NHL 13: My Quick Review

By Hal G
Posted on 09/16/2012 at 12:00 pm

WHOA! That is my initial reaction. EA Sports’ latest installment of the NHL video game series was released on Tuesday, September 11. And, like I said, whoa. This game is ridiculous. Not only are the graphics improved and the game play different, but this may be the only time I can see Claude Giroux in a Flyers jersey playing on ice — albeit in video game pixels. For the average gamer like myself, the subtle differences are not a big deal. EA Sports made a big deal discussing their new skating options. To me, whatever. I just want to play. …

Then and Now: Eric Meloche

By Craig F
Posted on 09/05/2012 at 9:00 am

One of the most unfortunate trades for the Philadelphia Flyers in recent years was there decision to ship Patrick Sharp off to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Matt Ellison. As part of the deal the Orange and Black received the Hawks’ third-round pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, which Philly gave to the Montreal Canadiens and saw the Habs select center Ryan White, while the Flyers also gave Chicago forward Eric Meloche. Everybody knows what happened to Sharp and Ellison, but the career of Meloche isn’t as noteworthy. In the 2012-2013 season, Meloche is set to join his fourth different team in his second different …

Ed Snider wanted defense, he got defense

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 08/13/2012 at 9:00 am

The problem is, this was last season and not the current offseason where the Flyers seem to be having incredibly poor luck with defensemen. I thought I’d share an old post I made from another time and place. While it, unfortunately, has no bearing moving forward, it’s certainly interesting to see how much pull Ed Snider has over personnel. Last February 11, a good friend of mine attended the Flyers vs Rangers game. It was a particularly bad game in which the Flyers lost 5-2 (would it surprise you that it was an afternoon game?). After the game, I received the following …

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 …

Five Questions: Draft picks…to deal or not to deal?

By Kevin Christmann
Posted on 06/22/2012 at 10:00 am

Flyers Faithful is pleased to have Ed Miller from The Hockey Writers, Mark Edwards from HockeyProspect.com, Chris Shafer from Hockey’s Future, and Corey Pronman from Hockey Prospectus participate in the current iteration of Five Questions. This is the fifth of a five part series focusing on the upcoming draft. At one point this season the Flyers had a first, (potentially) two seconds, and two third rounders in the first three rounds of this year’s draft; but they now find themselves with just a first and a third. How would you rate the depth of this year’s draft? Do you think …

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 …

The Tampa Bay Flyers? A Look Back on Trades with the Lightning

By Hal G
Posted on 05/17/2012 at 2:00 pm

Matt Carle. Matt Walker. Andrej Meszaros. Pavel Kubina. What do these men have in common? Yes, they all play for the Flyers. Yes, they are all defensemen. Yes, the Flyers paid a hefty price to acquire all four. Those acquisitions are what I would like to explore. The Flyers acquired Carle in 2009 from the Tampa Bay Lightning for infamous winger Steve Downie, defenseman Steve Eminger, and Tampa Bay’s own fourth-round pick, snagged Walker in a surprise July, 2010 deal for Simon Gagne, picked up Meszaros a short time afterwards for the Flyers’ 2012 second-round pick. On Saturday February 18, …

Image Courtesy of Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images

Penguins Avoid Sweep Emphatically, Destroy Flyers, 10-3

By Craig F
Posted on 04/18/2012 at 10:53 pm

Although much of the media assumed the series was over, the Pittsburgh Penguins came out and reminded everyone they’re still alive with an impressive 10-3 victory over the Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center tonight. Jordan Staal recorded a hat trick including the game-winner, which came late in the first period, while Evgeni Malkin had two goals and an assist for a three-point performance. Sidney Crosby followed up Sunday’s cowardly display with a three-point night that featured a goal and two assists. The 10-goal outburst came without the services of James Neal, Arron Asham, Craig Adams, and Paul Martin. “I just …

Image Courtesy of Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Couturier And Giroux Record Hat Tricks, Flyers Complete Another Comeback For 8-5 Win

By Craig F
Posted on 04/13/2012 at 11:49 pm

Down 2-0, 3-1, 4-3, and 5-4 in tonight’s contest, the Flyers overcame every deficit they saw to ultimately win Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Pittsburgh Penguins at CONSOL Energy Center. Jaromir Jagr produced the game-winner 9:13 into the third period, while both Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux posted hat tricks to increase the Flyers’ lead to 2-0 in the series. Couturier added on an assist for a four-point night, while Giroux was credited with three assists for a six-point night — one which set a new franchise single-game playoff record. Max Talbot notched a short-handed goal …

Rangers Score Four In First Period, Sweep Flyers With 5-3 Win

By Craig F
Posted on 04/03/2012 at 10:28 pm

A four-goal first period for the New York Rangers helped them hold on for a 5-3 win over the Flyers tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. Five different players scored for New York, while Henrik Lundqvist picked up his career-best 39th win of the season — six of them coming at the expense of the Orange and Black. “The last 15 minutes of the first period wasn’t good at all,” Kimmo Timonen said. “A couple of bad breakdowns in the defensive end. The start wasn’t that bad.” Ryan McDonagh, Brian Boyle, Artem Anisimov lit the lamp in the opening 20 …

READ:12 3 4 »