Google doodle today is a playable Pony Express game
- Jsaquella

the horse yelled at me for crashing.

My issue really is not his usage per se.

1. I think that Couturier can score more with better wingers and more offensive opportunities. But I don't think it's exponential. I want a 2nd line that can truly take pressure off of G, that would be a threat to score whenever they're on the ice. I want a Danny Briere type line circa 2010. I don't see Couturier being that guy.

2. Even if he can assume more offensive responsibility, then there is likely to be a negative impact on Defense overall. In other words, start Couts more in the OZ and someone has to start less in the OZ and more in the DZ.

3. I don't think Laughton is as strong of a shut-down center as Couts. That is not a knock on Laughton. It's more a statement that Couturier is that good.

To me, the strongest lineup would be with an upgrade at 2C and Couturier in the 3C spot. I personally would take him at 3C over anyone in the league at this point.
- TheGreat28

I'm OK with most of that, but if the team wants Couturier to be the shut down guy, quit female doging about his production.

You can't play a developing 22 year old in the most defensive role in the NHL, and then complain that he's not scoring enough. You can't saddle him with injured and ineffective wingers and blame him for not creating offense. Yes, he can do better with the chances he gets, but at the same time, let's not act like he's getting plenty of offensive usage to produce more.

This 2nd line/3rd line thing is stupid anyway. The team should be looking at add forwards so they can just roll their top 3 lines freely without much thought. I don't believe teams should focus as much on forward match ups until the playoffs.

Couts can be a good middle six player no matter what you ask of him. Just don't expect him to produce a ton of points if you're going to use him like John Madden.
- PhillySportsGuy

This.
If the "3rd" line was Read-Cout_Schenn, would that be all that bad?

Then need a 2nd line left wing. someone with some speed and play making ability.

the horse yelled at me for crashing.

- MBFlyerfan

Me, too

I'm OK with most of that, but if the team wants Couturier to be the shut down guy, quit female doging about his production.

You can't play a developing 22 year old in the most defensive role in the NHL, and then complain that he's not scoring enough. You can't saddle him with injured and ineffective wingers and blame him for not creating offense. Yes, he can do better with the chances he gets, but at the same time, let's not act like he's getting plenty of offensive usage to produce more.
- Jsaquella

Yup.

Google doodle today is a playable Pony Express game
- Jsaquella

Better than a playable John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater game.

Better than a playable John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater game.
- tangent_man

When does the Oswald at Dealy Plaza game come out?

So this is factual?

What I know is that Couts had an injured Matt Read and a completely unproductive and injured RJ Umberger as line mates for the majority of the season, had one of the worst offensive/def zone discrepancies in the league, played on the 2nd PP unit, and yet still had 37 points.

So with Marchand and Smith, playing in a more offensively conducive situations, and getting top PP... you dont think he could have put up 15 more points? 2 extra points per month?
- jak521

No, it's not factual, it's my opinion. Bergeron is capable of scoring in that 70 point range. I think Bergeron is more skilled, and a better skater then Couturier is. I think if Bergeron didn't sacrifice offense for defense, he could be one of the higher scoring players in the league. I don't think Couturier has the same ability as Bergeron. I think if Couturier had an outstanding offensive season, he could maybe get in the 55-60 point range. In my opinion, that's about his max offensive potential.

Better than a playable John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater game.
- tangent_man

I always seem to break my leg when jumping off that balcony.....

When does the Oswald at Dealy Plaza game come out?
- BiggE

November 23, 2113. Gotta wait for the 150th anniversary.

The whole conditioning thing is just noise. We hear this same tired interview filler everytime a coach is hired, or a team has underperformed, or anything like that. Yawn.

I always seem to break my leg when jumping off that balcony.....
- MBFlyerfan

Watch that first step, it's a lulu.

And without that broken leg, we'd never have had the expression, "your name is Mudd."

Despite the usage that Couturier has had, you absolutely can look at his season, and see how even with the same usage, he can improve offensively. He has at times lacked confidence with the puck. He has a very good shot, use it more. He hesitated on many plays, and took himself out of a good scoring chance, or he passed when he should have shot the puck. There is plenty or room for improvement in his game, even if his usage stays exactly the same. Anyone who thinks it's about the coaches statements, is ignoring what actually happened on the ice. Yes, his usage will limit him offensively, but his usage doesn't remove the room for improvement as an individual player.

This.
If the "3rd" line was Read-Cout_Schenn, would that be all that bad?

Then need a 2nd line left wing. someone with some speed and play making ability.
- nails

I'm fine with Read-Couts-Schenn as a line. Call them whatever - 2nd, 3rd, 1st even.

For me the issue is more about the other line. First and foremost, I want their role to be a dynamic scoring line that takes pressure off of the 1st line.

Other than Simmonds, I really don't like any of the pieces on the current roster for this type of line. Laughton in my mind is not the creative, playmaker we need. He and Cousins are natural centers and I'm not interested in trying to move yet another center to wing. It's been said by Hextall and Berube that the organization views both as centers.

Other than Aube-Kubel, I don't see a lot of top 2 line talent in the organization.

Draft Barzal and trade a Laughton for a Brendan Perlini or comparable player, then in 2 years I'm happy.

I'm fine with Read-Couts-Schenn as a line. Call them whatever - 2nd, 3rd, 1st even.

For me the issue is more about the other line. First and foremost, I want their role to be a dynamic scoring line that takes pressure off of the 1st line.

Other than Simmonds, I really don't like any of the pieces on the current roster for this type of line. Laughton in my mind is not the creative, playmaker we need. He and Cousins are natural centers and I'm not interested in trying to move yet another center to wing. It's been said by Hextall and Berube that the organization views both as centers.

