hf101

Last week or so, Lindros was on WIP and stated that it was "this" hit which is the one that was the worst and essentially changed his career.

NEW YORK – The National Hockey League (NHL®,) in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia will extend the celebration of the Jan. 2 outdoor game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers with its official 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® Spectator Plaza, a free, three-day fan festival just outside the gates of Citizens Bank Park™. From Saturday, Dec. 31 through Monday, Jan. 2, Citizens Bank Way, between Phillies Drive and Pattison Ave., will transform into an outdoor hockey and entertainment festival for fans of all ages with live musical performances, interactive hockey-themed attractions, prizes and giveaways, food, beverage, and merchandise tents with officially licensed Rangers® and Flyers® NHL Winter Classic merchandise. Weather permitting, Spectator Plaza will be open to the public from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 31 and from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET on Jan. 1. On game day, Spectator Plaza will be open from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET, just prior to the puck drop at the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®. Bridgestone will give fans a chance to test their shooting skills at Spectator Plaza as they go one-on-one against a Bridgestone goalie in a fun slap shot shootout as a play-by-play announcer makes calls from the Bridgestone broadcast booth during the competition. Gaming consoles also will be available to play EA Sports' NHL '12. Molson Canadian invites all fans to step in from the cold for a "Made from Canada" experience at the Molson Canadian Hockey House at Spectator Plaza. Fans will compete for prizes at bubble hockey and video games, see how fast they can suit-up in goalie gear and, most importantly, fans 21 and older can raise a cup of cold Coors Light or Molson Canadian with other hockey fans. Honda will showcase the all-new 2012 Honda CR-V and updated 2012 Honda Pilot at Spectator Plaza and host a special fan autograph session with an NHL alumnus at the Honda tent on Saturday, Dec. 31. Fan prizes from Honda will include NHL game tickets and a trip to the 2012 NHL Awards™ in Las Vegas. Geico will include a "Guess the Gecko" contest for chances to win prizes, an accuracy shooting contest, a hockey suit up challenge, as well as other trivia games. Verizon will offer fans an interactive Hat Trick of experiences showcasing Verizon's latest 4G LTE technology and demoing the new and improved NHL GameCenter™ Premium mobile app. Every fan can take away a custom rally towel personalized with a photo in their team's colors, ready to be waved with pride during the game. To help keep visitors and fans warm, McDonald's will be sampling its McCafé Premium Roast Coffee at Spectator Plaza. Reebok will feature two attractions, including an NHL locker room set up inside of the Reebok "Zigloo" where fans can try on and take pictures in the actual jerseys and equipment used by their favorite Reebok and CCM athletes, including NHL Winter Classic displays for the Flyers and Rangers and an interactive hockey shootout that highlights the historic Philadelphia and New York rivalry. Fans will be able to try out the latest Reebok hockey and training products and compete for a chance to win Reebok prizes, including ZigTech shoes. NHL Green™ has partnered with Restore Hockey to collect used hockey equipment at Spectator Plaza as part of Restore Hockey's "Recycling the Game" program. Fans are encouraged to bring their used hockey equipment to donate. Restore Hockey will facilitate the collection of the used equipment, refurbish the donations, and redistribute gear to the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. A National Resources Defense Council-sponsored mobile solar unit, provided by Green Tow, will be onsite at Spectator Plaza to power the NHL Green tent and Restore Hockey hut, generating fan awareness and involvement in environmental issues. Officially licensed Flyers and Rangers Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® merchandise will be available via a merchandise tent located outside the third base gate. Game-day festivities begin at Spectator Plaza at 9 a.m. on Jan. 1 and will include the live NHL Network™ broadcast of the Rangers and Flyers team practices from Citizens Bank Park™, as well as telecasts of pre-and post-game coverage. Local media, as well as regional sports networks from US and Canada, also will be broadcasting live from Spectator Plaza. The NHL Network™ will broadcast live from its set at Spectator Plaza on Jan. 2, leading up to the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® telecast as well as post-game coverage; Xfinity® will team up with the NHL Network to offer fans at a fun, interactive space with hockey games, alumni signings and more. The ZOO, a local cover band, will play during the pre-game celebration at Spectator Plaza on Jan. 2. WHAT: 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Spectator Plaza, a free outdoor hockey and entertainment fan festival, in celebration of the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic outdoor game on Jan. 2 between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park™. WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 31, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 1, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET Monday, Jan. 2, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET WHERE: Citizens Bank Way, between Phillies Drive and Pattison Ave., Philadelphia

Filatov has fled to CSKA Moskva to play for his hometown youth team in the KHL. After complaining of not getting the minutes he wanted and not wanting to be sent down again to Binghamton he made the request to Murray. I guess he could come back....... But Radulov hasn't . The Blue Jackets have sure missed the boat with their top draft picks.

