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Around the Net 08.14.2012

Welcome to Around the Net, a weekly look through linkage at the Philadelphia Flyers and other news from around the NHL.Sorry for the late post today,but i have a bit of the pink eye, so I flying mostly blind. On to the news… The summer of discontent continues… Another Flyer defenseman will miss the start of the season, this time it’s Andreas Lilja: [The Checking Line] [Philly.com] It’s not all bad news… Marc-Andre Bourdon and Scott Laughton sign new contracts:[Broad Street Hockey] [The Checking Line] Let them play! The NHLPA has a counter proposal for the owners:[Broad Street Hockey] [The …

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Podcast: Episode 35, A Big Old Mesz

On this edition of the Flyers Faithful podcast, Steve and Hal discuss Andrej Meszaros’ Achilles injury, the current state of the defense, the possibility of Erik Gustafsson and Marc-Andre Bourdon stepping up, Bourdon and Scott Laughton’s new contracts, and hamburgers with bacon and peanut butter on them. Flyers Faithful Podcast Episode 35 You can also download it from iTunes here!  If you’re enjoying the show via iTunes we would very much appreciate it if you could rate it and leave a review on there! We’re also on Stitcher if that’s how you listen to your podcasts! If there’s any other way you listen to podcasts …

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Flyers System Inventory: Defensemen

I would like to spend the next several weeks examining the Flyers farm system to take stock of what type of prospects they actually have so we can look for areas of strength and need. This will help give us an idea of what they need to focus on in future drafts. We kick it off this week by taking a look at the defensemen on the farm. Pros (AHL/ECHL): Marc-Andre Bourdon , 22, drafted 3rd round of 2008 entry draft. 2011-2012:  45gp  4g  3a  7pts  +4  (NHL) Bourdon was an offensive defenseman in juniors, but settled into a defensive …

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Flyers Faithful’s 10 top Flyers prospects

I’ve decided to take a more traditional look  prospects this year instead of grading them with the help of NHLE because goalies and defenders are undervalued with NHLE. I decided to evaluate them mainly on three criteria: 1) NHL ceiling 2) Likelihood of reaching ceiling 3) Proximity to NHL “NHL ceiling” is essentially a prospect’s maximum potential, but not everyone reaches their ceiling. I tend to prefer younger, higher ceiling prospects, but it’s important to factor in whether they are likely to reach that ceiling or not. So a player with a low ceiling — but a higher potential — …

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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 …

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Flyers face decisions with crowded blue line

As I’m sure you are now aware, yesterday the Flyers signed Bruno Gervais to a two-year contract with a cap hit of $825k. That fact in itself isn’t too terrible. The guy is 27 years old, right handed (which must be Homer’s #1 requirement this offseason), and played over 14 minutes a night last season with Tampa Bay. In fact, he had two seasons with the Islanders where he averaged over 20 minutes a night. So the guy is probably a relatively adequate third pairing guy, that comes at a good price. However, that isn’t the problem. As Bill Meltzer …

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Briere Nets Winner In Overtime, Flyers Take 1-0 Series Lead

After having a goal earlier in the overtime period waved off, Danny Briere potted the winner 4:36 into the extra frame for a 4-3 win and a 1-0 series advantage for the Flyers in their Eastern Conference Semifinals’ matchup with the New Jersey Devils. “Is it pressure? I think it’s fun,” Briere said of playoff hockey. “When I have the opportunity, like I’ve had the past few years here, I try to take advantage of the opportunities.” Minutes after he had a goal disallowed for kicking the puck into the back of the net, Briere received a Jakub Voracek pass at …

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Penguins Can’t Fly, Flyers Win Series With 5-1 Victory At Home

In front of the faithful at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday afternoon, the Philadelphia Flyers advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 5-1 win, sending Sidney Crosby and his Pittsburgh Penguins packing. After Philly’s loss in Game 5 on Friday, Scott Hartnell said it was time for the Flyers’ defense and goaltending to get the Orange and Black a win. With Ilya Bryzgalov’s 30-save effort and 40 blocked shots from the defense, Hartnell’s words seemed to properly motivate the club. “It takes a sixty minute, full team effort. Everbody chipped in,” said Bryzgalov after the game. “It was …

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Atlantic Watch: 3/28-4/3

In their four-game schedule this week, the Flyers posted a record of 2-1-1 and picked up what might be there most intense victory of the 2011-2012 regular season with their win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. It’s those same Pens that the Flyers trail by three points for fourth in the conference and the chance for home-ice advantage in the clubs’ first-round playoff series. The Orange and Black still have a shot for fourth, but they’ll need to beat a team fighting for their playoff lives along with the Pens this week. The Broad Street Bullies started off the week with …

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Minor League Update: 3/26-4/1

With six games remaining in their schedule, the Phantoms did enough this week to stay within striking distance of the eigth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Four points behind the Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings’ AHL affiliate) with a game in hand, Adirondack has a chance to gain the final spot for the postseason, which will surely result in being swept by the Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay Lightning’s AHL affiliate). Since they play a total of three games this week against two teams currently out of the playoff scenario, the Phantoms can easily gain ground towards a …