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Flyers invited Dustin Penner and Ryan Malone

FlyersFan4Life

By FlyersFan4Life
in Philadelphia Flyers

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TropicalFruitGirl26 Grand Master

TropicalFruitGirl26

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Rumor truth or not aside, I will post as if the Flyers DID invite these guys to camp, and state some opinions accordingly:

 

 

 

Dustin Penner.

 

I know there are varying views on this guy, but as far as I've always known, the guy is an almost elite 3rd liner type (yes, ppl, there IS a such thing!  :)  ), and he is also the type of guy who can even play top six minutes, provided his linemates do most of the skill work while he does the smashing, bashing, and agitating, taking the heat off them.

I've heard stuff about him not always playing 100% to his capabilities, floating around at times, or just plain doing some dumb stuff on the ice.

I can't confirm or deny any of that stuff, as I personally haven't seen that out of him, but I will say this:

 

If Philly invites this guy to camp, and they can somehow get him to play like the Dustin Penner that I usually see( monster in open ice, pain in the ass for the goalies in the crease, and an absolute wrecking ball along the boards), then the Flyers could very well have found a very nice fit on either their 2nd or 3rd line....hell, if he really goes to town around the crease, having this guy on the PP may not be such a bad idea either.

 

IMO, at his best, Dustin Penner PLAYS Philadelphia Flyer hockey....mean, unforgiving, with intense emotion, and with an eye for making defenses pay everytime they mess up a defensive assignment.

This is a guy I wouldn't have minded if either the Wild or Lightning took a look at.

 

 

 

Ryan Malone.

 

Look the guy has issues, he seems to have forgotten that with focus and dedication, he could have very well been a very good top six guy himself for most of his career leading into his mid 30's, and a very solid checking/scoring 3rd liner after that.

Apparently his demons got the better of him and injuries have slowed him down as well, needing good stretches on the DL every season it seems, and is habitually out of game shape.

 

That all said, if Malone EVER gets his crap together, he too can play a very tough physical style (one of the reasons he needs time off so often......he puts his body out there like a hammer pounding into the opposition), and, slow of foot though he may be, has excellent hands and can seem to stick handle through bodies and still put in an accurate shot if one is available for him.

 

Malone can also double as a team enforcer, not afraid to drop the gloves and is usually the first one on the scene if a smaller or scoring teammate is being harassed by the opponent's goons and agitators.

 

The fact that the LIghtning demoted this guy all the way down to 4th line duty tells a big story on how far he has fallen....it wasn't too long ago when this guy was given top six minutes, played regularly on the PP, and when he did go down with injury, both fans and teammates eagerly looked forward to his return to add that extra spark to the lineup.

 

Personally, I think those days of Ryan Malone being an effective player are done, but then, if he hit rock bottom last season, and has somehow realized he may have a sliver of a career left, he just may be good enough to man a spot on Philly's 3rd line, or more likely, be a good anchor on the 4th, with a bit of scoring touch not usually found on that bottom line.

 

If I were to have to pick between the two players, however, I'd like a longer look at Penner over Malone. 

 

Again, this is all assuming both these guys got Flyer invites, but if true, really, the Flyers would have absolutely nothing to lose by having a look a these guys.

Who knows....one or the other could impress enough that certain players on Philly's team NOW could very well be shamed into putting forth better efforts themselves.....particularly those 'bubble players' who seem to ride the line between the AHL and the NHL.

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canoli Newbie

canoli

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but if true, really, the Flyers would have absolutely nothing to lose by having a look a these guys.

 

The Flyers already have their share of guys who need a big season coming up. Bringing in question mark type players adds a certain amount of weakness to the team, to any team, which the Flyers can't afford right now. Sure it could turn out miraculous; in a few years when the Flyers are solid again they can take more chances but not now.

 

[edit: Hextall has done a good job so far, all his moves make sense. Inviting retreads with problems would be his first really dumb one.]

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TropicalFruitGirl26 Grand Master

TropicalFruitGirl26

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The Flyers already have their share of guys who need a big season coming up. Bringing in question mark type players adds a certain amount of weakness to the team, to any team, which the Flyers can't afford right now. Sure it could turn out miraculous; in a few years when the Flyers are solid again they can take more chances but not now.

 

[edit: Hextall has done a good job so far, all his moves make sense. Inviting retreads with problems would be his first really dumb one.]

 

I agree the Flyers are not so set that they can afford to 'waste' roster spots, but INVITING these guys to training camp and giving them a roster spot on the team are two different things.

It hurts absolutely NOTHING just having these guys come in so the Philly brass can see what they have left (if anything).

 

Also, one has to think OUTSIDE the box....which, if Ron Hextall is to even begin to fix the messes of his predecessor, he absolutely must do.

