Flyers' probable start is Jan. 19
Though it's not offical, it appears the NHL season will start on Jan. 19, based on a memo the league sent to teams.
Flyers' probable start is Jan. 19
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Though it's not offical, it appears the NHL season will start on Jan. 19, based on a memo the league sent to teams.
The Flyers will probably open at home that afternoon, perhaps against Pittsburgh in a 1 p.m. nationally televised game. The Pittsburgh Post-Tribune reported that the Flyers and Penguins will meet, though Flyers officials said they had no comment.
Again, nothing is official until the NHL announces it later this week.
Reportedly, teams will play seven games against division rivals, and two games against non-division conference opponents.
In Voorhees Monday, the Flyers' Lockout Gang skated before a sparse crowd. Kimmo Timonen, Andrej Meszaros, Jody Shelley, Max Talbot and Andreas Lilja were the Flyers who participated, along with former Flyers Brian Boucher and Andreas Nodl, both with Carolina.
All the players wore their team jerseys; they had been wearing NHLPA jerseys.
Chris Pronger will be at practice later this week, but will only be there to watch because he has not recovered from post-concussion syndrome. He has told club officials he will not do interviews.
Training camp. The new CBA isn't expected to be ratified until Saturday, which means training camp will probably start on Sunday.
Injury updates. GM Paul Holmgren said he was mildly concerned about injuries to Meszaros (Achilles) and Danny Briere (wrist).
Meszaros was cleared by a doctor Monday for full activity.
Briere told The Inquirer on Sunday night that he has a bone bruise and a sprained left wrist. He will visit a hand specialist later this week.
Briere said he was hopeful of being ready for the start of the season and that, if he was sidelined, he didn't expect to miss more than a game or two. He was injured while playing in Germany.
The Flyers had 11 players who played in Europe during the lockout: Briere, Claude Giroux, Ilya Bryzgalov, Talbot, Wayne Simmonds, Jake Voracek, Matt Read, Ruslan Fedotenko, Nick Grossmann, Bruno Gervais and Tom Sestito.
Captaincy plan. Holmgren hinted that a captain would be named to replace Pronger. Giroux is expected to receive the honor.
Amnesty. Holmgren danced around a question on whether an amnesty-buyout threat could serve as a motivator for some players.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
who cares????— Anthony1957- Please tell me Pronger is not going to tryo to come back. One of my favorite player but I don't want to see hit get hurt more.
- Someone cares enough to read and then post. Can the Flyers offer amnesty to Pronger?— P Even
- good! first game giroux can bury crosby!— fman727
- Yeah, I remember Cindy Crosby talking smack about hurting Giroux. Let's see if Cindy is man enough to back his talk. Or maybe, it's just off-season muscles.
- Anothony - if you don't, then move on with your insignificant self.— hvitoloco
- Go Flyers! Glad the boys are back. Can't wait to see Giroux, Simmonds and Briere. Should be a fun ride into spring.— Philly Born
- YEAHHHH BABY...IT'S ON!— juzcuzuasked
- Isn't Pronger LTIR now, meaning his salary isn't against the cap? If he attempts a comeback it could mean some serious cap problems, no?— AEPi71
- cindy crosby goin down someone better tell her to bring some maxipads— FUQUE BETTMAN
- Anthony, turn left to go back to the NASCAR forum. Hockey is a sport with actual strategy and skill. You wouldn't understand.— JohnnyL
- They can amnesty two contacts AFTER this season. Pronger's contract was structured so that he makes very little money in the final years so as long as he stays on the Long-term injury list and does not count towards the cap, there is no reason to amnesty him. If he decided he wanted to comeback, YES there would be serious cap problems.— NMPartners
- While I'm happy the NHL is back, I still would love to see every arena empty for each team's first home game. That would send a powerful message that fans will never be taken for granted.— brio
- Anthony, the opinion is unanimous, you're nothing but a troll, my specialty.
As to the Orange and Black, we can offer Bryz amnesty, a way to rid him back to whatever planet he came to Earth from, minus goalie skills, and we have the offense to win a short season. This reminds me of 94-95 where the Flyers profited by that shortened season. In any events, it never quite felt "right", Fall and early Winter, without Hockey. A belated Christmas present to us all, and as others have said, lets show Cindy that to admit his crimes, has PUNISHMENT. Go Flyers!!— PhillyboyinNYC
