Steve Mason earns the victory as the Flyers defeat the Rangers 4-2

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 04/16/2013 at 10:25 pm

Steve Mason was outstanding stopping 38 of 40 shots as the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New York Rangers 4-2 on Tuesday night. “Certainly he seems to be feeling comfortable here”, Coach Peter Laviolette said of his new goaltender. ”He’s in control of the net. He’s got a good glove. He seems to be seeing the puck really well. Rebounds are going out to the side or not at all.” Kimmo Timonen had what ended up being the game winning power play goal along with an assist. Brayden Schenn, Erik Gustafsson, and Jakub Voracek also scored for the Flyers. Sean Couturier, Matt …

CBA Explained: Compliance buy-outs

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 04/15/2013 at 11:00 am

With this pathetic Flyers season dwindling down the topic of compliance buy-outs will be a hot one into and perhaps throughout the summer.The Flyers’ disappointing season combined with continued salary cap issues on a reduced salary cap next year will lead to a lot of conversation about if, or perhaps more accurately, who the Flyers should use the compliance buy-outs on. Currently, Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov are the most popular targets. I had thought that most people were aware of the details of the compliance buy-outs because it is/was such a highly visible change in the Collective Bargaining Agreement …

As playoffs chances dwindle, Timonen extension makes less sense

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 04/08/2013 at 11:00 am

In early February the Philadelphia Flyers extended the heart of their defense corps, Kimmo Timonen, for one season. At the time, there was a fair share of debate as to whether it was the right move. As the Flyers inch closer to missing the playoffs, my distaste for the decision increases. From a hockey perspective, it made perfect sense to re-sign the 38 year old defenseman. On a mightly struggling blueline, Timonen was a steadying presence. While you can argue he has lost a step, he is still an incredibly valuable member of the group. When you look at the …

CBA Explained: No move/trade clauses

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 04/01/2013 at 11:00 am

I discussed no move and no trade clauses in my CBA 101 series last year, however, the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) introduced a slight tweak to those rules that we have already seen come to fruition this NHL season. You may as well call this the “Jeff Carter clause”. From the CBA Summary of terms: “No Move/No Trade Clauses that are negotiated as part of a contract extension may become effective immediately upon execution of, but prior to the effectiveness of, the extension contract, provided: a) The Player is otherwise currently eligible to have a No Move/No Trade Clause, and b) …

Cap advantage recapture makes trading for Shea Weber far too risky to even consider

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 03/30/2013 at 11:00 am

Recently, Flyers beat report Tim Panaccio offered the following prediction for this summer: Let me be first to predict: #flyers re-visit NSH and Shea Weber this summer — Tim Panaccio (@tpanotchCSN) March 29, 2013 Even outside of the fact that I’m not sure Nashville would be eager to trade him after paying him such massive sums of money in his first year, I would argue, with all due respect to Tim, that it would be a terrible, terrible decision because of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement’s (CBA) “cap advantage recapture system”. If I were an NHL general manager, I wouldn’t …

Flyers’ third period woes continue as they fall to the Islanders 4-3 in a shootout

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 03/28/2013 at 10:02 pm

Josh Bailey scored the shootout winner against Ilya Bryzgalov to give the New York Islanders the 4-3 shootout victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. Brad Boyes also scored in the shootout, while Claude Giroux potted one for the Flyers on a beautiful move made famous by Pavel Datsyuk. Scott Hartnell scored two power play goals, while Mike Knuble added a goal of his own in a return to the lineup after being a regular healthy scratch. Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds each added two assists, while Read managed one himself. Accounting for the Islanders offensive efforts were John …

You’re doing it wrong: the “Let’s Go Flyers” chant

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 03/27/2013 at 1:00 pm

Many of you will read this and think I’m pretentious or merely care too much about unimportant things. While another portion of you will feel my pain. Consider this a Public Service Announcement and a pet peeve rolled into one. You’re doing the “Let’s Go Flyers” chant wrong. In the proper chant the “Fly” is the only part that is emphasized. It is “Let’s-go-FLY-ers”. For you musically inclined people, the 1st, 2nd, and 4th notes are the same. So if “1″ were one particular note, “2″ were a different (lower) note. It would be Let’s(1) – Go(1) – FLY(2) – ers(1). I …

CBA Explained: Retained salary transactions

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 03/25/2013 at 11:00 am

One of the most interesting wrinkles written into the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) are retained salary transactions; or more simply, the ability for teams to retain salary on a player they trade away. This edition of CBA Explained will expand on the topic. Many fans had been clamoring for this rule to be implemented for some time now. Major League Baseball allows you to include cash in a trade, which dramatically helps teams consummate deals involving highly paid players. I would suspect this to be the case in the NHL as well. While a highly-paid, under-performing player is typically unattractive, if something could …

Poll: What should the Flyers do at the trade deadline?

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 03/23/2013 at 12:00 pm

With the trade deadline quickly approaching on April 3, the Flyers will have some decisions to make. Whether or not they think they can make the playoffs will dictate whether they “buy” or “sell”. Should they try to acquire a talented player that can be a benefit for years to come (think Byfuglien)? Should they make a strong playoff push and acquire a talented (but possibly expiring) veteran (think Morrow or Iginla)? Should they “sell” some of their own lesser pieces (think Talbot or Fedotenko)? Or should they do nothing at all?

It’s time to say goodbye to dump and chase and emphasize puck possession

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 03/18/2013 at 11:00 am

I’ve always been the kind of person to ask “why”. I tend to not just accept things as they are presented to me, but rather, I’d like to understand the nuances behind whatever it may be. I apply this same questioning to the game of hockey; and of late, particularly why the Flyers, and the game of ice hockey in general, can’t seem to rid itself of dump and chase and strongly emphasize puck possession. If you know me personally, you know that I’ve played roller hockey my entire life, into my young adulthood. I played ECRHA and AIHL hockey, …

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