Allen, Gill on Flyers' radar?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Allen, Gill on Flyers' radar?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Now that Tim Gleason has signed a four-year, $16-million extension with Carolina, the Flyers may turn their attention to two other defensemen: The Hurricanes' Bryan Allen and Montreal's Hal Gill.
Allen, a rugged 6-foot-5, 226-pounder, is on the Flyers' radar, according to a league source. He would have to waive a no-trade clause in order to be dealt.
Allen, 31, has a $2.9 million cap hit and he can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. (In case you were wondering, he was not with Carolina when Flyers coach Peter Laviolette was there.)
As for the 6-7, 244-pound Gill, there is believed to be a difference of opinion about him in the Flyers' organization. He has been very solid in the last two playoffs.
Gill, 36, can also become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and reports out of Montreal indicate he will be dealt. He has a $2.25 million cap hit.
The trade deadline is Feb. 27.
* * *
Listless for most of the first two periods, the Flyers controlled the final 20 minutes of regulation on Tuesday, outshooting Winnipeg, 13-4.
But Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec had all the answers _ and was also perfect in overtime and the shootout.
With Pavelec leading the way, the Jets defeated the Flyers in a shootout, 2-1, at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers have won just 11 of their 22 games at home, where they are 11-7-4.
Both teams were playing their first contest since the all-star break.
“It was not a very good hockey game,” said Flyers winger Jaromir Jagr, who contributed an assist in his return from a groin injury. “Neither team had many practices. Obviously, one practice, and it’s not easy to play the game” that way.
"I think every period we started off slowly,” said Scott Hartnell, the Flyers’ all-star winger. “We weren't moving our feet and we ended up getting to a point at the end of the day, but we’re still really disappointed by everybody. (Wednesday) we'll get back to work. Tonight, we played good in spurts, but you can't win like that in this league."
Ilya Bryzgalov made 23 saves, and also stopped the first two shootout shots.
“Bryz played solid for us. Unfortunately we couldn't get a goal for him in the shootout, but it's definitely not his fault,” Hartnell said. “As forwards, we were turning the puck over.”
Instead of getting the crowd into the game early, the Flyers failed to get a shot in the first 13:36; they had only 13 shots after two periods.
The Flyers’ home woes are “definitely a concern,” said Hartnell, who was robbed by Pavelec on a third-period chance in front. “I thought our fans were pretty solid tonight even though we had some bad shifts. I don't think I heard any boos.”
Breakaways.
Jagr was stopped on his first shootout shot of the season. In his career, Jagr is 5 for 23 in shootouts….Look for the Flyers to start devoting more time to shootouts at practices. They are 1-4 in shootouts this season and an NHL-worst 20-38 lifetime.....Max Talbot and Tom Sestito had five hits each for the Flyers, and Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux had five shots apiece…..The Flyers won 59 percent of the faceoffs.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Bryz wasn't bad, but the one goal he gave up should have been saved, wasn't a softy, but that was pretty much Chris Therion shooting on him not a skilled sniper. But he pulled together and hopefully exorcised his shootout demons. Now to see if he can followup with some decent starts, been a long time since he had any consitancy.
— Sidewinder7- flyers need to deal carle for a d-man (gusttaffson takes his place/similar style)for mark fraser & pick and then get bryan allen— pa2cp
- Why would the Flyers trade Matt Carle for Mark Fraser, when they could have picked him up on waivers 2 weeks ago when he was released to the minors by Anaheim?
He has played for 2 teams and both teams placed him on waivers. Not sure if he is the best solution for the Flyers.— lds272 - Bourbon and Gus...love them...but rookies...will go the Ryan Parent route in the playoffs.— Romus
- I'd take Gill over Allen. I have said it before, if a team like the Flyers or Caps want to go far, they have to improve their D (and in the case of the Caps, they need more firepower/heart/desire/leadership/grit/less selfish players). Both teams do not have the goaltending to go up against the Rags or B's. That is where the Flyers need a guy like Gill. Then hope that neither Bob or Bryz spring a leak (which I expect to happen).— flyers87
- Gill? Please. How many games does he have left before he collapses. He is old and slow. Lucky to win the Cup with the Pens. His minutes are numbered. If he is your 7th man instead of Lilja, Walker, or a rookie, then I will take him. Allen? Honestly, never remember even seeing this guy play for the Panthers or the Canuks. He hasn't played a full season since 2006-2007. Numbers are average. Can't play a full season, doesn't score, doesn't rack up PIMS, and is an average plus/minus guy. So...why? Neither move will help if Kimmo or Mez goes down. THAT has been the #1 issue since the off season. The contracts of Carle & Mezaros are high, but they're played well. They need another top 4 guy for a Cup run without Pronger. The rest of these moves or potential trades are just jokes until you address that hole.— MichaelZoe
- Can't they find anyone older? They don't have enough aging, injury prone players on the roster.— no_shootouts
- Sounds pretty much like "leftovers" for me. Neither Allen nor Gill convince me very much. However, if there are no other rental players they should simply take one of those or any other just to add depth and to replace Lilja as the #7 defenseman, or Gustafsson if he shows weaknesses. I am still pretty happy with Bourdon. Allen is a stay-at-home type of player who was drafted No. 4 overall, but never became more than a solid depth player. Gill is a similar type of player, physically more intimidating but slow and old. Drafted as a No. 208 pick, not too impressive... Hopefully the manage to get someone better.— flyerdommo
- Whatever your opinion of Gill, why does it matter where he was drafted? Don't you think a better barometer would be his actual NHL career instead of his draft position in 1993? — dawson22
- Gill was a big reason Montreal made a nice run 2 years ago as he was able to shut down Alex O, etc in the playoffs. he is 36 but he is positionally sound. I would take him over Allen to be honest with u. Gill moves very slow but that is OK because we have plenty of figure skaters back on the blue line with Coburn and Carle— Back up the Bus for Gload and Bowker
- The reason for Gill is b/c he is a rental and we wouldn't start 2 rookies in the playoffs. We will have a ton of cap room next year with Carle, Pronger off the cap(pronger retiring, deal with it)... Only other deal is JVR, Picks and prospect for Luke Schenn, until then who cares.— fman727
- Pronger has 5 years left for a total of 25 million. And you think he is going to retire and leave that money on the table? Would you or anyone? He may never play again, and if he does not he will sit on IR for 5 years unless the CBA changes. (deal with it) Being on IR will give cap relief but not the same of having the contract off the books, mostly when talking about mid season to deadline trades. — Sidewinder7
- If Pronger doesn't play next year...Flyers do get cap reliefas you say....but can improve personnel with saved cap money for awhile. — Romus
- Guys - Mark Howe is not going to return in his prime. Gill and Allen would fill in nicely for their biggest weakness - clearing the front. If they can get a solid depth defenseman without mortgaging the future they way they did with Oates, Hawerchuck, Coffey, etc, then that is what they need to do. Would love Weber in here but he is going to be expensive and they can get some free agents in the summer.— gob1234
- I hope Flyers don't trade their number 1 draft pick for Gill or Allen. Both are old and no better than 5th or 6th defenseman.— zeke128
