Linebackers:
Much can be said about the starters of the team and pretty much the depth in general here: all these guys are VERY young still. Yet if history has taught us anything, that really isn’t all that bad: the leader of the unit has to be Omar Gaither, who started six games at WILL in 2006 and all 16 games in 2007 at MIKE linebacker, but looks to go back to WILL full time with the emergence of Stewart Bradley, who had two strong starts at MIKE late last year. Bradley moving to MIKE means that Chris Gocong, the starter at SAM last year after missing his rookie year in 2006 with a stinger, won’t have to worry about him dueling over SAM with him. Akeem Jordan, a rookie free agent out of James Madison, showed some spurts of skill last year late and will figure not only into special teams but also the job at WILL, while the team picked up former Titans and Colts starter and special teams leader Rocky Boiman (oh, how fitting of a first name for him to have in this city!) to compete for the SAM spot with Gocong and lead the special teams unit. The team also has Pago Togafau, who they picked up from camp cuts from Arizona last year, and three rookies in Andy Studebaker, Joe Mays, and Justin Roland as well, compiling nine linebackers for six spots.
What will happen: The trio of Gaither, Bradley, and Gocong are all going to start and will continue to prove their worth as well, but depth is where we need to find the answers: I put Jordan in to backup WILL, Boiman will backup at SAM, and Studebaker will backup at MIKE while the team will keep Mays and Togafau and put them on the squad.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Position Breakdown: Defensive Line
The first part in a series leading up to Training Camp:
Defensive Ends:
Once upon a time, the Eagles had a problem finding someone to tag up on the right end with Jevon Kearse, their big free agent signing back in 2004, but now Kearse is gone back to Nashville. Now the team needs to find someone who can man left end opposite Trent Cole, their pro bowl defensive end coming off a career best 12.5 sacks in 2007, but that shouldn’t be that big of a problem. Juqua Parker, formerly carrying the last name of Thomas, started the final five games of last season but will face competition for his starting spot from free agent end converted from linebacker Chris Clemons and also 2nd year pro Victor Abiamiri, the teams second pick in the second round of the 2007 draft from Notre Dame. Factoring into the equation as he does every year will be Jerome McDougle and also Darren Howard, who has been reported to have slimmed down and is in the best shape of his life, and don’t forget Bryan Smith, the team’s 3rd round pick this year out of McNeese State.
What likely happens: Cole will be locked in at right end as he has been the last two years, but left end is one spot that is going to be the focal point of all training camp: I will go out on the limb and say that Abiamiri gets it IN THEORY because Parker will also see a lot of snaps but Victor will be the 1st down left end: Parker and Clemons will serve as the top backups, while Howard will nudge his way into the 5th spot. As for Jerome, he will get his long awaited release from the team, and Bryan will likely be put on the practice squad.
Defensive Tackles:
Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley can form one of the top tackle duos in the NFL as they progress to their prime: Bunkley had a bad rookie year before taking a sharp 180 turn last year to provide a sense of run stuffing we needed, while Patterson has not been one to shy away from quarterback pressure. The depth however is a spot that has been lacking and is probably a good reason why the team used their first pick in the second round on Trevor Laws out of Notre Dame and former teammate of Victor. He will compete with Montae Reagor, who the team signed last year as a free agent away from Indianapolis, and also Kimo Von Olhoffen, who the team let go after a year contract but decided to bring him back in early June for training camp. Another interesting factor is Dan Klecko, who the team originally signed to fill depth for fullback but then they decided to move him back to his most recent position at tackle (remember, he entered the league with New England a linebacker and went to Indy as a tackle and goal line blocker).
What likely happens: Patterson and Bunkley just aren’t the future of this team, they are also the present: the 1st round picks of 2005 and 2006 are locked in as the starters. Laws, upon the news of his signing and getting into camp, will likely be the first man off the bench and Reagor will be the second man off the bench, while Von Olhoffen will be the 5th spot to alternate games with Reagor. This, of course, leaves Klecko out of the equation, no sooner after he came to the team as a fullback.
Defensive Ends:
Once upon a time, the Eagles had a problem finding someone to tag up on the right end with Jevon Kearse, their big free agent signing back in 2004, but now Kearse is gone back to Nashville. Now the team needs to find someone who can man left end opposite Trent Cole, their pro bowl defensive end coming off a career best 12.5 sacks in 2007, but that shouldn’t be that big of a problem. Juqua Parker, formerly carrying the last name of Thomas, started the final five games of last season but will face competition for his starting spot from free agent end converted from linebacker Chris Clemons and also 2nd year pro Victor Abiamiri, the teams second pick in the second round of the 2007 draft from Notre Dame. Factoring into the equation as he does every year will be Jerome McDougle and also Darren Howard, who has been reported to have slimmed down and is in the best shape of his life, and don’t forget Bryan Smith, the team’s 3rd round pick this year out of McNeese State.
What likely happens: Cole will be locked in at right end as he has been the last two years, but left end is one spot that is going to be the focal point of all training camp: I will go out on the limb and say that Abiamiri gets it IN THEORY because Parker will also see a lot of snaps but Victor will be the 1st down left end: Parker and Clemons will serve as the top backups, while Howard will nudge his way into the 5th spot. As for Jerome, he will get his long awaited release from the team, and Bryan will likely be put on the practice squad.
Defensive Tackles:
Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley can form one of the top tackle duos in the NFL as they progress to their prime: Bunkley had a bad rookie year before taking a sharp 180 turn last year to provide a sense of run stuffing we needed, while Patterson has not been one to shy away from quarterback pressure. The depth however is a spot that has been lacking and is probably a good reason why the team used their first pick in the second round on Trevor Laws out of Notre Dame and former teammate of Victor. He will compete with Montae Reagor, who the team signed last year as a free agent away from Indianapolis, and also Kimo Von Olhoffen, who the team let go after a year contract but decided to bring him back in early June for training camp. Another interesting factor is Dan Klecko, who the team originally signed to fill depth for fullback but then they decided to move him back to his most recent position at tackle (remember, he entered the league with New England a linebacker and went to Indy as a tackle and goal line blocker).
What likely happens: Patterson and Bunkley just aren’t the future of this team, they are also the present: the 1st round picks of 2005 and 2006 are locked in as the starters. Laws, upon the news of his signing and getting into camp, will likely be the first man off the bench and Reagor will be the second man off the bench, while Von Olhoffen will be the 5th spot to alternate games with Reagor. This, of course, leaves Klecko out of the equation, no sooner after he came to the team as a fullback.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Training Camp Battles
It's almost that time of year. Training Camp. Time to watch young players battle it out with veterans and earn spots on the Eagles roster. It will be a tough, grueling couple of weeks. Intense battles will loom as there are 80 players vying for 53 spots. Those not selected to the active roster might have a chance to end up on the Practice Squad.
The biggest three battles in Training Camp IMO are as follows:
Offensive Line, Tight End and Fullback.
Last year the Offensive Line was banged up at different times. Only C Jammal Jackson was healthy enough to play all 16 games. This year health will again be a key.
Starters this year again should be LT William Thomas, LG Shawn Andrews, C Jammal Jackson, RG Todd Herremans and RT Jon Runyan.
That is not etched in stone though. Winston Justice has been taking reps at OG. We drafted Max Jean-Gilles last year as an OG. And this year we added three more OL hoping to make an impact.
Mike Gibson is a 6'3 305 lb OG. He has good blocking techniques and may be able to slide outside to a OT position.
King Dunlap is a 6'8 310 lb OT who has long arms and a mean streak. Think of the second coming of Jon Runyan.
Mike McGlynn is a 6'4 311 lb OG who like Gibson could swing outside and play OT.
These three rookies will battle it out with veterans Nick Cole, Scott Young, and Stefan Rodgers for spots on the roster. It should be an interesting battle to watch.
The next big battle will be the TE position. Currently we have four on the roster. LJ Smith is coming off an injury filled season. He is back healthy and expected to be the number one TE.
Brent Celek was a rooie last year but played like a veteran at times. He received extensive playing time due to Smith's injury. Look for him to emerge as a number two TE this year.
Matt Schobel had an OK season. He was brought in to take some pressure off of LJ Smith but it hasn't really happened. I don't look for him to retain his spot this year.
Kris Wilson was brought in to add size and speed. He spent the last couple years in Kansas City behind All-World TE Tony Gonzalez. Playing behind him for four years should have some positive effect on Wilson. The Eagles like his speed and hands. He could emerge as a dangerous threat as the season progresses.
The last big battle to watch is the Fullback. It is a rarely used position by the Eagles, but an important one when we do use it. Jason Davis should be the starter. But there are concerns about his health. Davis has been injured the past two seasons. But when healthy, he is a quick, sure handed FB.
Luke Lawton was brought in from the Colts to add some competition. Like Davis, Lawton is beginning his third year. But unlike Davis, Lawton has seen the field. His experience could give him an edge.
And finally the rookie Jed Collins. He has everything to gain and nothing to lose. He is a former TE brought in to play FB. With Smith, Celek and Wilson here, there is virtually no chance for him at TE. But at FB he knows how to block and catch. Learning the playbook is another story. But if he can master it, he has as good a chance and Davis and Lawton.
There are other battles in TC that will merit watching, but these three IMO will be the best ones.
The biggest three battles in Training Camp IMO are as follows:
Offensive Line, Tight End and Fullback.
Last year the Offensive Line was banged up at different times. Only C Jammal Jackson was healthy enough to play all 16 games. This year health will again be a key.
Starters this year again should be LT William Thomas, LG Shawn Andrews, C Jammal Jackson, RG Todd Herremans and RT Jon Runyan.
That is not etched in stone though. Winston Justice has been taking reps at OG. We drafted Max Jean-Gilles last year as an OG. And this year we added three more OL hoping to make an impact.
Mike Gibson is a 6'3 305 lb OG. He has good blocking techniques and may be able to slide outside to a OT position.
