Yep. Something did/didn't happen once, and therefore, it never happens and is useless to ever attempt.
- jmatchett383

You need to provide an example or else it didn't happen!

IMO what doesn't get talked about enough in regards to whether or not he is a good ES player is his defense. He has always struggled to keep pucks out of the zone and out of the net. He does not excel at breakouts or moving the puck into the offensive zone. He has been scored on at ES more than he has scored at ES.

Since 2011 (when Simmonds got here)
He ranks 47th out of 52 forwards to play for the Flyers in goal differential. Left that there just for sticker shock, but if you say a minimum of 1500 minutes that leaves 16 guys. Simmonds is 12th at -16. For reference VDV is -28, Giroux is +46 and Schenn is -6. Simmonds is -20 at ES since Hakstol started coaching.

He is a great player and better person, but he has his limitations.
- YuenglingJagr

This. His true values that push him from good to great lie on the PP and in the locker room. With JVR now we have multiple options in front of the net on the PP, so that just leaves the locker room qualities. And you don't get $5M-$6M contracts for that.

I agree, Simmonds does have some limitations. Improve the team around him and see what happens.

Show the big picture and see what the actual difference is. Who has Simmonds predominantly played with at 5 on 5 during that period?
- MJL

During his entire Flyers career? Quite a few players. Funny enough the only somewhat consistent linemate with a lower differential is Filppula

This. His true values that push him from good to great lie on the PP and in the locker room. With JVR now we have multiple options in front of the net on the PP, so that just leaves the locker room qualities. And you don't get $5M-$6M contracts for that.
- WheelSnipeCelly

JVR is a LH shot. Simmonds is a RH shot.

During his entire Flyers career? Quite a few players. Funny enough the only somewhat consistent linemate with a lower differential is Filppula
- YuenglingJagr

You dodged the questions. Rhetorical to prove a point anyway.

Simmonds-

fancy stats are only worth so much, i also agree who he is playing with has an impact. At the same time if he is a top 6-9 player he needs to be productive 5v5. Three years ago he had good advanced stats, the last 2 years no... Maybe 2 years ago was who he was playing with or a bad year, then he gets hurt last year and that pretty much ensured he wouldn't improve 5v5. Then you have the eye test, just my opinion but last year specifically he wasn't really noticeable 5v5. It could also be said that if Simmonds was a good 5v5 player and it was just the line he was on, why wasn't he paired with G or Jake? He has never seemed to stick 5v5 with the top guys on the team.

I suspect if he is recovered from injury we will see a Simmonds that is a blend of 3 years ago and 2 years ago, washing out the injury year. If so, that would be a huge lift for this Flyers team.

YuenglingJagr is getting laid the (frank) out in here today.

RIP with your poopty arguments.

JVR is a LH shot. Simmonds is a RH shot.
- MJL

True, but L or R doesn't matter as much on the PP when you're screening goalies, and scoring on deflections and rebounds. For the back-door cross-crease plays, it'll just have to be Jake passing to JVR instead of G passing to Simmer.

Simmonds-

fancy stats are only worth so much, i also agree who he is playing with has an impact. At the same time if he is a top 6-9 player he needs to be productive 5v5. Three years ago he had good advanced stats, the last 2 years no... Maybe 2 years ago was who he was playing with or a bad year, then he gets hurt last year and that pretty much ensured he wouldn't improve 5v5. Then you have the eye test, just my opinion but last year specifically he wasn't really noticeable 5v5. It could also be said that if Simmonds was a good 5v5 player and it was just the line he was on, why wasn't he paired with G or Jake? He has never seemed to stick 5v5 with the top guys on the team.

I suspect if he is recovered from injury we will see a Simmonds that is a blend of 3 years ago and 2 years ago, washing out the injury year. If so, that would be a huge lift for this Flyers team.
- wcorvette

The injuries that Simmonds played with last season are well documented so it's understandable that he didn't look good last year. Who is Simmonds going to play with this year on a line? That's a factor.

True, but L or R doesn't matter as much on the PP when you're screening goalies, and scoring on deflections and rebounds. For the back-door cross-crease plays, it'll just have to be Jake passing to JVR instead of G passing to Simmer.
- WheelSnipeCelly

That's wrong. In the Flyers PP configuration and where Simmonds plays, it means a great deal. A LH shot cannot play in that spot.

So, did anyone else on here read The Demon Cycle books by Peter V. Brett? I finished the last one last night, and while I liked it, there were a poop ton of plot holes and unanswered questions.

YuenglingJagr is getting laid the (frank) out in here today.

RIP with your poopty arguments.
- Mononoke

hold me, please

hold me, please
- YuenglingJagr

I'll hold you since you asked so nicely. But damn dude I'm embarrassed for you right now.

I'll hold you since you asked so nicely. But damn dude I'm embarrassed for you right now.
- Mononoke

Nothing has ever made me feel so...so...replacement level

That's wrong. In the Flyers PP configuration and where Simmonds plays, it means a great deal. A LH shot cannot play in that spot.
- MJL

Can you explain further?

Nothing has ever made me feel so...so...replacement level
- YuenglingJagr

dont worry we will get you better linemates

Can you explain further?
- WheelSnipeCelly

Seriously? Picture a LH shot playing where Simmonds does on the side of the net on the side of the ice where Giroux plays, with Giroux having the puck. How would Voracek execute the cross ice pass if that player is a LH shot?

dont worry we will get you better linemates
- wcorvette

I'm ready to prove I'm a capable 6C

Seriously? Picture a LH shot playing where Simmonds does on the side of the net on the side of the ice where Giroux plays, with Giroux having the puck.
- MJL

For the wrap play? Sure, just throw JVR in there, switch the puck to Jake's side, and you can do the same play. Jake is perfectly capable of making that play.

For the wrap play? Sure, just throw JVR in there, switch the puck to Jake's side, and you can do the same play. Jake is perfectly capable of making that play.
- WheelSnipeCelly

This would actually be a sandwich

For the wrap play? Sure, just throw JVR in there, switch the puck to Jake's side, and you can do the same play. Jake is perfectly capable of making that play.
- WheelSnipeCelly

I don't want to stand in the way of another lovely debate, but I suspect JVR would replace Coots on the PP and Patrick is actually the one that replaces Simmonds

post

I think pickled cauliflower is an underappreciated pickled food.
- GudasNew

Have to agree here

For the wrap play? Sure, just throw JVR in there, switch the puck to Jake's side, and you can do the same play. Jake is perfectly capable of making that play.
- WheelSnipeCelly

Powerplay runs through Giroux, Simmonds can protect the puck being a RH, JVR is immediately vulnerable to a poke check being a LH. Someone just mentioned, JVR would replace Cooter.

I don't want to stand in the way of another lovely debate, but I suspect JVR would replace Coots on the PP and Patrick is actually the one that replaces Simmonds
- YuenglingJagr

I think they'll keep simmer on the top unit and put JVR where coots was. And then coots gets the same spot on pp 2 and NoPa gets net front duties with hopefully TK running it from the side boards like G does