All your Schenns are belong to us

       I should have got to this yesterday, but I was too busy watching Jim Thome win the game for the Phillies before they returned to their typical losing form today.  JVR has officially joined Bobrovsky in the summer trades class of '12.  Forward James van Riemsdyk has been swapped straight up for defensemen Luke Schenn of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  It should come as no surprise that JVR got traded, he was always mentioned going into the offseason.  Now that the Flyers have Luke Schenn he can join his brother, Brayden.  Getting brothers on your team is all the rage in the NHL these days.
       This really isn't a huge steal for either teams.  JVR and Luke Schenn are one in the same: players with huge potential who really haven't lived up to it yet.  The added benefit the Flyers get though, is saving about $1 million in cap space and picking up a player who has not spent nearly as much time injured as JVR.
       It will be bittersweet to say goodbye to JVR, as he has local appeal, hailing from New Jersey.  Now that he's gone too the only Americans the Flyers really have on their main roster are Couturier and Carle (assuming he stays).  JVR tweeted this:

"Would like to thank everyone in Philly for the support over the past few years. Met a lot of great people and made some great memories. Very excited to start the next chapter in Toronto. Really looking forward to it."

       Good to see him handling it with class.  Best of luck, JVR.  Hopefully Schenn is the defensive answer we so desperately need.

Sergei Bobrovsky Just Traded to Columbus

       In what can not be considered too much of a surprise, Flyers' backup goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has apparently just been traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for 3 draft picks.  Looks like the Flyers will continue to stock up on young talent.  While most of us are Bobrovsky fans here in Philly it was definitely his time to go.  Bobrovsky has too much potential to spend the next 8 years sitting behind Bryzgalov.  Going to the Blue Jackets will give Bob a chance to spread his wings.  Hopefully Columbus won't destroy Bob's notoriety though, as they tend to do with everyone there.  Though if recent trade history is any indicator, Bob may very well be in for a Stanley Cup victory this coming season.  We should know relatively soon who the Flyers get in exchange from this move as the draft is tomorrow in Pittsburgh.  Good luck in hockey purgatory Bob.

