I feel like this is a perfect time to try and insert Akeson in Raffl's stead, no?
- Pixote Andolini

Playing with quality NHL players is not good for a prospects development. They learn too many bad habits and never blossom.

Waive him. Even if he's picked up, maybe then he'll get a real chance. Maybe even become Patrick Sharpe II.
- 77rams

I like Akeson but he'll be lucky if he just becomes Patrick Maroon II (Mini-Maroon???) -- not stylistically but in terms of finding an NHL role with the right fit after being essentially pegged as an AHL player.

Love Berube's idea to put a career 4th line/AHL tweener on a line with our 2 best offensive players.

Maybe Pittsburgh can put Craig Adams on a line with Crosby and Kunitz. Or Anaheim can put Tim Jackman on a line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.

He made his NHL debut on a line with Giroux and Voracek and scored on his first shift.

At any rate, unless things change at tomorrow's morning skate, looks like Jones went from waivers and impending AHL re-assignment to being back on the 4th line and in the lineup. That would make Akeson a healthy scratch again.

No question: He is deep in the doghouse. It's gotten to the point where the club ought to just waive him (there is a slight risk he'd be claimed) and send him to the AHL.
- bmeltzer

Why let him linger in the stands? What good does it do.

Love Berube's idea to put a career 4th line/AHL tweener on a line with our 2 best offensive players.

Maybe Pittsburgh can put Craig Adams on a line with Crosby and Kunitz. Or Anaheim can put Tim Jackman on a line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.
- jmatchett383

how's that any different than putting akesson there

Love Berube's idea to put a career 4th line/AHL tweener on a line with our 2 best offensive players.

Maybe Pittsburgh can put Craig Adams on a line with Crosby and Kunitz. Or Anaheim can put Tim Jackman on a line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.
- jmatchett383

hrmmmm hmmmm... (clears throat to begin speech no one wants to hear again.)

hrmmmm hmmmm... (clears throat to begin speech no one wants to hear again.)
- mayorofangrytown

I'd like to hear it.

Love Berube's idea to put a career 4th line/AHL tweener on a line with our 2 best offensive players.

Maybe Pittsburgh can put Craig Adams on a line with Crosby and Kunitz. Or Anaheim can put Tim Jackman on a line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.
- jmatchett383

Whatever Berube is smoking... I want some!

Love Berube's idea to put a career 4th line/AHL tweener on a line with our 2 best offensive players.

Maybe Pittsburgh can put Craig Adams on a line with Crosby and Kunitz. Or Anaheim can put Tim Jackman on a line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.
- jmatchett383

It's all about balance. You have to balance the lines. Can't stack the top line. Luckily Holmgren left a stacked cupboard so Hextall can seamlessly transition a stud like VandeVelde into a top line role.

Love Berube's idea to put a career 4th line/AHL tweener on a line with our 2 best offensive players.

Maybe Pittsburgh can put Craig Adams on a line with Crosby and Kunitz. Or Anaheim can put Tim Jackman on a line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.
- jmatchett383

If he wants to try and build up the other lines, so that when all is said and done, the Flyers are more then just a one line offensive team, he doesn't have many options. Sure, he could put Simmonds, or Schenn up there, but when Raffl comes back then what? Of course Vandevelde is not ideal, but simply trying to have some balance throughout the lineup.

If it was my choice, I'd give Akeson the shot. But that he can't get back into the lineup, is telling.

how's that any different than putting akesson there
- 2Real

Akeson would definitely need to dress first. Those other guys already play hockey.

That's true but a player of Fleury's caliber, even as an average starter, is hard to come by for that kind of price. Unless he falls apart this year (which doesn't seem likely) or next, it's a solid investment. Maybe they'll draft a goalie or two in the meantime.
- NickTheKid87

they have tristian jarry developing currently. seems somewhat promising. but still. i think if he has one more catastrophic postseason, it would have been best to part ways.

for a goalie with as much mental problems as he has put out there, maybe a change of scenery would have done him good.

i dont think its a sure thing that theyll never win with him again. but i also dont know if it is a sure thing that he is capable of winning again when it matters. i just wish they would have waited to see how the post season unfurled before going all in on him again.

if he can gather himself and turn the mental page, then his salary wont really be prohibitive. however, if he cant, it creates a very difficult predicament.

Love Berube's idea to put a career 4th line/AHL tweener on a line with our 2 best offensive players.

Maybe Pittsburgh can put Craig Adams on a line with Crosby and Kunitz. Or Anaheim can put Tim Jackman on a line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.
- jmatchett383

Craig Adams and Tim Jackman are much better than VandeVelde.

