By David Strehle
NHL Hot Stove Managing Editor

Already with top defenseman Chris Pronger absent from the lineup with concussion-like symptoms, many had their eyes on the Verizon Center in Washington Tuesday night to see how the Philadelphia Flyers would react to the loss of Claude Giroux. After all, the NHL’s leading scorer has been one of the central keys to the team’s success thus far. 

The question of just how these Flyers would deal with yet another bout of adversity in a season looking as if it will test the very boundaries of their resiliency were answered quite emphatically with a dominating 5-1 victory in the nation’s capital. 

(AP Photo / Nick Wass)

In winning their sixth straight contest, the Flyers increased their lead to three points over both the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers, who both lost, for the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conferences leads.

It helped the cause that Washingon goaltender Tomas Vokoun had a brutal night between the pipes for the Capitals, but he was the only one bearing gifts. Only garnering one power play on the night, Philadelphia did all of their damage at even strength.

GM Paul Holmgren has from time to time come under some amount of scrutiny for his constant battle with staying within NHL mandated salary cap limits, including from yours truly on the odd occasion. But unlike many other general managers that find themselves in a similar situation, Holmgren seems to have the attained a near-perfect offensive balance with his roster. Last night’s contest was proof-positive:

• There were five different goal scorers and 13 different skaters recorded at least one point in the triumph, with only Matt Carle and James van Riemsdyk picking up more than one. Both had two assists.
• 16 of the 18 skaters registered at least one shot on goal, with Jaromir Jagr and Kimmo Timonen being the only two not to send a puck onto the Washington net.
• Three of the five goals were initiated with a shot by a defenseman from the point, with two being deflected in by Flyers, and Marc-Andre Bourdon picking up his first career NHL goal.
• Scott Hartnell scored a goal in his sixth consecutive game, tying Nashville’s Patric Hornqvist for the League’s longest streak of the season. A rejuvenated Hartnell now has 15 goals and 27 points in 29 games, and leads the club with a +18 rating.
• Wayne Simmonds scored a goal in a career-high third straight game. After going through a seven game goalless drought, the big winger has goals in four of the last five contests.
• Even the oft-scratched Jody Shelley got into the act last night, picking up an assist for his first point since January 14, 2011 in Atlanta.

One of the biggest components to the Flyers’ success has been the speed added to the forward position by Holmgren over the summer, and the fit with Peter Laviolette’s system is like hand in glove. The youth and jump of Matt Read, Sean Couturier, Harry Zolnierczyk, and Zac Rinaldo, along with the tenacity exhibited by all has been a much-welcomed change from last season. Offseason acquisitions Jakub Voracek and Simmonds also have been invaluable.

While the absence of Giroux will most-certainly sting, it appears as if the Flyers’ scoring attack will be just fine as he takes time to recover.

Did Holmgren Sign The Correct UFA Goalie?

It was a tremendous team effort all the way around, and nearly resulted in a shutout for Ilya Bryzgalov. The first-year Flyer stopped 31 of 32 Caps’ shots, yielding a late third period tally by Jeff Halpern with the outcome of the game already determined. Having won 11 of his last 13 decisions (11-1-1) since October 27th, Bryzgalov has run his record to a stellar 14-5-2 on the season.

Having gotten out of the gates slowly this year, many pundits panned the Bryzgalov signing. At $51 million over nine years, many experts lambasted Holmgren for not going with a much cheaper option in Vokoun, who ended up inking a one-year, $1.5 million pact over the summer.

The Czech-born netminder’s shaky performance last night accentuated what Washington has endured for most of the season, the fact that Vokoun — who has had some decent starts and currently has a 12-8-0 record – has been inconsistent all year. The weak goals allowed on shots from Hartnell and Max Talbot were absolute back-breakers for a team in desperate need of big saves. The Capitals had won their last two games for new head coach Dale Hunter, but Vokoun’s tendency for allowing soft goals didn’t give them much of a chance against the Flyers.

While Bryzgalov and Vokoun have very similar goals-against averages (2.75, 2.70, respectively) and save percentages (.901, .910, respectively), the quality of the goals yielded have differed greatly. Bryzgalov was the victim of numerous pinball goals early in the year, leading to an inflated GAA and poor save percentage. Last night’s showing is typical of the types of goals that Vokoun has allowed.

For all of his critics, it looks like Holmgren made the correct choice. Except for one 0-4-1 stretch in mid-October Bryzgalov has been solid for the Flyers, and for a team that underwent so much change in the offseason, that is a necessity. Especially with the poor history of the position in recent years in Philadelphia.

The Road Warriors

With the win in D.C., the Flyers now boast the NHL’s best record away from home at 11-3-1. 

Here’s an interesting tidbit from the Flyers’ PR department:

Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the Flyers have never had 11 wins in their first 15 road games before this season. The previous high was the 1979-80 season, when the Flyers were 9-1-5 through the first 15 road games. The Flyers are on pace for 30 road wins, which would shatter the franchise record of 24 road wins set in 2002-03. That year, the Flyers were 8-4-3 through their first 15 road games.

Hard to imagine that with the storied history of the club’s franchise that the team would be on such a pace in a year viewed by many experts to be a season of transition in the City of Brotherly Love.

