View previous news items: February 2001, March 2001, April 2001, May 2001, Summer 2001, September 2001, October 2001, November 2001, December 2001, January 2002, February 2002.
(8/27) The Flyers have signed Kim Johnsson, who was acquired in the Lindros trade, to a three year deal. Terms were not disclosed, in accordance with team policy. This leaves Jan Hlavac as the only regular not under contract. Johnsson was originally an 11th round draft pick of the Rangers.
(8/27) Just a small note. Much touted acquisition Pavel Brendl has been participating in the Flyers' prospect came in Voorhees. If you have a chance, go check him out.
(8/22) Some might call it premature. Others might simply label it a vote of confidence. Whatever your opinion, the Quebec Remparts--Simon Gagne's old team in the QMJHL--have decided to retire Gagne's number 12. During two seasons with the Remparts, Gagne played 114 games and amassed 189 points (80 goals, 109 assists). The Remparts decision puts Gagne in very elite company. The team has only retired one other number in their history: Guy LaFleur's #4.
(8/20) After fifteen months of public acrimony, the Flyers organization and the Lindros family have officially called it quits. At an afternoon news conference, Flyers GM Bob Clarke announced that the Flyers traded the rights to Lindros to the New York Rangers in exchange for three young players--forward prospect Pavel Brendl, third-year forward Jan Hlavac, and defenseman Kim Johnsson--and a third-round draft pick. If Lindros suffers a career ending head injury during this coming season, the Flyers will return the third-round pick and a throw in a 2003 first-round pick for good measure. Just after the Flyers' news conference, the NY Rangers announced that they had signed Lindros to a four year deal that potentially could be worth over ten million dollars a year. Lindros's earnings will largely depend upon his ability to remain healthy.
So after eight years of the Lindros era, the Flyers can officially say they got three players and a mid-round draft pick in exchange for Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Mike Ricci, some other players, two first-round draft picks, and 15 million dollars. Not hard to see why Ed Snider is still a bit upset, eh?
All in all, however, this is about as good a trade as the Flyers could expect under the circumstances. The Edmonton Oilers offer of Tom Poti and Jochen Hecht was quite interesting, but there was no way Lindros was ever going to play in the obscurity of western Canada. The Dallas Stars's offer of Brendan Morrow and others was also tantalizing, but Lindros seemed unwilling to play for Ken Hitchcock and Bob Gainey. Johnsson, Brendl, and Hlavac are all young with huge upsides. As a second-year player, Hlavac had a year almost as good as Simon Gagne's--in fact, it was better in some ways. Hlavac will fit nicely on the Flyers' third line, and he might be an excellent pairing with recent acquisition Jiri Dopita, a fellow Czech. Johnsson is not a super-elite defensive prospect, but with Eric Weinrich he gives the Flyers' blueline more mobility than it has had in ages. Finally, there's Brendl. He's got world class skills and no work ethic--he could be the next Jaromir Jagr or the next Alexandre Daigle. If the Lindros era has taught us anything, it's that pure talent can't overcome everything--so we'll see.
Now, let's forget about Lindros for a while, and focus on all the good things that this coming year holds. A cup run, perhaps? Vindication? Perhaps, most of all, peace and quiet--until January 12, 2002, that is, when Eric Lindros makes his first appearance at the First Union Center in a Rangers' jersey (assuming that another check hasn't ended his career by then).
(8/20) Recent Flyers acquisition Jiri Dopita was named the recipient of the Czech Republic's Golden Stick Award. The award goes to the best player of Czech origin--in recent years, the only winners have been some guys named Jagr and Hasek. Flyers' goalie Roman Cechmanek came in fifth in the voting. Dopita led his Czech club Vsetin to a fifth-straight championship this season.
(8/20) Old news, I'm afraid, but I thought I'd post it for good measure. All throughout August, the Flyers have been running a minicamp for their recent draft picks and AHL prospects. Some members of the Flyers have participated in workouts--mostly to get some ice time. The Flyers' three most recent first-rounders--Jeff Woywitka, Justin Williams, and Maxime Ouellet--have all participated in the camp. For some first-hand reports, check out Mike Barr's Flyers website: Orange and Black.
(8/14) NHL insiders claim that a trade between the NY Rangers and the Flyers for Eric Lindros may be imminent. The Flyers and Rangers have reportedly agreed upon compensation for the long-sidelined center. In exchange for Lindros, the Flyers would receive wingers Jan Hlavac and Pavel Brendl and defenseman Kim Johnnson. The Rangers would receive Lindros's rights and a conditional first-round draft pick. The main stumbling block to this deal--as to any deal involving Lindros--would be the injured center's contract. If he agrees to a terms with Glen Sather and the Rangers, there's apparently a good chance that this trade will be consummated.
