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Your (Hard Partying) Philadelphia Flyers!

As if the cumulative effects of bumps, bruises, tears, fractures, and stumbling around on the ice like Mr. Magoo (laser eye surgery? Really?) weren't enough of an excuse for the Flyers inconsistent season, now there's this:

Wayne Fish brings home the bacon at PhillyBurbs.com:

Holmgren: "First of all, if you want to look for nightlife, action or whatever, you can find it whether you live in South Jersey, Delaware or Philadelphia. Am I concerned about it? Let me say this: The issue has been raised by (coach) John (Stevens) and myself with all the players.

"I think this all falls under the umbrella of discipline. It's on-ice discipline - not overstaying-your-shift discipline - it's off-ice discipline, it's night before a game taking better care of ourselves. That's a natural maturation process that a lot of our younger players are still going through. We've addressed that. So am I concerned about it? We'll see how it goes this year. All our players have been talked to about it. Is it an issue? The fact that we've talked about it, I guess it is an issue.''

I don't know how much I buy this one.

Assuming the players party calendar starts on Thursday night like every other 20-something in the city, you'd think the team's record on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays would be abysmal.

However, that's just not the case.

Truth of the matter is, the Flyers posted a 25-12-7 record (.568 win percentage) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday games throughout the 2008-2009 season.

The team's record for games played on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights: 19-15-4 (.500 win percentage).

If there was indeed some issue with partying on the team, the analysis points to the fact the Flyers play better with a hangover.

Of course, there's probably other things going on behind the scenes that we don't know about. I have no doubt.

It makes you wonder if the Flyers sent Scottie Upshall to the desert at the trade deadline in an attempt to break up the Center City entourage. Upshall appeared with Richards and Jeff Carter in several photos that surfaced last season, providing a glimpse of orange and black bachelors out on the town.

If that was somehow the case, it would mean the Flyers traded a popular locker room guy for being a little too popular.

Locker Room Links

A round up of interesting Flyers stories throughout the week.

Scott Hartnell goes 5-hole on Roberto Luongo...at the poker table.

From Matthew Showell at PokerListings.com.

After the preliminary heats were over, and the final table had played down to two, it was Hartnell going one on one with Vancouver Canucks captain Roberto Luongo.

While Luongo was clearly the more experienced player Hartnell caught a few breaks and managed to score the winning shot on the Canadian goalie.

"I was lucky to get to the final two and I was lucky against Luongo there to win," admitted Hartnell after the win.

Full Story


Ten pounds of crazy in a five pound bag

From Chris Chester at The Hanson Brothers Booster Club:

Emery, for those not familiar, is basically the NHL's version of Ron Artest mixed with a little Donte Stallworth.

He's gotten in highly-publicized fights with players on other teams (including outgoing Flyers goalie Martin Biron) as well as tiffs with then-teammates Brian McGrattan, Jason Spezza, and Chris Neil. He's also a well-documented nutjob.

To wit, he once ate a cockroach found on the floor of the dressing room on a bet, he's been the subject of roadrage charges, and claims to have been stopped by police in his Hummer 30 times in just two years.

Full Story

He didn't win it this year, but Mike Richards will win that Selke Trophy some day. Two-way play is an instinct built into him.

From the NHL.com website:

With a father who was adamant about mastering defense first and a former coach in junior hockey who taught him the principles of how to do it, maybe a nomination for the Selke Trophy was always in the offing for Mike Richards.

"It's the way I've been brought up playing," Richards, captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, told NHL.com of his defensive style. "It's instinct and a lot of reaction."

Full Story

Bizzaro NHL Awards at Melt Your Face Off hand Andreas Nodl the Calder Trophy.

The Calder Trophy: Dishonors go to…ANDREAS NODL, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Nodl: WHOOSH! What was that?

John Stevens: The entire depth chart passing you by.

Nodl played in half of the Flyers game, amassed 3 assists and a -15, and will now get to play out his career with the Phantoms as they move to upstate New York. (Note: we considered Boris Valabik here, but having his balls touched by Hockey Jesus is reward enough.)

At least we won something.

Full Story

And The Philadelphia Flyers Player Most-Likely To Be Traded Is…

Considering many of the NHL’s most outlandish trade rumors take form deep in the colons of some of Hockey’s most prolific writers, I don’t see why I need to be a NHL insider or a member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association to have an informed opinion as to which Flyers players will be shipped off to another city as the NHL free agency period approaches.

In fact, of all the names that get tossed into the rumor mill on a daily basis, I’m going to go out on a limb and say the only Flyer who will leave Philadelphia between today and July 1st will be Randy Jones.