King Dunlap is a 6'8 310 lb OT who has long arms and a mean streak. Think of the second coming of Jon Runyan.
Mike McGlynn is a 6'4 311 lb OG who like Gibson could swing outside and play OT.
These three rookies will battle it out with veterans Nick Cole, Scott Young, and Stefan Rodgers for spots on the roster. It should be an interesting battle to watch.
The next big battle will be the TE position. Currently we have four on the roster. LJ Smith is coming off an injury filled season. He is back healthy and expected to be the number one TE.
Brent Celek was a rooie last year but played like a veteran at times. He received extensive playing time due to Smith's injury. Look for him to emerge as a number two TE this year.
Matt Schobel had an OK season. He was brought in to take some pressure off of LJ Smith but it hasn't really happened. I don't look for him to retain his spot this year.
Kris Wilson was brought in to add size and speed. He spent the last couple years in Kansas City behind All-World TE Tony Gonzalez. Playing behind him for four years should have some positive effect on Wilson. The Eagles like his speed and hands. He could emerge as a dangerous threat as the season progresses.
The last big battle to watch is the Fullback. It is a rarely used position by the Eagles, but an important one when we do use it. Jason Davis should be the starter. But there are concerns about his health. Davis has been injured the past two seasons. But when healthy, he is a quick, sure handed FB.
Luke Lawton was brought in from the Colts to add some competition. Like Davis, Lawton is beginning his third year. But unlike Davis, Lawton has seen the field. His experience could give him an edge.
And finally the rookie Jed Collins. He has everything to gain and nothing to lose. He is a former TE brought in to play FB. With Smith, Celek and Wilson here, there is virtually no chance for him at TE. But at FB he knows how to block and catch. Learning the playbook is another story. But if he can master it, he has as good a chance and Davis and Lawton.
There are other battles in TC that will merit watching, but these three IMO will be the best ones.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Tough Decisions Ahead
Sometime between now and the start of training camp on July 21, Eagles coach Andy Reid is going to have to release eight players who participated in the just-completed organized team activity (OTA).
The demise of NFL Europe robbed the Eagles and the rest of the NFL of the roster exemptions they were allowed to use at the start of training camp. As a result, only 80 of the 88 players who were running around the NovaCare Complex the last two months will be allowed to make the trip to Lehigh University.
Reid and his staff will carefully review the tapes from the minicamps and OTAs before making the cuts in hopes of avoiding a mistake similar to one he made while an assistant with Green Bay.
"The coaches and I were just talking about that on the field today," Reid said after Thursday's final OTA. "The first guy that came to mind was (Arizona Cardinals quarterback and former league MVP) Kurt Warner. We had him in Green Bay (in 1994), and he was afraid to even go in and call the plays in the huddle. And yet, the guy's one of the greatest players to play in this league.
"I was wrong. It happens. You never know, so you give people a shot as long as you can give them a shot. And then you have to make the judgment call. You're not always going to be right, but hopefully you're right more than you're wrong."
The Eagles' cuts this week will mostly be comprised of rookie free agents who were long shots to make the team, anyway. There are four such players among 11 wide receivers currently on the team and three among the 11 linebackers. One or two rookie free agents usually wind up making the regular-season roster, but it will be difficult this season because of the depth at most positions. "A couple of us really tried to step it up today and show the coaches something," said Gary Butler, a linebacker from Division II California (Pa.). "I thought I had a real good day, and I can only hope the coaches see some potential. We'll just have to see how things play out." There could be some surprises on the list. Dan Klecko, who signed as a veteran free agent, now finds himself near the bottom of the depth chart at defensive tackle after getting switched from fullback earlier in the week. Michael Gasperson, a three-year veteran of the Eagles' practice squad, is back at wide receiver after a brief stint at tight end. Reid and his staff could even decide that some veterans would be better off seeking employment elsewhere. If that's the case, defensive end Jerome McDougle and running back Ryan Moats could be packing their bags soon. McDougle, the Eagles' first-round draft pick in 2003, is entering the final season of the six-year, $9.5-million contract he signed as a rookie. Most of his first five seasons were a waste, due to a myriad of injuries and a gunshot wound suffered just before he was due to report to training camp in 2005. The 29-year-old has played in just 33 career games and has three sacks. He missed all of last season with a torn triceps. The addition of veteran free agent Chris Clemons and third-round draft pick Bryan Smith left McDougle as the seventh defensive end behind starters Trent Cole and Juqua Thomas, plus Victor Abiamiri, Clemons, Darren Howard and Smith. "I don't want to just make the team; I want to make a difference," McDougle said. "I was a first-round pick for a reason. When I'm healthy, I can play with the best of them. The coaches must know that or they would have gotten rid of me a long time ago. "I feel good right now, and hopefully I can stay that way. If I can, it will be up to me to seize the bull by the horns and take advantage of the opportunity when it comes my way." Moats, a third-round pick in 2005, also missed all of last season after suffering a broken ankle during the first preseason game. Moats showed flashes of potential as a rookie, averaging 5.1 yards per carry while rushing for 278 yards. But he rarely left the bench the following season while he struggled to master the playbook and was hampered by fumbles during training camp last summer before he got hurt. The Eagles traded for Lorenzo Booker during the draft in April to serve as Brian Westbrook's main backup. Correll Buckhalter and Tony Hunt are also vying for roster spots with Moats. "I stopped worrying about that stuff a long time ago," Moats said. "I know what I can do, and (the coaches) know what I can do. I've proven what I can do when I've been given the opportunity, but I just haven't had a lot of opportunities. "I don't know when my next chance will come around, but when it does, I'll be ready. Hopefully, I'll still be here, but if not, I guess that's just the way the cookie crumbles."
Friday, June 6, 2008
Flyers 08 Playoff Review
The Unexpected Run Playoff Review:
The Philadelphia Flyers 2008 Post-Season in Depth
By The RipperEagle-Flyer
After the unexpected success that the season had brought to the Philadelphia Flyers, predicting what would happen when the team made the playoffs was an even more of a tricky situation. Because for the Flyers, their first opponent was the Washington Capitals, a team that had made the playoffs by winning the Southeast Division title on the second to last day of the season and were dubbed as the hottest team from either side going into the playoffs. And the first series proved an ecstatic high and a pitfall low for the Flyers: after blowing a two-goal lead in the opener, the Capitals won the game 5-4 but the Flyers would split in Washington with a 2-0 win before pulling out both wins in Philadelphia by scores of 6-3 and 4-3, the second game in double overtime. However, the low hit when the Capitals went back to Washington for game five and won it 3-2 before going back to Philadelphia to win game six 4-2. But the Flyers put an end to that one as they went back to the Verizon Center in DC and forced overtime at what time the Flyers won about six minutes into the first overtime 3-2 to take the series in seven games.
Only two days later, the Flyers semifinal match-up with the Montreal Canadians would start: Montreal, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, put away the Boston Bruins in similar fashion to how the Flyers beat the Capitals in seven games. And as was the case with the opener against Washington, the Flyers built another two goal lead only to see Montreal tie the game up with 29 seconds left in the game and then they won it 50 seconds into overtime as Montreal took game one. But much like the previous series, the Flyers would take away home ice advantage with a 4-2 win at the Bell Centre before returning to South Philly to win both home games again by scores of 3-2 and 4-2, the first of which was made 3-2 due to a five minute boarding major assessed to Defenseman Derrian Hatcher. But the Flyers went back to Montreal in game five managing to do what they couldn’t do in game five from DC, and that was close out the series at the first available chance as they defeated the Canadians 6-4 to win the series in five games!
As Philadelphia had closed out Montreal on Saturday, the Flyers would only have to wait one more day to find out their opponent, as the Pittsburgh Penguins went on to eliminate the New York Rangers on Sunday in a 3-2 overtime victory to win their series in five games as well, setting up for the turnpike series. And the Flyers, for the third straight series, would go on to lose their first series game 4-2 but only this time, they were unable to win game two as the Penguins won again by the same identical score. But even South Philly was no comfort for the Flyers, as they lost 4-1 in game three from Wachovia Center before managing to avoid being swept with a 4-2 victory in game four. But it was of little use, as the Flyers were decimated by the Penguins in game five 6-0, which was the most amount of goals the team had allowed in one game and the most since the five in the Capitals series opener.
And just like that, after 17 playoff games and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, the season was over for the Flyers. But once again like with the season, it did not come without stories and some admittance of pride along the way: after all, the Flyers not only gunned down a pair of division winners, but one (Washington) was the HOTTEST team going into the playoffs, and the other (Montreal) finished tops in the East and third in the NHL in points with 104 during the season.
And one thing that was noteworthy was the dominance of one certain player in each series: in the Capitals series, Daniel Briere posted six goals and four assists for ten points in seven games, and worked his chemistry to a mastery with Vinny Prospal. In the Canadians series, RJ Umberger, who had 13 goals all season including six against the Penguins, had EIGHT goals and an assist in only five games against the Habs and played like he was seemingly everywhere at once. And in the Penguins series, the only serious bright spot was Mike Richards, who had three of the teams’ nine goals in the series and three assists in five games.
And the run marked the first time that goaltender Martin Biron, who is 30-years old, made the playoffs and started all games, as he compiled a 9-8 record with a shutout and 2.97 GAA and a 0.904 save percentage. That isn’t exactly a stellar showing by any means, but when he was hung out there to dry as much as he was thanks to that putrid defense, those numbers are far misleading and to be honest, his only bad games were the opener against the Capitals and the final game against the Penguins, surrendering 11 of the 52 goals allowed in them two games alone.
But enough about the summary crap: it is time to break the column down to analyze the players by their playoff production (or in the case of some, lack there of) and as I did with the season review, the players will be reviewed by forwards from most to least points and then defenders from most to least.
