I was just wondering about this myself...he's 3rd in scoring on the team, but makes less than half of what Jake and G do, he fights and plays with an edge. Trust me, I love what Simmer brings to the team. It just seems like if you make a lot of money and aren't scoring enough, that some fans think you "owe" them something. G and Jake are paid 8 million + per season because they were both top point producers in the league for a few years. Especially G...no one had more points in the league than he did over the last 5 years until this season. Everyone seems to forget that because he's having a down year for whatever reason and his point totals have dropped.

G has ramped up his game lately and has been very noticeable for the last few weeks. His career best is only 28 goals, so I'm unsure what people are expecting. He's a pass first player...always has been always will be. Problem is, so is Voracek, only he's not as good at it. The whole damn team is having down years when it comes to scoring, especially 5 on 5...maybe there is something to be said for that.
- aantny88

Hmmmmmmm.

It's just a bias because people love Simmonds. He's always been a guy that collects most of his points on the PP. He's very good in front of the net and that's a valuable asset. He's just not a game changer at even strength. He never really has been. He's probably better than Schenn at even strength, but not by a lot.

Over the past 3 years

ESP/60
Schenn 1.45
Simmonds 1.52

Simmonds has the slight edge in possession too.
- PhillySportsGuy

talent wise....Schenn probably has more, but Simmonds makes up for it with a more consistent effort.

Filppula is a pretty darn good player.
- MJL

He sure as hell is! I don't agree with all of what Hexy has done, but I think Flip has been a solid pick up.

in 221 career games, Bellemare has 25 even strength points
in 73 career games, Laughton has 21 even strength points

talent wise....Schenn probably has more, but Simmonds makes up for it with a more consistent effort.
- landros 2

Schenn does give effort. He's just not good at even strength. He never has been.

I don't understand why people seem to think because a guy isn't good means he's not giving effort.

in 221 career games, Bellemare has 25 even strength points
in 73 career games, Laughton has 21 even strength points
- PhillySportsGuy

He doesn't kill penalties though...oh wait, how many goals has that stellar PK unit allowed in the last 2 games? Guess 78 is part of the untouchables with, 76, 47 and our recently resigned goalie.

I was just wondering about this myself...he's 3rd in scoring on the team, but makes less than half of what Jake and G do, he fights and plays with an edge. Trust me, I love what Simmer brings to the team. It just seems like if you make a lot of money and aren't scoring enough, that some fans think you "owe" them something. G and Jake are paid 8 million + per season because they were both top point producers in the league for a few years. Especially G...no one had more points in the league than he did over the last 5 years until this season. Everyone seems to forget that because he's having a down year for whatever reason and his point totals have dropped.

G has ramped up his game lately and has been very noticeable for the last few weeks. His career best is only 28 goals, so I'm unsure what people are expecting. He's a pass first player...always has been always will be. Problem is, so is Voracek, only he's not as good at it. The whole damn team is having down years when it comes to scoring, especially 5 on 5...maybe there is something to be said for that.
- aantny88

G has not had a great year.....But I'm not ready to write him off just yet. To me he can still be a 65 point guy. Hopefully he proves me right next year....It may take a different look on his line like your suggesting.

He doesn't kill penalties though...oh wait, how many goals has that stellar PK unit allowed in the last 2 games? Guess 78 is part of the untouchables with, 76, 47 and our recently resigned goalie.
- aantny88

It's fine being a good defensive player at even strength, but if you never really score, you'll just end up being a net negative anyway.

And yeah, the PK hasn't been good. It's annoying they won't upgrade an area that can easily be upgraded.

It's just a bias because people love Simmonds. He's always been a guy that collects most of his points on the PP. He's very good in front of the net and that's a valuable asset. He's just not a game changer at even strength. He never really has been. He's probably better than Schenn at even strength, but not by a lot.

Over the past 3 years

ESP/60
Schenn 1.45
Simmonds 1.52

Simmonds has the slight edge in possession too.
- PhillySportsGuy

Simmonds looks and acts much cooler.

Schenn does give effort. He's just not good at even strength. He never has been.

I don't understand why people seem to think because a guy isn't good means he's not giving effort.
- PhillySportsGuy

I just think some nights he doesn't get physically engaged....when he's not scoring, it's more noticeable.

Schenn does give effort. He's just not good at even strength. He never has been.

I don't understand why people seem to think because a guy isn't good means he's not giving effort.
- PhillySportsGuy

You make good points, with respect to comparing Schenn and Simmonds, but Schenn came here with expectations that Simmonds didn't have.

Whether that is fair or not is another debate.

G has not had a great year.....But I'm not ready to write him off just yet. To me he can still be a 65 point guy. Hopefully he proves me right next year....It may take a different look on his line like your suggesting.
- landros 2

I refuse to write him off at this point...I do think the World Cup has negatively impacted his season, and I'm almost willing to guarantee he has some nagging injury we'll find out about once the season is over.

