Broad Street Heroes

Last night Comcast Sports Net stated that the Flyers have agreed to sign Ray Emery, meaning that Martin Biron’s era as the Flyers netminder is now history.  I think Marty was great here in Philly.  He wasn’t the best but he did have a hell of a 2008 playoff run when nobody thought we were going to be close to the Eastern Conference Finals.  I remember Emery in Ottawa a few years ago and I don’t know what to think about his play.  Hopefully playing in Russia has helped his game.  Let me hear your thoughts on the Flyers big move.

I just checked the Flyers website and saw that Simon Gagne needed hip surgery, which begs the question: how hurt were we during the first round series against Pittsburgh?

Look at who was hurt:

• Mike Richards: TWO Shoulder surgeries after the season ended.
• Eye Surgery: Simon Gagne and Danny Briere
• Simon Gagne: Hip Surgery
• Jeff Carter: Shoulder surgery (he played with a separated shoulder)

That’s only the injuries that I know about. Kimmo Timonen missed games in the playoffs as well. Hopefully the Flyers get some rest in the offseason and are healed and ready to go for 2009/10.

Can you believe that tomorrow it will be June 1st and the NHL Playoffs are still going on? I can’t stand the Penguins and Red Wings but there is no way I can pass up great playoff hockey, and so far Game 2 has been pretty good. While watching I started thinking about how great the Flyers will be next season. Let’s face it: Marc Andre Fleury stole two games from us in the first round and there is no doubt in my mind that we should be playing right now, but I can’t change what happened so it is time to look towards the future. I couldn’t be more excited!

If you watched Flyers hockey at the end of the season and in the playoffs there is no way you could miss the outstanding play of Claude Giroux, who has quickly become one of my favorite players to watch. The guy has eyes in the back of his head, he can stickhandle so well and has a great shot, and he has amazing vision and heart. I love this kid! He is the main reason why I am so excited for the season to start. I want to see what he can do in a full season.

The makeup of the Flyers is perfect for a Stanley Cup run. We have three great centers in Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, and Daniel Briere, which gives us three amazing lines that could go toe to toe with any line in the NHL. Richards, Gagne, and Knuble works great, as does Carter, Hartnell, and Lupul. What I can’t wait to see is Briere, Giroux, and a third player who can fit the line, such as Darroll Powe. Braydon Coburn and Matt Carle have become premier defensemen and Kimmo Timonen provides a great veteran presence. Luca Sbisa is still only 19 and who knows what to expect from #2 overall pick James Van Reimsdyk. Throw in Biron in goal and I think that the 2009/10 Flyers are the most complete team in the Eastern Conference. They remind me of this Detroit team, except much younger, which means that we have a good chance at going far in the playoffs for a while, and hopefully we can bring home the Stanley Cup!

I expect the Flyers to win the Atlantic Division this season as long as they stay healthy. If they play the way that they are capable of playing, I can see a Stanley Cup in the near future. I know I am biased, but hey, why not be optimistic?

It’s early but what do you think about the Flyers for next season?