Today at noon Pittsburgh and Washington held a press conference. Many things were mentioned but the most interesting are the viewings of the new "3rd" jerseys logos. Pittsburgh participated in the 1st Winter Classic in Buffalo, where they unveiled their powder-blue uni's, this is their second and 1st home. Washington has never participated in a Winter Classic.
The Caps are sticking with their newest logo, trying to forget the past i guess. The Caps used to where Blue, Gold, and Black jersey; that's what i'm pulling for. Unfortunately the logo doesn't seem like they're headed in this way.
The Pens are using a logo similar to their current Powder-blue jersey, a Penguin skating with the Team name around it. Once again i lost out, i was hoping for the 90's jerseys with the "cutting-edge" penguin and Yellow and Black stripes.
Looking back both teams had somewhat terrible years back in the late 80's - 90's. Guess that's why neither team decided to bring back those memories.
The Flyers and RFA C Darroll Powe signed a one-year .725M deal on Thursday. The Flyers now have 14 Fs. Betts will not be healthy to start of season, Powe 4th C.
The injury was sustained during the Eastern Conference Finals last postseason versus Montreal. During a play where he attempted to make a hit but went straight into the boards shoulder first, resulting in a separated shoulder. Betts, however, did not miss a game due to the injury.
Betts received surgery on the injured shoulder this offseason. When receiving surgery on a separated shoulder the estimated time until physical rehab even starts is usually 1 1/2-2 months. Blair got his surgery after the season meaning he will just start rehabbing soon. Skating can usually be resumed in 2 monthes, but contact cannot be resumed for around 4 months.
With Betts being out until around November this frees up cap space (700K) and roster space (4th center). Darroll Powe (RFA) and the Flyers are in contract talks right now.
Betts is an excellent penalty killer and the Flyers best defensive forward. The 30 year old also added 8 goals and 10 assists last season. Blair Betts' best play may be away from the puck however, he skates from beginning to end on every shift an is a masterful forechecker. Also a great faceoff man, Betts will be hard to replace for a few months.
(Gulp) Here it goes. Matt Walker was acquired in the Gagne deal Monday afternoon. Most Flyers fans are throwing him through the shredder relentlessly, including me. However if you separate Walker from the Gagne deal you'll see he is not a bad pick up.
Matt Walker is by all means a late bloomer, playing his first full NHL season in 08-09 at age 28 years old. The 3rd round draft pick by St. Louis in 1998 has had a rough pro career, over the course of 8 years and parts of 7 NHL seasons Walker has totaled 4 goals and 26 assits in 306 games. Also putting up 137 shots in the past 2 seasons, a great amount for a 3-pair defenseman. Consider how bad Tampa's offense was last year, being how 1st line defenseman Mattias Ohlund only took 71 shots, Walker's 54 shots aren't a bad total.
The Beaverlodge, Alberta native is definately more of a defensive defenseman however. At 6'4" and 215 Walker is a menace for opposing offenseman, racking up 444 penalty minutes in his career. Walker also not afraid to drop the gloves:
“You need to have that depth so that you aren’t skipping a beat and you’re not playing 30 minutes a night on defense. You are playing 22-25 minutes a night,” said Pronger on Monday. Pronger feels that the Flyers defense has been improved this offseason as well. Holmgren commentting on the trade said the deal helped "solidify the defense."
There is no word on what will be done with the 30 year old defenseman. Walker is set to make 1.7M next season and could be sent down to the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms to free up cap due to the Flyers having Sean O'Donnell and Oskars Bartulis. Walker's cap hit would be buried if this were to happen. However, a towering, mobile defenseman handy is always a good thing to have. Walker could really help out a back pair on any team, including the Flyers.
In the Simon Gagne deal that saw the Flyers shed 5.25M also saw the Flyers add 30 year old defenseman Matt Walker. Walker played 66 games for the Lightning picking up 2 goals and 3 assits while being a -11.
Walker is set to make 1.7M next season. Leaving the Flyers with just a tad over 1M dollars to spend. There's no real need for Matt Walker who will now be the Flyers 8th defenseman. Expect another deal to happen, unless Walker goes down to the Phantoms.
CSN's Sarah Baicker reports Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said "this was a move to solidify of defense." Walker is at a price of 1.7M due to his fair 2008-09 season where he put up 14 points in 65 games and played in 17 postseason games with Chicago.
One of Philadelphia's longest tenured athlete next to David Akers and Jimmy Rollins is leaving town. The 30 year old 22nd overall Flyers draft pick back in 1998 was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning today. Gagne was entering the final year of his 5 year contract were he is set to make 5.25M.
It's a sad day for Philadelphia sports fans, but one they saw coming. Gagne's drop off from 34 goals last season to only 17 this season and his large salary meant trouble. The Quebec native totaled 664 games as a Flyer recording 259 goals and 265 assists and a plus/minus of +143. However Gagne has never played a full 82 game season in his 10 year career.
Yzerman, the Lightning's GM, has played with Gagne on Team Canada and scouted him to attend the Olympic training camp this past year. This is why Yzerman has been consistently interested in the 30 year old's services.
This morning the Devils official Twitter announced the re-signing of their trade deadline pick up of Ilya Kovalchuk. The Saga is over, the press conference is tomorrow. Now let's get on with it hockey fans!
The Kings have lost the Kovalchuk sweepstakes and now the concensus is that they will look to Holmgren's latest addition to the trade block in Simon Gagne. The Kings are said to be the most interested. Gagne will be entering the last year of his 5 year contract, he will make 5.25M next season and will be a UFA after next season.
David Pagnotta from The Fourth Period says "Yup. They are close to a deal." when asked about the Kings making a move for a winger in the Eastern Conference. A consitant rumor has been Simon Gagne to LA for former Flyers draft pick Justin Williams. Williams is set to make 3.5M and is in the last year of his contract as well, set to be a UFA after next season.
The Kings also have some great young goaltending in Quick and Bernier. However LA said that they had no intention on moving either. Keep in mind that Flyers signed former LA Kings defenseman Sean O'Donnell another Kings Defenseman could be on their way in.
Thanks to the band Static X for helping me write this in under 5 minutes. :)
