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Then and Now: Sami Kapanen

In the middle of the 2002-2003 regular season, the Philadelphia Flyers shipped defenseman Bruno St. Jacques and winger Pavel Brendl to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a pair of players. Ryan Bast was one player Philly acquired in the deal, a defenseman who only played a pair of games in the NHL, both of which were with the Flyers. The other was Sami Kapanen, a veteran left winger in his eighth season in the NHL. After several seasons with the Hartford Whalers’ organization, who became the Hurricanes in his third season with the club, Kapanen became a member of his …

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Restless

Waiting for hockey season is becoming intolerable. I was fine for the first couple months, really. Time to take a break from all the outpouring of emotions every game, including the half-excitement, half-bitterness that came with watching Los Angeles hoist the cup. August seems to be when I get itchy for hockey. I think it has to do with the school year starting, so it feels like everything should be beginning. Bought new set of pencils? Check. Bought tickets for Flyers game? Check. Of course this time, it’s even more intolerable because I’m holding off on getting tickets (Flyers are …

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A look around the Atlantic Division

By now, we know that the Flyers have “struck out” on all big free-agent items and failed to acquire Shea Weber. Right now, if you had to grade the Flyers offseason, what would you give them? Furthermore, what grade would you give the rest of the Flyers’ Atlantic Division foes? Let’s take a look at the rest of the division’s key acquisitions and losses, and where each of its member teams stand thus far through the end of free agency. New York Rangers Key Additions: F Rick Nash, Chris Kreider, Arron Asham. Key Losses: F Brandon Prust, F Brandon Dubinsky, …

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Then and Now: Jared Ross

Jared Ross may not be a name every Philadelphia Flyers’ fan remembers for his performance on the ice or his activity off the ice, but many will remember where Ross was born and raised. Several NHL players have been born in the United States of America, but Ross became the first player born in Alabama to play in the National Hockey League, as he comes from the city of Huntsville. Since his time in Philadelphia, this Southerner has played for two different clubs and has posted almost a point-per-game average. Going undrafted out of the University of Alabama-Huntsville, Ross joined the …

Is it Giroux's time to be captain?

Point/Counterpoint: Is it Giroux’s time to be captain?

Welcome to another edition of Point/Counterpoint, where a pair of Flyers Faithful scribes square off, debating an issue with their own unique style and flair. This week, Kim P and Craig F discuss the possibility of the Flyers naming Claude Giroux their new captain. Point: Kim P. If the chatter surrounding the Flyers isn’t about their goaltending issues, it’s something about the captaincy. As of right now, Chris Pronger is still the official team captain. But it doesn’t look like he’ll be returning, still recovering from the after-effects of  a gruesome injury suffered last October, and the Flyers world is abuzz over who will …

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Then and Now: Luke Richardson

Defenseman Luke Richardson joined the Philadelphia Flyers in the summer of 1997, as he signed a five-year contract where he earned $2.5 million in the first four years and $2.6 million in his final season. After reaching the postseason just twice with the Edmonton Oilers in his six-year span with the club from 1991-97, Richardson helped the Flyers reach the playoffs each of the five seasons he was in Philly. In his initial campaign, the Flyers finished third in the Eastern Conference with 95 points, as only the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins finished with more. Richardson played in …

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Then and Now: Jaroslav Modry

During the 2008 playoffs, the Philadelphia Flyers pulled off a pair of upsets before ultimately falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals. Eight different defenseman suited up for the Orange and Black during their unexpected run. Aside from Ryan Parent, who only took part in four postseason games in 2008, Jaroslav Modry played in the fewest number of playoff games with nine appearances. Since that playoff run, Modry has been a member of two different clubs in the Czech Extraliga. In February of 2008, the Flyers made a pair of trades that made an immediate impact on …

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Point/Counterpoint: Offense vs. Defense

Welcome to the newest edition of “Point/Counterpoint,” where a pair of Flyers Faithful scribes present both sides of one particular issue with their own unique view and flair. This week Kim P and Craig F debate which mode is the most important part of a team: offense or defense. Point: Offense is Most Important By Kim P Whenever the importance of offense vs. the importance of defense comes up, arguments can be made for either side. Some say that a team is only as good as their goaltending and defense, and while both of those things are incredibly important, having a …

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Then and Now: Matt Ellison

In the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Philadelphia Flyers in six games for their first title in 49 years. The team from The Second City had nine players record at least 10 points in their 22-game playoff run. One of those players was forward Patrick Sharp, who tied Dustin Byfuglien for a team-high 11 goals and finished third in points behind Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Sharp used to be a member of the Philadelphia Flyers until December of 2005, when he and Eric Meloche were traded to the Blackhawks for Matt Ellison and …

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Flyers’ season ends with 3-1 loss at home

Although they came out with more energy and effort, the Philadelphia Flyers fell to the Devils for a fourth straight game with a 3-1 defeat at the Wells Fargo Center tonight in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, ending one of the most interesting playoffs in recent memory. New Jersey now awaits the winner of the Rangers/Caps series and will begin the Eastern Conference Finals some time next week. Peter DeBoer’s club reached the third round for the first time since 2003, when the Devils won the last of their three Stanley Cups. The head coach echoed some key …