If you have any comments or questions, you can email the author at dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter – @David_Strehle

By Bill Whitehead

SUNRISE, Fla. — If you head on over to Floridapanthers.com, the front page has a smaller sub-headline that reads like a horror movie title: “The Return of Vokoun.” The mind conjures a terrifying vision of the arrival of a monstrous right-handed catching goalie wearing a white No. 29 Capitals jersey, hitting opponents with his stick, kicking at pucks along the end boards like they are tiny soccer balls and denying rebounds off long shots by defensemen. But it’s really no horror show featuring some alien that’s invading the BankAtlantic Center this evening.

In fact, the headline above it is the real attention-grabber: “The Battle for First.” It’s the second meeting between the Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers — the Caps took the first one 3-0 in DC on Oct. 18 — and the first matchup in South Florida. At 7:30, the Panthers return from a 3-game road trip, two on the West Coast, to face Washington and new coach Dale Hunter, who scored his first win Saturday night when the Capitals beat Ottawa 3-2 just 12 seconds into overtime.

With only five points separating the two teams, here’s what to watch for tonight when the first-place Panthers (14-8-4, 32 pts.) host the second-place Capitals (13-11-1, 27 pts.):

Special teams: The power play and penalty kill have been streaky for both clubs this season. At its best, Florida scored five times on the man-advantage and once shorthanded at Tampa Bay in a 7-4 win on Oct. 17. The last three games on the road trip have been the Panthers in a nutshell — a good performance on special teams results in a win, while poor play ends with a loss that’s tough to stomach. In wins over Carolina and San Jose — the origin and end of its road tests — Florida was 3-for-6 on the power play and 6-for-7 in killing penalties. In its lone loss in which it peppered Kings’ goalie Jonathan Quick with 42 shots, the Cats were 0-for-6 with the man-advantage and gave up a power-play goal in two chances.

Florida’s 18.7% on the power play (20-for-107) ranks 10th in the NHL. The team’s penalty kill is 18th, having killed 60 of its 73 penalties (82.2%).
Washington grids 21st on the power play (14-for-93, 15.0%) and is 19th at 81.8% when shorthanded.

Familiar Faces as Foes: Writers won’t have to go too far back into the memory bank when it comes to finding a storyline for this one. Tomas Vokoun, who played four seasons for the Panthers and shut the Cats out on 20 shots two months ago, looks to beat his former team again, just as Pete DeBoer naturally wanted a victory over Florida last month when the Devils visited. Like Vokoun, Florida goalie Jose Theodore will try to shut down the offense of his former team, where he played from 2008 to 2010. Red-hot Tomas Fleischmann, who has flourished this season, played in the shadows of Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin and Nicklas Backstrom during his tenure with the Caps, and Flash would surely enjoy a repeat of his 3-point performance from Saturday against his former teammates.

Expect the Capitals to attempt to neutralize Florida’s speed with plenty of physical play. Florida’s opponents, like the St. Louis Blues last month, have routinely tried to outmuscle them. Getting aggressive with Florida may work, though the team has still managed to be on pace for 101 points this season despite the rough play. Sometimes players like Andre Deveaux and Derek Joslin have resorted to illegal hits to get them off their games, but Florida won both of those as well.

This is a statement game for the Panthers, who are concerned primarily about the season-long war but would like to be victorious in this battle before heading back out on the road. A win helps solidify the notion circulating around the league that they are for real. And really, if they’re going to be taken seriously as a possible postseason player, Florida must regularly beat the teams it faces six times each year within the Southeast Division.

Especially the team that’s sat at the top for so long.

By Bill Whitehead
NHLHS Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com

By Bill Whitehead

It’s only been a little over a week since a meaningless contest shook up not the Florida Panthers but the team’s fans. You remember that fateful night in Dallas, right? The Cats returned the favor of facing the Stars after the Western Conference team beat Florida in overtime two days earlier in the BankAtlantic Center. The result was ugly and gave no red-garbed fan in South Florida any solace heading in to the regular season: a 7-1 drubbing by Dallas.

The lion’s share of the criticism went to Jose Theodore, Florida’s new goaltender. After Tomas Vokoun signed with Washington, the Panthers had to shore up its goaltending and opted for Theodore, essentially signing the 35-year-old as a backup to Scott Clemmensen. But Clemmensen’s knee injury in pre-season changed everything – Theodore moved up to the No. 1 spot in the crease, while Jacob Markstrom, who had been targeted for San Antonio, easily outplayed Tyler Plante to secure the backup role. However, Theodore’s shaky showing in Texas and throughout the pre-season left some calling for Markstrom to get the nod for the first game. New coach Kevin Dineen, though, stuck to his plan and put No. 60 in net Saturday night.

Simply, Theodore answered the bell and stemmed the skepticism by stopping all 27 saves in his Florida debut against the Islanders and recording the 31st shutout of his career in the 2-0 win. It was an outstanding showing all around by the Panthers, who used better team speed, more jump and a responsible defensive game to limit the Islanders’ talented offensive players. John Tavares, Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey were all rendered ineffective. Much of the credit certainly goes to Florida’s defense, but Theodore, who never really had to stand on his head, was rock solid, too.

Jozay, Josey, Hosay, hey call him what you want. But his name needs to be called often for successful saves by broadcasters Steve Goldstein and Randy Moller if the Panthers intend to make a dent in the Southeast Division standings. The key for Theodore Saturday on Long Island was his calmness. Playing in a city known for its in-your-face, hectic pace and against an Islanders club that some feel is improved and on the rise, Theodore never wavered. The former Vezina and Hart trophies winner didn’t overreact on a 2-on-1 chance by Tavares, never flailed after Okposo rang the post, stood strong as Jay Pandolfo rifled a shot from the high slot and held the post as if for dear life.