Flyers Forwards:
#48 Daniel Briere
On a team that had many players with little or no playoff experience on it, the addition of Briere, who was in the playoffs with the Phoenix Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres previously, paid dividends early on in the Capitals series with his six goals and four assists. But after that series, Briere became more and more distant and the ineffectiveness of him and Prospal became more evident. In fact, after the quarterfinals round, Briere was actually a plus three (as opposed to his horrid minus-22 in the season) but would end up a minus-three for the playoffs but yet he still led the team with 16 points and six power play goals while finishing second on the team with a 20% shooting accuracy.
Player Grade: B+ (88%)
#20 RJ Umberger
Umberger would have had a decent playoff run had it not been for the Montreal series, which is what really put him on the map. For the playoffs, Umberger was the only Flyer to post double digits in goals (10) which included eight of them against the Canadians in the semifinals and finished with 15 points total. Umberger was unstoppable against Montreal, which is something he usually saves for the Penguins but he was only there against them and Washington.
Player Grade: B+ (88%)
#18 Mike Richards
We already knew that Richards was a man of many talents and skills, but even I was not aware that he could be a game changer like he was in many wins this post-season: despite the seven goals, it doesn’t go as far as to show how his hitting and checking created chances not only for himself but also his line mates. Richards often got under the skin of the other team’s superstar forwards with his hitting, and his ability to bury shorthanded chances (he had the only two shorthanded goals on the team) were uncanny: his 53 shots were also second most on the team.
Player Grade: A (93%)
#40 Vinny Prospal
Prospal appeared, as the stats say, in all 17 games, but you would be hard pressed to tell me that after the first four games against Washington that he was actually ever ON THE ICE at all because he managed all three goals he scored in the first four games and seven of his team high ten assists in the first series. After that he was MIA, managing only three points in ten games after the first round while also being broken up with Briere for the last two games against the Penguins against whom he managed only one assist in five games.
Player Grade: C- (70%)
#17 Jeff Carter
Considering that Carter was the leading shooter for the Flyers during the season, there wasn’t much surprise at all that he again did it with 72 shots in 17 games. But perhaps what was surprising was the fact that he only scored six goals and was most famous for his stick blade breaking at the worst possible time (see game one of the Canadians series). For the playoffs he ran with Mike Knuble and Scottie Upshall in the “Action Line” and posted 11 points for the duration.
Player Grade: B (85%)
#15 Joffrey Lupul
Lupul had done everything right except for put a puck in the net, but yet he was the one who won the series for us against the Capitals and scored the game winner the very next game against Montreal: for the playoffs he had four goals and six assists for ten points with only one penalty taken in 17 games.
Player Grade: B (83%)
#19 Scotty Hartnell
The team’s ultimate agitator in the Capitals series, he was most famous for running into and right over top of Capitals goalie Cristobel Huet, but just as famous for his passing ability and top line quality opportunities, as he finished with three goals and four assists and tied for third on the team with 20 penalty minutes. Much like his running buddies however, he would also finish in the minus with a minus-2 rating.
Player Grade: B- (80%)
#22 Mike Knuble
Prior to injuring his MCL in game five against the Capitals, Knuble was a force with Carter and Upshall: in 12 games he posted three goals and four assists for seven points and had one game winning goal in game four going into double overtime against Washington. His playoff experience was notably a big help to the younger forwards that he worked with.
Player Grade: B (87%)
#9 Scottie Upshall
If the season often appeared as night for Upshall, then the playoffs were clearly his light: Upshall turned up his annoying factor and went to work making plays and punishing the opposition with three goals and seven points, including the game winner which sent us to the finals in game five against Montreal. Coach John Stevens might have had problems with Upshall and his consistency during the year, but in the playoffs he more then proved his worth.
Player Grade: B+ (89%)
#34 Jim Dowd
The ten team warrior was what you expected him to be: a valiant face-off man, a bumper and grinder, and a penalty killer as he posted a goal and two assists in 17 games played. His time might be up in the NHL, but he reminded everyone why he made it this far and played as long as he did.
Player Grade: C+ (78%)
#24 Sami Kapanen
A hard worker but of little advantage anywhere, Kapanen played 16 games and scored on two gimme goals (both in the Capitals series: one was a give away right in front and another was when the goalie got run into by his own defenseman) but he finished a minus-4 for the playoffs.
Player Grade: C- (70%)
#25 Patrick Thoresen
Thoresen played in 14 games, missing one due to the flu in the Capitals series and two because he was scratched in the Penguins series and I was happy, until I saw Steve Downie turn the puck over for two costly goals, then I was happy to see Patrick back: he posted two assists and a plus-1 rating.
Player Grade: C (75%)
#27 Steve Downie
Downie might have had a decent season when he was upstairs and he might have been our top pick in 2004 and he might have a good chance at the roster next year, but that didn’t mean much when he did play in the playoffs. Downie played in six games, posting one assist, a minus-2 rating with some stupid defensive end turnovers, and ten penalty minutes.
Player Grade: D (65%)
#32 Riley Cote
Played in three games (all against Washington) due to the injury suffered by Knuble, and did not record a single stat, not even a penalty minute.
Player Grade not available
Flyers Defenders
#44 Kimmo Timonen
The team’s best defenseman during the season and one half of the shutdown unit against Washington and Montreal (along with the player listed below here) the team suffered a serious blow when Timonen was forced out for the first four games of the Penguins series only to return in game five. For the playoffs he played in 13 games and recorded six assists and a plus-3 rating, which was a plus-5 rating prior to the 6-0 drumming administered by the Penguins in his return game.
Player Grade: A (95%)
#5 Braydon Coburn
The other half of the playoffs shutdown duo as mentioned in the Timonen entry, Coburn would befall his own problems in game two of the finals when a puck nailed him right above the eye and he would miss the final three games of the playoffs due to the swelling around the eye. But up to that point, he had played in 14 games and registered six assists (like Kimmo) and a plus-4 rating with 14 penalty minutes while showing great improvement, beyond that of his season progress as well.
Player Grade: A (95%)
#2 Derrian Hatcher
While playing on a bad knee which needed drained every game was a sign of courage for old Hatch, his play indicated that he probably would have been better off just sitting out instead. Hatcher played in 15 games and posted a goal and two assists while placing second on the team with 40 penalty minutes but it remains a mystery to me how he was a plus-2 for the playoffs. Not only has Hatcher slowed down to a crawl, but his penchant for taking stupid penalties nearly cost us on many occasions, one good one being game three of the Canadians series.
Player Grade: C (73%)
#26 Jaroslav Modry
Why I am wasting an entry on this guy is a hard one to understand, so just know that he played in nine games and had three assists, but he was a team low minus-6 (in only nine games mind you once more) and proved nothing when he was in.
Player Grade: F (55%)
#21 Jason Smith
Another badge of courage must be given to Smith, as we find out after the fact that both shoulders were hurting him, but still, this does nothing to assume the role that he didn’t fill as our “Captain” with two assists and a minus-4 rating.
Player Grade: D+ (68%)
#26 Lassie Kukkonen
I will admit to being one of the most outspoken and Anti-Kukkonen clan members, but as the playoffs went on, he actually got stronger, as he played in 14 games and had two assists and was a minus-1 for the playoffs but hey, considering he was always paired with Modry when Mod was in, that is a rating made of gold!
Player Grade: C (77%)
#2 Randy Jones
Jones was playing well with Hatcher as the second defensive pair, but when Timonen went down injured, he got shuffled between the top two pairs and when Coburn went down, he was thrust into the top defender role and admittedly, he didn’t seem to be ready for it. But he still managed to do what he could with little to no help at all, as he played in 16 games and two assists with a team best plus-6 rating to combat the other deadbeats below him.
Player Grade: B (85%)
#77 Ryan Parent
Parent made his playoff debut in game one against the Capitals with both Jones and Hatcher out, and did not reappear until game three of the Penguins series, but he was steady and much better then Modry, Hatcher, and Smith in his own end and playing transition. Parent played in four games and posted an assist and a minus-1 rating but was not called for a penalty.
Player Grade: B- (80%)
Flyers Goaltenders
#43 Martin Biron
For as strong as Biron was in the playoffs through spots, it would be worth noting the team might have done better overall had the defense played better for him then it did. Still, Biron managed nine wins and a shutout while posting up a GAA slightly under three (2.97) and a save percentage just over nine (0.904) while making many quality saves on the top stars in the league. Again, this writer is left to question just how much better he would have been had the defense been better.
Player Grade: B+ (89%)
The Philadelphia Flyers 2008 Post-Season in Depth
By The RipperEagle-Flyer
After the unexpected success that the season had brought to the Philadelphia Flyers, predicting what would happen when the team made the playoffs was an even more of a tricky situation. Because for the Flyers, their first opponent was the Washington Capitals, a team that had made the playoffs by winning the Southeast Division title on the second to last day of the season and were dubbed as the hottest team from either side going into the playoffs. And the first series proved an ecstatic high and a pitfall low for the Flyers: after blowing a two-goal lead in the opener, the Capitals won the game 5-4 but the Flyers would split in Washington with a 2-0 win before pulling out both wins in Philadelphia by scores of 6-3 and 4-3, the second game in double overtime. However, the low hit when the Capitals went back to Washington for game five and won it 3-2 before going back to Philadelphia to win game six 4-2. But the Flyers put an end to that one as they went back to the Verizon Center in DC and forced overtime at what time the Flyers won about six minutes into the first overtime 3-2 to take the series in seven games.
Only two days later, the Flyers semifinal match-up with the Montreal Canadians would start: Montreal, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, put away the Boston Bruins in similar fashion to how the Flyers beat the Capitals in seven games. And as was the case with the opener against Washington, the Flyers built another two goal lead only to see Montreal tie the game up with 29 seconds left in the game and then they won it 50 seconds into overtime as Montreal took game one. But much like the previous series, the Flyers would take away home ice advantage with a 4-2 win at the Bell Centre before returning to South Philly to win both home games again by scores of 3-2 and 4-2, the first of which was made 3-2 due to a five minute boarding major assessed to Defenseman Derrian Hatcher. But the Flyers went back to Montreal in game five managing to do what they couldn’t do in game five from DC, and that was close out the series at the first available chance as they defeated the Canadians 6-4 to win the series in five games!
