Sunday updates: Flyers cut 28, bad (?) news on Leighton

by Travis Hughes on Sep 26, 2010 6:31 PM EDT in Philadelphia Flyers News

Upon return to Philadelphia following their three game road trip, the Flyers have cut 28 players from the training camp roster. The team released a list Sunday afternoon.

Heading to camp with the Phantoms are Greg Moore, Luke Pither, Matt Clackson, Garrett Klotz, Patrick Maroon, Zac Rinaldo, Andrew Rowe, Shane Harper, Tye McGinn, Stefan Legein, Chad Denny, Jesse Dudas, Cullen Eddy, Dan Jancevski, Logan Stephenson, J.P. Testwuide, Nic Riopel and Brian Stewart.

Ricard Blidstrand, Michael Chaput, Dave Labrecque, Brendan Ranford and Tyler Hostetter are heading back to juniors, while Justin Dowling and Blake Gal were released from amateur tryout contracts. Michael Ryan, Joe Piskula and Ryan Lannon were let go from pro tryout contracts.

Of the cuts, the only ones who were given much of a look in camp were Rinaldo, Stephenson, Clackson, Moore and Rowe. By my count, none of the others saw game action, although I might be missing one or two guys. Correct me if I'm wrong there.

Several youngsters still remain in camp as battles become more interesting. We'll have a full breakdown on the remaining battles later this evening or tomorrow.

Other news on this Sunday: Michael Leighton underwent an MRI on his injured back and the initial news doesn't seem good if you're reading between the lines. The status quo during the Holmgren regime has been, when news isn't good following an MRI, to say "we'll know more tomorrow."

As Tim Panaccio points out on Twitter, MRI results are generally available right away when you're a professional sports team with doctors on staff. I talked to a doctor and confirmed this, just to be sure. It's just a matter of the radiologist reading the images, which are available right away. This happened last year with Ray Emery as well.

If the MRI results were good, the Flyers would say so. If they're not good, well, then... you get stalling. If track record means anything, that's what the case seems to be here.

But, I guess we'll "know more tomorrow" ...

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MRI

I have never heard an MRI being read immediately, especially on a weekend in the pre-season. Leighton was still on the bench during the shoot-out and even bumped chests with Boosh after the shoot-out. I would not read much into the timing other than it is pre-season.

I am more worried that with Backlund progressing slowly and now Leighton down for a bit, that Bobrosky will start in the NHL. He really needs some games in the AHL first.

Phigment

by Phigment on Sep 26, 2010 7:13 PM EDT reply actions

MRI’s aren’t read immediately when you’re a regular patient, but the teams have doctors on staff. There’s usually an initial indication known rather quickly. The Flyers have five docs on staff.

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by Travis Hughes on Sep 26, 2010 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

An MRI can be read immediately if someone important enough wants it to be; as a regular patient I had one read by the radiologist and reviewed by my own doctor within about an hour because they deemed it important enough. If the Flyers want it done, it can be done by their doctors, so it looks like the usual stalling by Holmgren to me.

by DragonGirl0583 on Sep 26, 2010 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Arguing over this is a waste of time probably not good news for Leights but debating when an MRI can be and should be read is a waste whatever it is we will know tomorrow. Boucher and BOB are probably going to be the opening day tandem.

by chrislanci on Sep 27, 2010 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Not if Backlund is healthy, but who the hell knows with him either.

Formerly... "You don't have to be sweet, to be good"

by Ed Van Chimp on Sep 27, 2010 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I was assuming he wasn’t. Either way I think we will be fine in net with another goalie carousel that worked out well for us last year.

by chrislanci on Sep 27, 2010 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

::crosses fingers:: come on, leights. be okay, in fact, be awesome

by f2yers8 on Sep 26, 2010 7:57 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe if we’re lucky, he’ll have a rare muscle degeneration disease and in an attempt to save his career, he tries an unknown, untested cure which fixes him and as a side effect gives him 10 times his current reflexes, Spider-man style. Sorry. I’ve been reading too many comic books.

by craigg747 on Sep 26, 2010 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I can’t imagine the reaction to web shooters. ::Thwip:: HOW DID HE MAKE THAT GRAB?!

by VorAbaddon on Sep 26, 2010 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s got the puck in the webbing.

by bfrank27 on Sep 27, 2010 2:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

they most defensively have the results. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had one of their doctors reading it as he went through the machine. So this makes you wonder.

by KyDi on Sep 26, 2010 8:14 PM EDT reply actions

This really stinks if Leighton has a day-to-day, week-to-week injury. If it’s long-term, Leighton could be put on LTIR, his salary could be taken off the salary cap for awhile and the Flyers could sign a stop-gap goalie like Jose Theodore. If it’s nothing serious, Leighton could just deal with it and play on. An “in-between” situation would mean the Flyers would need 3 goalies on their roster and one of them would be Bob. My guess is Bob would probably only play 1 out of ever 3 games as a Flyer, if that.

by memphisbrando on Sep 26, 2010 8:28 PM EDT reply actions

The hockey gods are talking

If Leighton is out before the season even starts then I’d like to think there’s a higher power involved. This team was built to win yesterday, we’re pushing it aiming for today with our aging players but I still think we’re very strong contenders for this year (and yes I still want to sign Guerin). Next year is another story. Bottom line is this- we need a goalie. Not a backup. Not the revolving door we had last year. We need someone long-effing-term. I wish Homer would realize this already. Leighton looked good last year because of the D. He’s injured- if he wasn’t they’d be saying he’s not. Even if he’s day to day or week to week Leighton is now a bigger question mark than he was when he was healthy, and playing a day to day goalie is risking long term injury. Homer, get your finger out and fix the problem already because all your sweeping it under the carpet and looking the other way hasn’t solved anything. PHILADELPHIA NEEDS A GOALIE!!!!!

by Kanayd on Sep 26, 2010 8:46 PM EDT reply actions

The issue is we have two coming up in the system, so it doesn’t make a ton of sense to rip apart our roster now to fit in some long-term contract. Bobrovsky is impressing just about everyone, and our Scandanavian prospect is also apparently quite promising.

by VorAbaddon on Sep 26, 2010 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t short sell the French Canadian Riopel either. We have a solid prospect from every goalie factory known in the hockey world. KHL, Quebec, and Swedish Elite League. One of those kids has to pan out.

by chrislanci on Sep 27, 2010 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Hmm I wish they gave Riopel a shot in a preaseason game but looks like he’s on the fringe for now.

