He's handsy, but lacks feet to match... if he had wheels, he would have probably gotten his shot a lot sooner.
- Tomahawk

It's not like forward speed is a big problem of ours, anyways,

Yes. Read also goes against different d match ups as playing with the Giroux line he most likely will get the top d pair. I like his role where it is. Sometimes when you start to change roles and try to get more it doesn't work. like when Lavy wanted more from Couturier and he struggled then.
- J35Bacher

Lavy never gave Couturier the tools to be better, until the end of the lockout season, and then he showed signs of improving offensively. The past season was the first chance Couturier got to play with talented wingers for extended periods of time and showed marked improvement.

Yes, Read will go against better defensive players. He also won't be facing the best competition coming at him the other way.

I'd like to keep Schenn, but he's probably the best trade chip to address the defense. I'd be fine with moving Couturier up. It'd be cheaper to sign a Dominic Moore or Brian Boyle to play 3rd line than it would be to keep Vinny & maybe cheaper than re-signing Schenn, and then you could give Laughton a shot at 3C against one of them.
- Jsaquella

As tempting as it is, I like the idea of keeping Read and Couturier as my 3rd line. Give them a guy like Mason Raymond on their wing, and you have a premier checking line that can pot you a combined 45-50 goals. Yes, if you slide those guys up their offensive numbers increase, but the chemistry that Couturier and Read has it hard to come by for players like them. I'd hate to disrupt that.

Read on the top line would be interesting. It'd be good to see how he can produce with that kind of extended opportunity. He's produced close to 50 in his current role, so if we could get a close to 60 point Matt Read, it'd be very nice. It'd also be much better cap balancing if he could prove effective in that role, as we could then just look for a bottom 6 forward to pay bottom 6 money instead of having to add another 4+ mil to the lineup.
- JAKEw1234

I think he could score 30 with Giroux. He's got the skill and speed. He's also a good two way player.

It's not like forward speed is a big problem of ours, anyways,
- JAKEw1234

Far from our main weakness, but it's definitely not an asset either. Ideally, I'd love to see them improve team quickness anywhere possible.

As tempting as it is, I like the idea of keeping Read and Couturier as my 3rd line. Give them a guy like Mason Raymond on their wing, and you have a premier checking line that can pot you a combined 45-50 goals. Yes, if you slide those guys up their offensive numbers increase, but the chemistry that Couturier and Read has it hard to come by for players like them. I'd hate to disrupt that.
- jmatchett383

It's not a bad fall back, but it's easier (and cheaper) to replace Read on the 3rd line than it is to sign or acquire a "1st line LW".

I'm looking at asset management and maximizing the production of each piece. Read is a great 3rd liner. He could also be a very good 1st or 2nd liner that provides offense and two way play and helps the team at 5 on 5, which is where they really need help

I think he could score 30 with Giroux. He's got the skill and speed. He's also a good two way player.
- Jsaquella

Thing that would give me pause is that Read doesn't take too many shots on net... his shot-rate probably wouldn't improve much if he's facing top-d matchups riding alongside G. Hartnell, for all his faults, can be counted on to pour pucks on net against tough competition.

Far from our main weakness, but it's definitely not an asset either. Ideally, I'd love to see them improve team quickness anywhere possible.
- Tomahawk

Puck support and gap management would help that.

Thing that would give me pause is that Read doesn't take too many shots on net... his shot-rate probably wouldn't improve much if he's facing top-d matchups riding alongside G. Hartnell, for all his faults, can pour pucks on net against tough competition.
- Tomahawk

I think part of that is Giroux and Voracek opening up the ice for Hartnell. I mean, let's face it, if you have those three to deal with, I'm going to worry the least about Hartnell.

Pretty sure you'd get a similar effect for Read with Giroux and Simmonds

I didn't. I thought it was bush-league, even for him.
- Scoob

Some would say sleeping with your Wife's Sister is bush-league.

Maybe he's a NASCAR fan?
- bodiva88

No

I think part of that is Giroux and Voracek opening up the ice for Hartnell. I mean, let's face it, if you have those three to deal with, I'm going to worry the least about Hartnell.

Pretty sure you'd get a similar effect for Read with Giroux and Simmonds
- Jsaquella

Definitely worth a shot.

Some would say sleeping with your wife's Sister is bush-league.
- PLindbergh31

Wife's sister-in-law... that's makes it a pro move.