As Philadelphia had closed out Montreal on Saturday, the Flyers would only have to wait one more day to find out their opponent, as the Pittsburgh Penguins went on to eliminate the New York Rangers on Sunday in a 3-2 overtime victory to win their series in five games as well, setting up for the turnpike series. And the Flyers, for the third straight series, would go on to lose their first series game 4-2 but only this time, they were unable to win game two as the Penguins won again by the same identical score. But even South Philly was no comfort for the Flyers, as they lost 4-1 in game three from Wachovia Center before managing to avoid being swept with a 4-2 victory in game four. But it was of little use, as the Flyers were decimated by the Penguins in game five 6-0, which was the most amount of goals the team had allowed in one game and the most since the five in the Capitals series opener.
And just like that, after 17 playoff games and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, the season was over for the Flyers. But once again like with the season, it did not come without stories and some admittance of pride along the way: after all, the Flyers not only gunned down a pair of division winners, but one (Washington) was the HOTTEST team going into the playoffs, and the other (Montreal) finished tops in the East and third in the NHL in points with 104 during the season.
And one thing that was noteworthy was the dominance of one certain player in each series: in the Capitals series, Daniel Briere posted six goals and four assists for ten points in seven games, and worked his chemistry to a mastery with Vinny Prospal. In the Canadians series, RJ Umberger, who had 13 goals all season including six against the Penguins, had EIGHT goals and an assist in only five games against the Habs and played like he was seemingly everywhere at once. And in the Penguins series, the only serious bright spot was Mike Richards, who had three of the teams’ nine goals in the series and three assists in five games.
And the run marked the first time that goaltender Martin Biron, who is 30-years old, made the playoffs and started all games, as he compiled a 9-8 record with a shutout and 2.97 GAA and a 0.904 save percentage. That isn’t exactly a stellar showing by any means, but when he was hung out there to dry as much as he was thanks to that putrid defense, those numbers are far misleading and to be honest, his only bad games were the opener against the Capitals and the final game against the Penguins, surrendering 11 of the 52 goals allowed in them two games alone.
But enough about the summary crap: it is time to break the column down to analyze the players by their playoff production (or in the case of some, lack there of) and as I did with the season review, the players will be reviewed by forwards from most to least points and then defenders from most to least.
Flyers Forwards:
#48 Daniel Briere
On a team that had many players with little or no playoff experience on it, the addition of Briere, who was in the playoffs with the Phoenix Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres previously, paid dividends early on in the Capitals series with his six goals and four assists. But after that series, Briere became more and more distant and the ineffectiveness of him and Prospal became more evident. In fact, after the quarterfinals round, Briere was actually a plus three (as opposed to his horrid minus-22 in the season) but would end up a minus-three for the playoffs but yet he still led the team with 16 points and six power play goals while finishing second on the team with a 20% shooting accuracy.
Player Grade: B+ (88%)
#20 RJ Umberger
Umberger would have had a decent playoff run had it not been for the Montreal series, which is what really put him on the map. For the playoffs, Umberger was the only Flyer to post double digits in goals (10) which included eight of them against the Canadians in the semifinals and finished with 15 points total. Umberger was unstoppable against Montreal, which is something he usually saves for the Penguins but he was only there against them and Washington.
Player Grade: B+ (88%)
#18 Mike Richards
We already knew that Richards was a man of many talents and skills, but even I was not aware that he could be a game changer like he was in many wins this post-season: despite the seven goals, it doesn’t go as far as to show how his hitting and checking created chances not only for himself but also his line mates. Richards often got under the skin of the other team’s superstar forwards with his hitting, and his ability to bury shorthanded chances (he had the only two shorthanded goals on the team) were uncanny: his 53 shots were also second most on the team.
Player Grade: A (93%)
#40 Vinny Prospal
Prospal appeared, as the stats say, in all 17 games, but you would be hard pressed to tell me that after the first four games against Washington that he was actually ever ON THE ICE at all because he managed all three goals he scored in the first four games and seven of his team high ten assists in the first series. After that he was MIA, managing only three points in ten games after the first round while also being broken up with Briere for the last two games against the Penguins against whom he managed only one assist in five games.
Player Grade: C- (70%)
#17 Jeff Carter
Considering that Carter was the leading shooter for the Flyers during the season, there wasn’t much surprise at all that he again did it with 72 shots in 17 games. But perhaps what was surprising was the fact that he only scored six goals and was most famous for his stick blade breaking at the worst possible time (see game one of the Canadians series). For the playoffs he ran with Mike Knuble and Scottie Upshall in the “Action Line” and posted 11 points for the duration.
Player Grade: B (85%)
#15 Joffrey Lupul
Lupul had done everything right except for put a puck in the net, but yet he was the one who won the series for us against the Capitals and scored the game winner the very next game against Montreal: for the playoffs he had four goals and six assists for ten points with only one penalty taken in 17 games.
Player Grade: B (83%)
#19 Scotty Hartnell
The team’s ultimate agitator in the Capitals series, he was most famous for running into and right over top of Capitals goalie Cristobel Huet, but just as famous for his passing ability and top line quality opportunities, as he finished with three goals and four assists and tied for third on the team with 20 penalty minutes. Much like his running buddies however, he would also finish in the minus with a minus-2 rating.
Player Grade: B- (80%)
#22 Mike Knuble
Prior to injuring his MCL in game five against the Capitals, Knuble was a force with Carter and Upshall: in 12 games he posted three goals and four assists for seven points and had one game winning goal in game four going into double overtime against Washington. His playoff experience was notably a big help to the younger forwards that he worked with.
Player Grade: B (87%)
#9 Scottie Upshall
If the season often appeared as night for Upshall, then the playoffs were clearly his light: Upshall turned up his annoying factor and went to work making plays and punishing the opposition with three goals and seven points, including the game winner which sent us to the finals in game five against Montreal. Coach John Stevens might have had problems with Upshall and his consistency during the year, but in the playoffs he more then proved his worth.
Player Grade: B+ (89%)
#34 Jim Dowd
The ten team warrior was what you expected him to be: a valiant face-off man, a bumper and grinder, and a penalty killer as he posted a goal and two assists in 17 games played. His time might be up in the NHL, but he reminded everyone why he made it this far and played as long as he did.
Player Grade: C+ (78%)
#24 Sami Kapanen
A hard worker but of little advantage anywhere, Kapanen played 16 games and scored on two gimme goals (both in the Capitals series: one was a give away right in front and another was when the goalie got run into by his own defenseman) but he finished a minus-4 for the playoffs.
Player Grade: C- (70%)
#25 Patrick Thoresen
Thoresen played in 14 games, missing one due to the flu in the Capitals series and two because he was scratched in the Penguins series and I was happy, until I saw Steve Downie turn the puck over for two costly goals, then I was happy to see Patrick back: he posted two assists and a plus-1 rating.
Player Grade: C (75%)
#27 Steve Downie
Downie might have had a decent season when he was upstairs and he might have been our top pick in 2004 and he might have a good chance at the roster next year, but that didn’t mean much when he did play in the playoffs. Downie played in six games, posting one assist, a minus-2 rating with some stupid defensive end turnovers, and ten penalty minutes.
Player Grade: D (65%)
#32 Riley Cote
Played in three games (all against Washington) due to the injury suffered by Knuble, and did not record a single stat, not even a penalty minute.
Player Grade not available
Flyers Defenders
#44 Kimmo Timonen
The team’s best defenseman during the season and one half of the shutdown unit against Washington and Montreal (along with the player listed below here) the team suffered a serious blow when Timonen was forced out for the first four games of the Penguins series only to return in game five. For the playoffs he played in 13 games and recorded six assists and a plus-3 rating, which was a plus-5 rating prior to the 6-0 drumming administered by the Penguins in his return game.
Player Grade: A (95%)
#5 Braydon Coburn
The other half of the playoffs shutdown duo as mentioned in the Timonen entry, Coburn would befall his own problems in game two of the finals when a puck nailed him right above the eye and he would miss the final three games of the playoffs due to the swelling around the eye. But up to that point, he had played in 14 games and registered six assists (like Kimmo) and a plus-4 rating with 14 penalty minutes while showing great improvement, beyond that of his season progress as well.
Player Grade: A (95%)
#2 Derrian Hatcher
While playing on a bad knee which needed drained every game was a sign of courage for old Hatch, his play indicated that he probably would have been better off just sitting out instead. Hatcher played in 15 games and posted a goal and two assists while placing second on the team with 40 penalty minutes but it remains a mystery to me how he was a plus-2 for the playoffs. Not only has Hatcher slowed down to a crawl, but his penchant for taking stupid penalties nearly cost us on many occasions, one good one being game three of the Canadians series.
Player Grade: C (73%)
#26 Jaroslav Modry
Why I am wasting an entry on this guy is a hard one to understand, so just know that he played in nine games and had three assists, but he was a team low minus-6 (in only nine games mind you once more) and proved nothing when he was in.
Player Grade: F (55%)
#21 Jason Smith
Another badge of courage must be given to Smith, as we find out after the fact that both shoulders were hurting him, but still, this does nothing to assume the role that he didn’t fill as our “Captain” with two assists and a minus-4 rating.
Player Grade: D+ (68%)
#26 Lassie Kukkonen
I will admit to being one of the most outspoken and Anti-Kukkonen clan members, but as the playoffs went on, he actually got stronger, as he played in 14 games and had two assists and was a minus-1 for the playoffs but hey, considering he was always paired with Modry when Mod was in, that is a rating made of gold!
Player Grade: C (77%)
#2 Randy Jones
Jones was playing well with Hatcher as the second defensive pair, but when Timonen went down injured, he got shuffled between the top two pairs and when Coburn went down, he was thrust into the top defender role and admittedly, he didn’t seem to be ready for it. But he still managed to do what he could with little to no help at all, as he played in 16 games and two assists with a team best plus-6 rating to combat the other deadbeats below him.
