Is this where I get to high five all the people that knew MDZ would be good or nah?

/waits
//checks watch

If Simmonds can play the left side, Giroux or Voracek could win the scoring title

I'm totally serious -- more likely Giroux
- AllInForFlyers

hey now. big emphasis on COULD

give me 80 games out of 87 and i will take my chances.

although if you did unite those three, i doubt youd get more than maybe 12 shots on goal from the rest of the lineup, but man would that be some fun hockey to watch. i honestly dont know if i want it to or not want it to happen. id hate to see the flyers with a dominant line, but the hockey fan in me just wants to watch that monstrous combination go to work.

that would be like crosby, malkin, and hornqvist.

Is this where I get to high five all the people that knew MDZ would be good or nah?

/waits
//checks watch
- johndewar

right here!

Is this where I get to high five all the people that knew MDZ would be good or nah?

/waits
//checks watch
- johndewar

I was in favour of singing him and I still am not 100% sold he is the answer and consistent real deal. If he has 10 bad games I think people turn on him. I want to see it for a whole season before I get too excited. That said, yes, I'll take a high five.

luongo has 2 masks.

i like the home mask better.
- mark_laforest

Noted

I have no idea why it's taken so long to put those three together. Simmer is Hartnell w/o the stupid and all the falling. Perfect fit.
- Tomahawk

Because the coach knows best?

I'll be the first to say it but Akeson did the things last night that he needed to do to stay in the lineup. Played a good game.

And for all those people that Zac Rinaldo does nothing, that goal was created because Kulikov saw him coming and blindly threw it back the other way. He won't get an assist but he was the reason the play started.

Berube deserves a lot of credit for the way some of these players have elevated their game. Voracek taking that next step and now leading the NHL in points, Bellemare transitioning into the NHL at a fast pace and playing as well as he is, Raffl taking that next step and becoming a legitimate top line LW, Del Zotto playing great and playing big minutes in key situations after every other team in the NHL seemingly passed on him, Nick Schultz playing solid shutdown minutes, Grossmann regaining the form he was at when he first came to Philly and re-emerging as a quality stay at home defensive rock and even chipping in some on the offense... That's what you call getting the most out of your players and Berube deserves most of the credit for it.

This is why you don't rush out to swap B Schenn for a dman. He is a young player just starting to come into his own. Heck, I'm sure Columbus is wishing they still had Voracek right about now.

While it may take a few years to rebuild the D, we need to try and stay patient. Even if it takes until 18-19 for some of the young D prospects to make an impact, so what? At that point Couturier is only 25, B. Schenn 26, Voracek 29, Simmonds 30 and Giroux 30. Hopefully by then both Laughton and Aube-Kubel are top 9 forwards and I have faith that the Flyers can draft/trade for or sign a couple more good forwards by then as well. Also Mason would only be 30, which is not old for a starting goalie.

Patience folks, just a little patience.

Berube deserves a lot of credit for the way some of these players have elevated their game. Voracek taking that next step and now leading the NHL in points, Bellemare transitioning into the NHL at a fast pace and playing as well as he is, Raffl taking that next step and becoming a legitimate top line LW, Del Zotto playing great and playing big minutes in key situations after every other team in the NHL seemingly passed on him, Nick Schultz playing solid shutdown minutes, Grossmann regaining the form he was at when he first came to Philly and re-emerging as a quality stay at home defensive rock and even chipping in some on the offense... That's what you call getting the most out of your players and Berube deserves most of the credit for it.
- TonyBazz

I agree with all of this. My only complaint about Berube is that I feel he holds certain players like Gustafsson and Akeson, to a higher standard than guys like Rinaldo, VDV and Luke Schenn.

Akeson played his best game of the season last night.

I agree with all of this. My only complaint about Berube is that I feel he holds certain players like Gustafsson and Akeson, to a higher standard than guys like Rinaldo, VDV and Luke Schenn.
- BiggE

Maybe he expects more out of them. Which he should.

