Flyers Year in Review: 2014-15

[flyersfan4706]

I try to make a thread every year when the season ends and it is almost always redundant rambling that we basically all know/have discussed, but I'd just like to get my thoughts moving forward all in one place anyway. Nothing groundbreaking here, but I've got some time to kill until the preseason starts.

I guess the easiest thing to do it look at the positives that this season brought. Voracek has proven to be Giroux's long term winger. Unfortunately the duo cooled down, but Voracek and Giroux at their peak this season my have been the most dominant I have seen any Flyer in a long time. We have a 1-2 1st line punch of the future. Just look at Raffl's stat line: 7 assists...21 goals. I don't like Raffl as a top 6 player at all, but Voracek and Giroux turned him into a 20 goal scorer.

The 4th line has at least partially come together to be competent. Rinaldo is worthless, but Bellemare and White have been great pick ups for what they are. White in particular is what Rinaldo should be. Fiesty, tough, but can actually play. I am not sure how anyone in the organization can possibly still think Rinaldo is an actual NHL option at this point.

Michael Del Zotto is almost too good to be true. Not that he was some elite player, but there is no way that he should have gone untendered, let alone unsigned into August. Great pickup. He made his fair share of mistakes, but he costs a 4th of what Matt Carle makes with much better production.

And of course, Steve Mason. Stone Cold. The Mased God. What he did this season despite Berube's treatment, his injuries, and the defense in front of him is unheard of. I don't think I have to say anything else. If there is one thing you take away from this season, let it be the miracle that is Steve Mason.

Now moving forward. Unfortunately there are no quick fixes. Obviously everyone talks about the concern for our defense, and rightfully so, but I stand by the hole at 2nd line center as being the biggest gap between us and the playoffs. The kids are coming to help on D, and that improvement will make us a contender. But in order to be a contender we must first be a playoff team, and that will come with improved scoring depth and better balance of the lines. For next year anyway our 2C can be either Couturier, Laughton, Lecavalier (If he is somehow reborn, unlikely), or McDavid (If we win the lottery, very unlikely). I don't think there is any real possibility of Laughton being a competent scoring 2C next year, but Couturier could be if Read gets healthy and rebounds while Schenn keeps up his improved play with Couturier.

Regarding the balance of lines, players like Rinaldo, Lecavalier, and Umberger just cannot realistically be on a good hockey team. Either those three are wasting on line entirely, or they will be anchors holding back multiple lines. It isn't my money, but considering they aren't going anywhere they might as well be scratched. Put in any NHL calibre free agent in their holes. These three bring nothing offensively or defensively. They can not be in the lineup if we want to be in the playoffs.

Streit and MDZ get a pass here because they at least provide points to the table. Grossmann, MacDonald, and Schenn are just a terrible trio to be moving forward with. Add in Gudas, who I like, and then we just begin to have redundant "physicality" on the blue line. These are the guys that should and likely will be starting to be phased out as the kids come. By the way, while Manning is signed next year and presumable will make the team I do not consider him any sort of future defenseman on this team in the slightest.

Berube has to go. Between the treatment of Mason and the playing of Rinaldo, scratching of MDZ early on, and usage of guys like Couturier and Giroux, there is no incentive to keep him. A new coach should be brought in from the outside, be it an NHL assistant, former NHL coach, or a Junior/AHL coach. Just get a fresh face to work with.

Hextall did a great job with what he could do at the deadline. Timonen+Coburn for a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Gudas, and a conditional pick is an incredible haul. I am excited that Hextall clearly sees the future with this team and look forward to him continuing to build towards an improved team of tomorrow.

Gostisbehere lost the year, Alt was hurt, and Stolarz may have hurt a bit from playing on a bad team. Hagg hasn't necessarily taken a jump since being drafted. But Morin, Sanheim, Fazleev, and Lindblom all grew exceptionally this year. Adding in 4 picks in the first 3 rounds this year, including two 1sts, will have our cupboard loaded and ready.

I think with the right developments and coaching we could be in the playoffs next year. Maybe not looking for major damage, but we could make it. Rebuilding doesn't have to meaning top 5 picks every year, just look at what Calgary is doing. We are on the correct path, all we need is patience.

 

[wbon22]

I agree with a lot of what you have said here..BUT, MDZ is not going to be as cheap moving forward. He will be $$$ and they very likely will be moving someone just to clear the money to pay for him. *not kidding, that is most likely one reason that Manning got a one way contract* The entire forwards corps is a jumble. There are several good pairs (G&Jake, Read&Cooter, Vandy&Bellmare) but there is no one line. There is not real scoring depth and there is a glaring lack of real NHL left wings.

It has been a fun year for better or worse and it is good to know that there are real prospects coming...

