PC Principal will protect us
- KINGKENZO

lol the pc crowd got us into this mess

If the Flyers are not in a playoff race at the deadline, I would trade both Luke Schenn and Gagner. I would not lose them for nothing. I would not trade Raffl, unless the return was too good to pass up. I would also trade Read and Streit.
- MJL

But what would be the return for Raffl or Streit?

For sure the attacks will get worse because of all the refugees fleeing Syria.
- 2Real

wat

Just a general thought. G and Jake...do they work well together 5 vs 5 or are they just the 2 best forwards that are put on the top line? It's been awhile since they have looked consistently dominant together.

At what point does the GM blow up this team and begin making trades?

At what point does the GM blow up this team and begin making trades?
- sanfrand

Well it's going to come soon. I think the biggest question is what they decide to do with Giroux

At what point does the GM blow up this team and begin making trades?
- sanfrand

when he finds a GM willing to trade with him

Well it's going to come soon. I think the biggest question is what they decide to do with Giroux
- Just5

we should keep giroux his play style will last him into his 30s he's not a big physical banger that needs his legs/body to be effective

Well it's going to come soon. I think the biggest question is what they decide to do with Giroux
- Just5

There is no reason to not still build around him. That starts with the fact they need to bite the bullet and get him and Jake a legit LW and get a playmaker on line 2 to help reduce the pressure on line 1.

I feel like Voracek is doing all the right things. He'll score. Eventually.
- johndewar

Wrong, Voracek is not doing the things that need to be done to score. For 1, he needs to get to the front of the net and battle for pucks. 2. Find a better team to play on!!!

There is no reason to not still build around him. That starts with the fact they need to bite the bullet and get him and Jake a legit LW and get a playmaker on line 2 to help reduce the pressure on line 1.
- hereticpride

I personally would concentrate on building up the talent on the lower lines, and the defense. In my opinion, Raffl is fine as the LW on the top line.

But what would be the return for Raffl or Streit?
- goenzoy

Draft picks or prospects.

Just a general thought. G and Jake...do they work well together 5 vs 5 or are they just the 2 best forwards that are put on the top line? It's been awhile since they have looked consistently dominant together.
- Just5

They have never been a great even strength pairing in terms of scoring. They're elite together more so based on their power play work. Points wise at evens, even in their seasons prior to this one, they were never a dominant pair in the production standpoint. It's why quite a few people have been clamoring for splitting them for a while now. They're both individually very good players capable of carrying a line, but it's not as if they rack up so many points together that the idea of splitting them is laughable. I still want Jake with Coots.

Conner and Martel with 1st period goals. LV won the shot battle big.

After 1

Rochester - 0

LV - 2

They have never been a great even strength pairing in terms of scoring. They're elite together more so based on their power play work. Points wise at evens, even in their seasons prior to this one, they were never a dominant pair in the production standpoint. It's why quite a few people have been clamoring for splitting them for a while now. They're both individually very good players capable of carrying a line, but it's not as if they rack up so many points together that the idea of splitting them is laughable. I still want Jake with Coots.
- Mononoke

Doing that not only gives Couturier a winger that can drive play and produce offense, it gives a shot to Simmonds to play with Giroux, and see if he can produce more with an elite playmaking center.

Doing that not only gives Couturier a winger that can drive play and produce offense, it gives a shot to Simmonds to play with Giroux, and see if he can produce more with an elite playmaking center.
- Jsaquella

I don't think Simmonds is a great ES player, but playing him with Coots does him no favors. They both aren't fleet of foot and are not slick players. They both excel in front and behind the net and in winning board battles, though Coots is a much better passer. They've actually been a terrific possession line since Coots came back, but they don't do much with it because they both need someone with greater speed and puck skills.

I really really want them split. They're still not scoring -- try it. They haven't tried it yet with Coots in the lineup, and only did for like 2 periods anyway. It's not like anyone is doing so well right now it can't be given a go....

Doing that not only gives Couturier a winger that can drive play and produce offense, it gives a shot to Simmonds to play with Giroux, and see if he can produce more with an elite playmaking center.
- Jsaquella

Why not try it for awhile. I thought Coots was terrible when they briefly tried it last year. See what this year brings

I don't think Simmonds is a great ES player, but playing him with Coots does him no favors. They both aren't fleet of foot and are not slick players. They both excel in front and behind the net and in winning board battles, though Coots is a much better passer. They've actually been a terrific possession line since Coots came back, but they don't do much with it because they both need someone with greater speed and puck skills.

