You're awfully agreeable this morning.
- tangent_man

I'm sure that's the reason. On the other hand, it seems foolish to me not to use Akeson at what he does best regardless of his struggles adapting at five-on-five.

It's kind of like saying a good cook is barred from the kitchen because he has no idea how to farm (apologies to the late Mitch Hedberg for copping his joke).
- bmeltzer

Apology accepted

go habs go!!

It is becoming more frustrating every game to watch this team play from behind.
Nine of eleven games they are scored on first...that is a team issue. They have a problem getting out of the gates. Is it a personel or coaching issue? It just simply happens way too much. We are NOT the Sabres, but we come out like them.
- 3flyerkids

It's a player issue. But if it continues through the season, it could become a coaching issue.

I'm sure that's the reason. On the other hand, it seems foolish to me not to use Akeson at what he does best regardless of his struggles adapting at five-on-five.

It's kind of like saying a good cook is barred from the kitchen because he has no idea how to farm (apologies to the late Mitch Hedberg for copping his joke).
- bmeltzer

I'm sure that's the reason also. But I think the better analogy is not letting him do the cooking, if he's not going to do the prep work in the kitchen well. A cook has to work his way up the ladder. And we don't really know if he is a good cook.

Agreed. I'm not even remotely saying that Akeson's level of play has been good enough to promote him. And he may well be just an AHL guy that had a good run. (sorry I forgot it was you who coined the White Lite term. Very good, though )

But as others are saying, it's foolish to say because a guy can't do one thing, that you're going to bar him from doing something that he can do.
- Jsaquella

Yes, its like batting a slap hitter cleanup and then complaining because he isn't hitting homeruns.

Its kind of a conundrum. Akeson for sure is not a 4th line type of player. If he is ever going to be effective he does need to be put in a more offensive role, even if that is on the power play.

However, as has been stated, he has done nothing to earn a promotion, at least enough to demote another player down to the 4th line. Most people here would say Umberger. And I agree that Umberger has the skill set that he could play on the 4th line and be effective. But the only other player who on merit alone should be demoted to the 4th line is Matt Read.

Now, is Berube really going to make that switch? I don't think so. Akeson doesn't merit demoting Raffl, Simmonds, BSchenn, or even VLC at 5 on 5 in my opinion.

So the only thing available is the 2nd PP unit.

I agree with JSaq that Berube seems to hold certain players to unfair expectations while excusing others. Yes Umberger has earned some slack due to his career and veteran status, plus he is more versatile. Status Akeson hasn't earned.

But there comes a point where you have to decide what is best, putting the best lineup combos out to win, or making some point at the expense of success.

I call Akeson Peter White Lite because that is what he is. A borderline elite AHL level scorer who doesn't have enough skill to be the same thing in the NHL, and brings nothing else to the table in terms of his overall game. I think that if he could be sent down without having to pass through waivers he would already have been sent down.

In the end I think Berube's stubbornness with certain types of players and his seeming inability to bend and adjust his mindset to get each and every player in the best position to succeed is going to be the thing that gets him fired.

Akeson hasn't earned squat, his play certainly hasn't earned him a place on the second unit, but it does seem like his skill set would help. Berube needs to realize that if he wants to be considered a good coach one of these days. Put the team over his stubbornness.
- MBFlyerfan

I agree with a lot of what you say. But I don't think Berube can afford to reward a player with PP time who isn't earning it. With the way the team is playing inconsistently, and with the slow starts. But he has to play somebody on the 2nd unit PP. So he plays the veterans. Hockey heirarchy and who coaches trust and play has neever been equal, and frequently unfair.

I'm sure that's the reason also. But I think the better analogy is not letting him do the cooking, if he's not going to do the prep work in the kitchen well. A cook has to work his way up the ladder. And we don't really know if he is a good cook.
- MJL

Or expecting a pastry chef to be a good saucier.

Why is Akeson the most polarizing player on this team? How bout we talk about how Matt Read has seemed to do nothing so far.

Also i wonder if Bill could gives us and update on guys like Leirer, Laughton, Adlerson, Cousins and if any could see time with team later in the season and how they are doing in the AHL so far.

I'm sure that's the reason also. But I think the better analogy is not letting him do the cooking, if he's not going to do the prep work in the kitchen well. A cook has to work his way up the ladder. And we don't really know if he is a good cook.
- MJL

Do you think Akeson has been that bad away from the puck. Worse than any other vet? I dont.

