I agree. I'm pretty sure the coaching staff worked them hard during practice to keep them sharp. Even reports of full 5 on 5 scrimmages in practice to simulate games. But they come out against Columbus, and not only give up 3 PP goals. But lose pretty much every puck battle, sloppy passes, slow puck movement and poor execution on breakouts. And lose to a team they should beat. It's frustrating.
- MJL

I was really mad about the CBJ game.. We really needed those two points as I thought we'd lose in Montreal for sure. They didn't seem ready for the CBJ game which is unacceptable. Of note, I would have considered starting Mase back to back last night.. It was tough to throw him to the wolves in Montreal.

Buying both of them out is a mistake. And I don't think trading Lecavalier is going to be easy, but not impossible. Laughton is going to be on the team sooner or later. Buying both players out is not saving money on the cap, it's carrying dead unusable money on the cap, that can't be used elsewhere.
- MJL

Better to carry dead unusable money than dead unusable players

I agree about Raffl. I think that top line is at its best when he's on it. Schenn looked good last night, so we'll see if it can be sustained.

I'm glad Schenn is settling in nicely at LW. If he can make that work, it will really help the team long term.

Read actually looked better after he scored that goal. Without Read playing well and Raffl injured, their two-way play at forward really suffers.
- PhillySportsGuy

BSchenn has really stepped up his game.

He is never going to be a puck controlling skate it from end to end type player (like Voracek is doing right now).

He has a good shot and when he goes hard to the net and bangs on the forecheck, skating and stays focused he can be a very good player.

Definitely a bright spot for the them right now.

Better to carry dead unusable money than dead unusable players
- Just5

No it's not. They aren't dead unusable players. Umberger could still be effective on the 4th line. Lecavalier, if he plays with an offensive catalyst, can still be effective offensively. I'd be okay with a buy out of one, but not both. That's too much.

I was really mad about the CBJ game.. We really needed those two points as I thought we'd lose in Montreal for sure. They didn't seem ready for the CBJ game which is unacceptable. Of note, I would have considered starting Mase back to back last night.. It was tough to throw him to the wolves in Montreal.
- Hextall271

They were out of sync with the five days off, and the CLB players were in their face all night. They were outworked too. Flyers struggle when teams fore check them hard.

BSchenn has really stepped up his game.

He is never going to be a puck controlling skate it from end to end type player (like Voracek is doing right now).

He has a good shot and when he goes hard to the net and bangs on the forecheck, skating and stays focused he can be a very good player.

Definitely a bright spot for the them right now.
- Marc D

Currently scoring at a 30 goal, 35 assist pace.

BSchenn has really stepped up his game.

He is never going to be a puck controlling skate it from end to end type player (like Voracek is doing right now).

He has a good shot and when he goes hard to the net and bangs on the forecheck, skating and stays focused he can be a very good player.

Definitely a bright spot for the them right now.
- Marc D

Yup, when everybody's healthy, and assuming that Hextall is not going to bring any of the kids up, I'd try:

Raffl-G-Jake
Schenn-Couturier-Simmonds
Bellemare-VLC-Read
Umberger-VDV-Rinaldo

Re Umberger on the 4th line after this season:\

I'd rather buy him out and have Leier or another guy on an ELC deal at that spot. Better they have 2.5 million tied up in a 4th line winger than 4.6

Could it be he's asking his team to do more than what they are capable of doing?

Just a thought
- ob18

It is partly this I think.

I mean how long can guys like Schultz and MDZ face top lines every night without having breakdowns?

On the fourth killer Habs goal (which Emery should have stopped), Schultz backed off a puck at the blue line where I thought he could of challenged the Habs guy right there.

Instead he backed off and it led to a scoring chance.

Yup, when everybody's healthy, and assuming that Hextall is not going to bring any of the kids up, I'd try:

Raffl-G-Jake
Schenn-Couturier-Simmonds
Bellemare-VLC-Read
Umberger-VDV-Rinaldo
- BiggE

Don't know if Bellemare can play the left wing. He has only played RW to this point. It would help if he could.

It is partly this I think.

I mean how long can guys like Schultz and MDZ face top lines every night without having breakdowns?

