Veteran winger Guerin works out with Flyers

Bill Guerin is looking for a new team. His family is looking for a new home.

Yesterday, the free-agent veteran winger worked out at the Skate Zone in Voorhees and skated with Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timonen and newcomers Jody Shelley and Andrei Meszaros, who are already in town for Flyers training camp, which starts on Sept. 17. But Guerin said not to read too much into the workout, even if he was in Flyers gear.

"Honestly, this has been planned for a while," Guerin told the Daily News. "I'm down in the area with my son, visiting my father-in-law . I've known Paul Holmgren for a long time and I needed a place to skate and get in shape."

A Flyers source said last week that the team had initial contract talks with Guerin just days after the Pittsburgh Penguins told him he would not be re-signed, but the Flyers "don't have room" under the $59.4 million salary cap. Currently, they have approximately $877,737 in cap space with 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders. Last year, Guerin earned $2 million in Pittsburgh.

The Flyers could make room for Guerin with a league-minimum contract or by sending one from among Darroll Powe, Dan Carcillo, Matt Walker or Oskars Bartulis down to the AHL at the start of the season.

Guerin decided to hold out for much of free agency, which started on July 1, to see if he could continue to play alongside Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh. He was finally notified by the Penguins on Aug. 25. Now, time is of the essence for the soon-to-be 40-year-old. Guerin's house on Long Island is for sale and his family is looking for a place to settle before the school year starts.

According to his agent, Bob Murray, numerous teams have inquired about Guerin's services. Guerin would like a contract and not to enter camp on a tryout basis, like Blair Betts did last year with the Flyers.

"I'm willing to listen to anything, to be honest. That's the kind of situation I'm in," Guerin said. "It's a business, and I never say never. Philly has a good team. They always do. It's a great sports town. Players have always wanted to come to Philadelphia."

Guerin was re-energized playing with Crosby. The native of Wilbraham, Mass., posted 21 goals and 24 assists last season with the Penguins. Only three players on the Flyers scored more than 21 goals last season. Even at 39, Guerin is durable. The three-time Olympian and four-time NHL All-Star hasn't missed more than five games in a season since 2005-06.

Guerin, drafted fifth overall by New Jersey in 1989, is also the first player in NHL history to have a 20-goal season with seven different teams. In 18 seasons, he has 429 goals, 427 assists and 1,660 penalty minutes.

Penguins general manager Ray Shero credited Guerin with being the glue of the Penguins' 2009 Stanley Cup-winning team. Shero said Guerin helped bring the Penguins' young nucleus and older veterans closer together.

His presence could only help the Flyers. Some reports last season linked the Flyers' early season inconsistencies with a rumored distance between the older and younger players. Guerin, who also won a Cup with the Devils in 1995, is well-traveled but universally respected for his attitude and work ethic.

"I still feel like I can contribute to help a team win," Guerin said when asked about his motivation to keep playing. "I know that I can still play at a high level."

For more news and analysis, read Frank Seravalli's blog, Frequent Flyers, at

http://go.philly.com/frequentflyers. Follow him on Twitter at

http://twitter.com/DNFlyers.