Speculation: Line-ups based on the players we HAVE NOW.

[usahockey22flyers]

I came here to post one thing...

COUTURIER NEEDS MORE MINUTES.

 

[KJS14]

I came here to post one thing...

COUTURIER NEEDS MORE MINUTES.

No. Same minutes. More offensive role.

He already plays 19 minutes per game.

 

[FlyersFanz]

We all like Read-Couturier but the Flyers need to find a way to maximize Vinny's production and prevent Rinaldo from getting regular minutes.

Schenn - Giroux - Voracek
Akeson (if he can play LW)- Couturier - Simmonds
Umberger - Vinny - Read
Bellemare - Laughton - Raffl

That second line scares me a bit because I'm not convinced that either Akeson or Simmonds are top six players. However, Read makes that third line look pretty solid. Those are four lines with good potential to control possession.

I don't like the splitting up Read and Couts...putting Bellemare with them might work.
Bellemare-Couts-Read ???

 

[whitstifier]

As previously posted:

Simmonds – Giroux – Schenn
Akeson – Lecavalier – Voracek
Umberger – Couturier – Read
Bellemare – Laughton/Hall – Raffl
Rinaldo

MacDonald-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
Kimmo-Schenn

Hmm, this is interesting. Lecavalier shouldn't get more minutes than Couturier, though. I think this wastes Voracek as well.

 

[whitstifier]

I don't like the splitting up Read and Couts...putting Bellemare with them might work.
Bellemare-Couts-Read ???

I think it needs to happen unless the Flyers manage to sign another winger.

 

[BernieParent]

Hmm, this is interesting. Lecavalier shouldn't get more minutes than Couturier, though. I think this wastes Voracek as well.

I tried not to focus on strict 2nd and 3rd line minutes with this. My view is that if the Flyers have Lecavalier in their line-up, they get the most out of him as possible with quality linemates. Plus, Voracek is defensively responsible and can cover for VL's lack of interest in backchecking.

 

[flyershockey]

I think it's impossible to know what the lineup is going to look like at this point. About the only certainties are the pairings of Giroux/Voracek and Couturier/Read, and that people are going to lose their minds if Raffl is in the top six.

 

[DecadesofFutility]

I am thinking a lineup like this is probable.
Vinny and Schenn need to be put on different lines.
Schenn moves to top line as left wing replacing Hartnell.
Vinny becomes 2C with Umberger and Simmonds.
Couts stays as 3C, a shutdown line against other teams top lines.
Laughton comes in gets experience focusing on good defensive play as 4C.

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Umberger-Lacavalier-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Raffl
Bellemare-Laughton-Akeson

Kimmo-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-Schenn
Shultz

Mason
Emery

 

[FlyersFanz]

I am thinking a lineup like this is probable.
Vinny and Schenn need to be put on different lines.
Schenn moves to top line as left wing replacing Hartnell.
Vinny becomes 2C with Umberger and Simmonds.
Couts stays as 3C, a shutdown line against other teams top lines.
Laughton comes in gets experience focusing on good defensive play as 4C.

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Umberger-Lacavalier-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Raffl
Bellemare-Laughton-Akeson

Kimmo-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-Schenn
Shultz

Mason
Emery

Like it but I would do this...
Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Umberger-Lacavalier-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Bellemare
Raffl-Laughton-Akeson


That Read-Couts-Bellemare would be a total shutdown line

 

[DaftCaptain]

I am thinking a lineup like this is probable.
Vinny and Schenn need to be put on different lines.
Schenn moves to top line as left wing replacing Hartnell.
Vinny becomes 2C with Umberger and Simmonds.
Couts stays as 3C, a shutdown line against other teams top lines.
Laughton comes in gets experience focusing on good defensive play as 4C.

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Umberger-Lacavalier-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Raffl
Bellemare-Laughton-Akeson

Kimmo-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-Schenn
Shultz

Mason
Emery

This is the most probable! I know everyone wants Couturier as 2C. It's just not going to happen. Plus if Vinny does well at 2c we have a better chance on trading him at the deadline.

 

[DaftCaptain]

Like it but I would do this...
Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Umberger-Lacavalier-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Bellemare
Raffl-Laughton-Akeson


That Read-Couts-Bellemare would be a total shutdown line

looks good as well.

 

[whitstifier]

Like it but I would do this...
Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Umberger-Lacavalier-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Bellemare
Raffl-Laughton-Akeson


That Read-Couts-Bellemare would be a total shutdown line

It'd be risky to give Bellemare second/third line minutes from the get-go. Test him on the fourth and go from there.

