Berube's Plan for the Flyers

Ah, I was waiting for the day when I'd have to write about the Philadelphia Flyers again. And here we are.

Well, as some of you might be aware, Craig Berube is now behind the bench in Philadelphia, replaced the fired Peter Laviolette. Berube played in the NHL in the 80s and 90s and understood penalty minutes the same way that Gretzky knew playmaking and Lemieux knew goal scoring. He played 1,054 games and had a total of 3,054 penalty minutes. He had to learn the difference between taking good and bad penalties. So what's the goal for Craig Berube for the Philadelphia Flyers: Be more disciplined.

Berube said, "We've got to stop taking penalties, we really do. It's been an issue in this organization for too long."

The Flyers lead the NHL in 45 penalties this season. They have played shorthanded for 21:32 in the first six games. And that has resulted in a 1-5 record to start the season, their only win coming against the Florida Panthers at home. However, this team has been offensively challenging since the season began. They started 0-3 before Laviolette got the boot and has been 1-2 since. Not a great record, but it is some improvement. But somehow that offense is taking a beating.

Claude Giroux has been in a slump. This guy is a consistent, high-scorer who's known for putting the puck in quickly. But so far, that hasn't been the case. Vincent Lecavalier and Scott Hartnell have been suffering injuries and will be out for at least a week. So Claude Giroux has had to rely on other players like Brayden Schenn to help him carry the load for this team. But so far, that hasn't worked either.

Craig Berube is taking the right approach to this. They've got to cut down on penalty minutes. They're spending way too much in their own end and it's wearing out their defense. That's why it's getting harder for them offensively to produce. Giroux has to step up some more. He is the captain of this team. When he's in a slump, that entire team does not produce well. I understand Brayden Schenn is doing well so far but the rest of the team is under a slump as well. They're 1-5 and they've got a tough uphill battle ahead of them, especially with games like Vancouver and Pittsburgh on the schedule next.

Berube understands that the team will take time to adjust to his style of coaching. He believes the team is making progress despite the record they currently have. And I would agree. But penaltie cut-downs are crucial in helping this team succeed. And when Lecavalier and Hartnell get back, look for them to help that offense get back on its feet. In the meantime, there's hope, Flyers fans. Your team will get better and Berube's going to make that happen.