This is where you are completely wrong. I know I'm wasting my time here cause you'll never get it into your thick head, but Coots is the type of player that can't afford to lose a step or two since he was already challenged skating wise. This is also why I thought the contract extension was bad from the get go while you thought that it was a good idea. He has gone from an average skater to a sloooooooooooooow skater that simply struggles to keep up with the pace of play now. Thanks!
- Phillywhiteout

LOL,skating is not his issue. He is not struggling to keep up with the pace of play. You're welcome.

Still doesn’t fix his main problem, he has no conception of how to use his teammates.
- BiggE

Incurable tunnel vision. Cutter's got the same problem.

LOL,skating is not his issue. He is not struggling to keep up with the pace of play. You're welcome.
- MJL

If you actually believe this then there are two possibilities, 1. you are not watching the games, or 2. you have no idea what you are watching. Couts is struggling. He has never been a fast player, but now he has lost an additional half step and that is hurting him a lot more than it would hurt a faster player.

Awe, it’s cute when you stick up for your Torts Daddy.
- Flyfly

I criticize Torts when he deserves to be criticized. In this instance, he does not. I didn't like his decision to start Couts on the 4th line wing because he is still the team's best faceoff guy. Make him 4th line center or 3C and move Luchanko up to 2C, Frost to 1C. That would have been the better play IMO. But I don't think it was because Torts was trying to mess with Cout's mind.

You can stick your head in the sand all you want. That's exactly what Tortorella is. An archaic out to pasture coach whom the game has passed by. His bag of tricks, and its a very limited bag, has played out. He is slowly but surely losing this team. You're always the last to realize that the sun came up today. Couturier's issue is not skating and keeping up with the play. He's never been more than an average skater at best.
- MJL

Yes, and now he is about 1/2 step slower than average, which makes him below average. Thank you for agreeing with me.

This is where you are completely wrong. I know I'm wasting my time here cause you'll never get it into your thick head, but Coots is the type of player that can't afford to lose a step or two since he was already challenged skating wise. This is also why I thought the contract extension was bad from the get go while you thought that it was a good idea. He has gone from an average skater to a sloooooooooooooow skater that simply struggles to keep up with the pace of play now. Thanks!
- Phillywhiteout

Correct-a-mundo!

Unlike many who have jumped on Torts the last couple years, I have been watching and looking for consistent patterns. Now I am fully convinced on what I see.

Couturier is playing badly....

1) The whole team is, literally the whole team in the regular season has been poor (besides Ersson)

2) Torts juggles lines so much that it's impossible to signal out specific players. Coaches that juggle lines every few games is annoying, Torts juggles lines by shift by shift basis. That's horrible. I'm tired of hearing...I want everyone to be able to play with anyone. NO, I don't. There is NEVER a reason Poehling or Cates should be moved up into the top 6 to play with others, NONE! Injuries? Yeah fill in with youth that needs a top 6 spot to prove what they can do, not move up 4th liners.

3) Coots skating is not up to par with what Torts wants...well tough poop. He still has more skill and awareness than the 4th liners. The same was done with Frost. Whatever point Torts is trying to make is selfish and stupid...not for the team.

4) If Coots can't hang in the top 6 and drags them down, damn well better find a way to move him...NO if, ands or buts.

Jamie Benn has had some rough years as he gets older, but still plays with skilled players. Same with Seguin. Putting Coots on the 4th line means the expectation of him is to NEVER get back to anything important. So just come out and say "I gave up on him" and move him.

How a player like Poehling who has had an even worse year than Coots this year can be rewarded is beyond me.
- Glak18

I agree with you regarding Torts juggling lines. I could see if he started with the same lines, saw a flat team after 1 period and decided to change the lines to kick start the team. But to start some players in new positions, like Couts as a 4th line winger in the home opener which is complete BS IMO, after they just got back from a road trip and didn't even have practice time was asinine IMO. If you want to jump start the lineup a bit, how about sitting Zamula or Johnson and inserting Andrae, and sitting Poehling or Luchanko and starting Cates? But keep the same lines and pairings. That to me would have made more sense.

You can stick your head in the sand all you want. That's exactly what Tortorella is. An archaic out to pasture coach whom the game has passed by. His bag of tricks, and its a very limited bag, has played out. He is slowly but surely losing this team. You're always the last to realize that the sun came up today. Couturier's issue is not skating and keeping up with the play. He's never been more than an average skater at best.
- MJL

They are obviously a bad team, torts is going to be on full display this season. Can’t wait for the BS he does

They are obviously a bad team, torts is going to be on full display this season. Can’t wait for the BS he does
- ClaudeFather

if the wheels are gonna fall off hope it is sooner rather than later. part of me also hopes they stay in the "hunt" just to come up short and keep spinning their wheels.

then if danny and "jonesy" have any brains and balls to upset torts they start selling some pieces. put themselves in position to get one of the top 2 centers in 25 draft.

just continue to laugh at the ext for GH RP Seeler and TK. As well as the thought can't trade laughton. to think the 3 stooges though this group can compete is funny. As well as scary.

https://x.com/JameyBaskow...qcbaXNEE3pCTJuY0SiOg&s=19

Andrae back to LV. He did an admirable job filling in as the 7th Dman.

If you actually believe this then there are two possibilities, 1. you are not watching the games, or 2. you have no idea what you are watching. Couts is struggling. He has never been a fast player, but now he has lost an additional half step and that is hurting him a lot more than it would hurt a faster player.
- jd250

There is another possibility concerning you but no need to go there. Couturier's game has never been built on speed. It's been built on a superior hockey IQ and power. In gaining leverage in positioning and battles around the net and along the wall. Due to the core muscle and back injuries, he doesn't have the same power he had. He is not struggling due to skating issues in terms of speed.

https://x.com/JameyBaskow/status/1848144477912969640?t=l6qcbaXNEE3pCTJuY0SiOg&s=19

Andrae back to LV. He did an admirable job filling in as the 7th Dman.
- Trox88

a lot was accomplished playing EJ those 13 minutes a night.

also EJ played more than RR last night!!!