Many question marks exist for the Panthers. Saturday was the first time since camp opened that Florida iced its regular lineup. Perhaps a little surprisingly, the result was not simply good, average or what was expected; it was downright excellent. And if the Cats can come away with something productive Tuesday night in the Steel City, maybe at least taking a point from the Penguins, the enthusiasm next Saturday will be through the BAC roof.

But the biggest question is this: Can the Panthers do anything significant in the Southeast this season without similar play from Saturday night in net from Theodore?

No way, Jose.

By Bill Whitehead
NHLHS Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com

By Danny Di Nicolantonio

You want to play fantasy hockey, and think you have what it takes to win?  Well, you’ll be one step closer to winning your league after this week’s fantasy hockey preview series.  There is no better place to start than the guys between the pipes:  Goaltenders.

During most drafts you will be required to have two starting goaltender roster spots, then one or two backup slots on the bench.  Even though forwards are the first to be drafted in the beginning, there are statistics out there that indicate goaltenders are going toward the backend of that first round.

Depending on the size of the league you are in, the average being 8-12 teams per league, and where you are positioned to pick, this will help you develop a strategy for the draft.  Logically the reason why we see goaltenders picked toward the end of the first round is because, the draft is about to head back in the other direction giving this team two picks fairly close together, if not back to back.  As a result, it gives a team the opportunity to select a forward and a goaltender right off the bat.  There are players in the league that I refer to as “trend setters”, and these are the teams that may not have had an opportunity to select a star player at the beginning of the draft and may nab two goaltenders with their first two picks that create a wave of three or four goaltenders being selected.

There are many factors that go into ranking and drafting a goaltender that include, risk, reward, age, prone to injury.

Ranked Goaltenders 2011-2012 Fantasy Hockey:

Player Team GP SA GA GAA W L OT SV SV% Shutouts
Tim Thomas BOS 57 1811 112 2.00 35 11 9 1699 0.938 9
Roberto Luongo VAN 60 1753 126 2.11 38 15 7 1627 0.928 4
Pekka Rinne NSH 64 1905 134 2.12 33 22 9 1771 0.930 6
Tomas Vokoun WSH 57 1753 137 2.55 22 28 5 1616 0.922 6
Jonathan Quick LAK 61 1631 134 2.24 35 22 3 1497 0.918 6
Henrik Lundqvist NYR 68 1965 152 2.28 36 27 5 1813 0.923 11
Ryan Miller BUF 66 1964 165 2.59 34 22 8 1799 0.916 5
Corey Crawford CHI 57 1545 128 2.30 33 18 6 1417 0.917 4
Jimmy Howard DET 63 1830 168 2.79 37 17 5 1662 0.908 2
Marc-Andre Fleury PIT 65 1742 143 2.32 36 20 5 1599 0.918 3
Carey Price MTL 72 2147 165 2.35 38 28 6 1982 0.923 8
Ilya Bryzgalov PHI 68 2125 168 2.48 36 20 10 1957 0.921 7
Antti Niemi SJS 60 1741 140 2.38 35 18 6 1601 0.920 6
Miikka Kiprusoff CGY 71 1935 182 2.63 37 24 6 1753 0.906 6
Dwayne Roloson TBL 54 1596 138 2.59 24 25 5 1458 0.914 4
Cam Ward CAR 74 2375 184 2.56 37 26 10 2191 0.923 4
Steve Mason CBJ 54 1541 153 3.03 24 21 7 1388 0.901 3
Martin Brodeur NJD 56 1313 127 2.45 23 26 3 1186 0.903 6
Kari Lehtonen DAL 69 2043 175 2.55 34 24 11 1868 0.914 3
Jonas Hiller ANA 49 1493 114 2.56 26 16 3 1379 0.924 5
James Reimer TOR 37 1134 90 2.60 20 10 5 1044 0.921 3
Mike Smith PHX 22 576 58 2.90 13 6 1 518 0.899 1
Ondrej Pavelec WPG 58 1558 147 2.73 21 23 9 1558 0.914 4
Niklas Backstrom MIN 51 1566 132 2.66 22 23 5 1434 0.916 3
Jaroslav Halak STL 57 1518 136 2.48 27 21 7 1382 0.910 7
Craig Anderson OTT 51 1546 135 2.66 24 20 4 1411 0.918 2
Nikolai Khabibulin EDM 47 1389 153 3.40 10 32 4 1236 0.890 2

We’ll take an in-depth look at defensemen tomorrow, left and right wingers on Thursday, and centers on Friday.

By Alexander Monaghan
President

Photo Credit: Bridget Samuels

Yesterday, the Washington Capitals re-signed Mathieu Perreault – a signing which signifies more than originally seen. Perreault, 23, spent parts of the past four seasons with the Hershey Bears while also finding his way into the NHL for 56 tilts. His production, 11 goals and 23 points, at the major league level certainly does not guarantee a spot in the lineup — especially with last season’s emergence of  Marcus Johansson — but it does add yet another valuable asset to their system: depth.

Considering the Caps brought more U-20 players to the World Junior Hockey Championship than any other team, their system is continually populated with skilled players; regardless of how they ranked last season in organizational rankings.

