Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Emery Tragedy, Flyers Re-Sign More RFAs, Charity Classic Wrap

RIP Ray. Gone much too soon.

Feel bad about Ray, but I think he'd appreciate all the good words and thoughts about him today. Goes to show you should never take anything in life for granted, no one knows when their time will be up.

As always, really appreciate your work Bill, it has become a daily routine of mine to read your articles on this site. I know there are many others who share this sentiment as well, but I'm proud that we have a person of your caliber covering the team we all hold dear

I honestly believe they probably win the cup in in 2010 if not for the injuries to Ray. He was great in Ottawa and thankfully finally got to lift the cup with Chicago.

I really thought he was a good 5 years older as well. Those injuries really cut a strong career short.

I honestly believe they probably win the cup in in 2010 if not for the injuries to Ray. He was great in Ottawa and thankfully finally got to lift the cup with Chicago.

I really thought he was a good 5 years older as well. Those injuries really cut a strong career short.
- hereticpride

100% agree on 2010.

RIP Ray Emery.

If emery was healthy all year then the standings would hahe been different. Therefore the playoff matchup would have been different.

Now if they had emery just for the cup finals then yes I think they win that series. Otherwise way to many variables

I mean we could have won in 2010 Biron, Mason or Bryzgalov. Any decent goalie would have faired better than Leighton or Boucher

I mean we could have won in 2010 Biron, Mason or Bryzgalov. Any decent goalie would have faired better than Leighton or Boucher
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Sure, but those guys didn't start the season as the Flyers starting goalie.

RIP Ray Emery, very sad to hear this tragic news. I always had a lot of respect for this guy despite all his off ice problems. He was a warrior and tragic he is gone so soon. Hard to believe he is only 35 and wish thing could be different.

If emery was healthy all year then the standings would hahe been different. Therefore the playoff matchup would have been different.

Now if they had emery just for the cup finals then yes I think they win that series. Otherwise way to many variables
- rinaldo

I totally agree as well, Kane would not have beaten Emery on that softie, regardless it was a tough loss and with Leighton in net the chances of a win were greatly reduced.

I honestly believe they probably win the cup in in 2010 if not for the injuries to Ray. He was great in Ottawa and thankfully finally got to lift the cup with Chicago.

I really thought he was a good 5 years older as well. Those injuries really cut a strong career short.
- hereticpride

I believe they would have had a better shot if Boucher also didn't get hurt which lead to Leighton. That Montreal series was a cakewalk.

Coulda, woulda...

My first thought was "Who drowns at 6am?..."

but made me think that Swimming at 6am might not be that he woke up early, but stayed up really really really late....

My first thought was "Who drowns at 6am?..."

but made me think that Swimming at 6am might not be that he woke up early, but stayed up really really really late....
- RoloTahmasee

Well the early reports said ‘ misadventure’ which usually means alchahol related. Regardless...a sad and tragic loss. RIP.

My first thought was "Who drowns at 6am?..."

but made me think that Swimming at 6am might not be that he woke up early, but stayed up really really really late....
- RoloTahmasee

Either way, it's a tragic passing. As a (young) man of the "African-American" race, for the sport it's a shame that he left us so early.

Either way, it's a tragic passing. As a (young) man of the "African-American" race, for the sport it's a shame that he left us so early.
- Darksyde

What difference does it make what colour his skin is? It’s a tragedy no matter what.

RIP Ray. Gone much too soon.
- StepfordSam

Yeah. I'm still shocked by this. Rip ray. Enjoyed watching you as a flyer.

Razor wasn't the best goalie the Flyers ever had but after that line brawl he became my son's favorite. That was just a great scene. Enjoyed watching that again. Made me laugh after the sad news.

The team really grew together after that.

R.I.P. Ray

Emery, in Philly and later in Chicago, was the exact type of goalie you want from a team perspective. He was all about the team, never about himself and he stood up for his teammates. His persona reminded me a lot of Ron Hextall. If I was going to come up with an all heart & soul Flyers roster, he's definitely on the team.

R.I.P. Razor, like all of us you had your flaws, but you persevered against huge challenges and came out on top. You left us too soon and you will be sadly missed.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Emery Tragedy, Flyers Re-Sign More RFAs, Charity Classic Wrap
- bmeltzer

Very sad news about Ray Emery. Gone way too soon.

Ray was always very personable off the ice which I appreciated about him. He did have some interesting choices in man purses haha. Absolute tragedy to see him gone so soon. He was a large part of our recent history. And yes a tragedy is a tragedy regardless of race but emery was a strong African American figure in a sport that doesnt have many. That is significant.

Emery, in Philly and later in Chicago, was the exact type of goalie you want from a team perspective. He was all about the team, never about himself and he stood up for his teammates. His persona reminded me a lot of Ron Hextall. If I was going to come up with an all heart & soul Flyers roster, he's definitely on the team.

R.I.P. Razor, like all of us you had your flaws, but you persevered against huge challenges and came out on top. You left us too soon and you will be sadly missed.
- BiggE

Superbly said.

