I just want you all to know I'm disappointed in the thread today. I'll expect better from all of you tomorrow
- PhillySportsGuy

I literally and completely debate that

So what does any of this have to do with Lecavalier vs. Akeson? Lecavalier will be a Flyer this season, Akeson might be. One is an NHL player, the only hasn't proven that he is yet.
- SuperSchennBros

It's comparing a veteran player who may well be at the end of the line to a younger player who had an impressive audition last season.

Lecavalier might stick because the Flyers were not able to trade him and his contract can't be buried in the AHL unless he agrees to go, rather than how he plays.

In Akeson's case, if he sticks, he will stick because of his play. There's no contract roadblock that prevents him from being traded or sent to the AHL.

The initial discussion came about because when some people were coming up with line combos they had Lecavalier on the 4th line & Akeson on the 3rd. It might not be a matter of keeping one over the other.

I'd like to see both play well and have them replace Rinaldo & Rosehill as a depth line that can provide offense instead of thuggery.

It's comparing a veteran player who may well be at the end of the line to a younger player who had an impressive audition last season.

Lecavalier might stick because the Flyers were not able to trade him and his contract can't be buried in the AHL unless he agrees to go, rather than how he plays.

In Akeson's case, if he sticks, he will stick because of his play. There's no contract roadblock that prevents him from being traded or sent to the AHL.

The initial discussion came about because when some people were coming up with line combos they had Lecavalier on the 4th line & Akeson on the 3rd. It might not be a matter of keeping one over the other.

I'd like to see both play well and have them replace Rinaldo & Rosehill as a depth line that can provide offense instead of thuggery.
- Jsaquella

Arguing line combination is stupid because they change like 10 times a season. I personally regardless of age, money or shortcomings, right now Lecavalier is the better player. Does Lecavalier suck defensively? Yeah but is Akeson better?

arguing line combination is stupid because they change like 10 times a season. I personally regardless of age, money or shortcomings, right now Lecavalier is the better player.
- SuperSchennBros

I think that remains to be seen. If Lecavalier plays like he did last season, and Akeson can extend what he did in his 8 games over 80 games, then Akeson would be the better player.

Lecavalier is certainly the more established player, and Akeson's career will probably never be as good as his when all is said and done, but he might not be the better player moving forward. More importantly, Akeson might be the better fit for what the Flyers need.

I think that remains to be seen. If Lecavalier plays like he did last season, and Akeson can extend what he did in his 8 games over 80 games, then Akeson would be the better player.

Lecavalier is certainly the more established player, and Akeson's career will probably never be as good as his when all is said and done, but he might not be the better player moving forward. More importantly, Akeson might be the better fit for what the Flyers need.
- Jsaquella

See that's the thing. What Akeson was able to do over the course of eight games, he won't be able to duplicate over the course of an 82 game schedule. People are missing the point, you know what you get in Lecavalier because he's been in the league for so long. What I'm seeing is fans assuming the unknown is already better then the known. Akeson has also been playing for the Phantoms for three seasons and just now getting a shot at the NHL. Why is this? I'm also pretty sure he wasn't even drafted.

Bergen was a special case, though. He wanted to pursue a professional golfing career, despised playing for Keenan and forced a trade. Then he had an abdominal tear when he was finally traded and retired.
- bmeltzer

facts. pfftt.

my oldest daughter started Kindergarten today.
- wilsonecho91

rockin' riley.

I really enjoyed listening to Therien and Saunders on the radio. Sometimes, if J.J. irritated me enough on TV, I would just put the radio on and listen in.

I guess I won't be doing that this year.
- Doc_Sarcasm

i'm thrilled with this move. thrilled.

She can lead the Resistance and yell "Wolverines!"
- Jsaquella

nothing would make him prouder. nothing.

wilsonecho91, circa 2026 -


- tangent_man

booooys! avenge meeee! aveeeeeenge meeeeeeeeeeee!

