3rd year down....3 more to go
- Giroux_Is_God

Until you become Bill GiG Nye?

These analogies are stupid. The only point I want to get across is that Akeson should be given a legitimate opportunity to make the Flyers next season. I would almost pencil him into the top 9 right now and see how he does to start next season
- PhillySportsGuy

Akeson played well in the playoffs. Small sample size, but 7 games against a good Rangers team he didn't look out of place at all. If he was given a look earlier, there wouldn't have been any need to trade for Downie.

Couturier was pointless, playing pretty poorly, and now we found out he had a sports hernia... Read also didn't have the strongest series, either, as Bill alluded to in his blog.

Neither guy was driving anything. Akeson was making that line go.
- Tomahawk

I wonder if Berube overplayed those guys this year. They logged a lot of tough Minutes against top lines and on the PK. It would be nice for the second line to step up and take on a little of the even strength burden next season

Couturier was pointless, playing pretty poorly, and now we found out he had a sports hernia... Read also didn't have the strongest series, either, as Bill alluded to in his blog.

Neither guy was driving anything. Akeson was making that line go.
- Tomahawk

No he wasn't. Couturier and Read had their moments but also played well at times. Akeson's shifts were hand picked at times, and was kept off the ice for a lot of key shifts. Akeson contributed with points, and did about all you can ask for a player in his situation. But he wasn't making anything go.

These analogies are stupid. The only point I want to get across is that Akeson should be given a legitimate opportunity to make the Flyers next season. I would almost pencil him into the top 9 right now and see how he does to start next season
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree, he should get a look. Although I wouldn't pencil him in.

Akeson played well in the playoffs. Small sample size, but 7 games against a good Rangers team he didn't look out of place at all. If he was given a look earlier, there wouldn't have been any need to trade for Downie.
- PLindbergh31

Don't know that, nobody does. Can possibly know how Akeson would have fared over a longer stretch of games, from when Downie was dealt for in late October.

These analogies are stupid. The only point I want to get across is that Akeson should be given a legitimate opportunity to make the Flyers next season. I would almost pencil him into the top 9 right now and see how he does to start next season
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd like to see that line stay together next season. It seems like a good fit. I guess we'll see, though.

Edler for Brayden Schenn?
- LeftCoaster

Only if you include the 6th overall pick.

Wayne Simmonds

* “I think we’ve just got to work better together as a five man unit. We’ve got to make sure we have better spacing, we’ve got more support on the puck"

All the speed in the world will not compensate for this.

Too many times they were caught with gaps between the forwards & D, of course, when the opposition is clogging the neutral zone it becomes more of an issue.

No he wasn't. Couturier and Read had their moments but also played well at times. Akeson's shifts were hand picked at times, and was kept off the ice for a lot of key shifts. Akeson contributed with points, and did about all you can ask for a player in his situation. But he wasn't making anything go.
- MJL

Hey, I think the kid is awesome, you have a different opinion.

Let's just leave it at that.

Only if you include the 6th overall pick.
- ob18

Man, did Edler look like hot trash this year.

Akeson played well in the playoffs. Small sample size, but 7 games against a good Rangers team he didn't look out of place at all. If he was given a look earlier, there wouldn't have been any need to trade for Downie.
- PLindbergh31

I still think the choice to let him stay on the Phantoms may have been the right one. He got to be a more important player down there, rather than a secondary player on the big club.

Don't know that, nobody does. Can possibly know how Akeson would have fared over a longer stretch of games, from when Downie was dealt for in late October.
- MJL

Downie provided nothing, based on what I saw from Akeson in a 7 game series against a good defensive team like the Rangers, I'm confident Akeson could have produced. Certainly would have done more than Downie did.

Only if you include the 6th overall pick.
- ob18

I'd have to know the details of missing the 16 games for an LBI, was due to. Before even considering the player.

I'd have to know the details of missing the 16 games for an LBI, was due to. Before even considering the player.
- MJL

You go for it, I'd be looking at Ehlers or Dal Colle at 6th overall. Maybe Ritchie if they feel the need for another power forward.

I still think the choice to let him stay on the Phantoms may have been the right one. He got to be a more important player down there, rather than a secondary player on the big club.
- BulliesPhan87

I'm sure if the Flyers brain trust knew Akeson would be pressed into playoff action, they would have called him up and let him play some games.

I'd like to see that line stay together next season. It seems like a good fit. I guess we'll see, though.
- BulliesPhan87

I wouldn't mind that either. I really don't hate the lines moving forward. They are still very young. They will get better. I just don't like our defense that much. And VL

Downie provided nothing, based on what I saw from Akeson in a 7 game series against a good defensive team like the Rangers, I'm confident Akeson could have produced. Certainly would have done more than Downie did.
- PLindbergh31

If we take a short sample of games from Downie, before the concussion issues, it's false to say he provided nothing. He was effective before the concussion injuries piled up. And Downie has been an NHL player for a number of seasons. Akeson has not. He showed that he has some promise and some puck skills. But to say that he definitely could've produced over the majority of the season, is just a guess.

I wonder if Berube overplayed those guys this year. They logged a lot of tough Minutes against top lines and on the PK. It would be nice for the second line to step up and take on a little of the even strength burden next season
- PhillySportsGuy

If you've got a horse like Coots, who could blame you for riding him, even into the ground?

Think if Coots keeps progressing, Coots/Read could really be our Bergeron/Marchand kind of two-way tandem.

And yeah, 2nd-line needs a possession winger badly.

You go for it, I'd be looking at Ehlers or Dal Colle at 6th overall. Maybe Ritchie if they feel the need for another power forward.
- ob18

I love dal colle. I really hope the islanders don't take him. I don't want to have to root against him

I'm sure if the Flyers brain trust knew Akeson would be pressed into playoff action, they would have called him up and let him play some games.
- PLindbergh31

I don't think that's a given. I think this is a case where they showed appropriate patience. A need arose in the line up, and he'd played well enough to earn a shot, and he fit pretty well.

I love dal colle. I really hope the islanders don't take him. I don't want to have to root against him
- PhillySportsGuy

I like him a lot as well, also a big fan of Ehlers who I think is more of the goal scoring player we need but Dal Colle is no slouch and has good size

I wouldn't mind that either. I really don't hate the lines moving forward. They are still very young. They will get better. I just don't like our defense that much. And VL
- PhillySportsGuy

Yup!

Although, it was better with Andy Mac, but another guy, (or 2) would help.

VL I can do without.

I wouldn't mind that either. I really don't hate the lines moving forward. They are still very young. They will get better. I just don't like our defense that much. And VL
- PhillySportsGuy

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Bunny. I think he can be a significantly better player than he'd been since the back injury, but I don't know if he finds a fit here. We've got a long summer's worth of unforseen factors yet, as well.

If you've got a horse like Coots, who could blame you for riding him, even into the ground?

Think if Coots keeps progressing, Coots/Read could really be our Bergeron/Marchand kind of two-way tandem.

And yeah, 2nd-line needs a possession winger badly.
- Tomahawk