Would you actively try to move him, though?

That is the question I ask
- AllInForFlyers

I wouldn't be pushing him a la Hartnell, but I'd let it be known that he was moveable.

Stupid road games.
- wolfhounds

1) Silly coach not figuring out how to maximize his roster. Splitting 28 & 93 would give 1 of them relief from opposing D & checking lines when on the road.
2) Playing Raffl on top line every time he was in the lineup over B. Schenn would've been smart.
3) Not trotting out a useless Umberger on PP & putting Raffl there would've been better.
4) Not poopcanning MDZ to the press box in December would been smart.
5) Not forcing the goalie to play while not 100% would've been smarter.
6) Of course, having Hartnell over Umberger would've helped too.
7) Playing Rinaldo less minutes than his skilled players would've been smart.
8) Trying B. Schenn at RW a lot sooner would've been smart. Smart coaches figure this stuff out sooner, like Neilson with playing Gagne at LW.
9) Playing Couturier less tough minutes would've been better, but it was made difficult because Hexy let Adam Hall walk. However, Laughton could've taken that slot until White was healthy.
10) Using Jason Akeson where he succeeded with Couts & making Read sit out his injury would've been better; that's a coach, GM, & player combo error.

I'm not even going to go into injuries because they happen. A better coach would've had this team in the playoffs and they have a goalie that can steal games. Of course, he probably would've been Megna'd again in 1 of the 2 April Pittsburgh games without penalty.

OT, but I'm really hoping that Calgary makes it. My ideal scenario in the WC is Winnipeg falling apart and LA sneaking in, but I'd love to see them try to make some noise vs. Vancouver.
- jmatchett383

LA-Calgary, is that tomorrow? That game will be just as nuts as Pens-Send last night

Totally agree. I also like Couturier and Schenn together. There seems to be chemistry and them together could be a catalyst for Couturier's offensive game.
- pbizz1e

Read also has no issue sliding to the LW and when healthy is a sniper. That's a good combination with Schenn's forecheck & space-making and Couturier's playmaking ability. Sure wish somebody had stumbled onto this a lot sooner.

LA-Calgary, is that tomorrow? That game will be just as nuts as Pens-Send last night
- AllInForFlyers

It is (@ Calgary). Even with a win, LA still loses the tiebreak, and Winnipeg would be one point up on them for the last WC spot.

Agreed. Wasn't it argued that he was kind of a reach and a bit of a project?
- johndewar

Not a slam dunk, but given his tools and filling an area of need, I doubt anybody had to twist any arms to get that selection through committee.




Domi and Morrissey would have been less safe picks there.

I wouldn't be pushing him a la Hartnell, but I'd let it be known that he was moveable.
- jmatchett383

I swear, that kid frustrates me like no other

15-30, no team is better.

1-15, they're typical.
- Tomahawk

I hope you aren't as picky when your wife makes dinner

Totally agree. I also like Couturier and Schenn together. There seems to be chemistry and them together could be a catalyst for Couturier's offensive game.
- pbizz1e

Couturier is the guy I don't need to be talked into. I've seen enough from him to know that his problem is almost purely usage.

Also, you can't teach height, reach, etc. He could probably even stand to fill out a little more.

Not a slam dunk, but given his tools and filling an area of need, I doubt anybody had to twist any arms to get that selection through committee.




Domi and Morrissey would have been less safe picks there.
- Tomahawk

For as good as Max Domi is, I wouldn't be upset if someone cross checked him in the mouth, broke his jaw and knocked every tooth in his mouth out.

Read also has no issue sliding to the LW and when healthy is a sniper. That's a good combination with Schenn's forecheck & space-making and Couturier's playmaking ability. Sure wish somebody had stumbled onto this a lot sooner.
- Flyskippy

This! Its working w/those three together. Problem is... Read isn't a top 6 winger and Schenn isn't better than Simmonds (RW). So could B Schenn play LW w/Couturier at center and Simmonds at RW.? If so, you need a top line LW w/a third line of Raffle, Laughton, and Read. I like that lineup. Its not bad at all.

Would you actively try to move him, though?

That is the question I ask
- AllInForFlyers

No. But I wouldn't hang up if someone asked about him.

It is (@ Calgary). Even with a win, LA still loses the tiebreak, and Winnipeg would be one point up on them for the last WC spot.
- jmatchett383

It's gonna be really hard form the Kings to thread the needle on this one, smells like

This! Its working w/those three together. Problem is... Read isn't a top 6 winger and Schenn isn't better than Simmonds (RW). So could B Schenn play LW w/Couturier at center and Simmonds at RW.? If so, you need a top line LW w/a third line of Raffle, Laughton, and Read. I like that lineup. Its not bad at all.
- pbizz1e

So we just need to go get a top-line LW with ~$0 cap space?

I swear, that kid frustrates me like no other
- AllInForFlyers

Not his deployment?

So we just need to go get a top-line LW with ~$0 cap space?
- jmatchett383

There in lies the problem. Unless they can draft a kid that can step right into the NHL as either a first or third line LW. Which is unlikely. The more I think about it, trading Hartnell really hurts.

"Open a Tim Horton's, eh?"
- jmatchett383

Reminds me of the fake Canadians in Dumb & Dumber To.

So we just need to go get a top-line LW with ~$0 cap space?
- jmatchett383

We have one. Raffl. He scored 21 so far this year despite poor usage, illness, and injury with no real PP time.

Couturier is the guy I don't need to be talked into. I've seen enough from him to know that his problem is almost purely usage.

Also, you can't teach height, reach, etc. He could probably even stand to fill out a little more.
- johndewar

Only 22. That can happen, but you don't want him so big that his one weakness (skating) is hurt more.

Couturier is the guy I don't need to be talked into. I've seen enough from him to know that his problem is almost purely usage.

Also, you can't teach height, reach, etc. He could probably even stand to fill out a little more.
- johndewar

Steal Brindy back from the Canes and make him strength coach/assistant coach. Maybe he could fix the PK while he's at it (see ya Lappy).

We have one. Raffl. He scored 21 so far this year despite poor usage, illness, and injury with no real PP time.
- Flyskippy

I'm not disagreeing, just that, with the lines as stated, your glaring need is a top-line LW, which would run you ~$5M+ on the market.

Not his deployment?
- Flyskippy

I think Schenn got plenty of chances with favorable starts and linemates, and he just looked brutal for extended stretches. I think his deployment was pretty good for an offensive player.

If someone tells me, "He is now comfortable at RW, so let's let it ride," ok, I am listening.

But I think it is fair to say that at LW, it would be hard to trust him just based on how he played

I'm not disagreeing, just that, with the lines as stated, your glaring need is a top-line LW, which would run you ~$5M+ on the market.
- jmatchett383

So is there a LW in the draft that could step in a 3rd line LW bumping Raffl to the top line? Its really the only way I see it working.

Steal Brindy back from the Canes and make him strength coach/assistant coach. Maybe he could fix the PK while he's at ti (see ya Lappy).
- Feanor

Get Brindy, Gary Roberts, and Richards Simmonds, put them into some sort of person combining machine, and emerge with the best fitness trainer in sports history!

Maybe you can put Billy Blanks in there, too.

So is there a LW in the draft that could step in a 3rd line LW bumping Raffl to the top line? Its really the only way I see it working.
- pbizz1e

The only highly-ranked pure LW is Lawson Crouse, and I have absolutely no desire to draft Alex Tuch him.