IDK about having Simmonds-Giroux-Voracek together long term. Unless Schenn-Couts-Read start producing consistantly you have to place Simmonds on a different line. Vinny and Simmonds are fine.... its the LW spot thats the issue and thats the issue with every line just about. This team has a real weak spot there.

Maybe he expects more out of them. Which he should.
- GOA88

I don't know if it is a higher standard thing but more of that those guys are pretty replaceable. So if they aren't producing then you try another. That's just my feeling. One was a 7th dman and one is a 12-13-14th forward. Akeson needs to play like last night to stick. He will only get so many chances because you have guys like Jones, Vandevelde and even Ryan White when healthy who can come in and play. Not saying it is fair, just the nature of the position he is in.

Bill,

Just curious but is there any chance an offensive player like Straka or even cousins could be brought up to play with Vinny's line. Seems to me that if your going to play Simmonds on the top line then Vandevelde could be sat for a more offenmsive player. Seems like that would be a better fit for that line

Simmonds - Giroux - Voracek
Read - Couturier - Schenn
Cousins/Straka - Vinny - Umberger
Rinaldo - Bellemare - Akeson

If it had to be one of those guys I would say its easily AMac. But I think Carlo goes to the pressbox and Shultz probably goes with him (even though he is clearly out playing Schenn)
- hereticpride

Not just Schenn, he's outplaying just about everybody not named MDZ. Amac and Noseburn didn't even look as good before they got hurt.

It's gotta be Schenn who sits, even though it would suck to have an all lefty group... that guy is barely hanging on right now.

Akeson played his best game of the season last night.
- GOA88

In every game that's he's spent on a line w Bellemare, he's been gangbusters. Same w Rinaldo.

Put VDV between them and you lose them both.

In every game that's he's spent on a line w Bellemare, he's been gangbusters. Same w Rinaldo.

Put VDV between them and you lose them both.
- Tomahawk

When Coburn and Mac are healthy what do we do? Someone needs to go and recently I feel like it should be one of them...
- wilsonecho91

This reminds me of the year when the Flyers had a bunch of injuries, and guys like Lauridsen were up. And Lauridsen was going to replace Grossmann.

This schedule is a joke. Flyers play tomorrow night, and then don't play again until next Friday 11/14. I guess the good thing is Coburn will probably only miss one more game. And it gives Raffl some time as well. I think NHL players like playing games every other day. Keeps them sharp.

Because the coach knows best?
- ob18

If he changes any of the lines (save for Vinny's) before the next game, I'm going to go on a rampage.

I didn't mean just those two - in my own opinion, jettisoning AMaC is a must and a no brainer. Too much $ for too little in return. All these other guys do what he allegedly does and better.
- wilsonecho91

MacDonald is very good two way defenseman who significantly upgrades the Flyers defense. 5M is not that much for a quality defenseman. In fact as player salaries escalate, it is going to become cheap. All these other guys do not do what he does and better. Not even close.

In every game that's he's spent on a line w Bellemare, he's been gangbusters. Same w Rinaldo.

Put VDV between them and you lose them both.
- Tomahawk

Amazing how that works, isn't it? Use a guy with the right player, in the right role and boom, he suddenly looks better.

MacDonald is very good two way defenseman who significantly upgrades the Flyers defense. 5M is not that much for a quality defenseman. In fact as player salaries escalate, it is going to become cheap. All these other guys do not do what he does and better. Not even close.
- MJL

With so many teams looking for defense the flyers might have a piece they could move and bring in some picks or prospect. Not high end but maybe b level.

If he changes any of the lines (save for Vinny's) before the next game, I'm going to go on a rampage.
- Tomahawk

Hopefully, he goes with:
Simmonds-G-Jake
Schenn-Coots-Read
Umberger-VLC-Akeson
VDV-Bellemare-Rinaldo

If Vinnie is going to have any success, he needs someone with some puck skills and creativity to work with him and Akeson fits that bill.