Flyers once again operating near 50 contract limit

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 07/11/2012 at 8:00 am

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 …

CBA 101 Part 3: Slide Contracts

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 06/04/2012 at 11:00 am

Per the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, every NHL team is permitted to have 50 players under contract in their entire organization; including players that are not with the parent club. This was the reason that the Flyers were required to include Jon Kalinski in the trade for Pavel Kubina. The Flyers already had 50 contracts, so they could not acquire Kubina without shedding a contract first. However, it is possible to have more than 50 players under contract if you have what are called “slide contracts,” as they do not count towards the 50-contract limit. In the event that an 18 …

Atlantic Watch: 2/15-2/21

By Craig F
Posted on 02/22/2012 at 9:00 am

The Flyers won two of their three games this week, as the club is still trying to turn things around before the playoffs. Although they are 4-5-2 since the All-Star break, Philly won two of their last three games. Fortunately for the Flyers, their next three games are away from the Wells Fargo Center, a scenario they are 19-9-2 in this season. In their first contest, the Flyers pounded the visiting Buffalo Sabres by a score of 7-2. After Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek tallied in the first for Buffalo, the Flyers rattled off seven straight goals. The performance of …

Minor League Update: 2/13-2/19

By Craig F
Posted on 02/20/2012 at 9:00 am

The Adirondack Phantoms won half of their games this week, as they ended their lengthy road losing streak in the process. After they went without a single road win in the months of December and January, the Phantoms finally earned a win away from home. Adirondack will try to climb back into the playoff picture this week, as they finish their four-game road trip before they return home on Sunday. The Phantoms extended their losing streak to four games on Tuesday night, as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate) in overtime. Mike Zigomanis …

Kubina traded to Flyers

By Marcello De Feo
Posted on 02/18/2012 at 6:56 pm

The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t wait very long after a 6-4 home loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins to spin the dealer’s wheel, acquiring defenseman Pavel Kubina from the Tampa Bay Lighting. Departing the organization are minor-league forward Jon Kalinski, a conditional second-round pick (acquired from Florida in the Kris Versteeg deal) plus a fourth-rounder in 2013. The 34-year-old Kubina provides a much-needed, right-handed shot from the point and will be an imposing presence at 6-foot-4 and almost 250 pounds. He totaled three goals and 11 points with 59 penalty minutes in 52 games thus far for the Bolts. Over his career, …

Minor League Update: 2/6-2/12

By Craig F
Posted on 02/13/2012 at 9:00 am

The Phantoms continue to struggle, as they dropped their pair of games this week to extend their losing streak to three games. Adirondack has only won one out of their last nine games and are currently on an eight-game losing streak away from the Glens Falls Civic Center. They will have a chance to end both skids with three away games and four games overall in the next seven days. Dustin Tokarski recorded his third shutout of the season on Friday night, as the Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay Lightning’s AHL affiliate) beat the visiting Phantoms 2-0. Tokarski stopped all 17 …

Minor League Update: 1/15-1/22

By Craig F
Posted on 01/23/2012 at 9:00 am

The Adirondack Phantoms could only notch one win this week despite taking part in four contests, as they went 1-1-0 at home and 0-2-0 on the road. The one win and three losses this week moved the Phantoms to 4-5-0 for the month of January, while they are two points out of first place in the Northeast Division with a game in hand on the division leading Connecticut Whale (New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate). Adirondack hopes to gain possession of first place in the division following their upcoming three-game week, as they finish January by taking on the Albany Devils (New Jersey …

Minor League Update: 11/20-11/26

By Craig F
Posted on 11/27/2011 at 12:00 pm

As part of a new weekly article, I’ll be taking a look at all the action that happened surronding the Flyers’ AHL affiliate (Adirondack Phantoms) and ECHL affiliate (Trenton Titans). The Phantoms went 2-2-0 in their games this week losing both their road tilts before coming home to win a pair. After losing on Sunday, the Phantoms had off from Monday to Wednesday before playing three consecutive nights on Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Saturday. Michael Leighton recorded both of the wins for the Phantoms as the club looks to gain the top spot in the Northeast Division with three games against two East …

RICE & MICE: Hip pointers

By pavialax
Posted on 01/04/2011 at 9:00 am

A hip pointer usually results from a direct blow to either the outside edge of the pelvis (the iliac crest), or the outer aspect of the hip (greater trochanter of the femur) and is an extremely painful injury. The bone and overlying muscle are often bruised, and the pain can be intense and even be felt when, laughing or coughing. Bleeding usually occurs around the front and side of the hip, into the abdominals and gluteus muscles. This bleeding causes swelling and makes movement of the hip very painful. Some players can develop a hematoma, or “pocket of blood” in …