He's the guy they need to get to sign for 4-5 years. Leddy's still a RFA, they could go 2-3 years on him and a year or two on Vishnovsky and be in good shape.

The only significant FAs up front are Brock Nelson and Anders Lee, and both are RFA.
- Jsaquella

I have confidence in Snow (frank)ing things up

Correct.

See, it took you some time but you finally figured it out.
- 77rams

You failed to highlight the important part. The part that shows how silly it is to say that the Flyers traded 4 first round picks for Pronger. If Lupul is a first round pick as an asset in the trade, then they didn't trade for Pronger, they traded 4 first round picks for a first round pick.

I honestly believe playing VL makes him a less tradable. Keeping him benched allows for some mystery. Like maybe the Flyers don't know what they have!
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't think there is a lot of mystery involved if they kept him scratched. Are GM's round the League going to think that the Flyers are so good, they don't have room in the lineup for a good player like Lecavalier, so maybe they can get him on the cheap from the Flyers?

berube is out of his league and needs to be relieved asap
- JoeRussomanno

I still don't see a need to pull the plug right now. I'm not a fan. But I'm willing to see if he can figure it out.

My issue with making a change now is, I'm not a huge fan of what's out there. Bylsma & Boucher are probably the 2 most attractive. Boucher's had success in developing kids and getting a team to overachieve, but he's not a guy that I'd make a change just to land.

Could bring up Murray, but then who works with the Phantoms? Right now, my biggest gripe is not playing MDZ & Colaiacovo more. I can live with that being my biggest issue with the coach.

Maybe if he does drop Laughton to the 4th line or AHL for Lecavalier, I'd be in favor of expediting a change.

I don't think there is a lot of mystery involved if they kept him scratched. Are GM's round the League going to think that the Flyers are so good, they don't have room in the lineup for a good player like Lecavalier, so maybe they can get him on the cheap from the Flyers?
- MJL

Maybe they'll forget how bad he is.

I still don't see a need to pull the plug right now. I'm not a fan. But I'm willing to see if he can figure it out.

My issue with making a change now is, I'm not a huge fan of what's out there. Bylsma & Boucher are probably the 2 most attractive. Boucher's had success in developing kids and getting a team to overachieve, but he's not a guy that I'd make a change just to land.

Could bring up Murray, but then who works with the Phantoms? Right now, my biggest gripe is not playing MDZ & Colaiacovo more. I can live with that being my biggest issue with the coach.

Maybe if he does drop Laughton to the 4th line or AHL for Lecavalier, I'd be in favor of expediting a change.
- Jsaquella

no more love for dallas eakins? i know he didnt last long in edmonton... but cmon its edmonton

You failed to highlight the important part. The part that shows how silly it is to say that the Flyers traded 4 first round picks for Pronger. If Lupul is a first round pick as an asset in the trade, then they didn't trade for Pronger, they traded 4 first round picks for a first round pick.
- MJL

Yes, as I already stated, you finally got it. But if it makes you proud to keep repeating it, that's fine.

I still don't see a need to pull the plug right now. I'm not a fan. But I'm willing to see if he can figure it out.

My issue with making a change now is, I'm not a huge fan of what's out there. Bylsma & Boucher are probably the 2 most attractive. Boucher's had success in developing kids and getting a team to overachieve, but he's not a guy that I'd make a change just to land.

Could bring up Murray, but then who works with the Phantoms? Right now, my biggest gripe is not playing MDZ & Colaiacovo more. I can live with that being my biggest issue with the coach.

Maybe if he does drop Laughton to the 4th line or AHL for Lecavalier, I'd be in favor of expediting a change.
- Jsaquella

what about Ol' Whiskers, the ex-Ottawa coach?

Maybe they'll forget how bad he is.
- BulliesPhan87

Exactly

I'm not saying your entire post was about swapping in Lecavalier for Laughton. My comment was basically pointing out that it would be stupid to do so, despite the fact that similar moves have been made by many teams in the past.

