King Knut Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 After once again reading how no one wants to rush our prospects and how Ghost needs another season in the AHL because of his knee and how he can't be rushed and has to learn the whole game inside and out blah blah blah... It just hit me that everyone's favorite punching bag, Coots, is essentially the same age as Ghost and has been a pro for years. To which you'll say, Well Ghost is a D man. Yes to which I'll say Coots is a shut down center trying to be a legit two way threat which isn't so much different than being an NHL D man as far as responsibilities and having your head inside the game. He's 22 and trying to be great at one of the most challenging roles you can ask a hockey player to do. It's time for the haters to chill out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyClarkeFan16 Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 This is also his first off season that he hasn't had to deal with surgery and recuperating from that. He'll actually be able to work on things like skating and upper body strength. Add in a fully capable Brayden Schenn playing on the right side and a potential left winger free agent signing (Justin Williams, anyone) and there's no reason to believe that Couturier can't hit the 20 goal/55 point mark. Hell, he could hit 20 goals/60 points next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 @King Knut Couturier likely would have benefited from another year in junior. He can play, no doubt, in the NHL. But his offensive game has been stifled there and likely would have developed further in junior, and maybe even some time in the A. Still a valuable asset to the team though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murraycraven Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 @King Knut Couturier likely would have benefited from another year in junior. He can play, no doubt, in the NHL. But his offensive game has been stifled there and likely would have developed further in junior, and maybe even some time in the A. Still a valuable asset to the team though. he did play in the A during the lockout... but he definitely could have used a full year in the A before coming to the NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJgoal Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 he did play in the A during the lockout... And put up nearly a point per game, which is often forgotten when people dismiss his Junior numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky13 Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Coots also needs a real coach, and a coherent system to play within. Two seasons under Berube was a ticket to Nowhere. Other than Mason (who gives credit to Reese) and Vorachek (who I think broke out due to sheer talent and work ethic, i.e., despite Berube, not because of him) ...Besides those guys, has anyone on the roster really developed over the past 2 years??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murraycraven Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 And put up nearly a point per game, which is often forgotten when people dismiss his Junior numbers. yes he did... I am excited to see what this kid can do once a real coach is in place. I dont think he will be an offensive dynamo but I do believe he is better than what we have seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Knut Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share Posted April 23, 2015 (Justin Williams, anyone) I'd love the idea of a Justin Williams signing. Think there's any chance Hexy can do it on a contract of less than Homer proportions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Knut Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share Posted April 23, 2015 His offensive game was doing fine in the pros until Lavvy realized he was a killer Shut down guy and his responsibilities changed... and then he was playing for Chief which was just plain not good for anyone's development.But his offensive game has been stifled there and likely would have developed further in junior Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Knut Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share Posted April 23, 2015 he did play in the A during the lockout... but he definitely could have used a full year in the A before coming to the NHL. It's worth noting that both Coots and B. Schenn scored well for the Phantoms during the lockout... under Coach Terry Murray. I seriously think a real coach is going to surprise us with this team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Quigster Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 What about Laughton? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LegionOfDoom Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Coots was cerebral and mentally ready for the NHL to some degree, but he would of whole heartily been better off with a year and a half in the AHL, incrementally adjusting his game to a higher level of competition and number of games, though he hasn't fully felt the affects of the damage because and this is the big clause here: He had Flyer Fans Favorite Danny Briere! Yes, a great guy to have on your team and a great mentor, in fact if it wasn't for Danny having him stay and have that strong foundation of a family atmosphere and native understanding and relationship, Coots would of been in a far worse position, personally and developmentally as a professional.I attribute his growth to that. Coots is a pretty smart kid and so he was able to accept the challenge of the NHL with Danny on his "wing". That's one of the reasons I didn't want Briere traded, we needed the leadership. Harts gone, Timmo gone, even Coby gone and you cripple your teams effective resilience to adversity in a large way.Imagine if the next week at work your top employee leaves, your go-to manager moves out of town, and your most knowledgeable sales/parts guy retires, your company is gonna hurt.Your gonna be left with no answers to certain problems that come up.The Flyers thinned themselves out too much, that's not an accusation, that's just a fact.(look in the dictionary under Oilers, too much treble...no bass.) What Hextall said is true, the leadership has to come from within, pick it up, dust it off and make it your own, having pride in what you built.That takes time. This is where the veterans come into play. Should we go out and get a leader? No, it's too late for that. Can we go out and get a veteran? Absolutely in favor of that in the forward winger position. Enter Justin Williams. That would be a solid pickup and a healthy veteran presence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 @LegionOfDoom Too bad Dannys O and Seans D didn't rub off on each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccamsRazor Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Enter Justin Williams That would be interesting for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertmega Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 "Too bad Dannys O and Seans D didn't rub off on each other." ^man I read that statement the entirely wrong way.... I think I need to cleanse my mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Knut Posted April 24, 2015 Author Share Posted April 24, 2015 That would be interesting for sure.Wonder how much and for how long. But yeah. Seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertmega Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 @King Knut With regards to Williams, I think he would be cheap and probably a short, two-year deal. My only concern is his durability. Also where does this put Matt Read? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccamsRazor Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 @King Knut With regards to Williams, I think he would be cheap and probably a short, two-year deal. My only concern is his durability. Also where does this put Matt Read? Actually over the last several seasons he has been very durable. He missed 1 game last year with an eye injury. 14-15 81 games13-14 82 games12-13 48 games every game shortened season11-12 82 games10-11 73 games---Apr 14, 2011 Missed the last 9 regular season games (dislocated right shoulder). So overall he has proven he can stay healthy. You have to go back 08-09 since he's finished a season on the minus side. I've always like the kid and hated when the Flyers traded him. I would welcome him back with open arms...would love for him to win his 4th Stanley Cup for Philly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertmega Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 @OccamsRazor "I've always like the kid and hated when the Flyers traded him. I would welcome him back with open arms...would love for him to win his 4th Stanley Cup for Philly!: I can get on board with that statement!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howie58 Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 The form and feel of this season lend themselves to being critical. I have no problem with having a defensive specialist on the squad. My gut says he and just about everybody else is trade bait, arrested development or not. I suspect we are facing a 2-3 rebuild (minimum). Hexy may want to start from near scratch....the cap disaster contributes. The fact that he may offensively blossom elsewhere is sad but so is our team's lack state of development. Another thought: If Tippett is the new coach, having a Coots on board would be very welcomed. Best,Howie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyClarkeFan16 Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 @King Knut With regards to Williams, I think he would be cheap and probably a short, two-year deal. My only concern is his durability. Also where does this put Matt Read? Well, I'd use a second line of Williams - Couturier - Schenn and then a third of Umberger - Laughton - Read. Of course, that possibly leaves Simmonds as the odd man out. However (and I know I'm going to get ripped apart for this), but I'd seriously consider shopping Voracek if I'm Hextall. For instance, if you can get a package of Gudbranson and Huberdeau for him, I'd strongly consider it. Huberdeau had 54 points in 78 games this year and is primed to break through. His numbers through the first three years mirror that of Voracek, plus he's going to be turning 22. Gudbranson is also a righty who plays on the right side and could work a top pairing with Streit. So, you'd have a lineup of: Huberdeau - Giroux - SimmondsWilliams - Couturier - B.SchennUmberger - Laughton - ReadVande Velde - White - BellemareRinaldo The defense could be:Streit - GudbransonMDZ - SchennMacD - SchultzGrossmann (Gudas on IR while he's still rehabbing his knee) ***allows for the Flyers to find takers for Grossmann, Schenn and possibly MacDonald while guys like Gost, Morin, etc...aren't rushed into the lineup However, the Flyers need to find a way to get out from underneath the Lecavalier contract. Once again, just my take on things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccamsRazor Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 I suspect we are facing a 2-3 rebuild (minimum). Will a couple of the right moves, the right coach i think they can get back into the playoffs next year but that is far as i will venture to guess right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertmega Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Well, I'd use a second line of Williams - Couturier - Schenn and then a third of Umberger - Laughton - Read. Of course, that possibly leaves Simmonds as the odd man out. However (and I know I'm going to get ripped apart for this), but I'd seriously consider shopping Voracek if I'm Hextall. For instance, if you can get a package of Gudbranson and Huberdeau for him, I'd strongly consider it. Huberdeau had 54 points in 78 games this year and is primed to break through. His numbers through the first three years mirror that of Voracek, plus he's going to be turning 22. Gudbranson is also a righty who plays on the right side and could work a top pairing with Streit. So, you'd have a lineup of: Huberdeau - Giroux - SimmondsWilliams - Couturier - B.SchennUmberger - Laughton - ReadVande Velde - White - BellemareRinaldo The defense could be:Streit - GudbransonMDZ - SchennMacD - SchultzGrossmann (Gudas on IR while he's still rehabbing his knee) ***allows for the Flyers to find takers for Grossmann, Schenn and possibly MacDonald while guys like Gost, Morin, etc...aren't rushed into the lineup However, the Flyers need to find a way to get out from underneath the Lecavalier contract. Once again, just my take on things.That is not a bad line of thinking at all. While I like Jake, that is a very nice package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilldoc Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Well, I'd use a second line of Williams - Couturier - Schenn and then a third of Umberger - Laughton - Read. Of course, that possibly leaves Simmonds as the odd man out. However (and I know I'm going to get ripped apart for this), but I'd seriously consider shopping Voracek if I'm Hextall. For instance, if you can get a package of Gudbranson and Huberdeau for him, I'd strongly consider it. Huberdeau had 54 points in 78 games this year and is primed to break through. His numbers through the first three years mirror that of Voracek, plus he's going to be turning 22. Gudbranson is also a righty who plays on the right side and could work a top pairing with Streit. So, you'd have a lineup of: Huberdeau - Giroux - SimmondsWilliams - Couturier - B.SchennUmberger - Laughton - ReadVande Velde - White - BellemareRinaldo The defense could be:Streit - GudbransonMDZ - SchennMacD - SchultzGrossmann (Gudas on IR while he's still rehabbing his knee) ***allows for the Flyers to find takers for Grossmann, Schenn and possibly MacDonald while guys like Gost, Morin, etc...aren't rushed into the lineup However, the Flyers need to find a way to get out from underneath the Lecavalier contract. Once again, just my take on things. I would hate to see Jake moved, BUT I could be on board with this IF Huberdeau has the break out year and develop the way Jake has. Gudbranson is an immediate benefit for the defense allowing the younger kids to develop instead of rushing them. Very interesting proposal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilldoc Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 That is not a bad line of thinking at all. While I like Jake, that is a very nice package. We must of posted at the same time! Totally agree with your sentiments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.