 

[Cobiemonster]

Brayden Schenn finished off the season great but I'd still look to move him if they can - they really need a 2nd line scoring center - I don't know if they're going to ever put Couts into that position unless a new coaching staff comes in where they will give him the opportunity and let someone else assume his third line role(Scott Laughton or someone like that) - they didn't score enough goals on the road because they didn't have a second line scoring center when G didn't score as often

On defense, it's going to be an overhaul - MDZ needs to stay and they need to find a way to keep him, but I think Mark Streit should be moved because he would get a great haul and that would clear some cap space - I wonder if possibly they can get a 2nd line center for him if all possible, but I would happy with a first round pick for him - I think it's a given that someone like Nicklas Grossmann is gone and it wouldn't surprise me if Luke Schenn goes, although he's coming off of surgery

In net, Steve Mason is the guy and they clearly need a better backup

The coaching staff needs to go besides Joey Mullen, who has a strong power play going - lots of good coaches to choose from so there's no reason to keep Chief, especially considering some of the crap he pulled on guys like Steve Mason

 

[wbon22]

Having rewatched the last 3 games....Schenn w/Read and Cooter is a really nice line. Is it a season long kind of 2nd line? I don't know. But IF the right offer doesn't come down the pike for Schenn I keep them together (at least to start the season).

I really am intrigued by keeping Luke Schenn and having Gudas....having two right handed banging defensemen really changes the way you can/have to attack. I too would very much like to keep MDZ but I would not like another toxic contract. Shedding MacDonald and maybe even Streit would/could be addiiton by subtraction. I think Grossmann is done. I like him but he is no longer a top 4 physical player in the system taht this team has used. He might be in the right one....but he also might fetch something at the draft and would clear up some more money....

 

[Retroram52]

I agree wbon with MacDonald. That would be a positive move for the Flyers.

 

[lasgop8]

I agree wbon with MacDonald. That would be a positive move for the Flyers.

Nobody is going to take this guy off our hands ever. I think we just have to suck it up and hope he gets better.

 

[Retroram52]

Yea, I know lasgop8. I was dreaming for just a second or two.

 

[lasgop8]

Yea, I know lasgop8. I was dreaming for just a second or two.

If only your dreams became reality our team would benefit greatly.

 

[chy1127]

Nobody is going to take this guy off our hands ever. I think we just have to suck it up and hope he gets better.

Before capgeek left us, I had looked up buy out options on him. This is our only way to move him. Doing it in the next 2 years was very expensive. He is the 30th highest paid dman in the league. There will be no shedding of A Mac in Flyers land for at least 3 years.

 

[awaz]

Eventually I will do a big long year in review too because they're fun, but for now..

I actually think the Flyers are in a better cap situation than it looked this year.

1. I don't think Lecavalier is as useless as he seemed this year. He's a scoring center that needs talent around him to produce. Berube did not give him that, so he was useless. Give him some talent, he pots 20 goals, 4.5 mil doesn't look so bad.

2. From the sounds of twitter recapping Vinny's interview today, I think he will retire if Berube remains the coach.

3. Macdonald, while overpaid, is still a viable NHL dman. He's nothing special, but you can put him out there in a 3rd pair setting and not have a problem. And just about every team in the league has an overpaid dman like that, it's the nature of the league right now.

 

[chy1127]

The group of Schenn, Couts, Read, Vinny and Umberger underperformed by at least 40 goals. If not mistaken, Scenn moved to RW when Simmonds went down. He looked pretty good there. I don't think he is a legit 2C and Simmonds is our 2 RW. I don't know if you move Couts to 2C as his status as 3C defensive specialist is his strong suit. Maybe go

LW C RW

Raffl G Jake
FA FA Simmonds
Read Couts Schenn
Umberger White PEB

Spare Parts Vinny, Laughton, Cousins, Rinaldo, VV, Straka. I have assumed we bring back White. I like VV on the 4th line, but that would move Umberger to spare part. Vinny could move to 2C which would leave us with 1 top 6 LW needed. We also have a high enough draft pick that we could get a 2C of the future.

Defense is even harder to fill out. We can get a stud at 7-8 who would probably be ready in 2-3 years. I think Morin is ready but he will be on the Phantoms until the injury bug hits. Ghost needs another year after the knee injury. Hagg projects into a 2nd pairing guy. From what I read he projects better to the NHL than AHL. Sanheim can use a pro year.

Streit - Schultz
MDZ - Grossmann
Manning - Gudas
A Mac - Schenn

As long as we are under the cap, like at the forward spot, sitting a high paid veteran cost money. It sucks to pay so much for bench warmers but some of the guys are just not worth playing. Next year we lose Schenn and Grossman and Schultz the following year. Morin, Hagg, Ghost and Sanheim should be ready.

Emery will be gone. Mason is the work horse and if Stolarz isn't ready, get another cheap veteran or keep Zepp around.

I don't see Babcock coming here but Julien may be an option.

Bottom line is that I don't think we have any major moves or turnover. At forward the pieces are Vinny and Umberger. Even if Schenn goes, I don't see that as a major move. I do think, however, he stays. Moving A Mac or Schenn would open a spot and would seriously help the cap. If someone wanted one of these guys they would already be gone. Grossmann is decent on the 2nd pairing but he is only getting slower. Because of the success on the PP, I don't see Hexy moving Streit this year either. The need to do something with MDZ like they did with Couts and Schenn, 2 years 2-2.5 per year.

I think we are a playoff team next year. This years draft, a FA or 2 and then a strong crop of young dmen coming up gives some good hope for the future.

 

[Cobiemonster]

I disagree about being a playoff team next season, only because it's going to be pretty much the same roster if they can't move anyone and it's pretty clear that this roster is not good enough to win

Maybe if they get Mike Babcock that things will change, but I'm not expecting playoffs, and this season is barely over anyway

 

[chy1127]

I disagree about being a playoff team next season, only because it's going to be pretty much the same roster if they can't move anyone and it's pretty clear that this roster is not good enough to win

Maybe if they get Mike Babcock that things will change, but I'm not expecting playoffs, and this season is barely over anyway

If, and its always a big if, Read, Schenn, Couts, Umberger and Vinny played to there abilities, we would have nmade the playoffs this year. All 5 having down years killed us. Falling behind in games early has killed us. That's coaching. I don't think a deep run is happening but when you have G, Jake and Simmonds combined with a dealy PP, the playoffs aren't so far fetched if they get help from those 5.

 

[awaz]

I definitely think the roster as assembled has the ability to make the playoffs. They aren't that far out this year with one of the worst road records in the league. Figure that out and they're in the playoffs. Or figure out how to win a game or two in OT or a SO, and they're in the playoffs.

I won't consider it a huge disappointment if the roster stays similar and they don't miss the playoffs, but they will definitely be in contention for it.

 

[Cobiemonster]

I definitely think the roster as assembled has the ability to make the playoffs. They aren't that far out this year with one of the worst road records in the league. Figure that out and they're in the playoffs. Or figure out how to win a game or two in OT or a SO, and they're in the playoffs.

I won't consider it a huge disappointment if the roster stays similar and they don't miss the playoffs, but they will definitely be in contention for it.

The problem is, the reason why they're bad on the road is because they lack depth and I don't know how they're going to end up getting more depth at this point in order to get in the following season - when you lose that many games on the road, coaching is a problem, but the roster is too because once the top line gets shutdown, nobody else can score and that shows they seriously lack depth - sure they were real good at home but they lacked depth and that's why they were bad on the road - the PK is certainly responsible for that too

 

[JBM73]

In regards to whether Couturier had the right linemates, Berube has said at times this season, although not yesterday-- "Look, good offensive players find ways to score. Period. Linemates aren't an excuse. Checking isn't an excuse -- battle through it."
- bmeltzer

Someone posted this response:

Let's apply Berube logic to Berube:

Good coaches get their teams in the playoffs. Period. The players aren't an excuse. Injuries aren't an excuse -- battle through it.

 

[anderwho2513]

Well, hello SportsHoopla. Remember me? It’s been, what, 3-4 years? Hell, last time I was on here, we were probably debating who was more tradable: Richards or Carter? For those who don’t, I go back to when a lot of us posted on the ESPN boards, when that was a thing. I see some old avatars that haven’t changed in years. I hope you all are doing well.

Back when I posted regularly, I always wrote this inexplicably long “Season in Review/State of the Union” for the Flyers after they were (back then) eliminated from the playoffs. While I haven’t done one in a few years, coincidentally as I haven’t posted on here, I still watch every single game. I haven’t missed one since March 31, 2012, the day before the Laviolette/Granato meltdown in Pittsburgh. For whatever reason, I decided I needed to get some of these thoughts down and share them with the Flyers’ world, and this seemed like as knowledgeable a place as any to share them. And so, here is the warning that this post exceeds 4000 words. I suggest reading in chunks, but please finish reading before passing judgment on my judgment.

 

[mall3013]

Well, hello SportsHoopla. Remember me? It’s been, what, 3-4 years? Hell, last time I was on here, we were probably debating who was more tradable: Richards or Carter? For those who don’t, I go back to when a lot of us posted on the ESPN boards, when that was a thing. I see some old avatars that haven’t changed in years. I hope you all are doing well.
Back when I posted regularly, I always wrote this inexplicably long “Season in Review/State of the Union” for the Flyers after they were (back then) eliminated from the playoffs. While I haven’t done one in a few years, coincidentally as I haven’t posted on here, I still watch every single game. I haven’t missed one since March 31, 2012, the day before the Laviolette/Granato meltdown in Pittsburgh. For whatever
reason, I decided I needed to get some of these thoughts down and share them with the Flyers’ world, and this seemed like as knowledgeable a place as any to share them. And so, here is the warning that
this post exceeds 4000 words. I suggest reading in chunks, but please finish reading before passing judgment on my judgment.

Damn.. It's been a long time Anderwho. Heck I remember you from the ESPN Flyers board. How have you been?

 

[flyersfan4706]

Wow. Anderwho has returned in a thread created by me. Welcome back. I can remember reading a huge write up by you and your ESPN profile during the 2010 offseason.

 

[awaz]

hahaha that's how you come back anderwho! 4 page post!

edit: and a good one at that! the only things I moderately disagree with are projections for Cousins and Laughton. I think on Stanley Cup contenders they're 3rd or 4th liners when all is said and done. Granted, you've seen a lot more of them than I have.