Exactly. Berube has taken it to the extreme. He treats Couts like he's Blair Betts
- PhillySportsGuy

Berube has deployed his players to give the team the best chance to win. Was it much different under Laviolette?

BTW if Lavy had his way he would have VLC on his team, just sayen.
- coffee junkie

After seeing how Vinny moves, does anybody really believe he'd be any better off in Lavi's full court press system? At least in Chief's, C is the high F and has less distance to cover when the puck goes the other way. In Lavi's, Vinny would be the third F behind the net and barely make it back to the red before the other team had already scored on a breakaway.

Yet another reason that I want a new coach after this season
- BiggE

I guess that reason is that the coach has used his best defensive center to take defensive zone draws, on a team that spends a lot of time defending. What a ridiculous strategy.

So basically, once they inexplicably morph into the Blackhawks, Coots will be fine?

Just like if they had inexplicably turned into the Kings over the summer, the d-corps wouldn't be an issue , right?


- Tomahawk

Yup. Right there in front of my face and I missed it
- PhillySportsGuy

You did, because you never considered that. Same thing with calling for a new coach because of how he has deployed Couturier. It's absurd.

Crosby might have the mumps now. Pens say he's out next two games as a precautionary measure

After seeing how Vinny moves, does anybody really believe he'd be any better off in Lavi's full court press system? At least in Chief's, C is the high F and has less distance to cover when the puck goes the other way. In Lavi's, Vinny would be the third F behind the net and barely make it back to the red before the other team had already scored on a breakaway.


- Tomahawk

Exactly -- you'd have to be one confident coach to believe that your system would make VLC's skating not be an issue

Because that's the crux of it: He can't play at the required pace anymore. Liability on the forecheck, loses races for 50/50 pucks, because his speed is severely diminished

Crosby might have the mumps now. Pens say he's out next two games as a precautionary measure
- Jsaquella

Should have taken his Tylenol cold, flu and Mumps

Should have taken his Tylenol flu, cough and Mumps
- PhillySportsGuy

Crosby might have the mumps now. Pens say he's out next two games as a precautionary measure
- Jsaquella

Saw a picture of him before. His face was swollen. Looked like the elephant man.

Should have taken his Tylenol cold, flu and Mumps
- PhillySportsGuy

why can't coburn get the mumps

why can't coburn get the mumps
- 2Real

He's got them on his nose, you just can't see them.

why can't coburn get the mumps
- 2Real

Why can't they all just get inoculated?

Why can't they all just get inoculated?
- 77rams

Beats me. When I was 25 and organizing my Visa to move to the US I had to get an MMR jab (among other vaccinations) before they would let me in the country. Also had to get a chest X-Ray to prove I didn't have TB, lol.

You did, because you never considered that.
- MJL

It's not like the Flyers have the most lopsided ZS% in the league. They're ~20th in both % in total number of DZ starts, or a just below average. It doesn't begin to describe why Coots is on a veritable island of usage when compared to other C's around the league, even when controlling for the differences in team ZS%'s:



.

It's not like the Flyers have the most lopsided ZS% in the league. They're ~20th in both % in total number of DZ starts, or a just below average. It doesn't begin to describe why Coots is on a veritable island of usage when compared to other C's around the league, even when controlling for the differences in team ZS%'s:



- Tomahawk

I disagree. A number of fators come into play when looking at why Couturier has a high number of defensive zone starts. The fact that the Flyers have to take a lot of D zone draws, is a big part of it. It's simple commons sense. If the Flyers cconvert shifts into resulting in more offensive and neutral zone finishes, then that absolutely will affect the number of D zone draws that a player like Couturier will have to take. Not the only factor, but certainly a big part of it.

I disagree. A number of fators come into play when looking at why Couturier has a high number of defensive zone starts. The fact that the Flyers have to take a lot of D zone draws, is a big part of it. It's simple commons sense. If the Flyers cconvert shifts into resulting in more offensive and neutral zone finishes, then that absolutely will affect the number of D zone draws that a player like Couturier will have to take. Not the only factor, but certainly a big part of it.
- MJL

It's actually not.

SJ, BUF, TOR, CGY, MTL have started 60-120 more total shifts in the dzone than the Flyers thus far this season. How come none of their C's are up there w/ Coots?

How come the guy closest to Coots in ZS-rel (Frans Nielsen) hails from the team with the 6th-highest ZS%?

Please explain how that fits into your common sense argument.

Why can't they all just get inoculated?
- 77rams

I don't fully understand this either.

Had no idea so many NHL players had parents who were anti-vaxxers.

Hartnell has a broken finger, out for two weeks, per the 'Lumbus twitter feed

Hartnell has a broken finger, out for two weeks, per the 'Lumbus twitter feed
- Jsaquella

I've broken fingers before. Man, that's one underrated injury -- just a pain-in-the-ass injury, and it'll bark when you do something to it just enough to remind you that it hurts

My main issue with the heavy defensive use of Couturier is, and I feel this strongly, that it's been detrimental to the development of his overall game and stagnated his development as an offensive threat.

I fully understand he's a very good defensive guy and as such he's going to be asked to carry a big load.

That said, the sheer weight of his load is almost unique in the NHL when compared to other top 9 forwards. The disparity in his O-zone and D-zone starts is huge. I'd rather see Couturier become a 50 point player and see his zone starts more in line with the percentage that guys like Bergeron see, or even a bit more even in regards to his own teammates, rather than have him stay a 35-40 point guy while getting buried.

I've broken fingers before. Man, that's one underrated injury -- just a pain-in-the-ass injury, and it'll bark when you do something to it just enough to remind you that it hurts
- AllInForFlyers

It sucks. I've dealt with it a few times. It's aggravating.

It sucks. I've dealt with it a few times. It's aggravating.
- Jsaquella

It is -- that's always a good example of the difference between "hurt" and "pain" -- you could play with the baseline hurt/discomfort that comes with it. But the pain when you bang it around is something else

My main issue with the heavy defensive use of Couturier is, and I feel this strongly, that it's been detrimental to the development of his overall game and stagnated his development as an offensive threat.

I fully understand he's a very good defensive guy and as such he's going to be asked to carry a big load.

That said, the sheer weight of his load is almost unique in the NHL when compared to other top 9 forwards. The disparity in his O-zone and D-zone starts is huge. I'd rather see Couturier become a 50 point player and see his zone starts more in line with the percentage that guys like Bergeron see, or even a bit more even in regards to his own teammates, rather than have him stay a 35-40 point guy while getting buried.
- Jsaquella

I agreed with PSG earlier -- there are other guys who need to improve defensively so that load could be shared a bit more

I think the question people have to answer for themselves is this:

If Sean Couturier was deployed like an offensive-minded center instead of a shutdown center, with offensive-minded wingers, do you think he would put up more points because of his own skill level? And if so, how many?

I think he would, to the tune of 25/40 - 65, while still playing very good defense. I think he'd be very similar to Martin Hanzal, with a touch more offense.

Just my opinion