Upon first glance, the demo for EA’s NHL 12 appears to be a retread of last year’s NHL 11. Sure, the songs may have changed and Chicago and Philadelphia have been replaced by Vancouver and Boston but on the whole, the game remains fairly status quo — and I’m OK with that. EA puts out a solid quality product and the developers are better off improving the game rather than continually reinventing it. The controls and gameplay are familiar, with minor tweaks made here and there. The first noticeable change to the game is the menu screen. A cleaner interface …
Flyers react to Hurricane Irene
Although the Philadelphia area was caught off guard this week when the tremors of an earthquake were felt throughout the region, the Philadelphia Flyers are fully prepared to counteract the effects of Hurricane Irene. Chris Pronger: After battling with the storm for a while in the corner, Pronger ultimately beats Hurricame Irene into submission with his elbow. Ilya Bryzgalov: According to sources in Phoenix, Bryzgalov will only fight off the storm when he feels like it and his ability to do so is overrated. Claude Giroux: As the storm approaches, Giroux puts on a dazzling display of moves to elude …
Poll: Will the pressure in Philadelphia get to Ilya Bryzgalov?
Ilya Bryzgalov has been known to disappear after bad games. In Philadelphia, he’ll be under much more of a microscope than he was in Phoenix, especially because of the demands that come along with such a weighty contract. How will he handle the pressure?
Poll: How many games will Chris Pronger play this season?
Injuries limited the aging Chris Pronger to 50 games last season. Will he have a healthier season or will things only get worse?
Poll: Are the Flyers a better team?
The Flyers made wholesale changes this offseason, resulting in a roster that bares little resemblance to anything we’ve seen since the lockout. Are they a better team, though?
A constant in post-lockout Flyerville
In the book, Hockey Dad, Bob McKenzie discusses a concept he calls the “Hard Work Fairy”. “I only know I have an unwavering faith that if an individual works hard enough long enough at anything, good things will happen and there will be a reward,” writes McKenzie. “But the problem with the philosophy is that every hockey player of any age or ability always thinks he’s working hard, and most of them aren’t. Not even close.” McKenzie admits that the term is comical but the concept is a solid one. Work hard and your efforts will pay off eventually. No …
Poll: Will Sean Couturier play for the Flyers next season?
It was a surprise that Sean Couturier was still available when the Flyers selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Had it not been for setbacks due to a bout with mononucleosis, Couturier could very have been one of the top three picks in the draft. Is he NHL ready? If so, is there a spot for him on the roster in Philly?
Poll: Will Jakub Voracek have a breakout season?
Through their first three seasons, the stats of Jakub Voracek and Jeff Carter were nearly identical. In his fourth season, Jeff Carter exploded for 46 goals and 84 points. Can we expect Voracek to post similar numbers?
Gossip Island
A few years ago, I saw then-Phillies pitcher, Jamie Moyer, stumbling across a Philadelphia street on the outskirts of Old City at some point around 2:00 a.m. He looked a little disheveled — as anyone might at that hour of the morning — as he walked south across Walnut Street with a beautiful woman attached to his arm. Here he was, the venerable, patronly mentor to ace-in-the-making, Cole Hamels, out in a questionable situation. The founder of the Moyer Foundation, a man whom we all respected, may have been out partying with a woman may not have been his wife …
Considering the possibility of a Bobrovsky trade
There’s something humorous about the fact that the Flyers waited until they had arguably their best goaltending prospect in ages before acquiring a bona fide starter. As a result, Sergei Bobrovsky, a once little-known goalie who posted solid numbers for Novokuznetsk Metallurg, a bad KHL team, ceased being the goalie of the future and became perceived as an overpaid, expendable backup in the mere bat of an eyelash. Barely a year after committing three years and nearly $3 million to Bobrovsky, it was reported that the Flyers began shopping him. It’s a long fall for someone who showed such promise and …