Trade Read/Schenn
Let Vandevelde go to FA
Trade Del Zotto
Resign Schultz on the cheap
Trade/sign a true top line left winger
Trade/sign Bishop/Fleury
- Streit2ThePoint

can you imagine

It's fine being a good defensive player at even strength, but if you never really score, you'll just end up being a net negative anyway.

And yeah, the PK hasn't been good. It's annoying they won't upgrade an area that can easily be upgraded.
- PhillySportsGuy

I almost feel as though it's Hakstol's way of dignifying keeping 78 and 76 in the lineup...he puts them on the PK, even though they aren't very good at that and don't do a damn thing otherwise. Read can be used on the PK, so can Flip, hell G used to be out there too. At least those 3 give you a chance at doing something offensive while shorthanded.

I refuse to write him off at this point...I do think the World Cup has negatively impacted his season, and I'm almost willing to guarantee he has some nagging injury we'll find out about once the season is over.
- aantny88

Then can't that be the same rational for Couturier when he struggles?

I just think some nights he doesn't get physically engaged....when he's not scoring, it's more noticeable.
- landros 2

That's because he isn't a good 200 foot player! His sole contribution to the team is scoring-mostly on the PP. When he's not scoring, he's not going to help the team.

You make good points, with respect to comparing Schenn and Simmonds, but Schenn came here with expectations that Simmonds didn't have.

Whether that is fair or not is another debate.
- johndewar

Well then you're basically admitting to not giving fair evaluations of players

I almost feel as though it's Hakstol's way of dignifying keeping 78 and 76 in the lineup...he puts them on the PK, even though they aren't very good at that and don't do a damn thing otherwise. Read can be used on the PK, so can Flip, hell G used to be out there too. At least those 3 give you a chance at doing something offensive while shorthanded.
- aantny88

I think it's just years of doing things a certain way. Coaches generally like low event players. They feel a 2-1 loss is a better played game than a 5-4 loss.

Thought Del Zotto had his first rough game since the TDL last night, though I didn't see much in Buffalo.

It took Hakstol way too long to realise his bottom 2 lines were not meshing and make the obvious adjustment of switching Cousins and Konecny. I'd take it a step further and put TK and Jake back with Couturier.

Filppula continues to look like one of the better players on the team. Great move Hexy.

Next game I go with:

Weal-Giroux-Simmonds
Konecny-Couturier-Voracek
Schenn-Filppula-Weise
Vandevelde-Bellemare-Lyubimov

VV only because it's not realistic otherwise.

I'll take the blame for that one guys. I am 0-2 this year
- YuenglingJagr

How was your visit to the HHOF?

Thought Del Zotto had his first rough game since the TDL last night, though I didn't see much in Buffalo.

It took Hakstol way too long to realise his bottom 2 lines were not meshing and make the obvious adjustment of switching Cousins and Konecny. I'd take it a step further and put TK and Jake back with Couturier.

Filppula continues to look like one of the better players on the team. Great move Hexy.

Next game I go with:

Weal-Giroux-Simmonds
Konecny-Couturier-Voracek
Schenn-Filppula-Weise
Vandevelde-Bellemare-Lyubimov

VV only because it's not realistic otherwise.
- Baxter27

you broke up the two lines that looked good recently

10-51-93 and 25-14-24

Then can't that be the same rational for Couturier when he struggles?
- J35Bacher

When did I mention Couturier or his piss poor performance this season? I didn't, but since you mention it, when he leads the league in points 5 years running and is a Hart trophy nominee, then I'll cut him some slack. Actually I'd settle for him hitting the 50 point mark and being a Selke nominee...too bad he isn't even in that stratosphere.

When did I mention Couturier or his piss poor performance this season? I didn't, but since you mention it, when he leads the league in points 5 years running and is a Hart trophy nominee, then I'll cut him some slack. Actually I'd settle for him hitting the 50 point mark and being a Selke nominee...too bad he isn't even in that stratosphere.
- aantny88

God damn how many times is this going to be used. Great. He had numbers.

And I wasn't just saying you. But it seems people look for reasons to cut slack to others but Couturier just sucks.

God damn how many times is this going to be used. Great. He had numbers.

And I wasn't just saying you. But it seems people look for reasons to cut slack to others but Couturier just sucks.
- J35Bacher

Yep he sucks....

Two time top 10 voting for Selke...

http://www.hockey-referen.../players/c/coutuse01.html

I know it's not a finalist...

We all know if he becomes a finalist he will then suck because he didn't win it.

you broke up the two lines that looked good recently

10-51-93 and 25-14-24
- dragonoffrost

I'd much rather reunite what was the most effective line all season

11-14-93. Filppula provides the stability they need to do that.