Will Schenn's promotion hurt Couturier's growth?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Will Schenn's promotion hurt Couturier's growth?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Center Brayden Schenn, from all accounts, is going to be a quality NHL player.
But it’s fair to wonder if the Flyers promoted him too soon.
Not because of his ability, mind you. The 20-year-old center appears to be NHL-ready.
But I question the promotion if it means center Sean Couturier is only going to get about 10 minutes of ice time, as he did in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to undefeated Washington.
Schenn, recalled from Adirondack on Wednesday, was inserted onto the third line, between Jakub Voracek and Scott Hartnell.
That moved Couturier down from the third line to the fourth unit, where he centered Max Talbot and Andreas Nodl.
Couturier had been averaging nearly 15 minutes a game and had been one of the Flyers’ most pleasant surprises.
On Thursday, he played 10:09, including only 5:36 in even-strength situations.
Coach Peter Laviolette downplayed the development, attributing it to the fact the Flyers had to kill six power plays, which disrupted the rotation of their lines.
True, but the Flyers killed EIGHT power plays against the Kings last Saturday and Couturier still managed to play 14:13.
Any way you look at it, Couturier’s time will be greatly reduced if he stays on the fourth line. Is that good for the development of a fast-emerging 18-year-old?
Center is Couturier’s natural position, but the Flyers might be better-served putting Couturier _ who scored a goal late in Thursday’s loss _ at wing on the third line.
That might mean Scott Hartnell drops down to the fourth line. Yes, it’s an expensive spot for a $4.2 million winger, but Couturier’s development should be the priority.
Schenn was minus-3 on Thursday, but two of the goals Washington scored while he was on the ice were deflected off Flyers.
“I thought he had a strong game,” Laviolette said. “Sometimes the statistics are not a reflection of somebody’s game.”
You could argue that the Flyers would have been better-suited if they hadn’t recalled Schenn until (if) a top-nine forward was injured. Instead, they rolled the dice by scrambling three of their four lines.
Was it the right choice?
Give us your feedback.
* * *
Defenseman Kimmo Timonen injured his right hand blocking a shot and said he didn’t know if he would play Saturday. More will be known Friday….Schenn's line was minus-7.....Schenn won four of 11 faceoffs...The Flyers have allowed five or more goals in five of their last nine meetings with the Caps; they are 1-3-1 in those games…..James van Riemsdyk had seven shots and Jaromir Jagr had five…..Matt Carle and Andrej Meszaros each blocked five shots….The Flyers host St. Louis on Saturday night.
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Schenn will only hurt Couturier if the Flyers keep Shelley and Hartnell. If the lines have to be shuffled to keep those two in, then C will get stuck on a lower line. Didnt these two play together on a line a World Juniors a few years ago? What about Jagr-Giroux-JVR, Simmonds-Briere-Voracek, Schenn-Courturier-Read, and Nodl-Talbot-Rinaldo
— SoCal Flyer- They could have used Rinaldo's energy last night-- not to mention a SOLID HIT. Too many Flyers were pulling up without finishing their checks and Washington stayed in possession. Rinaldo isn't big, but he hits like a wrecking ball- and he can win a fight.— phlnative
- If Couturier stays on the 4th line, the Flyers should send him to Juniors. Keep him on the 3rd line with Schenn and Read. Hartnell goes to the 4th line with Nodl and Talbot.— zeke128
- Hartnell has a no trade clause....I would trade for a bag of pucks right now. Maybe LA trades a prospect for him. Reunited with Richards.
— tholler1 - Hartnell has a no trade clause....I would trade for a bag of pucks right now. Maybe LA trades a prospect for him. Reunited with Richards. (HTML deleted)— tholler1
- Hartnell has a NTC not a NMC which means if the Flyers want to waive and send him to the Phantoms they can. I'm sure if they give him the choice of A)waived and worst team can get you B) no one claims you and go to minors or C) accept a trade to Nashville thats IF they even want him. Im betting he would take C— shanehockey28
- Couts will playing against Gatineau on Oct 29th.— Romus
- I hate blind passes (Hartnell) always seem to bite back!— Gus L.
- Is there any way the Flyers can unload Hartnell and his cap hit? Quite frankly, it might be worthwhile to just cut him outright if it would allow the team to reclaim $4 million in cap space. The guy just can't play.— jjs0101
- Interesting perspective, but the sample size (1 game) is too small. Publish this again if after 10 or 20 games and you see a trend.— awl
Comment removed.- If you think the Flyers have too much scoring, then yes keep Schenn in the AHL and let Rinaldo churn around the ice. Less notable than Couturier's 10 minutes TOI was Mastt Read's 21+ minutes. That's more worth writing about. If Schenn is the real deal and can solidify his 2-way game, then end or story -- he belongs. As long as the Flyers are playing shorthanded so much, Couturier also belongs. I don't think you need a higher degree from the Fred Shero School of Management to Figure that out. If Schenn busts loose, they will find a spot for him on a top-2 line.— Claudio Vernight
- Comment removed.
- u know what? u freaks just make me LOL! WOOT!
who the @$#% is schenn?! who the $@!# is courtier?
oh yeah. this time we gonna win the big one. oh yeah babe.
this time it real. this time i can feel it.
flyer freaks come and flyer freaks go. but one thing will always remain the same. 1976. WOOT!
yep thats rigth! u freaks get all excited dont u? in fact, this happen every year! oh they sign somebody! oh we gonna win the big one now! no freak. ur team aint gonna do NOTHIN! ok?! NOTHING!
same ole flyers. same ole flyers. same ole flyers.
WOOT!
- WOOT! — smacklby