See that's the thing. What Akeson was able to do over the course of eight games, he won't be able to duplicate over the course of an 82 game schedule. People are missing the point of, you know what you get in Lecavalier because he's been in the league for so long. What I'm seeing is fans assuming the unknown is already better then the known. Akeson has also been playing for the Phantoms for three seasons and just now getting a shot at the NHL. Why is this?
- SuperSchennBros

I don't see anyone assuming that the unknown is better than the known. It's more people being eager to see the young unknown get a shot. I see people concerned that Lecavalier is heading into a period of decline where he can't be an effective top 9 player any longer. At some point guys lose their effectiveness because of age.

I share that concern, because despite scoring 20 goals last season, Lecavalier was a largely ineffective player. There's zero guarantee that Lecavalier can rebound and return to being an effective player. Again, if last season was the start of a downward trend for Vinny, all his past performance goes out the window.

As for Akeson, nobody knows if he can sustain his play from last season in the NHL over 82 games. If he can, he'll be a highly effective third liner at the NHL level. If he can't, then he can be sent down. Nobody's saying to put him in a top line role. The highest I've seen anyone pencil him in as is a third liner.

As for Akeson being in the AHL for three seasons, who cares? Players develop at different rates. Some guys take longer to become NHLers. Matt Moulson and Patrick Sharp each spent large parts of three years in the AHL. Martin St Louis spent 4 years in the IHL & AHL. I'm not saying he'll become as good as those guys, but spending a few years in the AHL doesn't mean a guy can't be an effective NHLer.

nothing would make him prouder. nothing.
- hammarby31

He's a really good dad.

I don't see anyone assuming that the unknown is better than the known. It's more people being eager to see the young unknown get a shot. I see people concerned that Lecavalier is heading into a period of decline where he can't be an effective top 9 player any longer. At some point guys lose their effectiveness because of age.

I share that concern, because despite scoring 20 goals last season, Lecavalier was a largely ineffective player. There's zero guarantee that Lecavalier can rebound and return to being an effective player. Again, if last season was the start of a downward trend for Vinny, all his past performance goes out the window.

As for Akeson, nobody knows if he can sustain his play from last season in the NHL over 82 games. If he can, he'll be a highly effective third liner at the NHL level. If he can't, then he can be sent down. Nobody's saying to put him in a top line role. The highest I've seen anyone pencil him in as is a third liner.

As for Akeson being in the AHL for three seasons, who cares? Players develop at different rates. Some guys take longer to become NHLers. Matt Moulson and Patrick Sharp each spent large parts of three years in the AHL. Martin St Louis spent 4 years in the IHL & AHL. I'm not saying he'll become as good as those guys, but spending a few years in the AHL doesn't mean a guy can't be an effective NHLer.
- Jsaquella

A player can't sustain what they've done in in 8 games into 82 seasons is what I'm saying. It's impossible. To me Akeson is a shiny new toy. We've seen a lot of good but not enough to see the bad.

Devils invite Scott Gomez to camp, per The Score
- Jsaquella

good for gomez. seriously. the guy was always great at controlled zone entries, especially from inside his own zone. i can't imagine that ability just disappears. he's not a dinosaur either. he can still skate.

needz his wallet first.
- wilsonecho91

maybe damone found it?

A player can't sustain what they've done in in 8 games into 82 seasons is what I'm saying. It's impossible. To me Akeson is a shiny new toy. We've seen a lot of good but not enough to see the bad.
- SuperSchennBros

You're being too literal.

Yes, I agree that expecting Akeson to be one of the Flyers best skaters night in and night out over the course of a full season is foolish. However, to dismiss the possibility of him being an effective third liner over 82 games is ignoring how well he played in a tough situation.

Again, I see people suggesting him as a 3rd or 4th liner, not as Giroux's left wing.

As far as Lecavalier goes, it seems as if you're saying there's no doubt he can return to what he was and there's no question he should be the second line center and it will be fine, because he's had a good career.

