Riley Cote played 1:57 on Saturday night against the Ducks. During each of those three shifts he was challenged to a fight by George Parros but refused. Well, let's not say refused, let's say that he pretended he didn't even notice 6'5 Parros chasing him around the ice giving him little taps and more than likely yelling at him, because that's what it looked like. I don't understand how or why this would happen for a number of reasons.

Maybe John Stevens told the guys no fighting. The thought first occurred to me in the third period when you could repeatedly see Mike Brown of the Ducks say "Tolly, let's go." And OKT's reaction to Brown's was exactly the same as Cote's to Parros - nothing, like it wasn't happening. Which makes me wonder why John Stevens would dress Cote at all. Matsumoto, Kalinski, Ross, Kolanos, Nodl, Maroon. Even though some of these guys haven't ever played in the NHL they could no doubt give you more than 2 minutes of hockey and be at least as defensively responsible as Cote if fighting is not on the menu. They certainly wouldn't nullify a power play with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (can't imagine what he could have said to earn two minutes).

And if John Stevens didn't even address fighting to his team how does Cote not have a go with Parros? He knows he only has 1 chance at playing in the NHL this year, for the Flyers or even another team, and that chance depends solely on whether or not he can take down some of the league's best fighters. He's had about 4 minutes of ice in the two games he's played. He didn't fight Rupp or Godard or Parros or Brown or the little man that sits in the penalty box. He didn't do anything but nullify a power play. Something fishy's going on, and right now it's got Cote as rattled as pre post-season Brad Lidge.

Maybe it's just a case of Paul Holmgren and John Stevens refusing to eat crow. Sure everyone loves Riley and he's a great guy in the locker room who they've said they are going to keep on the roster, but what's the point. More PIM than ice time, and we're not even talking majors and misconducts. More minor PIM that ice time. I like the guy a lot and was pulling for him to make the roster all summer, but the Flyers team, organization, and many of the Phantoms players have grown while Cote has been stagnant for the past 3 years.

If there's a team out there looking for a tough guy I say let's ask them for a 5th rounder and if we get a 7th I'd pull the trigger. He's causing a log jam and frankly watching him avoid Parros on Saturday was a bit embarrassing.

Down goes Cote.