I like Akeson but he'll be lucky if he just becomes Patrick Maroon II (Mini-Maroon???) -- not stylistically but in terms of finding an NHL role with the right fit after being essentially pegged as an AHL player.
- bmeltzer

An intended exaggeration, but why waste him in the popcorn suite? If there is no intention to play him, send him down/give him an opportunity to catch on with some other club, whatever the case will be.

it's probably just a sign and trade, for Rutherford's real go to guy Cam Ward
- BulliesPhan87

Cam Ward says no

Love Berube's idea to put a career 4th line/AHL tweener on a line with our 2 best offensive players.

Maybe Pittsburgh can put Craig Adams on a line with Crosby and Kunitz. Or Anaheim can put Tim Jackman on a line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.
- jmatchett383

hey dont joke about that. there were some times last year crosby was reduced to skating with glass flanking him.

they have tristian jarry developing currently. seems somewhat promising. but still. i think if he has one more catastrophic postseason, it would have been best to part ways.

for a goalie with as much mental problems as he has put out there, maybe a change of scenery would have done him good.

i dont think its a sure thing that theyll never win with him again. but i also dont know if it is a sure thing that he is capable of winning again when it matters. i just wish they would have waited to see how the post season unfurled before going all in on him again.

if he can gather himself and turn the mental page, then his salary wont really be prohibitive. however, if he cant, it creates a very difficult predicament.
- stayinthefnnet

He was pretty good last year in the playoffs statistically speaking (.915 sv%) but I didn't watch many of their games.

Berube's act is wearing thin on me already. It is obvious that Akeson should be the guy who takes Raffl's place. It is a win win. It helps Akeson find his game, and it keeps a level of skill on the top line that you wont get with VDV.

It has nothing to do with rewarding a player or not rewarding a player for poor play. It has to do with what is best for the team.

I'm beginning to think more and more that Berube has an arrogance about him that I didn't know he had.

Craig Adams and Tim Jackman are much better than VandeVelde.
- NickTheKid87

i dont know about that.

granted, the guy is in his upper thirties, but adams is pretty damn rough.

Akeson would definitely need to dress first. Those other guys already play hockey.
- mayorofangrytown

akeson is a 4th liner/ahl player

It's all about balance. You have to balance the lines. Can't stack the top line. Luckily Holmgren left a stacked cupboard so Hextall can seamlessly transition a stud like VandeVelde into a top line role.
- PLindbergh31

a stacked cupboard from the dollar store

you wait until after playoffs.

if he has a meltdown again. you give him a hug and move on.

if he plays well, and god willing you win the cup with him, yes he likely commands much more, but then even so. you either overpay a bit, or lose him. either way you just won the cup.

even if he doesnt lead the team to a cup, but still has a respectable post season, if it costs you a tad more in the deal, its worth it to have the peace of mind if youre truly committed to hitching your wagon to him.

im not even arguing the merits of whether he should or shouldnt be resigned. i dont think that can fairly be answered just yet. however, feeling compelled to go out and extend this now is inexplicable to me.
- stayinthefnnet

He's 17th in ES save percentage among all goalies who have started 60 or more games since the beginning of last season. Mason is 18th. Guys like Halak and Hiller have similar numbers. Hiller is a little older (32) than Fluery and Halak (29).

Halak got $18M over 4 years and Hiller got $9M over 2 years. Fleury's shootout ability is a positive factor as well.

Looking at the FA market for next season and it's basically Niemi and several backups. It's not a bad deal. It's a deal the Pens were almost forced to make.

how's that any different than putting akesson there
- 2Real

Akeson has spent a larger % of his time in his pro career in a top-9 spot than VDV has.

Berube's act is wearing thin on me already. It is obvious that Akeson should be the guy who takes Raffl's place. It is a win win. It helps Akeson find his game, and it keeps a level of skill on the top line that you wont get with VDV.

It has nothing to do with rewarding a player or not rewarding a player for poor play. It has to do with what is best for the team.

I'm beginning to think more and more that Berube has an arrogance about him that I didn't know he had.
- MBFlyerfan

did see Berube play?

Berube's act is wearing thin on me already. It is obvious that Akeson should be the guy who takes Raffl's place. It is a win win. It helps Akeson find his game, and it keeps a level of skill on the top line that you wont get with VDV.

It has nothing to do with rewarding a player or not rewarding a player for poor play. It has to do with what is best for the team.

I'm beginning to think more and more that Berube has an arrogance about him that I didn't know he had.
- MBFlyerfan

He wont survive this rebuild anyway.

I think its just a ticking time bomb to when he is fired, and while I see him lasting the season.. After that I think he is out the door.