The Broad Street Blog

When Eric Desjardins retired from hockey two years ago, the Flyers and then GM Bob Clarke offered him a coaching position. Desjardins declined, saying he was emotionally drained and wanted to spend time with his family. But everyone knew, that it wouldn’t take long for him to recharge and be back involved in hockey in some form.

On Tuesday, the Flyers announced that Desjardins was returning to the organization as a Player Development Coach. A position that, according to the Courier-Post, was created specifically for him,

Stevens said the position was created for Desjardins after he volunteered to do advance scouting during the playoffs. Desjardins scouted the first-round series between the Canadiens and Bruins, and Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren was so impressed with Desjardins’ insight he asked him to be a developmental coach.

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren is looking for good things to come from Desjardins’ presence,

“Eric will be a great asset to the organization as he works with our young drafted players, helping them to prepare their game for the next level…Eric was a great Flyer and his experience will be invaluable to the young players in our system.”

Not only are the Flyers happy to see him back with the organization, Desjardins is also excited to be involved with Flyers again,

“When I left, I knew that I was a Flyer forever, but now that I’m back with the organization, it’s an honor,” said Desjardins. “I have a chance to work with the team again, and work with Paul Holmgren and the coaching staffs of the Flyers and Phantoms. It’s a great opportunity for me and I hope I can do a great job.”

If Rico is able to rub off on guys like Ryan Parent and first round draft pick Luca Sbisa, the Flyers’ defense corps will be in good shape.

As Desjardins is making his return to the organization, assistant coach Terry Murray makes his departure. The Los Angeles Kings are preparing to introduce Murray later today as their new head coach, replacing Marc Crawford.

Murray joined the Flyers as head coach in 1994. In his first season, he returned the Flyers to the playoffs after a five year absence. In his third season as coach, he guided the team to the Stanley Cup Finals. He was fired after the Flyers were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. After a stint with Florida Panthers, Murray rejoined the Flyers organization as a scout and then moved into an assistant coach role in 2003.

Tags:   Desjardins · MurrayNo Comments.

Well, I’m back after being away for the past 2 weeks, and I came home to some pretty big news. It’s official, America’s Showplace, The Spectrum, is coming down after 42 years. The demolition will be scheduled to happen after the upcoming hockey and soccer seasons.

Earlier this year, Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider and President Peter Luukko announced Philly Live!, a “destination retail, dining and entertainment area adjacent to the Wachovia Center.” At the time, the fate of the Spectrum was said to be undecided, but plans showed it was probably going to be replaced.

One of the reasons given to demolish the Spectrum was that, as an aging building, much needed renovations could be too costly.

Ed Snider has made it no secret that the Spectrum holds a special place in his heart. Interviews regarding this week’s announcement reflect those emotions.

“This has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” said Snider. “The Spectrum is my baby. It’s one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me, but after a lot of thinking and discussions, we all feel it is in our best interest to close the Spectrum at the conclusion of the upcoming 2008-09 Philadelphia Phantoms and Kixx seasons.”

There are plans in the works to have a Flyers preseason game and Sixers regular season game back in the old building. The Flyers have a season ticket holder base larger than the Spectrum’s capacity, the reason for a preseason game and not a regular season game. We can also expect to hear about other special events that will be held.

I, like many, have countless memories of the Spectrum. When I was younger, I would go down with my Dad on game days and collect autographs from the players as they would arrive. So while I am excited to see what the future holds, I am sad to see the building go. I am definitely going to grab tickets to a few Phantoms games this season to see the Spectrum in action one last time.

Tags:   Flyers · Philly Live! · Sixers · SpectrumNo Comments.

According to TSN, the Flyers have signed defenseman Ossi Vaananen to a one year, $1 million dollar deal. The Flyers are also reporting they have signed free agents Glen Metropolit, Nate Raduns and Sean Curry. Metropolit’s and Curry’s contracts are two year deals. Raduns’ deal is for one year.

At 6′4″, 215 lbs, Vaananen was drafted in the second round, 43rd pick overall, by the Phoenix Coyotes in 1998. After 4 seasons with the Coyotes, he spent 3 years with the Colorado Avalanche. Last season, Vaananen spent the season with Djurgardens IF of the Swedish Elite League.

At 34, Metropolit spent last season with the Boston Bruins, scoring 11 goals and 33 points over 82 games. A veteran at the forward position, Metropolit has logged 262 NHL games over six season.

Raduns, also a forward, played for the Worcester Sharks in the AHL last season. He registered 12 goals and 27 points over 56 games. He played four seasons with St. Cloud State of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association before turning pro.

Curry, a defenseman, played 72 games for the AHL’s Providence Bruins last season. He registered 13 goals, 25 assists and 38 points, all career highs. He was second on the team in penalty minutes with 139 and first among defensemen in goals.

Earlier in the day, the Flyers traded defenseman Denis Gauthier to the Los Angeles Kings a day after he was placed on waivers. In exchange the Flyers recieved defenseman Patrik Hersley and winger Ned Lukacevic.

Last season, Hersley split the season between Manchester Monarchs of the AHL and the Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliates of the Kings. He registered 1 goal and 9 points in 42 games for the Monarchs and 3 goals and 18 points in 20 games for the Royals.

Lukacevic scored 17 goals and 36 points in 61 games for Reading.

Tags:   Curry · Gauthier · Hersley · Lukacevic · Metropolit · Raduns · VaananenNo Comments.

TSN is reporting the Flyers have waived defenseman Denis Gauthier. The Flyers acquired Gauthier at the trade deadline in 2006 from the Phoenix Coyotes. Gauthier failed to make the Flyers roster out of training camp last season and spent the 2007-08 campaign with the Philadelphia Phantoms in the AHL. This move takes his $2.2 million off the organization’s books for the coming season.

The Flyers announced that they have acquired defenseman Tim Ramholt from the Calgary Flames. Left wing Kyle Greentree was sent to Calgary in exchange for Ramholt. In 2007-08 Ramholt played in 77 games for the AHL’s Quad City Flames compiling 4 goals 20 assists and 73 penalty minutes. He played in one game for the Calgary Flames last season.

The Flyers are also reporting that newly acquired defenseman Janne Niskala has been traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 6th round pick in 2009.

Tags:   Flames · Gauthier · Greentree · Lightning · Niskala · Ramholt1 Comment

Today the Flyers signed defenseman Steve Eminger to a one year contract. The Flyers acquired Eminger at the NHL draft on June 20 in exchange for the 27th overall pick. He was scheduled to become a restricted free agent on July 1st. According to Paul Holmgren, “Steve is a young two-way defenseman that will fit in nicely with our group.”

Eminger was the Washington Capitals’ first round pick in 2002. He has 6 goals and 43 points in 212 games with the Capitals over the past 5 seasons.

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What has been rumored for about a week now was made official today. The Flyers announced that Jeff Carter signed a $15 million, 3 year contract.

Carter appeared in all 82 of of the Flyers’ regular season games last season, tallying 29 goals and 53 points. In 17 playoff games, the London, Ontario native had six goals and five assists and helped lead the team to the Eastern Conference final.

Taken 11th overall by the Flyers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Carter has 66 goals and 132 points in 225 career NHL games.

He was set to become a restricted free agent next week.

“Jeff is a terrific young player who has come up through our organization, and we believe he is only going to get better,” said Holmgren. “It is a priority for us to keep our young core of players intact, and signing Jeff allows us to do that.”

“I’m very excited to be staying in Philadelphia,” said Carter. “We have great group of guys on this team and I can’t wait to get back on the ice and continue where we left off last season.”

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