I criticize Torts when he deserves to be criticized. In this instance, he does not. I didn't like his decision to start Couts on the 4th line wing because he is still the team's best faceoff guy. Make him 4th line center or 3C and move Luchanko up to 2C, Frost to 1C. That would have been the better play IMO. But I don't think it was because Torts was trying to mess with Cout's mind.
- jd250

No, you blindly defend Tortorella routinely due to you're the guy who actually has no idea what he is looking at. Which is proven on a daily basis by your comments.

This is where you are completely wrong. I know I'm wasting my time here cause you'll never get it into your thick head, but Coots is the type of player that can't afford to lose a step or two since he was already challenged skating wise. This is also why I thought the contract extension was bad from the get go while you thought that it was a good idea. He has gone from an average skater to a sloooooooooooooow skater that simply struggles to keep up with the pace of play now. Thanks!
- Phillywhiteout

Man you talking to a brick wall, he has zero understanding to what he is watching 👀.

There is another possibility concerning you but no need to go there. Couturier's game has never been built on speed. It's been built on a superior hockey IQ and power. In gaining leverage in positioning and battles around the net and along the wall. Due to the core muscle and back injuries, he doesn't have the same power he had. He is not struggling due to skating issues in terms of speed.
- MJL

Why do you always double down when you know that you are completely wrong. Again, you just seem to have a hard time translating the game of hockey from your stat sheet to the actual ice surface and it's quite embarrassing. Just give it a rest already. The sun will still come up tomorrow if you are wrong. It's no biggie...really.

if the wheels are gonna fall off hope it is sooner rather than later. part of me also hopes they stay in the "hunt" just to come up short and keep spinning their wheels.

then if danny and "jonesy" have any brains and balls to upset torts they start selling some pieces. put themselves in position to get one of the top 2 centers in 25 draft.

just continue to laugh at the ext for GH RP Seeler and TK. As well as the thought can't trade laughton. to think the 3 stooges though this group can compete is funny. As well as scary.
- hello it's me 2050

You really couldn’t think it would get worse than Fletcher. Now this happens, laughing stock of the league

if the wheels are gonna fall off hope it is sooner rather than later. part of me also hopes they stay in the "hunt" just to come up short and keep spinning their wheels.

then if danny and "jonesy" have any brains and balls to upset torts they start selling some pieces. put themselves in position to get one of the top 2 centers in 25 draft.

just continue to laugh at the ext for GH RP Seeler and TK. As well as the thought can't trade laughton. to think the 3 stooges though this group can compete is funny. As well as scary.
- hello it's me 2050

It’s a rEbu!lD!?!??

6 p!cK$ iN tH3 t0p 5o

Derp!!

Why do you always double down when you know that you are completely wrong. Again, you just seem to have a hard time translating the game of hockey from your stat sheet to the actual ice surface and it's quite embarrassing. Just give it a rest already. The sun will still come up tomorrow if you are wrong. It's no biggie...really.
- Phillywhiteout

You sound like an idiot.

https://x.com/JameyBaskow/status/1848144477912969640?t=l6qcbaXNEE3pCTJuY0SiOg&s=19

Andrae back to LV. He did an admirable job filling in as the 7th Dman.
- Trox88

I thought that was ej’s job?

That is what the board genius’ told us

if the wheels are gonna fall off hope it is sooner rather than later. part of me also hopes they stay in the "hunt" just to come up short and keep spinning their wheels.

then if danny and "jonesy" have any brains and balls to upset torts they start selling some pieces. put themselves in position to get one of the top 2 centers in 25 draft.

just continue to laugh at the ext for GH RP Seeler and TK. As well as the thought can't trade laughton. to think the 3 stooges though this group can compete is funny. As well as scary.
- hello it's me 2050

You need some new material desperately! On here every day talking about a franchise that you hope fails miserably. That's quite amusing says every shrink in the universe.

You really couldn’t think it would get worse than Fletcher. Now this happens, laughing stock of the league
- ClaudeFather

The team is phine tuning the app

You sound like an idiot.

- MJL

And there it is! As predictable as the sun coming up in the east tomorrow. When he starts losing (which is quite frequently) he resorts to name calling. He shoots...he scores!!!!!

And there it is! As predictable as the sun coming up in the east tomorrow. When he starts losing (which is quite frequently) he resorts to name calling. He shoots...he scores!!!!!
- Phillywhiteout

You never fail to prove it. You keep pushing this angle about statistics because you can't make an intelligent argument. I use statistical data and evidence to support my opinions and observations on the game. The statistical data shows that my observations are correct. You can't handle that and you sure can't refute it. So you try and pass off this schtick on stats and a bogus claim about not understanding the game. I run circles around you on a daily basis and there isn't anything you can do about it. You can live in your fantasy land of me losing all you want.

You never fail to prove it. You keep pushing this angle about statistics because you can't make an intelligent argument. I use statistical data and evidence to support my opinions and observations on the game. The statistical data shows that my observations are correct. You can't handle that and you sure can't refute it. So you try and pass off this schtick on stats and a bogus claim about not understanding the game. I run circles around you on a daily basis and there isn't anything you can do about it. You can live in your fantasy land of me losing all you want.

- MJL

And yet you being the self admitted genius can't figure out a simple concept such as an average skater losing a step makes him no longer an average skater. It makes him a below average skater which is another way of saying that he is slow. AmIrite?