To me, the roster issues and the mix, is what would keep them from truly competing for the cup if they're in the playoffs and running on all cylinders. As they play the better teams, their flaws are going to do them in.
But those roster issues weren't the problem last night. They simply didn't play. And I could nitpick on the coach and show a bias and single out a player I don't like. But is that really the issue. Flyers had one decent line overall last night. And that really didn't happen until the 3rd period. Before that, the entire team was just going through the motions. That's not about Rinaldo, or a roster issue.
Rinaldo and the 4th line didn't play well yesterday. But Rinaldo has actually had a solid season overall.
I'd have to have some more detail about the junk part, to form an opinion on that.
- MJL

well, on one hand, for as much as i dont think rinaldo really even merits much more than a healthy scratch, it would be unfair of me to say that he is the source of all of their issues, because if youre scraping down to the bottom of the fourth line guys to place blame, you probably overlooked a slew of others that are accountable as well. (obviously the you in this statement isnt YOU, but you know what i mean).

and as far as the coaching, i know you disagree about akeson, but i do think he is being underutilized. berube seems to be in love with the veteran, grinding style of play, much in the same way bylsma repeatedly clung to guys like engelland over giving despres a shot. im not advocating rushing ghost, or even laughton (who i think probably could be making a decent contribution in the NHL level, if only for enabling coots to get some more offensive time), but i just dont see what someone like VDV or rinaldo brings over a guy like akeson.

Yeah, no by-line...kind of hard to take it serious when the author refuses to put his name to it
- Jsaquella

Really. He/she could have at least been original and taken a name like 'Sinisalo' or something.

Plus they went up against a team that has been pretty good at 5 on 5 this season. Florida has given up the fewest ES goals in the NHL this season. The Flyers just don't execute at times. How many times is an outlet pass off by 2 or 3 feet? How often does a defenseman get the puck, and his only pass is to go to his partner? How often do they dump and chase when they have a clear path to carry in?
- Jsaquella

Yeah, Panthers d-corps has a nice mix... lot of big boys who can skate.

Really. He/she could have at least been original and taken a name like 'Sinisalo' or something.
- tangent_man

Lindsay Carson

think about it the eagles gave up 21 points off of turnovers
- 2Real

think about it there are people who don't give a poop

well, on one hand, for as much as i dont think rinaldo really even merits much more than a healthy scratch, it would be unfair of me to say that he is the source of all of their issues, because if youre scraping down to the bottom of the fourth line guys to place blame, you probably overlooked a slew of others that are accountable as well. (obviously the you in this statement isnt YOU, but you know what i mean).

and as far as the coaching, i know you disagree about akeson, but i do think he is being underutilized. berube seems to be in love with the veteran, grinding style of play, much in the same way bylsma repeatedly clung to guys like engelland over giving despres a shot. im not advocating rushing ghost, or even laughton (who i think probably could be making a decent contribution in the NHL level, if only for enabling coots to get some more offensive time), but i just dont see what someone like VDV or rinaldo brings over a guy like akeson.
- stayinthefnnet

They don't bring much if anything. Rinaldo & VandeVelde are not good players, they're ineffective & stay in the line up. Akeson is asked to fill a role he is I'll suited for, and gets no leeway.

That's a minor issue, though. Lecavalier has been a subpar ES player in his season plus as a Flyer. Umberger has had one or two good games out of 11, after being a poor ES player last season in Columbus. Yet, there they are, forming a line that got as many O Zone starts as Giroux last night-and prior to the score effect laced final 3:30, were all -4 on the shots for/against chart.

I'm not saying that a spot shouldn't be found for Vinny or Umberger, but juggling 3 out of 4 lines, when they were effective, seems dumb.

Yeah, Panthers d-corps has a nice mix... lot of big boys who can skate.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, they have a nice mix there. Ekblad, Gudbranson, Kulikov, Campbell...there's enough mobility to fit a Mitchell in and have him not get buried

well, on one hand, for as much as i dont think rinaldo really even merits much more than a healthy scratch, it would be unfair of me to say that he is the source of all of their issues, because if youre scraping down to the bottom of the fourth line guys to place blame, you probably overlooked a slew of others that are accountable as well. (obviously the you in this statement isnt YOU, but you know what i mean).

