Now that rookie camp is over, it is time to talk about the prospects and invitees.
On a lockout, the offseason, and more
After the Minnesota Wild signed both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, a trend became apparent: small-market teams were spending big money while traditional big spenders remained relatively quiet. At first, this seemed to be because teams like the Flyers and Rangers were not only making big bids for the aforementioned All-Stars but were also tied up in trade talks for Rick Nash and Bobby Ryan. Now that the Collective Bargaining Agreement talks are underway, one has to wonder if the owners of big-market teams kept GMs on a short leash to see how the negotiations played out. Last offseason, many …
Second Ice Skating Lesson (this time with correct skates)
Yes, I was very specific and asked for hockey skates this time around. There was no lesson last week (due to that minor holiday involving fireworks and food), so I had to find my confidence again. With hockey skates. This is probably where I should explain that my ankles aren’t great. It’s been an issue since I was in acting school, doing stage combat work and had to change from my soft Saucony sneakers to the heavier, more molded types. I thought that hockey skates would help that, but in trying to stop on the ice (sliding one or both …
Sometimes I Want a Player to Sign With a Team Just For the Headlines
The Lulz feature was originally inspired by the lolcats site but features hockey pictures with funny, quirky, ironic or just plain mean captions. This feature should run weekly on Fridays; TGIFWL (Thank Goodness It’s Friday With Lulz).
Kicking back at Trial on the Isle
What do the Philadelphia Flyers and the Jersey Shore have in common? Nothing really, at least for 364 days out of any given year. On Wednesday afternoon, the Flyers organization took time out from breaking in the new prospect crop to hit the sun, sand, surf and base paths during the 12th annual Trial on the Isle in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Though our Fearless Leader posted this baby with pics I took, it’s your old pal Bob H reporting, taking a badly-needed day away from the office. Begun at the suggestion of then-players Rick Tocchet and Mark Recchi back …
The Miscalculation of Paul Holmgren
Ryan Suter…Strike one. Zach Parise…Strike two. Jaromir Jagr…Strike three, you’re out, Mr. Holmgren. We in Flyerdom find ourselves in a strange situation as of mid-July in 2012. The Flyers’ big free agent signing 11 days in has been bottom-six forward and old friend Ruslan Fedotenko. Holmgren failed to make meaningful contact with the two marquee free agents in Suter and Parise (although, if you have read my articles, you know I don’t believe Suter was a marquee free agent). Furthermore, the Flyers blew their chances in retaining Matt Carle. I believed Holmgren when he said that he believed that he …
Flyers Mailbag #1
Welcome to the first installment of the Flyers Mailbag, where we take readers’ (not-so-serious) questions and answer them in the least sensible way possible. If you’d like to submit a question, feel free to tweet at me or comment here. From Hal Greenblatt (@HMGreenblatt): Why does @Hartsy19 (Scott Hartnell) fall so often? It’s gravity, baby. Or, he’s just really clumsy. Probably both. To be honest, I don’t have the real answer. But I do have my theories. Theory #1: there’s some sort of chip implanted somewhere on his body, and it is attracted to some sort of metal that is …
Crashing the Crease: Killer Rebounds
Last week, Kevin took the time to evaluate Michael Leighton’s year in the AHL and to provide some insight into issues that we may expect to see with him. One of the big issues I saw in watching the videos was what I’m going to call the “killer rebound.” In basic terms, this “killer rebound” is a first save gone wrong. Horribly wrong. The goalie makes the stop and, for a moment, feels a glimmer of satisfaction. His pallor quickly reveals, though, that all is not right with this save. For one reason or another (i.e. a purely blocking save …
Then and Now: Kyle Greentree
Kyle Greentree has played in 373 AHL games, but has only taken part in four NHL games. Two of his four games in the NHL were with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2007-2008 season. Although he has yet to register a point in the NHL, Greentree has four 20-goal seasons in the AHL. After his third season at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Greentree joined the Philadelphia Phantoms for the end of the 2006-07 season. The left winger deposited two goals in eight games, as he scored in back-to-back contests. Greentree’s presence on the team didn’t matter much, as Philadelphia …
Flyers once again operating near 50 contract limit
With the signings of Bruno Gervais and Ruslan Fedotenko, the Flyers now sit at 50 contracts, with two that slide, resulting in 48 of their allowed 50 contracts. It seems like every year the Flyers operate at or near the 50-contract limit. It is the reason why people, myself included, sometimes question what may appear to be frivolous, long-shot signings, such as with a total unknown like Andrew Johnston out of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. It isn’t that I distrust the Flyers scouts; afterall they’ve recently hit on players like Matt Read, Harry Zolnierczyk, and Erik Gustafsson. Even someone like …