In the final tuneup before the start of the 2009-10 regular season, the Flyers will take on the Minnesota Wild at the Wachovia Center tonight. For those who can't attend the game will be available via
webcast on the Flyers' official site.
The Flyers will reportedly go with what more or less figures to be their opening night lineup on Friday, with the still-unsigned (as of this morning) Blair Betts being the main exception among the forwards.
Starting lineup:
Hartnell - Carter - Briere
Gagne – Richards – Pyorala
JVR – Giroux – Asham
Carcillo – Powe – Laperriere
Pronger – Carle
Timonen – Coburn
Parent – Syvret
Backlund/Emery
****
I’m not sure where all this speculation about the Flyers sending Randy Jones down and then putting him on re-entry waivers is coming from. Such a scenario would be far less advantageous to the Flyers than simply leaving Jones in the American Hockey League this season. Why would the Flyers willingly take half Jones’ cap hit when they can take none of it?
Yes, he still has to get paid either way, but in the pro sports world, saving half the value of Jones’ salary is no huge enticement. It was also reported in at least one paper that the Flyers may trade Jones and Philly would eat some of his salary. However, that practice is not allowed under the CBA. The Flyers also have the option of hanging onto Jones on the NHL roster, rather than sending him to the Phantoms.
Without saying so directly, head coach John Stevens has apparently moved Danny Syvret ahead of Ole-Kristian Tollefsen on the defensive depth chart. I’m not sure how much of that is a matter of faith in the rookie Syvret and how much is an expression of concern over Tollefsen’s health and play so far, but I suspect it’s a combination of the two.
Tollefsen came here highly recommended by Ken Hitchcock. There’s no doubting his competitiveness or work ethic. At age 25, he’s still young and has time to come into his own as a solid defensive D-man. That’s all well and good, but there are red flags that concern me about what the Flyers have in the Norwegian defenseman.
Apart from his willingness to take the body and drop the gloves, Tollefsen has been an inconsistent player during his still-young NHL career. Nothing speaks to a coach’s confidence – or lack of confidence – in a player more than the ice time the player receives. So here’s the barometer on Hitchcock’s demonstrated level of confidence in Ole-Kristian Tollefsen.
Last season, injuries limited Tollefsen to 19 games. In those 19 games, how many times did Hitchcock give Tollefsen 15 minutes or more of ice time? Zero. In 2007-08, injuries limited Tollefsen to 51 games. That year, Hitchcock gave Tollefsen at least 15 minutes of ice time on just eight occasions. The previous season was Tolly’s healthiest year in the NHL and he was able to dress in 70 games. Hitch doled out at least 15 minutes of ice time on 23 occasions, most of which came over the last six weeks of a season in which the Blue Jackets compiled just 73 points and finished 22 points out of a playoff spot.
During the couple of practice sessions I’ve seen as well as the games I’ve watched, Tollefsen’s decision-making with and without the puck have looked a little suspect. He’s reacted late a few times on coverages and he’s looked a little uncertain of himself when he’s had the puck on his stick. Syvret, who still has a lot to learn about NHL-level defensive play, has been the better of the two because he’s much smoother with the puck.
*****
Starting tomorrow, I will be writing a daily NHL column for Versus.com called “The Daily Drop.” The column will take a look at NHL games of the previous night, but won’t be a wire-report style recounting of goals, assists and saves. Rather, the column will look at the bigger-picture meaning of particular games or goings-on with certain players.
This season, I will also continue my weekly work for NHL.com and periodic work for the Flyers official site in addition to blogging for Hockeybuzz.
Last but not least, the Pelle Lindbergh book (Pelle Lindbergh: Behind the White Mask) is now back from the printers and should be in bookstores any day. You can also order it online at
Barnes & Noble, via
Amazon or through
Middle Atlantic Press.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»