Is this discussion an indictment of Rinaldo or Berube?
- 77rams

Berube/old school thinking. How people still think a 4th line should be made up of energy players.

I just don't understand why Akeson can't get on the second PP unit. He could help them. They need a puck handler
- PhillySportsGuy

Got me. Seems like it'd be a good idea, but it is what it is.

My issue isn't even Akeson, per se. I'm not expecting him to be a great player and I doubt that if he doesn't stick as a Flyer and goes elsewhere that he'll be anything more than a Brian Gibbons type guy, or at best a 10-15 goal third liner.

My issue is more the mindset, where a guy like Rinaldo gets numerous opportunities to fail and a guy like Akeson doesn't. Or a guy like VandeVelde getting opportunity to slide up and take shifts with Giroux and Voracek, when Akeson is playing 3:43.

A player who is non competitive in his play away from the puck, is not going to see PP time. He's scratched for a reason.
- MJL

You can keep repeating this line, but it doesn't make it true.

Is this discussion an indictment of Rinaldo or Berube?
- 77rams

Both, but it's more an indictment of Berube.

Because Rinaldo brings energy or something from the OHL to now.


- ob18

Jared Staal suspended for bullying Burmistrov

So while Akeson has struggled in a role not especially suited to his skills, Rinaldo has been ineffective in a role tailor made for his.
- Jsaquella

This.

The hell with the fourth line, anyway -- all stakeholders need to get a little more invested in figuring out what L2, L3 and PP2's problems are and getting those fixed

We're 11 games in, and if I were coaching, I'd seriously be wondering what's up with Matt Read

Jared Staal suspended for bullying Burmistrov
- PhillySportsGuy

Now you know why he really went back to the KHL

Is this discussion an indictment of Rinaldo or Berube?
- 77rams

Both. They are two of the current scapegoats. Lecavalier soon to follow. MacDonald isn't playing, so he gets a temporary reprieve.

Is this discussion an indictment of Rinaldo or Berube?
- 77rams

Both, in many ways

Ha! Yeah -- he's gotten a short deck with some of this stuff, but last night was a case of him making his job harder than it had to be
- AllInForFlyers

Think he's a few cards short of a deck himself.

Got me. Seems like it'd be a good idea, but it is what it is.

My issue isn't even Akeson, per se. I'm not expecting him to be a great player and I doubt that if he doesn't stick as a Flyer and goes elsewhere that he'll be anything more than a Brian Gibbons type guy, or at best a 10-15 goal third liner.

My issue is more the mindset, where a guy like Rinaldo gets numerous opportunities to fail and a guy like Akeson doesn't. Or a guy like VandeVelde getting opportunity to slide up and take shifts with Giroux and Voracek, when Akeson is playing 3:43.
- Jsaquella

I agree with you. It bothers me that Akeson is never going to get a legit chance to show his abilities. How much can determine based on 4 minutes of ice time with AHL talent?

You can keep repeating this line, but it doesn't make it true.
- Tomahawk

And you're reply doesn't make it not true. But what does make it true, is simply watching him play, and the fact that he's been a recent healthy scratch. And the comments and actions of his coach, seem to back that up.

Now you know why he really went back to the KHL
- ob18

I've never seen a suspension for bullying an opposing player. I'm against hazing players from your own team, but bullying opposing players is pretty normal in hockey

I agree with you. It bothers me that Akeson is never going to get a legit chance to show his abilities. How much can determine based on 4 minutes of ice time with AHL talent?
- PhillySportsGuy

Neither Bellemare or Rinaldo are AHL talent. And this is just excuses for Akeson. His level of play, is his own responsibility. Want more ice time, play better. Seems to have worked for Bellemare and Vandevelde.

Think he's a few cards short of a deck himself.
- Tomahawk

IKR

You'd think folks are questioning Scotty Bowman here -- better coaches than Craig Berube have been fired

Is this discussion an indictment of Rinaldo or Berube?
- 77rams

For me its Berube. Zac is playing his game well and his discipline level really has increased. Berube has to be the one to realize that it's just not a fit and the refs have it in for him and it just adds nothing to the teams chances to carry him. All Zac can do is give his all when his number gets called, which I feel he has.

He belongs with a no holds barred, fly by the seat their pants coach. Like a Lavi or Ruff type. If he's gonna have a rep no matter what he might as well be utilized as free to hit, poop stirrer type.

The hell with the fourth line, anyway -- all stakeholders need to get a little more invested in figuring out what L2, L3 and PP2's problems are and getting those fixed

We're 11 games in, and if I were coaching, I'd seriously be wondering what's up with Matt Read
- AllInForFlyers

Amen.

I've never seen a suspension for bullying an opposing player. I'm against hazing players from your own team, but bullying opposing players is pretty normal in hockey
- PhillySportsGuy

OHL has done it a few times DeAngelo who many here wanted was suspended 8 games for it last season.

Rinaldo is a 4th line player, and will likely always be. The only way his role has been expanded, is to play on the PK. And he's playing on the PK this year. Rinaldo is averaging more icetime this season, to this point, then he did all of last season. So obviously a small sample size, but it's false to say that he is seeing less icetime.

Rinaldo has had some up and down games. But he hasn't been ineffective overall. If he was, he'd be scratched, and Akeson would be playing. The proof is in the pudding.
- MJL

Berubes pudding tastes like what I feed my 16 month old

OHL has done it a few times DeAngelo who many here wanted was suspended 8 games for it last season.
- ob18

I think his was with his own team though. I guess Staal used a derogatory slur

I think his was with his own team though. I guess Staal used a derogatory slur
- PhillySportsGuy

does it matter it was for the same offense.

Both. They are two of the current scapegoats. Lecavalier soon to follow. MacDonald isn't playing, so he gets a temporary reprieve.
- MJL

Akeson as well.

Akeson as well.
- Just5

And both Schenn's, Mason, Read.....etc hell anybody depending on the shift

The hell with the fourth line, anyway -- all stakeholders need to get a little more invested in figuring out what L2, L3 and PP2's problems are and getting those fixed

We're 11 games in, and if I were coaching, I'd seriously be wondering what's up with Matt Read
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed. Read has not seemed like himself. He's a bit streaky, and always has been, but he has not played very well.

To me, the usage and line combos have been an issue. In the 4 games preceeding last night, the Flyers had outscored Pittsburgh, Detroit, LA and TB at ES 14-8. The only game where they didn't play a fairly even game in terms of shots and chances was the Detroit game. They weren't great at ES, but they were at least playing solidly and not getting killed at ES.

Last night, Vinny returns, gets paired with Umberger & Simmonds, Bellemare drops from the line with Schenn & Simmonds to play with Rinaldo & vandeVelde and Schenn takes Umberger's spot with Couturier & Read. The result? The only line that created chances and drove play was the Raffl-Giroux-Voracek line.