Flyers Faithful asked Dave Isaac from Philly Sports Daily, Ryan from Flyers Goal Scored By…, Anthony Mingioni from The Hockey Guys,Center Ice Philly, and Sportsology, and our very own Frick five questions about the first half of the season. We are very grateful that they took the time to share their opinions and predictions with us. Each day of this week, we will run the answers to one of those questions. Today’s question is: Schenn aside, which prospects stand the best chance of making the Flyers this season? Dave Isaac: When the Flyers made the big trades over the summer, it looked like Matt Read …
Sestito suspended four games
The National Hockey League once again made its punitive presence known to the Philadelphia Flyers, as forward Tom Sestito has been told to sit out for the remainder of the preseason (two games) and two additional regular-season games. It was not an unexpected move, as the fiery bottom-six winger, who was fighting for a roster spot (somewhat literally) even posted a message on his Twitter account earlier in the day saying he was fortunate to not have the book thrown at him as a repeat offender. Sestito, who has apparently been waived by the Flyers on Wednesday, was banned due …
Flyers drop preseason game to Leafs
Another day, another fight. This bout, featuring Jody Shelley and Jay Rosehill offered little along the lines of metaphorical significance about the return of hockey, though. Rosehill came to the aid of his teammate, Darryl Boyce, who had just been flattened into the boards by Shelley. Shelley, you could say, was doing his best to illustrate a textbook example of the type of hit the league is trying to eliminate from hockey. In this regard, he did a good job and will likely be rewarded with a lengthy suspension. Disciplinarian, Brendan Shanahan, will probably make an example out of Shelley …
Flyers shut out Maple Leafs in preseason opener
It was a predictable moment, though the dance did not involve two typical partners. Midway through the third period, Tom Sestito pummeled former Flyer Joffrey Lupul into the ground. The massive fighter who is vying for a roster spot in Philadelphia squared off against Toronto’s underperforming scorer. It was not exactly a marquee matchup. Nevertheless, it was an landmark moment. Though Lupul has not donned the Orange and Black since being traded for Chris Pronger in the Summer of 2009, he was still part of the Center City crew that ran this team. Unlike many others who went on to play …
Some quick camp observations
Before today, I never literally found myself in a “you snooze, you lose” situation. After my first trip to development camp, I came home and napped for the first time in years. Yup, that’s right; I took a nap and it was awesome. I saw no urgent reason to rush to post something on camp, as I could offer little more than the meaningless observations I posted on Twitter earlier: Tom Sestito is big! Oliver Lauridsen is tall! Kevin Marshall and Erik Gustafsson know how to skate! So, I took time to collect my thoughts and actually sleep on it, …
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 …
Nodl and Sestito signed, Powe traded
The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have come to terms with forwards Andreas Nodl and Tom Sestito. Per Bob McKenzie, Nodl’s contract is a two year deal worth $845k per year, a dip from the his entry-level deal worth $850k per year. However, his previous contract included about $115k in bonuses. The terms of Sestito’s deal have not been announced. ___ In a surprising move, the Flyers dealt center and penalty killer, Darroll Powe, to the Minnesota Wild for a 3rd round draft pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Hypothetically speaking: 2012 Phantoms edition
The Phantoms roster could look something like this next season: Read – Schenn – Testwuide Wellwood – Pither Couturier – Holmstrom Zolnierczyk Ranford – Kalinski – Akeson Rowe – Sestito – Rinaldo Marshall – Gustafsson Bourdon – Lauridsen Manning – Jancevski Bobrovsky Leighton Backlund Q: Are you crazy? What’s up with that fourth line? Where’s player X? I love player X! A: This is just a premature, quick and dirty concept to illustrate the newfound depth in the organization. I’m not actually advocating these should be the lines or the roster at this point. Step back from the edge. Everything will be …
Let the dust settle
Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it. The Flyers finally have their bona-fide starter. They have some size and grit. They have wingers. They have cap space, and draft picks, and prospects. As Dick Enberg is fond of saying…Oh my! They got all of the assets that we perceived to be lacking in the franchise and for the low, low price of the captain and one of the alternates. The cost is nothing more than a top-tier, team-leading scorer and a heart-and-soul, leave-it-all-on-the-ice leader. Really, it’s a mere pittance. First-line centers. Cornerstones. Franchise players. That’s it. Anyone …
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. …