2012-13 Schedule Announced

The Flyers' 2012-13 season schedule came out an hour or two ago.  Since the realignment proposal got shut down the schedule looks similar to last season.  The first game of the year is at home on October 11 against the Boston Bruins.  The season ends at home against the New York Rangers, just like it did that year they beat the Rangers in a shootout to make the playoffs and go to the cup.  The Flyers return to their second home arena in Pittsburgh on February 12.  Richards and Carter won't be in town at all as there is no home game against the Kings, just an away game January 3.  JVR and the Blue Jackets won't be in town this season either.  Just kidding....or am I?  The full schedule lies below: October 2012
Date	Visitor	Home	Time (ET)
Thu Oct 11, 2012	Bruins	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Oct 13, 2012	Flyers	Islanders	7:00 PM
Thu Oct 18, 2012	Penguins	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Oct 20, 2012	Jets	Flyers	7:00 PM
Thu Oct 25, 2012	Flyers	Canadiens	7:30 PM
Sat Oct 27, 2012	Maple Leafs	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sun Oct 28, 2012	Flyers	Sabres	5:00 PM
Tue Oct 30, 2012	Stars	Flyers	7:00 PM
November 2012
Date	Visitor	Home	Time (ET)
Thu Nov 1, 2012	Devils	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Nov 3, 2012	Ducks	Flyers	1:00 PM
Sun Nov 4, 2012	Flyers	Rangers	7:00 PM
Tue Nov 6, 2012	Sabres	Flyers	7:00 PM
Thu Nov 8, 2012	Flyers	Hurricanes	7:00 PM
Sat Nov 10, 2012	Hurricanes	Flyers	7:00 PM
Tue Nov 13, 2012	Wild	Flyers	7:00 PM
Fri Nov 16, 2012	Flyers	Sabres	7:00 PM
Sat Nov 17, 2012	Sabres	Flyers	7:00 PM
Wed Nov 21, 2012	Senators	Flyers	7:00 PM
Fri Nov 23, 2012	Jets	Flyers	3:00 PM
Sat Nov 24, 2012	Flyers	Rangers	1:00 PM
Wed Nov 28, 2012	Flyers	Maple Leafs	7:00 PM
Thu Nov 29, 2012	Flyers	Islanders	7:00 PM
December 2012
Date	Visitor	Home	Time (ET)
Sat Dec 1, 2012	Flyers	Panthers	7:30 PM
Tue Dec 4, 2012	Flyers	Lightning	7:30 PM
Thu Dec 6, 2012	Sharks	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Dec 8, 2012	Flyers	Islanders	1:00 PM
Sun Dec 9, 2012	Islanders	Flyers	7:00 PM
Tue Dec 11, 2012	Devils	Flyers	7:00 PM
Thu Dec 13, 2012	Flyers	Capitals	7:00 PM
Sat Dec 15, 2012	Hurricanes	Flyers	1:00 PM
Wed Dec 19, 2012	Devils	Flyers	7:30 PM
Fri Dec 21, 2012	Flyers	Devils	7:00 PM
Sun Dec 23, 2012	Flyers	Senators	1:00 PM
Thu Dec 27, 2012	Flyers	Predators	8:00 PM
Sat Dec 29, 2012	Flyers	Blues	8:00 PM
Mon Dec 31, 2012	Flyers	Coyotes	9:00 PM
January 2013
Date	Visitor	Home	Time (ET)
Thu Jan 3, 2013	Flyers	Kings	10:30 PM
Sat Jan 5, 2013	Flyers	Sharks	10:30 PM
Sun Jan 6, 2013	Flyers	Canucks	9:00 PM
Thu Jan 10, 2013	Canadiens	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Jan 12, 2013	Rangers	Flyers	1:00 PM
Tue Jan 15, 2013	Flyers	Jets	8:00 PM
Thu Jan 17, 2013	Capitals	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Jan 19, 2013	Flames	Flyers	1:00 PM
Sun Jan 20, 2013	Flyers	Blackhawks	7:30 PM
Wed Jan 23, 2013	Maple Leafs	Flyers	7:30 PM
Tue Jan 29, 2013	Flyers	Wild	8:00 PM
February 2013
Date	Visitor	Home	Time (ET)
Fri Feb 1, 2013	Flyers	Capitals	7:00 PM
Sat Feb 2, 2013	Red Wings	Flyers	7:00 PM
Tue Feb 5, 2013	Lightning	Flyers	7:00 PM
Thu Feb 7, 2013	Panthers	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Feb 9, 2013	Oilers	Flyers	2:00 PM
Tue Feb 12, 2013	Flyers	Penguins	7:00 PM
Thu Feb 14, 2013	Flyers	Blue Jackets	7:00 PM
Fri Feb 15, 2013	Flyers	Devils	7:00 PM
Sun Feb 17, 2013	Flyers	Rangers	TBD
Wed Feb 20, 2013	Flyers	Penguins	7:30 PM
Thu Feb 21, 2013	Panthers	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Feb 23, 2013	Avalanche	Flyers	1:00 PM
Mon Feb 25, 2013	Rangers	Flyers	7:00 PM
Wed Feb 27, 2013	Capitals	Flyers	7:30 PM
March 2013
Date	Visitor	Home	Time (ET)
Fri Mar 1, 2013	Islanders	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Mar 2, 2013	Flyers	Maple Leafs	7:00 PM
Mon Mar 4, 2013	Lightning	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Mar 9, 2013	Flyers	Bruins	1:00 PM
Sun Mar 10, 2013	Blackhawks	Flyers	3:00 PM
Wed Mar 13, 2013	Flyers	Devils	7:30 PM
Fri Mar 15, 2013	Canadiens	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sun Mar 17, 2013	Flyers	Panthers	6:00 PM
Mon Mar 18, 2013	Flyers	Lightning	7:30 PM
Fri Mar 22, 2013	Flyers	Hurricanes	7:00 PM
Sun Mar 24, 2013	Flyers	Penguins	7:30 PM
Tue Mar 26, 2013	Penguins	Flyers	7:00 PM
Thu Mar 28, 2013	Islanders	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Mar 30, 2013	Flyers	Bruins	1:00 PM
Sun Mar 31, 2013	Bruins	Flyers	7:30 PM
April 2013
Date	Visitor	Home	Time (ET)
Tue Apr 2, 2013	Flyers	Canadiens	7:30 PM
Thu Apr 4, 2013	Flyers	Senators	7:30 PM
Sat Apr 6, 2013	Flyers	Jets	7:00 PM
Tue Apr 9, 2013	Penguins	Flyers	7:00 PM
Thu Apr 11, 2013	Senators	Flyers	7:00 PM
Sat Apr 13, 2013	Rangers	Flyers	3:00 PM

Update: Pronger's House for Sale

       Crossing Broad (a more reliable site than this) reported yesterday via a Haddonfield resident that Chris Pronger's house, which he rents from former Flyer Jason Smith, is apparently up for sale.  This adds fuel to the rumor that Pronger is done.  GM Paul Holmgren was quick to address the rumor last week, saying the Pronger was going to St. Louis for awhile because of an illness in his wife's family.  Of course Holmgren pretty much has to say this in order to save the Flyers money.  If Pronger officially retires this season it means a huge salary cap hit for the team.  If he doesn't officially reitre he can stay on long-term injured reserve basically until his contract is up like Ian Laperriere did before he retired last week. 
       For all we know Pronger could just be moving somewhere else, maybe Manayunk, maybe the Main Line, but it shall be interesting to see where he turns up after this year, even if it's not with the Flyers.

