Hmmmm. Time to widen the nets.
- Just5

More goals = better hockey

Did I say anything about any of the other guys on the 2nd unit? Nope...simply an illustration of his inability to finish, but since you asked when Umberger has more PP goals there's an issue!
- aantny88

I didn't say you did say anything about any of the other guys on the 2nd unit? I asked a simple question. What are the point totals of the other players, who are on the 2nd unit. That's relevant information when looking at Couturier's PP point production. For the record, I don't think Couturier is that good of a PP player at this point.

Im not sure what the next step is, but a few more years like this and there will certainly be change.
- jak521

Eliminate the blue lines

Eliminate the blue lines
- jmatchett383

Make the goalies play blindfolded

More goals = better hockey
- jmatchett383

And somewhere, out in the big ol' universe, Arturs Irbe reads this and weeps.

We have touched on this many times here. As fans, a lot of times we just assume guys around the league can score points at will and what not. In reality, 50 points in the NHL puts you in the top 10% in the league. Thats pretty impressive stuff.
- jak521

Kyle Turris is one of those guys who didn't get in to the 50-60 range till he got into his mid 20s. Arizona can't feel great about giving up on him for Runblad.

Dammit Walter, you weren't even IN Vietnam!
- BiggE

The 2C spot this year was the biggest black hole in the forward group this year. Look at the production around the league. B Schenn was not a center this year. Our 1C is 70 pts and 2C is 30 pts right now

Kyle Turris is one of those guys who didn't get in to 50-60 range till he got into his mid 20s. Arizona can't feel great about giving up on him for Runblad.
- Feanor

I think too many of us have grown up playing EA NHL and fully believe that by this point in their careers, based upon their potential scores, Couturier should be an 87 and B. Schenn a 92 overall.

Due to injuries...there are more 60 point capable centers in the league than 22

And I'm looking at the situation through the eyes of a Cup Contender. I want my 2nd line center capable of providing 60 pts a year. We shouldn't have to settle for less if we are building a contender.
- Just5

Look back at the last 5 seasons, and get an average of how many centers score 60 or more points in an NHL season.

How many 60 point 2nd line centers are there in the NHL?

Luke out for the rest of the season?


http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=735111

The 2C spot this year was the biggest black hole in the forward group this year. Look at the production around the league. B Schenn was not a center this year. Our 1C is 70 pts and 2C is 30 pts right now
- Just5

The biggest weakness of this forward corps is LW. Add a play making LW that is an offensive catalyst, with some speed, and this team will score more.

I'm not reading this right now, I'll wait for the trilogy and buy the box set.
- jmatchett383

Ok, here is the Spark Notes version:

- offensive players take more risks. Risks come at a cost which often ends up in the back of the net
- Couturier is risk-averse.
- Putting him with more offensive wingers won't necessarily change his mindset. Actually, he may even overcompensate to prevent said goals.
- So you might not significantly improve his trajectory as an offensive player.
- Overall there's a good chance you just weaken the defense on the team.

Since the 2006-07 season Patrice Bergeron's highest point total is 64. Since that season he's had more non-20 goal full seasons than 30 goal seasons(2-1)
- Jsaquella

Yeah - I don't want to move Couturier but I would like to have a more offensively gifted 2nd line center - cutting Couturier's minutes down a notch is all.

Look back at the last 5 seasons, and get an average of how many centers score 60 or more points in an NHL season.

How many 60 point 2nd line centers are there in the NHL?
- MJL

What would be more accurate...is to go back and see how many centers are on a 60 pt/season pace. I would count every center who played 41 games

Luke out for the rest of the season?


http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=735111
- MBFlyerfan

Saw this at same time you did

If Couturier was a 2nd round draft pick we would have no issue with his development. The fact that not only was he a high 1st round pick, but he was also traded for a 2 time stanley cup champ makes his development worrisome.

- Jsaquella

It's down there somewhere, let me have another look

Luke out for the rest of the season?


http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=735111
- MBFlyerfan

More Beru-flu?

Saw this at same time you did
- Jsaquella

As I said over at the other place. I would like to see them give Hagg a taste for a game or two. Nothing to lose at all. Maybe give Alt a game or two as well. Rotate em up, let em see what they need to do to stay.

I wouldn't be stunned if they ended up signing 5 or 6 guys out of that 2014 draft class to ELCs. Already have three (Sanheim, Aube-Kubel & Pitbull) Could see Lindblom, Fazleev & Friedman getting deals in future
- Jsaquella

Totally agree, and that is part of tomorrow's blog. The day after the draft ended, Craig Button graded Philly's draft as an "A", and thus far the early signs are that he could be proven right

From the 2013 draft class, Morin, Hägg and now Goulbourne are under ELCs. Too early to make final determinations on all those college-committed guys they drafted in later rounds (Amorosa, Drake, Madsen) but none currently seem on that track.

From the 2012 draft class (Laughton, Stolarz, Leier), Reese Willcox will need to take more strides from his junior to senior year than he took from sophomore to junior year to get an ELC. Vasiliev at present is an average young KHL D-man and perhaps more likely than not won't get an ELC here at his current rate.

The Flyers will have to make a decision on Michael Parks after UND's run in Frozen Four is completed one way or another.

Ok, here is the Spark Notes version:

- offensive players take more risks. Risks come at a cost which often ends up in the back of the net
- Couturier is risk-averse.
- Putting him with more offensive wingers won't necessarily change his mindset. Actually, he may even overcompensate to prevent said goals.
- So you might not significantly improve his trajectory as an offensive player.
- Overall there's a good chance you just weaken the defense on the team.
- TheGreat28

There's a flip side to that. Remove Couturier from the role he's been in his entire career, play him in a normal deployment of a 2nd line center, with the right mix of linemates. Add a more traditional 3rd line center, maybe that's Laughton at some point, to take a lot of the checking responsibilities, and you've become a better offensive team, as well as being a better defensive team, because you have a solid 2 way second line center, who is good defensively, playing on the 2nd line.

What would be more accurate...is to go back and see how many centers are on a 60 pt/season pace. I would count every center who played 41 games
- Just5

60/82 = 0.73. This season it looks there's only about 30 centers. Crosby is 1st at 1.11 P/GP. Bergeron is 30th at 0.71.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...tsPerGame&viewName=points

More Beru-flu?
- TheGreat28

Wish Giroux, Jake and Mason would catch the flu. 0-6-0 baby!

Ok, here is the Spark Notes version:

- offensive players take more risks. Risks come at a cost which often ends up in the back of the net
- Couturier is risk-averse.
- Putting him with more offensive wingers won't necessarily change his mindset. Actually, he may even overcompensate to prevent said goals.
- So you might not significantly improve his trajectory as an offensive player.
- Overall there's a good chance you just weaken the defense on the team.
- TheGreat28

So how do we trade him for McDavid?