Sounds like the current incarnation of a young, very hyped-up defenseman that the team has.
- jmatchett383

Gostisbehere is more of an offensive defenseman.

Hockey and how coaches treat players is rarely fair or equal. It's just the way it is.
- MJL

You know what? That's the best thing you've said all day.

Berube's not the only coach who is that way -- hell, that's the way life is. Some people like certain people better, in whatever environment they're in.

Some of us have probably seen it or done it to other people, for those of us who have been in ownership of management of something, or taught a class, or just been in charge of a disparate group of individuals.

It's not really fair. But it is the way it is.

Gostisbehere is more of an offensive defenseman.
- MJL

So?

i agree that he doesn't have the same overall ability as a 2 way player, and isn't as strong on the puck as raffl. i'm simply saying raffl has never wowed me in any area - he's a guy that competes and doesn't seem to hurt them - yet here he is on the first line. and now he's producing.
- hammarby31

I've liked and noticed Raffl from the beginning. He's the kind of player that a team needs. How good he becomes depends on how his offensive game develops. Whether he develops into a full time scoring line player, or a role playing defensive forechecking winger on a lower line.

Gostisbehere is more of an offensive defenseman.
- MJL

Yes...um, I agree?

But what is frustrating is that Matt Read had a really poor play with the puck on the PP that resulted in a SH goal for the Kings. Should Berube tighten the leash in that scenario? I would say no because Read is part of a strong defensive pair with Coots.

From what I saw last night, Akeson played a really solid game (came really close to scoring at least once) and the only sound bite that we heard or sentiment from Berube we got was that Akeson make a mistake with the puck once and how bad that mistake was
- mcefalu

It is true that Read had a rough game last night, but he is still faster and better defensively, so his leash is longer than Akeson. Its not about the leash tightening as much as Akeson's has always been small due to the limited nature of what he brings to the line-up.

...Idjits!
- juiced

You know what? That's the best thing you've said all day.

Berube's not the only coach who is that way -- hell, that's the way life is. Some people like certain people better, in whatever environment they're in.

Some of us have probably seen it or done it to other people, for those of us who have been in ownership of management of something, or taught a class, or just been in charge of a disparate group of individuals.

It's not really fair. But it is the way it is.
- AllInForFlyers

I agree that it's a realistic part of life. But if your job is to manage your players in such a way that gives them the best chance to win, I feel like playing someone in a role they aren't really suited for doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

It is true that Read had a rough game last night, but he is still faster and better defensively, so his leash is longer than Akeson. Its not about the leash tightening as much as Akeson's has always been small due to the limited nature of what he brings to the line-up.
- aflyerpower8

Yea, Read didn't have a great game last night. But he has built up considerable more collateral then a player like Akeson has. So expecting both to have the same trust level from the coach, isn't reasonable.

I agree that it's a realistic part of life. But if your job is to manage your players in such a way that gives them the best chance to win, I feel like playing someone in a role they aren't really suited for doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
- mcefalu

It does when that is the only spot available, because other players are better then he is in the role that he is best suited for.

I'm not saying Blair Jones is better, just that Akeson is not speedy, good defensively, great at puck protection, or particularly physical. When you take that and the risky plays he is prone to making into account, its easy to see why a coach would have a short leash for him.
- aflyerpower8

He was also one of their best players, in terms of 5 on 5, during the playoffs. That's an area of definite need.

Personally, I'd have a shorter leash for undisciplined guys who can bring much offense or stay out of the box.

It is true that Read had a rough game last night, but he is still faster and better defensively, so his leash is longer than Akeson. Its not about the leash tightening as much as Akeson's has always been small due to the limited nature of what he brings to the line-up.
- aflyerpower8

Then I suppose I'm not really sure why Akeson is playing at all. Might as well send him down to the Phantoms.

Not trying to be dramatic, I just don't understand why Berube is using Akeson the way he is and then complaining about small mistakes that he makes.

If Berube is trying to light a fire under his a$$ then I suppose we will see if it ends up working

It does when that is the only spot available, because other players are better then he is in the role that he is best suited for.
- MJL

So why play Akeson at all?

Get the idea to carry 7 d-men, but if they have Ghost benched in favour of Manning...

Kid isn't getting a really great chunk of ice time with a good mentor as is. Completely benching him is asinine.

So why play Akeson at all?
- mcefalu

I think when Bellemare was centering the 4th line, they wanted to have some balance there, and add some skill.

Then I suppose I'm not really sure why Akeson is playing at all. Might as well send him down to the Phantoms.

Not trying to be dramatic, I just don't understand why Berube is using Akeson the way he is and then complaining about small mistakes that he makes.

If Berube is trying to light a fire under his a$$ then I suppose we will see if it ends up working
- mcefalu

Its pretty obvious Berube has a favouritism thing with some of the players, and not others. I suppose every coach has this but why a guy like Jean Claude Van Damme is loved so much, along with Rinaldo but Akeson/Guss are treated like trash.

Akeson isn't going to develop playing 5 minutes a night. If he wont amount to much at the end of the day so be it, but at least you gave him a fair shot. What do they think a guy like VDV will grow into exactly? Hes a AHL call up at best.

Get the idea to carry 7 d-men, but if they have Ghost benched in favour of Manning...

Kid isn't getting a really great chunk of ice time with a good mentor as is. Completely benching him is asinine.
- flyer_nutter

He won't stay benched for very long. He'll be sent back down to the AHL.