 

[FlyersFanz]

It'd be risky to give Bellemare second/third line minutes from the get-go. Test him on the fourth and go from there.

True but I think he would be up to the task and Raffl isn't a finisher and watching Bellemare in Europe he looks like he can put the puck in the net.
You're right though...we don't know yet.

 

[Curufinwe]

This is the most probable! I know everyone wants Couturier as 2C. It's just not going to happen. Plus if Vinny does well at 2c we have a better chance on trading him at the deadline.

He was the 2C in terms of ES ice time this past season.

 

[whitstifier]

I tried not to focus on strict 2nd and 3rd line minutes with this. My view is that if the Flyers have Lecavalier in their line-up, they get the most out of him as possible with quality linemates. Plus, Voracek is defensively responsible and can cover for VL's lack of interest in backchecking.

See, that's why I think your set-up wastes Voracek. He's already a really good winger and he has elite upside. Lecavalier needs sheltered minutes. Why give Voracek fewer minutes and an assignment that requires him to be more defensively responsible?

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

I say Bellemare-Laughton-Raffl as the 4th line because not only are they two-way players, but they are fast and very tenacious on the puck, something our 4th line has been missing for a long time.

 

[FlyersFanz]

Where does this leave Adam Hall? He was the Flyers best face-off guy and was decent on the 4th line.

 

[Curufinwe]

It's unlikely they will bring him back.

 

[flyersfan018]

I don't like the splitting up Read and Couts...putting Bellemare with them might work.
Bellemare-Couts-Read ???

I don't like splitting up Giroux and Voracek either but I'm all for experimenting. It makes more balance that way.

 

[McNasty]

Wayne Simmonds is a real problem fitting in the lineup at even strength right now. He can't play with Giroux without crippling his line (even if he switches to LW) and I don't believe it makes any sense putting him on the Couturier line. I kind of think he has to slot in with Vinny on the 2nd line with either Raffl or Umberger (the other playing on the Couturier line).

 

[ugiswrong]

Schenn-Giroux-Simmonds
Read-Lecavilier-Voracek
Raffl-Couturier-Akeson
Bellemare-Umberger-Rinaldo


Kimmo-Coburn
MacDonald-Schenn
Grossmann-Streit

 

[flyershockey]

Wayne Simmonds is a real problem fitting in the lineup at even strength right now. He can't play with Giroux without crippling his line (even if he switches to LW) and I don't believe it makes any sense putting him on the Couturier line. I kind of think he has to slot in with Vinny on the 2nd line with either Raffl or Umberger (the other playing on the Couturier line).

Simmonds would be fine if we had more than one puck possession center. Playing with Raffl at even strength might be his best bet. Vinny and Simmonds (with Vinny at center) would be a disaster trying to move through the neutral zone.

Schenn-Giroux-Voracek
Umberger-Couturier-Read
Simmonds-Raffl-Lecavalier
PAB-Laughton-Akeson

I don't know. There are a lot of bad fits in that lineup.

 

[GoingTopShelf]

Schenn - Giroux - Voracek
Umberger - Couturier - Read
Akeson - Lecavalier - Simmonds
Raffl - Bellemare - Rinaldo
Rosehill

Streit - Coburn
MacDonald - Schenn
Timonen - Grossmann
Schultz

Mason - Emery

 

[Swic21]

Really really really not liking the looks of this team. Not enough size, and skil up front. Really dislike the Hartsy trade. We were better off keeping him in my opinion and not signing anyone. Umberger is terrible. If I had to pick I would say:

Schenn--G--Jake
Raffl--Vinny---Simmer
Read--Couts---Akeson
Bellemare---Umberger---Rinaldo

Coburn--Timonen
MacD--Schenn
Streit--Grossmann

Mase
Emery

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

Really really really not liking the looks of this team. Not enough size, and skil up front. Really dislike the Hartsy trade. We were better off keeping him in my opinion and not signing anyone. Umberger is terrible. If I had to pick I would say:

Schenn--G--Jake
Raffl--Vinny---Simmer
Read--Couts---Akeson
Bellemare---Umberger---Rinaldo

Coburn--Timonen
MacD--Schenn
Streit--Grossmann

Mase
Emery

Umberger is going to be a 2LW or 3LW, not a 4C. Plus, the idea of Laughton not being up here at the start of the season I think is silly. He's basically what we need right now in a young 3C/4C (speed, two-way, tenacity and good hands).