Hopefully, today's resumption of negotiations between the NHL and the NHLPA yields significant progress toward a resolution of the lockout. In the meantime, here's look at the Flyers' junior and collegiate prospects as well as updates on Flyers' players in Europe.
FLYERS IN EUROPE
Claude Giroux (C, Eisbären Berlin, DEL): Giroux remains day-to-day with a neck stinger. He sat out Eisbären's 3-0 win over Kölner Haie (Cologne Sharks) yesterday. The team hopes he will be able to play when they return to action on Friday.
Danny Briere (C/RW, Eisbären Berlin, DEL): In the absence of Giroux, Briere led the way offensively for the Polar Bears. He tallied a pair of assists in yesterday's win.
Bruno Gervais (D, Heilbronner Falken, Bundesliga): Gervais made his debut for the Falcons on Sunday, registering an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to ESV Kaufbeuren. The team returns to action on Sunday, visiting the Fischtown Pinguins.
Max Talbot (C, Ilves Tampere, SM-liiga): Ilves has been idle for a few days. They return to the ice on Wednesday, visiting the Espoo Blues, and then have a home game on Thursday against TPS Turku. Talbot has one goal in two games played to date.
Matt Read (C, Södertälje SK, Allsvenskan): Södertälje is the hottest team in Allsvenskan. On Sunday, SSK steamrolled Asplöven HC by a 6-0 score. The win was SSK's 11th in its last 12 games. The win came without Read contributing any points. He still leads the team in scoring and is 12th in the league with 19 points (4 goals, 15 assists) in 14 games played. Södertälje returns to action on Wednesday. The club has a road game against Tingsryds AIF.
Nicklas Grossmann (D, Södertälje SK, Allsvenskan) Grossmann made the first of his four games with SSK count. Paired with Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, Grossmann registered an assist, blocked several shots and was plus-three in the game. His second game will be on Wednesday against Tingsryd.
Ilya Bryzgalov (G, CSKA Moscow, KHL): Yesterday, Bryzgalov came in for starter Rastislav Stana at 4:08 of the 2nd pd after Stana gave up three goals to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in quick succession. Bryzgalov stopped all 10 shots he faced but CSKA lost the game, 3-2. Bryzgalov improved his season numbers to an even .900 save percentage and lower his GAA to 2.63 in seven appearances (five starts). CSKA and Lokomotiv rematch on Wednesday, with the scene shifting to Moscow.
Jakub Voracek (RW, Lev Prague, KHL): Lev has only scored two goals over the last two games, losing 2-1 in overtime to Lokomotiv and 2-1 in regulation to Atlant. Voracek did not record a point in either game, but logged heavy ice time. Overall, he has 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) in 11 games. Lev hosts Atlant on Wednesday.
Ruslan Fedotenko (C, HC Donbass Donetsk, KHL): Fedotenko did not record a point in Donbass' 3-2 overtime win yesterday against Ak Bars Kazan. Overall, he has played 18 games, recording 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) and scoring a pair of shootout game-winning goals. He has averaged 18:11 of ice time. Donbass is on the road on Wednesday to play Neftekhimik.
Tom Sestito (LW, Sheffield Steelers, EIHL). Sestito has not recorded any penalty minutes or points in his team's last two games. Overall, he has 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) and 65 penalty minutes in 12 games. Sheffield hosts Dundee on Wednesday.
FLYERS JUNIOR PROSPECTS
Scott Laughton (C, Oshawa Generals, OHL): Laughton has finished his 10-game suspension and returned to the lineup Sunday, registering an assist in a 5-3 loss to Mississauga. On Friday, the Generals host the Ottawa 67s. The team went 3-5-1-1 in his absence. The Flyers' 2012 first-round last played in the first game of the OHL portion of the Super Series against the Russian national U20 team. For the OHL season, the center has 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) and 28 penalty minutes in 14 games.
Colin Suellentrop (D, Oshawa Generals, OHL):The defenseman is hardly the only Oshawa player who has struggled of late but few have uglier numbers during the team's current skid. Suellentrop is minus-10 over the last six games. Offensively, after posting 3 goals and 11 points through the first 16 games of the season, he has added just two assists to his totals in nine November games to date. Of course, much of this is a reflection of the team's collective dropoff. But Suellentrop, who has not been signed to an entry-level deal by the Flyers, needs to a big part of the solution for his team. He had played quite well prior to the recent downturn.
Nick Cousins (C, Oshawa Generals, OHL): The November schedule had not been very kind to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds or to Cousins. On Sunday, however, they took out some frustrations on the Sarnia Sting. Cousins, who had been in a mini-slump, broke free for two goals and three assists in the Greyhounds' 9-2 drubbing of the Sting. For the season, Cousins has 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists) and 34 penalty minutes in 24 games. He ranks ninth in the league in scoring. The Greyhounds return to action on Wednesday, hosting the Saginaw Spirit.
