Time to give Mara Justine the job.
- MBFlyerfan

is she the phwoughie that does the anthems for the habs?

is she the phwoughie that does the anthems for the habs?
- hammarby31

Nah, she is a local kid who sang God Bless America before the practice they had in AC. One of the Americas Got Talent finalists.

Fine by me if it's the right wing. You can't move Bellemare out of center with how well and responsibly he's played in that position.
- Feanor

I don't necessarily have an issue with it, I've been saying that they need to get Lecavalier more skilled linemates since he returned.

I'd have no hesitation using Raffl & Bellemare with him, or even Akeson, if Bellemare slid to LW.

That's what I've meant when I say optimal lines-optimize what you have. Obviously it's not going to be perfect, because it's not a great mix. But there are line combos that can help the Flyers utilize the skills of the players they have available to their best fit.

I don't necessarily have an issue with it, I've been saying that they need to get Lecavalier more skilled linemates since he returned.

I'd have no hesitation using Raffl & Bellemare with him, or even Akeson, if Bellemare slid to LW.

That's what I've meant when I say optimal lines-optimize what you have. Obviously it's not going to be perfect, because it's not a great mix. But there are line combos that can help the Flyers utilize the skills of the players they have available to their best fit.
- Jsaquella

Berube is as stubborn as a mule. He wont make the obvious adjustments. Obviously....

Still need more picks

http://www.prosportstrans...tTrades/Future/Flyers.htm
- ob18

I'm definitely jealous of Buffalo's 5 picks in the first two rounds. If they are smart, they could turn that franchise around in a single draft.

I think I just saw Noah's Ark in this storm
- PhillySportsGuy

Get your wetsuit ready

Get your wetsuit ready
- BiggE

One could only hope...

I don't necessarily have an issue with it, I've been saying that they need to get Lecavalier more skilled linemates since he returned.

I'd have no hesitation using Raffl & Bellemare with him, or even Akeson, if Bellemare slid to LW.

That's what I've meant when I say optimal lines-optimize what you have. Obviously it's not going to be perfect, because it's not a great mix. But there are line combos that can help the Flyers utilize the skills of the players they have available to their best fit.
- Jsaquella

How many times has it been discussed how much better Bellemare has made the 4th line? Maybe that move will optimize the Lecavalier line, but it will make the 4th line weaker. And if the 4th line doesn't play well, that will be the next line that Berube gets criticized for not optimizing.
There's lots of line combos that can help the Flyers utilize their skill on paper. But once it's tried and it doesn't work, back to Berube not playing it well. With Raffl out, and the hole at LW, and not having another playmaker, no matter what line combinations Berube puts out there, there is going to be a weakness there. As long as Umberger is not going to provide any offense, it is going to hurt the team.

Berube is as stubborn as a mule. He wont make the obvious adjustments. Obviously....
- GOA88

What are the obvious adjustments that Berube should make?

What are the obvious adjustments that Berube should make?
- MJL

Both Vinny and Simmonds were most productive this season while playing together. Reunite them.
At all costs keep Umberger away from Vinny.
Bellemare in the top 9. Playing LW.
I mean there is much more he an do to get better line combos but he keeps doing the same combos that dont work. Its pretty clear to see.

I don't necessarily have an issue with it, I've been saying that they need to get Lecavalier more skilled linemates since he returned.

I'd have no hesitation using Raffl & Bellemare with him, or even Akeson, if Bellemare slid to LW.

That's what I've meant when I say optimal lines-optimize what you have. Obviously it's not going to be perfect, because it's not a great mix. But there are line combos that can help the Flyers utilize the skills of the players they have available to their best fit.
- Jsaquella

When Raffl is fit:

Raffl-Bellemare-Leacavlier could be a good line. And it allows Umberger to move to the 4th line.

One good stat I noticed. Giroux is at 55% on faceoffs, and has taken more of them than anyone but Bergeron and Toews who have played more games.

When Raffl is fit:

Raffl-Bellemare-Leacavlier could be a good line. And it allows Umberger to move to the 4th line.

One good stat I noticed. Giroux is at 55% on faceoffs, and has taken more of them than anyone but Bergeron and Toews who have played more games.
- Feanor

Agree with this and I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter when it's available.

Berube is as stubborn as a mule. He wont make the obvious adjustments. Obviously....
- GOA88

Well, he moved BSchenn back to the top line on Saturday after burying him early in the year, so he must not be that stubborn.

Berube is not the second coming Scotty Bowman, but let's be honest.....this roster is a miscast group. If he gets these guys to the playoffs, as currently constituted, I'll bet that Chief gets an extension.

When Raffl is fit:

Raffl-Bellemare-Leacavlier could be a good line. And it allows Umberger to move to the 4th line.

One good stat I noticed. Giroux is at 55% on faceoffs, and has taken more of them than anyone but Bergeron and Toews who have played more games.
- Feanor

The faceoff numbers are because Giroux is the only guy winning faceoffs at 50%.

As far as the lines go, even before Raffl returns-he's still "weeks" away, according to Hextall-I'd drop Umberger to the 4th line. I'd look hard at changing most of the lines, including splitting Giroux and Voracek.

