I would put Read on the top line with Giroux and Voracek. Read is the Flyers best two-way wing by a wide margin, and he can score. I think Read playing with two dynamic playmakers could turn him into a 30 goal scorer easily. Also being Giroux's line plays against other top lines, would be nice to have a solid defender up front like Read.
- PLindbergh31

Finally, someone else who see's Read's potential. He deserves a chance to be on the top line, imo. Even in games where everyone else is slacking, Read is giving 110%. The guy hustles his butt off, and grinds for hard fought goals.

Nobody is saying he can't produce, the issue is skating & his two way game, combined with really only being effective at C, where three of the organization's best young players are most effective.

Looking at what the GM & coach say they want the team to play like, Lecavalier isn't a great fit, despite his ability to still score goals. The coach had issues fitting him in last season, which makes me concerned he will have trouble in 2014-15
- Jsaquella

FWIW, if VL is going to be here, I would try the following:

Raffl or Read-G-VL
Read or Raffl-Schenn-Voracek
Umberger-Couturier-Simmonds

Food for thought.

I know Lecavalier is 34 years old but there are plenty of players that can produce well into their late 30's

1999-2000 80 gp 25g 42a 67p -25
2000-2001 68 gp 23g 28a 51p -26
2001-2002 76 gp 20g 17a 37p -18

2011-2012 64 gp 22g 27a 49p -2
2012-2013 39 gp 10g 22a 32p -5
2013-2014 69 gp 20g 17a 37p -16

I say give the guy a chance. He has proven his whole career to be a performer. He had a rough year....
- GOA88

I'm not gonna disagree, but you're comparing production on a bottom-5 lottery team to production on a playoff team.

Finally, someone else who see's Read's potential. He deserves a chance to be on the top line, imo. Even in games where everyone else is slacking, Read is giving 110%. The guy hustles his butt off, and grinds for hard fought goals.
- WarriorHockey21

Read would be a top 6 winger on almost any other NHL team. He scores 20 goals a season, despite being used in a heavy defensive role. When people talk about getting G a better winger, I point to Read.

Food for thought.

I know Lecavalier is 34 years old but there are plenty of players that can produce well into their late 30's

1999-2000 80 gp 25g 42a 67p -25
2000-2001 68 gp 23g 28a 51p -26
2001-2002 76 gp 20g 17a 37p -18

2011-2012 64 gp 22g 27a 49p -2
2012-2013 39 gp 10g 22a 32p -5
2013-2014 69 gp 20g 17a 37p -16

I say give the guy a chance. He has proven his whole career to be a performer. He had a rough year....
- GOA88

Who's numbers are these?

FWIW, if VL is going to be here, I would try the following:

Raffl or Read-G-VL
Read or Raffl-Schenn-Voracek
Umberger-Couturier-Simmonds
- BiggE

My first gut instinct would be to play Lecavalier as the RW with Giroux and Read. Use Voracek with either Schenn, and Simmonds with Couturier.

They need a bigger winger than Read on that line. They would literally have no physical presence
- GOA88

Meh... Unless you are going to play Simmonds on the top line, no one else really fits the bill.

Read would be a top 6 winger on almost any other NHL team. He scores 20 goals a season, despite being used in a heavy defensive role. When people talk about getting G a better winger, I point to Read.
- Jsaquella

I agree. My only concern with having Read and G with VL or Jake is that there is really no physical presence at all on the line, but I think there would be enough skill to offset that.

Read would be a top 6 winger on almost any other NHL team. He scores 20 goals a season, despite being used in a heavy defensive role. When people talk about getting G a better winger, I point to Read.
- Jsaquella

My first gut instinct would be to play Lecavalier as the RW with Giroux and Read. Use Voracek with either Schenn, and Simmonds with Couturier.
- Jsaquella

Works for me.

I agree. My only concern with having Read and G with VL or Jake is that there is really no physical presence at all on the line, but I think there would be enough skill to offset that.
- BiggE

Could also use Simmonds & Read, but that removes Lecavalier

Finally, someone else who see's Read's potential. He deserves a chance to be on the top line, imo. Even in games where everyone else is slacking, Read is giving 110%. The guy hustles his butt off, and grinds for hard fought goals.
- WarriorHockey21

They have skated read on the top line before. IMO they didn't look good. They really do need more of a physical presence

They have skated read on the top line before. IMO they didn't look good. They really do need more of a physical presence
- Just5

He's never been used there for more than a game or two. Hard to say it won't work without giving it a legit chance

Why can't we just leave Read where he is? Him and Couturier have a nice chemistry together in the same way Giroux and Voracek do. I would rather say let's add someone to Read and Couturier. When Downie first joined that line it was our best line most nights. I think Schenn is a better fit on the top line with his size and the way he gets in on the forecehck also he is more of a shoot first type.