Right now, I'm not impressed by anything they've done. But the combo of Laughton and Simmonds has been highly effective, whether they have had Schenn or Raffl on the LW. They have been generating chances, scoring some goals and been a solid two way line.

Put Lacavalier on that line. It's no longer a good two way line, because Vinny is not a good two way player. They probably won't generate as many chances. The forechecking ability won't be as strong.

From what Berube said-that he is going to use Lecavalier on a "skill " line, give him a good number of minutes and play him at center, it's very possible that he means Laughton is moving to another line or wing. To me, that's stupid. I don't care how Vinny has looked at practice
- Jsaquella

I agree.

I honestly believe playing VL makes him a less tradable. Keeping him benched allows for some mystery. Like maybe the Flyers don't know what they have!
- PhillySportsGuy

I tend to agree. I think he's untradable regardless of whether he plays or not. But if he's out, it's not a consistent reminder of how far he's fallen.

At this stage of his career, the 400 goals are nothing more than a plaque on the wall. Not many GM's are going to be looking at what he did in Tampa Bay, they're going to be looking at what he's done recently.

That's why I'm adamant about it being stupid to replace Laughton with him. It's why I bring up the Akeson situation. I don't give a poop about how great Vinny's career had been, or how many accolades he's gotten. He's not that guy any longer.

If Vinny could turn back the clock and be 2004 Vinny, fine. He's not that guy anymore, and hasn't been at least since joining the Flyers. He should not be handed anything.

no more love for dallas eakins? i know he didnt last long in edmonton... but cmon its edmonton
- JoeRussomanno

He couldn't get a young team to buy into what he was selling. Not sure he has the cache to get a team with more veterans to do so.

That said, in a better situation, possibly. I'd still wait.

I tend to agree. I think he's untradable regardless of whether he plays or not. But if he's out, it's not a consistent reminder of how far he's fallen.

At this stage of his career, the 400 goals are nothing more than a plaque on the wall. Not many GM's are going to be looking at what he did in Tampa Bay, they're going to be looking at what he's done recently.

That's why I'm adamant about it being stupid to replace Laughton with him. It's why I bring up the Akeson situation. I don't give a poop about how great Vinny's career had been, or how many accolades he's gotten. He's not that guy any longer.

If Vinny could turn back the clock and be 2004 Vinny, fine. He's not that guy anymore, and hasn't been at least since joining the Flyers. He should not be handed anything.
- Jsaquella

Playing him on the 4th line would be good. Throw Umberger down there too and play them against other 4th lines.

Our 4th line has scored 2 goals this year

what about Ol' Whiskers, the ex-Ottawa coach?
- BulliesPhan87

He's intriguing. He's been .500 or above every year as a NHL coach. His teams have generally benefited from fantastic goaltending.

Certainly would consider him if/when they let Berube go

Playing him on the 4th line would be good. Throw Umberger down there too and play them against other 4th lines.

Our 4th line has scored 2 goals this year
- PhillySportsGuy

ive been thinking about who is likely to sit... going with bellemare... as much as im on the fire berube bandwagon i cant see him breaking up his second best line of late... hey guys youve been playing great but i gotta scratch one of you for the has been... yup great way to keep the room coach.

I still don't see a need to pull the plug right now. I'm not a fan. But I'm willing to see if he can figure it out.

My issue with making a change now is, I'm not a huge fan of what's out there. Bylsma & Boucher are probably the 2 most attractive. Boucher's had success in developing kids and getting a team to overachieve, but he's not a guy that I'd make a change just to land.

Could bring up Murray, but then who works with the Phantoms? Right now, my biggest gripe is not playing MDZ & Colaiacovo more. I can live with that being my biggest issue with the coach.

Maybe if he does drop Laughton to the 4th line or AHL for Lecavalier, I'd be in favor of expediting a change.
- Jsaquella

Nor do I.

