One of the players who stepped up while Richards and Upshall were laid up at their respective homes the past two or three games was rookie Claude Giroux. Not only has Giroux earned an extended Flyers stay, but coach John Stevens also is planning to keep playing Giroux on a top line at center, between Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble.
“We couldn’t be happier with the way he has responded,” Stevens said of Giroux. “The responsibility he has show in his own end … He does get the puck more in the center of the ice and he gets the puck moving, which is what he does best.”
Moving Giroux to the middle allows Stevens to form three potentially explosive lines, with Gagne and Knuble with Giroux, and with the best line of Jeff Carter, Joffrey Lupul and Scott Hartnell.
Then there’s a fast, new, checking-oriented line featuring Darroll Powe, Richards and Upshall, which is expected to go from practice to game action Thursday against Ottawa.
Ryan Parent was dressing in a corner of the visiting locker room in Atlanta, talking with Ossi Vaananen, his back to the commotion of the postgame media scene. He was oblivious to the crowd that was gathering behind him.
He kept talking to Vaananen and pulling on his shirt and tie, head down, unaware even as Vaananen kept looking over his shoulder with a grin. Eventually, Parent caught on that something was happening, glanced over his shoulder and was visibly startled at the gathering.
"Are you guys waiting for me?" the Flyers' rookie asked.
It could be, too, that Richards isn't 100% health-wise.
Not just that but plopping Richards between Powe and Upshall will up Powe and Upshall's game, rounding out the 3 top lines. If it works out well I'm all for it. If not, Stevens does change the lines up a lot, and Richards and Giroux could just swap spots. I say give it a try, it can't hurt.
He did play some centre in junior, but come on Stevens...taking your captain's spot on the top line? Just terrible.
Being a captain doesn't mean you have to necessarily play first line. It's about Leadership, and knowing your roll (The Rock says?). Richards being a captain knows how to sacrifice for the good of the team.
Being a captain doesn't mean you have to necessarily play first line. It's about Leadership, and knowing your roll (The Rock says?). Richards being a captain knows how to sacrifice for the good of the team.
I don't see how putting one of our best offensive players on the 3rd line helps the team unless he's not 100%.
I don't see how putting one of our best offensive players on the 3rd line helps the team unless he's not 100%.
To which, it's my feeling Stevens should say something along the lines of...
"Were going to get Richards back in the lineup, start him out on the 3rd line until he gets his legs back, then make the necessary adjustments from there"
Giroux did play center in jr's last year. He was playing center during his epic playoff scoring tear in the playoffs and had a pretty decent faceoff % too. Just not sure if he can physically handle playing center fulltime in the NHL. But you never know. Some guys can play either like Umberger. Though Carter is amazing at center and can't play wing. Gagne played center until he got to the flyers.
The 12th thread should have something to do with Timmy Kerr. Dude was a goal scoring machine. If the injuries didn't slow him down, he would have been a sure fire 500 goal guy.
Briere could play wing or Giroux could return to playing wing, too.
Oh I know, I'm just being a smart ass.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JLHockeyKnight
Not just that but plopping Richards between Powe and Upshall will up Powe and Upshall's game, rounding out the 3 top lines. If it works out well I'm all for it. If not, Stevens does change the lines up a lot, and Richards and Giroux could just swap spots. I say give it a try, it can't hurt.
Somewhere, you have to draw the line though. Putting Briere on the 4th line, you could say will produce more offense too. When does it stop?
If Girioux is playing so well, put him on the 3rd line as a center. While he's played well, I don't feel this is a good move.
