WHO'S ON FOURTH
- -davies-

Manny Mota?

Manny Mota?
- Jsaquella

who did what now

who did what now
- -davies-

First name that popped in my head. Guess I could have could have gone with a more Abbott & Costello-esque answer

First name that popped in my head. Guess I could have could have gone with a more Abbott & Costello-esque answer
- Jsaquella

i googled... i am wlilfully ignorant of the baseball

i googled... i am wlilfully ignorant of the baseball
- -davies-

It's the thinking man's/woman's sport. It's also one of the few sports where you can be fat and still really good.

I don't have doubts about Couturier being a second line center in his career, I agree that I'm not sure it will happen this year. Hopefully, the Flyers will give him the offensive opportunities he needs this year, which is why I advocate for four better lines. First having another line that can be relied upon to lessen the defensive load off Couts would be a great first step.

Not sure a "third" line of Lecavalier, Raffl and Umberger does that. I know a 4th line of Rinaldo, Akeson and Bellemare won't. It gets back to my overall view of lines.

If the Flyers dress a line of Umberger, Laughton & Bellemare, it'd be a pretty solid third line. If they dressed a line of Raffl, Lecavalier & Akeson, well that'd also be a pretty good third line.

Even if you flip those players around, and go Umberger, Vinny & Raffl and Bellemare, Laughton & Akeson, those are still both solid third lines.

So why focus on the stupid line number? Look at the usage, the ice time. Sure one of the lines would be a bit more defensively adept and the other more offensively inclined, but should that matter? Both lines would be very comparable in ability and skill, so to me the line designation stuff is pointless noise.
- Jsaquella

The key for the Flyers this year, is becoming a better 5 on 5 team. Putting a player like Umberger or Raffl on a line helps off set any defensive deficiencies that Lecavalier has, and gives the Flyers balance.
The mistake you're making is thinking that I think it's about line numbers. It's not. It's about putting the players in what I think is the best place to succeed. I'm also open to Akeson playing with Lecavalier, because his puck skills might help Lecavalier offensively. But that is an unknown.
And also have to look at the reality of how the team is likely to employ lines. You may have the view that a 4th line should play more. Doesn't mean it will. Nor does playing a 4th line more, guarantee anything.

i googled... i am wlilfully ignorant of the baseball
- -davies-

I thought of the bit in Airplane! where Ted Striker is hearing voices in his head. One of the lines is "Now batting for Pedro Bourbon, Manny Mota."

I thought of the bit in Airplane! where Ted Striker is hearing voices in his head. One of the lines is "Now batting for Pedro Bourbon, Manny Mota."
- Jsaquella

So is there another site that will be replacing extra skater?

So is there another site that will be replacing extra skater?
- PhillySportsGuy

There's several.

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/

http://behindthenet.ca/

http://war-on-ice.com/

So is there another site that will be replacing extra skater?
- PhillySportsGuy

Extra Skater was my favorite. By far the best and easiest to use.

There's several.

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/

http://behindthenet.ca/

http://war-on-ice.com/
- Jsaquella

Thank you, kind sir

Extra Skater was my favorite. By far the best and easiest to use.
- MJL

I agree. I liked how they graphed each player QoC x Zone starts.

Thank you, kind sir
- PhillySportsGuy

The last one is new, it allows you to make charts similar to what ES did. I've only been playing with it a bit so far, but it's easy to use.

So are we thinking Morin starts the season with the team for nine games, while Ghost gets at least a month of minor league seasoning? Should Del Zotto and/ Shultz not be able to put their collective games together, I think Gostisbehere comes back before the trade deadline.

So are we thinking Morin starts the season with the team for nine games, while Ghost gets at least a month of minor league seasoning? Should Del Zotto and/ Shultz not be able to put their collective games together, I think Gostisbehere comes back before the trade deadline.
- SuperSchennBros

It's certainly looking like Morin will start the season with the team.

Manny Mota?
- Jsaquella

Dat Airplane! reference

Dat Airplane! reference
- Giroux_Is_God

I was watching Gladiator, and it came to mind

I was watching Gladiator, and it came to mind
- Jsaquella

The best line of the movie is

MAYDAY WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!

So (frank)ing funny.

It's certainly looking like Morin will start the season with the team.
- MJL

And I'm fine with that -- sometimes, guys play themselves onto teams while veterans play themselves into trouble, if they're not careful.

