Q: Why Philadelphia, over Pittsburgh or other teams? Before I start talking, it surprised me when you said money – there were a lot more teams with a higher offer than Philadelphia. I didn’t think I was going to go there, but after the conversation with the coaches and Chris Pronger, I started to like it and I also like that there is something to this from their side, and that was important to me. Q: What did you like about Philadelphia that swayed you here? “There’s a lot of things. When you’re talking to the GM and the coaches, …
Talbot conference-call transcript
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers Q: On coming to Philadelphia “It’s a great team and that was definitely a big part of my decision. I wanted to go to a team that had a chance to win a championship this year, and maybe more than one, because you look at the youth and the moves they made lately with the new goalie and everything. I’m really excited to join the Flyers.” Q: You’ve played so many huge games against the Flyers – what’s your impression of coming to Philadelphia? “It’s obviously going to be really challenging. It’s such a big …
BREAKING NEWS: Flyers sign Jagr
Per Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren: The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to a contract with free agent RW Jaromir Jagr. See updated story here.
F-Day News
The Flyers got in on the madness quite early after the noon start of free-agent frenzy, locking up Braydon Coburn on a two-year extension and reportedly bringing Michal Handzus back. More to come as the day progresses…
MasterGame Theater
It became known as the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, a Saturday afternoon on South Broad Street between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers on February 14, 2004. Two days earlier, in the opener of the home-and-road set at Madison Square Garden, a Flyers 2-1 win came at a heavy price. Jeremy Roenick’s jaw was destroyed when he got in the way of a slap shot, and Keith Primeau was felled with a concussion. Both would be out for significant time. But a deep veteran club under Ken Hitchcock was just a little bit deeper thanks to a pre-raided Philadelphia Phantoms, …
Howe finally heads to Hall of Fame
Well, sometimes the hockey gods answer your prayers — even if it’s not the answer you’re expecting. On the heels of my lengthy post about which former Flyers greats should be the next in line to have their number retired, comes even better news: Mark Howe has been selected among the class to be honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame this coming November. One of the three sons of “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe, Mark lived up to his father’s name in a professional career that spanned two leagues and 22 total seasons. “I was elated to have this dream …
Holmgren’s D-Day conference call transcript
Q: How did this progress so quickly? “Well, I think probably what got the ball rolling for a lot of talk over the last 10 or 12 days was the acquisition of the negotiating rights for Ilya Bryzgalov. That set the wheels in motion. Most teams probably viewed us as trying to sign Ilya – we did come to an agreement today – and I think that got the ball rolling. I know over the last few days, I spent a lot of time talking particularly with both Los Angeles and Columbus, and that culminated in what happened today.” Q: …
Fruits of labor: Bryzgalov finally signed
The coup de grace of Paul Holmgren’s D-Day blitzkrieg has come to fruition, as the Flyers have signed goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a multi-year contract. Philadelphia obtained the rights to the 31-year-old from Phoenix two weeks ago and, by dealing both former 2003 first-round picks in Mike Richards and Jeff Carter earlier in the day, the club created enough cap space to ink the pending unrestricted free agent to a reported nine-year contract worth $51 million. The NHL announced earlier in the day that the salary cap for 2011-12 will increase to $64.3 million. Bryzgalov made $4.5 million in 2010-11 …
Captain Richards dealt to Kings
In yet another blockbuster move, captain Mike Richards is captain no more, traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forwards Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds, as well as a second-round draft pick in 2012. “Yeah, I was…I got a call early in the afternoon from my agent. He just kinda gave me the rundown of what he knew and how everything progressed. I started hearing more and more, but I actually ended up hearing about it on the internet. At first I was shocked, and then I was excited,” said Richards of those tense minutes this afternoon as …
Laperriere wins Masterton Trophy
Las Vegas, NV – Philadelphia Flyers forward Ian Laperriere was honored with the 2011 Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. The 37-year-old native of Quebec sustained a concussion and fractured orbital bone during the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs when he blocked a shot with his face. He was expected to miss the remainder of the postseason, but returned and helped the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals. However, concussion-related symptoms returned and he remained on the club’s long-term injury list this season, but he’s continued to serve the Flyers in several capacities, …