After Losing Out On Weber, Many Defensive and Offensive Options Still Available For The Flyers

After days of waiting, Nashville killed the chances of Shea Weber becoming a Flyer. It wasn't the end of the world for the Flyers. They Still have many choices to explore.

Shane Doan is a great option, but the only issue is the amount of money he wants. He wants a 4 year deal worth $30 million. He is a great two way player and brings leadership and a veteran presence to the locker room, but his production in the past years has slowly began to decline. That calls into question whether he is really worth all that money for declining offensive production and a locker room presence?

The thought of Bobby Ryan on a line with Claude Giroux makes me smile like a little kid at Disney World. I'm all in on Bobby Ryan as long as Homer can get him without spending an arm and a leg. The Ducks probably want Schenn or Coutuier and more. I don't think Bobby Ryan is worth that much.  Meszaros could be another piece to that deal, but that could hurt an already downgraded Flyers defense. If Holmgren can pull it off with Read, prospects, and picks I would love to see him in orange and black.

There are still smaller options on the market that would cost a lot less. Those include Jason Arnott, Jay Bouwmeester, and Mike Knuble. The only issue with Bouwmeester is his cap hit. If the Flyers leave the team how it is now they will still be solid, and can enter the 2013 free agency with money to spend with forwards like Corey Perry, Joffrey Lupul , Jarome Iginla, and Ryan Getzlaf and defenseman such as Ian White, Mark Streit, and Douglas Murray are available. 

                                         

                                                                Photograph by: Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

My Predictions For The Top Eight Seeds In Each Conference

Eastern Conference

1. New York Rangers

2. Washington Capitals

3. Boston Bruins

4. Philadelphia Flyers

5. Pittsburgh Penguins

6. Tampa Bay Lightning

7. Carolina Hurricanes

8. Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference

1. Chicago Blackhawks

2. Vancouver Canucks

3. LA Kings

4. St. Louis Blues

5. Detroit Red Wings

6. Nashville Predators

7. Minnesota Wild

8. San Jose Sharks

An Open Letter To Sidney Crosby

Most Penguins fans don't see it. A few would agree that Crosby's antics are annoying and some are disappointed that he acts the way he does while being the face of the NHL and their franchise. Don't get me wrong, every player has their moments, but Crosby is the biggest offender. There are some who are up there with Crosby such as Avery. Is Avery considered the face of the league and the franchise he plays for? No. Crosby plays himself off as the good guy or "Sid the Kid". Sorry Sid, but you're not what you make yourself to be. Character wise I can't stand Sidney Crosby, but I don't have trouble respecting him as the best player in the game. So here it goes.

Dear Sidney Crosby, Sid, Sid the Kid, whatever you want to be called,

You probably know a lot of hockey fans hate you. I'm sure when you step off the ice you are a great guy, but on the ice you play a different role. I understand everyone acts up on the ice, but you go a bit far for being the face of the Penguins franchise and the league.

It's just the good kid act that catches us all. Like Mike Milbury was saying you, try and play off as that kid who is innocent and nice, but under that all you truly aren't. What annoys me the most is the dirty things. It's a bit ridiculous for the best player in the world to go after other players and damage their career, isn't it? If I were playing the best hockey of my career and got knocked out by a cheap shot I'd be extra careful with the decisions I make. I wouldn't want to put any other players through what I had just gone through.

For a couple examples we can visit you causing Claude Giroux to have wrist surgery. Slashes happen, but when you fracture both wrists on a player? Too far. Let's move to a late hit on Brayden Schenn. After the whistle Schenn  gave you a crosscheck and you flew to the ice like you were shot by a shotgun and looked helplessly for the refs. Was that really necessary? Let's get this straight now. You throw a late high hit on a player, then proceed to drop like you were blasted in the back by a shotgun when you get crosschecked by him. What about that time against the Thrashers? You were the third man in and repeatedly punched the guy in his lower area. What's that all about? How about game 3 of the playoffs? Attack Hartnell from behind then run away and let Craig Adams fight him for you and have him take a suspension. C'mon buddy. That's why we hate you.  

The worst of it all is the diving. A stick within a few inches of you? Time to fly! A hand or stick near your face? Your neck snaps back like Mike Tyson just laid a solid punch on you. The worst thing about it is that all these get called penalties. You take advantage of the fact that the league has made you the poster boy.

How about the crying and whining? There's videos of you mic'd up crying to the refs. There's you admitting that you asked the refs to tell the fans to stop throwing hats after Ovechkin scored a hat trick. That's terrible respect for your peers  and even worse sportsmanship. Grow up.

I highly doubt you'll see this, but I hope somehow you do. I respect your skill and wish no harm onto you like others, but I can't wish you success. I'm a Flyers fan and don't like you much. Clean up your act and make the face of the league a good one.

Sincerely,

Me

                                                                                                      (Getty Images)

It has been real JVR

The Flyers have traded forward James vanRiemsdyk for Luke Schenn of Toronto. James was the 2nd overall pick in the 2007 draft. He had spent 3 seasons with the Flyers.

JVR had been the talk of possible trades with Columbus and Anaheim. Names included in those deals were Rick Nash and Bobby Ryan. Neither of those deals panned out.
 There is the possibility that JVR will be a star at some point, but Luke Schenn is only 22 and has the potential to be a top defenseman in the league.

This trade will also bring Luke to play with his brother Brayden.

 I leave you with these. A picture of James and Snoop and one of my favorite goals scored by him.

UPDATE: Goodbye Sergei Bobrovsky

Sergei Bobrovsky, "The goalie of the future", Bob, whatever you want to call him, has been moved to Columbus for the 45th overall pick and two additional picks. His future in Philadelphia look bright until the Flyers signed goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.

They got a great return for him after an impressive rookie season and a not so nice sophomore year.

Bob, like Bryz, was a victim of the teams bad defense. Bob wants to start somewhere and didn't have that chance in Philly. Hopefully he gets that chance in Columbus.

So, I leave you with this as I say goodbye to Bob. Enjoy Columbus buddy.

                                          By Eric Hartline, US Presswire




UPDATE: The Flyers have also acquired the 117th pick this year and a 4th round pick next year.

UPDATE: Bobrovsky on the move!

Daren Dreger is reporting Sergei Bobrovksky to Columbus for draft picks. This may just be the start of the madness. More details to follow.

UPDATE: The 45th overall pick is included in the deal. 2 other picks are involved.

Now is the time for Weber

A week ago I would've never agreed with the Flyers going after Weber, but now looks like a great time.

Timonen, their best defenseman, only has two years left on his contract. Once Timonen is gone they will have a few options. Bourdon, Gus, or a free agent. Weber isn't the same type of defenseman as Timonen, but he would fill the large void left by Timonen's exit. He is the captain of Nashville and has leadership qualities that will be missed when Timonen is gone. Weber will also take big minutes off of other defenseman.

The most hated Flyer is next. Matt Carle. Remember how well he played with Pronger? Weber will have the same effect on Carle. Weber has that effect on Suter.

Weber will give the Flyers the big shot from the point on the powerplay that they have been lacking in Pronger's absence. Kubina was acquired last year to try and fix that, but things never panned out too well with him. Weber is also very defensively solid.

The Flyers have the perfect chance to acquire the defenseman they have been missing since Pronger has been hurt. You won't have this chance every year, and they need to capitalize on it while they can. If Nashville matches their offer they at least tried. 

                                                                                                      Mark Humphrey, AP

Why Paul Holmgren Deserved GM of the Year

In the summer of 2011 following a dissapointing season ending with a sweep by the Bruins Ed Snider said that this team will never again have a goalie carousal again.

On June 23, 2011 Flyers' GM Paul Holmgren pulled the trigger on two deals that shocked Flyers fans. Mike Richards and prospect Rob Bordson were traded to LA for Wayne Simminds, Brayden Schenn, and LA's 2012 second round pick. Next Holmgren traded Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Jakub Voracek, a 2011 first round pick(Sean Couturier) and a 2011 third round pick. Both deals made room for the addition of future hall of fame forward Jaromir Jagr and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.

In the 2010-2011 season the Flyers finished at 47-23-12 with 106 points and second seed. This season the Flyers finsished 47-26-9 with 103 points and fifth seed. Not much of a difference in the standing to have 3 full time rookies playing on the team in Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn, and Matt Read.

All in all the NHL made a bad decision not putting Holmgren in the running for GM of the year. He truly deserved it. Hopefully if this young Flyers team helps bring home a cup soon they will realize his moves and put him on the ballet.

Claude Giroux Should Win the Hart

                There is no doubt that Evgeni Malkin and Steven Stamkos are greatly talented players, but Claude Giroux has the best case for the Hart. Over the summer Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren took this Flyers team and put it on the back of Giroux after trading away captain Mike Richards and Jeff Carter.

                Last season Claude Giroux had a breakout season tallying 76 points in 82 games which placed him at 13th in the point totals tied with 3 other players. The season he had showed the emergence of one of the next young superstars in the NHL. This season Claude Giroux is currently 3rd in points with 86 behind Steven Stamkos and Evengi Malkin.

                Giroux's biggest reason for Hart is his linemate, Scott Hartnell. He may have helped save Hartnell's career as a Flyer after a disappointing start for the left winger. Hartnell has now hit a career high in goals and points and is tied for the league lead in powerplay goals with 15. Giroux was placed on a line with future HOF forward Jaromir Jagr ,who spent his previous 3 seasons in the KHL, who he clicked well with early in the season after scoring his first goal of the season against Boston in the first game of the season.

                Claude Giroux makes whoever he plays with better, whether it be on his line, power play, or penalty kill he boosts other players skills. He has been a huge part of the penalty kill and has played well defensively all season. 

Clade Giroux (left) and Jaromir Jagr (right)

My Interview With Ian Laperrière

Today I got the chance at something I've always wanted to do, interview a professional sports player, and today I got to do just that! I want to thank Ian Laperrière for taking his time to do this. Enjoy!

How old were you when you knew you wanted to pursue hockey as a career?

All my life I wanted to be a NHL player but I realize that I had a shot when I start to play Jr ( 16 )

Did hockey come easy to you or did you have to practice more than others to make it to the NHL?

Always took pride by working harder then the guy next to me , specially in the summers . I believe I had a long career because of that .

Throughout your career did you enjoy the offensive side of the game or the defensive side of the game?

Well my role was more on the defensive side of the game , I took pride on every p.k and defensive assignment i had.

What current flyer do you think has a playing style most like yours?

Claude Giroux :) kidding , I like to think a little mix of Zack Rinaldo and Max Talbot

Would you consider taking up coaching in the NHL?

I'm trying everything right now to see where I can fine a second passion , coaching is on that list .

Is being a sports analyst on that list?

I like it but I think I need to be closer to the game right now ... But you never know

Do you think wearing visors in the NHL should be made mandatory?

No I think guys know the risk and consequences and the players should be able to make that chose .

I have one last question, Who is your favorite line mate you most liked to play with?

Well I enjoy playing with the guys I kill penalty with , Dan Bylsma, Ben Guite , Blair Betts ... I have a Lot of respect for those guys .

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