Fresh Ice Cuts: Getting Caught Up

Ups, Downs, and Shut down
Over the past month the Flyers have faced their fair share of adversity. March started with the Flyers dropping four straight games to teams well below them in the standings. The pinnacle came during a nationally televised game versus the New York Rangers where the Flyers got completely out played and lost 7-0. This lit a spark, and the Flyers have won four of their last six games. However no game has show resemblance of what the Flyers have shown they can do. Three times over this streak the Flyers have blown a lead and gone to overtime because of it, twice Atlanta came back to beat them in a shootout.

In Addition to their uncharacteristic play as of late, the Flyers received news late week that Chris Pronger could potentially miss the rest of the regular season. Pronger had hand surgery earlier this week, he and the organization are optimistic about a speedy recovery.

Where's Nick Boynton?
After swiping Nick Boynton off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks, the Flyers newest addition went to work filling in for Pronger. However after 3 games and a -2 rating Nick Boynton has found the club boxes. The 32 year old played 41 games with the Hawks this season where he logged 1 goal and 7 assists.

Come to the Flyers aid is a 22 year old swede by the name of Erik Gustafsson. Gus had spent time with A'dack Phantoms before being called up. Former Flyers defenseman turned scout, Rory Fitzpatrick, actually spotted Gustafsson playing at Northern Michigan University and the Flyers pursuited quickly after he finished his 3rd season with the Wildcats.

Gustafsson's size is compared with great compliment to Tobias Enstrom of the Atlanta Thrashers. His game matches as well ,playing five games with the Phantoms last season Gus posted seven points.

Burke's Bust
After trading for Kris Versteeg this past summer, Toronto's GM Brian Burke decided that Kris didn't mesh well with the Maple Leafs style and deemed him as not part of their future. This lead Flyers GM Paul Homgren to get awful wide-eyed and snag the 24 year old winger at a recession special.

Versteeg has played well at times with the Flyers posting four goals and one assist in sixteen games. Keep in mind that the Flyers are playing some of their worst offensive hockey of the season. Versteeg ultimately projects as a first or second line winger with 30 goal potential and the ability to both kill penalties and log powerplay minutes.

Chemistry has been Versteeg's biggest issue, he has mostly played with captain Mike Richards who has been lagging due to the flu. Once this team gets rolling, watch out Versteeg scored 20 goals for the Blackhawks last season and added six in the post season.

Fresh Ice Cuts are written by Cody Gray, just as every other post on this blog. If you want to talk Flyers or just say what's up HMU on twitter @CodyGris or Email me at codygray@live.com. Thanks for reading!