With the Caps development camp playing out this week, we salivate at the thought of these young players coming together in unison to form the next wave of standout players. From Mattias Sjogren losing almost two teeth and trying not to miss a shift to Cody Eakin expecting to make the team out of camp, these kids continue to develop and should make an impact sooner rather than later. Mind you, we omitted the top three from Hockey’s Future Top 20 list — Braden Holtby, Dmitri Orlov and Evgeni Kuznetsov – not to mention the lottery pick they are sure to obtain from the Semyon Varlamov swap. In short, this team should be good and good for a long time which helped owner Ted Leonsis guarantee the playoffs for the next 10-15 years (maybe Ted will review this article more favorably than the last he read here).

Last season, the Bears surprisingly lost in the first round of the AHL playoffs. The team looked to win the Calder Cup for the third time in as many seasons and the fourth time in six seasons but were ousted by the Charlotte Checkers — the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes. While their former teams were built around mostly AHL vets such as Keith Aucoin, Brian Wilsie and Boyd Gordon, their loss likely indicates a change in guard. Instead of failed players from the “old NHL” we likely will see a guy like Perreault mentoring Orlov, Eakin and Sjogren next season. And, why not. An organization should instill a winning attitude from the ground up so filling their holes with a mix of players like Perreault, Christian Hanson and the recently signed Chris Bourque only makes sense. In addition, the signing of Tomas Vokoun almost guarantees Holtby plays yet another season down in the A.

These kids will play together, grow together and if the plan works out accordingly: win together. But most importantly, they represent NHL-ready depth. While the team, with the signing of Roman Hamrlik, hold eight defensemen on their roster, Tom Poti is not expected to be ready for next season. On that same note, the team in theory holds 13 NHL ready forwards (counting Jay Beagle) but Troy Brouwer could start the season on LTIR.

Starting a season with two players expected on LTIR, let alone IR, never bodes well for a team looking to improve on the previous season. One can only assume there will be more injuries. In fact, the median man-games lost to injury last season was roughly three players per team so one would expect the Caps to call on the troups eventually.

Luckily for them, the calvary won’t be very far away.

By Bill Whitehead

Newly acquired Florida Panthers goalie Jose Theodore knows all too well about the current goalie market. It’s about as kind to money-seeking netminders as a Steven Stamkos one-timer on the power play. He also considers himself lucky to be a Panther, knows what former teammate Tomas Vokoun is going through and understands his role.

“What I’ve been looking for is consistency, and I’ve had it the last few years,” Theodore said last Friday at BankAtlantic Center. “The last two years in Washington we had a great team. My last year in Washington I felt really confident.”

Theodore, now 34, expected to cash in on a big payday after going 30-7-7 for the President’s Trophy-winning Capitals in that final season in DC. He ended the regular season strong, posting a 20-0-4 mark, but he was pulled in Game 2 and never returned as the Caps were upset by Montreal.

Surely the body of work he authored in the regular season would outweigh the quick, disappointing postseason showing and guarantee him a hefty contract, right?

“I thought when July 1 came I’d get offers as a No. 1 guy, but you could see the way the market was going,” said Theodore, who signed with Minnesota last season to back up starter Niklas Backstrom. “Sometimes the offers are not coming. Last year was a great opportunity for me to show people that you can put me on any team and I can do my job. I finished with a winning record (15-11-3). I just want to show people what I’m capable of doing.”

The goaltender market did change for the financial betterment of one player, former Phoenix Coyote Ilya Bryzgalov. The Philadelphia Flyers, plagued for years by schizophrenic play in net, signed the 31-year-old Russian to a nine-year, $51 million deal. Writer Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News reported last week that the Flyers began floating goalie Sergei Bobrovsky out on the market after signing Bryzgalov, but there were no bites. A similar situation faced Vokoun, whom Theodore played with in 1996 in Montreal and Fredericton of the AHL.

“You could see what happened to Vokoun,” Theodore said. “My take is what happened to him right before. If you get available on July 1 as a No. 1 goalie, you’re looking for No. 1 goalie money, just like I was when I had 30 wins and seven losses. Then the teams start signing guys at $1.5 (million), 1.2, 1.6, and the next thing you know there’s no opening.

“From what I could see, after July 1 I was just wondering where would Tomas go. Philly had Bryz. All the teams where he had a chance to go — Denver, Phoenix — they all signed goalies. So you’re like, ‘Well, he’s a great goalie, really a top goalie, but if there’s no room there’s no room.’ I was kind of surprised. It just seems like now a lot of guys are getting signed for 1.5 or 1.7.”

When faced with his second July 1 free agent decision almost two weeks ago, Theodore didn’t hesitate. The 2002 Hart and Vezina trophies winner said he wanted to play in Florida, where his parents vacationed in nearby Boca Raton, and contacted his agent about the possibility of playing in Sunrise.

“When July 1 comes, a lot of times it’s a gamble,” he said. “You have a quick call and it’s like take it or leave it now or they’re going to sign another guy. You can’t wait for the next offer. I know for myself that when Florida called, that was my No. 1 choice. That’s the truth. I told my agent, ‘If you can make something happen with Florida, forget the rest.’ It was my No. 1 choice.”

Ultimately, Theodore said he expects to play well, and his numbers over the past four years in the NHL have been strong — 105-56-15. Also, he realizes his mentor’s role with young Swedish goalie Jacob Markstrom, the Panthers’ highly touted phenom who is recovering from a knee injury.

“Markstrom’s a top prospect. And like I did with (Semyon) Varlamov and (Michal) Neuvirth in Washington, I’m a team guy at the end of the day. And if I can help these kids out to have a good career and show them a trick here and there, I really enjoy that part of the game now at that point in my career. I’m looking forward to meeting him and just trying to help him the best I can. If he can be dominating for the next 10 or years, perfect. I’m looking forward to meeting the kid.”