An excellent read, written by Tim McManus http://poststar.com/sports/no-substitute-for-patience/article_b6777cde-222b-11e1-85da-001871e3ce6c.html GLENS FALLS -- About a month ago, a pro scout in the Civic Center press box offered an opinion on one of the Phantoms' defensemen. The scout had seen him play quite a bit, and let's just say he wasn't a fan. The next night I overheard a scout from a different organization discussing the same player. When the conversation ended, I told one of the parties what I had heard the night before, assuming it was more of the same. No, I was told. This scout was high on the player and had been for some time. Same player. Two nights. Two scouts. Two completely different opinions. One of the questions American Hockey League reporters get all the time is "how does so-and-so look?" With prospects, there's always curiosity because few people have seen them play yet. The mystery allows hope to spring eternal. My new stock answer when I get that question is to repeat the above story. If those paid professionals - both former NHL players, by the way - can't come to a consensus on a player, then what is my opinion worth? That's not to say all judgments are invalid. You don't need to be an expert to recognize Matt Read and Brayden Schenn are light years ahead of the curve. It's also no coincidence that several of the players fans rode the hardest during the first season are no longer in the league. But most players, to me at least, inhabit a middle ground that allows for the kind of different perceptions you see in that scout story. There are so many variables that impact play at this level. For one, you're not dealing with finished products. Part of the reason these guys are here is to make mistakes. Growth seems to happen in fits and starts rather than linearly. Look at Zac Rinaldo, for example. If you believed this time last year he'd be holding down a steady NHL job by playing disciplined hockey, you should probably play the lottery. Players that are 20, 21 years old just don't have the same consistency you see from veteran players. From game to game, heck, even play to play, you may see a completely different player. Then there's the nature of the play, which is often more ragged than the NHL product. Counterintuitively, a lot of players - particularly goalies - coming back from NHL stints say they actually found the game easier at the higher level. The same is true here for players coming up from the ECHL. The higher the level, the more often players remain in position, the more often they stick to the systems, the less often they have to cover for other players. I often find when I watch NHL games that it's easier to identify the breakdown that led to a goal - of course, the benefit of instant replay helps, too. Things are just less chaotic. Kevin Marshall - not the defenseman in the opening anecdote - is an interesting case. As a stay-at-home defensive guy, I always thought his game might translate better in the NHL than it does here. He's at his best when things stay simple, but with the Phantoms he was occasionally forced into roles where he had to do more. With the Flyers as a sixth defenseman, he can keep a narrower focus. And so far, so good. Marshall was always particularly hard to evaluate. For an Erik Gustafsson, it's easy - just look at the stat sheet or his power-play production. But how do you judge how well a defensive defenseman is playing? There are some useful advanced statistics - think sabermetrics in baseball - but we can't even get time on ice here let alone all you'd need to compute a Corsi Number (Google it). Plus-minus just doesn't cut it anymore. I always enjoy the blizzard of Tweets that accompany summer prospect camp - which consists largely of drills - heaping praise on players or ripping them, as if how they skate around cones is going to translate to wins. We're impatient; voracious for information on who the next great player will be. That's understandable. But unless you're one of those can't miss guys, these things take time. As Marshall said, sort of pleadingly, when someone brought up he had spent a lot of time - two seasons - in the AHL, "I'm only 21." Patience isn't sexy, especially when everyone's opinion is a breathless Tweet away. (I saw one this week asking if Brayden Schenn was an NHL bust. He's played six games.) There's no substitute for time, and that's the plain-old, boring truth.

@brelic "Part of the reasoning is probably that you don't go into the playoffs with 7 regular rookies on your roster, including 2 defensemen. It's one thing for Marshall and Bourdon to look OK in the regular season, but quite another in the playoffs. " I don't see Holmgren making a trade for a d-man unless say one of Timonen, Carle, Coburn, Meszaros go down with a serious season ending injury. However if Walker was a part of a trade, then sure there is that possibility. Holmgren is just doing his job here looking at the possibilities of who could be available during the course of the season. I think what is being forgotten in our defensive depth is that Gustavsson is only 3 weeks away from retruning, and he his better than Marshall. Then at some point Lilja returns also. I think the team can go into the playoffs with Pronger, and Lilja, Gustavsson and Bourdon as our 6,7,8 d-men.

Holmgren, who also announced Friday that Brayden Schenn has been shut down at least through the weekend with what are being characterized as milder concussion symptoms.

Being out indefinately, imo, means for the Media to leave Pronger alone......that he won't be ready for the Winter Classic, so quit asking. "We'll (Flyers) tell you when he's better" He needs to rest for a few months. Come playoffs.......most likely Pronger plays.

Maybe Digity should do a monthly chart too and our progress over the season can be measured.

