You're right, we should be giving Rosehill his minutes. Or perhaps we can call up the beloved Tye McGinn, who's got the worst +/- amongst Phantoms forwards and is injured.

The thing is, no one's arguing with you. No one's absolving him. He's very prone to stupid, selfish penalties. But he's still the best option on that line, unless you want to move Raffl up and have a 4th line containing both Rinaldo and Downie. Like I said, you just have to hope, moving forward, that he can play more like the guy from Saturday and less like the guy we've seen for the majority of his time here. I'm not really expecting it, but I'm hoping for it.
- jmatchett383

Good point. Streit2thePoint said it right, too. Juggling lines when they are playing well would be a mistake. It looked right on paper when the trade happened and the offense was struggling. Thanks for entertaining my tired Downie post.

Bill - You think Crawford gets the start over Raanta tonight???

Blackhawks are home tomorrow vs Blues. My guess is that Raanta
gets the start tonight and I hope the Flyers don't get stymied by the
backup

Speaking of which... are there no Dallas fans on this site? All of Bill's blogs about Dallas games have like 3 or 4 replies, whereas Flyers have 1000+ at times.
- Streit2ThePoint

Oh no, all of their fans are on this site.

He was actually very good on Saturday. He was the Steve Downie who was part of that Read-Couturier-Downie trio that got the team going. Sunday was the more frequent one. You're not alone on this, but at present, there's no better option, and we can only hope his play comes back around.
- jmatchett383

I personally would like to see Raffl play with Read and Couturier.

I personally would like to see Raffl play with Read and Couturier.
- tk71

When Downie was out sick with the flu and Raffl moved up. It did not look very good. At all.

I personally would like to see Raffl play with Read and Couturier.
- tk71

As much as I'm a fan of this late in games, I don't like the idea of a Downie-Hall-Rinaldo line. I'd prefer they keep the lines as they are, and move Raffl up to that line if/when you shorten the bench.

When Downie was out sick with the flu and Raffl moved up. It did not look very good. At all.
- FlyersSteve118

That was only for 1 game. And I just checked, Raffl only played 17 minutes (with an assist) while Coots/Read both played 20+, so he wasn't a consistent linemate. And again, not gonna base it on 1 game or even 3 games.

That was only for 1 game. And I just checked, Raffl only played 17 minutes (with an assist) while Coots/Read both played 20+, so he wasn't a consistent linemate. And again, not gonna base it on 1 game or even 3 games.
- jmatchett383

Im just saying that Downie Couts Read have something established that Raffl would have to become acclimated to.

That was only for 1 game. And I just checked, Raffl only played 17 minutes (with an assist) while Coots/Read both played 20+, so he wasn't a consistent linemate. And again, not gonna base it on 1 game or even 3 games.
- jmatchett383

This.

He looked very good on the few shifts he had with them over the weekend.

I absolutely would rather have Raffl on that line instead of Downie. I would even give Raffl Downie's inexplicable place on the 2nd PP unit.

When Downie was out sick with the flu and Raffl moved up. It did not look very good. At all.
- FlyersSteve118

I just like what I see from Raffl and think he deserves more ice time. I think he will be a hell of a player in a couple yrs.

Im just saying that Downie Couts Read have something established that Raffl would have to become acclimated to.
- FlyersSteve118

I don't think they have established anything. Downie is a passenger on that line. Most of the time it seems the only reason he is out there is to lose a battle along the wall or take a bad penalty so Read and Couturier can practice their shorthanded skills.

I just like what I see from Raffl and think he deserves more ice time. I think he will be a hell of a player in a couple yrs.
- tk71

My personal vendetta has been against Lecavalier recently but he looked very good this weekend. Although I would really like to see Raffl playing on the second line with Schenn and Simmonds. I think that they would be a great fit together.

Happy happy

My personal vendetta has been against Lecavalier recently but he looked very good this weekend. Although I would really like to see Raffl playing on the second line with Schenn and Simmonds. I think that they would be a great fit together.
- FlyersSteve118

The highest paid NHL player ever

My personal vendetta has been against Lecavalier recently but he looked very good this weekend. Although I would really like to see Raffl playing on the second line with Schenn and Simmonds. I think that they would be a great fit together.
- FlyersSteve118

His back injury was a pretty tough thing to play through.. I think he looks healthy. Honestly, since the Olympic break he has looked pretty good to me. 4 points in his last 7 games..