I really really want them split. They're still not scoring -- try it. They haven't tried it yet with Coots in the lineup, and only did for like 2 periods anyway. It's not like anyone is doing so well right now it can't be given a go....
- Mononoke

With the way that Voracek is struggling, why not make the change and see what happens? There's no doubt that the 2nd line needs a playmaker with speed, and Simmonds could improve playing with Giroux.

I don't think Simmonds is a great ES player, but playing him with Coots does him no favors. They both aren't fleet of foot and are not slick players. They both excel in front and behind the net and in winning board battles, though Coots is a much better passer. They've actually been a terrific possession line since Coots came back, but they don't do much with it because they both need someone with greater speed and puck skills.

I really really want them split. They're still not scoring -- try it. They haven't tried it yet with Coots in the lineup, and only did for like 2 periods anyway. It's not like anyone is doing so well right now it can't be given a go....
- Mononoke

Give it 5-10 games. It can't be any worse than the current mess...maybe get Gagner with Giroux and Simmonds, or even put Schenn on the RW with Giroux & Gagner

Give it 5-10 games. It can't be any worse than the current mess
- Jsaquella

Funny part is the 24-14-17 line has actually done fantastic possession wise since being assembled. Eye test says I see them controlling o zone time and forechecking better than any other line. Even last night they eliminated the Ovi line for the most part. But there is just something missing for scoring and I think it's speed and skill. Read is playing fantastic two way, and that's why they're possessing the puck so well too, but for scoring, they need more -- they need someone who can singlehandedly lead a top 6 line offensively. Flyers only have two of those guys. At least it'll give me a reason to be excited to watch a game to see how the experiment works

Funny part is the 24-14-17 line has actually done fantastic possession wise since being assembled. Eye test says I see them controlling o zone time and forechecking better than any other line. Even last night they eliminated the Ovi line for the most part. But there is just something missing for scoring and I think it's speed and skill. Read is playing fantastic two way, and that's why they're possessing the puck so well too, but for scoring, they need more -- they need someone who can singlehandedly lead a top 6 line offensively. Flyers only have two of those guys. At least it'll give me a reason to be excited to watch a game to see how the experiment works
- Mononoke

Yeah, they do. Hakstol has options. Not all of them look great on paper, but the options exist.

i wonder if they've given up on Schenn as a C. I'd like to toy with Laughton as a LW, maybe in the top 6.

The kids turning it up now Cousins has a 3 pt night so far. Rochester put 16 shots on Stolarz who got all but 1. Ghost has 6 pts in 5 2/3 November games.

After 2

Rochester - 1

LV - 5

Yeah, they do. Hakstol has options. Not all of them look great on paper, but the options exist.

i wonder if they've given up on Schenn as a C. I'd like to toy with Laughton as a LW, maybe in the top 6.
- Jsaquella

Just so long as I never have to see Vinny in any combination, Hakstol can go all mad scientist for all I care. I think it could help Laughton's game playing wing and not having to do as much -- his skating would certainly come in handy.

It just doesnt work having the following and its not hard to figure out whats wrong with this team:

1. Voracek with no goals
2. Raffl 14th on the team in scoring..
3. Couturier with 3 points
4. Simmonds a -11 with only 2 goals
6. Leading MINS person in DelZotto with 1 point.
7. Couturier and Raffl being tied for points with White and VDV while be outscored by L Schenn and Umberger.

Let items 1 and 7 sink in..2/3 of your first line and your second line center are not producing , no way to get past that until it changes.

That is the brutal reality of the Flyers forwards..It's wonderful that Voracek produced last year. It's great that Couturier has good possession numbers or that Simmonds has had a good few years none of them are producing and they are too important to the overall health of the team.

The kids turning it up now Cousins has a 3 pt night so far. Rochester put 16 shots on Stolarz who got all but 1. Ghost has 6 pts in 5 2/3 November games.

After 2

Rochester - 1

LV - 5
- Just5

Martel has me excited. His skating is simply awesome, and I hope he can be the Flyers's own Lilliputian skill guy.

If anyone knows from watching a lot of Phantoms games, do you think Cousins could step in and already be an NHL quality bottom six player right now? Is there something he has to work on?...because his offensive stats say he doesn't have much to prove in that facet