Player Grade: B (85%)
#77 Ryan Parent
Parent made his playoff debut in game one against the Capitals with both Jones and Hatcher out, and did not reappear until game three of the Penguins series, but he was steady and much better then Modry, Hatcher, and Smith in his own end and playing transition. Parent played in four games and posted an assist and a minus-1 rating but was not called for a penalty.
Player Grade: B- (80%)
Flyers Goaltenders
#43 Martin Biron
For as strong as Biron was in the playoffs through spots, it would be worth noting the team might have done better overall had the defense played better for him then it did. Still, Biron managed nine wins and a shutout while posting up a GAA slightly under three (2.97) and a save percentage just over nine (0.904) while making many quality saves on the top stars in the league. Again, this writer is left to question just how much better he would have been had the defense been better.
Player Grade: B+ (89%)
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Flyers 07-08 Season Review
The Big Turnaround Season Review:
The Philadelphia Flyers’ 07-08 Season in Depth
By The RipperEagle-Flyer
After what transpired during the Flyers’ 2006-07 season campaign, nothing could be worse in the 2007-08 season: the year prior, the Flyers finished up with a woeful 56 points and only 22 wins en route to the worst record and point total in the league. During the days leading up to the trading deadline last year, Paul Holmgren, who was appointed General Manager after the team relieved long time GM Bobby Clarke of his duties, went to work making trades right away, and John Stevens, who had coached the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL to the Calder Cup in 2005, was put in charge of the bench after the team fired Ken Hitchcock. Knowing the team was mathematically alive to make the playoffs yet realistically eliminated, Holmgren found willing trade partners for veteran forward Peter Forsberg, the big name free agent the Flyers signed prior to the 2005-06 season and had originally drafted by in 1991 prior to the Eric Lindros mega deal, and defenseman Alexei Zhitnik. In exchange, the Nashville Predators acquired Forsberg for young forward Scottie Upshall and defenseman Ryan Parent, and the Atlanta Thrashers gave up defenseman Braydon Coburn, their first round pick in 2003, for Zhitnik.
And the off-season noted many more huge trades and one free agent signing, as the team lured Buffalo Sabres center Daniel Briere away from his ex-team to the tune of a 8-year 58-million dollar contract. Holmgren also went to work with trades, moving veteran forward Geoff Sanderson and defenseman Joni Pitkanen to the Edmonton Oilers for grizzled veteran defenseman Jason Smith and promising forward Joffrey Lupul, and acquiring prolific defenseman Kimmo Timonen and annoying forward Scott Hartnell from the Predators in exchange for their 1st round pick and the one that they got months earlier in the Forsberg trade.
But now, after that long drawn out paragraph and a half, you may be asking yourself, “Did these trades pay off or what?” And I am here to say that it certainly paid off…BIG TIME!
The meshing of this team was seamless for one that had undergone nearly a full facelift, and the end result was far better then anyone on the team probably was hoping for and it far exceeded the critics who wrote the team off as being in a slump. With a new captain in charge (Smith) and assistant captains (Timonen and Mike Richards) the Flyers showed off early why they would make a big comeback, and by the end of the season, they completed a turnaround which included 20 more wins (from 22 to 42) and 39 more points (from 56 to 95) from the season before. The Flyers also had a penchant from drawing scoring from many a different source, as they led the league with six players who tallied 20 or more goals on the season (although, that would be five original players, since Vinny Prospal was brought back to Philly the day prior to the trade deadline because he had 33 goals).
But while those changes were good, not everything was rosy for the team: going into the month of February, the team was tops in the Atlantic Division and 2nd best in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Ottawa Senators by as few as four points prior to their ten game losing streak, which saw them go 0-8-2 and gain only two points out of a maximum 20 possible. Injuries, like with most teams, also affected the Flyers as well, as Lupul missed 26 games this season (thanks in large part to Derrian Hatcher, who decided to run him over and in the process he suffered a spinal cord contusion and a mild concussion) and Simon Gagne missed 57 games and the playoffs due to a concussion, and then soon after coming back, suffered from post-concussion syndrome. Hatcher himself would miss 38 games while Richards, RJ Umberger, Coburn, and Randy Jones all missed time at one point or another.
Another issue with the team was goaltending: the duo of Martin Biron and Anterio Niittymaki both went through streaks where they dominated (hence the fact that, even though he was the back up, Anterio still won 12 games) and then times where they were not able to be carried by the defense or times where they were let down by the defense. In all, Biron still managed to win 30 games, the first one since Roman Chechmanek to do such, and gained a proper head of steam going into the playoffs with two straight shutouts over New Jersey and Pittsburgh.
And who could forget the defense: this unit was often victimized by not only opposing forwards but also injuries as Hatcher missed the most time, and the play of “Captain” Smith was hardly anything to write home about. On the other hand, Timonen perhaps came off as the best all around acquisition the team made during their rebuilding mode this past year, and Coburn and Jones both improved by leaps and bounds as the year progressed into the playoffs.
But enough about this summary stuff, as I want to review the players on the team and what kind of impact they ended up having on each unit (forwards, defense, goaltending, and special teams).
Flyers Forwards:
#18 Mike Richards
Having been compared to a young Bobby Clarke, Richards has started to live up to the mantra in every respect from scoring to making plays and being a team leader, although I doubt you will see guys like Dave Schultz protecting him the minute he is touched because Richards can also throw nasty checks. Richards, who was signed to a huge 12-year 69-million dollar deal back in December, will likely remain a Flyer until he retires, but that is only good news for Flyers’ fans and the coaches. This past season, Richards set a career high with 28 goals and 75 points despite missing nine games due to injuring his knee in a game against Florida back in February. Richards also was awarded the “A” symbol on his jersey, the first in what is inevitably a foregone conclusion…him being the next team captain soon enough.
Player grade: A+ (99%)
#48 Daniel Briere
The city of Philadelphia was buzzing when they learned that Paul Holmgren had signed Ex-Buffalo center Briere to a contract to provide the Flyers with more firepower then the team could hope for, and they had every right to be. Briere was coming off of two spectacular seasons prior to his contract running out and Buffalo decided to let him and another high profile free agent in Chris Drury go as well (Drury signed with the New York Rangers). However, his season ended up being one big rollercoaster ride: after starting off well, he went into a mid-season ditch and couldn’t score, prompting him to doubt himself and for the fickle Philly fans to boo him. But his fortunes changed at the trading deadline when the team brought back former Flyer Vinny Prospal, and the two hit it off right away, leading to Briere entering the playoffs as the hottest Flyer on the team. Briere was the only season long Flyer to net over 30 goals (he had 31) and 41 assists for 72 points but his plus/minus ratio was a horrific minus-22.
Player grade: B (85%)
#40 Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal
Originally drafted by the Flyers back in 1993 and played for them from 1996 to 1998, Prospal went on to do tours with the Senators and the Lightning before the trading deadline in February, when Holmgren brought him back to Philly for prospect defenseman Alexandre Picard and a 2nd round pick. Even though Prospal came back to Philly with 29 goals, he scored only four upon rejoining the team to the end of the season but his assists total boasted by setting up Briere right and left: for the year he finished with 71 points (33 goals and 38 assists).
Player grade: A- (90%)
#22 Mike Knuble
The 35-year old scrappy winger was never a prolific scorer, so 29 goals this season from him is something that we should all be very grateful for. Of course, his health also is something we should be happy for as well: he was one of only two players this year to play each and every season game. Knuble, a blue collar worker who had previous stints in Detroit, Los Angeles, Boston, and New York, led the team with 15 power play goals mainly due to standing right in front of the goalie and either Coburn or Timonen firing away from the point and trying to hit the puck off of him. For the year he finished with 55 points (29 goals and 26 assists).
Player grade: B (88%)
#17 Jeff Carter
A guy who knows that the chance to be a difference maker is for his ability, Carter got off to a very slow start and did everything right except for score goals, but after the trading deadline, he finally got that down pat. Rumored to be moved prior to the deadline, Carter remained in orange and black and rewarded the Flyers with 15 goals in the final month and a few days of the season to tally 29 for the year and 53 total points. Carter was also the other Flyer (along with Knuble) to play all 82 games on the season, and he led the team with 260 shots on net.
Player grade: B- (81%)
#20 RJ Umberger
A player on the verge of breaking out, Umberger finally started to show his value as a 2nd line winger and 3rd line center with a career best 50 points this past season. Umberger, the native from nearby Plum, also proved to be a lethal foe to the hometown Penguins, as six of his 13 goals came at their expense this year. And his one and only career hat trick came against the (SURPRISE!) the Penguins back on December 11th 2007 in an 8-2 rout in Philly.
Player grade: B- (80%)
#15 Joffrey Lupul
The former Anaheim Duck and Edmonton Oiler, Lupul was brought to town back in July after the four player trade between the two teams, and almost immediately proved his worth. However, Lupul would miss 26 games on the season due to three assorted injuries although the latter two (a concussion and a spinal cord contusion) were caused by his own teammate Hatcher (the first, an ankle injury, was the only one he suffered himself). Still, Lupul netted 20 goals and 46 total points mostly between the 2nd and 3rd lines and seven power play goals from the 2nd unit.
Player grade: B (83%)
#19 Scott Hartnell
A very annoying guy if you are on the other side of him but a good teammate if you are on his side, Hartnell was acquired with Timonen on July 1st when the Predators made a deal with the Flyers. Hartnell is highly compatible with all situations, having played left wing on the 1st line but is best from the 2nd line and had a very hot month in January, when he scored 14 of his 24 season goals in that month alone and ended up with 43 points total. He also added ten power play goals and finished tied for the team lead with six game winning goals and second with 159 penalty minutes.
