For some reason this year it seems like so many teams have gotten better, and yet for some reason we remain stagnant if not worse.
- Pelle31Forever

what we have here is an average to below average team that can play above their heads for a stretch of games and give the illusion of being better; it has a couple consistently good players who occasionally play great (mason, G, JV) and can win the occasional close game, but they don't have the horses right now.

They traded a top 6 forward for a 4th liner and they lost their best defenseman.
- PhillySportsGuy

And Dr Evil obviously stole their mojo. This team has not mojo- Fact

There's enough blame to go around. It's not all Berube. I think that he doesn't put guys in the best spots as often as he could. I also don't agree with how he gives some players miles of rope and others get benched at the first bad game.

But he's got a mediocre roster. They have one line that generates any offense. I like the line he cobbled together with Raffl coming back to play with Laughton and Simmonds. I don't always agree with his decisions, but at least he's making an effort.

There's enough blame to go around. It's not all Berube. I think that he doesn't put guys in the best spots as often as he could. I also don't agree with how he gives some players miles of rope and others get benched at the first bad game.

But he's got a mediocre roster. They have one line that generates any offense. I like the line he cobbled together with Raffl coming back to play with Laughton and Simmonds. I don't always agree with his decisions, but at least he's making an effort.
- Jsaquella

Yup.

comeau had one tonight
- hogweed

This team just makes you shake your head sometimes

I have opinions on what's wrong, like everybody else who watches other teams play. But even if every single person had a different opinion, you should score some goals

I don't know. Something's off. Hextall's out there, if the NHL reporters are hearing things correctly

He might not have a choice but to do something, if no one else starts generating offense

I like the line of 17 49 12
It will be interesting to see what they can do in the back to back against the Rags
I am almost convinced that Couturier is and will always be a 3rd line defensive player
Read has looked bad, I wouldn't be suprised if he is part of a package. I hope he can come out of it but his production is a must for this team to be successful

There's enough blame to go around. It's not all Berube. I think that he doesn't put guys in the best spots as often as he could. I also don't agree with how he gives some players miles of rope and others get benched at the first bad game.

But he's got a mediocre roster. They have one line that generates any offense. I like the line he cobbled together with Raffl coming back to play with Laughton and Simmonds. I don't always agree with his decisions, but at least he's making an effort.
- Jsaquella

The ES woes have been there since, what...2011, maybe? It hasn't been something they've been good at for a few years now

There's just nothing worth doing to this roster if 18 and 40 have to play on it. Pointless to talk about trades. This team won't step forward without losing these 2

Ideally ice time should be spread out among the forwards something like this:

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek: 19-21 mins
Bellemare-Couturier-Read: 16-18 mins
Raffl-Laughton-Simmonds: 16-18 mins
Umberger-Lecavalier-Rinaldo: 5-10mins

In a perfect world line 1 could play 20 mins, line 2/3 (they're pretty equal lines) could play 17 mins each, and theoretical line 4 would only need to be out for 6 minutes of easy ice time. I think that'd mask our weak links fairly well.

There's just nothing worth doing to this roster if 18 and 40 have to play on it. Pointless to talk about trades. This team won't step forward without losing these 2
- Just5

Maybe that is Hextall's grand plan. Play 18 & 40 and we get Lottery pick!

Ideally ice time should be spread out among the forwards something like this:

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek: 19-21 mins
Bellemare-Couturier-Read: 16-18 mins
Raffl-Laughton-Simmonds: 16-18 mins
Umberger-Lecavalier-Rinaldo: 5-10mins

In a perfect world line 1 could play 20 mins, line 2/3 (they're pretty equal lines) could play 17 mins each, and theoretical line 4 would only need to be out for 6 minutes of easy ice time. I think that'd mask our weak links fairly well.
- JAKEw1234

It doesn't work if Read and Simmonds don't start scoring goals, though -- asking Laughton, a rookie, to provide consistent offense is just a difficult thing. He's looked a lot better in this go-round, but there's still no points to show for it

Simmonds does give you some production on the PP, so it's not horrifying in that regard, but this lineup does not work without Read's 20 goals in it -- it's that simple

Thats an average of a 14 point season... 8 players combined... 8 players who are routinely in the lineup.

I dont care how hard they work.. we lack skill and speed. Not just physical speed either.
- jak521

That's what I would do as well, take a bunch of players and average them together as opposed to looking at them individually. Considering Couts has 8 points (same as Read, whom you didn't mention) and Raffl has 7 in 13 games, think maybe your analysis is just a bit skewed? You should have added Laughton and Jones to really sink those averages.