If a Florida fan were arguing as to who might be the most important piece of the possible/potential postseason puzzle that GM Dale Tallon has been assembling, a convincing discussion might center around the Laval, Quebec, native and his right-handed catching success between the pipes. Without it, Florida likely won’t get very far. With it, the Panthers could be playing meaningful games in late March and maybe in April, too.

But for right now, let Jose Theodore enjoy the moment. He’s just happy to be here.

By Bill Whitehead
NHLHS Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com

By Bill Whitehead

SUNRISE, Fla. — Wingers Tomas Fleischmann and Tomas Kopecky, Florida’s new duo in the “Tomas without an H” brotherhood, sat beside one another at the stage last Friday at BankAtlantic Center, placards placed before them and one microphone to share between them. Why the two players with the same first name were sitting beside each other was anyone’s guess.

Scottie Upshall was the first seated to the far left, so scratch off alphabetical seating as the order of the day. Starting with Upshall and ending with Nolan Yonkman at the far end, the numbers from left to right on the stage read like winning lottery numbers from a game much greater than any we have played — a Mega-Power Super Ball Select 9 that popped up as 19-60-22-51-55-82-14-32-34. The winner? The Florida Panthers.

While the Panthers made news for losing one Tomas (Vokoun, to Washington), it added a pair in Fleischmann and Kopecky, who thankfully go by Flash and Kopy. The organization could have added a third at the NHL Draft if it had decided to select Tomas Jurco, a right winger chosen by Detroit just two picks after Florida grabbed Rocco Grimaldi, but why over-Tomas with a draft pick? When I had my turn to pose a question as the press conference began, I asked of Flash, “Umm, Tomas…” and both looked right at me, wondering who was up.

From talking to some of their current teammates and former opponents, Florida fans won’t get confused as to which Tomas is which.

“People haven’t seen how good Flash is,” said forward Matt Bradley, who joined the Capitals with Fleischmann in 2005. “In Washington, he was always stuck behind Ovi and those guys, and obviously those guys are top players. It’s tough to get by them. I think that with a little more ice time and the opportunity to be on the power play you’ll see how good Flash really is. You saw that in Colorado this year. When he was healthy, he was unbelievable. He scored a lot of points. That’s what I expect from him this year. He’s a great player.”

Fleischmann, 27, was dealt from Washington to Colorado last Nov. 30 for defenseman Scott Hannan. A natural left winger, Fleischmann had been playing as the second-line center for Washington to start the season but struggled, totaling just four goals and six assists in 23 games before being moved to the Western Conference. He doubled that production — eight goals and 13 assists — in playing one less game for the Avalanche before a blood clot problem shut him down for the second time in his career.

“It doesn’t help when you’re playing behind the best player in the league,” the cordial Fleischmann said during a one-on-one interview beside the club’s Den of Honor. “I was always the second or third guy. I played on the first line in Colorado and felt great. I liked having the pressure on me, and I hope it’s going to be like that this season. I was on a line with (Matt) Duchene and (David) Jones, and I know I can play like that.

“It was surprising to go to Colorado. I had only played 20 games in the season. There was talk in the offseason about a trade, but you never expect it. It’s just the way of the business. It was a great time playing on the first line in Colorado and trying to put up points. It was good.”

Fleischmann had the blood clot issue two years ago and went on medication. The problem resurfaced last year after he decided to start the season by playing without it. He said he now knows what to watch for and how to prepare for the season. When he has played well, this is what it looked like:

Defenseman Ed Jovanovski saw plenty of the 29-year-old Kopecky. He also noticed the play of Fleischmann in his 22 games in Denver.

“(Kopecky’s) just a big kid. He’s a guy that has skill, but I think his biggest asset is how hard he works. He’s a grinder. I remember playing against him in Chicago and Detroit, and he was always one of those guys that was always in your face and always hitting you. As for Fleischmann, he was on fire when he was traded to Colorado and was playing so well. Those are two great players,” Jovo said.

Kris Versteeg, a Chicago Blackhawks teammate of Kopecky, said the Slovakian should contribute directly from in front of the net, especially a man up.

“I think you’re going to see a lot from (Brian) Campbell and Kopy on the power play,” Versteeg said. “Kopy’s not going to handle the puck too much, but he’s going to get in front of the net and bang in a lot of rebound goals. He’s a lot like a Tomas Holmstrom, a guy that creates havoc. He’s going to be in guys’ faces. He’s scored big goals and has two Stanley Cups. He’s won before and knows what it takes.”

Added Kopecky: “I knew after the season, it didn’t look like it was going to work out in Chicago. I knew that Dale (Tallon) is the kind of guy who is pretty stubborn and would do anything to win. It didn’t make any more sense for me to be in Chicago. I talked to Soupy (Campbell) when he got traded, and I kind of realized this is a great opportunity for me. It’s a great challenge for all of us.”

Tomas and Tomas, Fleischmann and Kopecky, Flash and Kopy, Czech and Slovak, 14 and 82, left wing and right wing, redhead and spiky brunette. You won’t get them confused.

Whatever you call them, these two Tomases may just be better than one.

By Bill Whitehead
NHLHS Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com

By Bill Whitehead

SUNRISE, Fla. — Friday marked the one-year anniversary of a strange day in South Florida sports history. July 8, 2010, will forever be remembered as “The Decision,” LeBron James’ ill-fated, overly done announcement that made Cleveland weep and Miami Beach all giddy.