RIP Razor.

Superbly said.

RIP Razor.
- Sinisalo4vr

Thanks.

I also figured since I started, I may as well put out my Philadelphia Flyers all time heart and soul team.

GOALIES
Ron Hextall
Ray Emery
-both of these guys were all about winning, not personal stats, and both were fiery and gave every ounce of themselves to the game.

DEFENSE
Barry Ashbee
Jimmy Watson
Brad Marsh
Eric Desjardins
Derian Hatcher
Kimmo Timonen

-everyone of these Dmen played through pain and injury that would have caused a lesser man to sit out. All were team first guys that cared about winning much more than about themselves. They led by example and were guys that younger players looked up to.

CENTERS
Bobby Clarke
Dave Poulin
Rod Brind'amour
Danny Briere

-Perhaps no player in the NHL worked harder or cared more about winning than Bobby Clarke. Poulin often played through injuries which would have had most mortals in a hospital bed and was a class act on and off the ice. Brindy was a meat and potatoes guy who worked his tail off and never missed a game and rarely missed a shift and Briere was a guy who played much bigger than his size and always came up huge in the biggest games of the season.

LEFT WING
Ross Lonsberry
Bob Kelly
Shjon Podein
Claude Giroux

-Lonsberry, by all of his teammates accounts, was the consummate professional and a pleasure to play with. Roscoe would do anything to help his team win and was as selfless as they come. Kelly was a one man wrecking crew on the ice and he lived for standing up for his teammates and helping his team win. Also in the latter part of his career he was a great mentor to young players. Podein was a throwback to the lunchpail crew that were the Broad Street Bullies. No player in the Lindros era worked harder than Podein. Giroux, like Briere, is a little guy that plays much bigger than his size. He'll do anything to help his team win and he often plays through pain and injury.

RIGHT WING
Gary Dornhoefer
Paul Holmgren
Sami Kapanen
Wayne Simmonds

Dorny gave every ounce of himself on the ice and has the scars and the surgical procedures to prove it. Holmgren was a guy that always had his teammates backs and he cared only about winning games, never about himself. Kapanen was a tiny guy who played like he was 6'2 200 and worked as hard as any Flyer ever. He did the little things that help a team win and never cared about personal stats. Simmonds is the heart and soul of today's team and is another guy who always puts the team first and always stands up for his mates.

What difference does it make what colour his skin is? It’s a tragedy no matter what.
- HonkyTonkMan

Thanks.

I also figured since I started, I may as well put out my Philadelphia Flyers all time heart and soul team.

GOALIES
Ron Hextall
Ray Emery
-both of these guys were all about winning, not personal stats, and both were fiery and gave every ounce of themselves to the game.

DEFENSE
Barry Ashbee
Jimmy Watson
Brad Marsh
Eric Desjardins
Derian Hatcher
Kimmo Timonen

-everyone of these Dmen played through pain and injury that would have caused a lesser man to sit out. All were team first guys that cared about winning much more than about themselves. They led by example and were guys that younger players looked up to.

CENTERS
Bobby Clarke
Dave Poulin
Rod Brind'amour
Danny Briere

-Perhaps no player in the NHL worked harder or cared more about winning than Bobby Clarke. Poulin often played through injuries which would have had most mortals in a hospital bed and was a class act on and off the ice. Brindy was a meat and potatoes guy who worked his tail off and never missed a game and rarely missed a shift and Briere was a guy who played much bigger than his size and always came up huge in the biggest games of the season.

LEFT WING
Ross Lonsberry
Bob Kelly
Shjon Podein
Claude Giroux

-Lonsberry, by all of his teammates accounts, was the consummate professional and a pleasure to play with. Roscoe would do anything to help his team win and was as selfless as they come. Kelly was a one man wrecking crew on the ice and he lived for standing up for his teammates and helping his team win. Also in the latter part of his career he was a great mentor to young players. Podein was a throwback to the lunchpail crew that were the Broad Street Bullies. No player in the Lindros era worked harder than Podein. Giroux, like Briere, is a little guy that plays much bigger than his size. He'll do anything to help his team win and he often plays through pain and injury.

RIGHT WING
Gary Dornhoefer
Paul Holmgren
Sami Kapanen
Wayne Simmonds

Dorny gave every ounce of himself on the ice and has the scars and the surgical procedures to prove it. Holmgren was a guy that always had his teammates backs and he cared only about winning games, never about himself. Kapanen was a tiny guy who played like he was 6'2 200 and worked as hard as any Flyer ever. He did the little things that help a team win and never cared about personal stats. Simmonds is the heart and soul of today's team and is another guy who always puts the team first and always stands up for his mates.
- BiggE

Awesome list.

Most of those guys definitely are why I am the fan I am. They all played almost every shift to it's fullest of their physical ability to the point that if they have a bad shift you swear they are hurt.

So with Hagg probably getting around 1 Million that will leave the Flyers 12 Million under the cap. Plenty of money to allow two kids to be added or a vet free agent if one of the two kids spots aren't filling the 3C spot and a kid.