The good news today is that Scott Hartnell appears to be completely healthy following a scare in Detroit last week when he was experiencing an elevated heart rate that wouldn’t slow down. Additionally, Chris Pronger has continued practicing with the team and may be on track for the season opener against the Boston Bruins.
The bad news is that the Flyers have added James Van Riemsdyk, Andreas Nodl and Brayden Schenn to the list of forwards who have sustained minor injuries in the preseason. No specifics on any injuries have been released, which isn’t surprising. Unfortunately, the organization has been questionable in the recent past at acknowledging the severity of players’ medical problems, so these could be as simple as deep bruises or as complex as a herniated spine.
In Nodl’s case, he sustained a minor concussion during the playoffs last season. Hopefully, this is not the cause of his latest health concerns.
In other Flyers related news:
- Tom Sestito has been placed on waivers. General manager Paul Holmgren told reporters that the organization was planning on sending him down regardless of his blatant boarding penalty taken in last night’s preseason game, but that’s irrelevant. Sestito lost his bid for the opening night roster due to suspect play and liability concerns that he couldn’t stay out of the penalty box. It is unknown if he will face any additional punishment from Brendan Shanahan at this time, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Holmgren was already on Shanny’s speed dial.
- The NHL has elected not to issue any disciplinary actions against Wayne Simmonds for his alleged use of a homophobic slur against Sean Avery. The full statement from Colin Campbell can be read here but this sentence summarizes it best: “While we recognize that the emotion involved in certain on-ice confrontations may lead to the use of highly charged and sometimes offensive language and commentary, certain lines cannot be crossed.” In other words, the NHL recognizes this isn’t something new, so they aren’t going to cast Simmonds as the poster child for homophobia in hockey, but the players have been warned- do not make this mistake again.
- The goaltending market for Michael Leighton or Johan Backlund has opened up (somewhat) as injuries have afflicted several organizations in the preseason.The Florida Panthers’ back-up goaltender Scott Clemmensen will be out approximately one month following minor knee surgery. The Panthers dipped heavily into the free agent market this summer and are dead set on making the playoffs this decade, so if Jose Theodore or highly touted prospect Jacob Markstrom don’t hold down the fort, GM Dale Tallon could be a potential buyer for a back-up.
Mark Dekanich, the young back-up for the Columbus Blue Jackets, has a high ankle sprain and will be out for approximately a month. Starter Steve Mason has performed well thus far this preseason, but has not panned out well for the franchise in the last three seasons.
Leighton’s $1.55 million cap hit is less friendly than the free agent option (i.e. Manny Legace, Marty Turco, Pacal Leclaire, etc.), but he has the benefit of earning ice time with the Adirondack Phantoms while these organizations review their options. Backlund’s salary is much more affordable, but he has virtually no market value based on his injury history and lack of NHL experience.
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Big brother – govt or NHL – needs to get their noses out of this speech-monitoring. Does anyone think Avery never called some guy he’s about to fight a “fag” or that Simmonds didn’t hear racial slurs while playing in juniors? Is some player going to get reprimanded when he calls a guy a sissy, because there’s a segment of society into infantilism or petticoating/feminization?! We live in a world where every weirdo is welcomed to “come out of the closet”… grow up you wusses! Do you really need a “mommy” to protect you?