits

I like Vinny but I just think the issue is Schenn, Couturier and Vinny all being better at center.
- nastyflyergirl

Agreed. If you weren't planning on moving one of them then why sign Vinny? I always thought Schenn looked better at center.

I know this isnt going to be popular, but if I were Homer I would really consider moving Simmonds while he is so hot, and looks so good. That is the piece that could be a main part of a deal to get that number 1 defenseman. I honestly wonder if Nashville would be interested in a few of our offensive pieces for either Jones or Weber. They really need offense bad.

Simmonds, Read, Laughton, Gustefsson for Weber or Jones.

Raffl-Giroux-Voracek
Hartnell-Schenn-Lecavalier
Downie-Couturier-Akeson
Hall-Vandevelde-Rinaldo

Timonen-Weber
Grossmann-Coburn
Streit-Schenn

I would then love to get a sniper in the off-season or at the deadline. Take a chance on Gaborik who was hurt and his salary might be hurt because of it. Maybe he would take a 1 year cheap deal to reprove himself to the league as a top sniper that wont get injured.

Guess you can't be happy when your team turns a corner anymore, no matter how small.
- funmaster18

5-1 road trip and people still complain.

I know this isnt going to be popular, but if I were Homer I would really consider moving Simmonds while he is so hot, and looks so good. That is the piece that could be a main part of a deal to get that number 1 defenseman. I honestly wonder if Nashville would be interested in a few of our offensive pieces for either Jones or Weber. They really need offense bad.

Simmonds, Read, Laughton, Gustefsson for Weber or Jones.

Raffl-Giroux-Voracek
Hartnell-Schenn-Lecavalier
Downie-Couturier-Akeson
Hall-Vandevelde-Rinaldo

Timonen-Weber
Grossmann-Coburn
Streit-Schenn

I would then love to get a sniper in the off-season or at the deadline. Take a chance on Gaborik who was hurt and his salary might be hurt because of it. Maybe he would take a 1 year cheap deal to reprove himself to the league as a top sniper that wont get injured.
- youarewrong

You got that right

If B Schenn continues to play well at center, I think the Flyers need to have a talk with VL. Vinnie is a center, he clearly looks uncomfortable at wing. Also he signed here thinking that he was going to be playing in Laviolette's uptempo attack at all costs systems, rather than the snoozefest he had played under Boucher. If he had known that the Flyers would quickly be playing Berube's defense first system, who knows if he would have signed with the Flyers in the first place.

If he is amenable to a trade to a destination acceptable to him, I think the Flyers need to think about pursuing that deal. Lord knows, Toronto could badly use a center and I would think that would be a destination that he would be amenable to.

Since I don't think VL is going to bring back a young dman in a deal, perhaps offer him to the Leafs for Lupul? The Flyers could certainly use another good winger and its not like the Leafs would be trading youth for age as Lupul is 30 and Vinnie 33.

The lines could be:
Raffl-Giroux-Voracek
Hartnell-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Lupul
Rinaldo or VDV-Hall-Downie

Thats a pretty good and deep group of fowards IMO.

Thoughts?

Interesting stat about a particular flyer from Todd Cordell in his blog today....

Lets play name that Flyer!

"The Flyers did not register a shot attempt in his 7:34 of 5 vs 5 ice and they allowed 10. That's not very good where I come from."

Yeah this guy has been flat out ineffective all year. How many more chances will he get?
- Just5

That's a tough set of stats -- it's not all on him. And I do think it's not unfair to have tried him on the PK.

But at some point...yeah, you gotta make sure you've thought long and hard about whether you can upgrade that spot.

So by losing more and getting the 10th pick instead of the 18-22nd pick will make the team better?

Edit: I can guarantee you that every team will hit a cold streak between now and the end of the season.
- PhillySportsGuy

There is more to it then that. Its about deciding whether this team as constructed can win, or if changes need to be made to get them to that point. While they are still in the playoff hunt they arent going to give up major pieces to get a defenseman that they need for the future, or the Sniper the need to be a true scoring threat team.

I know this isnt going to be popular, but if I were Homer I would really consider moving Simmonds while he is so hot, and looks so good. That is the piece that could be a main part of a deal to get that number 1 defenseman. I honestly wonder if Nashville would be interested in a few of our offensive pieces for either Jones or Weber. They really need offense bad.

Simmonds, Read, Laughton, Gustefsson for Weber or Jones.

Raffl-Giroux-Voracek
Hartnell-Schenn-Lecavalier
Downie-Couturier-Akeson
Hall-Vandevelde-Rinaldo

Timonen-Weber
Grossmann-Coburn
Streit-Schenn

I would then love to get a sniper in the off-season or at the deadline. Take a chance on Gaborik who was hurt and his salary might be hurt because of it. Maybe he would take a 1 year cheap deal to reprove himself to the league as a top sniper that wont get injured.
- youarewrong

Why is it that Simmonds is consider hot?

Simmer put up 28 goals in 2011-12
Last year he was on pace for 29.
This season? 28.

Thats about as consistent a player as you can get.

If B Schenn continues to play well at center, I think the Flyers need to have a talk with VL. Vinnie is a center, he clearly looks uncomfortable at wing. Also he signed here thinking that he was going to be playing in Laviolette's uptempo attack at all costs systems, rather than the snoozefest he had played under Boucher. If he had known that the Flyers would quickly be playing Berube's defense first system, who knows if he would have signed with the Flyers in the first place.

If he is amenable to a trade to a destination acceptable to him, I think the Flyers need to think about pursuing that deal. Lord knows, Toronto could badly use a center and I would think that would be a destination that he would be amenable to.

Since I don't think VL is going to bring back a young dman in a deal, perhaps offer him to the Leafs for Lupul? The Flyers could certainly use another good winger and its not like the Leafs would be trading youth for age as Lupul is 30 and Vinnie 33.

The lines could be:
Raffl-Giroux-Voracek
Hartnell-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Lupul
Rinaldo or VDV-Hall-Downie

Thats a pretty good and deep group of fowards IMO.

Thoughts?
- BiggE

I wish. But I recall reading something that Vinny wants to stay on the coast and would prefer not to play in Canada. Doesn't mean that things couldn't change...but I recall reading something to that effect.

I don't know if I'm quite ready to cash in Vinny yet...he was one of very few guys who was doing anything at the start of the year, and I think he deserves some credit for that. He deserves the opportunity to figure this thing out, and guys will get hurt.

But yeah. This is looking a little tricky right now.

He wasn't great, but neither of the goals he allowed were stoppable. Going into this season, we all knew he wasn't a very good pipe to pipe goalie. He is much more structurally sound. If he's facing the shooter, he's at his best. I'd be nervous playing him full time if Mason went down. He's an adequate backup though.
- PhillySportsGuy

That first goal was absolutely preventable by a stick on the ice in the blue paint. He needs to poke that puck out of there.