If you have Lecavalier, you might as well try to get production from him. Dropping Umberger down with Rinaldo & VandeVelde/Jones at least might give them 3 lines that can chip in, instead of two that are basically useless at ES

I'm definitely jealous of Buffalo's 5 picks in the first two rounds. If they are smart, they could turn that franchise around in a single draft.
- Roytastic

5 in the first two rounds. wow

Both Vinny and Simmonds were most productive this season while playing together. Reunite them.
At all costs keep Umberger away from Vinny.
Bellemare in the top 9. Playing LW.
I mean there is much more he an do to get better line combos but he keeps doing the same combos that dont work. Its pretty clear to see.
- GOA88

Bellemare is a RW, not a LW. I don't know that he can play the left side. Who is the LW that will play with Lecavalier and Simmonds? And Berube separated Simmonds and Lecavalier because they weren't clicking. So how is that an obvious move? One of your suggestions is to put two players together that didn't work before.

5 in the first two rounds. wow
- nastyflyergirl

It's not impossible that they end up with more, too.

They could still dump guys on the roster now.

The faceoff numbers are because Giroux is the only guy winning faceoffs at 50%.

As far as the lines go, even before Raffl returns-he's still "weeks" away, according to Hextall-I'd drop Umberger to the 4th line. I'd look hard at changing most of the lines, including splitting Giroux and Voracek.

If you have Lecavalier, you might as well try to get production from him. Dropping Umberger down with Rinaldo & VandeVelde/Jones at least might give them 3 lines that can chip in, instead of two that are basically useless at ES
- Jsaquella

Umberger goes to the 4th line. Raffl, a LW is injured. Simmonds does not look comfortable on the left side, and has had a hard time adjusting to playing the left side. Read asked to be moved back to RW after playing LW earlier in the season. So besides Schenn, who are the two other LW's in the top nine?

It's not impossible that they end up with more, too.

They could still dump guys on the roster now.
- Jsaquella

and they should get McDavid of Eichel

and they should get McDavid of Eichel
- nastyflyergirl

They could really be set for a long time. I was kind of surprised they didn't get more picks for the 2014 draft.

Nah, she is a local kid who sang God Bless America before the practice they had in AC. One of the Americas Got Talent finalists.
- MBFlyerfan

I liked America's Got Talent until I found out it was American Idol Part II. The real "talents" out there (Bobby Bad Fingers, Quick Change) were what made the show fun to watch, just to see what crazy acts random people had.

Umberger goes to the 4th line. Raffl, a LW is injured. Simmonds does not look comfortable on the left side, and has had a hard time adjusting to playing the left side. Read asked to be moved back to RW after playing LW earlier in the season. So besides Schenn, who are the two other LW's in the top nine?
- MJL

Personally, I think they need to find one, and while I understand everyone's fascination with picks, I don't necessarily share that.

I believe in the theory of "assets," where prospects, draft picks and roster players are defined as such, which eliminates the overvaluing of one over another

That is because if you make a good trade of a draft pick for a roster player, then you haven't hurt your organization by not picking. Because you got a tangible asset in return for your roster, which is the entire point of drafting in the first place

So, yeah. If there was a LW out there for a pick, I'd do it, and I would not hesitate, if it was the right player

Personally, I think they need to find one, and while I understand everyone's fascination with picks, I don't necessarily share that.

I believe in the theory of "assets," where prospects, draft picks and roster players are defined as such, which eliminates the overvaluing of one over another

That is because if you make a good trade of a draft pick for a roster player, then you haven't hurt your organization by not picking. Because you got a tangible asset in return for your roster, which is the entire point of drafting in the first place

So, yeah. If there was a LW out there for a pick, I'd do it, and I would not hesitate, if it was the right player
- AllInForFlyers

The only way I'd willingly trade a pick would be if it's for a guy who is a long term solution.

Right now, despite Read asking to play RW, which occurred about a month ago, he's playing LW with Couturier and Simmonds. Schenn is playing with Giroux & Voracek. Bellemare can play all three forward spots, like Raffl & Read, so it's not as if there's no other options.

That said, I'd be all for moving for a good young winger who can carry the puck and make plays

5 in the first two rounds. wow
- nastyflyergirl

I'm not always a fan of more draft picks -- it truly depends on how skilled you are at drafting, and TBH, the math on guys making it after the first 6-8 picks turns pretty nasty, and far more quickly than some might think

Even if you know what you're doing, you can easily miss picks in the second round -- hell, in 2006, the Flyers went Andreas Nodl, Michael Ratchuk and Denis Bodrov in the second, and basically got zip to show for it

The only way I'd willingly trade a pick would be if it's for a guy who is a long term solution.

Right now, despite Read asking to play RW, which occurred about a month ago, he's playing LW with Couturier and Simmonds. Schenn is playing with Giroux & Voracek. Bellemare can play all three forward spots, like Raffl & Read, so it's not as if there's no other options.

That said, I'd be all for moving for a good young winger who can carry the puck and make plays
- Jsaquella

I promise, I realize they don't have to do anything, and probably won't. That's totally fine. Hextall's not wrong in playing it like that.

But if it were me, just me personally, I'd go get a guy