Road trippin'...plus cut day news

Time - 7:00 @ Scotiabank Place, Ottawa

Tonight the O&B travel up north to Canada to face the Senators. The game will be broadcast on 610 tonight since the Phillies still need to finish up Atlanta. The Flyers took 32 players to Ottawa after the first round of cuts were made. John Stevens announced that a lot of the younger guys who saw some action Monday will either be sent to the Phantoms (who are 2-0 in the preseason after beating Lowell the other night), or head back to their junior teams. Luca Sbisa, who I thought played fairly well, will head back to Lethbridge. Andreas Nodl, Matt Clackson, and John Kalinski will suit up for the Phantoms. Stevens said he was impressed by the young kids, but I doubt any of them will actually be with the senior squad when the Flyers meet the Rangers.

The biggest news today is that Simon Gagne will suit up and play Saturday against the Hurricanes at the Spectrum. This will be his first game since getting knocked out last season, so hopefully he'll be able to take some hits. I don't see Stevens playing him any more than a period or so, but it will be good to see him out there and to see if he and Danny Briere can regain their chemistry.

The Flyers will remain in Ontario this week when they play their annual game in London tomorrow against the New York Islanders.

Flyers 4, Devils 1

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)


OK, I'll admit, I missed most of the first period due to dinner, but I did catch enough of the next two periods to come away fairly impressed with the young kids tonight. Particularly with Steve Downie, Luca Sbisa, and Matt Clackson, who dropped his mitts just like I thought. Downie, who is basically pegged as a mindless thug by the entire hockey world, showed that he does have a scoring touch, bagging one each in the first and second period and looked comfortable centering the third line with Asham and Kalinski. New captain Mike Richards and Scott Hartnell scored the other two goals, giving the Flyers the 4-1 win. Marty Biron played fantastic, stopping all 20 shots he faced. Sbisa, who's a better puck handler than I thought, didn't look too out of place for an 18-year old and showed that he could handle playing in a physical division. He's too young to make this team for this campaign, but he'll give Holmgren and Stevens a good reason to consider a call-up should someone get hurt. The lone Devils goal came off a giveaway by Claude Giroux right in front of the Flyers net, otherwise the defense played virtually a perfect game. Overall, not a bad first start. It's New Jersey, so I didn't expect a shootout. But if Downie and the rest of the younger players keep progressing, this will be a good team for a long time.


Next up - Flyers travel to Ottawa to face the Senators, who lost 2-1 to the Rangers in New York tonight. MSG is broadcasting all of the Rangers preseason games, and apparently they're playing four games in four nights this week. Guess they wanted to get them out of the way...

Gamenight - Flyers vs. Devils

Time - 7:00 @ Wachovia Center

Yes. It's time. Yeah, I know these games don't count, but WHO FRIGGIN' CARES?!?!?! After what had to be the longest summer in recorded history, the Flyers finally get to drop the puck against the Devils tonight. The game will be broadcast over the Internet on the Flyers web site and can be heard on 610 WIP radio.

The lines for tonight's game will be (from the Daily News):
Nodl-Richards-Hartnell
Upshall-Carter-Giroux
Kalinski-Downie-Asham
Cote-Pow-Clackson

Coburn-Vaananen
Sbisa-Eminger
Parent-Curry

Biron (first 2 periods)
Ouellet (third period)

Downie, Asham, Clackson, Pow, and Cote will no doubt drop the gloves tonight. Goodness knows they know how to, and I wouldn't expect any game between these two teams to go without at leats one fight. Simon Gagne, who did practice this weekend, will be held out of tonight's game, along with other veterans who don't need to play every game (NHL rules state that at least eight veterans must dress in the preseason). I'm really interested in getting a look at how Luca Sbisa plays tonight. He really wants to make the team this year, so I suspect he'll be one of the young kids hitting everything that moves.

DROP THE PUCK ALREADY!!!!

Rookies Update - Gee, how do I put this...

they got smacked around. There. That should sum it up.

The Flyers rookies went down 7-0 against Washington today at the Kettlers Capitals Complex in Virginia. The game was streamed live on the Caps official site, but seeing as how I was unaware of this, I missed it. Just as well, I guess. This was more of a preview for the Phantoms than the Flyers, so we shouldn't be too worried.

Flyers sign J.S. Aubin - 1 yr. deal

(photo courtesy of Getty Images)

Just in case we don't have enough goaltenders in camp, the Flyers announced today that they have signed free agent Jean-Sebastien Aubin to a one-year deal. Aubin spent most of his time last season with the Portland Pirates and Manchester Monarchs in the AHL and played 19 games in the NHL with Los Angeles, going 5-6-1 with a 3.19 GAA. Given that Nittymaki needs some time to get his hip going, it doesn't hurt to bring in another NHL-tested veteran backup for Biron in goal. I would suspect that Aubin could be the third goalie coming out of camp, especially if Holmgren and Stevens determine that prospects Scott Munroe and Michael Teslak need more time in the AHL.