and as far as the coaching, i know you disagree about akeson, but i do think he is being underutilized. berube seems to be in love with the veteran, grinding style of play, much in the same way bylsma repeatedly clung to guys like engelland over giving despres a shot. im not advocating rushing ghost, or even laughton (who i think probably could be making a decent contribution in the NHL level, if only for enabling coots to get some more offensive time), but i just dont see what someone like VDV or rinaldo brings over a guy like akeson.
- stayinthefnnet

Akeson is really an offensive player, who to this point, the way he's playing right now, isn't very effective. He simply hasn't earned any playing time. He's weak on the puck, not strong on the forecheck, and other then when he has the puck on his stick, isn't effective. He's not going to have the puck on his stick enough, with the way his all around game is right now, to be effective. Players like Rinaldo and even Vandevelde are simply better away from the puck, and bring more to the ice. I personally think that Berube is overplaying Vandevelde somewhat. But he's looking for competitiveness. And Akeson simply hasn't been competitive.

They don't bring much if anything. Rinaldo & VandeVelde are not good players, they're ineffective & stay in the line up. Akeson is asked to fill a role he is I'll suited for, and gets no leeway.

That's a minor issue, though. Lecavalier has been a subpar ES player in his season plus as a Flyer. Umberger has had one or two good games out of 11, after being a poor ES player last season in Columbus. Yet, there they are, forming a line that got as many O Zone starts as Giroux last night-and prior to the score effect laced final 3:30, were all -4 on the shots for/against chart.

I'm not saying that a spot shouldn't be found for Vinny or Umberger, but juggling 3 out of 4 lines, when they were effective, seems dumb.
- Jsaquella

Both Lecavalier and Umberger were hurt last year. With the way the Flyers played last night, -4 on shot differential wasn't that bad. A player like Lecavalier, with Simmonds, should be getting a lot of offensive zone starts. That's good coaching.




If the Flyers had been an effective 5 on 5 team, I could understand the line juggling excuse. But they haven't been. And with Lecavalier coming back to the lineup, and Bellmare going back to the 4th line, that's two lines right there changed. So I think the line juggling criticism is overblown, in my opinion.

LA losing to Carolina 3-1. Idk if they are missing Voynov that bad or if it's just a coincidence.

Akeson is really an offensive player, who to this point, the way he's playing right now, isn't very effective. He simply hasn't earned any playing time. He's weak on the puck, not strong on the forecheck, and other then when he has the puck on his stick, isn't effective. He's not going to have the puck on his stick enough, with the way his all around game is right now, to be effective. Players like Rinaldo and even Vandevelde are simply better away from the puck, and bring more to the ice. I personally think that Berube is overplaying Vandevelde somewhat. But he's looking for competitiveness. And Akeson simply hasn't been competitive.
- MJL

i understand akeson hasnt been doing a ton yet. but at least to me we have seen the potential is still there for what he may be able to do. i think i would rather take my chances over a larger sample size to see if that could resurface than i would with rinaldo, who really isnt bringing much of anything. we know rinaldo will never bring offense. and its not as if he is some sort of defensive specialist who can be plugged in to reduce a defensive zone start for couturier.

LA losing to Carolina 3-1. Idk if they are missing Voynov that bad or if it's just a coincidence.
- hereticpride

was kopitar back for that one?

i think his absence has been the primary reason for their struggles. guy is a straight stud.

was kopitar back for that one?

i think his absence has been the primary reason for their struggles. guy is a straight stud.
- stayinthefnnet

He is back in for this one. I'm sure they've missed him as well but the team is making Quick look pretty terrible since the Voynov mess started.

He is back in for this one. I'm sure they've missed him as well but the team is making Quick look pretty terrible since the Voynov mess started.
- hereticpride

voynov is a pretty good and important player for them, no doubt.

i understand akeson hasnt been doing a ton yet. but at least to me we have seen the potential is still there for what he may be able to do. i think i would rather take my chances over a larger sample size to see if that could resurface than i would with rinaldo, who really isnt bringing much of anything. we know rinaldo will never bring offense. and its not as if he is some sort of defensive specialist who can be plugged in to reduce a defensive zone start for couturier.
- stayinthefnnet

Akeson has played 17 total games in the NHL. 7 came in the playoffs against a very good defensive team and 8 have come on the 4th line with subpar linemates. Thats plenty of time and opportunity to determine the player isn't good enough away from the puck and doesn't try hard enough. It isn't enough time to determine whether he's a good possession player though. I saw him play 2 games in the top 6 in his career and he had one goal and one assist and finished as a +3. Those things don't matter though because he hasn't turned Rinaldo into a 30 goal scorer with 5 minutes of ice time per night. It's not like this team could use a player who is good with the puck on his stick either. We have elite puck handlers on this team. Our second PP unit is made up of 5 of them. VDV and Rinaldo bring so much more. They don't kill penalties, they don't create offense and they need to be shielded, but they can hit people and they always try their hardest. You know what they say: trying wins Cups.