When you consider the Flyers salary cap woes and their desperation to be active in this Summer’s free agency market are not exactly state secrets, the Flyers will be negotiating from a position of weakness when trying to move any of their high-salaried players.

Taking that fact into consideration, it’s easy enough to assume many of the offers Philadelphia will receive for players such as Daniel Briere (not going anywhere anyway, thanks to the NTC), Joffery Lupul, or Matt Carle are going to be low ball offers.

In the case of players such as Lupul and Carle, it’s only natural that the Flyers wouldn’t want to just give them away, no matter how problematic each has become to the Flyers salary cap predicament.

The bottom line is that since there were significant costs involved in the acquisition of each player, in the form of high draft picks, players, and prospects, the Flyers aren’t going to hold a fire sale any time soon.

Which brings us back to Randy Jones.

Simply put, of all the Flyers players rumored to be on the trading block, Randy Jones is the only one that really makes any sense.

While I can’t tell you which of the 29 28 NHL cities Jones will soon call a new home (what, you think Boston would want him for anything other than firewood?), I can say for certain the return the Flyers will receive for Jones will not be a significant one.

What makes Jones an attractive trading piece is that he is a player in the final year of a contract that will pay him $2.75 million; an affordable salary that many teams looking for a serviceable top six defenseman could easily absorb, providing the deal is sweetened with the addition of a second or third round pick, or a prospect with some upside.

The Flyers made a similar move as last year’s free agency market opened for business, shipping Denis Gauthier and the Flyers 2010 second round draft selection to the Los Angeles Kings for Patrik Hersley and Ned Lukacevic.

For those keeping score at home, the Flyers sent a hard-hitting, serviceable defenseman and a second round draft selection to the Kings for two players who have spent most of their careers playing for the Reading Royals of the ECHL.

It’s as if the Flyers didn’t want to have to pay for airfare as well, and took to two closest scrubs they could find to complete the deal so they could purge Gauthier’s $2.2 million from their payroll.

Since Jones came to Philadelphia in 2003 as an undrafted free agent, the Flyers have spent no hockey capital in the form of draft picks, prospects or players to acquire the Quispamsis native. In fact, the only investment the Flyers have put into Jones is the money spent paying him over the last six seasons.

While it would be nice to see an equal return for a player developed in the Flyers system, the reality of the situation is the Flyers are trying to maneuver the same exact salary cap obstacles which prevented them from being serious players in last year’s sweepstakes for Brian Campbell.

As last season’s darling of the 2008 UFA class, Campbell commanded a deal that awarded him a seven year, $50 million contract averaging $7,142,875 per season.

Campbell’s big payday will likely be the starting point of negotiations for Bouwmeester’s services, and since the Flyers current cap number sits, according to GM Paul Holmgren, “somewhere North of $4 million,” the removal of Jones’ $2.75 million cap number would allow the Flyers to take a seat at the adult’s table on July 1st

The Flyers currently have no second round pick in the 2009 or 2010 entry draft, but they do have two third round selections (no. 81 and no. 87) in this year’s draft. Or, the Flyers could continue their habit of using second round picks as trade currency, and package their 2011 selection with Jones to any team willing to take his salary cap hit.

Another option could be to package a prospect with a combination of upside and question marks in the deal.

Andreas Nodl would seem to fit that description. While the Flyers have been high on their 2006 selection, Nodl looked outmatched at the NHL level last season, and produced just 6 goals and 14 assists in 39 games with the Phantoms of the AHL last season.

Another such player would be Danny Syvret. Despite being one of the AHL’s best defensemen last season, it doesn’t look like Syvret is in the plans for the big team.

Syvret is also in the last year of a contract that will pay him $550,000.00 before qualifying for restricted free agency in 2010.

Of course this is all purely speculation on my part, but based on some of the outrageous contracts the Flyers find themselves burdened with, the facts on the ground suggest that the Flyers can free up enough salary cap space by making one, reasonably painless roster move of a player that would probably leave the team via next year’s free agency market, anyway.

Providing they don't expect much back in return.

At least that’s what my colon is telling me.

Reality Upacks Daniel Briere's Bags

You know how every conversation that involves the Flyers pursuit of UFA defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is almost certain to include a scenario where Daniel Briere conveniently waives his hard earned no-movement clause, allowing himself to obediently be shipped to any team willing to take his massive contract?

As it turns out, reality has unpacked Briere's bags because there is currently no market for his services.

