He is literally almost as slow as Vinny. I dont even want to imagine how slow he is when he is Vinny's age.
- GOA88

His hockey sense, both defensively and offensively, which is off the charts, makes up for his lack of blazing speed.

First Coburn is compared to Lecavalier, now Couturier. Lecavalier has nothing to do with either player.

I just want someone who can play ... Berube has "picked the hill he dies on" well ok Craig nice knowing ya... Pretty (frank)ing dumb to end your head coaching career that way
- JoeRussomanno

Hextall has to be chirping in his ear....

slap those two guys on the cover of next year's program, our season tagline can be "VENGEANCE INTIMIDATION NOW"
- BulliesPhan87

It is more rare now in this league than it was in the 90's. The times have changed. It is all about speed now.
- GOA88

It's not more rare. Players are actually playing longer. If it's all about speed, Coburn is a great skater.

His hockey sense, both defensively and offensively, which is off the charts, makes up for his lack of blazing speed.

First Coburn is compared to Lecavalier, now Couturier. Lecavalier has nothing to do with either player.
- MJL

Lecavalier will always have more raw talent than Couts. Couts would be lucky to have the career that Vinny has had. The foot speed is being compared because it is a problem. It has hindered both players to produce offensively. Vinny was compared to Coburn because age will become a factor for him. Just like any other player.

35 Brains per year
- Streit2ThePoint

Not if Darryland his Xbow have anything to say about it.

Lecavalier will always have more raw talent than Couts. Couts would be lucky to have the career that Vinny has had. The foot speed is being compared because it is a problem. It has hindered both players to produce offensively. Vinny was compared to Coburn because age will become a factor for him. Just like any other player.
- GOA88

His foot speed is not a problem. And he's a different kind of player then Lecavalier is. So that's a false comparison.
And age becomes an issue for every player at some point. The quesiton is when it does. Just because it's become an issue for Lecavalier at 34, doesn't mean it will for Coburn. It's different for every player. Defenseman regularly play into their mid to upper 30's. Even those who aren't as good a skater as Coburn is.

What's hindered Couturier offensively more then anything is the situations he plays in. And even at that, he has put up strong numbers at ES offensively. As has Read. Hopefully, they get back to that soon.

Read is a player that has far more value to the Flyers, then he would have on the trade market.

Here is my view on trading Coburn. Defenseman are at a premium. There isn't much movement with defenseman for a few reasons. One, teams are unwilling to move them because of how hard they are to get. And if they are being offered, the price is outrageous. It's sort of a catch 22 road block in defenseman being moved. About the only way you see defenseman being available, is those that make it to free agency. Which is less and less every year. And teams that are forced to move a player due to cap issues.

So if someone wanted to drastically overpay the Flyers in a deal that they can't pass up. Then trade him. But don't trade him because he's the best trade chip. He's too valuable for that.
- MJL

Then I guess we differ on where this team is. I still feel they are about 3 years from really making noise. Not just making the playoffs but being a threat. Yes defenseman are a premium. Which means that Coburn should be able to bring in a younger valuable piece that can help in the future. Coburn is 29 and Read 28. This is becoming a younger and younger league. Now i know what vets mean to a team but they will still have vets like Giroux, Streit, MacDonald and younger vets like Couturier, Schenn, Voracek. The vet side i think is a little overblown.

The thing i am watching is the wingers are not good enough. There is not enough skill at ES. Other then the top line, the other lines just don't have enough pure skill on the wings. Simmonds is a player i like but he isn't someone who i think can come down and snipe the goalie. Read too isn't a pure sniper. If we want more offense from Couturier i would like to get him some wingers with more pure skill.

Again i am not saying we swap Coburn or Read for just 3rd round picks. I want an impact deal where I get a 1st rounder and maybe another pick and high end prospect(i.e. Virtanen, McCann, Del Colle, Nurse, Etem, Samuelsson, Domi) and maybe a bottom six winger with some skill and grit(i.e. Beleksy, Maroon, Kassian)

slap those two guys on the cover of next year's program, our season tagline can be "VENGEANCE INTIMIDATION NOW"
- BulliesPhan87

We're gonna need new t-shirts for that.

His foot speed is not a problem. And he's a different kind of player then Lecavalier is. So that's a false comparison.
And age becomes an issue for every player at some point. The quesiton is when it does. Just because it's become an issue for Lecavalier at 34, doesn't mean it will for Coburn. It's different for every player. Defenseman regularly play into their mid to upper 30's. Even those who aren't as good a skater as Coburn is.

