Posted: Sunday, September 14, 2008, 11:03 AM | 9 comments |
 

For Flyers, lots of questions
options
 

I was at a Center City function recently and Ray Didinger, one of the area's most respected journalists, was asked which of Philly's four major sports teams would be the next to win a championship.

After a few seconds of deliberation, Didinger replied:

"I'd say the Flyers. Their core group is young and they're just going to keep getting better."

Will it be this year?

Probably not. The Red Wings look head and shoulders above the rest of the NHL.

Still, there is reason for optimism in Flyersland. They retain a strong nucleus from the club that reached last year's Eastern Conference finals.

That said, there are numerous questions as the club begins training camp Saturday. (The club's prospect camp starts tomorrow.)

Has Simon Gagne recovered from a concussion?

Will Marty Biron be able to carry his strong postseason play into the regular season?

Are Braydon Coburn and Kimmo Timonen recovered form postseason injuries?

How much will the club miss forward R.J. Umberger and assistant coach Terry Murray?

Can rookie Claude Giroux make an impact?

Who deserves to be named the captain (Mike Richards? Timonen?)

Will Danny Briere be moved to a line that includes Richards and Gagne?

Should the Flyers put an enforcer on Gagne's line to offer him some protection?

Et cetera. Et cetera.

If you have other questions that you think are imperative, feel free to fire away.

 

 
Posted by @ 11:03 AM  Permalink | 9 comments
9
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:02 PM, 09/14/2008
    What is Derian Hatcher's status? Will Bryan Berard make the team via a tryout? Will Steve Downie continue to develop, coming off a poor postseason? Now that other teams will use the Flyers as a measuring stick, rather than the other way around, will the team be able to sustain intensity throughout a full season and avoid another 10-game winless streak?
    — Brian F.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:27 PM, 09/14/2008
    I would also like to know if there's been any updates on what Hatcher's status is. As well as he played last season, it would probably be in the Flyers' best interests for him to retire so we could regain some cap room and get a more mobile defenseman to replace him. I guess the leadership and grit he brings counts for something if he does indeed return. Plus, I'm sure Clarkie is constantly in Homer's ear about how good Hatch is along the walls.
    — toccheyhockey
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:54 AM, 09/15/2008
    what about the salary cap? aren't they still over the cap
    — overkill19
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:30 AM, 09/15/2008
    Good Questions, Sam. I say, you need to have a backup plan ready for Gagne. Im not convinced he will be 100% or last most of the season. I think the club is going miss Umberger more than they think.
    — atleaglefan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:10 PM, 09/15/2008
    If Hatch goes on the injured list for most of the season that will not count against the cap, putting them under. If he starts the season, they'll need to dump someone who makes a couple million, like Upshall.
    — scotty82
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:55 PM, 09/15/2008
    you dont put an enforcer on a line with gagne...you do however dress an enforcer every game and have him do actual enforcing, not show fights vs other heavys for the sake of it.
    — The Criddler
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:26 PM, 09/15/2008
    Apparently you haven't seen any of the workouts the players have done on their own Here is my report of todays http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=5279&post_id=6104
    — Ladyneat
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:18 AM, 09/18/2008
    Ladyneat, great site. Sam- Like that you're posting on the Flyers and asking some questions about them. Would perhaps also be good if you gave your opinion on their answers. That would likely make this an article / worthwhile.
    — DCExpat


9 comments
About Sam Carchidi
Sam Carchidi is in his fourth year as the Flyers' beat reporter. He became an Inquirer staff writer in 1984 and covered mostly South Jersey high school sports and the Phillies before taking the Flyers beat.

Carchidi has written three books _ the nationally acclaimed Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story, which he co-authored with Scott Brown; Bill Campbell: The Voice of Philadelphia Sports; and Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story, which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He also contributed to a 1993 Inquirer book on the Phillies.

A lifelong South Jersey resident, Carchidi lives in Wenonah with his wife, JoAnn, and their two children, Sara and Sammy.

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