As I said last night, I've only seen Morin for extended periods once, and there was some rawness, but I thought he looked like a player who probably should play in at least a few real NHL games.

Not saying they should keep him all season. Just saying that he showed a combination of speed/mobility, aggression, hockey sense and athletic ability that, albeit raw, made me at least ask the question about whether he should be playing.

The key for the Flyers this year, is becoming a better 5 on 5 team. Putting a player like Umberger or Raffl on a line helps off set any defensive deficiencies that Lecavalier has, and gives the Flyers balance.
The mistake you're making is thinking that I think it's about line numbers. It's not. It's about putting the players in what I think is the best place to succeed. I'm also open to Akeson playing with Lecavalier, because his puck skills might help Lecavalier offensively. But that is an unknown.
And also have to look at the reality of how the team is likely to employ lines. You may have the view that a 4th line should play more. Doesn't mean it will. Nor does playing a 4th line more, guarantee anything.
- MJL

The mistake you're making is that I don't necessarily think the "fourth" line should play more. I think that a team should try to have balanced lines, to give the coach as many options as possible. Having four balanced and capable lines makes the team better at 5 on 5.

It only stands to reason if you have four good lines, a smart coach would recognize that he has more flexibility. There's no line that needs to be sheltered, or that has to be specifically avoided in terms of D zone starts or other matchup situations. As for playing guys with good players, none of the lines I've suggested has anyone playing with a player with limited talent, as would happen with some teams 4th lines.

I'm not suggesting Lecavalier center Rosehill or Rinaldo, or anything close. As far aa line numbers, I'm not the one suggesting that playing a certain player on a 4th line is a bad idea, no matter of the skill level on that line. I've suggested playing Lecavalier with Raffl, Akeson and Umberger. I've suggested using Umberger with Laughton & Bellemare. Not sure how that translates to lesser quality players.

I understand my view is not the likely reality of what the team will do. It was a discussion of two posters views in what they would choose to use as lines. Don't want to deal with hypotheticals? Then stay out of the conversation. Want to deal with hypotheticals? Then don't mention "the likely reality" when people are discussing them & what they'd do differently

The best line of the movie is

MAYDAY WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!

So (frank)ing funny.
- Giroux_Is_God

I've always liked the PA fight segment, where the male and female voices argue about their home life

And I'm fine with that -- sometimes, guys play themselves onto teams while veterans play themselves into trouble, if they're not careful.

As I said last night, I've only seen Morin for extended periods once, and there was some rawness, but I thought he looked like a player who probably should play in at least a few real NHL games.

Not saying they should keep him all season. Just saying that he showed a combination of speed/mobility, aggression, hockey sense and athletic ability that, albeit raw, made me at least ask the question about whether he should be playing.
- AllInForFlyers

I see some areas where he's NHL ready. Strength, size, north-south skating, shot. Others need work. He can get beaten outside still, and he needs to work on his lateral movement. He's not exactly polished with the puck on his stick, and he's had some minor issues in losing position.

I'd be ok with a 9 game stay, but I don't want to get into a Sbisa situation. Yeah, Morin's outplayed a couple vets, but he's not fully ready. Is it worth being slightly better now, at the expense of burning a year off his ELC, bringing him a year closer to a bigger payday, all the while risking putting him in a situation he's not ready for? I don't think so

I'd rather Morin-as well as Gostisbehere, Hagg, Sanheim & Alt-get handled with patience.

I've always liked the PA fight segment, where the male and female voices argue about their home life
- Jsaquella

Don't you tell me what the red zone is for and what the white zone is for...

Don't you tell me what the red zone is for and what the white zone is for...
- Giroux_Is_God

Just a brilliant piece of comedy. Barbara Billingsly as the jive speaking grandma

And I'm fine with that -- sometimes, guys play themselves onto teams while veterans play themselves into trouble, if they're not careful.

As I said last night, I've only seen Morin for extended periods once, and there was some rawness, but I thought he looked like a player who probably should play in at least a few real NHL games.

Not saying they should keep him all season. Just saying that he showed a combination of speed/mobility, aggression, hockey sense and athletic ability that, albeit raw, made me at least ask the question about whether he should be playing.
- AllInForFlyers

I think it's fair to question if Morin playing against a bunch of 16 year olds would actually be best for Morin's development path. They may be contemplating that right now and need to see him in actual NHL games to get a better read.