Read's 18 points in 51 games isn't that bad.

Raffl has 12 in 52 after scoring 28 in 67 last season. That's where the secondary scoring went.
- Feanor

It's not bad for what Bellemare makes.

Read makes north of $3mil, no?

Couturier and Schenn were playing well and providing consistent scoring together. Problem is they need a playmaking winger.

If you can add a Konecny to that line it should get better.

Raffl and Read on a 3rd line together would be ideal to provide good two way play and depth scoring.

The problem is the flyers lack talent and guys are playing in roles probably not suited for them.
- J35Bacher

Almost Jynx?

Couturier isn't that good?
- funmaster18

playing defense is something a 3rd/4th line player does to be a good 1st/2nd line leader you have to score as well

Neither one should have their number retired. I'd maybe retire Lindros, but that's it. I don't think anyone on the team right now warrants retiring. Giroux's the closest, but he's never been a top-5 guy at his position for a prolonged period (3-4 seasons) which the others (sans Ashbee) were.
- jmatchett383

Legit question, what do you think retirement requirements should be? Are there actual requirements or do the team leaders just agree on a decision? If G remains top 5 in scoring for a few more years would he warrant consideration? Whose on first?

I think Schenn and Couts together have looked like 2nd line players who are effective. If we could find another winger for them (Konecny?). In the blog from yesterday, I mentioned targeting Boedker. Maybe he could be a guy to bring to solidify our 2nd line
- arichardson22

i can think of much better players than boedker for out 2nd line

Garrison out 3-5 weeks in Tampa. Maybe Hextall can get something from them for Medvedev and take back Ohlund to make the cap work.
- Feanor

Give 'em AMAC

If anything at all is a cold bucket of water in the face, its the fact the Vinny is prospering with the Kings. I was his harshest distractor but he was put in a position to succeed with a deep team in a perfect role.

That only makes me shudder to think how shallow this teams depth really is, which Couterier's extended absence dumps another wakeup bucket on our faces...

They really have a long way to go and we are "discussing" 3rd and 4th liners....
Time for cryogenics for a year or two...
My liver wont take the other option..
- Steelmanpa

Meh, I don't sweat the Vinny thing. He was a bad fit here. That role he has in LA is not available here.

i can think of much better players than boedker for out 2nd line
- 2Real

Who?

Give 'em AMAC
- DaveofYork

You know that, after Hextall trades one or more d after the TDL, that AMac is going right back in the Flyers' top 6, right?

Still don't know how Propp and Kerr are in the HOF while Recchi isn't. I'm not taking anything away from those 2, but Recchi has the team record for points in a season and spent parts of 10 season with the team. As for Dave Schultz....
- jmatchett383

As much as I love both propp and Kerr, recchi was a better player. Kerr vs leclair is very close. I'm a romantic though, retire them all.

If anything at all is a cold bucket of water in the face, its the fact the Vinny is prospering with the Kings. I was his harshest distractor but he was put in a position to succeed with a deep team in a perfect role.

That only makes me shudder to think how shallow this teams depth really is, which Couterier's extended absence dumps another wakeup bucket on our faces...

They really have a long way to go and we are "discussing" 3rd and 4th liners....
Time for cryogenics for a year or two...
My liver wont take the other option..
- Steelmanpa

More for me then

@ mrbigglesworth

I don't know if amac really garners mentioning

id resign raffl and trade read ideally. Bc raffl will be much cheaper. But he is a UFA and I'm trading any UFA at the deadline

I'm keeping Mason. Neuvirth if he can come back and be the same goalie after injury will get us a lot at the deadline, the extra year in his contract is a plus in this case
- Just5

I'd try to resign Raffl as a UFA for 2 years at around 2.5m

I'd trade Read to a team like Buffalo for picks/prospects

Regarding Mason/Neuvirth; I'll keep them both for another yr since they both UFA soon. They are both a 27, both capable of getting hot streaks. On a better team, this tandem is capable of winning a cup even IMO.

i can think of much better players than boedker for out 2nd line
- 2Real

Like who?

What FA LW out there would be better?

alright nick cousins on the 2nd line the tank is on!
but seriously guys lets be real here schenn couturier and read just aren't that good and unless they have a resurgence they'll all be utility 2nd 3rd liners
- 2Real

Couturier has 16 points in his last 16 games. Check out the team's W-L-OT records with and without him. He's played Selke Trophy caliber as a two-way player this year, absorbing the toughest matchups of any center in the NHL this season and getting the better of most of them.

Not bad for a "utility 2nd/3rd liner"

He had 3 20-goal seasons (pro-rated 12/13 for 79 games), 2 of them after Jagr was gone. Also, he and Jagr were never linemates. His production has gone down, but he put up 30 points last year and is on pace for another mid-high 20 points this year. Please tell me how that is "glorified 4th liner."
- jmatchett383

glorified 3rd liner?

playing defense is something a 3rd/4th line player does to be a good 1st/2nd line leader you have to score as well
- 2Real

Didn't he have 15 pts in 16 games before getting injured?

Funny thing is that Voracek and Schenn have both been placed with him to try and get out of funks.

Couturier is a 2nd line center in this league and it was bad timing as he was finally pushing the play offensively before the injury.

If the Flyers beat Buffalo in regulation tonight, it will be their first regulation win this season without Couturier in 13 games.

glorified 3rd liner?
- mydoglicks

He's a 3rd liner. No glorified about it.

He is slightly overpaid, though.

My thoughts

Hextall - yes
LeClair - no
Giroux - too early to determine but leaning no right now
Recchi - no
- Scoob

This is where I sit on these retired numbers also. It takes a lot to get your number retired here. I like it that way. The Flyers Hall of Fame is for the greats but the retired numbers are the truly special Hall of Famers.

Couturier has 16 points in his last 16 games. Check out the team's W-L-OT records with and without him. He's played Selke Trophy caliber as a two-way player this year, absorbing the toughest matchups of any center in the NHL this season and getting the better of most of them.

Not bad for a "utility 2nd/3rd liner"
- bmeltzer

2real is an Elitiot™ Bill. Don't let it rattle ya

Couturier has 16 points in his last 16 games. Check out the team's W-L-OT records with and without him. He's played Selke Trophy caliber as a two-way player this year, absorbing the toughest matchups of any center in the NHL this season and getting the better of most of them.

Not bad for a "utility 2nd/3rd liner"
- bmeltzer

Totally agree.

I think he was finally putting it together and pushing the play offensively. If they resign Schenn and find a good playmaker for that line I think you'll see them be a consistent 2nd line.

Maybe Konecny if he were to make the roster and can play the left side.

glorified 3rd liner?
- mydoglicks

More like schlub

This is where I sit on these retired numbers also. It takes a lot to get your number retired here. I like it that way. The Flyers Hall of Fame is for the greats but the retired numbers are the truly special Hall of Famers.
- dragonoffrost

You want to retire Hextall's number? He wasn't even necessarily the best #27 in team history.

If you don't miss Couturier by now, watching Ryan O'Reilly run roughshod tonight should be enough to make you miss him.

Couturier and Schenn were playing well and providing consistent scoring together. Problem is they need a playmaking winger.

If you can add a Konecny to that line it should get better.

Raffl and Read on a 3rd line together would be ideal to provide good two way play and depth scoring.

The problem is the flyers lack talent and guys are playing in roles probably not suited for them.
- J35Bacher

I'd like to see them put one of Gagner, Weal or Cousins between these two to see if they can get a good 3rd line going.