On Friday at BankAtlantic Center, one week after signing a number of big-name free agents, Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon, assistant Mike Santos and the rest of the organization showed off their decisions by welcoming nine of the 11 new Cats to over 100 media members, team officials and local dignitaries at the team’s arena.

“We’re changing the culture here,” said Tallon, seated at a table between the nine acquisitions. “These guys have a variety of skill sets, but the one thing they all have in common is their desire to play the game and willingness to pay the price to get to the next level. This marks a new chapter for the Florida Panthers, the fans and the South Florida community. It’s a significant step in our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.”

In all, eleven players have been added as Tallon’s spending spree lifted the club’s payroll to almost $50 million for the upcoming season, going from last in the league in salary to middle of the pack.

Forwards Tomas Fleischmann, Scottie Upshall, Kris Versteeg, Tomas Kopecky, Matt Bradley, Marcel Goc and Sean Bergenheim were brought in by Tallon to spark an offense that struggled to find the net most of last year.

On defense, Ed Jovanovski, Brian Campbell and Nolan Yonkman join. Newcomer Jose Theodore will battle returner Scott Clemmensen to replace departed free agent Tomas Vokoun as the team’s top goaltender.

All were present except for Goc and Bergenheim. The German-born Goc recently celebrated the birth of a child, while the Finnish Bergenheim, who scored nine goals for Tampa Bay in the playoffs, is on a honeymoon cruise.

“(Dale) asked me to come down here, give it a shot and make this a championship team and a team that will have success every year,” said Campbell, who was acquired by Florida eight days ago at the NHL draft in Minnesota. “What they’ve done in the last few weeks, I couldn’t be happier. Look at the lineup we’re going to produce. We’re not going to give any team a break with the depth we have.”

Theodore was 30-7-7 two years ago for Washington and 15-11-3 for Minnesota last season. The right-handed catching goalie replaces a good friend in Vokoun, who signed a one-year deal with the Capitals and must compete with two standout netminders for playing time in the nation’s capital.

“I saw the direction that (Florida) was taking was a big step forward. I really believe that with the signings I really wanted to play here. It’s always fun to be part of something new,” Theodore said.

Jovanovski, the team’s top pick in 1994 and a Panther from 1995 to 1999, noted the attention Florida has been getting in the press since the draft and the moves, saying, “My in-laws have said there’s been a lot of coverage of the team of late. It’s good to see. I think this area is ready to have a contending hockey team.”

The happy-go-lucky Upshall, an active Twitter member (@ScottieUpshall), said he has noticed a groundswell of support after the signings on July 1.

“I’ve definitely seen the feedback,” said Upshall, who will wear No. 19. “Over the course of this process with July 1 there has been a lot of excitement over what Dale and Mike have done to acquire such talented guys and such good guys. I think he kept a great core, too. I think the guys they kept have got to be excited about the direction this team’s headed in.

“It’s a positive atmosphere. The fans have been very welcoming, not only to myself but just look at the showing of the press here today for us. There’s a lot of excitement. We’re all here to do one thing: Change this organization and create some winning atmosphere back in the room.”

Just like it was a year ago, Friday was again a special day in South Florida. Hopefully, though, these decisions by Tallon will work out more positively in the long run than “The Decision.”

By Bill Whitehead
NHLHS Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com

By David Strehle
NHL Hot Stove Creative Editor

As reported by TSN’s Gord Miller via Twitter, the Washington Capitals continued their offseason revamping by signing right winger Troy Brouwer to a two-year, $4.7 million deal on Wednesday.

Brouwer celebrates a goal with Jonathan Toews. Photo by Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

The 25-year-old was acquired nearly two weeks ago at the NHL draft when Washington shipped their first-round pick (#26 overall) to the Chicago Blackhawks for the rights to the restricted free agent.

The 6′ 3″, 215-pounder is coming off of a 17-goal, 36-point season in Chicago.  In seven postseason contests, Brouwer did not record a point, but finished a +2 and racked up 11 PIMs.

A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Brouwer had career-bests both in the regular season and playoffs in 2009-10 in aiding the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup championship.  He posted 22 goals and 40 points in 78 games during the year, then scored four goals and registered eight points in 19 postseason contests.

A seventh-round choice (214th overall) of Chicago in the 2004 draft, Brouwer has played in 238 career NHL regular season games, scoring 49 goals and posting 103 points.

In addition to acquiring Brouwer, the Capitals have also added wingers Chris Bourque and Joel Ward, center Jeff Halpern, defenseman Roman Hamrlik, and goaltender Tomas Vokoun as they attempt to build a club that will be ready to make a run at the Cup next spring.

According to CapGeek, Washington is over the $64.3 million salary cap ceiling by just over $1.8 million right now.  NHL teams may be 10% above the upper limit during the offseason, as long as they are cap-compliant once the regular season begins.

If you have any comments or questions, you can email the author at dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter – @David_Strehle

By Brandon Macdonald
NHL Hot Stove Editor

It’s almost that time of year again, hockey fans. The spot on everyone’s calendar that reads “Free Agent Frenzy” also known as July 1st. It’s the time when teams assess their needs and attempt to replenish via free agency. There are always one or two headliners every year, but the depth of the 2011 free agent class is not quite comparable to past years. There is only one current superstar and a ton of depth players available for negotiations come Friday.

Here at NHLhotstove.com, we have many writers covering various teams around the League so for more in-depth analysis on your favorite team, continue to check the site for up-to-date news. Just for fun, let’s look over a list of what I believe are the Top-10 most coveted free agents of the 2011 free agent season. Feel free to leave your own top 10 list in the comment section or send me an email with your thoughts.

