Please take a look at just how heavily he is used defensively.
- JFlyers00

You act like he is forced to play in the D-zone the whole game. His line has to drive the play up the ice and create something. They dont.

Haven't seen his lines produce much zone-time thus far... especially 18/40/17... if they even make it into the zone, the D gets the puck right back and exits. Very little cycling, very few scoring chances.
- Tomahawk

I feel so bad for Simmonds.

That's line's only had two games so far, and they had plenty of shots and zone time against Edmonton.
- Feanor

Everyone looks good against Edmonton. Let's see how they do against a decent checking team in Fla.

That's line's only had two games so far, and they had plenty of shots and zone time against Edmonton.
- Feanor

Shhh! Ruins the narrative.

Yup, the price for Dmen has gotten ridiculous.
- BiggE

and now is the time to strike with shero's pile of 292353 defensemen he left!

nah, sorry. we have to needlessly extend our goalie right at this very second!

You act like he is forced to play in the D-zone the whole game. His line has to drive the play up the ice and create something. They dont.
- GOA88

That's true, and Zone starts only include shfts started with a faceoff.

You act like he is forced to play in the D-zone the whole game. His line has to drive the play up the ice and create something. They dont.
- GOA88

Do you realize how much more difficult it is to win a defensive zone face-off, gather possession, move the puck out thru the neutral zone, carry the puck in with possession to the offensive zone then generate a scoring chance all while playing against the highest level of competition than it is to win an offensive zone face-off and just gather possession?

*Meanwhile the Flyers and Vancouver has some discussions the past few days I am told, but it is unclear who was mentioned, except to say it sounded like the teams were more looking down the line and getting a feel for each other regarding a contingency type of trade. -EK

I'm sure they have a sh!t ton of fourth liner we could grab.
- mayorofangrytown

What do you expect? 4th liners are now playing on the first line. That leaves shortage of 4th liners.

You act like he is forced to play in the D-zone the whole game. His line has to drive the play up the ice and create something. They dont.
- GOA88

He starts in the defensive zone a ridiculous amount. He rarely gets an O-zone start. He also faces the other teams top lines while playing with an anchor for most of this season.

Do you realize how much more difficult it is to win a defensive zone face-off, gather possession, move the puck out thru the neutral zone, carry the puck in with possession to the offensive zone then generate a scoring chance all while playing against the highest level of competition than it is to win an offensive zone face-off and just gather possession?
- PhillySportsGuy

He's aware of that. And his point is that they get plenty of other shifts where they aren't starting in the D zone.

No, but that's kind of my point. I think scoring 22 goals in a defensive role should show that you are ready for better offensive minutes (Read). And scoring 39pts as a 21 year old in a defensive role should show the same thing.

I'm not saying they are both elite offensive specialists and deserve 1st line minutes and extended PP time, but they both would benefit from more offensive zone starts.
- VladDrag

according to berube "that's their job"

Do you realize how much more difficult it is to win a defensive zone face-off, gather possession, move the puck out thru the neutral zone, carry the puck in with possession to the offensive zone then generate a scoring chance all while playing against the highest level of competition than it is to win an offensive zone face-off and just gather possession?
- PhillySportsGuy

I watch the games. No need for this condescending speech.

Do you realize how much more difficult it is to win a defensive zone face-off, gather possession, move the puck out thru the neutral zone, carry the puck in with possession to the offensive zone then generate a scoring chance all while playing against the highest level of competition than it is to win an offensive zone face-off and just gather possession?
- PhillySportsGuy

SHOOOT!!

I feel so bad for Simmonds.
- JFlyers00

yes

That's line's only had two games so far, and they had plenty of shots and zone time against Edmonton.
- Feanor

Line was worse than the team avg in both games.

Do you realize how much more difficult it is to win a defensive zone face-off, gather possession, move the puck out thru the neutral zone, carry the puck in with possession to the offensive zone then generate a scoring chance all while playing against the highest level of competition than it is to win an offensive zone face-off and just gather possession?
- PhillySportsGuy

true. which is why he is asked to do that instead of say vinny, who probably would have fallen down halfway through that list.

i understand why your coach does it do coots. he really doesnt have much of a choice. however, that being said, you cant turn around and look at coots numbers and go WHY YOU NO PERFORM ART ROSS!?!?!

there has to be some give and take. coots is a very nice player to have. but he isnt superman.

plenty

lol

Carzy talk is that you wouldn't. What flexibily does he proide. He is a 13th -14th forward. We could fill his roll. I think anyone would take a 3rd rounder for him
- J35Bacher

Akeson was one of the most decorated junior players in recent history. He led the league in assists and tied for the league lead in points (with T Toffoli) and won four major awards in 2010-11 as a Kitchener Ranger. After going pro, and playing in the AHL, against men, he led the Phantoms in points three years running. He had a point in each of his first two NHL games and was a close second only to Giroux in points/60 min in his first significant stint in the NHL in the playoffs last season. He was also good at both ends of the ice and had solid possession numbers.