From Pat Hickey at the Montreal Gazette:

Montreal passed on Brière because, despite their previous interest, the last thing they need is a small centre with a cap hit of $6.5 million for each of the next six seasons.

The 31-year-old Brière is listed as 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, but those figures stretch the truth.

There also are concerns about Brière’s health. He went on the injured list three times last season with a variety of abdominal and groin problems. He did score 11 goals and 14 assists in only 29 games and he might have played more if the Flyers hadn’t been up against the cap.

Imagine that. The same issues that frustrate the Flyers with regard to Briere’s injuries and the size of his contract also raise red flags for other teams “interested” in his services.

And why wouldn’t they?

That being said, it’s easy to look at the size and term of Briere’s contract (eight years, $52 million with NTC) and see it as the root of Philadelphia’s salary cap problems.

However, there seems to be a collective amnesia amongst those who question the acquisition of Briere two summers ago.

It’s almost as if many look back on the deal and wonder why the Flyers went after such a high-priced UFA center, when players such as Richards and Carter were ready to emerge.

When the Flyers committed to Briere at such a hefty price tag, it was because the organization saw Briere as it’s future; not Richards and Carter.

At the conclusion of the 2006-2007 season, there were question marks surrounding Mike Richards. While there’s no indications of doubts about his status as important component of the Flyers rebuilding process, at that point no one could definitively point to where Richards fit into the Flyers plans.

There didn’t seem to be a consensus as to whether Richards would be a second or third line center, and there was little evidence early on to suggest that he would emerge as the first line center he has become today.

As for Jeff Carter, if he enjoys playing in Philadelphia, he has Tomas Kaberle to thank for that. After all, it was Kaberle who refused to waive his no-trade clause in a 2008 deadline deal that would have shipped Carter and the Flyers 2009 first round pick (Luca Sbisa) to Toronto for the long sought after Czech blueliner.

While the non-trade had the unintended benefit of motivating Carter to elevate his game, at the time it was evidence that the Flyers were ready to move on.

What both of those inconvenient facts show is that, when the Flyers committed to the Briere era in Philadelphia, it was likely due to the fact that the Flyers were nervous about their future at the center position.

It was only after the emergence of Richards and Carter as top six players, combined with Briere’s nagging injury issues and the Flyers sudden difficulty with salary cap obstacles, that Briere’s $6.5 million yearly salary began to draw scrutiny.

If Briere can shake the injury bug and continue his point-per-game production next season, Flyers fans may begin to remember what all of the excitement of Briere’s acquisition was about in the first place.

If the Flyers can free up enough salary cap space (by trading Joffery Lupul and Matt Carle for picks and prospects) to bring Bouwmeester to Philadelphia this summer, Flyers fans may forget there was ever a salary cap problem in the first place.

Derian Hatcher's Career "Likely" Over

Apparently, Derian Hatcher has undergone full knee replacement surgery.

From The Philadelphia Inquirer:

Defenseman Derian Hatcher underwent full right-knee replacement surgery June 1, the Flyers announced yesterday, and it likely signals the end of his career.

"Likely" signals the end of his career. Think so?

From Chuck Gormley at the Courier Post:

Hatcher underwent a total right knee replacement on Monday and was told he had no remaining cartilage.

"The doctor told me I had the knee of an 84-year-old," Hatcher said.

Yeah, I'd say it's over for the Big Guy.

I think the Flyers brass had this in mind when they signed Derian Hatcher in 2005. Anyone get the number of that bus?



After the lockout season, Bobby Clarke was widely panned for signing Hatcher, a big, lumbering, physical defenseman, to a long-term deal in a post lockout NHL that promised to crack down on obstruction and permit smaller, more deft players to flourish.

While Hatcher wasn't going to skate stride for stride with the waterbugs in the NHL, he sure knew how to take care of business in front of his own net, which was an element sorely lacking in the Flyers defensive game this year.

Hatcher will remain with the Flyers organization as a player development coach.

After the lockout season, Bobby Clarke was widely panned for signing Hatcher, a big, lumbering, physical defenseman, to a long-term deal in a post lockout NHL that promised to crack down on obstruction and permit smaller, more deft players to flourish.

While Hatcher wasn't going to skate stride for stride with the waterbugs in the NHL, he sure knew how to take care of business in front of his own net, which was an element sorely lacking in the Flyers defensive game this year.

Hatcher will remain with the Flyers organization as a player development coach.

The First Casualty Of The Ray Emery Era In Philadelphia

Ray Emery is already destroying Philadelphia with his very existence.