Simon Gagne may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home, but at the end of the day, he will always be a Philadelphia Flyer.

by PursuitOfLappyness on Sep 26, 2010 11:25 PM EDT reply actions

That’s it for Riopel? He doesn’t even get one look during the preseason? WTF? Why not?
I could understand a little more if they had to get game time for Leighton, Boucher, Bobrovsky AND Backlund but they didn’t. And now, Leighton is hurt which leaves you just Boucher and Bobrovsky for the remaining 4(!) pre-season games. Why not give Riopel some action just to see how he looks?

So, now what happens to Riopel? Where does he play this season? Assuming there isn’t a surprise shakeup (i.e. neither Bobrovsky nor Backlund become one of the Flyers’ goalies), Leighton and Boucher are the Flyers goalies, Backlund and Bobrovsky are the Phantoms goalies and Riopel plays where? Behind Backlund and Bobrovsky in Glens Falls? He would get no time. The net is going to be log jammed with both Backlund and Bobrovsky vying for starts as is.

Is Riopel eligible to go back and play in Juniors? I don’t think he is seeing as he was signed to an American Hockey League contract for the 2010-11 season back in August.

Can I also vent my frustration on why Patrick Maroon and Stefan Legein were never given a look for any pre-season action when they are supposed to be two of our “top prospects” while unheard-ofs like Mike Testwuide and Ben Holmstrom have played in (seemingly) every pre-season game? Or how we haven’t even heard Kevin Marshall’s name so far? He is hurt isn’t he? Damn well better be if no one has even mentioned him.

Ok, I am done ranting . . .

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by Mitchell Green on Sep 27, 2010 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

I think there were a few nuggets of actual questions in there…. I have no idea where Riopel will play this year, but I’m speculating that the team would find it silly to keep him in camp after the first cut when he’s not eligible to play in the NHL on his current contract and they don’t seem to have any intention of signing him to a new one. But I can tell you that he is not eligible to play in Juniors this year, so it’s AHL or ECHL for him. As for Pat Maroon, I remember reading that he had a rough year last year, there were some rumblings about him not putting in the effort to learn the system and that wasn’t taken well by the organization. I can’t help much on the other stuff, I’m as confused as you are about some of the others.

by DragonGirl0583 on Sep 27, 2010 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m speculating that the team would find it silly to keep him in camp after the first cut when he’s not eligible to play in the NHL on his current contract and they don’t seem to have any intention of signing him to a new one.

If your speculation is correct, I find the team’s thinking absurd. As Mitch says, the team now only has Boucher and Bobrovsky in camp for the final 4 pre-season games. Yes, Riopel is unable to play in the NHL on his current contract, but they didn’t even give him a chance to face NHL shooters during the ONLY time this year he could face NHL shooters. I think, after this preseason, it’s safe to say the organization does not think highly of Riopel at all. I hope he enjoys his time in Greenville.

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by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 27, 2010 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with you. I think the second part of my sentence was the more important part, the “they don’t seem to have any intention of signing him to a new one”. Obviously, I’m speculating and attempting to think like our front office, which is a dangerous thing to do, but I don’t think they see whatever it is that they look for in Riopel

by DragonGirl0583 on Sep 27, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Why offer Riopel a new contract and start him on the path towards free-agency when they aren’t going to use him. He is the fifth goalie. I would take this more of a statement of how highly the organization thinks of BOB than of how poorly they think of Riopel. If BOB is going to start the season in the NHL with Leights and Backlund hurt he should play in every game from here out.

by chrislanci on Sep 27, 2010 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

If BOB is going to start the season in the NHL with Leights and Backlund hurt he should play in every game from here out.

My fears exactly.

Simon Gagne may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home, but at the end of the day, he will always be a Philadelphia Flyer.

by PursuitOfLappyness on Sep 27, 2010 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

This is the one guy I was really looking forward to seeing how he would do up a level as all of the info we got from his last year of junior was so promising. I’m guessing with Bob and Eriksson looking so good against what is a higher level of competition, he is in the dog house now. Did you see anything in Rookie camp as to why he slipped down the totem pole? I had figured one of Boosh or Back was going to be dealt to make room for Bob and Riopel in NY, but like you said… looks like he gets to see the guys “fighting” to make it to the “A” in Greenville with Stewart.

by zot22 on Sep 27, 2010 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

To me, Riopel is a guy who may not be the most naturally gifted, but his knowledge, work ethic, and technical skills make up for it. So while I was constantly impressed with his form and his ability to control his body, his weaknesses are things you can’t exactly work on: size and ability to recover when out of position.

Outside of that, the only thing I picked up on that worried me was his intensity. Personally, I chalked it up to him being without a contract and in a battle for a job, but he would get noticeably upset upon letting in a goal. At least twice, it affected the very next shot. During a break, he was obviously attempting to both punish and compose himself. There’s a line there between excellent intensity and terrifying lack of composure, and he often walked it gingerly. I just wish I could see him more.

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Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
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by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 27, 2010 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions