Philadelphia Flyers

[Ballsakic]

Bryz given a month to prove himself.

http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-2...-flyers-credit

[Flyer Fan]

Bryz given a month to prove himself.

http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-2...-flyers-credit

Good! It wouldn't be the worst thing to happen if Bobrovsky were to be given the reins (at least for now).

His numbers are better, and at a "number 1 goalie" level, ...so if Bryzgalov gets his game together, the team will be that much stronger, ...and if he can't, then Bobrovsky's play gives them the luxury of writing the season off for Bryzgalov, and letting him try again next year.

I can't see him going anywhere regardless, so with his contract, he figures to get opportunity after opportunity, but it's nice to have an option that can give the team decent goaltending until he puts it together.

[BC Oiler]

Bryz given a month to prove himself.

http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-2...-flyers-credit

I think your are reading into the article wrong. Basically the writer is pointing out that Holmgren has less then a month to the trade deadline to see if his defense needs tinkering. I see nowhere in the article where it says that they are giving Bryz an ultimatum of one month to get his shit together.

[Flyer Fan]

Bryzgalov starting tonight.

Lilja's getting a start at the expense of Gustafsson.

both JvR and Briere skated today, but won't play.

Briere says he's still having headaches.

Lindback's supposed to start for the Preds instead of Rinne.

And Comcast has issued a statement directing all Philadelphians to be extra nice to Ryan Suter, and requesting that all beautiful women attending tonights game report to the lobby outside section 14 forty five minutes prior to game time, so that they can be seated in the areas immediately surrounding the Predators player bench.

All unattractive season ticket holders are still of course invited to attend and will simply be seated somewhere out of Suter's line of sight.

[lektrix]

Should we drop Rinaldo? A lot of divisional rivalries ahead but pointless if he's benched.

[Flyer Fan]

Should we drop Rinaldo? A lot of divisional rivalries ahead but pointless if he's benched.

I still think Rinaldo's the better option for Pims, and more likely to find his way into the lineup in the "enforcer" role. There's an interesting article up today over at thecheckingline.com that points out that Rinaldo's basically made Jody Shelley obsolete.

Here's the link if you want to check it out: http://flyers.thecheckingline.com/bl...d-line-shelley

It says more about Shelley's weaknesses than Rinaldo's strenghts, but the point is that Rinaldo's skating, make him a more useful guy to have in the lineup.

There was also a stat posted awhile ago (which I'll try to find) that talked about "penalties drawn", which showed that despite Rinaldo's offensive limitations, and the bad penalties he takes, ...he's still a fairly strong contributer based upon the high number of penalties he draws (as an instigator), which translates to powerplays created.

Now there are people who feel that Sestito, who has better size, is a closer fit to giving the Flyers what Shelley was counted on to do: throws some checks, fight some heavyweights, and serve as enforcer.

But Rinaldo, while not being a true "heavyweight" has done a pretty good job in the role, and adds the "agitator" dimension to the fourth line.

I'd still hold onto to Rinaldo, and expect him to ultimately get the role, but Sestito is getting a look, though it's more out of necsecity with JvR, Briere,Jagr, and Giroux being out of the lineup recently than Sestito's earning it.

I'd hold onto him.

[Flyer Fan]

Flyers have made a trade with the Washington Capitals:

D Kevin Marshall headed to Washington in exchange for 27 year old AHL forward Matt Ford.

Marshall doesn't appear to have any upside, Marshall as a 22 year old second round pick still does, ...but has been passed this season on the organizational depth chart by both Gustafsson, and Bourdon.

So chalk off Marshall as a second round miss, and hopefully he has a better shot at reaching the NHL throught the Caps system.

It does kind of highlight and continue a somewhat troubling recent trend of the Flyers being unable to develop contributing players beyond the first round.

On the one hand, they've done very good with their recent first round picks: JvR, Giroux, Couturier, Richards, Carter, Sbisa, Gagne, Williams, Pitkanen, Woywitka, and Downie.

And they've done a good job of uncovering undrafted free agents like Bobrovsky, Read, Powe, Thorenson, and Gustafsson.

But beyond the first round, only Bourdon (3rd round, 2008), and Rinaldo (6th round, 2008) are making contributions.

League wide, you can arguably add Andreas Nodl (2nd round, 2006) as a pro player, but other than that you have to go back to 2001 when they snagged Patrick Sharp (3rd round), and Dennis Seidenberg (6th round) to find any NHL regulars.

Kind of an odd thing, ...I know there are probably about thirty teams out there that would love to have the Flyers first round success (particularly considering where they're usually drafting), ...but beyond the first round, the draft record looks pretty grim, ...I can't imagine any team's looks worse, but It would be an interesting subject to check out one day when i'm bored.

[Flyer Fan]

Nice writeup on the reasoning behind the Kevin Marshall trade: http://www.dobberhockey.com/index.ph...=94740&page=14


Rinaldo was back in the lineup last night, and played with Simmonds and Schenn on what was the Flyers best line.

[Flyer Fan]

Even though they lost night, the Flyers seem to be pretty happy with the way they played, and even Laviolette seemed to be chalking it off to running into hot goaltender.

Briere was back in the lineup last night and lookded good playing with Simmonds and Schenn.

Pronger visited the clubhouse today, still no progress.

JvR apparently still having symptoms too. So I think it's safe to say, that he won't be moved before the deadline. Maybe that means someone else will...

Flyers were working on shootout attempts for the first time in practice today in the aftermath of last nights loss.

That's all I got.

[Flyer Fan]

Interesting move last night: The Flyers demoted Harry Zolnierczyk to the Phantoms, and recalled nobody.

Zolnierczyk couldn't crack a semi-healthy Flyers lineup (at least not yet), and was being scratched, so maybe this is just to get him some playing time...

OR, ...it could be a signal that the Flyers anticipate needing the roster spot shortly.

There's been speculation that it could mean that JvR's close to returning, but he just gave an interview a few days ago and stated that he was still experiencing some symptoms.

Of course the more likeley explaination is that the Flyers have either liked what they've seen of Sesito, or view his lower upside as a more suitable pressbox occupant.

[lektrix]

Does this mean Rinaldo gets a permanent spot? This guy is killing me with the scratches every other game and lack of PIM production. "Stirring trouble" with NJ and then having Schenn take the fight???

[Two On One]

Hey FlyerFan,

Any scoop on whether Bryz is sick or hurt?

https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/tpanot...37171761717248

If he's just sick, I didn't wanna cause a mini-panic by posting on the injury board?. Thanks!

[Flyer Fan]

Hey FlyerFan,

Any scoop on whether Bryz is sick or hurt?

https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/tpanot...37171761717248

If he's just sick, I didn't wanna cause a mini-panic by posting on the injury board?. Thanks!

Just saw this, so I went and checked it out, and sure enough, Holmgren says Bryzgalov has the flu, and Bobrovsky's starting! Glad you posted this!

[Ballsakic]

Just saw this, so I went and checked it out, and sure enough, Holmgren says Bryzgalov has the flu, and Bobrovsky's starting! Glad you posted this!

Yeah he has the flu. Damit just when he was playing good.
Now Im stuck with him all week.

[Two On One]

Just saw this, so I went and checked it out, and sure enough, Holmgren says Bryzgalov has the flu, and Bobrovsky's starting! Glad you posted this!

No sweat... Just found an article on it a moment ago:

http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/flyers...064&feedID=695

The Universe can head back to bed now...