Time to Doug Collins this mother(frank)er

I'll say this about Brayden Schenn: There's no way in hell that I'd wait another season for him to "develop"

That's just me, my opinion. But enough's enough with this particular player, I feel
- AllInForFlyers

You'll never get a quality Dman for B Schenn, but if I could swap him for a good scoring line LW under the age of 27, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Very good, very balanced take on the Flyers situation with Berube.

I'm among the most critical of him, but I also realize the issues are not all on him. i think his combination of strengths and weaknesses are better suited to the role of assistant coach, rather than head coach. Or maybe more correctly, his very blunt style requires a guy like Keith Primeau, a vocal leader to buffer it, rather than guys like Giroux and Simmonds, who seem to be more of the lead by example style.

His handling of players seems to be an issue. Guys like Lecavalier and Del Zotto remarked on the lack of communication when they were benched for stretches early in the season. And the Mason debacle is highly concerning, because it's the player making diplomatic statements and the coach seeming to go out of his way to be critical of the goalie.

Given how that has played out, it's hard to dismiss stories like Frank Seravalli's saying that Reese's departure was over the handling of the goalie situation and injuries. All I know is, the Flyers lost a guy who has done a great job for an extended period and now there's a hole in what should be a strong point.

I admit I'm biased. But I also feel that Berube makes coaching decisions from a biased perspective and tends to ignore some glaring performance issues in guys that play the game "his way" while giving far less rope to guys who are not the traditional hard working, gritty pros that he was. Relying so heavy on Umberger is a prime example of this.

I am not anti-Berube because he was an enforcer or marginal player. Great coaches often come from marginal guys, but I'm no sure that Berube has the ability to give the X's and O's while handling the growing pains and inconsistencies that players face, because his own mantra was work harder. Hard work is needed, but often times if unguided, a player can work hard in the wrong direction. And some guys need more guidance than "work harder"

Berube is faced with a difficult task and a mediocre at best roster. The Flyers have many holes and based on the roster alone,I felt that this was a lottery team since last summer. That said, I think that Berube's handling of the roster has been poor. He's not without his good qualities, but at this point, I don't think he's a good head coach. In time he may be, and I do think he can be an asset as an assistant. But I think they need to go in a different direction, no matter what Hextall does with the roster.
- Jsaquella

You've pretty much said just about everything I was going to write. Better of course

The only thing I'd expand on would be the handling of the defensemen. Clearly flipping those guys in and out of the lineup had a big effect on a number of players - Schenn, MDZ and A Mac chief (no pun intended) among them. My big hope for next year is that A Mac regains his confidence with a new coach, a set role, and a set defensive partner.

Very good, very balanced take on the Flyers situation with Berube.

I'm among the most critical of him, but I also realize the issues are not all on him. i think his combination of strengths and weaknesses are better suited to the role of assistant coach, rather than head coach. Or maybe more correctly, his very blunt style requires a guy like Keith Primeau, a vocal leader to buffer it, rather than guys like Giroux and Simmonds, who seem to be more of the lead by example style.

His handling of players seems to be an issue. Guys like Lecavalier and Del Zotto remarked on the lack of communication when they were benched for stretches early in the season. And the Mason debacle is highly concerning, because it's the player making diplomatic statements and the coach seeming to go out of his way to be critical of the goalie.

Given how that has played out, it's hard to dismiss stories like Frank Seravalli's saying that Reese's departure was over the handling of the goalie situation and injuries. All I know is, the Flyers lost a guy who has done a great job for an extended period and now there's a hole in what should be a strong point.

I admit I'm biased. But I also feel that Berube makes coaching decisions from a biased perspective and tends to ignore some glaring performance issues in guys that play the game "his way" while giving far less rope to guys who are not the traditional hard working, gritty pros that he was. Relying so heavy on Umberger is a prime example of this.

I am not anti-Berube because he was an enforcer or marginal player. Great coaches often come from marginal guys, but I'm no sure that Berube has the ability to give the X's and O's while handling the growing pains and inconsistencies that players face, because his own mantra was work harder. Hard work is needed, but often times if unguided, a player can work hard in the wrong direction. And some guys need more guidance than "work harder"

Berube is faced with a difficult task and a mediocre at best roster. The Flyers have many holes and based on the roster alone,I felt that this was a lottery team since last summer. That said, I think that Berube's handling of the roster has been poor. He's not without his good qualities, but at this point, I don't think he's a good head coach. In time he may be, and I do think he can be an asset as an assistant. But I think they need to go in a different direction, no matter what Hextall does with the roster.
- Jsaquella

My feelings exactly

Is tippets contract ending this summer?

