Flyers Notes: Slumps are part of hockey

No one is immune from slumps. Not rookies (see Matt Read and Sean Couturier). Not veterans (see Danny Briere and Jaromir Jagr).

Unfortunately for the Flyers, many have come at the same time, contributing to their nine losses in their last 14 games.

Briere hasn't scored a goal in 11 games, while Jagr has one goal in his last 16 contests. Both have struggled after returning from injuries - Briere had a concussion, Jagr a groin strain.

Jagr also revealed on that he has been battling the flu for several days.

After Tuesday's fast-paced practice in Voorhees, Briere said he was having no ill effects from his concussion.

"You're going to go through ups and downs in a season and sometimes it goes in and sometimes it doesn't," said Briere, who set up one of Brayden Schenn's two goals in Sunday's 4-3 loss in Detroit. "You try not to let doubts creep into your mind; you just try to keep going about your business and keep finding ways to get through. . . . I'm sure at some point, things will turn around."

Briere has just 13 goals after scoring a career-high 34 last season.

Jagr, who will turn 40 on Wednesday, also has 13 goals.

"I've kind of played my career as the guy who liked to play in the corners more than in front of the net," Jagr said. "I never considered myself a goal scorer. I told you that before and you told me, 'How can you not be a goal scorer? You've scored so many goals.' Well that's not me. I'm not playing in front of the net. Most of the goals I've scored were on the power play or when I came from the corner and shot it. I'm not going to change the way I play."

As for rookies Read (one goal in his last 10 games) and Couturier (no goals in his last 12), coach Peter Laviolette said he wasn't worried that they have hit a rookie "wall."

"They'll be fine. We just finished eight games in 13 nights. Maybe that factors into it - for all players," Laviolette said. "Maybe we didn't have the pop in some areas. . . . I'm not making any excuses. I think the time to get a break here for a few days is a good thing for us and a good thing for not only them, but good for Jaromir and Kimmo [Timonen] and guys that are banged up a little bit."

Columbus' Rick Nash ($7.8 million cap hit) has apparently agreed to waive his no-trade clause.

The Flyers have about $4.7 million in cap room and would have to deal some salary to add the star winger.

Also, Washington winger Mike Knuble (three goals, minus-14), a former Flyer who has a $2 million cap hit, implied he wants to be dealt.

Winger Zac Rinaldo didn't think he deserved an NHL-imposed two game suspension, but said he would "roll with the punches" and that it will make him better. . . . Wingers James van Riemsdyk (concussion) and Jakub Voracek (upper-body injury) practiced but wore no-contact jerseys. Van Riemsdyk is out indefinitely, Voracek is day to day.