Hell, I thought the fourth line played at its best with Pebbles, Rinaldo and Akeson.

I agree with a lot of what you say. But I don't think Berube can afford to reward a player with PP time who isn't earning it. With the way the team is playing inconsistently, and with the slow starts. But he has to play somebody on the 2nd unit PP. So he plays the veterans. Hockey heirarchy and who coaches trust and play has neever been equal, and frequently unfair.
- MJL

I don't see it as a reward as much as I see it as putting a player in the best position to succeed. I think even the other players would understand that, especially if it works.

Yes, its like batting a slap hitter cleanup and then complaining because he isn't hitting homeruns.
- MBFlyerfan

I also have to point out here, that if others were succeeding in the role, I'd be fine with the handling of Akeson this year, or Gustafsson last season.

But they are not. The 2nd PP unit has been a mess, regardless of juggling. We can talk about who was earned chances or not, but at some point, those chances need to be taken advantage of, by executing and creating on the 2nd PP.

Yes, Berube has made changes. But shuffling the same 6 or 7 guys in and out isn't real change, and it has not worked. That's why he gets criticized

Why is Akeson the most polarizing player on this team? How bout we talk about how Matt Read has seemed to do nothing so far.

Also i wonder if Bill could gives us and update on guys like Leirer, Laughton, Adlerson, Cousins and if any could see time with team later in the season and how they are doing in the AHL so far.
- J35Bacher

Read has been baffling. He has been a non factor.

Why is Akeson the most polarizing player on this team? How bout we talk about how Matt Read has seemed to do nothing so far.

Also i wonder if Bill could gives us and update on guys like Leirer, Laughton, Adlerson, Cousins and if any could see time with team later in the season and how they are doing in the AHL so far.
- J35Bacher

Writes about them every time the Phantoms play a game. Laughton, Leier and Cousins have all played well.

let's get this party started!!

Or expecting a pastry chef to be a good saucier.
- MBFlyerfan

More like asking the kid fresh out of CIA working garde manger you hired for his sweet chaud froid skills, to clean the pots and mop floors with the same steadfast zeal as your Honduran kitchen porter.

Its like when Clarke would go to Shero and ask him to put a struggling player on his line to get him going.

Berube should take a page out of that book sometimes. Maybe getting Akeson on the 2nd pp gets him going.

Maybe swapping Read with Raffl for a game does the same for Read.

Just throwing crap out there.

More like asking the kid fresh out of CIA working garde manger you hired for his sweet chaud froid skills to clean the pots and mop floors with the same steadfast zeal as your Honduran kitchen porter.


- Tomahawk

We are NOT the Sabres, but we come out like them.
- 3flyerkids

The Flyers are the Sabres with two elite players. If you take out empty nets and the goals involving Giroux or Voracek , the Flyers have scored 12 goals in 11 games for an average of 1.09. Buffalo has scored 14 goals in 13 games for an average of 1.08. Goals against for the Flyers is 3.27. For the Sabres 3.31. So basically the difference is Giroux and Voracek so pray neither gets hurt.

Or expecting a pastry chef to be a good saucier.

- MBFlyerfan

The Flyers are the Sabres with two elite players. If you take out empty nets and the goals involving Giroux or Voracek , the Flyers have scored 12 goals in 11 games for an average of 1.09. Buffalo has scored 14 goals in 13 games for an average of 1.08. Goals against for the Flyers is 3.27. For the Sabres 3.31. So basically the difference is Giroux and Voracek so pray neither gets hurt.
- psuhockey

Completely agree and I've been saying this all summer. This team is very thin, talent-wise. If everything goes well, they'll be first round playoff fodder. They are either too old or too young or too slow in too many spots.

- johndewar

Oh we are stepping up our games today. Akeson should be reading.........

I don't see it as a reward as much as I see it as putting a player in the best position to succeed. I think even the other players would understand that, especially if it works.
- MBFlyerfan

Agreed. I don't see as a reward at all. Ghost was on the 2nd PP unit when he was called up and how could he have ever "earned" that? He was put there for developmental purposes and also because his skill-set lends itself to that situation. This makes me think Berube doesn't see it as a reward either. Besides, what do they honestly have to lose by putting Akeson on the 2nd unit?

Oh we are stepping up our games today. Akeson should be reading.........
- MBFlyerfan

I was gone all weekend and missed the MDZ shenanigans.

Read has been baffling. He has been a non factor.
- MBFlyerfan

Read + Umberger= Disappointment

Read has been noticeable a couple times...not so for Umberger