So the new look Flyers are ready to begin their assault
on the Stanly Cup. They have a bunch of new players, you might not even know them all. We got you covered.
Below is all the information you need to talk hockey around the water cooler, classroom, or beer pong table to tell everybody
who's who, and where they went. It is confusing, and there will be a quiz later, so pay attention!
Gone:
Mike Richards:
The former heir apparent franchise captain. Coach Laviolette tired of getting challenged by one of the best players,
and when his leadership couldn't stand up to Pronger's, he was dead meat. We shipped him off to the LA Kings
(where he can't hurt us) to join Simon Gagne. In return the Flyers got a boat load. The Flyers got Wayne Simmonds,
Braydon Schenn and a 2012 second round pick.
Jeff Carter:
Carter's regular season success never translated in to playoff performance. A big body with a rocket shot that disappeared
in the spring. Shipped off to Columbus for Jakub Voracek, thier 1st round (8th overall - who would become Sean Couturier)
and 3rd round pick.
Brian Boucher: Signed as a free agent by the Carolina Hurricanes
Darroll Powe: Traded to the Minnesota Wild for a 3rd round draft pick
in 2013.
Danny Carcillo: Signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks
Sean O'Donnell: Sign as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks
Ville Leino: Signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Sabres
Nikolay
Zherdev: returned to the KHL in Russia
Kris Versteeg: traded to the Florida
Panthers for the second round pick in 2012 or 2013 (Panthers choice) and the Sharks 3rd round pick in 2012 (which the Panthers
had in a previous trade).
Michael Leighton: Waived last week, if he doesn't
get picked up by an NHL team, he will join the Phantoms
Blair Betts: Waived
just days ago and picked up by the Montreal Canadiens.
New guys:
Max Talbot: Free agent, formerly of the Pittsburgh
Penguins. Scored the Stanley Cup winning goal for the Penguins. An instigator, a menace, and a real pain in the
.....
Jaromir Jagr: Winner of two Stanley Cups, league MVP, Olympic Gold
metal winner, on the leagues all time highest scoring leaders (he led the lead in scoring 5 times). Played in the Russian
KHL for the last 3 years. Unbelievable skills, and faster than he looks. If he doesn't tire at the end of
the season, this is the best move the Flyers have made since acquiring Briere.
Wayne
Simmonds: Came over in the Richards trade. This is his 4th NHL season, spent the previous 3 with the Kings.
Works hard on and off the ice. Tough around the net, a physical presence. Had 14 goals last year, 16 the year
before that.
Braydon Schenn: Came over in the Richards trade. Interestingly
enough, often compared to Mike Richards. 1st round, 5th overall pick of the Kings in 2010. Won 2 silver metals
in international play for Canada, was the best forward and Tournament MVP last year, despite playing the last several games
with a separated shoulder. Tied a Canadian tournament record scoring 4 goals in a single game (tied Simon Gagne and
Mario Lemieux). His brother Luke plays defense for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Wears #10 as his favorite player growing
up was Pavel Bure.
Sean Couturier: Drafted 8th this year. The draft
pick itself came over in the Jeff Carter trade. Played the last 3 seasons in the Quebec Major Hockey League, scoring
77 goals, 192 total points in just 128 games in the last 2 years. Was an incredible +62 on 09/10, when he led the league
in scoring. At 6'2", 192 lbs, he is NHL ready. Despite the heavy french name, he was born in Phoenix
, AZ, where his father played in the IHL.
Jakub Voracek: Came over in
the Jeff Carter trade. Scored 30 goals in the last 2 seasons with the Blue Jackets. Was the 1st round, 7th overall
pick in 2007. Comes from the same home town as Jagr in the Czech Republic, Kladno.
Andreas
Lilja: Swedish, stay at home, shot-blocking defensemen. Was originally a LA King drafted in 2000, but only played
2 games with them. Spent most of his career with the Detroit Red Wings where he won a Stanley Cup in 2008. Played
last year with the Ducks.
Ilya Bryzgalov: Traded to the Flyers for Matt Clackson
and two draft picks. Signed a 9 year, 51 million dollar contract. The Flyers traded for him 10 days before he
was to become a free agent to negotiate with him first. Played extremely well the last 2 years in Phoenix guiding them
to the playoffs in both years. Russian.
Matt Read: Signed
with the Phantoms at the end of last year, scoring 7 goals in 11 games. Was a NCAA rookie of the year, player of the
year , 2 time all star and won a NCAA championship while playing with the Bemidji State Beavers (Minnesota).
So there you have it, all you need to dazzle your non-hockey geek friends.