I agree that Akeson is in a tough spot. It's hard to cement a spot in the lineup with so little icetime, and playing in a role that he is not suited for. But honestly, what has he done to warrant or earn more ice time? and think about what the Flyers biggest issues are? It's not goal scoring. It's not offense. Their biggest issue is 5 on 5 play and team defense. Akeson is not a player who is going to make a difference there. Umberger is a proven veteran player, who is easily a better all around player then Akeson is. He's much bigger, skates better, is stronger defensively and in board battles. And can play on the PK.
I see Akeson as an offensive player, with little else to his game. Who more then likely won't be able to produce enough offensively, to stay in the lineup on a scoring line, because he offers little else. Now I certainly could be wrong about that. And really the only way to truly know is to play him. Well he is going to have to do something to earn more playing time that the Coach likes. In the same way that Raffl, Bellmare, and recently Vandevelde have. If they can do it from getting 4th line minutes, so can Akeson. How about putting some responsibility on the player, rather then just the coach?

One last thing, the NHL season is a long season. Things change in a hurry. Last year Akeson came from now where to being called up and then playing in the playoffs. Injuries happen, players slump. Akeson will likely get a chance at some point in the season.
- MJL

When they are trailing in the game I would like to see Akeson get some shifts with Read and Couts.

Playing with a lead (so rare this year) I'm fine with Umby on the shut down line role.

Couts to me looks ready to have a bigger offensive impact this year. His play with the puck, taking it to the net, looking for his shot. He seems to have that confidence now.

I agree that it's a realistic part of life. But if your job is to manage your players in such a way that gives them the best chance to win, I feel like playing someone in a role they aren't really suited for doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
- mcefalu

I absolutely agree. But what MJL said totally brought back flashbacks of Ken Hitchcock's tenure.

This isn't a shot at Hitchcock, because that guy knows how to coach and win hockey games.

But he was brutal on young players, especially skilled players. People forget that. He prefers veterans, and size -- it's not right or wrong. It's just his thing.

But it wasn't a surprise to me when Hitchcock got the gate. It wasn't just because the Flyers were brutal that year. Eight games doesn't get a guy fired like that.

What got Hitch fired was that, after Bob Clarke had already traded Justin Williams and Daymond Langkow and Patrick Sharp in order to give Hitch the roster he preferred, during a time when CLEARLY Frick and Frack were the future of this franchise, Hitch said he saw Richards as nothing more "than a third-line checker."

That's not any different from how Berube sees Akeson, or Gus. Whatever we see, or anyone else sees, doesn't matter. John Stevens saw Richards as a No. 1 center, or a No. 2, depending on how you saw Jeff Carter.

Hitch was wrong there. But it goes to show that coaches make their minds up about players, rightly or wrongly.

Its pretty obvious Berube has a favouritism thing with some of the players, and not others. I suppose every coach has this but why a guy like Jean Claude Van Damme is loved so much, along with Rinaldo but Akeson/Guss are treated like trash.

Akeson isn't going to develop playing 5 minutes a night. If he wont amount to much at the end of the day so be it, but at least you gave him a fair shot. What do they think a guy like VDV will grow into exactly? Hes a AHL call up at best.
- flyer_nutter

Maybe Akeson is an AHL call up at best also? Vandelvelde has more size and better skating ability which was a better matchup against the Kings last night.

When they are trailing in the game I would like to see Akeson get some shifts with Read and Couts.

Playing with a lead (so rare this year) I'm fine with Umby on the shut down line role.

Couts to me looks ready to have a bigger offensive impact this year. His play with the puck, taking it to the net, looking for his shot. He seems to have that confidence now.
- Marc D

That Couturier line is thought of as a shutdown line too much as is. Berube has doomed them to the role of a checking line.

So much for helping grow Couturier's offensive game.

He won't stay benched for very long. He'll be sent back down to the AHL.
- MJL

I hope he gets a game in Florida since he is from there

I absolutely agree. But what MJL said totally brought back flashbacks of Ken Hitchcock's tenure.

This isn't a shot at Hitchcock, because that guy knows how to coach and win hockey games.

But he was brutal on young players, especially skilled players. People forget that. He prefers veterans, and size -- it's not right or wrong. It's just his thing.

But it wasn't a surprise to me when Hitchcock got the gate. It wasn't just because the Flyers were brutal that year. Eight games doesn't get a guy fired like that.

What got Hitch fired was that, after Bob Clarke had already traded Justin Williams and Daymond Langkow and Patrick Sharp in order to give Hitch the roster he preferred, during a time when CLEARLY Frick and Frack were the future of this franchise, Hitch said he saw Richards as nothing more "than a third-line checker."

That's not any different from how Berube sees Akeson, or Gus. Whatever we see, or anyone else sees, doesn't matter. John Stevens saw Richards as a No. 1 center, or a No. 2, depending on how you saw Jeff Carter.

Hitch was wrong there. But it goes to show that coaches make their minds up about players, rightly or wrongly.
- AllInForFlyers

To me its about what an organization values. Winning any given game at whatever the cost, or perhaps losing a few more games but developing their players for the future. Putting higher value on an older AHL veteran who is the safer choice and wont hurt you on the ice, or young kid that may lose the game with a mistake but has the shot to develop into much more than a warm body.

That Couturier line is thought of as a shutdown line too much as is. Berube has doomed them to the role of a checking line.

So much for helping grow Couturier's offensive game.
- flyer_nutter

Do you see anything positive going on with the Flyers?

Couturier is currently on pace for a 27 goal season and close to 50 points.

something something management something trash fire