Rosehill gives Flyers a heavyweight enforcer
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Rosehill gives Flyers a heavyweight enforcer
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
For the Flyers, Operation Playoff Push needs to go into overdrive.
They have 13 games to climb over four teams in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.
Physical left winger Jay Rosehill, acquired from Anaheim on Monday for speedy winger Harry Zolnierczyk, figures to play in some of those game, giving the Flyers their first heavyweight enforcer in nearly two months.
He’s a player you hate to play against,” captain Claude Giroux said after the Flyers practiced in Voorhees on Tuesday, preparing for Wednesday’s game against visiting Montreal. “I remember when he was in Toronto and we were playing against him, you know when he’s on the ice.”
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Rosehill participated in his first practice with his new team Tuesday, but isn’t expected to play until Thursday in Toronto. He was acquired because the Flyers have lost their two heavyweight enforcers during the season (an injured Jody Shelley and a waived Tom Sestito) and they don’t want their skilled players fighting.
In Sunday’s 5-4 win over Washington, Jake Voracek _ who is tied for the club’s scoring lead _ got into his first career fight while protecting Giroux. Voracek won the fight against Steve Oleksy, but was accessed 19 minutes in penalties.
“He did good, but I would rather have Jake on the ice scoring some goals,” said a smiling Giroux.
Rosehill, 27, is on the Flyers’ roster and called it a “good opportunity” after spending the entire season with Anaheim’s AHL team, Norfolk.
“I’ve played against this team and organization for a long time,” said Rosehill, who spent parts of three seasons in Toronto. “I’ve always liked their style of play, and it’s good to be in their jersey now and hopefully I get a chance to get in soon and play their style of hockey….That’s kind of always been their tradition here and the way they like to go, and I’m happy to be one of those guys.”
Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn, who has been a standout in the last two games, was Rosehill’s teammate in Toronto.
“He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever played with, as far as in the locker room and being a good character guy,” Schenn said. “Obviously, losing Shelley and having Sestito picked up, he adds that element of toughness. He’s a great fighter, but not only that, he’s a good hitter and strong on the forecheck and he wins battles out there. And he used to be a defenseman, and you have to know how to pass a little bit if you’re a defenseman.
“Every night, he’ll do whatever it takes for the team,” Schenn added. “He’s definitely a welcome addition.”
The Flyers entered Tuesday 12th in the Eastern Conference.
“We can’t be thinking ‘the Rangers have to lose’ and that kind of stuff,” Giroux said. “We just need to focus on what we have to do and be in control of our game. If we play good and start winning games, we’re in control as to whether we make the playoffs or not.”
The Flyers play Montreal on Wednesday, then face the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Thursday.
“It seems like every night we’ll have a chance to tie a team or pass a team because it’s such a close race,” Hartnell said. “This is where you cipher between the boys and men.”
Trade talk. The trade deadline ends at 3 p.m. Wednesday, and the Flyers are still pitching for San Jose winger Ryane Clowe.
Shortly before Jaromir Jagr was dealt from Dallas to Boston on Tuesday, Hartnell said the Flyers would welcome him back. “I think just his presence was especially missed _ his leadership, the guy that he is around the room. His smiles are infectious.”
Breakaways. Based on practice, Tye McGinn will replace Max Talbot (broken leg) on a line with Sean Couturier and Zac Rinaldo as the Flyers aim for their first three-game winning streak of the season…….The Flyers waived spare defenseman Kurtis Foster, perhaps indicating Nick Grossmann is close to returning from an upper-body injury. Grossmann practiced in a non-contact jersey Tuesday …..Montreal handed the Flyers and Brian Boucher a 4-1 defeat (including an empty-netter) Feb. 16 in the teams’ only meeting this year……Coach Peter Laviolette on Zolnierczyk: “Harry was a good soldier here; he brought a lot of energy and a positive attitude to our lineup when he was up here.”
