Last year's team had Kimmo Timonen to both settle down the PK and provide leadership. They also had Hartnell, a 20 goal scorer, not RJ, a complete waste of space. And they had Hall, who excelled at winning D zone faceoffs and starting the PK with an easy clear.

This team doesn't have the horses to go on a 10-2-1 run. They just don't.
- BiggE

We have the Italian Christmas donkey on the 4th line

How many goals do you think Umberger finishes the year with? Read? Vinny?

Umby- 5 goals
Read- 10 goals (maybe)
Vinny - 8 goals

LMAO
- GOA88

All of the above... Will be under those totals. Read may get to 10... He is only hope of those 3 . If Vinny is playing with Rinaldo and the Zombie keeps being a Zombie then those two will combine for maybe 10...not bad for a cost of 10M

Read in now way resembles a player that can produce that right now. No matter who he plays with. He looks horrible.
- GOA88

He's actually looked good the last 5 games or so. But to begin, he was invisible.

He's actually looked good the last 5 games or so. But to begin, he was invisible.
- jmatchett383

The game against Tampa the other night was the straw that broke the camels back for me. No push back at all. Not even Giroux or Voracek were a threat. Tampa is a good team but they made it look too easy against us. They had no problem coasting to a relaxing 3-1 win on our home ice.

Did Berube make another poor decision? It seems as though any decision he makes is the wrong one.
- MJL

No shortage of applause when he boldly benched VL and AMac, and there has been general approval of many lines/pairs he's assembled/reunited over the course of the season.

The criticism hasn't been nearly as blindly biased, nor unobjective, not as monolithic as you are fond of portraying it as.

Chief has made a lot of rookie blunders. People are just calling it as they see it. If you have a personal problem with that, deal with it.

No shortage of applause when he boldly benched VL and AMac, and there has been general approval of many lines/pairs he's assembled/reunited over the course of the season.

The criticism hasn't been nearly as blindly biased, nor unobjective, not as monolithic as you are fond of portraying it as.

Chief has made a lot of rookie blunders. People are just calling it as they see it.
- Tomahawk

He has not handled this team properly this season at all. The wrong players are benched and the lines make no sense.

The game against Tampa the other night was the straw that broke the camels back for me. No push back at all. Not even Giroux or Voracek were a threat. Tampa is a good team but they made it look too easy against us. They had no problem coasting to a relaxing 3-1 win on our home ice.
- GOA88

Yep. A walk in the park. For me it was that ridiculous Columbus game to end the road trip. Tonight should be another hoot

I love that Berube's starting Lecavalier on the 4th line. But at RW? And immediately goes on the PP for Laughton & not Umberger? That's questionable.

oh yeah, me2.

BTW, I figured this might amuse you: I just picked up a video game, Poker Night at the Inventory 2. The big draw of the game is the opponents you play against (who strike up conversation throughout the game), among whom is Ash, voiced by Bruce Campbell. Pretty groovy, imo.
- BulliesPhan87

No, dude, you're groovy.

No shortage of applause when he boldly benched VL and AMac, and there has been general approval of many lines/pairs he's assembled/reunited over the course of the season.

The criticism hasn't been nearly as blindly biased, nor unobjective, not as monolithic as you are fond of portraying it as.

Chief has made a lot of rookie blunders. People are just calling it as they see it. If you have a personal problem with that, deal with it.
- Tomahawk

Sounds like hyperbole to me.

The game against Tampa the other night was the straw that broke the camels back for me. No push back at all. Not even Giroux or Voracek were a threat. Tampa is a good team but they made it look too easy against us. They had no problem coasting to a relaxing 3-1 win on our home ice.
- GOA88

So, Read was playing well. Then he and the rest of the team looked pretty ineffective...But that's the game was the straw that broke the camel's back when determining the direction of Read's play going forward?

In that case, I guess we can pencil in 0 points the rest of the season for Voracek.

Sounds like hyperbole to me.
- Jsaquella

?

No, dude, you're groovy.


- wolfhounds

I love that Berube's starting Lecavalier on the 4th line. But at RW? And immediately goes on the PP for Laughton & not Umberger? That's questionable.
- Jsaquella

I blame it on lead paint chips, cause Umberger on the PP is just dumb.

No, dude, you're groovy.


- wolfhounds

I'm wearing swishy pants today, hardly fancy.

So, Read was playing well. Then he and the rest of the team looked pretty ineffective...But that's the game was the straw that broke the camel's back when determining the direction of Read's play going forward?

In that case, I guess we can pencil in 0 points the rest of the season for Voracek.
- jmatchett383

No, that was'nt what determined the direction Read was heading. The 30 games prior is what did it for me. He is overrated by the Flyers fan base.

If he stays in Philly I would be fine with him as a 3rd line winger/Pk specialist. I dont want him anywhere near the top 6. If the Flyers want to be better than they find someone else to rely on for offense.

I blame it on lead paint chips, cause Umberger on the PP is just dumb.
- wolfhounds

Why don't they call up the great Dane as a pp specialist. Park his ass in front on the second unit

I'm wearing swishy pants today, hardly fancy.
- BulliesPhan87

Do you hear that? It's like a swooshing noise.

I refuse to allow this team to lose.
- KGBflyers10

You need a hug.

You need a hug.
- FlyersGrace

I also refuse to allow this team to lose...

I also refuse to allow this team to lose...
- wolfhounds

No, that was'nt what determined the direction Read was heading. The 30 games prior is what did it for me. He is overrated by the Flyers fan base.
- GOA88

Read has been very consistant since he's been in the league so I'll give him a little more rope here.

When so many players go brain numb at the same time, I generally look for something off the ice to be an issue...whether it be a bad mix of players, poor direction, a lost locker room, the wrong system, something that causes so many to underacheive.

Read has been very consistant since he's been in the league so I'll give him a little more rope here.

When so many players go brain numb at the same time, I generally look for something off the ice to be an issue...whether it be a bad mix of players, poor direction, a lost locker room, the wrong system, something that causes so many to underacheive.
- 77rams

I see your point. I just never really saw "skill" from Read. He is a pretty basic player. He has even lost some speed, which I feel is hurting him the most.

Are you serious... MDZ a healthy scratch again?! WTF!!!


...because, you know.. this D lineup on the ice is doing fantastic. MDZ sucks, and they're all Norris caliber defensemen who aren't making mistakes. WTF Berube... Seriously...
- WarriorHockey21

Making sure there's no appeal for him to resign here.

Read has been very consistant since he's been in the league so I'll give him a little more rope here.

When so many players go brain numb at the same time, I generally look for something off the ice to be an issue...whether it be a bad mix of players, poor direction, a lost locker room, the wrong system, something that causes so many to underacheive.
- 77rams

The other issue with Read is, he was playing hurt, according to Berube. His game has been better of late, but he needs to keep it up.