I'm just waiting for exlund to read Dave Isaac's article on Jason Akeson.

Was this posted? A great article on why Couturier sucks and should be traded immediately.

http://alongtheboards.com...urier-flyers-wall-on-ice/

The figures show that Couturier has allowed less raw GA/60 and less GA/60 relative to his team than any of the elite defensive NHL forwards who contend for the Selke year in, year out — all while having tougher overall minutes than any of them do.
- feelingkettle

could definitely use him to get the franchise dman

I'm just waiting for exlund to read Dave Isaac's article on Jason Akeson.
- Jsaquella

Ha! I need to take a look at that -- is he on the "Free Akeson" train?

Got into a debate with my buddy whose a big phillies fan who the worst Philly GM since 1990 and up is. Obviously he took amaro and I took holmer. I sealed the deal with bringing bryz into the equation. He had no rebuttle
- Just5

I still go with Amaro. He took the keys to a Lamborghini and drove it into a wall. Holmgren took over a 1974 Mustang with rust and a wheezy engine, restored it into showroom condition and then drove it into a wall.

But at least he restored the damned thing first

I did; been saying it for weeks now. The Flyers look bad on some nights, and they need pieces.

But they are nowhere near the worst teams in the league -- the Flyers didn't play great against Buffalo, but Buffalo played as hard as they could that night, and last night. They tried really, really hard.

And still gave up 10 goals.

The Flyers are likely a bit less than average.

Buffalo, Edmonton, Arizona when they sell...those teams are tragic.
- AllInForFlyers

Honestly, Buffalo and Arizona may be in a better place than the Flyers right now. Buffalo has a poopload of cap room, some great prospects, and 3 1st round picks in a strong draft including most likely the 1st or 2nd overall. Arizona at least has a legit, young #1 dman in OEL which is the hardest piece for a team to acquire.

Edmonton, on the other hand, is a complete train wreck.

He's actually scoring at similar clips at 5v5 as the players he was compared to defensively too:

Couturier - 16 points
Backes - 20
Bergeron - 27
Datsyuk - 22
Hossa - 22
Kesler - 21
Kopitar - 19
Pavelski - 22
Plekanec - 21
Toews - 26
Zetterberg - 25

Couturier's not that far off which is kinda impressive given he faces tougher competition and his most common linemates are a struggling Matt Read and near zombie RJ Umberger. More comparisons for linemates!

Couturier - Read, Umberger
Backes - Oshie, Steen
Bergeron - Smith, Marchand
Datsyuk - Zetterberg, Abdelkader
Hossa - Toews, Saad
Kesler - Beleskey
Kopitar - Gaborik
Pavelski - Thornton, Hertl
Plekanec - Galchenyuk, Gallagher
Toews - Hossa, Saad
Zetterberg - Abdelkader, Nyquist
- NickTheKid87

Ironically, it's Coots' inability to score on the PP that is holding him back in the Selke voting, lol.

So are the perils of alcohol.
- PLindbergh31

I'll thank you to leave my booze out of this!

And on pace for 20 goals playing with a declining Umberger and largely ineffective Matt Read most of the season.

Why haven't they traded this bum yet?
- Jsaquella

I would argue that he's having a breakout season, but is playing such tough minutes with such horrible linemates that it's impossible to notice.

Got into a debate with my buddy whose a big phillies fan who the worst Philly GM since 1990 and up is. Obviously he took amaro and I took holmer. I sealed the deal with bringing bryz into the equation. He had no rebuttle
- Just5

I don't know about that, have you seen Ryan Howard's contract? At least they were able to lose Bryz with no cap penalty

This is the second of four meetings between the team and the last game the Flyers will ever play at the Nassau County Coliseum (barring the unlikely event of a playoff clash this season)

fixed.

Ha! I need to take a look at that -- is he on the "Free Akeson" train?
- AllInForFlyers

Not really, but he does have quotes where the Flyers admit they didn't give him much chance to succeed, after saying he needed to score more.

It's like a smaller version of Couturier, where Chief says Couturier needs to score more, even though I'm going to bury him in a nearly unique defensive role.

Honestly, Buffalo and Arizona may be in a better place than the Flyers right now. Buffalo has a poopload of cap room, some great prospects, and 3 1st round picks in a strong draft including most likely the 1st or 2nd overall. Arizona at least has a legit, young #1 dman in OEL which is the hardest piece for a team to acquire.

Edmonton, on the other hand, is a complete train wreck.
- BiggE

I think the stud 1C is ever bit as hard to acquire as the 1D. Both are equally important

So Homer was drunk-dialing his peers and player agents? It all makes sense now.
- Tomahawk

If Halak is anywhere close to the brick wall he was last time forget about it. This could have 5-1 written all over it

I would argue that he's having a breakout season, but is playing such tough minutes with such horrible linemates that it's impossible to notice.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's part of it. Couturier does need to produce more when he gets a chance-PP, etc., but he's had it beat into his head so long that he's got to be a shut down guy it's got to be hard for him to not worry about D first

could definitely use him to get the franchise dman
- JoeRussomanno

How about this: If the Flyers ever give this kid two wingers who a) aren't old, b) can skate, c) can score and d) play defense, all at the same time, and he doesn't put up 50-60 points, then by all means, trade him. Do it.

But do you really want to trade this guy and watch another team do exactly that? Because that is exactly what is going to happen if they move him.

Ironically, it's Coots' inability to score on the PP that is holding him back in the Selke voting, lol.
- Tomahawk

Haha pretty much. He has 5 power play points. Make that 10 and he's in a lot better shape. He still won't see the 1st unit though so picking them up would still be hard even if he didn't struggle on the PP.

I don't know about that, have you seen Ryan Howard's contract? At least they were able to lose Bryz with no cap penalty

- BiggE

Yeah but that doesn't/shouldn't excuse the deal! Look at all the contracts were saddled with After using 2 get out of jail free cards. If amaro had those cards to play their worst deal would be Ruiz

The 0-0 game earlier this season was one of Mason's gems this year.
Today could get very ugly.

How about this: If the Flyers ever give this kid two wingers who a) aren't old, b) can skate, c) can score and d) play defense, all at the same time, and he doesn't put up 50-60 points, then by all means, trade him. Do it.

But do you really want to trade this guy and watch another team do exactly that? Because that is exactly what is going to happen if they move him.
- AllInForFlyers

Joe wants to remove the brain dead Bullies from the management team and then make the same kind of trades Holmgren made at the end of his run as GM

How about this: If the Flyers ever give this kid two wingers who a) aren't old, b) can skate, c) can score and d) play defense, all at the same time, and he doesn't put up 50-60 points, then by all means, trade him. Do it.

But do you really want to trade this guy and watch another team do exactly that? Because that is exactly what is going to happen if they move him.
- AllInForFlyers

The only way I'd be moving Couturier is in a deal for a legit top pair dman under 30.

Yeah but that doesn't/shouldn't excuse the deal! Look at all the contracts were saddled with After using 2 get out of jail free cards. If amaro had those cards to play their worst deal would be Ruiz
- Just5

The 0-0 game earlier this season was one of Mason's gems this year.
Today could get very ugly.
- Marc D

They've had just as hard a time with Okposo as Tavares, and Okposo is on fire right now

I think the stud 1C is ever bit as hard to acquire as the 1D. Both are equally important
- Just5

I think the franchise center goes under the radar, relatively speaking. People see good teams and point to that dman but those team usually also have a good center too. Some of the best teams only have the center like Anaheim, NYI and Pittsburgh.

The only way I'd be moving Couturier is in a deal for a legit top pair dman under 25*
- BiggE

Fixed