Could also use Simmonds & Read, but that removes Lecavalier
- Jsaquella

Yeah, I'd really rather keep VL with Giroux. I think for Vinnie to be successful, he needs to play with a top flight playmaker that can get him the puck where he likes to shoot it and Giroux certainly fits that bill.

I'm not gonna disagree, but you're comparing production on a bottom-5 lottery team to production on a playoff team.
- jmatchett383

Sure. Vinny also was the #1 guy. He played major minutes. He had plenty of opportunity

Meh... Unless you are going to play Simmonds on the top line, no one else really fits the bill.
- PLindbergh31

At least Vinny is a big body that can work the corners.

Yeah, I'd really rather keep VL with Giroux. I think for Vinnie to be successful, he needs to play with a top flight playmaker that can get him the puck where he likes to shoot it and Giroux certainly fits that bill.
- BiggE

Me too. I really do think they need to give the Vinny/Giroux thing another look. It sounds sexy but.....

Food for thought.

I know Lecavalier is 34 years old but there are plenty of players that can produce well into their late 30's

1999-2000 80 gp 25g 42a 67p -25
2000-2001 68 gp 23g 28a 51p -26
2001-2002 76 gp 20g 17a 37p -18

2011-2012 64 gp 22g 27a 49p -2
2012-2013 39 gp 10g 22a 32p -5
2013-2014 69 gp 20g 17a 37p -16

I say give the guy a chance. He has proven his whole career to be a performer. He had a rough year....
- GOA88

Why the Lecavalier discussion? Ek said that Pheonix... err Arizona... err soon to be Seattle or Quebec is "kicking the tires" on a Vinny trade. Then we can pull the trigger on the Byfuglien and Kane trade proposals that the Flyers have been pondering for the past 3 years. E3, E5, E4.

Why can't we just leave Read where he is? Him and Couturier have a nice chemistry together in the same way Giroux and Voracek do. I would rather say let's add someone to Read and Couturier. When Downie first joined that line it was our best line most nights. I think Schenn is a better fit on the top line with his size and the way he gets in on the forecehck also he is more of a shoot first type.
- J35Bacher

I am of the mind that Couts holds Read back a little offensively. I also dont see the chemistry between Giroux/Voracek. They are both skilled so they collect points but they dont really look like they gel together. I think we can afford to split that up.

Why the Lecavalier discussion? Ek said that Pheonix... err Arizona... err soon to be Seattle or Quebec is "kicking the tires" on a Vinny trade. Then we can pull the trigger on the Byfuglien and Kane trade proposals that the Flyers have been pondering for the past 3 years. E3, E5, E4.
- High_and_wide

Vinny is going nowhere. Maybe at the deadline next season if a team is desperate and making a cup run.

Why can't we just leave Read where he is? Him and Couturier have a nice chemistry together in the same way Giroux and Voracek do. I would rather say let's add someone to Read and Couturier. When Downie first joined that line it was our best line most nights. I think Schenn is a better fit on the top line with his size and the way he gets in on the forecehck also he is more of a shoot first type.
- J35Bacher

They can, the trouble is making the all lines better at 5 on 5. Couturier & Read do a good job, given the match ups they face and situations they're used in. Giroux and Voracek are also good 5 on 5. The trouble is the 10-40-17 line and the most common 4th line last year were pretty bad at 5 on 5.

To address the biggest team weakness, which is 5 on 5 play, they might need to shuffle things around.

I am of the mind that Couts holds Read back a little offensively. I also dont see the chemistry between Giroux/Voracek. They are both skilled so they collect points but they dont really look like they gel together. I think we can afford to split that up.
- GOA88

Why does Couturier hold him back? I think there role is different. They create offense from the defense they play. You also have to look at D matchup. If Read plays on thetope lin he will see more top pairing d then the match up he sees when with Couturier. I think he can play up there when needed because he is versatile.

Yeah, I'd really rather keep VL with Giroux. I think for Vinnie to be successful, he needs to play with a top flight playmaker that can get him the puck where he likes to shoot it and Giroux certainly fits that bill.
- BiggE

The other option is Vinny with Voracek, in terms of getting him a line ate with top end skill that can get him the puck

Read would be a top 6 winger on almost any other NHL team. He scores 20 goals a season, despite being used in a heavy defensive role. When people talk about getting G a better winger, I point to Read.
- Jsaquella

agreed, i see him as top 6 much more than umberger or raffl