Player Projection: Nikolai Zherdev
NHLHS Philadelphia Flyers Correspondent David Strehle takes a look at Philly’s top candidate to have a breakout season in 2010-11, newcomer Nikolai Zherdev.
With youngsters like James van Riemsdyk and Claude Giroux and playoff upstart Ville Leino, the Philadelphia Flyers do not have a shortage of players that could possibly have a breakout season in 2010-11.
Categories: Atlantic, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers Tags: Claude Giroux, Columbus Blue Jackets, Danny Briere, James van Riemsdyk, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, New York Rangers, NHL, Nikolai Zherdev, Paul Holmgren, Philadelphia Flyers, Ville Leino
Postseason Run Falls Short; Holmgren’s Offseason Begins
NHLHS writer David Strehle takes a look at Philadelphia’s Cup run that came up just two wins shy, and what GM Paul Holmgren will be looking to do in the offseason.
When Scott Hartnell banged home his second goal of the night to tie up game six at 3-3 with just 3:59 left in regulation, there was a feeling that maybe another miracle was on the horizon for the Philadelphia Flyers.
But this time it was not meant to be, as Patrick Kane somehow snuck a bad-angle shot through Michael Leighton at 4:06 of overtime.
Categories: Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers, Playoff Coverage Tags: Antero Niittymaki, Arron Asham, Blair Betts, Braydon Coburn, Brian Boucher, Carey Price, Dan Ellis, Daniel Carcillo, Danny Briere, Darroll Powe, Evgeni Nabokov, henrik lunqvist, Henrik Zetterberg, Ian Laperriere, Jeff Carter, Marty Turco, Michael Leighton, NHL, Paul Holmgren, Pavel Datsyuk, Philadelphia Flyers, Ryan Parent, Scott Hartnell, Simon Gagne, Tim Thomas, Tuukka Rask, Ville Leino
Hartnell Contributing Once Again
NHLHS writer David Strehle takes a look at the reemergence of winger Scott Hartnell, pretty much a forgotten man in Philly for most of the season.
Coming off of a career-high 30-goal season last year, Scott Hartnell was being counted on to have another big year for the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2009-10 campaign.
He had been in Philadelphia for two seasons and had recorded 54 goals over that span, so why wouldn’t he be counted on to contribute heavily?
Categories: NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers, Playoff Coverage Tags: 2010 Playoffs, Antti Niemi, Chris Pronger, Danny Briere, Jeff Carter, Joffrey Lupul, NHL, Peter Laviolette, Philadelphia Flyers, Scott Hartnell, Stanley Cup Finals, Tomas Kopecky, Ville Leino
Pros & Cons: Philadelphia Flyers vs Chicago Blackhawks
Our newest feature, Pros and Cons, holds a debate between two of our featured writers as they make an argument for each team in the series. We will continue this series throughout the playoffs as we delve deeper into how these two teams will fare against each other.
The final stage has been set and tonight, the 2010 Stanley Cup finals begin live from the United Center in Chicago at 8 p.m. EST.
We hope you have enjoyed our pros and cons debate throughout the playoffs. For the final time, we present our debate. Thank you for all the reading you have done over the course of the season.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, Atlantic, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers, Western Conference Tags: Antti Niemi, Braydon Coburn, Brent Seabrook, Brian Boucher, Chris Pronger, Danny Briere, Dave Bolland, Duncan Keith, Dustin Byfuglien, Jeff Carter, Jonathan Toews, Kimmo Timonen, Kris Versteeg, Lukas Krajicek, Marian Hossa, Matt Carle, Michael Leighton, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Paul Holmgren, Ryan Parent, Scott Hartnell, Simon Gagne, Ville Leino
Only the Lord Saves More Than Leighton
Yes, you’re right, I did take that title from Joe Beninati, the Versus commentator, but it’s just so… real!
Oh, and on a related note, I have finally figured out how to inevitably make the Habs win. It’s actually tested and proven, works like a charm, and doesn’t require the Habs to dish out some massive S&H costs to acquire. The Habs need to shoot less. Surprised? Let me explain.
In every single one of the Montreal Canadiens’ wins against both Washington and Pittsburgh, the team was out shot by exactly 17 shots on average. Although the Habs were dominated on the shot count, they were obliged to play defense first, blocking shots by the dozen, while Jaroslav Halak kept the puck out of the net.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, Atlantic, By Teams, Eastern Conference, Montreal Canadiens, NHLHS Features, Northeast, Philadelphia Flyers Tags: Brian Gionta, Carey Price, Chris Pronger, Jaroslav Halak, Joe Beninati, Michael Cammalleri, Michael Leighton, Patrick Roy, Vesa Toskala, Ville Leino
Pros & Cons: Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Our newest feature, Pros and Cons, holds a debate between two of our featured writers as they make an argument for each team in the series. We will continue this series throughout the playoffs as we delve deeper into how these two teams will fare against each other.
Read more…
Categories: Around the League, Atlantic, By Teams, Eastern Conference, Montreal Canadiens, NHLHS Features, Northeast, Philadelphia Flyers, Playoff Coverage Tags: Brian Boucher, Brian Gionta, Chris Pronger, Claude Giroux, Danny Briere, Hal Gill, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jaroslav Halak, Jeff Carter, Michael Cammalleri, Michael Leighton, Montreal Canadiens, P.K. Subban, Philadelphia Flyers, Scott Gomez, Scott Hartnell, Simon Gagne, Travis Moen, Ville Leino
Flyers Defining Meaning of “Team”, Force Game Six
NHLHS writer David Strehle takes a look at Philadelphia’s big 4-0 victory in Boston Monday night to again avoid elimination, and examines the process of how an inconsistent Flyers team may be coming together just at the right time.
