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CBA Explained: Contract variability

This week we are taking a look at contract variability which is essentially the amount that salary can vary from one year to the next within a player’s contract. Previously, only the 100 Percent Rule existed, which essentially states that salary can’t vary by more than 50% of the lesser salary in the first two years of the contract. Now the summary of terms states: “For multi-year SPCs that are “Front-Loaded Contracts,” i.e., where the average of the Player Salary and Bonuses in the first one-half of the contract is greater than the AA over the full term of the …

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Flight Plan: Southeastern Hospitality

The Philadelphia Flyers kicked off their first home stand with a bang, beating the Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 5-3. Despite a lackluster third period, the Flyers were able to hold on for their third win of the 2013 season as Danny Briere, Braydon Coburn, Kurtis Foster, and Mike Knuble all netted their first goals of the year. The Orange and Black will strive for more consistency this week as they will play host to three Southeast Division teams after their second two-day break in a week. The Flyers face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, the Florida Panthers on Thursday, …

Anthony Stolarz

Future Flyers Report: Stolarz Unbeaten with Knights, Cousins Leads OHL in Scoring

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz had a record of 2-5-0 and a save percentage under .900 with the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks before he joined the London Knights of the OHL in early January. Since his move, Stolarz has appeared in six games for the Knights and has yet to lose. The 45th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft is 4-0-0 in the OHL with a goals against average of 1.84 and a save percentage of .937. After he allowed five goals in his first win a few days after he joined the Knights, a 10-5 win for London over the Ottawa 67′s on January 11th, …

The offense continues to daydream

Breaking Down the Bullies: Where’s the Offense?

It feels as though only a few days have passed since puck drop was saved, but the 2013 NHL season is in full swing. Over 14 percent of the regular season has come and gone before fans can even locate their jerseys from the back of the closet. So it’s time to add some structure to a season that seems frantically devoid of any at all, with a particular emphasis on the ‘frantic’. Going forward, my goal is for this column is to become a week-by-week breakdown of what has elapsed and what lies ahead. In between, I hope to figure …

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CBA Explained: Contracts outside the league AKA the Wade Redden Rule

For this week’s installment of CBA Explained, I tackle “Contracts outside the league” or what many are calling the “Wade Redden Rule”. It’s been a relatively hot topic since it was first proposed, and now that it is in effect, the Flyers are already feeling its effects. From the summary of terms, item #10: “Money paid to Players on NHL SPCs (one-ways and two-ways) in another professional league will not be counted against the Players’ Share, but will be counted against the NHL Club’s Averaged Club Salary for the period during which such Player is loaned to another professional league as follows: a) …

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Flight Plan: Week of 01.28.2013

The Philadelphia Flyers had an even-up week as they won two games against the New York Rangers and the Florida Panthers, and lost two games against the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning. As it sits, the Flyers are owners of a 2-4-0 record with four points, which is good enough for last in the Atlantic Division. To boot, any good vibes that may have been building for the club in two near complete game wins over the Rangers and Panthers, were quickly washed away as Philadelphia was easily handled by Tampa Bay in a 5-1 loss where …

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Future Flyers Report: 1/28

Tye McGinn made his NHL debut on Tuesday night, as his first four games with the Philadelphia Flyers were impressive. Not only did the forward knock around Kris Newbury in his second game, McGinn registered his first goal in the NHL in the first period of Philly’s 7-1 rout of the Florida Panthers on Saturday. On top of that, McGinn has six hits in his first four contests with the Flyers. Unfortunately for Eric Wellwood, McGinn’s success at the highest level helped cause him to be moved down to the Adirondack Phantoms. Wellwood didn’t participate in any games with the Phantoms since …

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St. Louis, Purcell Lead Lightning Past Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at the Tampa Bay Times Forum by the score of 5-1 in Michael Leighton’s first start of 2013. Martin St. Louis had four assists and Teddy Purcell had a goal with two helpers, while Philly’s goalie stopped 21 of 26 shots from the opposition in the loss. Sean Couturier had the Flyers’ lone goal, as Max Talbot had the only assist. Anders Lindback may have allowed a soft girl early, but he did a great job to limit Philly to one goal, as he stopped 24 of the Flyers’ 25 shots. In …

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Flyers return Laughton to Ontario Hockey League

On Sunday the Flyers returned 2012 first round draft pick Scott Laughton to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. With the lockout-shortened season, Laughton was allowed to play in five NHL games before it would officially signal the start of his entry-level contract (ELC). By returning him to Juniors before his sixth game, the Flyers effectively extend his ELC one year, and delay Laughton’s eligibility for restricted free agency. When faced with the same situation last year, albeit allowing 10 games instead of 5, the Flyers opted to keep the, then, 18 year old Sean Couturier. However, in …

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Scott Laughton is not Sean Couturier, and maybe he shouldn’t stay with the Flyers

Any minute now word should trickle down about whether Scott Laughton will be staying with the Flyers for the foreseeable future, or if he will be returned to his Canadian junior club in Oshawa to continue his development and prolong the start of his entry-level contract (ELC).  As part of the shortened season, junior players can only play in five games before the decision must be made. The opinion on whether or not he should be sent back seems relatively split down the middle. Laughton’s supporters will argue that he’s been fantastic in his role, and been one of the …