The Flyers got in on the madness quite early after the noon start of free-agent frenzy, locking up Braydon Coburn on a two-year extension and reportedly bringing Michal Handzus back. More to come as the day progresses…
Free Agency Preview
With D-Day already a week behind us, it’s time to turn our attention to F-Day…the start of the free-agent signing period which begins in earnest tomorrow morning. For the Philadelphia Flyers (playing the role of Napoleon Blownaparte), there are a couple key spots open that need attention, and can be filled by some bona-fide available unrestricted free-agent talent. Of course, the brass ring is Brad Richards. Last seen publicly spurning the Dallas Stars in favor of testing the market after GM Joe Nieuwendyk was constantly non-committal on a contract offer, the 31-year-old former Cup winner made $7.8 million this past …
MasterGame Theater
It became known as the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, a Saturday afternoon on South Broad Street between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers on February 14, 2004. Two days earlier, in the opener of the home-and-road set at Madison Square Garden, a Flyers 2-1 win came at a heavy price. Jeremy Roenick’s jaw was destroyed when he got in the way of a slap shot, and Keith Primeau was felled with a concussion. Both would be out for significant time. But a deep veteran club under Ken Hitchcock was just a little bit deeper thanks to a pre-raided Philadelphia Phantoms, …
Howe finally heads to Hall of Fame
Well, sometimes the hockey gods answer your prayers — even if it’s not the answer you’re expecting. On the heels of my lengthy post about which former Flyers greats should be the next in line to have their number retired, comes even better news: Mark Howe has been selected among the class to be honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame this coming November. One of the three sons of “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe, Mark lived up to his father’s name in a professional career that spanned two leagues and 22 total seasons. “I was elated to have this dream …
On “Radical” Realignment
By now, we all know about the weird situation that exists with Atlanta’s move to Winnipeg and the Jets remaining in the Southeast Division for one more year. This temporary geographical unacceptability harkens back to 1980-81, when the Flames departed Atlanta for Calgary, or when the Norris Division contained Montreal and Los Angeles. With the hot rumors swirling about the National Hockey League’s plans to realign the divisions after the upcoming season, why not examine some of the possibilities? As we have reported before, the Red Wings have had an informal deal in place since the last major re-alignment in 1998, that they …
Holmgren’s D-Day conference call transcript
Q: How did this progress so quickly? “Well, I think probably what got the ball rolling for a lot of talk over the last 10 or 12 days was the acquisition of the negotiating rights for Ilya Bryzgalov. That set the wheels in motion. Most teams probably viewed us as trying to sign Ilya – we did come to an agreement today – and I think that got the ball rolling. I know over the last few days, I spent a lot of time talking particularly with both Los Angeles and Columbus, and that culminated in what happened today.” Q: …
Fruits of labor: Bryzgalov finally signed
The coup de grace of Paul Holmgren’s D-Day blitzkrieg has come to fruition, as the Flyers have signed goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a multi-year contract. Philadelphia obtained the rights to the 31-year-old from Phoenix two weeks ago and, by dealing both former 2003 first-round picks in Mike Richards and Jeff Carter earlier in the day, the club created enough cap space to ink the pending unrestricted free agent to a reported nine-year contract worth $51 million. The NHL announced earlier in the day that the salary cap for 2011-12 will increase to $64.3 million. Bryzgalov made $4.5 million in 2010-11 …
Captain Richards dealt to Kings
In yet another blockbuster move, captain Mike Richards is captain no more, traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forwards Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds, as well as a second-round draft pick in 2012. “Yeah, I was…I got a call early in the afternoon from my agent. He just kinda gave me the rundown of what he knew and how everything progressed. I started hearing more and more, but I actually ended up hearing about it on the internet. At first I was shocked, and then I was excited,” said Richards of those tense minutes this afternoon as …
More breaking news: Jeff Carter traded to Columbus
…and the day keeps on getting interestinger. The Philadelphia Flyers have begun to clear the necessary cap space to sign their franchise goaltender, dealing high-scoring forward Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The deal, announced Thursday afternoon, will see forward Jakub Voracek as well as Columbus’ first-round (eighth overall) and third-round pick (68th overall) in Friday’s entry draft head to Philly. Carter, 26, completed his sixth NHL season with 36 goals and 66 points in 80 regular-season games. For a second consecutive season, he was slowed by injury in the playoffs, collecting just one goal and one assist in …
Breaking News: Flyers to open 11-12 season in Boston
The National Hockey League has released its schedule for the 2011-12 season, and the Philadelphia Flyers are going to return to the scene of their ignominious playoff exit. Thursday, October 6 means a date with the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, who will raise their banner at TD Garden while welcoming the Orange and Black. Curiously, in the initial NHL.com story, there is not one peep about the 2012 Winter Classic, while every other important date on the league’s calendar is covered. The Flyers now have their full season schedule up on their website, and while the Winter Classic …