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2013 Year in Review: Zac Rinaldo

For a franchise that is known and loved for their pugilistic dominance, it’s not surprising that one of the team’s favorite players amongst the fans is a fourth-line pest that always picks on somebody bigger than him. Winning the Gene Hart Memorial Award, helping to put one of the league’s best power plays on the ice, and leaving the goal scorers in a favorable position to start their shift is a good summary of Zac Rinaldo’s season. In terms of goals and assists, Rinaldo was on a similar pace as to what he posted in 66 games for the Philadelphia …

Photo courtesy of SI.com

Around the Net May 21,2013: NHL playoffs, US grabs bronze at Worlds, more

Welcome to Around the Net, a weekly look through linkage at the Philadelphia Flyers and other news from around the NHL. In case you missed it Team USA take bronze at the World Championships and Erik Gustafsson wins gold: [Hockeybuzz- Bill Meltzer] [Philly.com] NHL Draft talk Will the Flyers draft Donovan McNabb’s nephew, Phil Nurse? If he’s there at 11, yes: [Philly.com-Sam Carchidi] NHL Playoffs Red Wings take a 2-1 lead over Chicago: [The Hockey News] [Puck Daddy] Roy to coach Avs Reports say Patrick Roy will be the next coach of the Colorado Avalanche: [Eklund] [The Hockey News] [Kuklas …

My non-sports fan, philosophy major friend on plus-minus and statistics in sports

Recently I witnessed a discussion in which two people were arguing whether or not Luke Schenn had a good season. Broad Street Hockey had a great article breaking down his season recently. The individual who was stating that he had a poor season was arguing that his high number of hits mean next to nothing (perhaps true), and that his plus-minus was poor; therefore he is not a good defenseman. That is funny in itself because Schenn was a plus-three, good for third on the team in plus-minus among players playing 10 or more games, and second among defenseman. The …

Schenn interview

2013 Year in Review: Brayden Schenn

When a team trades their captain, it is inevitable that a lot of pressure will be placed on the players that come back in return. Brayden Schenn has yet to play a full season in the National Hockey League, but it’s hard to believe it based on how high expectations are on the young forward to contribute. Starting last season with injuries before finally getting a chance to stick with the club, this lockout-shortened year was his first opportunity to play an NHL season from start to finish. Though he may have fallen short of becoming a reliable secondary scoring …

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Then and Now: R.J. Umberger

R.J. Umberger may have been born in Pittsburgh, but some of his best memories so far in the NHL have come with the franchise located on the other side of the state. Although his first NHL game came with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2005-06 season, Umberger was a member of two other NHL organizations before he made his way to Philly. The skater was picked 16th overall in the 2001 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, as he was the first American forward to be selected. Mike Komisarek was the first American picked by the Montreal Canadiens with the …

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Flyers can find goalie depth in ’13 draft class

It’s no secret the Flyers lack organizational depth in the crease. Beyond Anthony Stolarz of the London Knights, the cupboard is bare. The 2013 NHL Entry Draft class has depth and numerous potential NHL starters. Philly doesn’t have to pounce early in round one for a netminder, but there will be many intriguing prospects available in the second and third rounds. Here are four Canadian goalies with high ceilings that the Flyers might target come draft day.   Zachary Fucale – Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 2012-13: 45-5-3, 2.35 GAA, .909 SV% Simply put, this guy is a winner. Fucale has backstopped …

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2013 Year in Review: Jakub Voracek

There weren’t too many bright spots to pick out of the Philadelphia Flyers’ 2013 season, but the production and growth of Jakub Voracek could be one of the biggest positives to take away from the non-playoff campaign. With impressive numbers offensively and being considered one of the more consistent players for the Orange and Black throughout their 23-22-3 season, Voracek exceeded the expectations many had for him before the start of the shortened year. Out of his five seasons in the NHL to date, Voracek’s 46 points were tied for his second-lowest point total for a season. However, considering there …

Image c/o Amy Irvin

Flyers face decisions with crowded blueline…again

So I sit down to begin this article, and I write the headline “Flyers face decisions with crowded blueline” and then I think to myself… “wait, didn’t I write something similar last summer”. Of course I go take a look and, sure enough, I did. I wrote almost the same exact article last summer that I am about to begin now. It’s the same story, with different players, and some slightly different circumstances. The major difference is timing. Last summer I wrote the article after the Flyers had made their defensive acquisitions. They knew who they had and it was just …

Ilya Bryzgalov - Courtesy of Frenz Photography

It pains me to say it…but Ilya Bryzgalov’s comments are hypocritical

Yesterday, Dmitry Chesnokov of Puck Daddy published the transcript of a video interview done by SovSport’s Pavel Lysenkov and KHL.RU‘s Alexander Shevchenko with Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. It pains me a little bit to be writing this because I really like Bryzgalov. All hockey related items aside, I think he is a very intelligent, likable guy, and I genuinely feel bad for the hoopla that has gone on around him in the past two years. In fact, I tweeted this yesterday  and truly mean it. I kind of want to just hang out with @bryzgoalie30 really badly. He’s a cool dude. …

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2013 NHL Entry Draft: Mock Draft Two

Breakdown by League: QMJHL – 8 OHL – 8 WHL – 7 USHL – 2 SM-liiga – 2 SEL – 2 KHL – 1   1. COL – Seth Jones, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL) Jones is one of the most complete and exciting prospects we’ve seen in years. His combination of size, smarts, mobility, and puck-handling skills are unmatched by any player in this draft and previous drafts. He is a generational talent with the ability to anchor the blue line at an All-Star level for a decade. Jones is the closest thing to a sure bet as a prospect …