Bill Meltzer: Flyers Change Forward Lines at Practice

Ryan Poehling is our 1C guys. Torts on the tank wagon.

Ryan Poehling is our 1C guys. Torts on the tank wagon.
- atibus

If Torts wins with this lineup tomorrow everyone is going to forget the first 5 games and be back on the bandwagon.

If Torts wins with this lineup tomorrow everyone is going to forget the first 5 games and be back on the bandwagon.
- Flyers_01

Maybe he's a genius if it wins... /s

On Pattison
@OnPattison
John Tortorella says Flyers' schedule is a Result of Having "No Respect in the League"

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Change Forward Lines at Practice
- bmeltzer

The first line is impossible to accept. It’s too soon to overreact over the fourth line, we’ll have to wait to see what happens with Scott Laughton. I do like line 2 and 3, although to put Couturier back in the middle tells me Torts just threw away opening night.

As for the D pairs, I haven’t enjoyed watching Johnson, Drysdale or Zamula at even strength. I’ve kinda hoped that Torts would consider breaking up the top pair to create balance but if Seeler is returning now, there is no point. I personally don’t think Seeler is going to make Drysdale better. I’d like to see Seeler and Ristolainen as a second pair and give Zamula and Drysdale sheltered minutes together. I know not many will ever like Risto no matter what he does, I just think Zamula has been the weaker defender of the two.

On Pattison
@OnPattison
John Tortorella says Flyers' schedule is a Result of Having "No Respect in the League"
- StepfordSam

kj tells us that they are the "gold Standard" of the NHL - is torts disputing that?

Can they just stop f’ing around and send the kid back to Junior?

Ryan Poehling is our 1C guys. Torts on the tank wagon.
- atibus

I find the fact that Poehling has a spot on the PP more concerning.

Clearly this is not Torts sending just a message to others, this is him saying Poehling is our best center....

Not good, not good at all.

Putting RP as your first line center and scratching JL would be coaching malpractice. Frost should be on the 1st line followed by Couturier, Cates, then RP.
Either play JL or send him back to JR’s.

Torts already trying to get himself fired?

I find the fact that Poehling has a spot on the PP more concerning.

Clearly this is not Torts sending just a message to others, this is him saying Poehling is our best center....

Not good, not good at all.
- Glak18

Poehling should have been the first player to be scratched in favor of Cates after game 1 of the season.

Poehling should have been the first player to be scratched in favor of Cates after game 1 of the season.
- roenick97

Maybe Torts is trying to tell Danny, get me the center I want or I will play Poehling at 1C.

Can they just stop f’ing around and send the kid back to Junior?
- BiggE

For that to happen Chuck Fletcher's protege would have to grow a spine first.

Followed the team for decades, not including all the Broad street bully years of my childhood. I've got no idea what's supposed to be happening now. I didn't understand signing Coots long term instead of trading him, and I didn't understand signing TK with NTC instead of trading him for the future. If it's let the kids play, then why are Poehling and Laughton leading so much, instead of Frost etc., why not let Brink play more than Hathaway. I have nothing against Torts. I agree with most of what he says. I just don't understand what the point of holding onto the veterans is. Is it really mentoring the youth? (If so, do the cheap aging vet 1 year deals.) And when do we move on from Farabee et al?
I feel like it's just the same team as last year, still with unnecessary bad contracts.

This article aged well.

https://phillysportsnetwo...urier-contract-extension/

Financially, the front end of the extension ages well. The worry resides on the back end, where Couturier will continue to make $7.75mil on a no-movement clause until he’s 36-years-old. Could his body break down? That’s always a terrifying possibility for any athlete. His contributions to the Flyers won’t deflate throughout the next nine seasons, however.

Think of the prospects who will learn from Couturier. Alain Vigneault routinely stresses the importance of a two-hundred-foot game from his forwards. Chuck Fletcher cosigned Vigneault’s philosophy. Couturier will leave his impression on younger players like Tanner Laczynski, Zayde Wisdom, Jay O’Brien, and Bobby Brink.

More and more, this agreement between Philadelphia and Couturier reads as a low-risk, high reward decision. Then, consider who could teach Couturier another trick or two. Signing Derick Brassard on a 1yr/$825k deal looks beautiful.

As the pieces change around Couturier through 2029-2030, he’ll remain a constant, perfecting his role as one of the best defensive forwards in all of the NHL.

Maybe Torts is trying to tell Danny, get me the center I want or I will play Poehling at 1C.
- Glak18

Anyone have any extra Brad Richards’ lying around?

This article aged well.

https://phillysportsnetwo...urier-contract-extension/

Financially, the front end of the extension ages well. The worry resides on the back end, where Couturier will continue to make $7.75mil on a no-movement clause until he’s 36-years-old. Could his body break down? That’s always a terrifying possibility for any athlete. His contributions to the Flyers won’t deflate throughout the next nine seasons, however.

Think of the prospects who will learn from Couturier. Alain Vigneault routinely stresses the importance of a two-hundred-foot game from his forwards. Chuck Fletcher cosigned Vigneault’s philosophy. Couturier will leave his impression on younger players like Tanner Laczynski, Zayde Wisdom, Jay O’Brien, and Bobby Brink.

More and more, this agreement between Philadelphia and Couturier reads as a low-risk, high reward decision. Then, consider who could teach Couturier another trick or two. Signing Derick Brassard on a 1yr/$825k deal looks beautiful.

As the pieces change around Couturier through 2029-2030, he’ll remain a constant, perfecting his role as one of the best defensive forwards in all of the NHL.
- Flyers_01

Yikes. Tall thin centers who take hits will be fine for their 30's? HOF.