'Weird' developments for Flyers, Phantoms
Philadelphia Flyers news on Philly.com
'Weird' developments for Flyers, Phantoms
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
On one of the rinks in Voorhees, the Phantoms were going through drills during the third day of their AHL training camp on Monday.
On the other rink, just across the hallway, a handful of Flyers -- Scott Hartnell, Danny Briere, Nick Grossmann, Kimmo Timonen and Jody Shelley -- and NHL players Brian Boucher and Justin Williams were having another of their informal workouts.
The latter players are locked out by the NHL and have to rent the ice.
The AHL players, including several Flyers turned Phantoms, are preparing for their exhibition opener and, suddenly, are playing the best brand of hockey in North America.
Ah, welcome to Lockout 2012-13.
Seeing his Flyers teammates on the other side of the building wearing "NHLPA" jerseys "is definitely weird," said Flyer turned Phantom Erik Gustafsson. "I've never been through anything like this. I just wish we could be all together and work out like we usually do. But it is what it is, and I just take it day by day."
The Phantoms will play Albany, the New Jersey Devils' AHL affiliate, on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. It is open to the public and free.
"I'm really excited. I mean, I haven't played a game for about six months, so it'll be a lot of fun," Gustafsson said. "It'll probably be a little rusty out there, but it'll be a lot of fun."
(more to come)
the flyers suck— AlexSp
I'm actually looking forward to philly.com becoming a pay site. It should cut down on the amount of moronic posts I read everyday.— sla6yer- Alex: So does your hero, the DOG KILLER!!!!— dundermifflin
- The end of professional hockey as we know it. Got back into hockey after a long time, after this I have lost interest.— neddyflanders
- The sport will not be hurt, real hockey fans will watch when it is back, and same goes with fans for any other sport that goes on strike. If you're a fan, you will be back. It makes no sense to derprive yourself of something you like, you are only hurting yourself, not the sport. It's 2012, the NHL has its fan base, it does not need to grow the sport. The markets are established in real hockey cities, but the NHL continues to force the sport where it will not succeed, ie the south.— oobeyboobey
- Really? Casual fans will move on, get caught up in basketball or fishing or whatever TV show is the next Lost, and their money is as green as anyone's. Maybe that's not hurting the sport by your def (real fans only, I get it), but the owners and players know it is. I happen to like big time TV/Media coverage and full arenas around the country.
This is the dumbest lockout ever. The NHL was SOARING before this, overall revenue was through the roof. WHY, WHY, WHY mess with a good thing? Just tweak the formula to help out the loser clubs, trim a little bit from the players cut of the pie. They were still making more money then they ever expected. But they are GREEDY &Holes, and it was killing them to know that players were getting more then half.— Steve5877 - oobey, that was the most calm, rational statement about NHL hockey I've ever read on this site. I agree 100%— Johnnyboyl
- The owners are a disgrace by putting a weasel like Bettman in charge but he'll get them what they want, more money. I cannot understand that they will lock the players out for a bigger share of the pie but don't have a problem flushing money down the drain by keeping the Phoenix franchise on life support. Mr Snider can you explain..... Oh I forgot you can't say anything or it will cost you Ha ha what a joke.— mrh1955
- "...it does not need to grow the sport.". It's a business, so yes, yes it does. (HTML deleted)— CiceroSpuriousDeodatusTheSecond
- "...it does not need to grow the sport.". It's a business, so yes, yes it does.
— CiceroSpuriousDeodatusTheSecond - pro hockey is a sad joke...sports networks give more airtime for tennis LMAO— AlexSp
- you wanna talk about mediocrity? how many consecutive years since '75 did the flyers make the playoffs without winning s**t? and the eagles suck?— AlexSp
- Bettman has jerked fans around one time too many. Can't fire all the owners -- Buttman has to go before you'll see me back spending money in an NHL rink. Yielding to Buttman is like enabling a drug addict.— Claudio Vernight
- More misery for the fans who support their hometown teams. Greedy. Disgraceful.— SocialReject
- talk about a joke, look in the mirror A SP Hole..— onetimer
