Forward Mark Bell Invited to Training Camp

Former Leaf and Hawk forward Mark Bell is among the players invited to Flyers training camp on a tryout basis. Bell, 29, was involved in a 2006 hit-and-run incident in Canada while driving under the influence. Ryan Bright believes that it is "very possible" that Bell may become a Flyer, should he live up to the expectations of a player who has put up between 11 and 25 goals in his five full NHL seasons.

No doubt he has something to prove, which has become somewhat of a theme this offseason. The only players who don't have something to prove going into this season may be Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timonen and Claude Giroux. Not bad company for the 21 year old.

over 2 years ago Ben Feldman 20 comments 0 recs |

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I think Giroux has to prove his last 20 games weren’t just a hot streak.

Like the signing, if he sticks all the better, will certainly be cheap. Amusingly, his wikipedia page compares his suspension to that of Michael Vick.

by MarioD on Sep 2, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

Definitely.

I’m sure Claude will prove us all right in thinking he’s going to be a great player, but yes, he still needs to prove that.

I would add guys like Lappy and Asham to the “do not have anything to prove” list. Much like Pronger and Kimmo, you know what you’re going to get from those two every year.

But everyone else I can think of really DOES have something to prove. It’s amazing.

The winds are becoming slightly more crisp, the sun is rising later and setting earlier… drop the puck already.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Sep 3, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh boy. Well if we’re going for it this season, why the hades not?

I agree that Giroux still has something to prove. He’s got the talent but he has yet to show he’s consistent. He didn’t even make the team out of camp last year.

by SkookFlyerfan on Sep 2, 2009 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

I'm really happy for Mark

First time commenting on Broad Street Hockey – as my name and picture suggest I first got on to SB Nation through the Blue Jays site and am also a regular reader of Behind the Steel Curtain (my mom’s from outside Pittsburgh, sorry Eagles fans). But my best friend growing up in southwestern Ontario (where I still live) was Gary Dornhoeffer’s nephew and I have loved the Flyers from the early 70’s till now.

Mark is my first cousin’s boy and I’m thrilled he has a training camp invite and even more thrilled to hear it’s with the Flyers. My own son wavers back and forth between the Leafs (it’s a local disease) and the Flyers and if Mark were to stick it would certainly cement his Flyer loyalty! Mark is definitely a gamer, a bigger guy who will go to the hard spots on the ice and can score too. He’ll drop the gloves but too often had to tangle with other team’s heavyweights while on a Leafs team with no one else willing to step up. I feel he got a raw deal when Wilson came over to the Leafs from the Sharks, hoped it might help him but it clearly didn’t as his playing time dropped off dramatically. Then he ended up back in the AHL and actually finished last season in Manchester after the Leafs waived him and the Rangers picked him up.

Mark could fit in nicely on the third line and provide a bit more scoring depth on the wing than guys like Carcillo, Lapierre, Asham etc. I sure hope that’s the way it plays out!

by touchemalljoe on Sep 2, 2009 11:44 PM EDT reply actions

Welcome.

Thanks for stopping by.

I myself used to root for the Leafs when they were in the Western Conference. I had high aspirations for Daniel Marois. I loved EdZo and Gary Leeman, and later I got a Doug Gilmour jersey because he was (and still is) my all-time favorite non-Flyer.

When they came into the East, though, they rekindled their rivalry with the Flyers so it became tough to root for them. Still, I’ll pull for them when they play one of our rivals, or one of their own (I’ve got no love for Buffalo, Ottawa, or Montreal).

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Sep 3, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Bell in, Riley out?

Like the Flyers version of Cash for Clunkers,

by Have a Seat on Sep 3, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions

If they sign Bell, he would fit in perfectly on Giroux’s line. He’s tough, but at the same time, he has a scoring touch that Asham doesn’t have — Mark would be able to capitalize on Giroux’s incredible passes, whereas Asham couldn’t.

Bell-Giroux-Laperriere? Yes please.

by Ben Feldman on Sep 3, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

As much as I, too, like that, you still need someone to play RW on Carter’s line.

What would be the minimum salary Bell could sign for?

by MarioD on Sep 3, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Carter's RW

Personally, I’m a fan of the grinder-playmaker-sniper combination, so I’d be a big fan of putting Briere witih Carter and Carcillo with Richards. Obviously, this has two flaws: 1) Carcillo will be getting a lot of ice time; 2) Carcillo is a LW.

But, there’s a reason I’m not the coach, and Carter’s line worked fine last year without a true passer. Will definitely be interesting.

Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 3, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

i like the possibilities of a briere – carter line but someone needs to play a little defense there

i think lappy will end up on the first line at RW

by fitzy first on Sep 3, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Good point

Maybe it’s time Carter adds another layer to his game?

Lappy with Richards and Gagne could be very good too…

Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 3, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I see what you’re saying, but I will be very surprised if they don’t once again start the season with Gags-Richards-Briere as the top line.

Come playoff time, I like your theory more. But for the first few months when everyone is just getting going, defense isn’t nearly as good, refs are ordered to call too many penalties, etc. that top line will kill (just like last year).

by MarioD on Sep 3, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Carcillo on the first line? Seriously… Am I the only one who fins this a bit off?

by Mike B on D on Sep 3, 2009 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

My current lines in NHL 09 for PC

Gagne-Richards-Lappy
Hartnell-Carter-Asham
Carcillo-Briere-Giroux
Cote-Powe-Ross

Not that Asham would be on the second line, mind you. Video-game Arron Asham is much better than the real-life edition, as is video-game Riley Cote.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Sep 3, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

but coach wants girous at center and briere at wing…

by fitzy first on Sep 4, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

In NHL 09...

Video game Briere is a monster on the draw and on the scoreboard.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Sep 4, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

He can never win me a faceoff…

Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 4, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with you

but you have briere, lappy, asham, and carcillo in the running for 2 spots on the top two lines. If you keep Briere with Giroux, you then have lappy, asham, and carcillo fighting for 2 spots on the top two lines.

It’s possible, if not desirable

Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 3, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

lappy I can see possibly on the second line. I just don;t see them keeping Giroux at center. I loved watching him and Briere together, But these combos just don;t look realistic to me. Bell sounds like he may fit in here, so we can watch and see.

But Asham above the 3rd line? I hope not. And Carcillo may show some great improvement, but he was traded because of dumb penalties. Until that improves (and he’s not alone in this.. hear me Hartnell???) he’s a liability. Too much so for a 1st or second line spot.

by Mike B on D on Sep 3, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions