- Jsaquella

You need to do a side by side

- Jsaquella

Why'd we Trade him again

- Jsaquella

Perfect

- Jsaquella

What in the world is going on with these boards the last 2 days?!?!?

looks like another world series coming for the giants

poor phillies

- Jsaquella

First thing I noticed, this photo.

The second thing I noticed, Jsaq's aviator.

That would all be relevant if they were actually player stats that can be attributed to any one player. But they they aren't, they're team stats. Umberger plays more minutes against tougher opponents. While Akeson plays limited and sheltered minutes. Not comparable. Akeson also has better possession numbers then Couturier does. Does he compare favorably to Couturier also?
- MJL

To make it closer to apples to apples, look at Akeson's numbers when he played on the same slot as Umberger last season (w Read and Coots), on a bigger stage under more pressure. Still a small sample size, but they were much better. Akeson is better with the puck than Umberger and that helps him drive possession better.

Akeson wasn't a standout. He played well for a call up. Nor did he drive possession. He was a passenger, not a driver. He is pretty much a one dimensional player.
- MJL

I completely disagree. Did you even watch the games? If he was a passenger, why was he behind only Giroux in pts per 60 mins (not counting PP)? If he was a passenger why were his possession stats tops on the team?


If he was a passenger, who was it that skated into position in the low slot and potted the rebound goal (pp) that tied things up at 2 in game 2?

See: 1:33 of this video
http://video.nhl.com/vide...lg=20132014,3,141&lang=en




If he was a passenger, who was it that carried the puck up the left side ice and into the offensive zone before making a perfect "shot-pass" that banked off the back boards and right out to streaking Read for a goal (Game 4)?

See :28 seconds into this video:
http://video.nhl.com/vide...lg=20132014,3,144&lang=en



If he was a passenger, who was it that showed excellent strength on the puck in winning a battle along the wall against Zuccarello before kicking the puck to the point to the set up Voracek's game winning (pp) goal in Game 4? Akeson didn't get a point on the play, but it likely doesn't happen if he doesn't make that strong play.

See 1:26 of this video:
http://video.nhl.com/vide...lg=20132014,3,144&lang=en


If he was just a passenger, who rushed into the zone and scored the only goal against the Rangers in game 7?

See 3:47 of this video:
http://video.nhl.com/vide...lg=20132014,3,141&lang=en

Passenger my a$$.

This year the only time he is effective in the very brief times that he has the puck on his stick..
- MJL

That's primarily because, this year, he's slotted in a role for which he's not well suited. The things that are most positive about his game go largely wasted when he's playing on a checking line with the team's lowest skilled players and getting no PP time. He's made a go of it...works hard and shows some grit and fight out there, but Akeson isn't going to excel or thrive longer term in that kind of role. Look, I'm not against a rookie breaking his teeth on the fourth line for a while before moving up the lineup. But I am concerned that, in this particular situation, there's a risk of Akeson getting out of favor with the coach and perhaps the Flyers brass as the player struggles to fulfill what seem like (Berube's) unreasonable expectations to be something he's not. This team has a history of this kind of thing, sometimes with the player being traded away only to blossom elsewhere.

While I don't think he's a flat out liability, play without the puck is not a strong suit for him. Either in coverage or in puck battles. Nor is he strong on the forecheck where he can break pucks loose, or pressure the puck. He just doesn't skate well enough
- MJL

But I don't think Akeson is THAT bad in those areas. Some people have this perception that he's a small, soft player who isn't capable of holding his own on the back end and on the forecheck. This is not accurate imo. I go back to that play against Zuccarello from that link above. Soft players don't make that play.

Chemistry is not proven in 7 games. Far too small of a sample size. For chemistry or any metric. He shouldn't be given a shot to play on the top 9 because he's not better then anyone currently there, even with Lecavalier out.
- MJL

Coaches often make decisions regarding who they think plays good with who (chemistry) based on a lot less than seven games. At times, you can just see chemistry in a line, almost instantly. Maybe it's lost on you, but I and others certainly noticed the good chemistry that was evident between Akeson Read and Coots. There was nothing to indicate that wouldn't continue. Ohh but RJ Umberger, now a reject from CBus, gets the spot because he's taller and being paid 6 times more. Pfft.

As I said before, Berube is trying to motivate and push Akeson to work on other areas of his game. Because the chances of him sticking or having a long NHL career aren't real strong if he doesn't add some other elements to his game. I don't see how Akeson has earned anything but a spot on the team. In fact, he hasn't done anything to catch the coaches eye, the way that players like Raffl, Bellemare, and even Vandevelde has lately. Who have all been on the 4th line, have done. Instead of gifting Akeson more playing time, he has to do something to earn it. And he has not done that to this point of the season.
- MJL

Akeson worked his way up the hard way and ascended through the ranks as a potent point producer. He's not some kid right out of Junior. He worked hard and paid his dues to make the NHL and was an impact player in the playoffs last season (despite what you say). He earned his shot. I disagree with the notion that Akeson has so many weaknesses in his game that the only path to his success is if he improves those areas. I believe, rather, that a player like Akeson's success will come from putting him in a position to fully exploit his best assets. So, I don't agree with Berube's decisions to slot him in the fourth line with no pp time, to reduce minutes and to publicly criticize him, nit-picking on him for dubious reasons, when guys like Vandevelde make worse mistakes and get promoted.

And yes, I agree that there is a possibility that he could move on and blossom somewhere. But right now, I think patience is key. The season is 9 games old. Akeson will at some point get a chance. He'll have to make something of it. But right now, he isn't better then the other players who are in the top 9, and he hasn't done much to earn more playing time to this point.
- MJL

This is your opinion, siding with Berube. I don't agree.

I have a question and this isn't my way of stirring the pot, as much as it is getting some clarification.

Last night and it continued today it was said that Luke Schenn had another one of his notoriously terrible games. So my question is, by standards of Luke Schenn, what is considered a bad game for him?

Now maybe my idea of a bad game for Luke differs from others. For example, if Schenn misses an outlet passes that he probably should have made that results into an icing a couple of times in one game doesn't reflect on his overall game in an evening to me because we already know he's not very good with the puck. If he makes one or two bad reads in a game also doesn't tell the story of an entire game because it happens and in a team sport such as Hockey, you might need your teammates to support you should a bad reaction is made by everyone on the ice with you.

For me an example of a bad game is a player who is directly at fault for a goal and/or continues to allow this to happen throughout. Basically what I'm saying is, if one player is giving away opportunities to the other team, that player is having a bad game. Last night Matt Read took a chance by making a risky pass that hopped over the stick of Michael Del Zotto that directly lead to a goal. I can forgive this, except Matt Read went for the same play later in the same game and it almost had the same result. To me, Matt Read had a bad game.

Last night I wasn't on edge when Luke Schenn was on the ice. Keep in mind we were practically playing with 5 defenseman because Gostisbehere was only really being spotted.

Now, I am aware that he could be better but I've actually seen improvement since MacDonald was hurt and we've had to give players such as Grossmann, Streit, Schultz, Del Zotto and Schenn much larger roles.

I'm just curious and not in the least looking to stir the pot.

holy poop

giants win!

giants win!
- 2Real

Good!

Getting real sick of the Giants' poop

Getting real sick of the Giants' poop
- Giroux_Is_God

3 wins in 5 years why can't a philly team do that

3 wins in 5 years why can't a philly team do that
- 2Real

That'd be (frank)in awesome wouldn't it. Goddamn.

Getting real sick of the Giants' poop
- Giroux_Is_God

Third base coach should have sent Gordon home the way Bumgardner was pitching

Third base coach should have sent Gordon home the way Bumgardner was pitching
- Jsaquella

Agreed. (frank) it and go for it.

Agreed. (frank) it and go for it.
- Giroux_Is_God

The outfielders both misplayed the ball...maybe they rush the throw, maybe it takes a bad bounce...I just would have had no faith at all in getting a guy 90 feet with two out against Bumgardner.

The outfielders both misplayed the ball...maybe they rush the throw, maybe it takes a bad bounce...I just would have had no faith at all in getting a guy 90 feet with two out against Bumgardner.
- Jsaquella

Perez swung at 4 pitches at his eyes. Don't really know what was goin on with that poop.

This guy from Chevy sounds like the doctor that died while hypnotizing Peter in "Office Space"

Third base coach should have sent Gordon home the way Bumgardner was pitching
- Jsaquella

Just heard that dude dropped a 0.25 ERA on the Royals over two starts and another five-inning appearance

Didn't watch but one game of the series, but if somebody's doing that to you, yeah, you better effing send a runner if it's even close

This guy from Chevy sounds like the doctor that died while hypnotizing Peter in "Office Space"
- Jsaquella

he was horrific.

The outfielders both misplayed the ball...maybe they rush the throw, maybe it takes a bad bounce...I just would have had no faith at all in getting a guy 90 feet with two out against Bumgardner.
- Jsaquella

No doubt

Ryan Ellis just crushed Taylor Hall

Ryan Ellis just crushed Taylor Hall
- aflyerpower8

saw that lol