holy poop.


this is really starting to tick me off.
- -davies-

team truculence at play here

looking forward to seeing Nash Brassard and the hobbit vs Vandevelde Rinaldo and VLC

awesome 4th shut down line

Nope. VLC and Turburger still in. Bellamare has been scratched. Berube is a genius. He's got all the answers.
- PLindbergh31

Yeah, nothing that has occurred in the past few days has changed that. At this point, the sample size in terms of Akeson's minutes played was larger last season when he had a more suitable role and averaged .5 pts per game, and second only to G in pts/60 min (ES) and also contributing on the pp. I'm not going to look at how he performed this season, in 91 minutes on a super short leash in a miscast role as a checking line grinder or in a few minutes on a line with two of the most struggling players and conclude, based on that, that he can no longer perform and produce as he has done for years.

Nobody knows what Akeson's NHL upside is at this point, but given his talent and track record of production prior to this season, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. As far I'm concerned, with the way Berube has handled the player, I'm much more inclined to believe this season has been more of an aberration than a true glimpse of his future in the NHL.

Martin St. Louis appeared in 13 games with Calgary in 1998...he was quickly demoted to the fourth line and was a frequent scratch before being assigned to the AHL (sound familiar?) where he led their team in scoring. He was re-signed in 2000-2001 but the new regime came in and they weren't interested in him...after he wasn't picked in the expansion draft they exposed him to, they bought him out. He ended up signing with Tampa (Bill Barber, with Tampa then, liked him) because he was likely to get significant icetime there...he struggled early while trying to change his game and be a checker as the coaches kept deploying him (sounds familiar) but later went back to the game he knew he had in him...gained some confidence and asked for more minutes/better role..they gave it to him and he started to really flourish and become one of the leagues best players. Now, I bring this up, not to say that Akeson will be the next MSL. I bring it up as a case in point to illustrate how undersized talented players sometimes struggle to show they can be valuable in the NHL..it takes someone willing to give them a chance and ultimately, to put them into a position to succeed. Akeson won't put up 100 pts like Marty, but if he's given the opportunity to play on a scoring line with pp time for a full season, I could see him topping out at around 60 pts.
- exlund

Something in the last few days has absolutely changed that. I can guarantee that if any NHL executive thought that Akeson had 60 point potential, even on upside of his potential scale, he would've been claimed by another team. What would they have to lose. Buffalo couldn't use a young winger with 60 point potential?

You can always find an outlier in any situation. Danny Briere is another. But majority of the time, NHL teams have a pretty good idea about players. And that not a single team claimed him, say a lot about how the league feels about Akeson's potential. At least right now. But the book's not closed on him. he could improve and get another chance.

- exlund

lol

team truculence at play here
- Marc D

The team could learn a thing or three about truculence from reading these last couple of threads.

The team could learn a thing or three about truculence from reading these last couple of threads.
- tangent_man

Oh, thx for telling me
- CACannon18

Didn't want to get your expectations to high.

enjoy the game fellow masochists

Butsy just predicted a Flyers win!

It's not possible to over analyze that. And there is a direct correlation.

It's not about how our projections differ. It's about why they do. It's really about the facts of the situation.
- MJL

Ok, so here are some facts for you.

1) Couturier's career points per game is .394 (89 points in 226 games).
2) Over an 82 game season his average points per season is 32.
3) His best season was 13-26-39.
4) This season he has 4-4-8, which projects to 29 points.

I misspoke when I said there isn't a direct correlation. There is. But it's not exponential either.

Over the last couple of weeks when we've spoken about him, I've always used upside factoring in potential growth. Now I'm giving you a more realistic case.

At what point do we finally say that this is what Couturier is?

Big assumption. Holmgren Binky boys taking turn being scratched.

Pretty soon you won't have anything left to defend. Custer at Little Big Horn.

Philadelphia Flyers ‏@NHLFlyers 1m1 minute ago
ROSTER UPDATE: VandeVelde & L. Schenn return; Bellemare & MacDonald are scratched. #PHIvsNYR

Read more → http://nhlflye.rs/F4K8Z
- PLindbergh31

PEB has never played that many games in a row. I would like to think, he just needs a break. If I am wrong- shame on Berube

enjoy the game fellow masochists

Butsy just predicted a Flyers win!
- Marc D

I love Butsy but Matinee+NYR+MSG= Zzzzzzzzzzzz ×

Ok, so here are some facts for you.

1) Couturier's career points per game is .394 (89 points in 226 games).
2) Over an 82 game season his average points per season is 32.
3) His best season was 13-26-39.
4) This season he has 4-4-8, which projects to 29 points.

I misspoke when I said there isn't a direct correlation. There is. But it's not exponential either.

Over the last couple of weeks when we've spoken about him, I've always used upside factoring in potential growth. Now I'm giving you a more realistic case.

