07-08 Philadelphia Flyers Off-Season Thread

[Seabiscuit36]

upshall's hip is hurt and Nodl will be replacing him.  Downie injured his knee but should be back by the 11th.   

[SD_Eagle5]

I saw the Downie fight this morning, he got his ass kicked even before the take down.

[Seabiscuit36]

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/101-10042008-1600650.html

Biron is going to rock a goalie mask that looks like Bernie's.. No pics yet

[BigEd76]

Berard and Dowd were released.  Looks like the 18-yr old draft pick from this past summer is going to make the team.  Crazy....

[The BIGSTUD]

Of course he made the team. Holmgren's the best GM in this town with Stefanski. I trust his moves and his picks.

[Seabiscuit36]

Im really surprised Sbisa is still up, but it looks like they'll take advantage of teh 9 game tryout while Jones and Parent get healthy.  If he plays a 10th game, he has to play in the NHL the rest of the year, otherwise he's sent back to his Jr's team Lethbridge in the WHL

[ice grillin you]

CRAZY!!!

[Seabiscuit36]

CRAZY!

Abort me

[BigEd76]

Flyers/Phantoms on CSN tonight

[SD_Eagle5]

Im really surprised Sbisa is still up, but it looks like they'll take advantage of teh 9 game tryout while Jones and Parent get healthy. 

The one game I was at Sbisa certainly didn't look out of place. That being said neither did Berard. While I think Sbisa has a really bright future I hope they're not just keeping him because there are no better options.

[Seabiscuit36]

Berard was actually more of a defensive liablitiy from the games i've watched.  Berard is an exceptional PP player and great at finding the open man. 

[ice grillin you]

problem with berard is no ones ever open on his right side

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Ha.

[SD_Eagle5]

Berard was actually more of a defensive liablitiy from the games i've watched.  Berard is an exceptional PP player and great at finding the open man. 

the one game I watched he held his own but I know that's the knock on him.

problem with berard is no ones ever open on his right side

lol

[Seabiscuit36]

Tim Panaccio
Hockey Buzz
Afternoon, Tuesday, October 7,2008

>> Flyers' general manager Paul Holmgren said this afternoon that 18-year-old rookie defenseman Luca Sbisa has "earned" a roster spot, regardless of Ryan Parent's health (labrum/shoulder).

That's what he told me moments ago. That's saying something because the Flyers, historically under Holmgren as both a GM and assistant GM, have always taken the cautious, developmental approach with young players.

"Yeah, and I'm kind of struggling with that in my own mind," Holmgren told me. "He has really earned a spot on our roster. I haven't seen a chink in his armor yet. He was going to play Saturday regardless of Parent's situation."

Holmgren confirmed that for now, the Flyers will start with the season with Sbisa on their roster, give it 10 games and see where they are at. They have until that magic number before returning him to junior (Lethbridge).

Holmgren also said he felt very badly for the situation Byran Berard and Jim Dowd got caught up in. Because of the injury to Antero Niittymaki (labrum surgery), the club had to sign J-S Aubin, taking up an extra pro contract to the 50 limit mark. "That changed things for both guys," Holmgren said.

Otherwise, I [Panaccio] think Berard would be here right now as the safety net on defense. Final rosters are submitted tomorrow for the season-opener.

As for Parent, Holmgren said the club won't know until tonight whether surgery is required but they are proceeding as if that is indeed the case.

"It's a bad break for him because Ryan had turned the corner," Holmgren said.