I really tried to be nice last night without being condescending. I was hoping to put this whole thing to rest once and for all. I guess it's just not possible to agree to disagree and move on.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think you'd have an easier time convincing Donald Sterling to have Magic Johnson over for dinner.

Yea having not checked recently, his point totals were higher than I anticipated upon checking to compare to B Schenn. You can tell how smart he is on the ice. The points will come if put in the position to get them, and I don't think his play in the D zone would suffer one bit.
- eayost

The Flyers have been in a catch 22 situation wit Couturier. The best way for them to win, was to use Couturier the way they have been. As a checking center in d situations, with lots of D zone starts. But at some point, they have to free him up, and let him develop in other areas, to maximize his development as a player. In order to do that, they have to get better as a team overall defensively, and in 5 on 5 play.

The team as a whole holds onto the puck for too long. It's a product of not playing fast enough. Even in the offensive zone. They have to get to the net faster

So are we doing a pool on how many minutes it will take for Quick to get run/injured tonight?

I think you'd have an easier time convincing Donald Sterling to have Magic Johnson over for dinner.
- Tomahawk

He can sleep over, just no pictures.

I would disagree that over the course of the entire season, Lecavalier made every one he played with worse. And that every line got worse. This is selective memory. And ignores how Lecavalier played before the injury and the position change. I have no problem with criticism of Lecavalier, nor do I have an issue with anyone suggesting they trade him. There are definite questions of whether he can get healthy and get back to where he was before the injury. And where he fits in the lineup, and if they have the players to compliment him. That all has merit. But this idea that he's just a PP specialist at this point, is premature. And certainly not a fact. Nor is it a fact that he is injury prone. Let's look at the facts concerning his injuries in the last 4 years. Since the 10/11 Season, he has missed 55 games, due to various injuries. 33 of those games, were due to two separate broken hand injuries. Injuries that could happen to any player, and do not point to being an injury prone player. He missed a game with a facial injury. And he missed 12 games due to minor LBI injuries. The only injury that is a concern going forward, is the back injury. So in my opinion, I think it is misleading to call him injury prone.
As far as playing him in the right spot, in the right role, and against the right matchups. That's true of the overwhelming majority of players in the NHL. And is true for many of the players on the Flyers roster. Doesn't make anyone a bad player.
I agree that having every player on the team, a solid 2 way player, would make the Flyers a better team. And I agree that is a legitimate reason for moving Lecavalier. But this idea that he is washed up, and his play on the ice was the result of just being a PP specialist, who makes every player and every line worse, while ignoring all the circumstances behind his season, is a biased and an incomplete viewpoint. And ignores the possibility that Lecavalier can come back in good shape, and stronger, and regain his game. Any unbiased opinion without prejudice has to include that possibility. How one half of a season can trump a distinguished career is mind boggling.
- MJL

How about giving him a shot at the 2nd line without Schenn. Schenn is a glorified grinder and nothing more. Lecavalier needs to play with an offensive gifted player.

So are we doing a pool on how many minutes it will take for Quick to get run/injured tonight?
- jmatchett383

I think the better pool is picking the player who will injure him.

Thats what they had this past year. Raffl, Hall, Couts and Read all played in the bottom 6
- PhillySportsGuy

Basically the third line and one from the 4th. Specifically I am looking at a 4th line that can pick up that slack. I like Zac Rinaldo, he can skate, and hit.....and SHOULD be able to kill penalties. If he could add that to his resume he would become an infinitely more valuable piece.

But he either lacks hockey sense or discipline (probably both). And don't get me started on guys like Jay Rosehill.

I don't like players that cant play more than one role on a team, unless they are putting up 30 goals and are doing their specific role so well they cant be denied.

I have nothing personal against Jay Rosehill. But he is a severely limited role player and I think the team should start looking to similarly salaried players who can do a little more on the ice. Maybe not be called on to do it all the time, but have the ability to be relied on to do it if needed. I don't want passengers on the bench late in games any more. Be them either in an offensive or defensive role primarily.

I don't think I'm stating my case as clearly as I would like so I hope you all can decipher my ramblings. I'm full of Revv today.

How about giving him a shot at the 2nd line without Schenn. Schenn is a glorified grinder and nothing more. Lecavalier needs to play with an offensive gifted player.
- tk71

I would agree that Lecavalier, Schenn, and even Simmonds are not a good fit together. Lecavalier needs to play with a playmaking winger, preferably a LW.

He can sleep over, just no pictures.
- PhillySportsGuy

And you can't tell anyone about it.

I don't like the idea of stacking the top two lines as much. If the Flyers can sign a strong, two-way winger to play with Schenn or Couturier, it should provide good balance.

Hopefully, Laughton and Raffl will be able to form a productive 4th line as well.