Honorable mentions: Tyler Kennedy, Fredrik Sjostrom, Shane O’Brien, Chris Higgins, Ray Emery and Mike Smith

Photo Credit: lindsay_rockstar.

#10 – Maxime Talbot, 27, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2010-11 cap hit $2.6 million

Last season statistics: 82 GP/8G/13A/60PIM/-3

Although Talbot is not going to wow you with his offensive prowess, he brings the kind of grit and hustle to the table that every team would welcome with open arms. Throughout the years he became a solid third line centre who has the ability to get under the opposing team’s skin and who has shown an ability to score some important goals (Don’t click Red Wing fans). Talbot would be a good fit with teams that are looking to round out their bottom six with role players.

Where he will land: Detroit Red Wings

#9 – Ville Leino, 27, Philadelphia Flyers, 2010-11 cap hit $800k

Last season statistics: 81GP/19G/34A/22PIM/+14

After being acquired by the Flyers for Ole-Kristian Tollefsen in 2009, Leino proved his worth with a fantastic post season and continued the solid play in 2010-11. He was an intricate part of the Flyers offence during both the regular season and post season. With dynamic speed and puck handling ability Leino will undoubtedly receive a large raise from his $800 k cap hit and a multi-year deal is in his future.

With the massive overhaul on the Philadelphia front line, one would assume it would be in GM Paul Holmgren‘s best interests to retain the 27-year-old Finn as he enters the prime of his career.

Where he will land: Philadelphia Flyers

Photo Credit: bridgetds.

#8 – Erik Cole, 32, Carolina Hurricanes, 2010-11 cap hit $2.9 million

Last season statistics: 82GP/26G/26A/49PIM/-1

The curious case of Erik Cole –the man that only seems to find his top game in Carolina. Even during the lockout season while playing with Berlin Polar Bears in Germany, Cole managed to score only six goals in 39 games. He was welcomed back to Carolina via a trade after signing with Edmonton in 2008. This past season was Cole’s best since 2007, he scored 26 times and played in all 82 games. This is a good sign for him, as it’s the first time in his NHL career he played the entire campaign.

It only makes sense that the Hurricanes keep Cole, especially considering shootout specialist Jussi Jokinen and Chad LaRose are both set to hit the open market. Cole would be a good fit with teams wanting that extra scoring depth on the wing, as he could log considerable minutes on the second line and even fill in on the top line pending injuries. The Canes are in desperate need for scoring depth as they saw what happened last year when they relied on Eric Staal and Calder trophy winner Jeff Skinner for the bulk of scoring.

Where he will land: Carolina Hurricanes

#7 – Tomas Kaberle, 33, Boston Bruins, 2010-11 cap hit $4.25 million

Last season statistics: 82GP/4G/43A/18PIM/+4

It’s yet to be seen if Kaberle will be back with the Bruins next season. After a less-than-stellar debut with the team, it seemed like he settled into his role throughout the playoffs, especially after seeing significantly less minutes than he was used to getting in Toronto. Fitting in on the second defensive pair with Adam McQuaid, his role changed. He wasn’t the power play saviour that the team expected, yet he did lead Bruins defenceman in scoring in the playoffs with 11 assists.

It all comes down to the numbers in regards to GM Peter Chiarelli‘s decision to pursue the Czech native. If he can get Kaberle at his previous cap hit, it seems like he will remain in Boston. However, there are cheaper options for the Bruins out there— albeit not many — and they have a young puck moving defenceman in Steven Kampfer waiting in the wings for his chance. Some have speculated that Kaberle could end up back in Toronto, but that seems like a long shot.

Where he will end up: Boston Bruins

Now the next three picks are, in my opinion, interchangeable.

#6 – Simon Gagne, 31, Tampa Bay Lightning, 2010-11 cap hit $2.5 million

Last season statistics: 63GP/17G/23A/20PIM/-12

One of the biggest question marks when it comes to free agency is: What do you offer Gagne? He is an aging veteran with a history of injury issues, but managed to play in 63 games this past season. For the second straight year Gagne chipped in with 17 goals and there is nothing saying he isn’t capable of hitting the 20-25 mark again in his career. If he can stay healthy and play with a playmaking centre, that is almost a given.

The problem when it comes to Gagne is how much money would he accept. Nobody wants to lowball a veteran with success at the NHL level, but take into account his past. Gagne has nothing to prove except for playing 60-plus games per season. It’s likely that he will want to play with a Stanley Cup contender and there is a chance he could get that chance. A team like the Los Angeles Kings stick out to me as they could use a goal-scoring winger to compliment newly acquired — and former teammate — Mike Richards on the second line. The question for the Kings is whether or not they will have the cap space after locking up pending RFA Drew Doughty.

Where he will land: Los Angeles Kings

Photo Credit: bridgetds.

#5 - Michael Ryder, 31, Boston Bruins, 2010-11 cap hit $4 million

Last season statistics: 79GP/18G/23A/26PIM/-1

Entering the Stanley Cup playoffs anyone connected to Boston would have told you Ryder would be donning a new sweater come next season. However, times have changed and it’s likely that opinions have as well. Ryder stepped up his game in the Bruins’ quest for Lord Stanley scoring eight goals and finishing with 17 points, which likely has other teams chomping at the bit to acquire the Newfoundland native.

