News from training camp today was mostly on the injury/illness front:
Danny Briere's cold is worse than that. He has an infected tonsil that had to be drained. As a result, the player has lost significant weight, according to GM Paul Holmgren. Briere came into camp at 171 pounds.
Are we ever going to see that Briere line in pre-season with Scott Hartnell and Ville Leino? We may not.
Bill Guerin's cut on his right elbow doesn't look bad but it, too, is infected. Every minute that Guerin is not on the ice hurts his chances to earn a contract given how well Ben Holmstrom, Mike Testwuide and Andreas Nodl have played.
I still feel that Guerin brings you more for a team that is built "now" to win. That's what older guys like Guerin are designed to do at this point in their careers - push you over the hump. Guerin also has a right hand shot on the power play that the Flyers' need more of.
There is a genuine tug-of-war between the coaching staff and scouting staff on whether to take Guerin over one of the younger players. From what I have gleaned, the coaching staff favors what Guerin brings to this team that is so close to winning a Stanley Cup.
Chris Pronger did not skate and won't go on the ice again until Sunday or Monday. Why? The emphasis has shifted to rehab and strengthening. Holmgren said he was still "hopeful" that Pronger will make the season opener in Pittsburgh, but we detected a good deal of caution here that suggests Pronger might not be ready.
Holmgren used the words "physically and mentally" prepared to describe Pronger. Mentally? That implies the club wants assurances that Pronger is not worried about his right knee before putting him on the ice in a regular season game.
Holmgren has interesting comments. Read between the lines in some cases of what he had to say - such as about Erik Gustafsson and Marc-Andre Bourdon's chances at this point.
You can get all of this with my
story on CSNPhilly.com.
BTW: Holmgren did an impersonation today of Rev. Jim from "Taxi" trying to understand something being told to him and comparing Jim to me trying to understand and communicate w/Sergei Bobrovsky on WED after the game vs. Isles. Holmgren was hysterical. One of the few times he has allowed his offbeat sense of humor to show through with the beat writers.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • 
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