I don't know if he can rebound, because a guy that plays as poorly as Lecavalier did for most of last season at a somewhat advanced age sends up all sorts of red flags.

I'm not even sure it boils down to Akeson or Lecavalier. Given my druthers, I'd lean towards making them linemates.

Just5 posted lines earlier that made quite a bit of sense, especially if Berube is dead set on keeping Giroux and Voracek together and Couturier and Read together. And if you're going to discuss keeping one guy or another, then it definitely isn't stupid to look at where he will end up playing.

The lines were
10-28-93
24-14-17
12-40-42
Bellemare-White/Laughton-Umberger

Those lines give decent balance on paper and could relieve the pressure on Couturier, while also increasing the offensive opportunities his line would see.

good for gomez. seriously. the guy was always great at controlled zone entries, especially from inside his own zone. i can't imagine that ability just disappears. he's not a dinosaur either. he can still skate.
- hammarby31

They invited Kaberle, too.

Odd, because the Devils who are usually tight lipped came out and announced that they were inviting them and the Flyers wouldn't discus Penner or Malone.

maybe damone found it?
- hammarby31

I don't know, Rat...I'm pretty busy

http://www.icethetics.co/blog/

flyer jersey news
- KINGKENZO

i was just discussing this yesterday, before seeing this post from icethetics, and was saying i really hope they don't retread the 2012 wc jersey. i also have very low expectations for the "new" sweater...whatever it is. i would love to be wrong.

You're being too literal.

Yes, I agree that expecting Akeson to be one of the Flyers best skaters night in and night out over the course of a full season is foolish. However, to dismiss the possibility of him being an effective third liner over 82 games is ignoring how well he played in a tough situation.

Again, I see people suggesting him as a 3rd or 4th liner, not as Giroux's left wing.

As far as Lecavalier goes, it seems as if you're saying there's no doubt he can return to what he was and there's no question he should be the second line center and it will be fine, because he's had a good career.

I don't know if he can rebound, because a guy that plays as poorly as Lecavalier did for most of last season at a somewhat advanced age sends up all sorts of red flags.

I'm not even sure it boils down to Akeson or Lecavalier. Given my druthers, I'd lean towards making them linemates.

Just5 posted lines earlier that made quite a bit of sense, especially if Berube is dead set on keeping Giroux and Voracek together and Couturier and Read together. And if you're going to discuss keeping one guy or another, then it definitely isn't stupid to look at where he will end up playing.

The lines were
10-28-93
24-14-17
12-40-42
Bellemare-White/Laughton-Umberger

Those lines give decent balance on paper and could relieve the pressure on Couturier, while also increasing the offensive opportunities his line would see.
- Jsaquella

I'm considering the injuries more then most have. Lecavalier wasn't very good after the injuries. I don't care if Lecavalier, Holmgren or Berube say he wasn't bothered by injuries. Not many will use injuries as an excuse.

So no more ice girls.

That is all.
- MBFlyerfan

is that where coatsey's being reallocated?

seriously, what/who will be their replacement?

A hate the face player if there ever was one.
- hereticpride

the devils have been loaded with those throughout their history.

Arguing line combination is stupid because they change like 10 times a season. I personally regardless of age, money or shortcomings, right now Lecavalier is the better player. Does Lecavalier suck defensively? Yeah but is Akeson better?
- SuperSchennBros

i agree, and i wish others did too. it would remove a lot of lengthy, pointless conversations in here. i skip over virtually every single post i see with a breakdown of line combos. i literally could not give two flying (frank)s about this topic being debated.

He's a really good dad.
- Jsaquella

this is true.

A player can't sustain what they've done in in 8 games into 82 seasons is what I'm saying. It's impossible. To me Akeson is a shiny new toy. We've seen a lot of good but not enough to see the bad.
- SuperSchennBros

yeah, wayne gretzky probably disagrees with you.