I don't mind Grossmann. I think it's good to have a big body back there, but him and L Schenn are of a kind, and both seem to be in the 5/6 mold. Which is fine, you need those guys, we just seem to be heavy in the 4/5/6 area role right now. And yes, he's not exactly playing lights-out hockey.
- wolfhounds

I'd actually expand Schenn's role right now, just based on the play of everyone else.

I'm not trying to trash Grossmann. I don't mind him, but he's definitely not much more than a third pair guy at this point. He's looked better to me than MacDonald of late, so there's that

Sounds like the Hangover: Part 4.
- wolfhounds

Nah, we found tangent_man at the security booth

Nah, we found tangent_man at the security booth
- Jsaquella

I was just trying to get my Mt Dew back.

I was just trying to get my Mt Dew back.
- tangent_man

One night is making the season bearable

One night is making the season bearable
- Jsaquella

Needed to get some laughs somewhere.

I'd actually expand Schenn's role right now, just based on the play of everyone else.

I'm not trying to trash Grossmann. I don't mind him, but he's definitely not much more than a third pair guy at this point. He's looked better to me than MacDonald of late, so there's that
- Jsaquella

Yup, I'd do everything I could to get L Schenn playing some good hockey, closer to how he was playing 2 years ago.

Nah, we found tangent_man at the security booth
- Jsaquella

I've been seeing hints of this here and there and have to say, whatever you guys did, it sounds like it was a good time.

I've been seeing hints of this here and there and have to say, whatever you guys did, it sounds like it was a good time.
- wolfhounds

Phantoms game in Atlantic City on Friday. Good night out.

I've been seeing hints of this here and there and have to say, whatever you guys did, it sounds like it was a good time.
- wolfhounds

Yeah, if we go again, I have to leave work earlier, so I can eat with you maniacs

Yeah, if we go again, I have to leave work earlier, so I can eat with you maniacs
- Jsaquella

We'll have to meet someplace else. Nobody wanted to chance the kitchen fare at the Chelsea.

We'll have to meet someplace else. Nobody wanted to chance the kitchen fare at the Chelsea.
- tangent_man

We could go to the fondue place...that would be very romantic

We could go to the fondue place...that would be very romantic
- Jsaquella

Oooh, that's an idea.

Oooh, that's an idea.
- tangent_man

We'd never make it to the game...five clowns whipped flaming food around a downtown eatery in Atlantic City this evening.

We'd never make it to the game...five clowns whipped flaming food around a downtown eatery in Atlantic City this evening.
- Jsaquella

Yeah. Tony's or AC Bar and Grill might be better choices.

Yeah. Tony's or AC Bar and Grill might be better choices.
- tangent_man

We don't even need hockey, we could do a Barbara Mandrell concert or Gallagher show

Couturier is not making any strides offensively and he plays scared in the offensive zone. I would put his name out there and see if we could land a top dman like Yandle for him. If he keeps playing like this and gets any older his value will fall right off if it has not already. He is one of the few chips we have to acquire a top dman and Phoenix is one team that has a surplus. Salary cap may be an issue in this scenario.

What does that matter? If you put garbage in, you're going to get garbage out. Umberger and Lecavalier have been garbage for an extended period of time. When they play the Flyers generally have been dominated.

I'd rather see what Akeson can do. Or even a kid like Taylor Leier, even if he's not felt to be on a fast track to the NHL. Or the next time a team waives a Brian Gibbons or Matt Frattin, grab him and see if he can fit in at a low salary.
- Jsaquella

Exactly, get 2 guys like Adam Hall , Blair Betts for low dollars and though they may be stone hands they wont hurt you playing 4th line and PK and reward effort/results/growth with ice time

Man I see you guys burned the midnight oil a bit, up at 5:30 for me and out the door by 7 I cant wait till retirement, just a few more years

I know you are a believer in Akeson's ability so I'll say this. If not one player outside of the top line can produce, what makes you think Akeson can?
- SuperSchennBros

It's pretty obvious the mix of players in the middle six needs to change. Rotating a couple of rotting corpses through that mix and hoping they could "play out if it" didn't work out so well (so far) to say the least. Akeson made his name as a highly skilled playmaker with excellent vision, hands and passing skills. Those sound like things the team could surely use. Akeson has shown chemistry with Read in particular and Couturier to some extent. That line worked because Akeson injected the playmaking/passing talent to complement a shooter like Read. Couturier's strong defensive game helped to ensure they were solid at both ends. What's to lose by trying it out again or just getting Akeson into the mix? Sounds a lot better than running RJ and VLC out there over and over or promoting VDV..and oh, it might even be good for Akeson's development or something! I think people forget he's a rookie and needs some patience while he acclimates and develops his NHL game.

The argument your making, I could make the same for Lecavalier. Jason Akeson is an offensive player who has only spent his very limited time on the roster with the likes of Bellemare, Rinaldo and Vandevelde. Lecavalier this season has only seen time with Laughton, Raffl, Umberger, Bellemare, Vandevelde and Rinaldo.
- SSB

I'll point out a couple of things...Akeson got no time with Laughton or Raffl, who are probably the most capable players of that group, so Lecavalier got overall better linemates...he also got about twice the icetime and around 2:30/gm in powerplay time (playing with Read, Couturier, Schenn, Simmonds, Giroux), of which Akeson got none. Those are significant differences.

Again, the problem is nobody within the bottom nine are doing much of anything. If Berube simply stuck Akeson where he left off with Couturier and Read last season, what difference would it make? They're playing a defensive role and they're not scoring either. Akeson would still become limited within what is expected of him.
- SSB

Read and Couturier had basically the same role last season when Akeson joined them. Despite their defensive role, they were able to produce...again, they had some chemistry, something the Read/Coots pair can't seem to find with their second wingers this season. Why not even try what worked once before? What is there to lose by doing that?

I don't believe Akeson to, be the difference maker you are hoping he'll be.
- SSB

So far, when he's been deployed in the offensive type of role he's been accustomed to playing his whole career, Akeson has been a difference maker...like last season. I simply want to have a larger sample size of his (NHL) play in that kind of role before making any conclusions about what he is capable of longer term...by the way, the sample size of his play from last year, when he looked much better, was larger than the sample from this season when he looked mediocre. Despite there being a smaller sample size of play, in a miscast role, it seems many have jumped to their conclusion about the player. I'm still undecided...I need to see more...and I want to see more, because I think there just might be something there that's better than the current prevailing view...but you don't really know until you find out...the Flyers should get him in their middle six at some point with a bit of the pp2...15-20 games, sink or swim...I don't see the downside to doing that.