Leino gets a 1 game suspension. lol

Leino gets a one game suspension for his elbow to Read. lol

I think Bourdon will receive a call today from Shanahan for his hit on Gerbe. This was a dumb decision on Bourdon's part, it could easily have been avoided. I guess it would be a maximum of 2 games, if that. Other than this, I think Bourdon has been solid for the Flyers since being called up. http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Video-Gerbe-boarded-Read-elbowed-to-head-susp?urn=nhl-wp19303

Two game suspension for Tootoo. Fair enough.

The problem I see with the NHL alignment you proposed is that there is an unfair advantage for the Western conference teams over the East. I think there should be 15 teams in each conference, not 14 and 16 respectively. Meaning Detroit should play in the Central division with Chicago and Minnesota. Thus allowing an expansion in the NE and the NW. As far as Tootoo goes, he deserves a suspension. Repeat offender, and by the rules a player is only allowed incidental contact with a goalie. Tootoo's charge on Miller was hardly incidental contact.

It has been a part of my stance for quite some time. It is time for the role of "enforcer" to end in the NHL.

For sure......if the referees aren't going to call diving, the players should try to sell the play in favor of their team.

From what I recall it wasn't his playoff performance, but it was more the inconsistency during the season, when he just like Richie, Carter tooks nights off. I just don't think Asham and Laviolette were always on the same page.

I thought one of the main reasons why Asham wasn't resigned had to do with Laviolette not seeing the expected consistent effort out of him throughout the season. Wasn't Asham scratched a few games as well?

ha ha, short memory eh? Jagr CHOSE the Flyers!!!!!!!

Thanks for the link. Please post the rest as they are published. I just may make this a new sig, lol 'There is not much use for an enforcer who loses fights.'

http://phillysportsdaily.com/flyers/2011/12/04/ducks-boudreau-slams-flyers-for-diving/ Regardless of where he’s behind the bench, he doesn’t like or respect the Flyers. On Saturday, after his Ducks debut was spoiled on Friday night at the Honda Center with a 4-3 comeback overtime win by the Flyers the night prior, Boudreau couldn’t help but commend his club for some good things, discuss the emotional week, and oh yeah, trash the Flyers for diving. “I knew exactly what Philly was going to do,” Boudreau told the OC Register. ”I knew the guys that were going to dive and they did. They got away with it. The only one that didn’t get away with it was [Wayne] Simmonds. It looked like he got shot. And he went down until he start peeking and no one was calling it and then he had to get back up.” Boudreau was highlighting a play late in the contest, when Ducks forward Corry Perry incidentally collided with Simmonds in the Flyers’ zone. Neither player was watching the other when Perry wiped out Simmonds with a blindside hit, who crumpled to the ground, dropped his stick and eyeballed a call. “[scott] Hartnell looked like he’d gotten shot by a bazooka,” said the new coach, whose new team ranks third in the league in minors taken. “He didn’t miss a shift and then he comes in and scores the tying goal.”

I don't think I made a point of that nature, the opponent isn't allowed to charge or interfere with the goalie beyond incidental contact. 61.2 Penalty - In all cases in which an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, whether or not the goalkeeper is inside or outside the goal crease, and whether or not a goal is scored, the attacking player will receive a penalty (minor or major, as the Referee deems appropriate). In all cases where the infraction being imposed is to the attacking player for hindering the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely in his goal crease, the penalty to be assessed is for goalkeeper interference. In exercising his judgment, the Referee should give more significant consideration to the degree and nature of the contact with the goalkeeper than to the exact location of the goalkeeper at the time of the contact. I disagree, the defenseman surely had time to get out of the way of Miller. Why not Tootoo? Tootoo had time to at least attempt to stop, maybe run into the goal net, but instead he chose skate the path right through Miller If this was Bob or Bryz, this forum would be screaming foul play for a suspension.

Um, sorry but the goaltender is not in the net to be the recipient of checks, he is there to stop the puck. 69.7 Fines and Suspensions - An attacking player who, in the judgment of the Referee, initiates contact with the goalkeeper, whether inside or outside the crease, in a fashion that would otherwise warrant a penalty, will be assessed an appropriate penalty (minor or major and/or game misconduct) and will be subject to additional sanctions as appropriate pursuant to Rule 28 – Supplementary Discipline. Tootoo received a 5min major for charging and a game misconduct and is subject to additional sanctions.

Maybe, like I said I don't think he had premeditated intent, but it doesn't appear as if he tried to stop though either, or get out of the way. I think the reason why this should be suspendable is because Miller was in his crease as compared to the last episode, and the league should send a message that charging the goalie at full speed is not an acceptable behavior in the NHL.

It doen't appear as if Tootoo tried to get out of Miller's way. It doesn't appear as if he tried to slow up. And he lost the puck. But I also don't think it was intentional. I think what also needs to be looked at here is Miller pounding Tootoo's head in the ice.

http://video.nhl.com...id=35&id=139657 Wow first game back, lol. Check out Miller pounding Tootoo's head in the ice. This one gets a suspension.