Contact Sam Carchidi at scarchidi@phillynews.com. Follow on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Well, he's better than Sestito in one way: he has more balls. fights good, is not the best heavyweight but will fight them all. Sestito was... ok, this guy is more energy fighter. I don't know about his palying, but better than Shelly for sure :) Harry Z was a smart and fast player, will do well there.— mvandei- Finally!!! Bravo Paul Holmgren. My only complaint was that it took so long. You can't have Simmonds and Voracek doing the fighting. Problem solved. Anyone who disagrees with this move is not a Flyers fan - just a Cammi Granato fan. Only winning teams in position to win a Cup and have an excuse not to dress a heavywheight.— Ferrell31
Yes, Ferrell31. You're just as stuck in the past as Ed Snyder and the rest of the Flyers organization. The days of the goon are long past in the NHL. A speedy skater like Zolnierczyk might become a solid third line winger in a couple of years. But that will be somewhere else.- Please. If it were up to fans like you the Flyers would be not only mediocre, but soft as well. Wonderful. Harry Z's are a dime a dozen.— Ferrell31
- Rosehill stated "hopefully I get a chance to get in soon and play their style of hockey." I read that real fast and my eyes took the "g" from "get" and replaced the "s" in "soon." What do you get-- Goon! Love our goons and love the Flyers. I drink to you Ferrell31, as this is your day!— snipesmorris
- Two things the fly's have needed for the past eon years is Goaltender and pure shooters who can score a lot! Until then start talking about 2014— losteagle
- snipes/farrell...all due respect, but i don't think your statements are accurate. NHL has "goons" or "fighters" on pretty much every team that is the "enforcer." This is a role that needs to be filled as long as there is fighting as a norm to self-regulate behavior...aka, taking cheap shots or runs at your best players. So, we are in need of "that guy." What i do agree with you is that the Flyers have not "redefined" that role to current times...which is, every role/position is valuable so if you are not fighting, you must be competent in other areas (scoring, passing, forechecking, defense, et al). The "goon" is/should be a multi-dimensional player, like Thornton, Clackson, Neil, Engellend, etc. Those teams do it right and don't just "give up" a position on the bench. Flyers can't seem to grasp that as Sestito, Shelley, and probably this kid do only one thing well....fight heavyweights. Thus, wasted space and more minutes for everyone else.
- I don't get why people are acting like Harry Z was a prized prospect. He was never a point per game player at any level except one season at Brown. A 25 year old with 7 career points in the NHL is not a prospect. He is an AHL player that can will get the occasional call up to fill in for injuries.— FatEagle
- He's a better player than Rosehill though. I want my enforcers to be at least 230lbs, not 215. Nothing worse than you heavy being a non heavy.— jrBomber
- Schenn had a lot of positive comments about him. Who knows him better? Let's give him a shot for some added toughness and some protection of our skilled players.— Eagle_1960
- I remember he took Shelley apart in one game last year.
The thing I liked about Sestito was his foot speed. Sestito was fast but was a crappy fighter.— Nitroglycerin - Intimidation is a big part of all sports,Rosehill will bring a little respect from other teams.This team is loaded with soft,little weinie type NHLers.Hockey is a very physical game,right Zedna? Body contact is whats missing here,Montreal is physical,Devils,Pens,all compete regardless of size. The Flyers skipped this part,Rosehill will help with that and maybe encourage others to join in!! Think Davie Hoyda!!!— quigly46
- Just get ready for Thursday night vs the Leafs when Rosehill takes on Orr or McLaren. It will demonstrate why NHL hockeynisnthe best.— Ferrell31
- When in doubt, fight. The Flyers 'braintrust' are neanderthals. The game has passed them by, and everyone knows it but them and about 20,000 lemmings.— b,ill a,tkins
- I want to give him a chance, he seems happy to be here. G has been getting hit HARD the past 3 games and we just can't be having that. He can move some bodies and make some room for the puck. Lets go FLYERS!!— boom dynamite