My personal vendetta has been against Lecavalier recently but he looked very good this weekend. Although I would really like to see Raffl playing on the second line with Schenn and Simmonds. I think that they would be a great fit together.
- FlyersSteve118

I know Schenn has been playing well, I'm just not sold on him being a second center. I think if Vinny was playing center with Simonds and Raffl it would generate more points.

I know Schenn has been playing well, I'm just not sold on him being a second center. I think if Vinny was playing center with Simonds and Raffl it would generate more points.
- tk71

I think Lecavalier would certainly be better back at Center. But B Schenn definitely belongs on the 2nd line.

His back injury was a pretty tough thing to play through.. I think he looks healthy. Honestly, since the Olympic break he has looked pretty good to me. 4 points in his last 7 games..
- jak521

Depth at center is a good thing, I think.

If someone were to go down, you have a guy in his early 30's with over 900 NHL points ready to play center for you.

He's expensive and declining, but it is a nice insurance policy to have.

Depth at center is a good thing, I think.

If someone were to go down, you have a guy in his early 30's with over 900 NHL points ready to play center for you.

He's expensive and declining, but it is a nice insurance policy to have.
- johndewar

I think he is great for the young players to learn from as well.

I think Lecavalier would certainly be better back at Center. But B Schenn definitely belongs on the 2nd line.
- MJL

This is where I am at. The stats don't really suggest that BSchenn produces any more or less at wing than he does at center. At least from what I can cobble together for this season.

I keep hearing that he is much more productive at center and sucks at wing but I for the life of me cant find any stats that really back that up decisively.

VLC on the other hand is better at center.

I think Lecavalier would certainly be better back at Center. But B Schenn definitely belongs on the 2nd line.
- MJL

We have some cap space now. Flyers should sign Gagne and have a fourth line of

Gagne Lecav Akeson
and move Raffl up to the second line. That way we have 4 scoring lines and could use our fourth line for like 10 - 12min a night if possible. No team has that kind of scoring depth lol. Im not even sure if we are allowed to sign a guy after the trade deadline though.

Harts G Voracek
Raffl schenn simmonds
downie couts read
gags lecav akeson

I dunno, looks sweet to me.

This is where I am at. The stats don't really suggest that BSchenn produces any more or less at wing than he does at center. At least from what I can cobble together for this season.

I keep hearing that he is much more productive at center and sucks at wing but I for the life of me cant find any stats that really back that up decisively.

VLC on the other hand is better at center.
- MBFlyerfan

I'd like to see him at center without Vinny or Briere on his wing. His best stretches have come as a center without those guys.

This is where I am at. The stats don't really suggest that BSchenn produces any more or less at wing than he does at center. At least from what I can cobble together for this season.

I keep hearing that he is much more productive at center and sucks at wing but I for the life of me cant find any stats that really back that up decisively.

VLC on the other hand is better at center.
- MBFlyerfan

I'm there as well, but the Flyers seem to feel differently. And at some point a decision is going to have to be made. And maybe the off season itself will decide what happens with Lecavalier and this team going forward.

We have some cap space now. Flyers should sign Gagne and have a fourth line of

Gagne Lecav Akeson
and move Raffl up to the second line. That way we have 4 scoring lines and could use our fourth line for like 10 - 12min a night if possible. No team has that kind of scoring depth lol. Im not even sure if we are allowed to sign a guy after the trade deadline though.

Harts G Voracek
Raffl schenn simmonds
downie couts read
gags lecav akeson

I dunno, looks sweet to me.
- FlyersSteve118

Are you talking about signing Gagne now? That's not going to happen. First of all, Gagne would not be eligible for the playoff. And Akeson is not a player that you play on a 4th line. It's not all about offense.

This is where I am at. The stats don't really suggest that BSchenn produces any more or less at wing than he does at center. At least from what I can cobble together for this season.

I keep hearing that he is much more productive at center and sucks at wing but I for the life of me cant find any stats that really back that up decisively.

VLC on the other hand is better at center.
- MBFlyerfan

They don't exist because the flyers never really put together a true second line with a designated LW C and RW.

He has always been stuck with aging players to hold him back and he is still producing and it does not seem like his confidence has gone down the drain yet, so that is a positive about the guy at least.