What's hindered Couturier offensively more then anything is the situations he plays in. And even at that, he has put up strong numbers at ES offensively. As has Read. Hopefully, they get back to that soon.
- MJL

Flyers desperately need them to.

still a decent draft pick and the Flyers need a 2nd
- vejim

Lol, I suspect he wasn't being sarcastic.

Potential top-40 pick in 2015? Hell, that gets you 75% of the way to Coburn, afaic.

His foot speed is not a problem. And he's a different kind of player then Lecavalier is. So that's a false comparison.
And age becomes an issue for every player at some point. The quesiton is when it does. Just because it's become an issue for Lecavalier at 34, doesn't mean it will for Coburn. It's different for every player. Defenseman regularly play into their mid to upper 30's. Even those who aren't as good a skater as Coburn is.

What's hindered Couturier offensively more then anything is the situations he plays in. And even at that, he has put up strong numbers at ES offensively. As has Read. Hopefully, they get back to that soon.
- MJL

194th.... That is where Couts currently sits at even strenght points with just 7. FYI

Lol, I suspect he wasn't being sarcastic.

Potential top-40 pick in 2015? Hell, that gets you 75% of the way to Coburn, afaic.
- Tomahawk

I'd rather have a 1st from a guaranteed playoff team, though. Maybe LA if Voynov gets deported.

We're gonna need new t-shirts for that.


- johndewar

pretty sure I've got a whole box of VENGEANCE NOW thundersticks in my basement somewhere

I'd rather have a 1st from a guaranteed playoff team, though. Maybe LA if Voynov gets deported.
- Feanor

I wouldnt be surprised if Hexy moves Coburn, Grossman and Schenn if the Flyers are out of contention...a #1 for Coburn a #2 for Schenn and a #3 for Grossman

194th.... That is where Couts currently sits at even strenght points with just 7. FYI
- GOA88

Well crap. bench him too!

194th.... That is where Couts currently sits at even strenght points with just 7. FYI
- GOA88

Currently he's ranked 7th among Flyers forwards in 5V5 points/60. 8th in 2013-14. 10th in 2012-13.

Love the guy to death, and his usage has been grossly unfair (particularly this season), but he's still got a long way to go on the O-side of the puck. Hard to ask for more on the D-side, though. Kid is bringing it there.

Well crap. bench him too!
- JW98FlyerFan

Also 120th the year before. In my opinion that is not all that great. He is used to play gainst top offensive competition not against the top defensive competition Giroux faces. Couts is not a 2nd line scoring center. He is a 3rd being relied on to produce at a 2nd line rate.

Currently he's ranked 7th among Flyers forwards in 5V5 points/60. 8th in 2013-14. 10th in 2012-13.

Love the guy to death, and his usage has been grossly unfair (particularly this season), but he's still got a long way to go on the O-side of the puck. Hard to ask for more on the D-side, though. Kid is bringing it there.
- Tomahawk

My thoughts exactly. He has potential offensively but he just isnt close to figuring that out yet. IMO. He shows flashes.

194th.... That is where Couts currently sits at even strenght points with just 7. FYI
- GOA88

So he has as many as Nielsen, Kopitar, and Scheifele, and more than Ryan O'Reily, Lindholm, Cogliano and Mike Richards.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...t=evenStrengthPoints&pg=3

Also 120th the year before. In my opinion that is not all that great. He is used to play gainst top offensive competition not against the top defensive competition Giroux faces. Couts is not a 2nd line scoring center.
- GOA88

He was 51st among centers in ES scoring last year. By definition there can only be 60 first and second line centers in the league.

I'd rather have a 1st from a guaranteed playoff team, though. Maybe LA if Voynov gets deported.
- Feanor

I'd happily take LA's 1st and a B-level prospect like Nick Ebert in exchange.

So he has as many as Nielsen, Kopitar, and Scheifele, and more than Ryan O'Reily, Lindholm, Cogliano and Mike Richards.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...t=evenStrengthPoints&pg=3
- Feanor

Are injuries factored into this? Also Richards is a 4th line center and Nielsen or Cogliano are not players I would want to strive to be like if I was Couts. Just saying....

He was 51st among centers in ES scoring last year. By definition there can only be 60 first and second line centers in the league.
- Feanor

So... he's a bottom tier 2nd line center??

In terms of ES scoring he's a 2nd line center who's also great defensively at 21.

Are injuries factored into this? Also Richards is a 4th line center and Nielsen or Cogliano are not players I would want to strive to be like if I was Couts. Just saying....
- GOA88

All the players I listed have played around 20 games.

Nielsen had 58 points last year (35 at ES). Cogliano had 42 (37 at ES).

In terms of scoring they are absolutely the type of players Couturier should be striving to emulate.