Emery signing a plus only if it leads to a quality defenseman
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Emery signing a plus only if it leads to a quality defenseman
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Goalie Ray Emery was articulate and honest - and didn’t throw a single punch at Flyers trainer Jim McCrossin when he was introduced at Wednesday’s news conference in Voorhees.
OK, that was a cheap shot. But when you come with Emery’s baggage, you expose yourself to all types of criticism.
That said, Emery could emerge as the bargain of the year.
The Flyers announced Wednesday they had agreed to a one-year deal with the 6-foot-2, 196-pound Emery. The deal is for $1.5 million, and if Emery returns to his 2006-07 form - he led Ottawa to the Stanley Cup Finals - the Flyers will be feeling very good about themselves.
Though I was in favor of re-signing Marty Biron, I like this move - if it enables the Flyers to sign Jay Bouwmeester or Mike Komisarek, a pair of defensemen who can become free agents on July 1.
It would have taken about $3.5 million to $4 million a year to re-sign Biron. So the Flyers’ savings, coupled with some other cost-cutting moves (a trade of Joffrey Lupul?), could help the club improve its defense in the free-agent market.
In the playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Biron was not the reason the Flyers lost in six games. The Flyers’ defense and Jeff Carter’s scoring slump were bigger factors.
Emery, of course, has had a long list of off-the-ice problems, including an altercation with a Russian trainer in late January. There were also fights with Ottawa teammates, missed practices, suspensions and, oh, about 30 driving violations.
But he seemed contrite on Wednesday, seemed genuinely sincere about re-inventing himself after being, in effect, exiled from the NHL and sent to Russia.
He will add some fire to a laid-back locker room, and he should be more physical in scrambles around the net - a Biron shortcoming in the Game 6 loss to Pittsburgh.
The addition of Emery is a win-win situation for the team and the goalie, said Peter Luukko, the Comcast-Spectacor president.
“I think it’s a pretty good formula when you have a hungry young man who wants to prove himself,” Luukko said.
Emery, whose heavy partying became a part of his identity in Ottawa, vowed that his off-ice conduct will be much improved.
“At the same time, I’m not saying I’m not going to be a fiery guy,” he said. “I play hockey. I throw it out there. Like I said, I know I have the opportunity and I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize that or make people who are giving me this opportunity look bad.”
One of those people is John Paddock, who coached Emery during his tumultuous time in Ottawa and is now the Phantoms' coach.
Paddock recommended that the Flyers sign Emery.
Emery said he wishes he would reverse his final season in Ottawa in 2007-08.
“I didn’t have a great work ethic at the start of the year,” he admitted. “I came in out of shape and wasn’t willing to work like I had in the past. I made a lot of mistakes, but I know this is a last chance for me. I have that knowledge of that past and I’m getting a shot to correct those things.”
Coach John Stevens recently spent several hours with Emery and said he was impressed with the goalie’s makeup.
“He admits he made mistakes and now he’s ready to move on and make amends _ and we’re glad he’s going to do it here,” Stevens said.
On paper, Emery and Biron are about equal. But if signing Emery frees cap space that helps the Flyers land a top-notch defenseman, it will be a move that was worth the risk.
The next move is up to general manager Paul Holmgren.
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Holmgren seemed upbeat about the possibility of re-signing potential free-agent Mike Knuble….Holmgren also said Antero Niittymaki’s hip injury is not as bad as first feared. There is still a chance that Nitty, a potential free agent, will re-sign with the Flyers and be Emery’s backup....For what it's worth, Emery said he scored over 1,300 on his SAT.
MichaelZoe....tellin in like it is. I think Beachamin would be the best fit out of the potential candidates.— Pantaphobia- big mike is overrated, too expensive, and too slow. ohlund would be ideal for the flyers. (fast, can score, can move the puck). dion is a very longshot. jbo would be nice if holmgrem can manuever...big, strong, nasty. randy jones is terrible. stop blaming the hip, stop smoking weed, and get in shape.— ralphj
- st.patrick33 i would call a 2.12 goals against average and .926 save percentage domination. plus his KHL post-season stats 1.86 GAA and .941 save percentage is far beyond domination in any league. he is a young goalie who is still getting better. Biron was a good guy and thats the only reason its hard to see him leave. its definately not because of his backup skills.— bob121484
- Didn't TO come in to Philly a few years back talking about how he was sorry about his past, and he had changed. I give Emery 1 year, and then he is back to his old antics.— DE_Gene
Jay Bouwmeester or bust...
You can't trust the performance of any player on Pittsburgh, Montreal, Buffalo, or Ottawa. Those teams are Gary Bettmans favorites, and average players end up looking awesome when the refs protect them and give them favorable non-calls. Komisarek getting traded will just lead to another disappointment, like every player who leaves a Bettman-blessed team.— Pelti- Think if the miracle would happend of getting Dion Phaneuff, not only would we get a young stud, but we would have Elisha Cuthbert in the stands. You know Phaneuff would love to pound on that narcasistic dwarf on the Rangers, what's his name?? Oh yeah Sean Avery!! Only wishful thinking.— cote32
- St.Patrick--you're high. Emery had a .924 save percentage in the KHL which is the Russian ELITE League (who have had their fair share of superstars--Makarov, Federov, Bure, Kharlamov, Tretiak). maybe you should learn something about hockey before commenting on it.— yantastic
- No need to be an expert. It's apparent the Flyers are knee-deep in cap trouble. Signing Emery is part of shedding salary. A very small part since they still remain above the cap and need to resign some other players. The rest of the NHL is in better salary cap shape (look at nhlnumbers.com) and has a much better chance of signing free agents to bolster their lineup. The Flyers most likely peaked last year when Biron stood on his head and singlehandedly beat the Habs. The Bruins, Caps, Canes and Pens are far superior teams.— St.Patrick33
- Trade Lupul, and sign Bouwmeester. Then the Flyers will be really set.— ChrisM
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Emery is NOT a proven goalie, the KHL is equivalent to minor league hockey, and the Flyers are built for the 1970's. The game is built for speed, skill, puck possession, and CONTROLLED physical play and the Flyers are light years behind....even further cementing their lame-duck status by trading Upshall last year (a player who matches the direction of the new NHL) for a goon in Carcillo. We have a highly skilled captain in Richards who will need to tone down his physical play in the next few years in order to fulfill his huge contract ON the ice, rather than on the IR. He's too small to be playing that BIG a game of hockey. We have ZERO Europeans on this team (not counting Timonen--he plays a tough Canadian style), which limits our scope of talent to North American players...in other words, the rest of the NHL is getting faster, more skilled, and more physically efficient on the ice while we sing the tune of 1970's glory days long since passed. SO, while we watch Malkin, Ovechkin, Franzen, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Hossa, etc. make significant contributions in the playoffs, the Flyers players are playing golf in their native Canada. Euro player are no longer soft, an opinion the "old guard" of the Flyers still believe in. Ask players how it feels when you get buried by Chara, Kronwall, Volchenkov, Markov, etc...not so soft. Flyers are NOT built for the current game of the NHL. Period.- cduran1229....spin it all you want. The Flyers are the team in worst cap shape in the entire league (look at nhlnumbers.com). They need to dump one (or a few) players to ice a team, let alone bid for FAs. Do some research you f'n tool.— St.Patrick33
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