Upon news of Emery's imminent signing, Madison McGraw aka "Girl Arsonist" became the first of many idiots articulate voices to throw her hands up to the heavens and shout "aight Philly. I'm out!"

Weapons-grade stupidity brought to you via YouTube:



I don't think Paul Holmgren, a former NHL bad ass, is particularly fond of "nice little cakes," which is probably why Scottie Upshall got shipped off to the desert last March in exchange for another pastry sledgehammer, Daniel Carcillo.

If you begin to wither under the screeching of this shrill, mutinous harpy, just follow my lead and stare at her chest until the video clip mercifully comes to its conclusion.

Girl Arsonist, please (please, PLEASE!) leave the video hockey punditry to Steve Dangle:

Ray Emery's Road To Redemption Leads Through Philadelphia

If you’ve read any of the Flyers fan message boards these last two days, you’d think the Flyers announced they were housing a Guantanamo detainee in their crease next season.

The shrieking hysteria over the signing of former Ottawa netminder Ray Emery to a one-year, $1.5 million contract borders on the absurd, to put it kindly.

Yes, Emery has a checkered past littered with character issues that include brawling with teammates and trainers, road raging senior citizens, and “stunt driving” incidents that have led to dozens of confrontations with Ottawa police.

But the funny thing about being a 23-year-old professional athlete and millionaire is that, if you’re not careful, you can become kind of an asshole. This is hardly an anomaly in the world of professional sports.

Yesterday, a humbled, contrite, and seemingly more mature (26-year-old) Ray Emery addressed the Philadelphia media as the Flyers announced his addition to the team for the 2009-2010 season.

He sounded like a man being released from prison, (or the KHL, which sounds similar) well aware of the scrutiny that will follow him around like a shadow as he tries to find redemption.

Lost in all of the character issues is the fact that Emery led his 2006-2007 Ottawa teammates to the Stanley Cup Finals, where the Senators succumbed to a rough and tumble Anaheim Ducks team in five games.

Emery’s 2006-2007 playoff record was 13-7, including three shutouts, one in each round leading up to the Finals.

Of the seven games the Senators lost in the 2006-2007 postseason, just one contest was decided by more than a goal (their 6-2 Game Five elimination from the Stanley Cup Finals).

The following season, as the Senators staggered from a Stanley Cup hangover, Emery’s personal issues came to a head, which led to Ottawa buying out the final year of his contract.

Unable to shake his rep as a locker room cancer, Emery’s career path led to exile with the Atlant Moscow Oblast in the newly formed Kontinental Hockey League for the 2008-2009 season, which he led to a first place finish with a 22-8 record.

In addition to significant NHL playoff experience (playoff record: 18-12), Emery brings a fire and toughness to the Flyers crease that has not been seen since Ron Hextall was in his prime.

Honestly, do you really think Sidney Crosby will torpedo himself, skates first, into Ray Emery’s net and emerge from the twine without a fractured orbital bone, or at a minimum, the puffy raised outline of a goaltender’s waffle across his face?

At just 26 years of age, if Emery proves capable of leading the Flyers deep into the playoffs, $1.5 million will seem exactly like the backup goaltender salary that it is.

At those prices, why not give Emery an opportunity to regain his form of just two years ago?

If he’s a disaster early in the season, nothing would prevent the Flyers from trading for the players like Josh Harding, Kari Lehtonen, and Corey Schneider that the message board crowds have been clamoring for.

After all, Philadelphia has shown that it has the ability to shake off a slow start and still skate into the postseason.

It is somewhat encouraging that fans, no matter how opposed they are to this particular personnel decision, at least acknowledge the savings afforded by Emery’s low cap number will allow the Flyers to be more aggressive in this year’s unrestricted free agent market, where they are certain to target the prize of this year’s UFA pool, Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.

But for many of the faithful, Emery’s past deeds outweigh his potential future contributions to a hockey team with an infamous organizational blind spot at the goaltending position.

It’s ironic that a team looking to redeem years of bad goaltending decisions is looking to do so by acquiring a player that is seeking redemption himself.

Lin Jensen once said “Redemption can be found in Hell itself if that’s where you happen to be.”

Ray Emery, welcome to Philadelphia. It’s about as close to Hell as you’re ever going to get.

Welcome to Philadelphia JVR!

It's a shame the Phantoms won't be in Philadelphia next year. I'd love to see the guy play in some AHL games before he's fitted for an orange and black sweater.

AHHH HA HA...I'm an asshole.

Dear Jack Edwards,

You're a jack ass.

Heart,
Ronnybrook