The oft-criticized 31-year-old has a game changing shot, but is often found floating while wearing his invisibility cloak. When he feels like it, Ryder can be a very dangerous player. The Bruins have four skaters headed to free agency (five if you count Mark Recchi) and the cap space to retain all of their services. Chiarelli has not made any public statements on the team’s intentions to re-up Ryder, so only time will tell if he is back with the Bruins on their quest for back-to-back titles.

Eclipsing 25 goals in six of his NHL seasons should have teams looking to sign Ryder. After winning a Cup, it’s likely he will continue to ask for $4 million per season and lengthy contract that will see him continue to be paid. It’s yet to be seen if the Bruins will continue to pay that salary to a guy playing on their third line.

Where he will land: Florida Panthers

#4 – Tim Connolly, 30, Buffalo Sabres, 2010-11 cap hit $4.5 million

Last season statistics: 68GP/13G/29/20PIM/-10

Always a question as to whether or not he can stay healthy, Connolly could see a plethora of contracts tossed his way come July 1st. Having played 65-plus games the past two seasons, he could almost argue for his ability to stay healthy as he would make any team he joins better. If need be, he could serve as a number one centre, but likely would serve better as a number two. With great hands and a quick shot, Connolly would serve well on a young team looking for depth.

It seems like Connolly could stay in Buffalo, as their options at centre appear sparse, but they may have injury concerns and Connolly is likely looking for long-term contract. Nevertheless, new Sabres owner Terry Pegula proves himself as willing to spend the money to make the team better and losing Connolly does not make them a better team. With shooters like Drew Stafford, Thomas Vanek, Tyler Ennis and Brad Boyes the team will need someone to pass them the puck.

Where he will land: Buffalo Sabres

Photo Credit: bridgetds.

#3 – Tomas Vokoun, 34, Florida Panthers, 2010-11 cap hit $5.7 million

Last season statistics: 22W/28L/.922SV%/2.55GAA

In recent years the market for goaltenders has not been busy, but then again, there hasn’t been many goaltenders available like Vokoun. On an unfortunate Florida Panthers team, Vokoun has managed to maintain respectable numbers and has the title of the “best goalie on a bad team” label. Vokoun’s high cap hit may scare some teams away from taking a chance on this guy, but if put in a good situation Vokoun could flourish.

It’s not likely that the Panthers will re-sign the Czech puck stopper, nor is it likely he plans on re-signing. Testing the free agent market seems like the best idea for the aging goalie and latching onto a Cup contending team missing that extra piece could be a match made in heaven. There are a few teams that come to mind like Washington, but the Capitals have had opportunities to snag veteran goalies before and seem keen on maintaining the youthful approach in goal. Colorado seems like another choice — a young team that seems to be a few pieces away from contending in the tough West. Vokoun could be just the guy they need.

Where he will land: Colorado Avalanche

#2 – Christian Ehrhoff, 28, New York Islanders, 2010-11 cap hit $3.1 million

Last season statistics: 79GP/14G/36A/52PIM/+19

With one of the deepest defensive units in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks will have some decisions to make come July 1st. They have the likes of Andrew Alberts, Sami Salo and Ehrhoff to re-sign, as well as a handful of forwards. With youngsters Chris Tanev and Yann Sauve in the system, they also possess some youth that can fill holes. Clearly the Canucks have some options on the back end, but Ehrhoff is a dependable asset who provides both offensive and defensive stability.

It’s not too often that teams have the chance to acquire a puck-moving defenceman who can also play in his own zone. If Ehrhoff’s camp decides to test the open market, it’s likely he will not be there for too long. His defensive mate Kevin Bieksa recently signed a five-year contract that has him at a $4.6 million cap hit per season. Ehrhoff should receive a similar contract, but the fact that Bieksa had a better postseason likely had something to do with his raise. Regardless, expect Ehrhoff to earn at least $5 million per season as the best d-man available.

After their recent acquisition of Robyn Regehr the Buffalo Sabres are closer to having a solid blue line, but adding Ehrhoff would continue to solidify their spot in the tough North East division. Say what you like about his numbers getting inflated due to a high-powered offence. Ehrhoff can get it done when leaned on.

(Editor’s note: Ehrhoff has been traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for a 4th round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft)

Where he will land: Buffalo Sabres

Photo Credit: Resolute

#1 – Brad Richards, 31, Dallas Stars, 2010-11 cap hit $7.8 million

Although this years free agent class is a weak one, Richards would have reigned tall no matter who else was available. He is a legitimate number one centre and a superstar in the NHL. With soft hands and a nose for the net, Richards is the cover boy for playmaking centre any Cup contending team wants — see 2004 Lightning. He comes with the hardware, having the coveted Stanley Cup ring, as well as the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP.

What he brings to the table is the ability to make the players around him better with his passing although he can also score the big goal. There are going to be many suitors for his talent come July 1st and it’s expect that he will make the league maximum, or close to it, with a long-term contract. Most teams in the NHL will likely put in an offer for the Price Edward Island native, but he has made it known he wants to have a chance to contend. It seems that Richards has the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning on top of his list, but with the amount of money the Lightning have locked up — without a contract for Steven Stamkos — it doesn’t seem likely for a return to Tampa.

No matter what team Richards winds up with, he will be the focal point of the team and instantly make them better. It’s going to take big money to bring him in, but in today’s NHL there are no surprises.

Where he will land: New York Rangers

This article is pure speculation from Brandon Macdonald. No sources have been used to determine potential landing zones for free agents.

Brandon Macdonald
NHLHS Editor
bmacdonald@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter @bMacdonald8