Just read the Lecavalier feature. Feel bad for him in the regard that he truly doesn't know where his game is right now

Could he help another team? Maybe. I do think he can still make offensive plays. But with where the Flyers are and how they have to play, I just don't think Chief can put him back in the lineup
- AllInForFlyers

If he really thinks he can still play, despite his abysmal stats this year, he needs to expand his trade list and go somewhere else.

If he really thinks he can still play, despite his abysmal stats this year, he needs to expand his trade list and go somewhere else.
- Feanor

That's the thing -- that's a huge "if," if there's a team out there that even wants him, he has to understand by now that he has to be willing to go someplace he might not want to go otherwise, if he wants to play

In just reading the story, he pretty much states that he still thinks he can play and just needs time to play through it. Players are always the last to know where their game is

Does Laughton give the impression of a player going back to Lehigh Valley?

Not to me, he doesn't.

Someone's gonna have to die or get injured for Vinny to get back in there.
- johndewar

Don't say that even in jest. This IS the Flyers.

Don't say that even in jest. This IS the Flyers.
- bodiva88

Yup, my bad....

If he really thinks he can still play, despite his abysmal stats this year, he needs to expand his trade list and go somewhere else.
- Feanor

Amen, can I get a witness?

I'm thinking it'll be a ninja rebuild... too much dead weight locked in for a hard reset, so they'll have to settle on a tactical, prolonged dismantling/reassembly. That's Hexy's side, anyway.

Chief... he's just trying to keep his job. The usage patterns are more a symptom of that, I feel, than anything to do w/ the implementation of The Plan.
- Tomahawk

It would just be nice to find a coach who was part of the long term plan. I'm not even sure I want one of the big time guys like McClellan or Babcock. I'd prefer a younger coach who is more willing to embrace certain aspects of analytics.

You have confidence that Hextall will look to unload some of the inflated contracts, but I'm not sure if he'll be capable or if he's even willing to do it.

Does Laughton give the impression of a player going back to Lehigh Valley?

Not to me, he doesn't.

Someone's gonna have to die or get injured for Vinny to get back in there.
- johndewar

Laughton isn't going down the AHL. I do think VL will be back in the lineup though. Berube really never gives any rhyme or reasons to his benches/demotions. He'll bench anyone who has a couple of bad games in a row unless he's one of the favorites.

Laughton isn't going down the AHL. I do think VL will be back in the lineup though. Berube really never gives any rhyme or reasons to his benches/demotions. He'll bench anyone who has a couple of bad games in a row unless he's one of the favorites.
- PhillySportsGuy

And his favorites only sit if they are injured.

honestly how the hell is a fourth line with zac, pmb and vandekemp better then a fourth line with rj, vl and akeson, seriously? answer is....its not.
- mydoglicks

That's your answer, not a fact. My answer is that neither Lecavalier or Akeson belong on the 4th line.

If Couturier was at 43% ES OZ starts like last season that would be acceptable, but to have him down at 36% is just Berube trying to cling to his job rather than develop our young talent.

The sooner Hextall gets his own guy in here as coach on a multi-year deal, the better. Also, I have to admit anyone who wanted us to sign Maholtra as the 4C were correct. He would have been an upgrade on Hall and allowed Bellemare to play LW on the 4th line, or maybe move up the lineup.
- Feanor

I think what is being overlooked here is the amount of D zone draws this team has to take, as a factor. Berube's job is to put his team in position to win hockey games

Laughton isn't going down the AHL. I do think VL will be back in the lineup though. Berube really never gives any rhyme or reasons to his benches/demotions. He'll bench anyone who has a couple of bad games in a row unless he's one of the favorites.
- PhillySportsGuy

Out of the regular players in the lineup, he has scratched 5 players. One of them is Del Zotto, who the coach has also played high minutes in a lot of games. So I don't think it has anything to do with favoritism.

I am firmly in the camp, and was at the time, that the trade had no point- it was/is terrible. So don't ask me.

I also said no to this trade idea for the record. Now it is 4-2 No assuming 2 real is a NO.
- coffee junkie

i'd just be indifferent to the trade and wonder why hartnell was traded?

I think people get caught up in Akeson not getting claimed. If the Flyers waived Umberger, VDV, Rinaldo or Vinny would any of them be claimed? No.

None of us are saying Akeson is clearly the answer to this teams problems. We just don't understand why these other guys continue to get chances when Akeson doesn't. Playing 5 minutes on the 4th line is not a realistic chance.

This team needs to embrace a bit of a rebuild here and allow the young players to play without worrying about the score. Let Couts have more offensive opportunities, play the young guys more often and in different spots, let Akeson see what he can do. I just don't understand why they won't play him. Nothing ventured nothing gained imo.
- PhillySportsGuy

Okay, What??

Embrace the rebuild, while not worrying about the score, all in the name of Jason Akeson?

I'm sorry, but we've done this. We've seen this episode many times before. We've allowed Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier to bloom through the good and the bad already. We're doing so right now with Scott Laughton and you know what? Laughton is doing his part and Akeson hasn't shown much sign that he's capable.

That's your answer, not a fact. My answer is that neither Lecavalier or Akeson belong on the 4th line.
- MJL

Agreed.

