Akeson was second only to Giroux in PTS per 60 mins during the Rangers series last season (a small sample size, but still about twice what we have so far this season, where he's playing less minutes with less skilled mates). What does that tell you?

Akeson, not unlike G, is a playmaker/passer first and foremost. Rinaldo has been having more than twice as many shots per game this season vs. last season. What does that tell you?
- exlund

Man, if people can't see with their own eyes that Jason Akeson gets people more shots, even at the NHL level, I don't even know what else you can tell them

You're dead on about the guy. He has flaws, but there are things he does that can help the Flyers

If the defenseman pinches, then the center backs him up.
- MJL

There's your problem -- at least one of them. The only C you'd want playing as a defenseman is Coots. VL's been burned while being last man back a couple of times already. Seems like every time MDZ or Streit pinch, if the puck is lost, it's a 10-bell chance the other way.

Man, if people can't see with their own eyes that Jason Akeson gets people more shots, even at the NHL level, I don't even know what else you can tell them

You're dead on about the guy. He has flaws, but there are things he does that can help the Flyers
- AllInForFlyers

hey, id sure take him if you guys dont want him.

hey, id sure take him if you guys dont want him.
- stayinthefnnet

We already gave you Downie.

Akeson is miscast playing a fourth line role. I understand the notion of earning your opportunities, but asking a young player to prove himself as a physical checking forward so he can earn a spot as a winger on a scoring line is contradictory. Especially when you consider his relatively strong showing on a more skilled line during last year's playoff series against the Rangers.

While I'm very much in favor of having a skilled fourth line, Akeson isn't ideally suited for that kind of role (and we have other semi-skilled types that can play that role just as well). Akeson's hands and hockey sense are consistent with a top-six type role.

Right now the creative plays he's making on the fourth line are dying on the stick of Zac Rinaldo, who is getting over twice as many shots per game as he usually does (due to) playing with Akeson, but doing nothing with them. I can't help but wonder what would happen if those passes were to the likes of Read, Simmer, Couturier Schenn...people like to knock his defensive play, but again, let's not forget last season when Akeson looked pretty damn good with Coots and Read, even with the tough matchups that line drew. Impressively, advanced stats show Akeson led the team in puck possession stats during the series. Those stats continue to show he's been strong in defensive play and possession this season. I'm tired of seeing people reach to point out Akeson's weaknesses, some of which aren't even there.


Akeson has done everything the org has asked and has performed well in doing so. He paid his dues in the minors, worked hard and improved his defensive game under Murray and proven he can play with men. He's too talented to play 9 mins of checking a game with no PP time. It would behoove the Flyers to give him linemates that are better able to take advantage of his ability to make plays. He should also get more cracks at the shootout. The Flyers had enough scouting acumen to sign this kid and showed the patience to groom him slowly and mold him into a player. I hope they don't waste their investment. Akeson has at some point led every team he's played on in points. He's far too skilled to be relegated to a fourth line and I think it's a very bad idea to use his performance in that role as a measuring stick to judge his value as an NHL'er. Let's see what he can do playing with other skilled guys. I'd say put him back with Read and Coots. I think good things will happen.
- exlund

Absolutely.

We already gave you Downie.
- Feanor

akeson can do things with the puck that downie couldnt do on his best day

akeson can do things with the puck that downie couldnt do on his best day
- stayinthefnnet

Should have kept Brian Gibbons then.

We already gave you Downie.
- Feanor

Should have kept Brian Gibbons then.
- Tomahawk

if it was up to me, id have kept him.

hey, id sure take him if you guys dont want him.
- stayinthefnnet

Ha! The league is just really hard to parse out, sometimes. I don't think it's a bad thing to expect accountability and defensive effort, stuff like that. And guys should compete on the ice.

When I saw Akeson in the preseason, as Tomahawk noted, I was like, "Yeah, you're not doing quite enough to cement a roster spot." But he did turn it up in the final two preseason games and earned one.

