Sbisa, Palin (Palin!) are in
Luca Sbisa, the 18-year-old defenseman who was the Flyers' No. 1 pick in the June draft, will be on the club's opening-night roster, general manger Paul Holmgren said today.
Sbisa, Palin (Palin!) are in
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Luca Sbisa, the 18-year-old defenseman who was the Flyers' No. 1 pick in the June draft, will be on the club's opening-night roster, general manger Paul Holmgren said today.The Flyers can keep Sbisa for as many as nine games and then send him to juniors. If he is on the Flyers’ roster for 10 or more games, he must be on it for the entire season.
Asked if Sbisa would stay on the roster for the whole season if he performed well in the first few weeks, Holmgren was non-committal.
“It’s something we’ll have to monitor on a daily basis and see how he’s doing,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone expected Luca to be here this long; we all felt he was a good prospect and he’s certainly done better than anyone expected _ and that’s a good thing.”
For the time being, the Flyers will carry three goalies because they want to make sure Antero Niittymaki is healthy.
Niittymaki, who has recovered nicely from recent hip surgery, was cleared today by a doctor in Nashville, but the Flyers are playing it safe.
Here's how the roster looks:
Goalies: Marty Biron, Anetero Niittymaki and Jean-Sebastien Aubin.
Forwards: Arron Asham, Danny Briere, Jeff Carter, Riley Cote, Steve Downie, Simon Gagne, Scott Hartnell, Mike Knuble, Joffrey Lupul, Glen Metropolit, Mike Richards and Scottie Upshall.
Defensemen: Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, Randy Jones, Steve Eminger, Ossi Vaananen, Lasse Kukkonen and Luca Sbisa.
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Palin (not Poulin) at Flyers' opener
Vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will drop the puck at Saturday night's opener against Rangers at the Wachovia Center.
In an e-mail sent to the Flyers and news organizations, a former season ticket holder said he was "appalled" that the club was using Saturday's NHL opener as "a billboard for political advertisement" by having Palin drop the first puck.
The fan wrote that those attending the game "should be able to check their political and ideological beliefs at the door and come together as one to support the Flyers. It is one of the last refuges we have for unbridled enjoyment. To invite an atmosphere of polarization and dissent amongst Flyers fans is appalling to me."
Ed Snider, the Flyers' chairman, said having Palin at the game has "nothing to do with politics." He said Palin was invited because of her comments about hockey moms.
"We were so excited when she talked about hockey moms in her acceptance speech," he said. "She did a great service to our sport.....This is all about having fun with what she said."
Still, it says here that Palin could have been asked to drop a puck AFTER the election and before the inauguration on Jan. 20, 2009.
That would have ended all appearances that the Flyers were using their arena for political purposes.
So here's how this plays out...she is boo'ed loudly...the national media run with the "Philly fan-same people that threw snowballs at Santa blah blah"...Snider whines about his disappointment in the fans...etc. There ya go...that's what is going to happen.— bvl390- Pallin lokks, acts, like trailer trash. She reminds me of a madame at a Las Vegas 'house of sin.'— Stop Pallin
- an appropriate backdrop to Palins puck drop should be Springsteens RISING accompanied by the combined Boos from the rest of us...— barbandmike5
- Hate to disagree with rvb2321 but Snider is heavily involved in the Republican Jewish Coalition, has given the maximum amounts allowable to the party and should keep all of this OUT of the arena. Whether we agree with his views or not, to bring this "hockey mom" to drop the puck in Philly is not even a thinly veiled attempt- it is a blatant attempt to politicize hockey. As far as Bruce on the Parkway goes, it was a political event. Not a hockey game with a little extra politics thrown in.— Jon L
- Snider may not be telling the whole truth when he says, ' this is just about hockey moms, not politics. Snider wants some perks for Comcast should McCain be elected. It's business & politics, as usual.— Now out West
"...George Bush to throw out the first ball at every rangers game since he was an owner..." and drove them into bankruptcy like he drove the Country into bankruptcy - 10 trillion dollar debt - people 10 trillion - the man started with a surplus - talk about tax and spend - sheeessh. Snider made this decision when Palin was reading her acceptance speech. The novelty with her wore off in ten seconds. A troopergate report is due out today. This woman is a fraud and probably knows nothing about hockey. I'd like her to explain the neutral zone trap, what a one, two, two is or even icing. Hockey mom really we are falling for that? When the electorate starts looking at track records, resume's, experience and qualifications with an unbiased eye to a person's actions is when this country will get straightened out. These are very important jobs and not popularity contests. I would vote for the smart dweeb every time over "joe six pack" or nascar dad, or soccer mom...someone who understands nuanced foreign relations, nuanced economic parameters and the deep inner workings of the financial markets. I would vote for a policy wonk before Homer Simpson, and believe me I love Homer Simpson, but Lisa Simpson would be/should be our President. Until we put the right person in the job, the most qualified, smart, dignified and intelligent we are just ruining it for ourselves. Got it? Good!- This is ridiculous - she's just dropping the effing puck! She's not making any speeches, holding a rally, asking anyone for a contribution, just dropping the puck. Journeyhome - you show yourself to be a real idiot "I want her to explain the neutral zone trap..", why, is she coaching the team? No, she's dropping the puck. Get over yourselves. If it was Obama or Biden, nobody would care. Do we go throug the political stances of every person who throws out a pitch or drops a puck? Should we vet every person who makes a special appearance to decide whether or not they are acceptable in our minds, or should we just boo everybody because we're idiots?? You don't agree with her political stance, fine, good for you. I don't agree with the political stance of half of my friends or family, but I don't go off the deep end when they want to come over my house. Have some class.— Gary Varsho
- Still, Palin's not going to come to a game for the fun of it.... and Snider ... well, he's hoping for an administration that won't increase Comcast's ever-rising rates.— Now out West
Part of me thinks that Booing her will garner sympathy amongst female voters. Then there's a part that really feels her nomination is a joke. I would like to check politics at the door. Republicans and Democrats of Philly coming together to hate on the Rangers. I really wish they would have waited till after the election...— flyler- When Snider made that call, he invited politics into the door.— Now out West
Comment removed.- Go Phillies! I am just glad the Phillies are in the National League Championship! Ed Snider can stick up his you know what! I am doing to Direct TV! Good Bye Comcast!— law713
- When those fine fans boo Sarah and she doesn't fold up into tears, the rest of the nation: flyover nation , will admire her bravery. All will know that Philly is in the tank for the faux Messiah so this event can only help Sarah . Then too, some fans may actually realize that she has more experience in both govt. and sports than BHO.— KGKoons
- nothing could start civil war amongst Flyers supporters as much as Palin dropping the puck.Can you imagine the suits in the expensive seats squaring off with the blue collars in the "cheap" seats.Then would be Flyers /Ranger fans vs Flyer Ranger fans a whole new version of hockey.I as long term blue state person have long ago stopped rooting for any red state teams .palin's visit political ,in state that is still not decided.Snider need to apologize to city not suburbs— lawrence2465
