Home Opener - October 11

The Flyers’ home opener will be Saturday October 11 against the New York Rangers. I’m kind of underwhelmed that we’re facing the Rangers. I was hoping for the Caps, Pens, Devs or even San Jose (JR!). But oh well, I just can’t wait to go/see/scream!!

Official 08-09 schedule should be released tomorrow at noon.

Eric Desjardins = Flyers’ new player development coach

I, for one, am excited. I think Desjardins will really be able to help with all the yougins and newbies we acquired this off season.

I love how the players love this organization. I think it really shows how awesome the club is when we have top former Flyers sticking around to coach and scout and manage. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

P.S. The demolition of the Wachovia Spectrum is a big ole fail.

Hockey withdrawal sucks

Fortunately, CSN is airing game 7 of the Caps series. How excited am I? That was my favorite game of the playoffs!!!

7pm, bbs.

Okay so…

RJ - check

Riles - check

Homer - check

Aaron Asham…check?

Not sure I get this move. We’re already over the salary cap and they pick up Asham?! He doesn’t have very impressive numbers for a forward, what like 10 goals or something? So he’s an agitator, but so is Riles. Hmmm, but I will wait and see before I’m too whiney.

So we still have to get rid of someone unless Hatch goes on injured reserve. I fear it might be Noobs, which would make me sad because I like him and the epic line 3 chemistry.

I’ve decided I’ll follow Tampa Bay next season, too. They’ve made some big moves (yay for acquiring Mark Recchi!!) and I’m interested to see how they come off of their season of fail. Plus, I have respect for Vinny Lecavalier, though when he plays opposite us, he is in my top 10 arch nemeses pile.

COME ON, HOMER!

Can you please sign RJ and Riles now and make it official??!?!?

I cannot take much more of this.

P.S. So Eminger signed a 1 year deal with us and we traded Greentree for Ramholt from Calgary. Also, Gauthier has been put on waivers.

Jeff Carter - we haz him.

So Carts signed a 3 year contract for $15 million. Good on him.

I’m glad the team wrapped this up before July 1st. Hopefully Randy Jones will be the next one on the stayin around bandwagon.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Carter’s in the beginning of the season. Actually, I’m not sure I was fully converted until post season (thanks Lisa). His inconsistency scares me. He had his awesome streaks, especially when Richie was out with that hamstring injury. But he really needs to play like that all of the time. I think he has it in him. I really do. So I hope the new season is an epic one for him.

I know a lot of people are scoffing at this deal. Peeps think Carts is definitely a first liner type o’ guy and he’s worth more. Can’t say that I necessarily disagree. But I like that the Flyers have such a strong offense going on here. Danny B, Richie, and Carts are all first liners to me; what a luxury we have. It’s just a friggin number. Like, dude, if he plays epic, he plays epic, no matter which line he’s on. Why can’t we make line three the new line one?

Does any of that make sense? I’m tired and working on little brain power here, but I know what I mean.

Needless to say, hockey withdrawal is a thing of pure evil.

Flyers’ 2008 Entry Draft Recap

Alright so we traded Umbie, gained Steve Eminger from the Caps and recruited 5 newbies during the draft.

Here are some stats on the newbies, courtesy of the official Flyers website:

LUCA SBISA, Defense: Selected by the Flyers in the first round (19th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft…Born on January 30, 1990 in Ozleri, Italy…6’2”, 190 pounds…Shoots left…Played this past season for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League…Recorded six goals and 27 assists for 33 points and 63 penalty minutes in 62 games for Lethbridge…Won the Carl Trentini Memorial Award as the Hurricanes Rookie of the Year for the 2007-08 season…Led all WHL defensemen in playoff scoring with 15 points (3G,12A) in 19 games as Lethbridge advanced to the 2008 WHL Finals…Was selected to participate in the 2008 CHL Top Prospects Game…Was a member of Team Switzerland at the 2008 World Junior Championship Tournament…Played the 2006-07 season with Zug of the Swiss Jr. Elite League…Ranked 12th among North American prospects on Central Scouting’s final report.

MARC-ANDRE BOURDON, Defense: Selected by the Flyers in the third round (67th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft…Born on September 17, 1989 in St-Hyacinthe, Quebec…6’0”, 205 pounds…Shoots left…Played this past season for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League…Recorded 12 goals and 47 assists for 59 points and 114 penalty minutes in 69 games for Rouyn-Noranda…Won the Emile “Butch” Bouchard Trophy as the QMJHL’s best defenseman and was named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team for the 2007-08 season…Was tied for second among QMJHL defensemen in points with 59…Was second among QMJHL defensemen in assists (47) and plus/minus (+39)…Was named the QMJHL Defensive Player of the Month for January 2008, after recording 20 points and a +14 rating in 11 games, including five assists at Victoriaville on Jan. 3…Over the last two seasons with the Huskies (2006-07 and 2007-08), he has registered 14 goals and 73 assists for 87 points and 194 penalty minutes in 132 regular season games…Ranked 125th among North American prospects on Central Scouting’s final report.

JACOB DeSERRES, Goalie: Selected by the Flyers in the third round (84th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft…Born on March 18, 1990 in East York, Ontario…6’2”, 195 pounds…Catches left…Played this past season for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League…Posted a 20-11-0 record, three shutouts, 2.28 GAA and .922 save percentage in 34 regular season games for Seattle…Tied for first among WHL goaltenders in save percentage (.922)…Has played parts of three seasons with Seattle (2005-06 through 2007-08), registering a 30-20-3 record, six shutouts, 2.41 GAA and .916 save percentage in 57 regular season games…Ranked sixth among North American goaltending prospects on Central Scouting’s final report.

ZAC RINALDO, Center: Selected by the Flyers in the sixth round (178th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft…Born on June 15, 1990 in Mississauga, Ontario…5’11”, 170 pounds…Shoots left…Played this past season for the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors of the Ontario Hockey League…Recorded seven goals and seven assists for 14 points and 191 penalty minutes in 63 games for Mississauga St. Michael’s…Led the Majors in penalty minutes with 191 (fifth in the OHL)…Ranked 119th among North American prospects on Central Scouting’s final report.

JOACIM ERIKSSON, Goalie: Selected by the Flyers in the seventh round (196th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft…Born on April 9, 1990 in Gavle, Sweden…6’1”, 190 pounds…Catches right…Played this past season for the Brynas IF in the Swedish Under-20 League…Recorded a 3.31 GAA and .875 save percentage in 16 games for Brynas IF…Also appeared in nine games for Brynas IF in the Swedish Under-18 League and two games for Valbo AIF (Swedish Division I)…Was a member of Team Sweden at the 2008 IIHF World Under-18 Championships.

And don’t forget about Danny Syvret from a few weeks ago.

So who else is excited for the new season?!?!

We stole Eminger from Oven Chicken

Flyers traded their 27th pick to Washington for Steve Eminger and an 80something pick. Hmm, well yet another dman and taken from Oven Chicken, one of my great arch nemeses. Tis okay with me.

Welcome Luca Sbisa

I must fangirl for a moment and just say oh hai, hottness.

Go here for more info on Mr. Sbisa (who I now dub Beesey).

I’m excited for yet another new Dman! Woot

Adios Umberger

Watching the draft….

The Flyers have traded R.J. Umberger to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

This gets a big yay out of me. More room for Carts, Uppie and RJ to stay.

Heee.