i understand akeson hasnt been doing a ton yet. but at least to me we have seen the potential is still there for what he may be able to do. i think i would rather take my chances over a larger sample size to see if that could resurface than i would with rinaldo, who really isnt bringing much of anything. we know rinaldo will never bring offense. and its not as if he is some sort of defensive specialist who can be plugged in to reduce a defensive zone start for couturier.
- stayinthefnnet

I disagree that Rinaldo isn't bringing much of anything. Akeson's offensive talents are not strong enough for him to live on that alone. If he wants more icetime, he needs to earn it. Rinaldo despite his faults, comes to practice and to games and always brings it. He's an energy, physical forechecking forward. Akeson will get more chances. I'd personally like to see him in the lineup over Vandevelde. But until he gets better away from the puck, he's not going to earn a bigger role.

Akeson has played 17 total games in the NHL. 7 came in the playoffs against a very good defensive team and 8 have come on the 4th line with subpar linemates. Thats plenty of time and opportunity to determine the player isn't good enough away from the puck and doesn't try hard enough. It isn't enough time to determine whether he's a good possession player though. I saw him play 2 games in the top 6 in his career and he had one goal and one assist and finished as a +3. Those things don't matter though because he hasn't turned Rinaldo into a 30 goal scorer with 5 minutes of ice time per night. It's not like this team could use a played who is good with the puck on his stick either. We have elite puck handlers on this team. Our second PP unit is made up of 5 of them. VDV and Rinaldo bring so much more. They don't kill penalties, they don't create offense and they need to be shielded, but they can hit people and they always try their hardest. You know what they say: trying wins Cups.
- PhillySportsGuy

Rinaldo needs to be out of the lineup. Nothing against the guy but he is a hitter and not much else. And if the refs are going to call him as often as they do, and he isn't going to draw penalties or contribute offensively then he needs to go. I don't care if he brings energy. If other players are constantly relying on Rinaldo to fire them up then we've got some bigger fish to fry in the locker room.

Akeson has played 17 total games in the NHL. 7 came in the playoffs against a very good defensive team and 8 have come on the 4th line with subpar linemates. Thats plenty of time and opportunity to determine the player isn't good enough away from the puck and doesn't try hard enough. It isn't enough time to determine whether he's a good possession player though. I saw him play 2 games in the top 6 in his career and he had one goal and one assist and finished as a +3. Those things don't matter though because he hasn't turned Rinaldo into a 30 goal scorer with 5 minutes of ice time per night. It's not like this team could use a player who is good with the puck on his stick either. We have elite puck handlers on this team. Our second PP unit is made up of 5 of them. VDV and Rinaldo bring so much more. They don't kill penalties, they don't create offense and they need to be shielded, but they can hit people and they always try their hardest. You know what they say: trying wins Cups.
- PhillySportsGuy

i realize i was half watching the game at the time, but it took me until halfway through this to realize you were (frank)ing with me.

Akeson has played 17 total games in the NHL. 7 came in the playoffs against a very good defensive team and 8 have come on the 4th line with subpar linemates. Thats plenty of time and opportunity to determine the player isn't good enough away from the puck and doesn't try hard enough. It isn't enough time to determine whether he's a good possession player though. I saw him play 2 games in the top 6 in his career and he had one goal and one assist and finished as a +3. Those things don't matter though because he hasn't turned Rinaldo into a 30 goal scorer with 5 minutes of ice time per night. It's not like this team could use a player who is good with the puck on his stick either. We have elite puck handlers on this team. Our second PP unit is made up of 5 of them. VDV and Rinaldo bring so much more. They don't kill penalties, they don't create offense and they need to be shielded, but they can hit people and they always try their hardest. You know what they say: trying wins Cups.
- PhillySportsGuy

i realize i was half watching the game at the time, but it took me until halfway through this to realize you were (frank)ing with me.

