At least 5 Flyers need surgery; Holmgren defends Richards
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At least 5 Flyers need surgery; Holmgren defends Richards
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Five Flyers will have off-season surgery, general manager Paul Holmgren announced Tuesday _ and that doesn’t include defenseman Chris Pronger, whose back condition is still being evaluated by doctors and isn’t expected to be known until later in the day.
The five: Mike Richards (wrist), Andrej Meszaros (wrist), Kris Versteeg (sports hernia); Michael Leighton (hip) and Blair Betts (finger).
Scott Hartnell and Jeff Carter are also being evaluated for possible hip surgery, Holmgren said, adding he hopes to know their medical status on Friday.
It will probably be known later Tuesday if Pronger will need surgery, Holmgren said.
The GM said Richards dealt with an injured wrist since training camp and that it “inhibited his play in certain aspects - it affected his performance in the faceoff circle and I think it affected his shot.”
Richards, who had one goal in the post-season, has a torn ligament in a wrist. Holmgren did not know which wrist was injured.
Richards sometime seemed emotionally detached this season. He did not make himself available to the media on Monday or Tuesday. He said he will talk on Wednesday.
Holmgren said Richards was a good captain.
“He’s a quiet kid, a reserved kid,” Holmgren said. “He’s a hard gut to talk to sometimes - for anyone, probably even his closest friends. He’s just a quiet guy, but there are no issues with Mike and Peter (Laviolette), or Mike and his teammates.”
A video of Holmgren addressing the Richards situation is embedded below.
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Have your say: Flyers Stay or Go surveyComments (50)
Nothing at all against Richards, but why is someone who is "a quiet kid, a reserved kid" made team captain?!? If Pronger is healthy next year give it to him already.— smartini- ...Pronger does have a big mouth--always has — petemagoop
- OK--I'm admittedly not the biggest hockey fan but I follow in the paper and want the team to do well like any Philly team. How does the GM not know which wrist the team captain has had injured since training camp? Contrast that with how involved Amaro seems to be with Philles' injuries. And why not have it taken care then of so the player would have a better chance of being 100% for the play-offs?— micheleqj
- good lord, the injury affected his shot and faceoffs, but he was allowed to play center all year (not moved to the wing) and had over 60 points? Nah, you can't have it both ways. Dear Paul, STOP comparing these annointing these guys "the next Bobby Clark" and either draft me some killer skilled players like Daytsuk, Fransen, or Malkin, a top #1 draft pick goalie, or a Captain (a forward) that is emotionally attached, vocal, cocky, and backs it up because he hates losing.— MichaelZoe
- Sounds like youre talking about Giroux....next captain??? — lifelongflyboy
- I never knew being "quiet" and "reserved" are character traits defining a true leader of a sports team. Leading by example seems not enough maybe if you're not putting up big numbers at least. I have a lot of respect for Mike Richards but I tend to believe the Flyers still suffer from problems similar to the Stevens era in terms of consistency and leadership because Richie is still waering the "C".— flyerdommo
- Smartini says it all here. Why was Richards ever made captain if he's quiet and reserved? Is that what you're looking for when choosing the captain of your team? Hardly. Richards is a great player and a hard worker. But he is NOT a captain. He's never been. I just don't understand why Holmgren continue to pretend there isn't a problem here. Why can't Laviolette name a new captain? Combined with some major trades it would send a clear message to the team: time for a fresh start.— Ruffles
- Unbelievable that a GM would actually describe his team captain in those terms. My guess is this is Homer's way of saying Richards is a bad captain without actually saying it. Changes coming.— n62
- Here's my problem: The position of captain requires having a certain degree of communication skills. As captain, you are a liason between the coaches and the players. If you're a hard guy to talk to, as Holmgren says Richards is, that's not good. Yes, leaders can lead by example, but words are also important. If Richards is shy, or quiet, or has problems articulating himself to players he is supposed to lead then he probably shouldn't be captain. If he's not mature enough to handle it, don't make him do it. Strip him of the "C," give him an "A" and see if he matures or grows comfortable enough verbal skills-wise to be a captain. Let him spend next season getting healthy and working on his game and himself. If he wants to be a captain, let him develop the skills needed to hold the position. If not, so be it, and just be a good player.— phillyfandc
- Here's my problem: The position of captain requires having a certain degree of communication skills. As captain, you are a liason between the coaches and the players. If you're a hard guy to talk to, as Holmgren says Richards is, that's not good. Yes, leaders can lead by example, but words are also important. If Richards is shy, or quiet, or has problems articulating himself to players he is supposed to lead then he probably shouldn't be captain. If he's not mature enough to handle it, don't make him do it. Strip him of the "C," give him an "A" and see if he matures or grows comfortable enough verbal skills-wise to be a captain. Let him spend next season getting healthy and working on his game and himself. If he wants to be a captain, let him develop the skills needed to hold the position. If not, so be it, and just be a good player.— phillyfandc
- My Captain of the future, Patrick Sharp, was traded away for a back of pucks. I have dislike Richards, unfailrly, ever since he was said to be the next Robert Earl Clarke. Nobody ever will be. Richie is a coach Killer, he and his mate LeClair II aka Carter.— JohnnyN
- Unbelievable. Perspective is a pretty fascinating thing. For most people in the hockey world, a player who gives his all through injury, and commits himself to the team in spite of himself, is EXACTLY what a captain is. He did not hurt this team by playing through injury. He was actually great in these playoffs. Watch games 6 and 7 of the Buffalo series. He was the checking line center!!! People need to understand that when criticizing his offensive output.— Hexy4GM
- Wow. Seem everyone here is commenting on the same comment by Homer, and for a very good reason. Everyone, I mean everyone doesn't need to be a genius to realize that a LEADER is a person who isn't quiet or reserved. They not only lead by example but they get fired up and push people to their limits and get on them when they aren't producing or have bad attitudes. This doesn't seem like a quality that Richie has and now Homer just confirmed it. Carter seems to have the same demeanor. I Know Richie is a good player and loves hockey and cares BUT he just isn't Captain material, like it or not. Being a Captain isn't about the skill or the person so give it to a someone that exhibits Leadership qualities. And no I don't think that is necessarily Pronger. Personally, at this point I would say Briere, then Giroux in a few years when he matures more.— LAFlyer
- There is many different ways to lead, you don't have to be a vocal rahh,rahh guy to get your point across. These are professional athletes, if you need a pep talk or a "what for" kinda conversation, you should not be in the NHL.— Fabulous
- good comments from everyone. the one thing i dont understand is why doesnt richards work out in the offseason. last year he was completely done by the time he got to the finals, this year he never really had an edge. his conditioning is awful. why dont you build up some muscle in the offseason instead of wasting it away fishing and promoting your stupid redneck apparel. even lappy said it last year, richards has the body of a 10 year old boy. If he put in 1/10th the effort that roy halladay or sydney crosby does he would become a star. hes just lazy— flyersforlife
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Broad Street Bull is the Inquirer's blog covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League.
Reach Sam at scarchidi@phillynews.com.
Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
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