Bylsma or Boucher may turn them around somewhat, but how much? A team quite often plays a more responsible game for a new coach, but my worry would be that they'd play just well enough to get them out of the lottery and back into the first round exit abyss. We lose big time there.

I'd also keep Murray where he is. He's more valuable grooming the future.

Ride it out with Berube, Worse case scenario would be a chance for the top 3 juniors. I can live with that.

At the end of the year if Hextall wants to bring in his own guy, there'd be a lot more interesting names to consider.

Playing him on the 4th line would be good. Throw Umberger down there too and play them against other 4th lines.

Our 4th line has scored 2 goals this year
- PhillySportsGuy

Not sure. Bellemare had some success, but he's been unable to generate much with Rinaldo and VandeVelde as his linemates.

Our 4th line has scored 2 goals this year
- PhillySportsGuy

This is the most important thing I saw in the back-read today

In the future, even if I am the one Internet Slapfighting, I'm gonna need someone step forward to bookmark the backread every few pages with a "page full of fighting, can skip" designation

Sometimes, there's some good insight on here. And then there are days when an ignore button never sounded so good

So whose going to pony up 2 2nd rounders for Coburn at the deadline?

What if Devils call offering their 30th for Coburn?

edit- nevermind the 30th was last year for them

Nor do I.

Bylsma or Boucher may turn them around somewhat, but how much? A team quite often plays a more responsible game for a new coach, but my worry would be that they'd play just well enough to get them out of the lottery and back into the first round exit abyss. We lose big time there.

I'd also keep Murray where he is. He's more valuable grooming the future.

Ride it out with Berube, Worse case scenario would be a chance for the top 3 juniors. I can live with that.

At the end of the year if Hextall wants to bring in his own guy, there'd be a lot more interesting names to consider.
- 77rams

The last sentence is another consideration. MacLean and Eakins aren't going to be the last guys dismissed. If Hextall made a move now and went Boucher or Bylsma they're not coming in till then end of the year, they're going to want at least a few years.

Not sure. Bellemare had some success, but he's been unable to generate much with Rinaldo and VandeVelde as his linemates.
- Jsaquella

I would want Bellemare in the top 9. Thats too much to ask for though.

I find it amazing that Akeson wasn't doing enough in his 5 minutes of ice time on the 4th line, but VDV and Rinaldo have been doing enough.

http://www.hockeyfeed.com...r-fine-diving-game-video/

Interesting how action is finally taken after he's no longer a Penguin.

This is the most important thing I saw in the back-read today

In the future, even if I am the one Internet Slapfighting, I'm gonna need someone step forward to bookmark the backread every few pages with a "page full of fighting, can skip" designation

Sometimes, there's some good insight on here. And then there are days when an ignore button never sounded so good
- AllInForFlyers

It's difficult sometimes with a self imposed ignore button.

This is the most important thing I saw in the back-read today

In the future, even if I am the one Internet Slapfighting, I'm gonna need someone step forward to bookmark the backread every few pages with a "page full of fighting, can skip" designation

Sometimes, there's some good insight on here. And then there are days when an ignore button never sounded so good
- AllInForFlyers

Just seek out my comments. They are pure gold

Nor do I.

Bylsma or Boucher may turn them around somewhat, but how much? A team quite often plays a more responsible game for a new coach, but my worry would be that they'd play just well enough to get them out of the lottery and back into the first round exit abyss. We lose big time there.

I'd also keep Murray where he is. He's more valuable grooming the future.

Ride it out with Berube, Worse case scenario would be a chance for the top 3 juniors. I can live with that.

At the end of the year if Hextall wants to bring in his own guy, there'd be a lot more interesting names to consider.
- 77rams

everyone keeps saying this would be a first round exit team if tgey got in, and while i agree to an extent, i think its underestimating some of the few highlights this team has, like mason. lets face it if he was healthy last spring this team very well may have up ended the eventual conference champs