Whether you love or hate Lecavalier, there is a difference between a top 6 forward and a bottom six forward. While it's possible Lecavalier might not be able to play up to standards anymore, he also hasn't played with the most talented of players this season. The difference between the two is, one is a proven NHL player and the other isn't. Lecavalier doesn't shine in the defensive zone but because he's not putting up the offensive production he's expected to produce, he sits.

Okay, What??

Embrace the rebuild, while not worrying about the score, all in the name of Jason Akeson?

I'm sorry, but we've done this. We've seen this episode many times before. We've allowed Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier to bloom through the good and the bad already. We're doing so right now with Scott Laughton and you know what? Laughton is doing is part and Akeson hasn't shown much sign that he's capable.
- SuperSchennBros

yea laughton has shown he has much more talent than akeson

Okay, What??

Embrace the rebuild, while not worrying about the score, all in the name of Jason Akeson?

I'm sorry, but we've done this. We've seen this episode many times before. We've allowed Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier to bloom through the good and the bad already. We're doing so right now with Scott Laughton and you know what? Laughton is doing is part and Akeson hasn't shown much sign that he's capable.
- SuperSchennBros

That's the bottom line, in my view.

Agreed.

Whether you love or hate Lecavalier, there is a difference between a top 6 forward and a bottom six forward. While it's possible Lecavalier might not be able to play up to standards anymore, he also hasn't played with the most talented of players this season. The difference between the two is, one is a proven NHL player and the other isn't. Lecavalier doesn't shine in the defensive zone but because he's not putting up the offensive production he's expected to produce, he sits.
- SuperSchennBros

we use this same excuse with couturier too "oh he doesn't play with talented players" does this team have no talent then?

Just read the Lecavalier feature. Feel bad for him in the regard that he truly doesn't know where his game is right now

Could he help another team? Maybe. I do think he can still make offensive plays. But with where the Flyers are and how they have to play, I just don't think Chief can put him back in the lineup
- AllInForFlyers

I'm torn. Half the board might be with me and the other half might be against me. While Lecavalier isn't playing well, Berube isn't exactly looking like a Jack Adams nominee. In my opinion Berube isn't putting Lecavalier in a position to succeed.

Prior to Vinny's injury this season, he was on the top PP unit. Now, not that I'm asking Vinny to be put back there, he wasn't taken off the top PP unit because he hasn't been playing well. He was taken off because when he returned from injury, Schenn was doing a good job there. Take that away, plus the fact he's been terrible at even strength, this equals zero production for Vincent Lecavalier.

That's the bottom line, in my view.

- MJL

I don't understand what's so hard to understand about this. Berube won't play him, Hextall agreed enough to send him down. Our blog writer who updates us daily, whom I'm assuming watches practices and games daily, all agree Akeson isn't cutting it...while the rest of us can't move on from that week he was great against the Rangers in playoffs months ago. Stop fooling yourselves!

I think what is being overlooked here is the amount of D zone draws this team has to take, as a factor. Berube's job is to put his team in position to win hockey games
- MJL

You can look at the DZS% in relative terms against the team's overall average and find that Coots' usage is still an extreme outlier for a player of his role/age/etc.

I think what PSG was alluding to is the coach's responsibility to also develop and foster young talent, with future winning in mind. Not just a myopic preoccupation with the present.

It would just be nice to find a coach who was part of the long term plan. I'm not even sure I want one of the big time guys like McClellan or Babcock. I'd prefer a younger coach who is more willing to embrace certain aspects of analytics.

You have confidence that Hextall will look to unload some of the inflated contracts, but I'm not sure if he'll be capable or if he's even willing to do it.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think it'll happen this summer. Writing's practically on the wall for Chief.

I don't really believe they'll be able to shed some of these bum contracts... particularly VL. Will just have to continue to work around them for the time being.

I'm torn. Half the board might be with me and the other half might be against me. While Lecavalier isn't playing well, Berube isn't exactly looking like a Jack Adams nominee. In my opinion Berube isn't putting Lecavalier in a position to succeed.

Prior to Vinny's injury this season, he was on the top PP unit. Now, not that I'm asking Vinny to be put back there, he wasn't taken off the top PP unit because he hasn't been playing well. He was taken off because when he returned from injury, Schenn was doing a good job there. Take that away, plus the fact he's been terrible at even strength, this equals zero production for Vincent Lecavalier.
- SuperSchennBros

I think he still has a bomb one timer, and should be on the top PP if anyone wants to see his production go up. The 4th line is not the place for him though.
Also dont care much for cheif. Might be an OK assistant coach but hes never gonna be a coach who leads a team to the finals IMO

I think he still has a bomb one timer, and should be on the top PP if anyone wants to see his production go up. The 4th line is not the place for him though
- Trainfellow

he has no place on the first unit PP. Second unit? perhaps. i like him right where he is now assuming he's on the roster

I think he still has a bomb one timer, and should be on the top PP if anyone wants to see his production go up. The 4th line is not the place for him though.
Also dont care much for cheif. Might be an OK assistant coach but hes never gonna be a coach who leads a team to the finals IMO
- Trainfellow

I have to agree. While many are down on Vinny and rightfully so, I'm not exactly up on Berube. Actually, not at all.

he has no place on the first unit PP. Second unit? perhaps. i like him right where he is now assuming he's on the roster
- wilsonecho91

Lecavalier was actually doing very well on the top PP before he got hurt. When he returned from injury, he wasn't on the top PP anymore because Schenn was clicking in his spot. In my opinion, Schenn deserves it more but it doesn't really matter which one of them plays there.