Farewell to Adam Mair and Michael Nylander, as both players were released from their tryout contracts on Sunday. The club’s current contract situation, already crowded and up against the limit, was a significant factor in the decision — as was the fact that neither player really meshed well in limited action. One nugget that made us sit up and take notice came when Scott Hartnell was limited to just over nine minutes of ice time in Friday’s preseason win over Detroit. Well, it wasn’t due to poor play, or a different line rotation. Apparently, Hartnell had an elevated heart rate …
How many goals will Wayne Simmonds Score?
In his first three NHL seasons, Wayne Simmonds scored 39 total goals, including a career-high 16 goals in 2010. His numbers place him slightly above what Scott Hartnell did in his first three seasons. During his fourth, Hartnell scored 18 goals and 33 points. Many believe Simmnods can break the 20 goal plateau this season. What do you think?
Putting some of the roster changes in perspective
In order to make sense of the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Holmgren, we need to compare these roster changes to a version of the 2010 Flyers and see how those parts changed. Here is a look at that the forwards from team: Gagne – Richards – Carter Hartnell – Briere – Leino JvR – Giroux – Asham Carcillo/Powe – Betts – Laperriere So, what’s different? A lot, on paper. Here’s my attempt at projecting the 2012 offensive lines, barring any other changes: JvR – Giroux – Voracek Hartnell – Briere – Jagr Nodl – Schenn – Simmonds …
Was trading for Bryzgalov’s rights a worthwhile risk?
To answer this question, we must first ask another one: What benefits are there to trading for the rights of a pending unrestricted free agent? Ideally, negotiating rights will allow you work out a reasonable deal before a player hits free agency. If this is the intent of a general manager, then he had better be sure that the player is willing to take a discount to sign now in lieu of testing the market. Also, he should be sure that the player wants to play in that city. In the case of Ilya Bryzgalov, his actions suggest that he …
Flyers acquire rights to Bryzgalov
The Flyers confirmed that the Flyers have traded prospect Matt Clackson, a 2012 3rd round draft pick, and future considerations to Phoenix for the rights to goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. Bryzgalov is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Flyers have until then to try to sign him. In 2010, the Flyers acquired Dan Hamhuis from Nashville for a conditional draft pick but failed to sign him. His rights were then traded to Pittsburgh but, ultimately, he signed with the Vancouver Canucks. In 2007, the Flyers traded a first round draft pick for the rights to Kimmo …
Bring Back Gagne? A look at the pros and cons.
We have 25 days until free agency and I’m sure each and every one of those days will be rumor laden until July 1 arrives. Paul Holmgren was fairly active last season, adding Andrej Meszaros, Sean O’Donnell, Jody Shelley and Nikolay Zherdev, while retaining Darroll Powe and Daniel Carcillo. However all of that activity caused casualties of the cap. Arron Asham signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent and Simon Gagne, the longest- tenured Flyer at the time, waived his no-trade clause in a much maligned deal with Tampa Bay, while we took on Matt Walker — or more precisely, his two hip surgeries. …
An open letter to Paul Holmgren
Dear Paul, We’ve had our differences in the past. The lack of value you see in draft picks and prospects worries me. Your willingness to give picks away in trade, and hand out no trade clauses like candy was mystifying at one point, but now I have become numb to it. Additionally, the idea of putting all of your eggs in one basket, like you did this season, is far from an approach I prefer take. There’s still no guarantee that you’ll win the Stanley Cup, as we saw, and now we’re left in the same spot where we always seem to …
Another Philly sports drama
A player who assumes a role of leadership for a sports team in Philadelphia is bound to bear the brunt of undue criticism. This is particularly true for players who have great expectations thrust upon them. It happened with Charles Barkley. It happened to Eric Lindros. It happened in Randall Cunningham’s later years, just as it did for Donovan McNabb. It happened with Terrell Owens. It happened with Allen Iverson. It happened with Pat Burrell to some extent. It happens intermittently with Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels. The Flyers are not immune to these perils either, despite a near-unbroken chain …
Flyers’ offseason surgery roster revealed
No less than eight Flyers, including captain Mike Richards, have at least the possibility of surgery if not the spectre of actual repairs, looming in the offseason, according to club general manager Paul Holmgren. Holmgren revealed the news during his end-of-season news conference and said Richards, who has been bothered by a wrist injury since training camp, will need to have surgery done. Holmgren also revealed that four additional players will have a date with the surgeon’s table: defenseman Andrej Meszaros (wrist); forwards Kris Versteeg (stomach muscle) and Blair Betts (finger) along with goaltender Michael Leighton (hip). Forwards Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell will be evaluated further to see if …
What’s wrong with the Flyers?
It’s too easy to blame Brian Boucher for this loss. After all, he gave up four goals on 20 shots and was pulled from the game. Regrettably, he has not performed above his abilities during the playoffs this season. He’s let in some soft goals and been pulled more times than a sixteen-year old’s wang. His .800 SV% tonight was also woeful at best, but let’s not hang him out to dry just yet. Bill Meltzer likes to state that bad things happen when you don’t move your feet. The Flyers skaters are providing him with plenty of evidence to …