The Philadelphia Flyers have had some special teams through the years, teams that hold a place in the heart of the Philly faithful. Even teams that have not won the Stanley Cup are held in high esteem, right up there with the Cup-winners of 1974 and 1975.
Categories: Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers, Playoff Coverage Tags: Boston Bruins, Braydon Coburn, Brian Boucher, Chris Pronger, Claude Giroux, Marc Savard, Michael Leighton, Mike Richards, Milan Lucic, NHL, Philadelphia Flyers, Scott Hartnell, Simon Gagne, Ville Leino
Flyers Snap Losing Skid, Rout Devils 5-1
A day after an ugly loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Philadelphia Flyers came up with a big effort in a 5-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
The win snapped a five game losing streak and six losses in their last seven contests, a skid in which they saw their cushion on the eighth and final playoff spot shrink to just two points over the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday. As a result of the win over New Jersey, the Flyers leapfrogged over the idle Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens into sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Categories: NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers Tags: Aaron Asham, Brian Boucher, Brian Rolston, Chris Pronger, Daniel Briere, Darroll Powe, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jacques Lemaire, Kimmo Timonen, Martin Brodeur, Matt Carle, New Jersey Devils, Oskars Bartulis, Patrik Elias, Philadelphia Flyers, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Scott Hartnell, Simon Gagne, Ville Leino
Penguins Clinch Playoff Berth, Defense Returns
The Pittsburgh Penguins won their first game in four and only their third in nine games yesterday, a 4-1 victory over the rival Philadelphia Flyers.
Before the game, many said that the Penguins caught a lucky break with both Ray Emery and Michael Leighton out with season-ending injuries and rookie goaltender Johan Backlund starting in nets.
Categories: Around the League, Atlantic, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Pittsburgh Penguins Tags: Brooks Orpik, Chris Kunitz, Evgeni Malkin, Jeff Carter, Johan Backlund, Kris Letang, Marc Andre Fleury, Matt Cooke, Michael Leighton, Pascal Dupuis, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ray Emery, Ruslan Fedotenko, Sergei Gonchar, Simon Gagne, Ville Leino
Restoring the Rosters: Detroit Red Wings
Based on Matthew Pouliot’s series on Circling the Bases, I have decided restore the rosters for every NHL team. Like Pouliot, I have established some ground rules for my selections.
- Each team contains players they originally drafted or signed before any other NHL team. This includes players drafted and not signed, as well as European free agents coming over at an older age.
- I have chosen to leave retired players off the list, and lean toward players in the AHL rather than those deported (KHL, SEL, DEL, etc.).
Essentially I am choosing the best available players for a team to succeed in the current NHL season. All 30 teams will be covered, with grades assigned to forwards, defense and goaltending. After all 30 articles are written, they will be ranked in order. This series’ intent is to reward or shame NHL scouts.
Categories: 30 Team Series, NHLHS Features, Restoring the Rosters Tags: Brett Lebda, Chris Osgood, Darren Helm, Derek Meech, Henrik Zetterberg, Jacub Kindl, Jimmy Howard, Johan Franzen, Jonathan Ericsson, Justin Abdelkader, Kyle Quincey, Mike Knuble, Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Pavel Datsyuk, Sean Avery, Slava Kozlov, Tomas Fleischmann, Tomas Holmstrom, Tomas Kopecky, Valtteri Filppula, Ville Leino
Categories: By Teams, Calgary Flames, Deadline Speculation, Eastern Conference, Northwest, Southeast, Tampa Bay Lightning, Value Of:, Western Conference Tags: Ales Kotalik, Dominic Moore, Jarome Iginla, Martin St.Louis, Michael Cammalleri, Nik Antropov, Olli Jokinen, Peter Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, Ville Leino, Vincent Lecavalier
Will the Red Wings Make the Playoffs?
Coming into last year, the Detroit Red Wings looked stronger than ever. Fresh off a dominating cup win they added arguably the best sniper on the market and seemed poised to create another dynasty, even in this cash strapped salary cap era.
This year certainly seems to be another story. Gone are Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky, Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson amongst others leaving the team with roughly 31 percent of the offense to replace.
Who did they bring in?
Todd Bertuzzi, Drew Miller, Jason Williams and Patrick Eaves amongst others. Those four combined for a whopping 54 goals last year, a little more than half of the 89 goals that left this past offseason. If you subtract 35 goals from last year’s totals the team still would finish 7th in scoring and not first.
GM Ken Holland planned on using rookies and young players such as Ville Leino, Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm in scoring roles, hoping it would force them to step up their games and make up the remaining 35 goals needed. What Holland did not expect were injuries. Injuries and injuries alone could derail all hope this team had to make the playoffs, let alone another return to the Stanley Cup.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League Tags: Andreas Lilja, Brad Stuart, Chris Osgood, Danny Cleary, Darren Helm, Detroit Red Wings, Drew Miller, Henrik Zetterberg, Jason Williams, Jimmy Howard, Jiri Hudler, Jonathan Ericsson, Justin Abdelkader, Ken Holland, Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Patrick Eaves, Pavel Datsyuk, Todd Bertuzzi, Tomas Holmstrom, Tomas Kopecky, Ty Conklin, Ville Leino
