the delzotto move doesnt offset the the umberger move... im not saying we're doomed with hextall but so far his grade as gm is borderline D imo
- JoeRussomanno

Seems like 50/50 there to me. As far as I'm concerned, way to early to be grading Hextall as a GM. I'm going to give him a little time.

he hasnt improved much since he came in. i just need to see bigger steps each year.
- JoeRussomanno

We will not see this when he's being utilized in the same capacity.
Asking him to increase his production, while shadowing the oppositions $8-$10 million dollar center every night, at the age of 21 is not a reality.

the delzotto move doesnt offset the the umberger move... im not saying we're doomed with hextall but so far his grade as gm is borderline D imo
- JoeRussomanno

If I remember correctly, we were calling for Hartnell's head last season, due to poor play, lack of production, & bad "lazy" penalties.
May have been the last 2 seasons.

Seems like 50/50 there to me. As far as I'm concerned, way to early to be grading Hextall as a GM. I'm going to give him a little time.
- MJL

Agreed. He was handed a team with very little mobility (financially), not to mention Kimmo's health. Let's give him a full season or two and see what he can do.

If I remember correctly, we were calling for Hartnell's head last season, due to poor play, lack of production, & bad "lazy" penalties.
May have been the last 2 seasons.
- puckhead17

I love how green the grass is over there.

Agreed. He was handed a team with very little mobility (financially), not to mention Kimmo's health. Let's give him a full season or two and see what he can do.
- jmatchett383

At the very least. The next few moves that need to be made, are the hardest to make. He has a good core to work with, but has some players that need to be moved. And some areas that need major improvement.

By the way,
Welcome!
Even if the team sucks we still have the best blogger here and a knowledgeable fan base here even if we go around and around on the same stuff.
I hope you stick around.

Cheers
- Marc D

Yup, lot of open-minded, amenable and amusing people here to talk to. Usually.

They count on G for faceoffs a lot and he is doing well in this regard.
- Marc D

He killed the Rangers at the dot yesterday.

well.... cue the jeopardy music
- JoeRussomanno

If it's a cheap enough deal, why not? He's looked ok in the AHL games I've seen.

This team hasn't been right since Pronger last played and Timonnen's absence is putting an exclamation point on it. They need to do whatever it takes to put a star blueliner there now. And the patch work on the 2-4th line is not even tradable. If this path continues any longer a firesale of an players not names vorachek, simmonds, or giroux need to be moved for anything. hopefully someone has a few holes they need to fill and will give something for a lecavailer and umberger.

The team is obviously struggling right now. I think a lot of it has to do with the regression of Couts and Read. I think if they are playing at their normal level, this is a completely different team. I truly believe they will eventually find their games again but they will probably need to be split up to do so.

I'd like to see something like this.

Schenn-G-Jake
Raffl-Couts-Simmonds
Leier-Laughton-Read
Rinaldo-Belle-akeson

I think It's time to bench Umby and Vinny a few games and see what a bit of youth can do. I know akeson hasn't really played well but I liked what I saw when that 4th line was together. I think raffl and Simmonds could have a chance to spark Couts offensive game while still being responsible defensively.

I'm also of the mindset that if the team isn't even remotely confident that they are a lock to make the playoffs by the tdl, you unload up to 3 of the current Dmen (Grossman and Amac would be the first 2 to go for me). We have a group of similar skill level defensive players and I don't think you lose much next year by blowing the D up and replacing them with any kids that earn a spot out of camp and a couple short term signings to buy time for the prospects to make the leap.

Did somebody rip your proposed trade? Don't worry, this guy gets paid to cover the NHL

http://www.nj.com/flyers/...ils_for_adam_larsson.html

Berube fired yet
Did we trade Giroux for a number one defender yet?

Nothing to do with what I don't like, or hate. It has to do with common sense, and a sound knowledge of the game of hockey. Where you got the idea that hockey being a team game precludes anyone from reasonably evaluating an individuals contribution to the team from, is mind boggling. What I'm against is using team numbers and arbitrarily applying them to an individual player. If we want to talk about red herrings, the article I linked to written by Staples is well thought out and well written. But you just dismissed it and post a jif of homer simpson!
- MJL

1. It's been explained that these team numbers aren't just arbitrarily applied. An individual players influence over on ice results has been well demonstrated and supported with reams of evidence by the stat community over the last decade.

