It will be interesting to see what Hexy does at the draft and in the off-season. If he goes after a pure center then perhaps he too sees Couturier as a 3rd line, shut-down guy who has some offensive pop. If they go after a couple of pure wingers, that would suggest he is comfortable with G-Couts-Laughton long term.
- TheGreat28

You dont draft guys based on just what you have on your team right now. If that were the case, they would be drafting 6 d-men.

If they draft a center, its because they hope at some point he can be an impact offensive player at some point. They dont draft and say... "Okay, this kid will take over the 2nd line center spot, and we can put Couts in the 3rd slot".

Also, many time players are drafted at one position and play an entirely different position at the NHL level.

It will be interesting to see what Hexy does at the draft and in the off-season. If he goes after a pure center then perhaps he too sees Couturier as a 3rd line, shut-down guy who has some offensive pop. If they go after a couple of pure wingers, that would suggest he is comfortable with G-Couts-Laughton long term.
- TheGreat28

They should go for BPA, regardless of position. Trades can be made if you end up with a glut of centers. If you think that the pure center is or will be a better player than the winger or defenseman, you take the pure center.

If the Flyers win the lottery, should Hextall pass over McDavid, if he does think Couturier can be a productive second line center?No, you take the best player available and then adjust if needed down the road.

You dont draft guys based on just what you have on your team right now. If that were the case, they would be drafting 6 d-men.

If they draft a center, its because they hope at some point he can be an impact offensive player at some point. They dont draft and say... "Okay, this kid will take over the 2nd line center spot, and we can put Couts in the 3rd slot".

Also, many time players are drafted at one position and play an entirely different position at the NHL level.
- jak521

I think that is completely true after the first round. If you are drafting a forward in the first round, especially high in the first round, there is an expectation that they will reach the NHL sooner rather than later.

Yes, some players can move around the lineup. Others can't. Half of our problem right now is drafting centers that are not comfortable on the wing. And drafting the BPA is great, but then you have to be prepared to trade that asset if they don't fit in your lineup.

If Hextall makes a huge push for Dylan Strome, for example, I think that would be pretty telling. Similarly, if he drafts Barzal or Zacha, especially over a Rantanen, Crouse, etc. it might also suggest that he's thinking there is a need at 2C.

They should go for BPA, regardless of position. Trades can be made if you end up with a glut of centers. If you think that the pure center is or will be a better player than the winger or defenseman, you take the pure center.

If the Flyers win the lottery, should Hextall pass over McDavid, if he does think Couturier can be a productive second line center?No, you take the best player available and then adjust if needed down the road.
- Jsaquella

They draft McDavid and Berube has him centering Rinaldo and VDV. In December, Berube commences ripping on McDavid because he should be scoring regardless of who his linemates are.

Barzal's the only pure center around where the Flyers are slated to pick. If they pick him then he'll be back in Junior for at least one more season.

I think that is completely true after the first round. If you are drafting a forward in the first round, especially high in the first round, there is an expectation that they will reach the NHL sooner rather than later.

Yes, some players can move around the lineup. Others can't. Half of our problem right now is drafting centers that are not comfortable on the wing. And drafting the BPA is great, but then you have to be prepared to trade that asset if they don't fit in your lineup.

If Hextall makes a huge push for Dylan Strome, for example, I think that would be pretty telling. Similarly, if he drafts Barzal or Zacha, especially over a Rantanen, Crouse, etc. it might also suggest that he's thinking there is a need at 2C.
- TheGreat28

I'd personally rate Barzal over Crouse and Rantanen. Zacha can play wing or center, and I'd rate Barzal ahead of him, too.

If he makes a puch for Strome, it's because he feels Strome is a really good player, not necessarily because he thinks Couturier can't be a 2C

They draft McDavid and Berube has him centering Rinaldo and VDV. In December, Berube commences ripping on McDavid because he should be scoring regardless of who his linemates are.
- MBFlyerfan

Hextall couldn't have been happy with Vinny's comments. He publicly put him in an obvious uncomfortable situation.