Time to Doug Collins this mother(frank)er
- PhillySportsGuy

All viable names, although I think Babcock wants more authority than just coaching and he won't get that here.

Dave Tippett would be good choice if the Coyotes let him go. Very structured style of play but also has had many of his teams overachieve (although certainly not this year).

Bylsma's name will probably come up, too.
- bmeltzer

I wonder if Hextall would reach out to a guy like Mark Morris, who was the head coach for Manchester when Hextall was asst GM in LA and had good success there.

Tippett, if available, would be real high on my list. I'd also be in favor of Todd McLellan if San Jose were to fire him.

After reading Bill's write-up, my conclusion is this. If there are so many hockey guys around the league who think Berube has done a good job, then great. Let one of them have him!

He's also still a player perceived as soft and inconsistent. He's one of the more glaring of the Leafs guys whose game fell off a cliff after the coaching change and during their tailspin.

Optics or not, they can't swap Schenn, plus a first, for a guy who is better, but has the same basic issues as Schenn.
- Jsaquella

JVR's probably soff (Michel Therrien's pronunciation), but I'd debate vigorously that is the only area where he falls short compared to Brayden Schenn

His overall hockey sense, shooting, skating, puckhandling, passing, offensive instincts are all superior to Schenn's -- I'm not one to pine over any particular player, and JVR isn't perfect, but his issues aren't the same as Schenn's

I wish Schenn could do even one thing as well as JVR does

JVR's probably soff (Michel Therrien's pronunciation), but I'd debate vigorously that is the only area where he falls short compared to Brayden Schenn

His overall hockey sense, shooting, skating, puckhandling, passing, offensive instincts are all superior to Schenn's -- I'm not one to pine over any particular player, and JVR isn't perfect, but his issues aren't the same as Schenn's

I wish Schenn could do even one thing as well as JVR does
- AllInForFlyers

and yet people scoffed when I suggested trading Schenn + our 1 (let's say 7th) to acquire the 3rd or 4th pick, and maybe a 2nd or 3rd rounder.

I think he's going to make moves. Or at least he's going to be out there trying to make moves. Hexy isn't going to be a wallflower, but he's also not going to make a move just for the sheer sake of doing something.

He's got a couple of situations that need addressing, even if next season will be a retooling season. They have to do something with Lecavalier. He's miserable, he doesn't fit and even with a new coach, I doubt he can be a positive asset that the team can use in their future.

They're also going to have to make a change behind the bench. Regardless of whether criticism is baseless or not, the bottom line is there are simply too many dysfunctional situations that involve the coach.
- Jsaquella

VLC for Mike Richards (+ salary retention or assets). You know you want it.

I wonder if Hextall would reach out to a guy like Mark Morris, who was the head coach for Manchester when Hextall was asst GM in LA and had good success there.

Tippett, if available, would be real high on my list. I'd also be in favor of Todd McLellan if San Jose were to fire him.
- Jsaquella

Mind you, even when a GM says "I have total confidence in our head coach"...
- bmeltzer

This quote almost always means a firing is impending.

Somebody -- and I don't know who, specifically -- but somebody needs to get the gate for that

That's not an overreaction or hyperbole. In a performance-based industry, somebody's got to be held accountable for that
- AllInForFlyers

Honestly, it too should fall on Berube.

Both Read (all season) and Umberger (early on) were killing penalties. If both were unable to play at their usual level due to injury, the coach should have taken them out of the lineup.

I don't care what the player may have said regarding his health, every one of us could clearly see that both players were playing horribly, how could the head coach not see it?

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Berube,
- bmeltzer

*Umberger had not seen a healthy scratch all season long with his struggles prior to his injury and remained a Power Play regular on the second unit, no matter how undeserving.

*Berube continued to use and push Mason after immediate returns from injuries, which seems to result in more injuries for Mason at least three times this season. Playing your starter in back to back situations isn't a smart plan to begin with but now I've seen it all when the head coach puts him in after injury.

*Berube has put Brayden Schenn into Scott Hartnell's old role in every way Scott Hartnell played it. One big problem. Brayden Schenn isn't Scott Hartnell. Hartnell is a very good play away from the puck in offensive situations. I think Brayden Schenn needs time with the puck in order to be effective.