Taylor Leier (LW, Portland Winterhawks, WHL): Friday's loss to Kamloops aside, Portland has been the hottest team in the Western Hockey League over the course of the last month. Leier still plays a defensively conscious role on the stacked Hawks team but he has also begun to find his offensive game in his second major junior season. The left winger, who missed the first month of the season with an abdominal muscle tear, has eight goals and 17 points through his first 16 games. He scored two goals in Portland's 5-2 win over Medicine Hat on Saturday. Leier has recorded points in six straight games, including three multi-point games. For the month of November to date, Leier has 10 points (6 goals, 4 assists) in 8 games. The team returns to action on Wednesday night.
Derek Mathers (LW, Peterborough Petes, OHL): The Petes have the worst record in the OHL. The offense-starved team has scored the fewest goals of any team in the league. Known primarily as an enforcer, Mathers has had fewer opportunities to drop the gloves with the CHL's crackdown on fighting. He's had to find other ways to contribute without sacrificing his physical game. Of late, he's gotten the chance to receive a little more offensive responsibility. For the month of November, he has three goals (the only three he's scored to date this season) and five points in 10 games. Overall, Mathers has eight points and 47 points in 24 games. He saw some games on defense earlier in the season. His team pays a visit to the London Knights on Friday.
Fredric Larsson (D, Brynäs Gävle, J20 SuperElit North): On Sunday, the big Swede took advantage of some power play time, scoring his second goal of the season in Brynäs' 7-5 win in Luleå. Overall, Larsson has six points (2 goals, 4 assists), 16 penalty minutes and an even plus-minus rating (+19, -19) in 18 games played. His team returns to game action on Saturday.
Valeri Vasiliev (D, MHK Spartak, MHL): Vasiliev is the lone Flyers prospect in game action today. His Spartak club hosts Kapitan. For the season, Vasiliev has two assists, 51 penalty minutes and an even plus-minus rating in 24 games played to date.
FLYERS COLLEGIATE PROSPECTS
Shayne Gostisbehere (D, Union College, ECAC): "Ghost" has emerged as a legitimate candidate to represent Team USA at the World Junior Championships. He has become one of the better puck-moving defensemen in the NCAA and his defensive game is also progressing. He and partner Greg Coburn play in all key game situations. For the season to date, Gostisbehere has nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) in nine games. The main question marks for the sophomore defenseman are still his slight size and long-term ability to avoid injuries. Union was idle this past weekend. They return to action on Saturday and Sunday, hosting Penn State.
Reece Willcox (D, Cornell, ECAC): The freshman defenseman has not looked out of place in the collegiate game, showing both mobility and poise. Although it will take more time for his offensive game (one assist in eight games) to emerge, Willcox made several well-timed pinches in Cornell's 4-1 loss to Harvard on Friday. The team managed a 1-1 tie with Dartmouth on Saturday. After a strong start to the season, the Big Red are 0-3-2 in the last five games. The team returns to action on Saturday, heading to Manhattan to play the University of Michigan at Madison Square Garden.
Anthony Stolarz (G, University of Nebraska-Omaha, WCHA): The season opened with freshman goalie Stolarz splitting games on an alternating basis with senior John Faulkner. Stolarz struggled (0-3-0, 3.03 GAA, .871 SV%), and Faulkner has started each of the team's last five games. UNO was idle this past weekend. They return to the ice on Friday and Saturday, hosting University of Alabama-Huntsville.
Petr Placek (RW, Harvard, ECAC): The sophomore winger still plays on the fourth line for the Crimson. On Friday against Cornell, he was credited with an empty net goal after being hooked from behind as he approached the vacated cage in the final minute of play. Harvard was blanked 1-0 by Colgate on Saturday. Placek has one point in eight games this season. Harvard now has a schedule break until December 7.
Michael Parks (RW, University of North Dakota, WCHA): Parks missed the first month of the regular season with a leg injury suffered during an exhibition match. He made his return this weekend, starting on a line with Florida Panthers' prospect Rocco Grimaldi. Parks did not record a point in his first game of the season. The team returns to the ice on Friday and Saturday, heading to South Bend to take on Notre Dame.
Nick Luukko (D, University of Vermont, Hockey East): The sophomore blueliner played a solid defensive game on Sunday, as Vermont held off Northeastern by a 3-2 score. For the season, he has two points (one goal, one assist) and four penalty minutes in eight games. The Catamounts have a rare Tuesday game tomorrow, taking on UMass Amherst.
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Flyers forward
Scott Hartnell will be one of the team captains in the Operation Hat Trick charity game at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Saturday, Nov. 24. Game time will be 7 p.m.
New York Rangers center Brad Richards will captain the opposing side. Other participants slated to play in the game include current Flyers
Kimmo Timonen,
Braydon Coburn and
Jody Shelley, as well as former Flyers Simon Gagne, James van Riemsdyk, Ville Leino, Justin Williams, Dan Carcillo and Steve Eminger.
Cherry Hill native Bobby Ryan is also confirmed to play, along with NHL players such as the Pittsburgh Penguins' James Neal and east coast native Jeff Halpern.
Tickets range from $20 to $100. All proceeds from the match will go to benefit the ongoing relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the east coast three weeks ago. For more ticket information,
click here.
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