07-08 Philadelphia Flyers Season Thread

[SD_Eagle5]

Am I the only one that finds it sad that "Philadelphia" is spelled wrong on the title of this thread?

I assumed it was some dumb inside joke I didn't get

[SunMo]

Am I the only one that finds it sad that "Philadelphia" is spelled wrong on the title of this thread?

probably, you're definitely the only one that cares though

[ice grillin you]

i didnt even notice it....and now i dont care

[PhillyGirl]

tomas sandstrom

Thanks. Don't know how I could forget that name. lol

There was college between then and now. Brain damage.

[ice grillin you]

i looked on youtube for it and kinda surprisingly its not on there...i have it on a few fight tapes at home...it was way way worse than boulerice last night...it was a full fledged dead on shot to the neck...and sandstrom had a giraffe neck too which is what made it so bad...at the time i literally thought he might be dead

[Seabiscuit36]

Not defending Boulerice but, he clearly hit shoulder and it rolled off into Keslers neck and chin, the intent was to fight, not destroy as Brownie did. 

[Seabiscuit36]

Healthy Richards fitting into Flyers offensive role (Todays paper news)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted on Fri, Oct 12, 2007

Healthy Richards fitting into Flyers offensive role

By Rob Parent, rparent@delcotimes.com

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Now beyond the drag of injuries and the drudgery of his limited role, Mike Richards will be making a bow before the Flyers' home fans Saturday in a new guise — that of a complete player.

Flying fast by Daniel Briere's side on occasion but otherwise anchoring a new third line that was stunning in its effectiveness here Wednesday night, young assistant captain Richards scored two goals, added two assists and even did what he was expected to do in what became an 8-2 crushing of the Canucks.

With newly paired wingers R.J. Umberger and Joffrey Lupul by his side, Richards was a force on both ends of the ice in Vancouver, improving upon his solid performances that started with the commencement of training camp and carried through games in Calgary and Edmonton earlier on this season-starting road trip.

It might be only three games, but at 22, Richards has gone from explaining away a bad season to answering questions usually reserved for scoring stars.

Not that it's been such a surprise for him.

"I always had some offensive upside," Richards said. "I came into this year expecting to have a big year. I felt good. I felt confident."

It might have helped that Flyers coach John Stevens had enough faith in Richards to order an "A" stitched to his jersey, though he's more than five years south of the number denoting this team's average age.

The new appointment went right along with Stevens' new perception of the kind of player Richards could be. Considered leadership material coming out of junior hockey, Richards has been a bit stereotyped as the defensively responsible checking line center.

Good skating ability, good work ethic, the right guy to prevent goals. But what if he could be that and more at the same time?

"We kind of redefined his role," Stevens said. "We were using him (on checking line duties), but after looking at it, we thought, you know what, why not put him in that role?"

Richards has already responded in kind, and the fact that he's now completely over the groin problems which hampered his sophomore NHL year has obviously played a part.

"Two strong groins help your skating," Richards deadpanned. But he can discuss his offensive ascension with a straight face, too.

"(Stevens) and I talked about it, how a good defensive posture sets up a good offense," Richards said. "My health is good; my confidence was up at the end of (last) year because I was playing well. It's not great to have a long summer, but it felt good to get energized and get strong and get ready for a big season."

Added Stevens: "Mike Richards is playing the best hockey he's ever played."

So far, that coaching review seems open-ended.

l l l

Flyers forward Jesse Boulerice's hit on Vancouver's Ryan Kesler, a crosscheck to the face that left Kesler with lacerations around the mouth but, according to a Canucks' spokesman, had no early signs of concussion symptoms, earned a match penalty Wednesday and a pending automatic review by NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell.

Though he said he couldn't predict how the matter would pan out, it's clear that Flyers G.M. Paul Holmgren expects Boulerice to earn a somewhat lengthy suspension. That doesn't sit right with Holmgren, who is trying to play roster roulette with now-idle prospect Steve Downie, trying to count down his NHL suspension, which is being honored for the first month of the season by the AHL. Holmgren has been able to roster Downie just once so far, leaving him 19 games to go under the suspension.

Now this.

"It makes it tricky with our roster," Holmgren said.

What might make it tougher on Boulerice, 29, is his history. This is a player who in junior hockey was arrested by a local law enforcement agency for assault after an illegal hit on a player. That was almost 10 years ago, but it remains to be seen if it weighs into Campbell's review.

"We were battling quite a bit (Wednesday)," said Boulerice, describing what led to his hit on Kesler. "I saw him go after (Randy Jones) down behind the net. I reacted. I reacted in the wrong way."

In that junior incident, then Flyers prospect Boulerice swung his stick into the face of Guelph's Andrew Long in the 1998 OHL playoffs. He wound up pleading no contest to a reduced assault charge before a county circuit court judge in Detroit, and the conviction was expunged later. Boulerice did serve a one-year suspension from the OHL, which was honored by the AHL for the first month of the following season — the same "honorary suspension" that was slapped on Downie by that minor league.

l l l

NOTES: Rookie Denis Tolpeko was demoted to the Phantoms while still on the trip with the Flyers Wednesday, creating space for R.J. Umberger's activation. A decision on Boulerice's status was expected today and could impact Tolpeko's status, and keep Downie from being activated to count off more games off his suspension ... The Flyers open their home schedule Saturday night, hosting the New York Islanders.

http://www.delcotimes.com/WebApp/app...t_Story_756352

[ice grillin you]

how is that guy not the captain

[Seabiscuit36]

how is that guy not the captain

He will be, in at the most 2 years. 

[ice grillin you]

how is that guy not the captain

[Rome]

Did you just quote yourself?   

[Sgt PSN]

And he did it by properly using the quote feature. 

Double lame.


And with the way the Eagles look this year along with the fact that the Phils are done and the Sixers won't be much (if any) better than last year, I find myself needing to see the Flyers do well this year.  Or at least do well until the Soul start playing again.  Regardless, I hate the fact that I am reduced to watching hockey for the next few months. 

It's like being a Marloboro smoker but out of smokes and surrounded by people who smoke menthol. 

[ice grillin you]

boulerice 25 games

[SD_Eagle5]

Just heard...absurd

[ice grillin you]

yeah that one is a little excessive....but i think they figure since hes a waste of life and shouldnt be in the league anwyay then who cares...the flyers certainly dont

i think the moral of the story from now on in the nhl is dont hit people from the neck up