*Vincent Lecavalier is no longer a speedy player and he's not a very good puck handler. My issue with the way Lecavalier has been handled is even when he plays well and works hard, he's not getting opportunities with offensive players such as himself. The guy is clearly useless if he's not scoring but often is a player going to put up points next to Bellemare and Vandevelde. I think this is unfair.

*Berube kept Scott Laughton on a second line scoring role for much longer then he deserved. It probably would have done Laughton a world of good by having him play on the fourth line in a more defensive role at times. Guys like Bellemare, Brayden Schenn or Vincent Lecavalier probably deserved at least a look at the second center spot but it would seem our coach is too stubborn to make much needed changes at times.

*favoritism seems to be clear, while some deserving candidates never miss a shift or a game, others have many opportunities taken from them or thrown under the bus ala Steve Mason, Vincent Lecavalier or even Scott Hartnell. Sometimes he hasn't been hard enough on the team this year.

You've pretty much said just about everything I was going to write. Better of course

The only thing I'd expand on would be the handling of the defensemen. Clearly flipping those guys in and out of the lineup had a big effect on a number of players - Schenn, MDZ and A Mac chief (no pun intended) among them. My big hope for next year is that A Mac regains his confidence with a new coach, a set role, and a set defensive partner.
- TheGreat28

I think he gave more rope than he should have to certain guys and got in the habit of long running scratches that were more detrimental than good. Of course in the case of Del Zotto, despite the curiously long stint in the press box, he's come back to play very well for the Flyers.

That goes for the forwards as well as D, though. I wasn't trying to just bash Berube, I was trying to be more balanced in my criticisms, because I don't blame him for everything. He's got dealt a really bad hand. I just don't think he played it as well as he could have and that's resulted in some dicey situations for the team

JVR's probably soff (Michel Therrien's pronunciation), but I'd debate vigorously that is the only area where he falls short compared to Brayden Schenn

His overall hockey sense, shooting, skating, puckhandling, passing, offensive instincts are all superior to Schenn's -- I'm not one to pine over any particular player, and JVR isn't perfect, but his issues aren't the same as Schenn's

I wish Schenn could do even one thing as well as JVR does
- AllInForFlyers

He's a better hitter and fighter.

Any new info on why Mason pulled himself from the Edmonton game?

It is common knowledge that the Flyers tried hard to trade Lecavalier last summer but were unable to do so. To Lecavalier's credit, the veteran has remained classy and avoided rocking the boat this season after lengthy stints as a healthy scratch and being largely confined to a fourth-line winger's role when he dressed.

Gotta give it to vinny... He has handled this season from hell really well. He could've made a really big stink about his benchings, trade rumors, etc. Look at how jumbo, evander kane, and mike Richards handles their adversity... pretty poorly... so my respect to you Vinny.

Any new info on why Mason pulled himself from the Edmonton game?
- Scoob

Bad case of berube-itis

Is tippets contract ending this summer?
- Just5

I thought he signed a pretty big extension not too long ago?

JVR's probably soff (Michel Therrien's pronunciation), but I'd debate vigorously that is the only area where he falls short compared to Brayden Schenn

His overall hockey sense, shooting, skating, puckhandling, passing, offensive instincts are all superior to Schenn's -- I'm not one to pine over any particular player, and JVR isn't perfect, but his issues aren't the same as Schenn's

I wish Schenn could do even one thing as well as JVR does
- AllInForFlyers

What I mean is that he's an inconsistent player, who is streaky and doesn't seem to use his physical gifts to their fullest potential. He is a better player than Schenn, but I also have no interest in adding a guy with JvR's tendencies that mirror Schenn's own.

If you want to try and trade that 1st & Schenn for a Brad Marchand type guy, I'm a lot more open to that.

VLC for Mike Richards (+ salary retention or assets). You know you want it.
- coffee junkie

Nope. There's light at the end of the Vinny tunnel. If Richards gets bought out, I'd have some interest in a short term, fairly cheap deal.

Any new info on why Mason pulled himself from the Edmonton game?
- Scoob

Blue Flu!

This was a bubble team going in and they have underachieved this year. Those D prospects need to develop and even if they do, by the time they do what scoring they have will be passed their peak. This team is a long way from serious contention. Berube certainly won't be around for that day but no coach was going to get that much more out of this team this year. They just aren't that good . . . . and they're cap strapped.