At what point do we finally say that this is what Couturier is?
- TheGreat28

With the right wingers, he can be better, but he'll never be Bergeron. My guess is that 16-18 goals and 45 -48 points are his likely ceiling

Something in the last few days has absolutely changed that. I can guarantee that if any NHL executive thought that Akeson had 60 point potential, even on upside of his potential scale, he would've been claimed by another team. What would they have to lose. Buffalo couldn't use a young winger with 60 point potential?

You can always find an outlier in any situation. Danny Briere is another. But majority of the time, NHL teams have a pretty good idea about players. And that not a single team claimed him, say a lot about how the league feels about Akeson's potential. At least right now. But the book's not closed on him. he could improve and get another chance.
- MJL

Did all those NHL executives think MSL had 100 point potential when they passed on him in 1998-2000? No. Did Sutter and Al Coates discard MSL because they saw his upside and didn't want it? No. If NHL execs never overlooked/miscalculated someone's potential things would be very different for many teams and players over the years. Just because the other teams may not believe in Akeson's upside in the NHL (right now) doesn't mean he doesn't have any.

Ok, so here are some facts for you.

1) Couturier's career points per game is .394 (89 points in 226 games).
2) Over an 82 game season his average points per season is 32.
3) His best season was 13-26-39.
4) This season he has 4-4-8, which projects to 29 points.

I misspoke when I said there isn't a direct correlation. There is. But it's not exponential either.

Over the last couple of weeks when we've spoken about him, I've always used upside factoring in potential growth. Now I'm giving you a more realistic case.

At what point do we finally say that this is what Couturier is?
- TheGreat28

You're not taking into consideration how the player is used and the situations he plays in. Look at his ES point total last year. It's 2nd line center level.

Do you honestly think that at 21 years old Couturier or any player is what he is?

That stud MacDonald is a healthy scratch today.
- PLindbergh31

I love Butsy but Matinee+NYR+MSG= Zzzzzzzzzzzz ×
- KINGKENZO

Well, at least the backup goalie is not playing!

Berubes last game

Did all those NHL executives think MSL had 100 point potential when they passed on him in 1998-2000? No. Did Sutter and Al Coates discard MSL because they saw his upside and didn't want it? No. If NHL execs never overlooked/miscalculated someone's potential things would be very different for many teams and players over the years. Just because the other teams may not believe in Akeson's upside in the NHL doesn't mean he doesn't have any.
- exlund

Like I said, that's one outlier. And it doesn't prove anything with regards to Akeson. 29 teams passed on getting him for nothing.

You do realize that 60 points is first line level scoring for a Winger?

And I didn't say that he doesn't have any upside. I asked about the upside that you think he has.

Butsy ‏@JimmyHespeler 1m1 minute ago

would love a beat to ask Chief touch questions, like why PEB scratched over 18/40/36 and why accountability only counts for some players

Big assumption. Holmgren Binky boys taking turn being scratched.

Pretty soon you won't have anything left to defend. Custer at Little Big Horn.

Philadelphia Flyers ‏@NHLFlyers 1m1 minute ago
ROSTER UPDATE: VandeVelde & L. Schenn return; Bellemare & MacDonald are scratched. #PHIvsNYR

Read more → http://nhlflye.rs/F4K8Z
- PLindbergh31

Wow....

With the right wingers, he can be better, but he'll never be Bergeron. My guess is that 16-18 goals and 45 -48 points are his likely ceiling
- BiggE

I've always said the same thing. But Read is a decent winger - he nearly hit 50 a couple of years ago. So is it that Couts doesn't have good wingers, or is he bringing Read down?

Agree that the other side has been less stable.

It's all about dollars and cents when it comes to benching Vinny and RJ. 2 of your top 5 highest paid players sitting? Maybe for a few games but that's close to 10 mil just watching the game.

Absolutely those 2 have been train wrecks, but what after putting em on the bottom line, what else is there to do?

And Schenn in for AMac? WTF? They have been shutout twice by the Rags and with King Henry in net we need guys who are at least somewhat of an offensive threat.

I think you need to reassess both points. I don't think Eberle is that much better then Schenn is, to make it worth the 6M cap hit. And Schultz is not what you think he is.
- MJL

No actually you need to take off orange colored glasses....Eberle is a player that makes others around him better...Schenn is a very good young player but not in Eberle's class....Schultz has the talent to be a number one....had he played to his potential, he wouldn't be available .....Funny how cap hits don't matter when u argue for a plug like Vinny ? What's he on pace for this year ?

I've always said the same thing. But Read is a decent winger - he nearly hit 50 a couple of years ago. So is it that Couts doesn't have good wingers, or is he bringing Read down?

Agree that the other side has been less stable.
- TheGreat28

How about Read bringing Couturier down. Both have struggled lately.