I'd personally rate Barzal over Crouse and Rantanen. Zacha can play wing or center, and I'd rate Barzal ahead of him, too.

If he makes a puch for Strome, it's because he feels Strome is a really good player, not necessarily because he thinks Couturier can't be a 2C
- Jsaquella

They draft McDavid and Berube has him centering Rinaldo and VDV. In December, Berube commences ripping on McDavid because he should be scoring regardless of who his linemates are.
- MBFlyerfan

Having watch this kid, he might be able to score with those linemates. Jesus, he's going to be good.

They should go for BPA, regardless of position. Trades can be made if you end up with a glut of centers. If you think that the pure center is or will be a better player than the winger or defenseman, you take the pure center.

If the Flyers win the lottery, should Hextall pass over McDavid, if he does think Couturier can be a productive second line center?No, you take the best player available and then adjust if needed down the road.
- Jsaquella

Honestly, who is the "best player" from this group: Marner, Strome, Hanifin, Provorov
Who is the best player from this group: Barzal, Werenski, Crouse, Zacha, Connor

Since there is no true statistical way to compare them, "BEST" is a very subjective term.

I think players loosely fall into tiers. As I just said, I do agree that in later rounds it is so hard to forecast if and when the player would even make the NHL, that you go with your scouting report.

But early on, you HAVE to take into account your organizational depth. This is the reason we have no homegrown defense on our roster today. The organization didn't realize you had to make defense a priority until a few years ago.

Hextall couldn't have been happy with Vinny's comments. He publicly put him in an obvious uncomfortable situation.
- 3flyerkids

Im guessing that was the point.

Berube's blunt-and somewhat nonsensical-criticisms of players yesterday afternoon sounded like a guy who was getting in his shots before he gets fired.

It's things like his comments about Couturier that leave me feeling he's not suited to be a head coach, at least at this point. He seems to gloss over that Couturier is handed the toughest defensive role in the NHL(in terms of zone starts and level of competition) and continues to not accept that such a workload is going to cut into a guy's production. He compared Couturier to a veteran star like Patrice Bergeron, which is hardly fair, given the age difference, and the fact that Bergeron didn't play as D-heavy a role.

He flat out ignored that Couturier had played with two injured/ineffective wingers for the bulk of the season, too. An assessment like that is like tying a ball and chain to a track star and then blaming him for not winning the race.
- Jsaquella

Every time Berube opens his mouth, I want him fired that much more. Both his comments regarding Couturier and Mason just had me shaking my head.

You take a 21 year old kid and stick him between a breaking down vet and another winger who is playing hurt for most of the season, force him to start a ridiculous number of shifts in the D zone and then wonder why he's not putting up Bergeron's numbers??? WTF?

Then, your star goalie, who Berube has given next to no credit or respect to all year, comes out and says that he'd like to be one of the team leaders next year, and you poop all over him. Again, WTF?? Goalies can't be leaders?? I guess no one has ever mentioned that to Roberto Luongo, Carey Price or Ryan Miller.

For crissakes Hexy, fire this clown today!

Hextall couldn't have been happy with Vinny's comments. He publicly put him in an obvious uncomfortable situation.
- 3flyerkids

Oh well. I hate the idea that because a guy signed a contract he should just "shut up and play"

The guy isnt happy. He is a fierce competitor. He has been extremely professional so far (over two seasons in his role now).

Having watch this kid, he might be able to score with those linemates. Jesus, he's going to be good.
- Jsaquella

I honestly think he would be our #1 center, if not by the end of the first year, definitely by the second.

Broobie is clueless. He's acting like a WIP caller.

I have to say that Vinny has handled this cluster(frank) extremely well. A player of his caliber (that is, a future hall of famer) getting (frank)ed over like this...he could easily have made it a distraction. And people would listen- not just in Philly. Props to him for keeping a level head. I think that speaks about him as a person.

