Waiting for the shoe to drop
The NHL's holiday roster freeze on Saturday presents an interesting dilemma for Flyers management. Do they wait until after the freeze ends on Dec. 27 to make a move or pull the trigger now and hope for change?
Waiting for the shoe to drop
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
That noise?
Oh, that’s the ticking time bomb inside the Flyers’ locker room.
You may not need to wait much longer for the shoe to drop with this Flyers team; they could be within hours of a major implosion.
The NHL holiday roster freeze goes into effect on Saturday at 12-midnight and doesn’t lift until Dec. 27, which would leave the Flyers’ hands tied during an entire five-game stretch. During the freeze, teams are restricted from trading or making any types of call-ups, demotions or moves on the waiver wire so players can rest easy during the holiday season.
They have won just three times in their last 14 games and have dropped into a tie for 14th place in the Eastern Conference.
At the Flyers’ optional practice on Wednesday – less than 12 hours after returning from a 6-1 drubbing in Pittsburgh – Scott Hartnell must’ve felt the pressure. Hartnell was one of the only non-injured Flyers that skated, with the exception of new goaltender Michael Leighton and Riley Cote.
“Call it what you want,” Hartnell told the Daily News. “You have to pay the price. Sooner or later, heads are going to roll.”
He joined Simon Gagne, Blair Betts, Darroll Powe, Cote and Leighton to “wheel around” on the ice.
Like his team, Hartnell has had a particularly rough stretch of games: his three penalties on Monday nearly cost the Flyers a big win and a late turnover (combined with uninspiring play) resulted in Pittsburgh’s fourth goal last night. That’s why his name has been circulating through the rumor mill.
With a salary that pays him $4.2 million, Hartnell could be hard to move.
Another name that has been mentioned is Jeff Carter, who is scoreless in his last four games. Though his play has been lifeless of late, the Flyers could be reluctant to move a 46-goal scorer from last season.
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said on Wednesday that he doesn’t think a trade is warranted, yet. He said that he has had general manager Paul Holmgren’s full attention over the last few days and after lengthy chats about his new team, Laviolette has left “nothing bottled up.”
Still, Laviolette isn’t the one that pulls the trigger.
Holmgren may have his finger on it. Or he may give Laviolette a chance to turn things around from within the four walls of the Flyers’ morbid locker room.
It’s just that five more games may put this team in a spot where it could be hard to challenge for the playoffs – let alone a high seed.
Nodl, Backlund reassigned
The Flyers sent forward Andreas Nodl and goaltender Johan Backlund packing for Adirondack yesterday, fresh off a three-game road trip.
Nodl has one assist in 10 games this season. He could very well be out of chances with the Flyers, who harped on his lack of scoring touch this summer.
Leighton, acquired from re-entry waivers on Tuesday, will dress in Thursday’s game in the place of Backlund. Backlund did not see a single minute of action – starter Brian Boucher has started the last six games.
Blair Betts is expected to take Nodl’s spot in Thursday’s rematch with Pittsburgh. He has been out since Nov. 21 when he dislocated his right shoulder for the sixth time in his career. The Flyers are 10-3 with Betts in the lineup this season.
Gagne met with a doctor on Wednesday and is waiting news on his status while Powe (shoulder) may be able to play as soon as this weekend.
Read more in Thursday’s Daily News.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DNFlyers.
I've got an idea...lets trade for another goon..that always seems to work— pucky88
What they need a good boot in their rear ends!— HappyBob- Trade Hartnell for whoever and picks. Dude is a turnover machine. They need to replenish the draft picks anyway. Pronger trade is looking worse and worse, he gets beat for goals every night. That's not what "the best defenseman in the league" does.— sla6yer
- wait can't we get an old defensmen and a wacky goalie...oh we did that already....darn.... that is Ed and Paul's stardard remedy for things every year....they both are a joke....retire ed...and get a real gm...26 years and counting— nuggett
- The way Homey doles out cash and NTCs, he'll probably have to package picks through 2015 to get rid of these flea-bitten mongrels. Way to go Homey!!
- Actually, the Flyers need a good skating goon who can forecheck and not be a liability on the ice. (For example, Dave Brown, Craig Berube, Terry McCarthy, (to a degree) Donald Brahear). We were totally over classed by the toughness of the Pens, hell, Cote doesn't scare anybody at 5'10". Plus we need a big tough D to clear the crease (wait, we somebody who used to fit that role....), Boosh was hung out to dry in Pittsburg.— NickFotiu4HOF
- I liked the team the last two years, I can't stand this team. Eveybody demanded Lupul be traded, well there goes 25 goals, Knuble was let go for nothing and I never liked the Umberger for Carcillo trade, they were all bad and the goalie situation, never thought I'd say this, come back Baron and Nittymaki, we miss you. We may never win the Stanley Cup with you but at least we can make the playoffs and have hope, Emery and Boucher will lead you to last place.— neddyflanders
- It was Upshall for Carcillo. Umberger was a salary cap casualty trade for (esentially) Pronger (via Sbisa). Knuble also salary cap casualty. I still think Lupul was soft, but you have to wonder how all these players leaving affected chemistry. And goaltending really ain't the problem...it isn't Emery and Boucher leading us to last place.— mikemcnhl
- It seems like the chemistry between CARTER and HARTNELL is becoming an issue...hmmm...I wonder why?— lackey13
- It was Upshall who was traded for Carcillo, and Biron was the goalie. I'm surprised this team hasn't made a trade, way to go homer you DOPE.I'm getting sick of this team— EvoXMike
- I guess my comment wasn't appropriate enough to make the cut....— lackey13
Comment removed.- Who is Baron? And Umberger was a free agent. Scottie Upshall was traded for Carcillo.— jr7597
- Anyone who gets a Flyers Santa Sack for Christmas will feel like they are getting coal. Carter needs to go, and so does Briere and Hartnell. Possibly try moving Coburn, only good thing about him is he is not really damaging the cap.— djax10
- Comment removed.
