Giroux sent down; Metro, Vaananen to be missed
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Giroux sent down; Metro, Vaananen to be missed
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
General manager Paul Holmgren has done a masterful job reviving the Flyers. Two years ago, they were the NHL’s worst team, and then they reached the league’s Final Four last season.
This year, they are among the Eastern Conference elite and have a legitimate chance to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
But one has to wonder if their chances were diminished a bit on Friday.
Not because of the team’s 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal, but rather because management had done a lousy job managing the salary cap, causing the Flyers to lose a pair of veterans on waivers. Center Glen Metropolit was claimed by Montreal, while defenseman Ossi Vaananen was picked up by Vancouver.
And then Saturday, came this stunner: Rookie sensation Claude Giroux was being sent to the Phantoms. That frees $850,000 in cap space, but GM Paul Holmgren insisted the move had nothing to do with salary-cap issues.
Why, then, was Giroux, who has been one of the Flyers' top offensive players recently, demoted?
"It was in the best interest of the team," said Holmgren, who would not elaborate.
As for Metropolit and Vaananen, they were hard-working, blue-collar players. They weren’t marquee players, but they were the type of character guys that every team needs.
Metropolit, whose climb out of the Toronto projects has become one of the NHL's feel-good stories, was used as a fourth-line center and penalty killer, while Vaananen had recently been demoted and had become the Flyers’ No. 7 defenseman _ though you can argue he should have been in the top-six.
Their departures hurt the Flyers’ chemistry. Both were deeply respected and well-liked. Vaananen was on his way to joining the Canucks and wasn’t around Friday night, but Metropolit ironically played against the Flyers _ and after the game a big group of his ex-teammates met with him in the hallway outside the home team's locker room.
The player they call “Metro” was scrappy, gave the Flyers experience and was one of their best at winning faceoffs. Those qualities will be missed in the playoffs.
Vaananen gave the blue liners a much-needed physical presence, and his good humor kept the locker room loose.
Losing the two players will obviously hurt the team’s depth.
And how will it affect the team’s close-knit chemistry?
"Any time there are changes, there's a little bit of concern," coach John Stevens said. "But at the same time, we feel we have a group here that can absorb these kinds of things. . . . They're certainly disappointed to see friends move on, but they know it is part of the business."
A bad part of the business.
_ Sam Carchidi
Comment removed.
When one of your best young players is sent back to the AHL because he makes more than another player at his position (Ross) something is out of whack. Holmgren needs to get his act together because this is getting ridiculous. Does he even understand the position he's put him self in? Not only did Flyers have to lose 2 depth players they could have used for playoff run (especially Ossi) they now send Giroux back to Phantoms "in the best interest of the team". Homer better pull off a major deal by Wednesday and get this mess straightened out.— BobbyD- relax Bobby D, I'm telling you, it's only for one game, then we will be straight. Timonen already said he will be back Tuesday, and so will Giroux when that happens.— robm0202
- And yahmpy, you go on too many rumor sites. There is no way in hell they move vanRiemy without him even playing in a game for us, they like the kid too much. He will be up next year with the team. I am envisioning a nasty 3rd line of Briere, Giroux, and vanRiemy.— robm0202
- Giroux has been very good....it makes absolutely no sense to send him down, other than $$$. He'll be back up when it counts. I have a feeling the Flyers are going to make a big move. Send Gagne packing if you have to....get us Bouwmeester or Pronger.— Tar Heel 1
- Rumor over at hockey buzz says the ducks want carle, lupul, and a 1st rounder for pronger. I would do that in a heartbeat but we would need to find a rw to replace lupul the rest of the year.— robm0202
- Giroux was sent down for 2 reasons: 1) there is no was you play him on the 4th line with Cote and Asham for 4 minutes in a game and 2) if he is with the Flyers, he cuts into Briere's PP time. With the way, Giroux has been performing on the PP with the top line, there was no way Stevens would have plugged Briere in there.— mike c
- Umm, mike, why would he be on the 4th line? Powe obviously will move to the fourth line once they clear Guenin and Ross off the NHL roster, which sounds like its going to be after Timmonen plays on Tuesday. The third line will be Briere centering Giroux and Upshall, which will make for a fast as hell line. The first two lines will remain unchanges and Powe will move down with Asham and Cote. Powe is a good story but a fourth line player on this forward talent rich team.— robm0202
- Umm, mike, why would he be on the 4th line? Powe obviously will move to the fourth line once they clear Guenin and Ross off the NHL roster, which sounds like its going to be after Timmonen plays on Tuesday. The third line will be Briere centering Giroux and Upshall, which will make for a fast as hell line. The first two lines will remain unchanges and Powe will move down with Asham and Cote. Powe is a good story but a fourth line player on this forward talent rich team.— robm0202
- Giroux is back, Guenin and Ross down, accd to Panaccio.— robm0202
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