(8/14) The recently traded Daymond Langkow received a two year, 4.2 million dollar deal with the Phoenix Coyotes in arbitration. Langkow's hearing raised eyebrows around the NHL, as Flyers GM Bob Clarke presented the brief on behalf of the Coyotes. Many observers--this webmaster included!--think that this brief is part of a gentlemen's agreement between the Flyers and the Coyotes that gave the Flyers advance permission to negotiate with newly-signed center Jeremy Roenick.
(8/14) Four current Flyers have been invited to the Team Canada Olympic orientation camp. Keith Primeau, Mark Recchi, and Eric Desjardins are all Team Canada veterans from 1998; Simon Gagne was still a question mark among Flyers' scouts way back then. Another notable invitee to the Team Canada camp is Eric Lindros, our favorite Flyer-in-exile. Wayne Gretzky has reportedly told Lindros that he will not be allowed on the Olympic team if he is not playing hockey in the NHL.
Jeremy Roenick and John LeClair have both already been named to Team USA for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and Roman Cechmanek has already been named to the Czech Republic Team. Cechmanek was Hasek's backup on the Czech Team that won gold in Nagano.
(8/14) According to the latest rumors in the hockey world, Eric Lindros has reported squashed another possible trade. The Flyers and the Edmonton Oilers may have had a deal killed by Lindros's refusal to play for Edmonton (or more specifically, for Edmonton's salary offer). Yet another day in the Lindros circus...
(8/14) Andy Delmore has been traded to the Nashville Predators for draft picks. A victim of the numbers game on the Flyers' blueline, Delmore was never able to live up to his much-touted potential (aside from a single playoff series in 2000). Delmore joins former Flyers' prospects Mark Eaton and Mikhael Chernov in the Predators' organization.
(8/14) The odd man out after the Flyers' signing of Jiri Dopita and Jeremy Roenick, Daymond Langkow has been traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for a pair of draft picks.
(7/10) The Flyers now have all their players under contract for next season, as Dan McGillis resigned with the Flyers for three years. The exact terms of the contract were not released, but they are supposed to be for 9 to 10 million dollars total.
(7/10) The Flyers got some more help on the blue line, as they signed veteran defenseman Eric Weinrich.
(7/10) Jiri Dopita, whose rights the Flyers acquired at last month's entry draft, signed a two year deal with the Flyers. The second year is a club option. Dopita has been courted by NHL teams in the past to no avail. No doubt the demise of his Czech club, Vsetin, and the presence of his good friend Cechmanek helped him make his decision to come to North America.
(6/30) The Flyers have finally acquired a center to replace that Lindros guy. In a move that is sure to make John LeClair quite happy, they reached an agreement with former Coyote Jeremy Roenick on a five year deal. Roenick is a free agent on July 1; the Flyers received permission from Phoenix to speak with Roenick early. The deal is reportedly for 37.5 million dollars over five years. Roenick is a good friend of Flyer Rich Tocchet, and he has played with LeClair on the USA National Team. The deal will not be official until July 1
This signing makes the Washington Capitals very unhappy, as they were prepared to outbid the Flyers for the services of the free-agent center. Caps GM MacPhee declared the deal "reeks of impropriety." The NHL headquarters said that there was no tampering, as the Flyers did acquire the Coyotes' permission before speaking with Roenick.
(6/24) The Flyers went heavy on defensemen at the 2001 NHL entry draft. In an eyebrow raising move, the Flyers traded down with their first pick, ultimately getting defenseman Jeff Woywitka at 27th overall. The move allows the Flyers to stockpile better draft picks for the 2002 draft. Woywitka won a Memorial Cup this past season, but observers expect him to spend another year in juniors before fighting for a berth in the NHL.
In another interesting draft day move, the Flyers traded for the rights of Jiri Dopita. Dopita is often called the best player not in the NHL, but he has resisted many previous attempts to woo him to the United States. The Flyers have a bit of an advantage in this, however, as Dopita is a good friend of Flyers goalie Roman Cechmanek--the two players even share an agent, Petr Svoboda (who is no connection to either of the NHL players of that name). It seems unlikely that the Flyers would have traded for Dopita if they did not think they could sign him.
(6/24) The draft came and went, and Eric Lindros still belongs to the Flyers. The Flyers were unable to close a deal for #88. The Toronto Maple Leafs (not for the first time) have declared themselves out of the running, and the Red Wings hardly seem interested in our local basket case. The Dallas Stars are apparently drooling over the prospect of having Lindros, but Big E doesn't want to play there.
(6/15) After months of speculation, John LeClair proved most hockey observers wrong by forgoing free agency to resign with the Flyers. Most hockey observers thought that LeClair was miffed at management and eager to test the waters. With his injury-riddled season, however, LeClair must have reconsidered. At the press conference, LeClair said the deciding factor was the Flyers' commitment to winning. LeClair's contract is reportedly for 45 million dollars over five years. LeClair has a no trade clause for the first three years, and he has a partial no trade clause for the last two years.
This webmaster, who became a hockey fan mostly due to John LeClair, is very, very happy.
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