It doesn't work if Read and Simmonds don't start scoring goals, though -- asking Laughton, a rookie, to provide consistent offense is just a difficult thing. He's looked a lot better in this go-round, but there's still no points to show for it

Simmonds does give you some production on the PP, so it's not horrifying in that regard, but this lineup does not work without Read's 20 goals in it -- it's that simple
- AllInForFlyers

Laughton, Simmonds, Raffl looked good tonight, thought they were definitely going to get a goal. If Berube keeps them together for a few games to let them build some chemistry, they should be taking some of the load off the top line.

Laughton, Simmonds, Raffl looked good tonight, thought they were definitely going to get a goal. If Berube keeps them together for a few games to let them build some chemistry, they should be taking some of the load off the top line.
- wolfhounds

Man, I hope so -- I'm not ready to bust out the Jim Mora clip...still want them to make the playoffs

It doesn't work if Read and Simmonds don't start scoring goals, though -- asking Laughton, a rookie, to provide consistent offense is just a difficult thing. He's looked a lot better in this go-round, but there's still no points to show for it

Simmonds does give you some production on the PP, so it's not horrifying in that regard, but this lineup does not work without Read's 20 goals in it -- it's that simple
- AllInForFlyers

Sure, it doesn't matter how we allocate our ice time, we need to start getting secondary scoring to compete. I'd rather be giving the extra minutes to the guys who play well away from the puck. Read plays sound defense, Simmonds plays a hard forecheck, and Laughton does a little bit of both.

We should hold a posters only meeting

There's enough blame to go around. It's not all Berube. I think that he doesn't put guys in the best spots as often as he could. I also don't agree with how he gives some players miles of rope and others get benched at the first bad game.

But he's got a mediocre roster. They have one line that generates any offense. I like the line he cobbled together with Raffl coming back to play with Laughton and Simmonds. I don't always agree with his decisions, but at least he's making an effort.
- Jsaquella

Agreed.

For me it's a little sad that our season dwindles down to the play of three or four players, when in reality, we're ineffective as a group. At what point do we admit that this team isn't that good this season?

Is Lecavalier and Umberger having good seasons? No! I think we've established this mindlessly and repeatedly with every inch of everyday since the season began. Luke Schenn, the anchor of the back end was scratched tonight. Our PK is ineffective. Some guys who we expect a lot of are taking nights off or struggling big time.

I also liked the line of Laughton, Raffl and Simmonds but I think I would move Raffl back to the top line right now and place Schenn on to that second line. From there, it really doesn't matter to me who plays with Read and Couturier or who plays on the fourth line because anything after our top line, the scoring depth jumps off a cliff. Even Couturier and Read who face tough opponents aren't able to produce right now themselves.

There's just nothing worth doing to this roster if 18 and 40 have to play on it. Pointless to talk about trades. This team won't step forward without losing these 2
- Just5

I'm not defending Lecavalier or Umberger. I just don't see much of a different result with or without them. We just don't have the depth. Pointing the finger at them just seems too easy to me.

We should hold a posters only meeting
- wilsonecho91

Sounds good. Cue 12 page argument on what Golden Corral it should be held at.

Agreed.

For me it's a little sad that our season dwindles down to the play of three or four players, when in reality, we're ineffective as a group. At what point do we admit that this team isn't that good this season?

Is Lecavalier and Umberger having good seasons? No! I think we've established this mindlessly and repeatedly with every inch of everyday since the season began. Luke Schenn, the anchor of the back end was scratched tonight. Our PK isn't ineffective. Some guys who we expect a lot of are taking nights off or struggling big time.

I also liked the line of Laughton, Raffl and Simmonds but I think I would move Raffl back to the top line right now and place Schenn on to that second line. From there, it really doesn't matter to me who plays with Read and Couturier or who plays on the fourth line because after our time line, the scoring depth jumps off a cliff. Even Couturier and Read who face tough opponents aren't able to produce right now themselves.
- SuperSchennBros

Raffl G Jake
Schenn Couturier Simmonds
Read Laughton Akeson
Rinaldo PEB VLC

Cote Suite:
Umberger
VDV

Sounds good. Cue 12 page argument on what Golden Corral it should be held at.
- hereticpride

Also I wanted to point out that I thought Simmonds was really the straw that stirred the drink for that Laughton line tonight. Although they didn't produce, they created. It's also remarkable how Simmonds can just power his way between an opposing player and the boards and come away with puck like a missile. He's undoubtedly my favourite player on the team and I'm probably hardest on him because he doesn't have hands like JvR but he's a true power forward. To me the best in the league.

Sounds good. Cue 12 page argument on what Golden Corral it should be held at.
- hereticpride

Is this code? Don't want TP, FS or SC to locate this

Umberger only played 10:07 last night, least on the team.

Chief's coming around.