Giving the team balance will allow Berube to roll the 4 lines a lot more evenly. It will give Couts more offensive opportunities and better match ups.

This past season, the Flyers 2nd and 4th lines could not be trusted. Berube wanted to use the 1st line in more offensive situations because that's what you do with a top line. It left Couturier's line to do the heavy defensive work. In the playoffs, Couturier took 1 offensive zone face-off for every 4 defensive zone face-offs. I believe the offense is there. He just needs more opportunity.
- PhillySportsGuy

When it comes to ice time, Couturier's line is the 2nd line.

I think you'd have an easier time convincing Donald Sterling to have Magic Johnson over for dinner.
- Tomahawk

I think the better pool is picking the player who will injure him.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree that they are a large market team that will always spend to the cap. Spending the max doesn't necessarily equate to money being spent wisely.
- PLindbergh31

Strange thing is, some of the most competitive large market teams haven't spent to the cap in recent seasons...

2011-12: BOS $1M unspent, SJ $2.3M, CHI $3.9M, DET $4.6M
2012-13: NYR $1.4M, CHI $2.9M, PIT $3.4M, BOS $5.7M, DET $7.3M, LA $8.2M
2013-14 was artificially lower, but even LA and NYR didn't exceed the max.

Glen Sather's managed to not max out his cap-space in recent years, despite taking on some huge contracts by being steadfast in negotiations with his RFA's, and BOS's stayed well under the ceiling despite carrying Savard on LTIR and managing around the Thomas thing.

I'm just not sure there's any correlation between spending every last dollar and going deeper in the PO's/winning Cups.

When it comes to ice time, Couturier's line is the 2nd line.
- BiggE

It's more about situational play. He logs a ton of PK time and very hard ES minutes. I bet it's rare he sees time against 3rd or 4th lines.

Are you practicing? My wedding is less than 3 weeks away. Ali wants to walk down the aisle to ACDC.

It's more about situational play. He logs a ton of PK time and very hard ES minutes. I bet it's rare he sees time against 3rd or 4th lines.

Are you practicing? My wedding is less than 3 weeks away. Ali wants to walk down the aisle to ACDC.
- PhillySportsGuy

Geez, ACDC, that's kind of mellow. I was thinking about a nice mix of death metal and hardcore punk.

Strange thing is, some of the most competitive large market teams haven't spent to the cap in recent seasons...

2011-12: BOS $1M unspent, SJ $2.3M, CHI $3.9M, DET $4.6M
2012-13: NYR $1.4M, CHI $2.9M, PIT $3.4M, BOS $5.7M, DET $7.3M, LA $8.2M
2013-14 was artificially lower, but even LA and NYR didn't exceed the max.

Even Glen Sather's managed to not max out his cap-space in recent years, despite taking on some huge contracts by being steadfast in negotiations with his RFA's, and BOS's stayed well under the ceiling despite carrying Savard on LTIR and managing around the Thomas thing.

I'm just not sure there's any correlation between spending every last dollar and going deeper in the PO's/winning Cups.
- Tomahawk

There is no correlation to going deeper on the PO's/winning Cups as far as I'm concerned. I don't know if that is factually true, but that's my outlook on it.

Geez, ACDC, that's kind of mellow. I was thinking about a nice mix of death metal and hardcore punk.
- BiggE

Just go all-out and get some Norwegian black metal.

Edit: Thunderstruck would be an awesome song to walk down the aisle to.

I wanted to actually do the wedding reception introductions (parents/bridal party/groomsmen) to O Fortuna and enter the reception on a fully-mounted war horse, but my wife vetoed the idea.

Just go all-out and get some Norwegian black metal.
- jmatchett383

Ooh, now there's a thought!

Geez, ACDC, that's kind of mellow. I was thinking about a nice mix of death metal and hardcore punk.
- BiggE

My Bubby is much more traditional

Just go all-out and get some Norwegian black metal.

Edit: Thunderstruck would be an awesome song to walk down the aisle to.

I wanted to actually do the wedding reception introductions (parents/bridal party/groomsmen) to O Fortuna and enter the reception on a fully-mounted war horse, but my wife vetoed the idea.
- jmatchett383

Wives are always ruining such great ideas.

Wives are always ruining such great ideas.
- PhillySportsGuy

Man....women be SHOPPIN!

time to flip over to the new thread...

Wives are always ruining such great ideas.
- PhillySportsGuy

So true. Mine wouldn't let me paint the interior of the house black and orange nor buy a grenade launcher!

How about giving him a shot at the 2nd line without Schenn. Schenn is a glorified grinder and nothing more. Lecavalier needs to play with an offensive gifted player.
- tk71

Did we try a Raffl-Lecavalier-Simmonds line? Nope. Was Brayden Schenn ever demoted, nope.