FLYERS 2008/2009

[BtownJay]

Well, its that time again! Flyers camp officially start tomorrow, and their first preseason game is Monday the 22nd against the Devils. Last season we had over 2,100 posts in the Flyers thread. I know we can do better this year. But lets really try to keep this thread as close to on topic as possible. We have hundreds of others to go nuts in.

LETS GO FLYERS!!!!!

Current Roster... Philadelphia Flyers - Team - Roster

Full printable schedule... http://flyers.nhl.com/ext/schedule0809.tv.doc

[Rusty27]

I will stay on topic here but some other knucklehead(s) will ruin it inside of 20 posts.
What do you think of this columnist?
Sam Donnellon: I would rather C Timonen as Flyers captain
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20080919_Sam_Donnellon__I_would_rather_C_Timonen_a s_Flyers_captain.html

[BtownJay]

Sam Donnellon: I would rather C Timonen as Flyers captain

I'm NOT even going to bother to read the article... this is all i needed to see to realize I don't agree with it, AT ALL. Would Kimmo make a good captain? i totally think he would. But not now, not for this team. And I'll tell you why this Donnellon is wrong...

Timonen is signed through the 2012/2013 season. Giving him the "C" now, would basically mean you can not even think about giving Richards the "C" until the 2013/2014 season. With the team knowing they want Richards to be the captain of the future, waiting 6 years is FAR too long. And you can't just strip Kimmo in a few years, that does no good for anyone.

Richards wouldn't feel comfortable being the "C" knowing it was just stripped from his team mate. Kimmo, i'm sure wouldn't say anything out loud, but you know it would hurt him. And if you have a player, who has been dubbed the "Captain of the future" since he was drafted... and have him signed for the next 12 years, why not give it to him now? Imagine what good that could do for a team to have the same captain for at least the next 12 years, probably longer.

Richards has more than proven he's capable of being an on and off ice leader many times in his rather young career. From everything i read, and hear from the players, it seems he has the teams full respect. He's been a captain at every level up until now, the guy just knows how to lead a team. And i challange anyone to find ONE incident, or trouble Richards has ever been in since his childhood. He is the perfect face of the future.

Damn, sorry, i could go on and on... and this is certainly NO shot at Kimmo at all. If Richards wasn't on this team, I would be writing to say why I think Timonen should wear the "C". And yes, this is just MY opinion on this, and I respect Donnellon's opinion. But i just think he's flat out wrong.... just like I think anyone is wrong if they think Richards isn't the PERFECT choice.

lol, Damn, Rusty, you think you brought up a topic i've thought alot about?

[Rusty27]

I agree with you and Donnellon really offers up nothing against Richards other than his age and only brings up Timo's playoff leadership last year. I don't believe this guy has considered your point about Timo's contract length at all and isn't even aware of it.

[BtownBeers]

Totally agree with Jay and its not my love of Richards that dictates my opinion....hell last year Richards basically handled most of the "Captain" duties just wearing the "A". The time is now and the respect he is shown and that he gives is very telling as to the type of person and captain he is and will be.

I sure hope Simon can get back to his 50 goal form that would be HUGE for this team.

Jay have you given care to give your best prediction of what you think the lines may be this year and the D pairings?

[BtownJay]

Thanks Rusty, I couldn't imagine how anyone could have any "ammo" to use against Richards, other than his age. Which i think is foolish. Its all about how you act, not what your birth certificate says. Not to mention Richards is part of that great "click" the Flyers have right now. So many of them have become SO close off the ice, it just leads to great team chemistry.

Agreed Beers, Richards was basically the Captain last year. Jason Smith? Could there have been a worse choice? A first year player with 1 year left on his contract? And again, I love Kimmo... I was saying before the season ended two years ago that I wanted the Flyers to target him. He'll be a GREAT "A" for us. Downie forbid that anything happens to Richards, and I will (and i'm sure the team will too) feel great about Kimmo filling in at captain.

The lines... hmmm, can I flip a coin for the forwards? lol, honestly, so much seems to be up in the air right now. Will Giroux make the team right away? Will Downie make a scoring line? Will Briere be a wing or Center? I can't even guess right now. BUT, I think i can guess the D-pairings pretty well. With Hatch probably done as a Flyer, i'll say...

Timonen/Coburn
Jones/Eminger
Vaananen/Parent
Kukkonen

Man, I am so pumped for hockey season!!!!

[BtownBeers]

Honestly I think they picked Smith becuase of Richards...let him be the captain since he won't be on the team long and then give it to Richards which helps avoid stripping anyone of it which would suck. I think its odd that Simon was even in consideration, I have no problem with him wearing the "A" but he's not a captain...its just not him...he's not a leader.

[BtownJay]

You are probably right Beers, thats probably why they picked Smith. However, when they traded for him, Homer said he had every intention to re-sign him after or during the year. But then he was really bad, they had no reason to re-sign him. But who knows what they were really thinking.

Didn't Gagne say before that he didn't really want to be the captain? And you are right, he's far from captain material... its no knock on him (and I know you weren't), its just the way he is. He doesn't have that type of personality.

[BtownBeers]

Even if they had resigned Smith, I doubt it would have been too long term (IMO certainly not near the years of Kimmo) I could be wrong thats just how I see it.

He may have I don't remember or not...and yeah no knock on him at all some people are just gifted to play and some are gifted to play and lead a team through it all. I compare Simon to Utley...Utley is a great player but certainly not a guy that would be the heart or lead the team, just a hard worker that goes out and plays and produces results.

[BtownJay]

No, you are probably right... now that I think about it (and the way you put it)... so what if they signed Smith to another year? It would have only held Richards off ONE more year, not the six for Timonen.

Good call! Gagne and Utley are VERY similar people it would seem. Both are crazy talented, but the opposite of vocal. Not the type of guys to get up and yell at, or try to rally the team. And hell, i'd rather have guys who are quiet and produce, than the guys who produce, but are a lockerroom headache. Gagne seems very happy with being an "A", and just doing his job on the ice. Can't fault him for that.