The only notable stretch of games where Akeson has not been productive has been this season when slotted in a fourth line checking role getting limited minutes and no PP time. Coincidence? I think not.

In my view, Akeson is one of the Flyers' top 5 prospects and is worth more than a 3rd rounder. However, if Berube continues to handle the player like he has been, and doesn't put him in a position to best exploit his assets, and critizes him for his play in a role he's not suited for, the team and the league won't be able to see his value there is a risk of devaluation and potentially selling the player away for significantly less than actual value...the Flyers have made these types of mistakes before and I really don't want to see them do it again here, with Akeson.

I'm not saying Akeson is an established top six player in the NHL, but I am saying that it would behove the Flyers organization to make sure he, at some point, gets a good long look playing with linemates that can think and play the game on a similar level as him. Making conclusions about a player like Akeson's value and projected upside in the NHL based on how he performs as a fourth line checker playing with the least talented forwards would be the height of ignorance and I sincerely hope the Flyers brass are smarter than that.

He's aware of that. And his point is that they get plenty of other shifts where they aren't starting in the D zone.
- MJL

Other lines start in the D-zone too, are able to get the play up ice and create chances if not score. Couts gets PP time too and he doesnt know what to do with the puck when he has it other than the few times a season he teases us with his ability.

I watch the games. No need for this condescending speech.
- GOA88

It's not meant to be condescending. Even the best players in the NHL would struggle under those circumstances. So many teams use a clog the neutral zone approach. Thats why offensive zone face-offs are so important these days. It's becoming harder and harder to move thru the neutral zone while maintaining possession.

Everyone looks good against Edmonton. Let's see how they do against a decent checking team in Fla.
- PhillySportsGuy

Good point. What scares me is that even against Edmonton there were long stretches where the Oilers really controlled the tempo. In all honesty, if the Oilers goalie had played as well as Mason, it would have been a very close game.

true. which is why he is asked to do that instead of say vinny, who probably would have fallen down halfway through that list.

i understand why your coach does it do coots. he really doesnt have much of a choice. however, that being said, you cant turn around and look at coots numbers and go WHY YOU NO PERFORM ART ROSS!?!?!

there has to be some give and take. coots is a very nice player to have. but he isnt superman.
- stayinthefnnet

He has other choices, he just chooses not to use them.

Umberger and Bellemare are both defensively capable and good on FO's, and either could center a secondary (or primary) checking line so Coots could get more even deployment.

Of course, Vinny makes that inconvenient, so..........

Akeson was one of the most decorated junior players in recent history. He led the league in assists and tied for the league lead in points (with T Toffoli) and won four major awards in 2010-11 as a Kitchener Ranger. After going pro, and playing in the AHL, against men, he led the Phantoms in points three years running. He had a point in each of his first two NHL games and was a close second only to Giroux in points/60 min in his first significant stint in the NHL in the playoffs last season. He was also good at both ends of the ice and had solid possession numbers.

The only notable stretch of games where Akeson has not been productive has been this season when slotted in a fourth line checking role getting limited minutes and no PP time. Coincidence? I think not.

In my view, Akeson is one of the Flyers' top 5 prospects and is worth more than a 3rd rounder. However, if Berube continues to handle the player like he has been, and doesn't put him in a position to best exploit his assets, and critizes him for his play in a role he's not suited for, the team and the league won't be able to see his value there is a risk of devaluation and potentially selling the player away for significantly less than actual value...the Flyers have made these types of mistakes before and I really don't want to see them do it again here, with Akeson.

I'm not saying Akeson is an established top six player in the NHL, but I am saying that it would behove the Flyers organization to make sure he, at some point, gets a good long look playing with linemates that can think and play the game on a similar level as him. Making conclusions about a player like Akeson's value and projected upside in the NHL based on how he performs as a fourth line checker playing with the least talented forwards would be the height of ignorance and I sincerely hope the Flyers brass are smarter than that.
- exlund

true. which is why he is asked to do that instead of say vinny, who probably would have fallen down halfway through that list.

i understand why your coach does it do coots. he really doesnt have much of a choice. however, that being said, you cant turn around and look at coots numbers and go WHY YOU NO PERFORM ART ROSS!?!?!

there has to be some give and take. coots is a very nice player to have. but he isnt superman.
- stayinthefnnet

Well duh, that would be Voracek!

Line was worse than the team avg in both games.
- Tomahawk

Against the Oilers the team CF at ES was 53-58

http://www.naturalstattri...eason=20142015&game=20174

Umberger was 13-8 with Vinny and 13-9 with Simmonds at ES, and Simmonds was 14-11 with Vinny. So actually, they were above average.

In 2:19 with BSchenn Vinny went 1-7. That's the kind of poop the 18-40-17 line prevents.