Next up on the trade rumor front: JVR for Nash

       Now that it's the offseason it's that time again to start discussing trade possibilities.  James van Riemsdyk is no stranger to being talked about when it comes to possible trades, so it was no surprise his name would come up soon.  Sure enough, NBC 10's Howard Eskin reported last night that the Flyers are weighing trading JvR to Columbus for Rick Nash.  Apparently though, in an effort not to go, JvR is holding up on getting surgery done on his torn labrum.  While Holmgren said the delay is due to an infection in JvR's foot, could you really blame JvR for not wanting to go to hockey purgatory in Columbus?
       Plus, this whole JvR for Nash thing does not make a whole lot of sense.  Why would we need to bring Rick Nash aboard when defense is really what we need to worry about this offseason.  The Flyers were already 2nd in the league last season in goals per game.  If JvR gets traded for Nash, not only do the Flyers pick up an extra $3.5 million in cap hit, but who's left to go to try and sign Shea Weber from the Predators?  While I do love JvR, I'd be fine seeing him go for a worthy replacement for Pronger.  Perhaps JvR hasn't seen the best of his days yet, but I don't think the offense will struggle too much without him.  If he and Matt Carle both go though, we won't really have any Americans on the roster anymore, besides Couturier. 
       What it all comes down to is that JvR should only be traded for defensive pieces.  And even if JvR does not want to leave he should at least look on the bright side.  If Holmgren trades you, there's a pretty good chance you'll be in the Stanley Cup Finals in the near future.

Breaking: Stanley Cup to feature Gagne's name

       Looks like my pick of Flyers West in 7 probably won't being coming to fruition now, but you never know.  The Kings played their best game of the series yet last night, blanking the Devils 4-0.  Our old friend Jeff Carter made some noise with 1 goal last night, but he isn't the former Flyer this post is about.  The Flyers no.1 overall pick in 1998, Simon Gagne, returned last night for his first game since suffering a concussion on December 26.  He may have only got 6:39 of ice time and had 3 shots on goal, but the important thing is that he played.  So now when that Stanley Cup trophy gets engraved when the Kings (presumably) win it, he'll get his name on there.  Couldn't have happened to a classier guy.  Gagne played his heart out in Philly, so it would be great to see him achieve every player's ultimate goal.  It still amuses me that some people seem to think there is a bitter vendetta most Flyers fans have against Carter, Richards and the Kings.  I'm excited for this series to wrap up.  Go Flyers West!
       Note: Did anyone catch the giant Jersey Shore castmember heads that LA fans were holding up behind the Devil's bench?  Priceless.

Could Pronger be nearing the end?

       Flyers GM Paul Holmgren stated on Philly.com yesterday that he expects Chris Pronger, age 37, to return next season.  Pronger has been plagued by injuries as of late, and missed the majority of the 2011-12 season due to post-concussion syndromes and a knee injury.  Rumors began circulating about his retirement a few days ago, when fans who live close to his Haddonfield, NJ home saw moving trucks outside.  Holmgren was quick to state that Pronger is just spending sometime in St. Louis due to an illness in his wife's family and not retiring.
       It's a tricky situation to think about.  I've felt since the start of this season that even if Pronger returns in 2012, he only has a couple more games in him.  Holmgren obviously would have to quell rumors that Pronger is retiring in order not to drive the price up for defensive prospects he may be looking at.  If other teams knew for a fact that Pronger was going to retire then it would become more obvious how screwed the Flyers are on D; thus, asking prices for say, Ryan Suter, would go sky high.  Holmgren probably wants Pronger to stick around, even if he stays on long term injured reserve, to avoid the huge cap hit his retirment would cause.
       I've enjoyed watching Pronger play for years now, long before he was on the Flyers even.  It may be his time to go though.  According to his wife he is not showing much improve in terms of the post-concussion syndromes.  Why risk it?  Pronger has a Hart Trophy, a James Norris Trophy, a Stanley Cup, two Olympic gold medals and is a 6-time all star.  He's had a great career and if he is seriously considering retirement he's earned it.  I hope to see Pronger on the ice next season, if only for a few more games, but if retirement is in his near future, I'd say good luck and great career.