Rinaldo needs to be out of the lineup. Nothing against the guy but he is a hitter and not much else. And if the refs are going to call him as often as they do, and he isn't going to draw penalties or contribute offensively then he needs to go. I don't care if he brings energy. If other players are constantly relying on Rinaldo to fire them up then we've got some bigger fish to fry in the locker room.
- hereticpride

He tries really hard though

i realize i was half watching the game at the time, but it took me until halfway through this to realize you were (frank)ing with me.
- stayinthefnnet

I like to start out in one direction then change course

He tries really hard though
- PhillySportsGuy

I still cant believe Hextall gave him that contract extension. As long as the refs think everything he does is dirty he has no value to us whatsoever.

And guess what, the refs around the league aren't watching every game. They just see Rinaldo is still taking penalties. I don't know how his reputation is something he ever gets away from. I really don't.

Akeson has played 17 total games in the NHL. 7 came in the playoffs against a very good defensive team and 8 have come on the 4th line with subpar linemates. Thats plenty of time and opportunity to determine the player isn't good enough away from the puck and doesn't try hard enough. It isn't enough time to determine whether he's a good possession player though. I saw him play 2 games in the top 6 in his career and he had one goal and one assist and finished as a +3. Those things don't matter though because he hasn't turned Rinaldo into a 30 goal scorer with 5 minutes of ice time per night. It's not like this team could use a played who is good with the puck on his stick either. We have elite puck handlers on this team. Our second PP unit is made up of 5 of them. VDV and Rinaldo bring so much more. They don't kill penalties, they don't create offense and they need to be shielded, but they can hit people and they always try their hardest. You know what they say: trying wins Cups.
- PhillySportsGuy

You're post here is coming from the context that a final determination has been made on Akeson as a player. That is not the case. All that is being stated is that Akeson is not playing well enough currently, to earn a bigger role, or more icetime currently. And his play is deserving of the healthy scratch. Not that he is a bust, or isn't a good player. In the same token that the small sample size last season, isn't enough to make a determination on the play, the same goes for this season to this point. I am far from ready to give up on Akeson as a player. I still think he has some potential. He's just not playing well to this point of the season. Which is not one month old. It's a long season.
And last year doesn't matter. That got him a spot on the team. His play now, will determine whether he stays here. And how much playing time he gets and in what role. And I don't know of anyone who is asking or expecting Akeson to turn Rinaldo into a 30 goal scorer. That would be unreasonable. But asking Akeson to play competitively away from the puck, is not unreasonable. Akeson should not be handed anything, he should earn it like any other player has to.
Raffl, Bellemare, and Vandevelde all have played on the 4th line, and all have earned more icetime with their play. But excuses are routinely made for Akeson.

Vadevelde and Rinaldo absolutely kill penalties. Vandevelde had 2:15 of SH ice time in the game last night. Rinaldo had 1:28 of PK time.

Akeson has played 17 total games in the NHL. 7 came in the playoffs against a very good defensive team and 8 have come on the 4th line with subpar linemates. Thats plenty of time and opportunity to determine the player isn't good enough away from the puck and doesn't try hard enough. It isn't enough time to determine whether he's a good possession player though. I saw him play 2 games in the top 6 in his career and he had one goal and one assist and finished as a +3. Those things don't matter though because he hasn't turned Rinaldo into a 30 goal scorer with 5 minutes of ice time per night. It's not like this team could use a player who is good with the puck on his stick either. We have elite puck handlers on this team. Our second PP unit is made up of 5 of them. VDV and Rinaldo bring so much more. They don't kill penalties, they don't create offense and they need to be shielded, but they can hit people and they always try their hardest. You know what they say: trying wins Cups.
- PhillySportsGuy

I disagree that Rinaldo isn't bringing much of anything. Akeson's offensive talents are not strong enough for him to live on that alone. If he wants more icetime, he needs to earn it. Rinaldo despite his faults, comes to practice and to games and always brings it. He's an energy, physical forechecking forward. Akeson will get more chances. I'd personally like to see him in the lineup over Vandevelde. But until he gets better away from the puck, he's not going to earn a bigger role.

- MJL

i hate the guy, but i will respect the fact that rinaldo does try his hardest. but at what point does that stop buying minutes? give me a pair of skates. ill play for the flyers for 25 grand a year and i will work supremely hard. granted, its hyperbole, but still. i understand that akeson shouldnt be able to buy a 6 year deal or something like that based solely on his potential alone either, but i still think given an either or decision, a lottery ticket in akeson ultimately yields the potential for more than whatever rinaldo can provide. its not as if akeson would be blocking a promising rookie, or bumping out someone making tangible contributions.