But one thing I notice about Akeson is this: When it's NHL game time, that guy comes out to play. He isn't the biggest, or the fastest. But he'll hit you. He'll try to defend. I don't know that I've seen that guy not give good effort in an NHL game yet. I'm not a coach so I don't have access to their film, but I definitely don't think he's been the weak link thus far this season.

That has to earn you something, at some point, right?

- Tomahawk

x2

Ha! The league is just really hard to parse out, sometimes. I don't think it's a bad thing to expect accountability and defensive effort, stuff like that. And guys should compete on the ice.

When I saw Akeson in the preseason, as Tomahawk noted, I was like, "Yeah, you're not doing quite enough to cement a roster spot." But he did turn it up in the final two preseason games and earned one.

But one thing I notice about Akeson is this: When it's NHL game time, that guy comes out to play. He isn't the biggest, or the fastest. But he'll hit you. He'll try to defend. I don't know that I've seen that guy not give good effort in an NHL game yet. I'm not a coach so I don't have access to their film, but I definitely don't think he's been the weak link thus far this season.

That has to earn you something, at some point, right?
- AllInForFlyers

i understand all the heart in the world cant always overcompensate for lack of size. but its not as if this dude is devoid of skill either. outside of giroux and voracek, the flyers are starving for people with creativity and the ability to set others up.

i realize i bash on rinaldo a lot, but the dude (frank)ing blows. if you insert a variable that increases his shot production by double like someone pointed out, that has to count for something. its not like the guy should be anointed the new second line center or have his roster spot written in pen, but i just think its foolish to just quickly discard him onto the trash heap. or to use him, but
put him on the fourth line and then lament the fact that he isnt a grinder. if you want him on the fourth because thats how it works out, then fine. but then you have to reevaluate what you want your fourth line to do/accomplish out there.

its an "if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree" thing to me.

The strange thing is that Akeson was given opportunities before, but that spigot got shut off the second the puck dropped on the season. He played really well in the last couple of preseason games, too, creating a ton of chances... doesn't make much sense at all.
- Tomahawk

It does makes sense. Akeson is on the team because of how he played in the playoffs last season. That's what he earned. Now he's being asked to play on the 4th line, and work on his total game. Which I think he's doing fine at. And I'm willing to bet that if he continues to work hard and play hard, and do what's being asked of him. Then at some point he'll be rewarded with PP time and possibly ice time on a higher line. So I ask what is so dam wrong with that. What makes Akeson so special that he can't go through what other players before him have done? Such as Richards and Carter, and others? The Flyers are trying to make him into a better all around player, giving him that much more of a chance to stay in the NHL and be successful. Because there are doubts on whether his offensive game is good enough to keep him in the NHL alone.But quite possibly, the level of offensive production he is capable of, along with a solid all around game is enough to keep him in the NHL.

There's your problem -- at least one of them. The only C you'd want playing as a defenseman is Coots. VL's been burned while being last man back a couple of times already. Seems like every time MDZ or Streit pinch, if the puck is lost, it's a 10-bell chance the other way.
- Tomahawk

That's not a problem, everyone of them is capable of doing what is asked. Lecavalier on the Ryder goal made a strong backcheck all the way to the net. The failure was really on the forwards didn't pick up Ryder. That's not about personel, it's about a correctable mistake.

Ek says we talked to Arizona about defense. I would love to get Gormley and/or Murphy from them

Im not going to get into a day long debate with you cause life is just too short.
- BiggE

The term paper is due NOW!

come on hexy don't give up anything for d help our d help will come in the next few years and the draft if anything acquire assets
- 2Real

