Ed Moran | It's been a happy new year so far
IT'S EXPECTED that John Stevens would get tired of having to compare this year's Flyers to last season's disaster. I just didn't think it would happen this quickly.
IT'S EXPECTED that
John Stevens
would get tired of having to compare this year's Flyers to last season's disaster. I just didn't think it would happen this quickly.
The first I heard him say anything was on Comcast SportsNet's "Daily News Live" on Friday. The topic of the conversation was Jesse Boulerice and his just-issued 25-game suspension for crosschecking Ryan Kesler in the face Wednesday night in Vancouver.
Stevens made it clear that he not only didn't condone the hit and couldn't defend it, but he didn't want the image to be associated with his team.
But when the subject turned to this year's team and what it was like for him to coach it, he immediately took the chance to shed another image, or at least to distance himself from it, and that was that this team can't be compared to the last-place Flyers of last season.
He did it again Saturday night after the Flyers shook off a late shorthanded goal that brought the New York Islanders to within one and instead of folding held on to win, 3-1, to improve to 3-1 on the new season.
The postgame questions focused on how managing not to blow the game, in the face of so many blown games last season, felt or compared to last year.
And he repeated what he asserted Friday and used the win to prove his point:
"This is not last year's team," he said. "There's just a totally different attitude in the locker room. We have different guys stepping up all the time. These are the games we have to win if we expect to compete. I thought that was a gutsy win. It looked like a different team pulling it out at the end there."
Point taken.
This is absolutely not last year's team. It's more talented, faster, more determined, more competitive, and way more fun to watch and be around.
But it's a little early to start thinking that the hangover from last season has completely cleared.
That's just too much to expect right now, coach.
Case in point I
Having said all that, Joffrey Lupul is a good example of why this is not last year's Flyers. Lupul, one of the nine new players brought in by general manager Paul Holmgren, is coming off of what most felt was an off year in Edmonton last season.
Having said all that, is a good example of why this is not last year's Flyers. Lupul, one of the nine new players brought in by general manager , is coming off of what most felt was an off year in Edmonton last season.
He felt he had something to prove, and that the new beginning was going to be good for him.
So far it has been. Lupul has four points in four games, including a goal in Vancouver; he has been fast to the puck, tough on the wall and fits in well with his new team.
"He's been terrific," Stevens said. "His attitude from day one has been great. He has a real quiet sense of humor. He comes to work every day, he's very coachable and we've liked everything thing we've seen of him.
"If anything, I think he learned something from last year, learned that if he doesn't show up for work every day and be involved, he's not going to be a good player. He's been that here."
Lupul said he is no longer thinking about last year and the drop from 53 points in Anaheim 2 seasons ago to 28 last year.
"I know I'm a stronger player now, especially mentally, and I know I worked as hard as I possibly could in the summer to prepare for this. Those are two things that I kind of look to and think about more than last year," the 24-year-old Edmonton native said.
"I'm not worried about [last year]," he said. "I feel great on the ice right now and I'm just looking to have a couple of good games to get the ball rolling offensively."
Case in point II
The New York Rangers were a way better team than the Flyers last year - well, every team was. But the Rangers made the playoffs and actually gave the Buffalo Sabres a scare before losing. The Rangers added not one big free agent center but two in Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, and they were picked them as a threat for the Eastern Conference title.
The New York Rangers were a way better team than the Flyers last year - well, every team was. But the Rangers made the playoffs and actually gave the Buffalo Sabres a scare before losing. The Rangers added not one big free agent center but two in and , and they were picked them as a threat for the Eastern Conference title.
Right now, the Flyers (3-1) have scored 17 goals to 10 against, while the Rangers (2-3) are 10-10. And - this is big because there was some thought that Drury was a better fit for the Flyers than Daniel Briere - Drury has one goal, Gomez one and Jaromir Jagr one.
Briere, meanwhile, has four goals and three assists.
Back in the mix
Canadian rich guy Jim Balsillie has apparently renewed efforts to buy the Nashville Predators. A local group has exclusive negotiating rights to buy the team until the end of this month.
Canadian rich guy has apparently renewed efforts to buy the Nashville Predators. A local group has exclusive negotiating rights to buy the team until the end of this month.
That group is looking for tax breaks and a cap on losses with the city in its deal. Balsillie, according to news reports, would not seek those concessions and would increase the penalty for breaking the arena lease from $16 million to $75 million. But this time Balsillie said he is more committed to staying in Nashville as opposed to earlier this year when he started making it clear that he wanted to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario. Well, raising the penalty for breaking the lease is certainly convincing. Isn't it?
Eager spinning
Ben Eager left Saturday's game with dizziness after being hit by Radek Martinek. He was still day-to-day yesterday. *
left Saturday's game with dizziness after being hit by . He was still day-to-day yesterday. *
Stick Sense with Ed Moran appears Mondays in the Daily News during the NHL season. Send email to