Phigment

"Flyers and NHL follow me at http://twitter.com/BobHaynesJr"

United States, VA • United States •

Flyers Needs

After watching this team play up and down all year, I am convinced that the team needs a better defined role as forward lines. Richards who was drafted to be the shutdown guy has blossomed into a big time scorer. So now Philly has Carter, Richards, and Giroux down the middle. Too many scorers. They need a shutdown line. A group like Otto, Klatt and Podein that knows their role is to defend! Having wave after wave of guys pressing forward does not work. The problem is that means somebody has to go or have Richards move into the John Madden role. I think a line of Richards, Hartnell and Powe or Carcillo fits the job, but the job must be defined.

That leaves lines like:
Gagne - Giroux - Briere
Lupul - Carter - Open
Powe - Richards - Hartnell
Carcillo - Open - Asham

Due to numbers, Knuble will probably be let go. Not that this is a decision made on ability or production, but his contract is up. I would let Cote go since he isn't a true heavyweight and really cannot play the game. With Carcillo, they don't need a heavyweight. The leaves a faceoff specialist and a scoring winger open.

On Defense they need a modern style bruiser. Alberts tried to the be this guy, but didn't play enough minutes. Carle is a 3rd pair puckmover that was forced into playing big minutes.

In goal, re-sign Marty or they go get another top flight guy. He didn't cost us the series against Pittsburgh, but he didn't play well enough all year. We could have easily caught New Jersey for the division and avoided Pittsburgh in the first round.

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