Wife's sister-in-law... that's makes it a pro move.
- Tomahawk

Definitely worth a shot.
- Tomahawk

I'm not against getting a guy like Kane or Perron if possible, but I'd rather slide Read up and save assets if it's a lesser guy

They'd definitely be better off re-examining everything at ES... stuff that "worked" in the past shouldn't be set in stone, like Read/Coots and G/Jake, because for those few instances of isolated chemistry, they were still collectively a mess at evens.
- Tomahawk

There was far more then a few instances of isolated chemistry between Giroux and Voracek, and Read and Couturier. The biggest thing the Flyers have to do is get better as a team at ES. Play more consistently within a team structure. There are certainly personnel holes on this team. But shoring up the consistency issue, would go a long way towards becoming a better ES team.

Older article, but it deserves a bump, since the Kings just won the Cup again as the NHL's best possession team, making it 4 out of the last 7-seasons that has happened:

http://www.sportingnews.c...-definition-sidney-crosby

"The game’s changed. They think there’s defending in today’s game. Nah, it’s how much you have the puck. Teams that play around in their own zone (say) they’re defending but they’re generally getting scored on or taking face-offs and they need a goalie to stand on his head if that’s the way they play.”
- Darryl Sutter

Thing that would give me pause is that Read doesn't take too many shots on net... his shot-rate probably wouldn't improve much if he's facing top-d matchups riding alongside G. Hartnell, for all his faults, can be counted on to pour pucks on net against tough competition.
- Tomahawk

I would disagree with that. Change Read's role and he sees different match ups. Play him with one of the top play making Centers in the entire League. And I don't see how his shot rate wouldn't improve.

Older article, but it deserves a bump, since the Kings just won the Cup again as the NHL's best possession team, making it 4 out of the last 7-seasons that has happened:

http://www.sportingnews.c...-definition-sidney-crosby




- Tomahawk

Just out of curiosity: what's the best way to gain the puck when the other team has it so you have the puck a lot? I believe it's called defense and forechecking.

Not being (totally) smart. But a good, pressure-driven defense creates offense and possession. Otherwise, after you take 1 shot, the other team would have the puck until the took their shot, etc.

I didn't. I thought it was bush-league, even for him.
- Scoob

You and me both

I know it rubs some people the wrong way, but I love how *ahem* "honest" Stewie is when giving his feelings on other hockey peoples.
- BulliesPhan87

Stewie is the best blogger behind Bill on this site.

He tells it like it is, and it's awesome. This is a respected ref that was in the game for years and years...I think it's (frank)ing great to hear what he has to say about people and things.

He sets the record straight.

Move Hartnell and Voracek to Schenn's line. Move Read to LW & put Simmonds on Giroux's right wing. Boom. Two lines capable of carrying play and providing good offensive production.
- Jsaquella

I think this great except I would replace Schenn with Couturier.

Just out of curiosity: what's the best way to gain the puck when the other team has it so you have the puck a lot? I believe it's called defense and forechecking.

Not being (totally) smart. But a good, pressure-driven defense creates offense and possession. Otherwise, after you take 1 shot, the other team would have the puck until the took their shot, etc.
- jmatchett383

Yeah, you work like hell to get it back, but you predicate your game on not choosing to ever give it up in the first place (off-glass, dumps into zone/areas, stretch passing)... like you said before, strong support, short gaps, quick high-% passing seem to be the formula for generating more shot events/zone time, and in turn better winning %'s.

I'm not against getting a guy like Kane or Perron if possible, but I'd rather slide Read up and save assets if it's a lesser guy
- Jsaquella

I know he has maturity issues, but I think a change of scenery could really do wonders for him. I can see him being a 40 goal scorer with G as his center. Ideally, I would only like to see B. Schenn moved for blueline help, but if they can get Kane with trading B. Schenn, I would do it.

Just out of curiosity: what's the best way to gain the puck when the other team has it so you have the puck a lot? I believe it's called defense and forechecking.

Not being (totally) smart. But a good, pressure-driven defense creates offense and possession. Otherwise, after you take 1 shot, the other team would have the puck until the took their shot, etc.
- jmatchett383

That's part of it, sure. The other part of it is to avoid doing things to give possession away. When a guy like Grossmann can't do anything with the puck except dump it in or chip it out, you lose possession of it. Stressing possession and puck support goes a long way to winning the possession battle.

Obviously, there will be times where a dump in or chip out will be necessary, but target guys who have the skill and ability to keep that to a minimum and it goes a long way to helping, as does being smarter when you do dump and chase.

For instance, how often do we see the Flyers dump the puck in when everyone is stationary on the blueline? Not going to win many puck races that way, even if you have a team of Hagelins.