According to John Boruk, host over at Comcast SportsNet Philly, the Flyers are about to go all in on captain Claude Giroux. His tweet from Monday: “You can draw up the contract right now, but Giroux will get 71-72 million over 8 years. It’s just a matter of when it gets done.” Giroux has struggled during this truncated season, his first as team captain following a breakout 93-point performance in a full campaign last year. He’s got nine goals and 26 points in 30 games with four power-play markers and a pair of game-winners, but is a minus-9 — indicative …
Atlantic Watch: Flyers’ long break, Penguins extend lengthy winning streak, Rangers grab eighth place, Brodeur returns
The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t help their case to make the 2013 postseason this week, as they only earned two points over three games. To make matters worse, the Orange and Black will endure a five-day break to let the other teams in the Eastern Conference catch up with them in games played. After their lengthy break, the Flyers play a game in Pittsburgh before starting a five-game homestand against another Atlantic Division club fighting to make the playoffs. The Flyers’ week started with a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on Wednesday. In the first game …
Flyers sign St. Lawrence’s Flanagan to ATO
Late last night, the report from Bob McKenzie from TSN of Canada was that the Flyers signed free agent forward Kyle Flanagan from St. Lawrence to an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of this season and a one-year deal for 2013-14. He is expected to report to Adirondack of the AHL by Friday at the latest. Flanagan, a native of the university town of Canton, New York, finished his senior season with 15 goals and 47 points in 32 games. His 47 points placed second on the club to junior phenom Greg Carey, who leads the country with 28 …
Stamkos and Lindback help Bolts edge Flyers in Tampa Bay
The Philadelphia Flyers lost another pivotal game tonight in Tampa Bay, as the Lightning handed the visitors a 4-2 loss. Teddy Purcell deposited the game-winner halfway through the third period, while Steven Stamkos recorded his 200th goal in the NHL in a two-point effort. Max Talbot and Claude Giroux were the only Flyers to beat Anders Lindback, as Tampa Bay’s goaltender made 28 stops for the victory. With the tilt tied at two midway through the third period, Purcell tipped home his sixth of 2013 to hand the Lightning two points tonight in Tampa Bay. Stamkos managed to grab a …
It’s time to say goodbye to dump and chase and emphasize puck possession
I’ve always been the kind of person to ask “why”. I tend to not just accept things as they are presented to me, but rather, I’d like to understand the nuances behind whatever it may be. I apply this same questioning to the game of hockey; and of late, particularly why the Flyers, and the game of ice hockey in general, can’t seem to rid itself of dump and chase and strongly emphasize puck possession. If you know me personally, you know that I’ve played roller hockey my entire life, into my young adulthood. I played ECRHA and AIHL hockey, …
Future Flyers Report: OHL and WHL playoffs set, Holmstrom signs extension
The playoffs for both the OHL and the WHL start this weekend, as four of the five teams in the two leagues that feature Philadelphia Flyers’ prospects advanced to the postseason. In the OHL, the Oshawa Generals and the London Knights will have home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, while the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds will be on the road to start the 2013 OHL postseason. The Generals finished third in the Eastern Conference and will play the Niagara IceDogs, who boast Ryan Strome, a forward that went fifth overall to the New York Islanders in the …
Flight Plan: Bolt and Rest
There is an old adage in sports: a win is a win. The Philadelphia Flyers won their last game against the New Jersey Devils in a shootout and have inched closer to climbing back into the playoff race. Unfortunately, they haven’t put themselves in a much better position by allowing the Devils a point in that game, but still, two points are two points. There has been much positive to take away from the Flyers’ current slide. They’ve been mired in a 5-5-0 run and have lost four of their last six games. At the very least, the team played …
Board of Governors approve realignment plan
Realignment comin’ For the first time since the end of the 1997-98 season, the National Hockey League will feature only four divisions, and for the first time in 15 years, every team is guaranteed to play in the arena of every other team thanks to the new plan approved by the league’s Board of Governors on Thursday. “This goes into the good news category,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday. “We can begin the process of preparing next year’s schedule.” Here’s a quick and easy infographic from NHL.com explaining the situation: Last week, the NHL reported that the divisions would …
Flyers dominated by the Devils in New Jersey
The Philadelphia Flyers were embarrassed at the Prudential Center tonight, as they lost to the New Jersey Devils 5-2. Adam Henrique had two goals in a three-point performance and Johan Hedberg earned the win for Jersey with 23 saves, as the Devils notched their first victory in regulation at home since the last time they faced the Flyers on February 15. Patrik Elias and Andrei Loktionov each had a goal and an assist in the win. Jakub Voracek and Scott Hartnell each had two-point nights for Philly, as Hartnell had the secondary assist on Voracek’s goal in the first period and …
Breaking down the Bullies: buy or sell?
The gauntlet of opponents the Flyers have faced over the last 10 days was supposed to provide some answers about what type of team they really were. Instead, a series of sporadic efforts has left both the organization and its followers with many of the same questions they faced a week ago. Some speak of playoffs, while others speak of prospects. With the trade deadline looming and the end of the season shortly thereafter, is there any way to truly categorize this team as a buyer, seller, or even something in between? After the nightmare on Broadway, the Flyers played …