 

What I mean is, say you invite two vets like Penner and Malone.

Two guys who in the past have shown they CAN bring it.

Let's say neither impresses in particular or are marginal at best and are very iffy on actually gaining a roster spot when the team breaks camp.

 

Thinking outside the box, Hextall can see those two vets work, but more importantly, sees how some of his own vets on the team AND his younger players looking to make the team perform alongside them.

Does he have hungry enough guys that they blow away two big strong former NHL mainstays in scrimmages and workouts? Or does his young guys do just barely enough and side by side to those 'old broken down' players, really don't look much better?

 

Hextall and his coaches can look at those two vets as measuring sticks of sorts.

Frankly, if you have vets or young guys on your team with expectations of making the Flyers, and they can't even, or just barely, outperform two trial bodies, then the GM and his coaches may need to reconsider those vets and young players in question.

 

If all is right, then the young hungry players should make guys like Penner and Malone look like the 'has beens' many people make them out to be, by comparison.

 

Like I said in my first post...guys already on the team really can't be too comfortable if two troubled vets are brought in with the idea that they may actually take a roster spot from them.

I would think that would light a fire under their collective arses in a hurry!

 

And if a Penner or Malone somehow manage to impress greatly, then hey, give them a shot to really keep a spot, otherwise, its CYA later and in the process, Hextall, Berube, and the rest of the staff got to see just how hungry their own guys were to begin with, then make decisions accordingly.

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canoli Newbie

canoli

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Hextall and his coaches can look at those two vets as measuring sticks of sorts.

 

Oh my no. Those are 2 of the last players the Flyers want to use as "measuring sticks of sorts." lol

 

I guess we can agree to disagree then. I think inviting these 2 to camp does hurt the Flyers. The only thing worse would be if they made the team. Talk about going backwards...doing the same sh-- over and over expecting different results. But I understand the temptation to believe and to have faith...Flyers' fans know all about aging veterans; once in a blue moon they don't disappoint.

 

edit:

 

 

otherwise, its CYA later and in the process, Hextall, Berube, and the rest of the staff got to see just how hungry their own guys were to begin with, then make decisions accordingly.

 

 

if my guys need 2 losers to motivate their asses then I don't want them anywhere near the team. Shirley, you can't be serious with all this "they'll motivate the current roster" talk.

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DaGreatGazoo Newbie

DaGreatGazoo

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From the Courier-Post:


Despite rumors, it looks like the Flyers will not be offering training camp tryouts to free agent forwards Dustin Penner and Ryan Malone. The latter reportedly pleaded no contest last week on a DUI charge and agreed to a “pretrial diversion program” on charges of cocaine possession earlier this summer. It would be rather shocking to see any NHL club take a flier on him.


When Hextall was told about the Penner rumor specifically he said, “I haven’t heard that.”

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Podein25 Proficient

Podein25

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maybe snort, snort, snort?

 

Yup. I have never understood the allure of that particular drug. It's expensive, bad for your ticker (among other organs) and more often than not turns you into a total douche. Pass

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King Knut Newbie

King Knut

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It's verified at this point right?

Who cares?

It means nothing other than some more old farts at camp to skate around.

They've done this before. It's not a biggie. They certainly won't sign both and if they sign one for a depth position on the bench and occasional 4th line minutes who cares?

I could see Hexy thinking maybe oenner is a 4th line guy who can stand in front of goalies on a PP once in a whole but I don't see anyone perceiving these guys as solutions to anything.

So my buddy texted me and stated as the topic suggests Flyers invited Dustin Penner and Ryan Malone. Anyone know if there is any truth to it. I did see something by Bill Meltzer who I have no faith in about the invite http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=61959

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King Knut Newbie

King Knut

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I just can't see how inviting someone to camp hurts anything.

Oh my no. Those are 2 of the last players the Flyers want to use as "measuring sticks of sorts." lol

I guess we can agree to disagree then. I think inviting these 2 to camp does hurt the Flyers. The only thing worse would be if they made the team. Talk about going backwards...doing the same sh-- over and over expecting different results. But I understand the temptation to believe and to have faith...Flyers' fans know all about aging veterans; once in a blue moon they don't disappoint.

edit:

if my guys need 2 losers to motivate their asses then I don't want them anywhere near the team. Shirley, you can't be serious with all this "they'll motivate the current roster" talk.

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AndyS Newbie

AndyS

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So my buddy texted me and stated as the topic suggests Flyers invited Dustin Penner and Ryan Malone. Anyone know if there is any truth to it. I did see something by Bill Meltzer who I have no faith in about the invite  http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=61959

 

The last thing we need is more players whose work ethic is questionable.

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