Other than Aube-Kubel, I don't see a lot of top 2 line talent in the organization.

Draft Barzal and trade a Laughton for a Brendan Perlini or comparable player, then in 2 years I'm happy.
- TheGreat28

Or we can just trade the original Laughton.

No, it's not factual, it's my opinion. Bergeron is capable of scoring in that 70 point range. I think Bergeron is more skilled, and a better skater then Couturier is. I think if Bergeron didn't sacrifice offense for defense, he could be one of the higher scoring players in the league. I don't think Couturier has the same ability as Bergeron. I think if Couturier had an outstanding offensive season, he could maybe get in the 55-60 point range. In my opinion, that's about his max offensive potential.
- MJL

I completely agree with just about everything you wrote. I think he would average around 50 points, slightly more or less in a year.

Ironically, with a little more balance throughout the lineup it might help his offensive production.

Or we can just trade the original Laughton.

- MBFlyerfan

Or we can dress Rinaldo in Laughton's uniform and trade him

Despite the usage that Couturier has had, you absolutely can look at his season, and see how even with the same usage, he can improve offensively. He has at times lacked confidence with the puck. He has a very good shot, use it more. He hesitated on many plays, and took himself out of a good scoring chance, or he passed when he should have shot the puck. There is plenty or room for improvement in his game, even if his usage stays exactly the same. Anyone who thinks it's about the coaches statements, is ignoring what actually happened on the ice. Yes, his usage will limit him offensively, but his usage doesn't remove the room for improvement as an individual player.
- MJL

I think he just lacks confidence as soon as the puck hits his stick. When he's playing defense he looks poised and ready to play, when he's got the puck in the offensive zone he looks jumpy, nervous, lacking confidence, questioning himself, etc. To me he looks like he has all the tools to become a solid offensive player. At times he looked really good holding off defenders and playing "keep away" with the puck, at times he seemed like he had a knack for setting up some nifty goals, he's looked good in front of the net a few times, he's looked good shooting the puck. But for the most part I think a lot of it is confidence.

Or we can dress Rinaldo in Laughton's uniform and trade him
- TheGreat28

Hextall for GM of the year!

No, it's not factual, it's my opinion. Bergeron is capable of scoring in that 70 point range. I think Bergeron is more skilled, and a better skater then Couturier is. I think if Bergeron didn't sacrifice offense for defense, he could be one of the higher scoring players in the league. I don't think Couturier has the same ability as Bergeron. I think if Couturier had an outstanding offensive season, he could maybe get in the 55-60 point range. In my opinion, that's about his max offensive potential.
- MJL

Cooter's multiple 90+ point seasons in juniors say hello

I think he just lacks confidence as soon as the puck hits his stick. When he's playing defense he looks poised and ready to play, when he's got the puck in the offensive zone he looks jumpy, nervous, lacking confidence, questioning himself, etc. To me he looks like he has all the tools to become a solid offensive player. At times he looked really good holding off defenders and playing "keep away" with the puck, at times he seemed like he had a knack for setting up some nifty goals, he's looked good in front of the net a few times, he's looked good shooting the puck. But for the most part I think a lot of it is confidence.
- benjichronic

The last ten games or so, after Schenn went on his wing, I think we started to see some of that.

Couts has good hands and a real good shot despite what some say. He isn't the fastest skater but he isn't as slow as his detractors say he is.

I'm hoping an off season without surgery (which he hasn't had the past two) will help him in his training. 50 points is not out of the question for him next season. Especially if he has a healthy Read and B Schenn on his wings.

Cooter's multiple 90+ point seasons in juniors say hello
- JFlyers00

Ian Laperriere scored 140 points in the Q, but never more than 45 points in the NHL. Lappy also said that Couts and Laughton in particular may need to carve out non-scoring roles in the NHL because minor-league success doesn't always translate.

Lappy is just one example. The Q routinely has players who are dynamic scorers but who never even make it in the league at all.

The last ten games or so, after Schenn went on his wing, I think we started to see of that.

Couts has good hands and a real good shot despite what some say. He isn't the fastest skater but he isn't as slow as his detractors say he is.

I'm hoping an off season without surgery (which he hasn't had the past two) will help him in his training. 50 points is not out of the question for him next season. Especially if he has a healthy Read and B Schenn on his wings.
- MBFlyerfan

I'm expecting a lot more positives from all 3 of them next year. 50 pts is not at all out of question for him. I'm gonna guess if he does put up 50 pts it will look something more along the lines of 15g and 35a. If he can condition, put a little more muscle on his frame, and work a tad bit on his speed, I think it would pay off in dividends for him.

I think he just lacks confidence as soon as the puck hits his stick. When he's playing defense he looks poised and ready to play, when he's got the puck in the offensive zone he looks jumpy, nervous, lacking confidence, questioning himself, etc. To me he looks like he has all the tools to become a solid offensive player. At times he looked really good holding off defenders and playing "keep away" with the puck, at times he seemed like he had a knack for setting up some nifty goals, he's looked good in front of the net a few times, he's looked good shooting the puck. But for the most part I think a lot of it is confidence.
- benjichronic

I don't think anybody is saying Couturier can't improve his own game. In fact pretty much every post about his usage also mentions he needs to take better advantage of the chances he does get.

Say he cashes in on 10 of the chances he flubbed or failed to execute. That gives him ten more points. That takes him to 47 points last year. Increase his offensive usage, maybe that gives him another 10 points, simply not being used in such a heavy defense first manner.

I was playing around with a mock draft and it shook out with us taking Barzal and Beauvillier