Jake

Kimmo

MASON

Every time Berube opens his mouth, I want him fired that much more. Both his comments regarding Couturier and Mason just had me shaking my head.

You take a 21 year old kid and stick him between a breaking down vet and another winger who is playing hurt for most of the season, force him to start a ridiculous number of shifts in the D zone and then wonder why he's not putting up Bergeron's numbers??? WTF?

Then, your star goalie, who Berube has given next to no credit or respect to all year, comes out and says that he'd like to be one of the team leaders next year, and you poop all over him. Again, WTF?? Goalies can't be leaders?? I guess no one has ever mentioned that to Roberto Luongo, Carey Price or Ryan Miller.

For crissakes Hexy, fire this clown today!
- BiggE

Or Bernie Parent or that guy who Gretzky called the best goalie he ever faced...What was his name?

wow, tell us how you really feel, vinny...

Every time Berube opens his mouth, I want him fired that much more. Both his comments regarding Couturier and Mason just had me shaking my head.

You take a 21 year old kid and stick him between a breaking down vet and another winger who is playing hurt for most of the season, force him to start a ridiculous number of shifts in the D zone and then wonder why he's not putting up Bergeron's numbers??? WTF?

Then, your star goalie, who Berube has given next to no credit or respect to all year, comes out and says that he'd like to be one of the team leaders next year, and you poop all over him. Again, WTF?? Goalies can't be leaders?? I guess no one has ever mentioned that to Roberto Luongo, Carey Price or Ryan Miller.

For crissakes Hexy, fire this clown today!
- BiggE

has this (frank)face EVER said anything "right"?

Honestly, these are things Chief has said all season; mostly at the end of his pregame media availability (small group session separate from his post-morning skate availability to a generally much larger group of reporters). At the end of his late afternoon sessions, he frequently speaks candidly about things as the tape recorders are turned off.

What happened yesterday was that Berube simply took things he'd been saying quasi on/off record and laid it out for everyone. The Bergeron stuff, for instance, was specifically raised a few times.

Berube has a contentious relationship with one reporter in particular. That's where the testiest exchanges arose without Berube raising his voice. No doubt he felt he was being set up and responded sharply and emotionally while still trying to hold things together.

In regards to whether Couturier had the right linemates, Berube has said at times this season, although not yesterday-- "Look, good offensive players find ways to score. Period. Linemates aren't an excuse. Checking isn't an excuse -- battle through it."
- bmeltzer

I'm sorry, but Berube is flat out wrong. Linemates absolutely make a difference. Can anyone honestly look me in the eye and tell me that Claude Giroux puts up the same number this season if he is centering RJ Umberger and Zac Rinaldo all year? Give me a break.

Any chance Hexy is holding onto Berube as a play to force Vinny to retire?

Every time Berube opens his mouth, I want him fired that much more. Both his comments regarding Couturier and Mason just had me shaking my head.

You take a 21 year old kid and stick him between a breaking down vet and another winger who is playing hurt for most of the season, force him to start a ridiculous number of shifts in the D zone and then wonder why he's not putting up Bergeron's numbers??? WTF?

Then, your star goalie, who Berube has given next to no credit or respect to all year, comes out and says that he'd like to be one of the team leaders next year, and you poop all over him. Again, WTF?? Goalies can't be leaders?? I guess no one has ever mentioned that to Roberto Luongo, Carey Price or Ryan Miller.

For crissakes Hexy, fire this clown today!
- BiggE

Let's apply Berube logic to Berube:

Good coaches get their teams in the playoffs. Period. The players aren't an excuse. Injuries aren't an excuse -- battle through it.
- Feanor

Having watch this kid, he might be able to score with those linemates. Jesus, he's going to be good.
- Jsaquella

McDavid is so skilled that he could easily turn Rinaldo into a 15 point a year player.

Any chance Hexy is holding onto Berube as a play to force Vinny to retire?
- FrmRusiaWifGlov

I think there would be a mutual termination of the contract before he retires.

I also think he is a Flyer next October.