Holmgren also gave an update on the status of Derien Hatcher, and it looks as if he'll be starting the season on the injured reserve list. As is typical with the Flyers' organization and the way they treat their veterans, the team will allow Hatcher to make his own decision regarding his future rather than force him into retirement. Plus, this allows the front office to take his salary off the books ($3.5M) which could be useful if the team needs a short-term player. Even though Hatcher has clearly lost a step due to his age and his knee problems, he's still a pretty commanding player on the ice. He may not be able to keep up with faster opponents, but he can still put their heads through the glass, and that's a good trait for a defenseman to have, isn't it?

Get better, Hatch.

No surprises here, Richards gets the C

(Getty Images)

In my last post, I stated that the Flyers wouldn't name a captain until late in training camp. Out of the possible choices, I thought that Mike Richards was the best fit after last season. Well, we didn't have to wait long. The Flyers made it official today and named Richards the 17th captain in team history. The team website stated that Kimmo Timonen and Simon Gagne will be the alternates this season. It sounds as if Mike is more than ready to step into his new position:

“It’s obviously a privilege to be part of such a traditional organization, and be captain of it,” he said. “I am going to do my best to do it. We have a lot of great team leaders right now on our team, and you don’t have to change anything. I think everybody really helps out around the dressing room. There are so many leaders, you just kind of have to do your own thing and more worry about yourself and help out where things are needed.”

It's nice to know they got this done before camp starts on the 20th. It's one less distraction and it gives Richards the opportunity to get used to his role as captain in exhibition games rather than giving him the "C" during the regular season.

- Speaking of camp, the rookies will head down to Virginia tomorrow to face the Caps.

- The full camp roster is up on the team website. The two-day tournament to kick off camp is a pretty cool idea and a good way to get some friendly competition early on. And a small note to the NHL: Naming divisions after famous former players is a GOOD thing.

Tuesday News

First things first, last night's game between the Eagles and Cowboys was one of the best I've seen in a while between the two. Yeah, we came up on the wrong end of a 41-37 final, but I can't complain too much. We went 12 rounds with the best team in football on their field and nearly walked out with a W. Couple bonehead plays (DeSean Jackson) and bonehead playcalling (a lateral? Seriously? What is this, backyard football??), but otherwise a good showing for Week 2. Now, on to serious business...

The Flyers will be going into next week's training camp down a goalie as Antero Nittymaki will be out 4-6 weeks after undergoing hip surgery. According to Paul Holmgren on the Flyers website, Nitty got some fluid drained (eww) from his left hip and needs some time to recover. Bill Meltzer from HockeyBuzz reported that the Flyers will invite former prospect Maxime Ouellet to camp for a tryout. Ouellet was with the team a few years ago but was traded to the Capitals for...Adam Oates. Yup, 'cause THAT trade worked out for us. He'll most likely be used as a replacement #2 behind Marty Biron until Nitty gets back to 100%, though I don't see him making the team.

I finally picked up my copy of the 2008-09 yearbook from The Hockey News and I have to say, I think they nailed it on the Flyers' outlook this year. THN has us as the 4th team in the East behind Montreal, Pittsburgh, and Washington, giving us a first-round playoff matchup with the Ottawa Senators. Not too sure about Ottawa finishing 5th, but who knows with that team? Holmgren has a great quote in the preview, saying that the Flyers "really didn't do anything" last season, even though they went to the conference final, and was way too inconsistent, which has been the problem for this franchise for years. Heck, that's been the problem for just about every Philly team since I've been alive. Now that Simon Gagne's back, the first unit with Danny Briere and possibly Claude Giroux has got to be more consistent with scoring. Of course, the Flyers are bringing back seven 20-goal scorers from last year, but adding Gagne will only help.

Now that Jason Smith is off playing with the aforementioned Senators, the Flyers will enter camp without a named captain. And it looks like it doesn't bother them one bit. Ed Moran of the Philadelphia Daily News reported today that the team will take its time in choosing a new captain and may not make a decision until the season starts. Kimmo Timonen, Mike Richards, and Gagne were mentioned as possible candidates. I would be happy with any of them, but I think that Richards earned the spot last season after the way he stepped up after Gagne went out, especially in the playoffs. Timonen was the captain in Nashville, but I think this is Richards's team.

Big shoutout to the NHL Network for airing the Traverse City Rookie Tournament and giving me hockey to watch that doesn't involve the 1992 Chicago Blackhawks. Nothing against the Hawks, mind you, it's just that I need a new fix. Also, the September 27th exhibition game at the Spectrum will also be televised, so all of us who weren't able to get tickets will at least be able to watch it. And speaking of TV, Comcast announced that all games will be broadcast in super-duper HD. This includes all Flyers, Sixers, and Phillies games. Wonder why they didn't do that before? Oh well.