2. You incessantly repeat that hockey is a team game, therefore the team's stats with a player on the ice are somehow irrelevant? It doesn't follow, and it's a conclusion that isn't supported by the evidence.

3. I dismissed the article by Staples because it's a joke, it's been widely debunked by guys like Jonathan Willis, Tyler Dellow, and more. I don't have time to go through line by line and do it myself, but here's a solid overview. http://www.theoilersrig.c.../07/corsi-facts-vs-norms/

Your general reaction to any evidence provided that MacDonald is bad, and bad in all contexts is to simple plug your fingers in you ear and say "la la la la that's impossible la la la la". Rather than dig into the actual evidence and debate the conclusions, you just hand wave it away.

The cherry on top is you anointing your own position with the regal banner of "common sense and logic" when you've displayed a tremendous ignorance of how stats are gathered, applied, and how contextual factors are accounted for in those analyses.

But that's cool man, we'll agree to disagree and move on. I've got better things to do.

The team is obviously struggling right now. I think a lot of it has to do with the regression of Couts and Read. I think if they are playing at their normal level, this is a completely different team. I truly believe they will eventually find their games again but they will probably need to be split up to do so.

I'd like to see something like this.

Schenn-G-Jake
Raffl-Couts-Simmonds
Leier-Laughton-Read
Rinaldo-Belle-akeson

I think It's time to bench Umby and Vinny a few games and see what a bit of youth can do. I know akeson hasn't really played well but I liked what I saw when that 4th line was together. I think raffl and Simmonds could have a chance to spark Couts offensive game while still being responsible defensively.

I'm also of the mindset that if the team isn't even remotely confident that they are a lock to make the playoffs by the tdl, you unload up to 3 of the current Dmen (Grossman and Amac would be the first 2 to go for me). We have a group of similar skill level defensive players and I don't think you lose much next year by blowing the D up and replacing them with any kids that earn a spot out of camp and a couple short term signings to buy time for the prospects to make the leap.
- Roytastic

I agree with your first point completely. They were a strength of the team in the past, and not having that right now is killing the team. No problem with benching Umberger and Lecavalier. But I wouldn't bring Akeson up. Let him play in the AHL and find his game. Have to think that one or more young defenseman have a shot at making the team next year. So room will have to be made. Not sure how they'll do that. But there is also a risk of what happens if none of them are ready.

Did somebody rip your proposed trade? Don't worry, this guy gets paid to cover the NHL

http://www.nj.com/flyers/...ils_for_adam_larsson.html
- Jsaquella

He writes like we kill penalties.

The Oilers one had me in stitches. Schultz sucks soooo bad.

Did somebody rip your proposed trade? Don't worry, this guy gets paid to cover the NHL

http://www.nj.com/flyers/...ils_for_adam_larsson.html
- Jsaquella

Dammit, I clicked it knowing it was Miller. I hate giving those scrubs page hits.

Did somebody rip your proposed trade? Don't worry, this guy gets paid to cover the NHL

http://www.nj.com/flyers/...ils_for_adam_larsson.html
- Jsaquella

Mind blowingly bad..

Dammit, I clicked it knowing it was Miller. I hate giving those scrubs page hits.
- tangent_man

It's supporting Dane Cook so you can see a good comic

It's supporting Dane Cook so you can see a good comic
- Jsaquella

Yeah? Which one?

If it's keeping Cook offstage, I'll go back every 5 minutes.

Yeah? Which one?
- tangent_man

Jim Jefferies?

Yup, lot of open-minded, amenable and amusing people here to talk to. Usually.
- Tomahawk

Join Hockeybuzz. Meet new people. Kill them.

Did somebody rip your proposed trade? Don't worry, this guy gets paid to cover the NHL

http://www.nj.com/flyers/...ils_for_adam_larsson.html
- Jsaquella

Abominable, just a joke

Jim Jefferies?
- Jsaquella

There was some pretty good improv going on in AC the other night.

And Giroux wasn't going to be worth his contract extension, either.
- tangent_man

Except Giroux had already proven his worth prior to that extension.
Couturier has pretty much gone backwards since that Pens playoff series.
Im not saying he can't go forward again just you can't compare signing Giroux to expected growth of Couturier.