On the fourth killer Habs goal (which Emery should have stopped), Schultz backed off a puck at the blue line where I thought he could of challenged the Habs guy right there.

Instead he backed off and it led to a scoring chance.
- Marc D

Personally I don't get upset right now, it's been clear for sometime we don't have the right mix and to even get close or to that point will take time.

It is partly this I think.

I mean how long can guys like Schultz and MDZ face top lines every night without having breakdowns?

On the fourth killer Habs goal (which Emery should have stopped), Schultz backed off a puck at the blue line where I thought he could of challenged the Habs guy right there.

Instead he backed off and it led to a scoring chance.
- Marc D

Are you really surprised? He's played very well so far, but he is really a 4/5 guy who is being asked to do way too much.

Re Umberger on the 4th line after this season:\

I'd rather buy him out and have Leier or another guy on an ELC deal at that spot. Better they have 2.5 million tied up in a 4th line winger than 4.6
- BiggE

I agree with that. Just don't agree with buying out both Umberger and Lecavalier.

Currently scoring at a 30 goal, 35 assist pace.
- MJL

This is great but to me it is even more then the scoring.

He looks really engaged.

He is getting on the opposition D on the forecheck in time and creating havoc.
He is getting into good scoring positions.
Not floating aimlessly like he was the first few games of the season.
I guess the scoring is coming as a result of how he is skating and playing overall.

Personally I don't get upset right now, it's been clear for sometime we don't have the right mix and to even get close or to that point will take time.
- ob18

Exactly, at best I can't see this team contending before 16-17 and even that is optimistic

I agree with that. Just don't agree with buying out both Umberger and Lecavalier.
- MJL

I don't buy out either if at all possible. One is too much dead cap space.

Are you really surprised? He's played very well so far, but he is really a 4/5 guy who is being asked to do way too much.
- BiggE

nope

I expect MDZ to cool off at some point and whatever they get out of Schultz is really a bonus.

If Coburn could regain his good form it will help a lot.

Also I really believe they miss Raffl a lot. Especially with Matt Read struggling.

Cap wise, they are better off buying out Umberger after this year and holding onto VLC until at least July 2nd. At that point he is only owed 8.5 million for the next 3 seasons. If they are then willing to eat say 30% of his deal, I think they can find a team to take a chance on Vinnie for 5.95 million over 3 years. Heck, even eating 40% and getting that number down to 5.1 million over 3 years is better than buying him out and only hurts us for 3 years rather than 6.

nope

I expect MDZ to cool off at some point and whatever they get out of Schultz is really a bonus.

If Coburn could regain his good form it will help a lot.

Also I really believe they miss Raffl a lot. Especially with Matt Read struggling.
- Marc D

Yes, and yes again!

I don't buy out either if at all possible. One is too much dead cap space.
- ob18

Not sure they really have an option with Umberger. Even if they are willing to eat half the deal, I don't think there is a team out there that would even want him at 2.3 million per for 2 years. The only other option is basically giving up an asset and paying someone struggling to reach the cap floor to take him off our hands.

it will be an up and down season, this team is what it is
- ob18

This.

I'm not a buyer that another coach will fix this team. More quality players will fix this team.

It is partly this I think.

I mean how long can guys like Schultz and MDZ face top lines every night without having breakdowns?

On the fourth killer Habs goal (which Emery should have stopped), Schultz backed off a puck at the blue line where I thought he could of challenged the Habs guy right there.

Instead he backed off and it led to a scoring chance.
- Marc D

The 4th goal was a double deflection from a point shot, wasn't it?

I don't buy out either if at all possible. One is too much dead cap space.
- ob18

Agreed, but I'm not a big fan of paying a 4th line player 4.6M if that is what Umberger is going to be.

This is great but to me it is even more then the scoring.

He looks really engaged.

He is getting on the opposition D on the forecheck in time and creating havoc.
He is getting into good scoring positions.
Not floating aimlessly like he was the first few games of the season.
I guess the scoring is coming as a result of how he is skating and playing overall.
- Marc D

Right there with you on that.

Agreed, but I'm not a big fan of paying a 4th line player 4.6M if that is what Umberger is going to be.
- MJL

I have no idea how to fix him or Vinny & it seems neither does the coach or team so any thing else would be just another guess.