Did someone hack your account? ... U know the schenns need to go

It does makes sense. Akeson is on the team because of how he played in the playoffs last season. That's what he earned. Now he's being asked to play on the 4th line, and work on his total game. Which I think he's doing fine at. And I'm willing to bet that if he continues to work hard and play hard, and do what's being asked of him. Then at some point he'll be rewarded with PP time and possibly ice time on a higher line. So I ask what is so dam wrong with that. What makes Akeson so special that he can't go through what other players before him have done? Such as Richards and Carter, and others? The Flyers are trying to make him into a better all around player, giving him that much more of a chance to stay in the NHL and be successful. Because there are doubts on whether his offensive game is good enough to keep him in the NHL alone.But quite possibly, the level of offensive production he is capable of, along with a solid all around game is enough to keep him in the NHL.
- MJL

It does makes sense. Akeson is on the team because of how he played in the playoffs last season. That's what he earned. Now he's being asked to play on the 4th line, and work on his total game. Which I think he's doing fine at. And I'm willing to bet that if he continues to work hard and play hard, and do what's being asked of him. Then at some point he'll be rewarded with PP time and possibly ice time on a higher line. So I ask what is so dam wrong with that. What makes Akeson so special that he can't go through what other players before him have done? Such as Richards and Carter, and others? The Flyers are trying to make him into a better all around player, giving him that much more of a chance to stay in the NHL and be successful. Because there are doubts on whether his offensive game is good enough to keep him in the NHL alone.But quite possibly, the level of offensive production he is capable of, along with a solid all around game is enough to keep him in the NHL.
- MJL

I agree to an extent, but there are some signs that concern me that there may be more to it. Why, if he did so well with Coots and Read last season, and this was, as you say, the reason he's on the team, does he get demoted to the fourth line now? Why, if he helped give life to the PP2 in pre-season doesn't he get a sniff now? Why are other players who are newer and even less proven (PB) getting promoted to better lines before him? Why is Berbue saying things like "The way the lines are set up right now, (the fourth line) that's where he fits," coach Craig Berube said. "He needs to find his niche there and make it work." Why is Berube not using a player with superior hands in the shootout over players with lesser hands?

I'm ok if the plan is to let the kid round out his game a bit before placing him in a more featured scoring line role, but I'm concerned that there may be something of a biased perception about him that makes Berube hesitant to put him in that role, and it is to the detriment of the player and the team. I couild be off the mark though and reading into things too much (I hope I am).

I agree to an extent, but there are some signs that concern me that there may be more to it. Why, if he did so well with Coots and Read last season, and this was, as you say, the reason he's on the team, does he get demoted to the fourth line now? Why, if he helped give life to the PP2 in pre-season doesn't he get a sniff now? Why are other players who are newer and even less proven (PB) getting promoted to better lines before him? Why is Berbue saying things like "The way the lines are set up right now, (the fourth line) that's where he fits," coach Craig Berube said. "He needs to find his niche there and make it work." Why is Berube not using a player with superior hands in the shootout over players with lesser hands?

I'm ok if the plan is to let the kid round out his game a bit before placing him in a more featured scoring line role, but I'm concerned that there may be something of a biased perception about him that makes Berube hesitant to put him in that role, and it is to the detriment of the player and the team. I couild be off the mark though and reading into things too much (I hope I am).
- exlund

He hasn't been demoted to the 4th line. He's been promoted from an AHL player who played a handful of NHL games, to a full time NHL player.
I don't see it as a bias, but just trying to make the kid a better player both for his sake, and the teams sake. I don't see it as detrimental, but as a normal course of player development. It's a long season.

I agree with giving him a chance in the shootout. He has good hands. And the other forwards aren't exactly thriving at it.

Im not going to get into a day long debate with you cause life is just too short.
- BiggE

I have followed Jsqal's lead and just ignored it, life IS too short

hey, id sure take him if you guys dont want him.
- stayinthefnnet

You can have Rinaldo..actually on second thought I would be afraid for our players safety and well being.

I have followed Jsqal's lead and just ignored it, life IS too short
- coffee junkie

Following Jsaq? You poor bastard

Following Jsaq? You poor bastard
- Jsaquella

As long as he stays upwind...

Following Jsaq? You poor bastard
- Jsaquella

and so it begins