The Official Philadelphia Flyers Thread

This team is so fuckin frustrating

Game one come out flat... game 2 played well enough to win it... game 3 flat again

Not enough effort from everyone.. I definitely see some players being shipped out of here

No way should this team shoulda got swept

http://www.courierpostonline.com/articl ... ext|Flyers



Flyers defend captain after lackluster series




Could Mike Richards have played his final game as the Flyers' captain?
Could he have played his final game as a Flyer?


A year ago, those questions would have been considered preposterous, and even today they may draw the ire of Flyers' general manager Paul Holmgren and head coach Peter Laviolette.
But there is a quiet, growing concern about the leadership skills of the team's 26-year-old center, who last week completed his sixth season with the Flyers and third as captain.


It is no secret that with boisterous alternate captain Chris Pronger out of the lineup with a fractured hand, the Flyers stumbled down the stretch, winning just seven of their final 21 games (7-8-6).
They also came up empty in the playoffs, getting swept by the Boston Bruins after rallying to beat the Buffalo Sabres in seven games in the first round.
In those 11 playoff games, Richards managed only one goal and played much like the rest of his teammates -- uninspired.
The captain also spent much of the season quarreling with the local media, and on Monday he left the Skate Zone in Voorhees without talking to reporters. He then refused to participate in a conference call later in the day.


In his annual breakup scrum with reporters Monday, Laviolette spent nearly 40 minutes answering questions about his team, and many of them focused on his relationship with his captain.
"I think that all relationships are built," Laviolette said.
"You don't come in and put your hip on somebody's hip and say, "You and I are best friends.' Mike and I continue to work on our relationship. I respect him, I like Mike as a person and we continue to work on that."
Asked if they see eye to eye on most things, Laviolette replied, "I would think so."
Richards is in the third year of the 12-year, $69 million contract extension he signed midway through the 2007-08 season. The contract carries a $5.75 million cap hit with a no-movement clause kicking in July 1, 2012.


In other words, if the Flyers have any intentions of trading Richards, they have a little more than 13 months to do it. And while the Flyers' season may have ended just four days ago, there is speculation the club might try to move their captain for a much-needed goaltender, such as Los Angeles Kings' netminder Jonathan Bernier or Calgary Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff.


If Richards' days in Philadelphia are numbered, it's hard to tell by the overwhelming support he received in the Flyers' locker room Monday.
When asked if Richards might find it too heavy a burden to wear the "C" when Pronger seems better suited to be the team's captain, Laviolette bristled.
"Chris is a strong personality, nobody questions that," he said. "I think Mike has the respect of his peers and the guys in this room.
"You're talking about a guy who, offensively, has put together some good seasons in a row and a guy that (last year) ultimately led this team to the finals and within two games of the Cup. I'm not sure of the line of questioning here.
"Listen, I wish we were practicing today. I don't think you should go on a witch hunt for Mike Richards just because we're not. That doesn't make sense to me. This is the same guy who led this team to within two games of the Cup last year, is it not?"
Richards also received overwhelming support from his teammates, old and new.


"It's very unfair," said left wing Scott Hartnell, who has two years remaining on a six-year contract that pays him $4.2 million a season.
"He's the hardest worker. He's got the biggest heart. People who are saying he doesn't care or he didn't give it his all out there don't know what they're talking about because he's one of the most well-liked players I've ever played with."
Richards' linemate, Kris Versteeg, agreed, saying the Chicago Blackhawks had to key on the Flyers' captain throughout last year's Cup finals.
"I don't know why he wouldn't be captain material," Versteeg said. "He's been doing it here a few years, and from being on a team that played against him, you know who Mike Richards is. He's the captain of this team, the heart and soul, and I'm sure things will stay that way for a long time."


If Richards' days in Philadelphia are numbered, it's hard to tell by the overwhelming support he received in the Flyers' locker room Monday.

When asked if Richards might find it too heavy a burden to wear the "C" when Pronger seems better suited to be the team's captain, Laviolette bristled.
"Chris is a strong personality, nobody questions that," he said. "I think Mike has the respect of his peers and the guys in this room.
"You're talking about a guy who, offensively, has put together some good seasons in a row and a guy that (last year) ultimately led this team to the finals and within two games of the Cup. I'm not sure of the line of questioning here.
"Listen, I wish we were practicing today. I don't think you should go on a witch hunt for Mike Richards just because we're not. That doesn't make sense to me. This is the same guy who led this team to within two games of the Cup last year, is it not?"
Richards also received overwhelming support from his teammates, old and new.
"It's very unfair," said left wing Scott Hartnell, who has two years remaining on a six-year contract that pays him $4.2 million a season.
"He's the hardest worker. He's got the biggest heart. People who are saying he doesn't care or he didn't give it his all out there don't know what they're talking about because he's one of the most well-liked players I've ever played with."
Richards' linemate, Kris Versteeg, agreed, saying the Chicago Blackhawks had to key on the Flyers' captain throughout last year's Cup finals.


"I don't know why he wouldn't be captain material," Versteeg said. "He's been doing it here a few years, and from being on a team that played against him, you know who Mike Richards is. He's the captain of this team, the heart and soul, and I'm sure things will stay that way for a long time."