Lotza news coming up...

I'll get to it after the Eagles - Cowboys game tonight, but suffice to say it revolves around Flyers' training camp and a certain goalie needing hip surgery.

Plus I'll go into The Hockey News's preview of the Flyers.

Go Birds.

Rookie Camp Update

The Philadelphia Inquirer today reported that the Flyers have invited all of their young prospects to the SkateZone in Voorhees for a four-day camp starting next week. This one is official; no more informal scrimmage stuff. According to the report, the camp will end in Virginia with a game against the Washington Capitals rookies on Thursday. You can see who will be attending in the story, and I can almost guarantee that this will be Claude Giroux's last rookie camp before heading up to the senior team. Ryan Parent, Tim Ramholt, and Steve Downie should also be with the Flyers on opening night, though it may be tough for Downie to get a lot of ice time unless John Stevens needs an extra agitator for certain opponents. The camp is open to the public, so I'm definitely going to find some way of sneaking down to South Jersey during the afternoon to check out the young kids.

UPDATE - More info on rookie camp from Bill Meltzer of HockeyBuzz...

Gettin' closer

Training camp's a-comin' soon. It's finally starting to cool down around here and I swear I saw some leaves already changing. Be gone with you, summer!!

It's been known for quite some time now that the Flyers are introducing a new third jersey for the upcoming season. A lot of of other teams are as well (Carolina broke their new duds out today), and a few of them seem quite nice. The Flyers decided to bring back the old 1967-style sweaters, which will be primarily orange with white shoulder piping. According to icethetics.com (an awesome hockey site), the new jerseys will be unveiled on November 28 in time for the Flyers' home game against, you guessed it, Carolina. Also right on time for the Christmas rush. Some good marketing folks down there on Broad St.

This was already going to be a nostalgic season in Philly with the Spectrum finally closing its doors. Bringing back the original orange will only add to that feeling, and it's unfortunate they won't be worn during the two exhibition games. However, it's nice to see teams going back to more traditional uniforms instead of pushing black jerseys as a way to capture the "urban demographic" made popular by the LA Kings in the 90's. ***Just for the record, I do own a black Flyers jersey. I was in fact for the the black sweater before I was against it.*** Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Boston, and the New York Islanders are all going with the retro look. Also, Montreal announced that they would showcase some of their old sweaters in recognition of the club's 100th anniversary. I still say the NHL should take the next step and use the original division and conference names. Even if there are two more divisions, I'm sure the NHL can find two historical hockey figures worthy of getting their own. But whatever. Give me the retro orange and I'm happy.

Confirmed - Flyers vs. Phantoms @ The Spectrum

I mentioned this before, but seeing as how the Flyers have made it public, here's the official press release from the team:

Due to overwhelmingly popular demand to see the Philadelphia Flyers
one more time in their former home, the Wachovia Spectrum, the Flyers have added an additional preseason game to their schedule and will face their American
Hockey League affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, in an exhibition game at the
Wachovia Spectrum on Tuesday, October 7 at 7:30 pm. Tickets, as low as $19.67,
in honor of the opening year of the Wachovia Spectrum, 1967, will go on sale on
Wednesday, September 10 at 10 a.m.

It's pretty cool that the ticket prices start at $19.67, though I would imagine they will go for ten times that on the open market. If demand is anything like the game with Carolina, these tickets will be gone in a hurry.

NHR - Eagles 38, Rams 3. God, this was fun to watch. The start of the football season, combined with the baseball pennant races coming to a close, are a clear sign of one thing:

FLYERS VS. NEW JERSEY IN EXACTLY 14 DAYS.

Labor Day Musings (albeit a day late)

It is entirely too friggin' warm right now to be thinking about hockey, but here goes...

- Lindros Snubs Flyers return to Spectrum - The Flyers plan on bringing back all the former captains for the Sept. 22 game against Carolina in the old arena. Everyone, that is, except Eric Lindros, who has decided not to show up. Apparently he has a previous engagement, and if that's the case, then that's the case. The Lindros-Clarke affair was a soap opera to say the least, and I have to say, the two of them out on the ice together would have been a bit...tense. Eric was a huge part of the '97 Cup run and a fan favorite for years, but ultimately he and his agent/father crossed swords with then-GM Bob Clarke and lost. With Clarke mostly out of the picture these days, I would think that the animosity between Lindros and the organization has faded.

- Also mentioned in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Flyers will play their AHL affiliate Phantoms in an exhibition game at the Spectrum on October 7. The game against the Hurricanes wasn't enough, so another Spectrum game was added. I still think they could work in a regular season match to close out in style.

- Maryland 14, Delaware 7 - Meh. I say again, meh.

- Bill Meltzer, an excellent beat writer for the Flyers, reported on Hockey Buzz that informal training sessions have begun down at the Flyers SkateZone in Voorhees, NJ. I correct my initial remark. It's NEVER too warm to be thinking about hockey.