Player grade: B (83%)
#9 Scottie Upshall
A 2007 trade deadline pickup when the Flyers traded away Peter Forsberg, Upshall closed out the 06-07 season with high hopes he would make the team this year, and he did, although he wasn’t always a starter. While Upshall finished with 14 goals and 30 points, he only played 61 games this year not because of injury, but because Coach John Stevens would get frustrated with his attitude and inconsistent play. Upshall, however, remains a very promising player who is as nasty and as agitating as Hartnell is if not more so then him (scary, I know).
Player grade: C+ (78%)
#12 Simon Gagne
The longest tenured Flyer left on the team is also the face of the franchise and was the long running captain until he ran into injuries this season, starting in training camp. His concussion slowed him down even when he did play and he was soon put back on the IR in January for the remainder of the season. When he did play, he notched 18 points (7 goals and 11 assists) in 25 games, and to think that a healthy Gagne probably would have done even more wonders for Briere this year. When Gagne is healthy, he can bring it, and he is still only 28, so having him back for the start of next year makes things that much more exciting.
Player grade: B- (81%)
#27 Steve Downie
Downie, a 1st round pick for the Flyers back in 2004, was set to make a serious push up the depth chart this year, but a 25-game suspension for leaving his skates to deck then Senator Dean McAmmond shut that down, and a minor league demotion didn’t help him either. Still, with that aside, Downie proved to have a goal scorer’s touch as he netted six goals on only 25 shots (a 24% shooting number) and 12 points total in only 32 games. It’s possible that he might have done more had he not been suspended, but we can only assume that.
Player grade: C (75%)
#34 Jim Dowd
A former cup winner with the New Jersey Devils, the 39-year old career 3rd and 4th liner was brought to training camp to workout for the Flyers and ended up earning a one year contract and went on to play in 73 games this season, posting five goals and ten points with one goal shorthanded.
Player grade: C- (70%)
#24 Sami Kapanen
The third longest running Flyer on the team (came here originally in 2003) Kapanen was once known as the fastest skater in the NHL but at age 34, he is simply known as a hard worker. Kapanen played in 74 games, recording five goals and eight points including a shorthanded goal and a game winning goal, although he was tied for second worst on the team with a -12 rating.
Players grade: C- (71%)
#25 Patrick Thoresen
Acquired in February off of waivers from Edmonton, Thoresen played most of his time on the fourth line and did not score a goal, instead carrying two from Edmonton: played in 38 games and tallied a -10 rating.
Player grade: D- (60%)
#53 Dennis Tolpeko
A long time bouncer between the AHL and the NHL, Tolpeko played in 26 games and tallied a goal and five assists.
#23 Stefan Ruzicka
Ruzicka, like Tolpeko, has been a long running member of the Phantoms and the Flyers: this year he played in 14 games posting a goal and three assists.
#32 Riley Cote
Resident tough guy and MMA and boxing trained fighter, Cote led the league in fighting majors and piled on 202 penalty minutes for the year. He only scored one goal and four points in 70 games played and, heck, he only shot the puck 17 times, but when you fight, who cares about the minor details right?
Player grade: C (75%)
#14 Ryan Potulny
A Phantoms mainstay, he played in seven games upstairs and had an assist.
#29 Jesse Boulerice
Played fives games without a point for the Flyers: most noted for his 25-game suspension for jumping up and elbowing Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Keslar in the head three games into the season.
#56 Claude Giroux
Giroux was a February call-up who played two games during the Flyers losing streak and was put on the top line with Briere and Hartnell just to spark the offense: due to him playing for the QMJHL back in Canada, he was only allowed by league rules to participate in two games before he went back north, but this former first round pick in 2006 looked to have a nose for the net during that time.
#65 Kyle Greentree
Greentree, like Giroux above, played only two games for the Flyers during the same time that Giroux was brought in, although why Greentree only played two games is not understood: he played for the Phantoms, which meant that they could use him as long as they wanted to.
Other forwards no longer here:
#55 Ben Eager
Most well known for being a talent less fire starter, he got his butt beat by 41-year old Gary Roberts back in December during the 8-2 blowout win over the Penguins: was promptly dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks for a defenseman.
Flyers Defensemen:
#44 Kimmo Timonen
I stated above that Timonen was the best all around acquisition that we made, and I stand by that: capable of facing off with and shutting down the opponent’s top line with various defensive partners, Timonen was one of two all-stars on the team and the only one from the blue line. Funny he shares the same number as another Finnish defenseman we had in Janne Ninimmaa because they have the same instincts: he played in 80 games and recorded eight goals, 36 assists, and 44 points along with three power play goals, one shorthanded, and one game winning goal while pulling a zero in the plus/minus column. And the good thing is that Timonen is still only 31 years old, so he still has quite a bit of hockey life left in him (a decade and a half, using the Chris Chelios grading scale!)
Player grade: A+ (99%)
#5 Braydon Coburn
No one quite knew what we had on our hands when Atlanta dealt us a 22-year old defenseman (their 1st round pick in 2003) for an aging but still agile Alexei Zhitnik, and a year later, look how that one worked out too (in case you are wondering, quite well for us, such as the other Holmgren led trades). Many people think that Coburn is the next Paul Coffey, but I have to disagree because I see more Eric Desjardins in him then anything: he can play his own end, he can hit you, he can move the puck, he can play the point on the power play, and he can score goals and set up the big guns in front of the net. Coburn played 78 games this year (missing only four due to a freak injury where he ruptured a vein in his butt on the goal post) tallying nine goals and 27 assists for 36 points with five power play goals, two game winning goals, and a team best plus-17 rating. As of late, the real hot pair has been Coburn and Timonen, and it is no surprise why.
Player grade: A (95%)
#6 Randy Jones
Jones, a floundering rookie a year ago, seemed to play much more confident this year and also seemed to take on a much larger role in the defense, especially with Hatcher injured and the trading in and out of other defenders. Jones played in 71 games and logged five goals and 25 assists for 31 points, a power play goal, and a plus-8 rating, good for third best on the team. He is not an offensive presence like Coburn and Timonen, but he is just as good from the defensive aspect of his job.
Player grade: B (85%)
#21 Jason Smith
As tough as nails and as rugged as a rodeo cowboy belt, Smith was acquired in July to give the Flyers a much needed veteran presence along with Timonen and mainstay Hatcher. Smith was awarded the “C” for Captain before the season began with Gagne suffering from concussion issues, and he provided strong arm defensive play, posting a goal and nine assists for ten points but he was a rather disappointing minus-4 for the year. And considering that he was brought to the team for his defensive skills, this doesn’t seem to be a fair trade-off.
Player grade: C (74%)
#26 Jaroslav Modry
Acquired prior to the trade deadline to “shore up” the defense, Modry is a veteran of the NHL and a long running Los Angeles King prior to the team giving him up for a 6th round pick. In hindsight, I was led to believe that Los Angles got the better of that trade: Modry is supposed to be 36-years old, but he played like he was about 60 sometimes. Modry had one goal and nine points between both cities and was a disappointing minus-9, again, between both teams.
Player grade: D (65%)
#2 Derrian Hatcher
At certain times this year, Hatcher drew my praise as a fan, and at certain times this year, Hatcher drew my ire as a fan. Thus I was left with a predicament: was this team really better off without the 36-year old former captain of the Dallas Stars, or could we carry him through repeated knee injuries? Hatcher played in 44 games, logging two goals and seven points with one game winning goal, which came in a 1-0 victory over the Florida Panthers in January.
Player grade: C (72%)
#28 Lasse Kukkonen
At first I must admit, I was not a very big fan of this guy, but after being brought back up after being sent back down to the Phantoms, I noticed that he played a lot better, specifically in his checking ability, and his pairing was seamless with the other defensemen. Kukkonen played in 53 games this year, tallying a goal and five points with a plus-3 rating.
Player grade: C (77%)
#8 Rory Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick, a former New York Islander and Vancouver Canuck, played 19 games for the Flyers this year and tallied a 2nd worst minus-12 rating. Supposedly, Fitzpatrick got injured and was put on the IR, but later on I saw his name on the Phantoms roster, so he must have needed cleared to play downstairs.
#13 Nate Guenin
Arguably the best defensive defenseman for the Phantoms, Guenin was featured in two contests for the Flyers this year, tallying a plus-2 rating.
#77 Ryan Parent
The other piece of the puzzle in the February 2007 trade of Forsberg for Upshall and him: he might wear the number of an offensive minded defenseman, but Paul Coffey or Ray Borque he is not. In 22 contests upstairs, he tallied no points with a minus-4 rating and only nine shots, but his best skills were his ability to handle his own end on defense and clearing the puck away from the onslaught of forwards. With some more time, I think he could be a good 2nd pair defenseman.
Other defensemen no longer here
#28 Jim Vander Meer
Originally a Flyer back in 2003-2004, he was traded to Philadelphia back in December for Ben Eager to go to Chicago: Vander Meer lasted no longer then the trade deadline before he was sent packing to the Calgary Flames.
#45 Alexandre Picard
A promising prospect, Picard was traded along with the team’s 2nd round pick in 2008 to Tampa Bay for Prospal.
Flyers Goaltenders:
#43 Martin Biron
The first big trade that Holmgren made back in 2007 was Biron for a 2nd round pick in the ‘07 draft, and if this wasn’t a steal for the Flyers, I am not sure that criminals can be guilty of stealing either. Biron, who was benched years ago in favor of Ryan Miller, was given a chance with the Flyers and entered the 07-08 season as the undisputed starter, and he posted a 30-20-9 record with five shutouts, a 2.59 GAA, and a 918 save percentage in 62 games played. At many times, Biron was the dominating goalie he was who took over for Dominick Hasek in Buffalo, and at some times, he looked like the guy who lost his job to Miller. But, luckily for the Flyers, we got the former version of Biron (BEE-RON, or if you ask Mike “Doc” Emrick what his name is, BEER-RON!)
