Report: Flyers intend to terminate Joonas Lehtivuori's contract

by Travis Hughes on Sep 13, 2011 1:47 PM EDT in Philadelphia Flyers News

According to Bill Meltzer, the Philadelphia Flyers have waived Joonas Lehtivuori and intend to release him from his contract. You can get some sort of CBA explanation on how this works here.

This isn't really a shocking move. Lehtivuori hated everything about being a member of the Adirondack Phantoms last year, from being on a bad team to playing under new head coach Joe Paterson to just being in the middle of nowhere in Glens Falls. He made it clear that he wasn't happy, and when he went over to Finland in the middle of last season, he raised doubts that he'd ever return to North America for hockey.

He has one year left on his contract with the Flyers. He's likely never going to be a contributor at the NHL level after all of this drama that's surrounded him, even though he actually was quite good while playing with the Phantoms two seasons ago, so the move by the team makes sense.

As we all know, the Flyers are tight against the 50 contract limit, meaning that if somebody like training camp invitees Michael Nylander and Blake Kessel or unsigned No. 8 overall pick Sean Couturier impresses in camp, they wouldn't be able to make the team because there's no room for another contract.

Getting rid of Lehtivouri's contract changes all of that, and it makes camp, which starts on Saturday morning, much more interesting. Well, the potential is there at least.

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Begin Rampant Speculation!

My son was born in Ottawa (Go Senators!) to a Father (Go Flyers!) and a Mother (Go Canucks!) who's families root for two different hockey teams (Go Habs!)(Go Bruins!) Little Maxwell is going to have such a confusing life.

by 02h32m01s on Sep 13, 2011 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

My name is Joonas.
I’m carrying the wheel.

Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, Marijuana, Ecstasy and Alcohol
I bitch about things at twitter

by jello44 on Sep 13, 2011 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks for all you’ve shown us.
We’re ripping up your deal.

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Sep 13, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

hahaha

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by Travis Hughes on Sep 13, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Good show.

Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, Marijuana, Ecstasy and Alcohol
I bitch about things at twitter

by jello44 on Sep 13, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

It would be nice to have that slot for the season incase we need to sign someone due to injury. Hopefully Nylander doesn’t end up with a contract.

by youtastelikeaburger on Sep 13, 2011 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

No one can be added to the NHL roster without moving someone else first, so signing Nylander isn’t realistic….yet.

by mtitanic on Sep 13, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Simpsons did it!

by youtastelikeaburger on Sep 13, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I would love to see Mair make the team.

We got the 4 aces for baseball, 3CBO in football, and the Russian Walls in hockey. Philly is no longer the blue collar losers, were primetime baby!

Good game, Lets eat

by JpH89 on Sep 13, 2011 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

Why?

by mtitanic on Sep 13, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Take Jody Shelleys role, and put a guy thats actually competent at that role in his place haha. He’s a good 4th guy or Press box guy, not a defensive liability, and every time I see him he’s always in great position. He doesn’t fight as much as Shelley, but he can win em’ when he drops em’

We got the 4 aces for baseball, 3CBO in football, and the Russian Walls in hockey. Philly is no longer the blue collar losers, were primetime baby!

Good game, Lets eat

by JpH89 on Sep 13, 2011 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

OK, but how do we get rid of Shelley?

by mtitanic on Sep 13, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I could have made an awful joke about this based on what this summer has done to fighters, but I’ll hold off

We got the 4 aces for baseball, 3CBO in football, and the Russian Walls in hockey. Philly is no longer the blue collar losers, were primetime baby!

Good game, Lets eat

by JpH89 on Sep 13, 2011 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks… I guess?

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by Travis Hughes on Sep 13, 2011 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I mean, I would take him over Nylander or Couturier(no good spots for him from what I see, unless we trade someone else). I would rather see Sestito or Rinaldo make that final spot. Thats What I’m getting at

We got the 4 aces for baseball, 3CBO in football, and the Russian Walls in hockey. Philly is no longer the blue collar losers, were primetime baby!

Good game, Lets eat

by JpH89 on Sep 13, 2011 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Have you seen how bad Mair’s defense is? He’s a liability.

Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999 and Matt Calvert since May 2010
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by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 13, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

He can’t possibly be worse than Jody Shelley.

Except that the Flyers would dress them both.

Original member of the Mike Weber bandwagon!
To make up for lost time, the Sabres signed six seasons worth of front-loaded cap skirting contracts in one week.

by Ubiquitous on Sep 13, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s that whole “We ask Mair to play defense, he fails. We know Shelley can’t, he meets expectations” problem.

Who is worse? The guy who can’t do what is asked, or the guy who can do what little is asked?

But really, where there are numerous options in the AHL who are better than both, anybody who picks a side in the Mair v. Shelley debate isn’t thinking hard enough.

Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999 and Matt Calvert since May 2010
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
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by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 13, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Common sense dictates that we don’t want either one of them. Which goes back to my original question in the Fly-by: Why would Homer invite him to camp?

by mtitanic on Sep 13, 2011 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Mandated? To give writers a topic? Competition?

No idea.

Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999 and Matt Calvert since May 2010
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
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by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 13, 2011 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Competition. That’s what he said, at least. I’m fine with that.

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by Travis Hughes on Sep 13, 2011 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

thats what I would say. It is just to get a guy in there so some of the younger guys like Schenn and Nodl don’t feel like its automatic they will be on the team. Of course Nodl shoiuld never feel like he is automatic. I think the Flyers will be able to free up some contracts by possibly waiving some guys eventually if it is neccesary. I am still stumped why they did not leave more room for a couple contracts.

by Mattx on Sep 14, 2011 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions

To dress them both someone else has to go. It’s just not possible.

by mtitanic on Sep 13, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Anything is possible. Remember which team you root for.

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by Travis Hughes on Sep 13, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m saying that the salary cap says we can’t.

by mtitanic on Sep 13, 2011 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Anything is possible. Remember which team you root for.

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by Travis Hughes on Sep 13, 2011 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

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by Travis Hughes on Sep 13, 2011 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Pronger goes on LTIR so we can fit in Mair. Calling it right now.

Keeping alive the old Vaudeville joke, "I'd rather be dead than play Philadelphia."

by Snevik on Sep 13, 2011 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I would enjoy a 9 game try-out for sean couturier, but like most said it’s unlikely. Worse comes to worse they don’t sign anyone which probably would be better.

-bob

by Rrainone on Sep 13, 2011 3:26 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I dont think its “unlikely”, but I do think him staying the whole year is. Honestly, if he goes and has a monster rookie game (yes I know its just a rookie game), I can see them signing him to a contract.

Gus Supporter.

by sa cyred on Sep 13, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Where is the link on the main broadstreethockey.com page to the depth chart with the purple and orange and blue…. (you have to be old to realize the Captain Noah reference here)

by NickFotiu4HOF on Sep 13, 2011 8:17 PM EDT reply actions

On the left sidebar, just a little bit above the link for the BSH store. That’s the one that has the players broken out by position; if you want the one Travis just made for camp, that link is back in the article.

Warning: Arguing the NHL CBA with me could be hazardous to your mental health. Proceed at your own risk.

by DragonGirl0583 on Sep 13, 2011 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Adding a little Training Camp section to the right sidebar tonight, too.

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by Travis Hughes on Sep 13, 2011 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

lol on lil Kessel making the Flyers/Phantoms

"Failing upwards! How come I can’t ever seem to do that?" - AP77 on Strang's ESPN Job
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by Mark D on Sep 13, 2011 11:05 PM EDT reply actions