Player grade: B (85%)
#30 Anterio Niittymaki
Niittymaki, a rookie for the team back in the 03-04 season, had been in a war with Robert Esche for the starting job until the team landed Biron from Buffalo, then Niittymaki became the backup and Esche became nothing. For the season, Niittymaki posted a 12-9-2 record with a shutout, a 2.91 GAA, a 907 save percentage in 28 games, and is perhaps most well known for his 52-save game in a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs back in December.
Player grade: C (75%)
Well, that concludes my season review: I will also be doing a playoff review whenever the time draws near, as I am currently keeping track on the playoff stats (through two rounds so far).
LET’S GO FLYERS (CLAP X5)
The Philadelphia Flyers’ 07-08 Season in Depth
By The RipperEagle-Flyer
After what transpired during the Flyers’ 2006-07 season campaign, nothing could be worse in the 2007-08 season: the year prior, the Flyers finished up with a woeful 56 points and only 22 wins en route to the worst record and point total in the league. During the days leading up to the trading deadline last year, Paul Holmgren, who was appointed General Manager after the team relieved long time GM Bobby Clarke of his duties, went to work making trades right away, and John Stevens, who had coached the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL to the Calder Cup in 2005, was put in charge of the bench after the team fired Ken Hitchcock. Knowing the team was mathematically alive to make the playoffs yet realistically eliminated, Holmgren found willing trade partners for veteran forward Peter Forsberg, the big name free agent the Flyers signed prior to the 2005-06 season and had originally drafted by in 1991 prior to the Eric Lindros mega deal, and defenseman Alexei Zhitnik. In exchange, the Nashville Predators acquired Forsberg for young forward Scottie Upshall and defenseman Ryan Parent, and the Atlanta Thrashers gave up defenseman Braydon Coburn, their first round pick in 2003, for Zhitnik.
And the off-season noted many more huge trades and one free agent signing, as the team lured Buffalo Sabres center Daniel Briere away from his ex-team to the tune of a 8-year 58-million dollar contract. Holmgren also went to work with trades, moving veteran forward Geoff Sanderson and defenseman Joni Pitkanen to the Edmonton Oilers for grizzled veteran defenseman Jason Smith and promising forward Joffrey Lupul, and acquiring prolific defenseman Kimmo Timonen and annoying forward Scott Hartnell from the Predators in exchange for their 1st round pick and the one that they got months earlier in the Forsberg trade.
But now, after that long drawn out paragraph and a half, you may be asking yourself, “Did these trades pay off or what?” And I am here to say that it certainly paid off…BIG TIME!
The meshing of this team was seamless for one that had undergone nearly a full facelift, and the end result was far better then anyone on the team probably was hoping for and it far exceeded the critics who wrote the team off as being in a slump. With a new captain in charge (Smith) and assistant captains (Timonen and Mike Richards) the Flyers showed off early why they would make a big comeback, and by the end of the season, they completed a turnaround which included 20 more wins (from 22 to 42) and 39 more points (from 56 to 95) from the season before. The Flyers also had a penchant from drawing scoring from many a different source, as they led the league with six players who tallied 20 or more goals on the season (although, that would be five original players, since Vinny Prospal was brought back to Philly the day prior to the trade deadline because he had 33 goals).
But while those changes were good, not everything was rosy for the team: going into the month of February, the team was tops in the Atlantic Division and 2nd best in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Ottawa Senators by as few as four points prior to their ten game losing streak, which saw them go 0-8-2 and gain only two points out of a maximum 20 possible. Injuries, like with most teams, also affected the Flyers as well, as Lupul missed 26 games this season (thanks in large part to Derrian Hatcher, who decided to run him over and in the process he suffered a spinal cord contusion and a mild concussion) and Simon Gagne missed 57 games and the playoffs due to a concussion, and then soon after coming back, suffered from post-concussion syndrome. Hatcher himself would miss 38 games while Richards, RJ Umberger, Coburn, and Randy Jones all missed time at one point or another.
Another issue with the team was goaltending: the duo of Martin Biron and Anterio Niittymaki both went through streaks where they dominated (hence the fact that, even though he was the back up, Anterio still won 12 games) and then times where they were not able to be carried by the defense or times where they were let down by the defense. In all, Biron still managed to win 30 games, the first one since Roman Chechmanek to do such, and gained a proper head of steam going into the playoffs with two straight shutouts over New Jersey and Pittsburgh.
And who could forget the defense: this unit was often victimized by not only opposing forwards but also injuries as Hatcher missed the most time, and the play of “Captain” Smith was hardly anything to write home about. On the other hand, Timonen perhaps came off as the best all around acquisition the team made during their rebuilding mode this past year, and Coburn and Jones both improved by leaps and bounds as the year progressed into the playoffs.
But enough about this summary stuff, as I want to review the players on the team and what kind of impact they ended up having on each unit (forwards, defense, goaltending, and special teams).
Flyers Forwards:
#18 Mike Richards
Having been compared to a young Bobby Clarke, Richards has started to live up to the mantra in every respect from scoring to making plays and being a team leader, although I doubt you will see guys like Dave Schultz protecting him the minute he is touched because Richards can also throw nasty checks. Richards, who was signed to a huge 12-year 69-million dollar deal back in December, will likely remain a Flyer until he retires, but that is only good news for Flyers’ fans and the coaches. This past season, Richards set a career high with 28 goals and 75 points despite missing nine games due to injuring his knee in a game against Florida back in February. Richards also was awarded the “A” symbol on his jersey, the first in what is inevitably a foregone conclusion…him being the next team captain soon enough.
Player grade: A+ (99%)
#48 Daniel Briere
The city of Philadelphia was buzzing when they learned that Paul Holmgren had signed Ex-Buffalo center Briere to a contract to provide the Flyers with more firepower then the team could hope for, and they had every right to be. Briere was coming off of two spectacular seasons prior to his contract running out and Buffalo decided to let him and another high profile free agent in Chris Drury go as well (Drury signed with the New York Rangers). However, his season ended up being one big rollercoaster ride: after starting off well, he went into a mid-season ditch and couldn’t score, prompting him to doubt himself and for the fickle Philly fans to boo him. But his fortunes changed at the trading deadline when the team brought back former Flyer Vinny Prospal, and the two hit it off right away, leading to Briere entering the playoffs as the hottest Flyer on the team. Briere was the only season long Flyer to net over 30 goals (he had 31) and 41 assists for 72 points but his plus/minus ratio was a horrific minus-22.
Player grade: B (85%)
#40 Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal
Originally drafted by the Flyers back in 1993 and played for them from 1996 to 1998, Prospal went on to do tours with the Senators and the Lightning before the trading deadline in February, when Holmgren brought him back to Philly for prospect defenseman Alexandre Picard and a 2nd round pick. Even though Prospal came back to Philly with 29 goals, he scored only four upon rejoining the team to the end of the season but his assists total boasted by setting up Briere right and left: for the year he finished with 71 points (33 goals and 38 assists).
Player grade: A- (90%)
#22 Mike Knuble
The 35-year old scrappy winger was never a prolific scorer, so 29 goals this season from him is something that we should all be very grateful for. Of course, his health also is something we should be happy for as well: he was one of only two players this year to play each and every season game. Knuble, a blue collar worker who had previous stints in Detroit, Los Angeles, Boston, and New York, led the team with 15 power play goals mainly due to standing right in front of the goalie and either Coburn or Timonen firing away from the point and trying to hit the puck off of him. For the year he finished with 55 points (29 goals and 26 assists).
Player grade: B (88%)
#17 Jeff Carter
A guy who knows that the chance to be a difference maker is for his ability, Carter got off to a very slow start and did everything right except for score goals, but after the trading deadline, he finally got that down pat. Rumored to be moved prior to the deadline, Carter remained in orange and black and rewarded the Flyers with 15 goals in the final month and a few days of the season to tally 29 for the year and 53 total points. Carter was also the other Flyer (along with Knuble) to play all 82 games on the season, and he led the team with 260 shots on net.
Player grade: B- (81%)
#20 RJ Umberger
A player on the verge of breaking out, Umberger finally started to show his value as a 2nd line winger and 3rd line center with a career best 50 points this past season. Umberger, the native from nearby Plum, also proved to be a lethal foe to the hometown Penguins, as six of his 13 goals came at their expense this year. And his one and only career hat trick came against the (SURPRISE!) the Penguins back on December 11th 2007 in an 8-2 rout in Philly.
Player grade: B- (80%)
#15 Joffrey Lupul
The former Anaheim Duck and Edmonton Oiler, Lupul was brought to town back in July after the four player trade between the two teams, and almost immediately proved his worth. However, Lupul would miss 26 games on the season due to three assorted injuries although the latter two (a concussion and a spinal cord contusion) were caused by his own teammate Hatcher (the first, an ankle injury, was the only one he suffered himself). Still, Lupul netted 20 goals and 46 total points mostly between the 2nd and 3rd lines and seven power play goals from the 2nd unit.
Player grade: B (83%)
#19 Scott Hartnell
A very annoying guy if you are on the other side of him but a good teammate if you are on his side, Hartnell was acquired with Timonen on July 1st when the Predators made a deal with the Flyers. Hartnell is highly compatible with all situations, having played left wing on the 1st line but is best from the 2nd line and had a very hot month in January, when he scored 14 of his 24 season goals in that month alone and ended up with 43 points total. He also added ten power play goals and finished tied for the team lead with six game winning goals and second with 159 penalty minutes.
Player grade: B (83%)
#9 Scottie Upshall
A 2007 trade deadline pickup when the Flyers traded away Peter Forsberg, Upshall closed out the 06-07 season with high hopes he would make the team this year, and he did, although he wasn’t always a starter. While Upshall finished with 14 goals and 30 points, he only played 61 games this year not because of injury, but because Coach John Stevens would get frustrated with his attitude and inconsistent play. Upshall, however, remains a very promising player who is as nasty and as agitating as Hartnell is if not more so then him (scary, I know).
Player grade: C+ (78%)
#12 Simon Gagne
The longest tenured Flyer left on the team is also the face of the franchise and was the long running captain until he ran into injuries this season, starting in training camp. His concussion slowed him down even when he did play and he was soon put back on the IR in January for the remainder of the season. When he did play, he notched 18 points (7 goals and 11 assists) in 25 games, and to think that a healthy Gagne probably would have done even more wonders for Briere this year. When Gagne is healthy, he can bring it, and he is still only 28, so having him back for the start of next year makes things that much more exciting.
Player grade: B- (81%)
#27 Steve Downie
Downie, a 1st round pick for the Flyers back in 2004, was set to make a serious push up the depth chart this year, but a 25-game suspension for leaving his skates to deck then Senator Dean McAmmond shut that down, and a minor league demotion didn’t help him either. Still, with that aside, Downie proved to have a goal scorer’s touch as he netted six goals on only 25 shots (a 24% shooting number) and 12 points total in only 32 games. It’s possible that he might have done more had he not been suspended, but we can only assume that.
Player grade: C (75%)
#34 Jim Dowd
A former cup winner with the New Jersey Devils, the 39-year old career 3rd and 4th liner was brought to training camp to workout for the Flyers and ended up earning a one year contract and went on to play in 73 games this season, posting five goals and ten points with one goal shorthanded.
Player grade: C- (70%)
#24 Sami Kapanen
The third longest running Flyer on the team (came here originally in 2003) Kapanen was once known as the fastest skater in the NHL but at age 34, he is simply known as a hard worker. Kapanen played in 74 games, recording five goals and eight points including a shorthanded goal and a game winning goal, although he was tied for second worst on the team with a -12 rating.
Players grade: C- (71%)
#25 Patrick Thoresen
Acquired in February off of waivers from Edmonton, Thoresen played most of his time on the fourth line and did not score a goal, instead carrying two from Edmonton: played in 38 games and tallied a -10 rating.
Player grade: D- (60%)
#53 Dennis Tolpeko
A long time bouncer between the AHL and the NHL, Tolpeko played in 26 games and tallied a goal and five assists.
#23 Stefan Ruzicka
Ruzicka, like Tolpeko, has been a long running member of the Phantoms and the Flyers: this year he played in 14 games posting a goal and three assists.
#32 Riley Cote
Resident tough guy and MMA and boxing trained fighter, Cote led the league in fighting majors and piled on 202 penalty minutes for the year. He only scored one goal and four points in 70 games played and, heck, he only shot the puck 17 times, but when you fight, who cares about the minor details right?
Player grade: C (75%)
#14 Ryan Potulny
A Phantoms mainstay, he played in seven games upstairs and had an assist.
#29 Jesse Boulerice
Played fives games without a point for the Flyers: most noted for his 25-game suspension for jumping up and elbowing Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Keslar in the head three games into the season.
#56 Claude Giroux
Giroux was a February call-up who played two games during the Flyers losing streak and was put on the top line with Briere and Hartnell just to spark the offense: due to him playing for the QMJHL back in Canada, he was only allowed by league rules to participate in two games before he went back north, but this former first round pick in 2006 looked to have a nose for the net during that time.
#65 Kyle Greentree
Greentree, like Giroux above, played only two games for the Flyers during the same time that Giroux was brought in, although why Greentree only played two games is not understood: he played for the Phantoms, which meant that they could use him as long as they wanted to.
Other forwards no longer here:
#55 Ben Eager
Most well known for being a talent less fire starter, he got his butt beat by 41-year old Gary Roberts back in December during the 8-2 blowout win over the Penguins: was promptly dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks for a defenseman.
Flyers Defensemen:
#44 Kimmo Timonen
I stated above that Timonen was the best all around acquisition that we made, and I stand by that: capable of facing off with and shutting down the opponent’s top line with various defensive partners, Timonen was one of two all-stars on the team and the only one from the blue line. Funny he shares the same number as another Finnish defenseman we had in Janne Ninimmaa because they have the same instincts: he played in 80 games and recorded eight goals, 36 assists, and 44 points along with three power play goals, one shorthanded, and one game winning goal while pulling a zero in the plus/minus column. And the good thing is that Timonen is still only 31 years old, so he still has quite a bit of hockey life left in him (a decade and a half, using the Chris Chelios grading scale!)
Player grade: A+ (99%)
#5 Braydon Coburn
No one quite knew what we had on our hands when Atlanta dealt us a 22-year old defenseman (their 1st round pick in 2003) for an aging but still agile Alexei Zhitnik, and a year later, look how that one worked out too (in case you are wondering, quite well for us, such as the other Holmgren led trades). Many people think that Coburn is the next Paul Coffey, but I have to disagree because I see more Eric Desjardins in him then anything: he can play his own end, he can hit you, he can move the puck, he can play the point on the power play, and he can score goals and set up the big guns in front of the net. Coburn played 78 games this year (missing only four due to a freak injury where he ruptured a vein in his butt on the goal post) tallying nine goals and 27 assists for 36 points with five power play goals, two game winning goals, and a team best plus-17 rating. As of late, the real hot pair has been Coburn and Timonen, and it is no surprise why.
Player grade: A (95%)
#6 Randy Jones
Jones, a floundering rookie a year ago, seemed to play much more confident this year and also seemed to take on a much larger role in the defense, especially with Hatcher injured and the trading in and out of other defenders. Jones played in 71 games and logged five goals and 25 assists for 31 points, a power play goal, and a plus-8 rating, good for third best on the team. He is not an offensive presence like Coburn and Timonen, but he is just as good from the defensive aspect of his job.
Player grade: B (85%)
#21 Jason Smith
As tough as nails and as rugged as a rodeo cowboy belt, Smith was acquired in July to give the Flyers a much needed veteran presence along with Timonen and mainstay Hatcher. Smith was awarded the “C” for Captain before the season began with Gagne suffering from concussion issues, and he provided strong arm defensive play, posting a goal and nine assists for ten points but he was a rather disappointing minus-4 for the year. And considering that he was brought to the team for his defensive skills, this doesn’t seem to be a fair trade-off.
Player grade: C (74%)
#26 Jaroslav Modry
Acquired prior to the trade deadline to “shore up” the defense, Modry is a veteran of the NHL and a long running Los Angeles King prior to the team giving him up for a 6th round pick. In hindsight, I was led to believe that Los Angles got the better of that trade: Modry is supposed to be 36-years old, but he played like he was about 60 sometimes. Modry had one goal and nine points between both cities and was a disappointing minus-9, again, between both teams.
Player grade: D (65%)
#2 Derrian Hatcher
At certain times this year, Hatcher drew my praise as a fan, and at certain times this year, Hatcher drew my ire as a fan. Thus I was left with a predicament: was this team really better off without the 36-year old former captain of the Dallas Stars, or could we carry him through repeated knee injuries? Hatcher played in 44 games, logging two goals and seven points with one game winning goal, which came in a 1-0 victory over the Florida Panthers in January.
Player grade: C (72%)
#28 Lasse Kukkonen
At first I must admit, I was not a very big fan of this guy, but after being brought back up after being sent back down to the Phantoms, I noticed that he played a lot better, specifically in his checking ability, and his pairing was seamless with the other defensemen. Kukkonen played in 53 games this year, tallying a goal and five points with a plus-3 rating.
Player grade: C (77%)
#8 Rory Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick, a former New York Islander and Vancouver Canuck, played 19 games for the Flyers this year and tallied a 2nd worst minus-12 rating. Supposedly, Fitzpatrick got injured and was put on the IR, but later on I saw his name on the Phantoms roster, so he must have needed cleared to play downstairs.
#13 Nate Guenin
Arguably the best defensive defenseman for the Phantoms, Guenin was featured in two contests for the Flyers this year, tallying a plus-2 rating.
#77 Ryan Parent
The other piece of the puzzle in the February 2007 trade of Forsberg for Upshall and him: he might wear the number of an offensive minded defenseman, but Paul Coffey or Ray Borque he is not. In 22 contests upstairs, he tallied no points with a minus-4 rating and only nine shots, but his best skills were his ability to handle his own end on defense and clearing the puck away from the onslaught of forwards. With some more time, I think he could be a good 2nd pair defenseman.
Other defensemen no longer here
#28 Jim Vander Meer
Originally a Flyer back in 2003-2004, he was traded to Philadelphia back in December for Ben Eager to go to Chicago: Vander Meer lasted no longer then the trade deadline before he was sent packing to the Calgary Flames.
#45 Alexandre Picard
A promising prospect, Picard was traded along with the team’s 2nd round pick in 2008 to Tampa Bay for Prospal.
Flyers Goaltenders:
#43 Martin Biron
The first big trade that Holmgren made back in 2007 was Biron for a 2nd round pick in the ‘07 draft, and if this wasn’t a steal for the Flyers, I am not sure that criminals can be guilty of stealing either. Biron, who was benched years ago in favor of Ryan Miller, was given a chance with the Flyers and entered the 07-08 season as the undisputed starter, and he posted a 30-20-9 record with five shutouts, a 2.59 GAA, and a 918 save percentage in 62 games played. At many times, Biron was the dominating goalie he was who took over for Dominick Hasek in Buffalo, and at some times, he looked like the guy who lost his job to Miller. But, luckily for the Flyers, we got the former version of Biron (BEE-RON, or if you ask Mike “Doc” Emrick what his name is, BEER-RON!)
Player grade: B (85%)
#30 Anterio Niittymaki
Niittymaki, a rookie for the team back in the 03-04 season, had been in a war with Robert Esche for the starting job until the team landed Biron from Buffalo, then Niittymaki became the backup and Esche became nothing. For the season, Niittymaki posted a 12-9-2 record with a shutout, a 2.91 GAA, a 907 save percentage in 28 games, and is perhaps most well known for his 52-save game in a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs back in December.
Player grade: C (75%)
Well, that concludes my season review: I will also be doing a playoff review whenever the time draws near, as I am currently keeping track on the playoff stats (through two rounds so far).
LET’S GO FLYERS (CLAP X5)
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