Big Flyers Day
By Kevin K


The Flyers today claimed Nick Boynton off of waivers from Chicago. The Flyers will pay $118,280 to Boynton for the rest of the season. Boynton joins the Flyers as insurance in case another defender goes down injured.

Being that Boynton could not make it to Ottawa today to join the Flyers, the team loaned JVR to the Phantoms. The question many fans had was why the Flyers didn't send Zherdev to the Phantoms and the answer is because Zherdev would not have been able to get called up again and JVR was the only Flyers Forward who was waiver-exempt.

JVR is only supposed to be down with the Phantoms for one game because Chris Pronger will be out for the Flyers tonight so Eric Gustafsson will play.

Erik Gustafsson recalled from the Phantoms
By Kevin K

The Flyers today announced that they recalled defense-man Erik Gustafsson from the Phantoms. Gustafsson will meet the Flyers in Ottawa this afternoon.

With recent injuries to Oskars Bartulis, Sean O'Donnell, and Chris Pronger, the Flyers needed to make a move on defense. O'Donnell played over his average ice time last night against the Islanders despite having a knee injury.

Pronger has a hand/wrist injury but isn't expected to miss any time. The problem is he is having a hard time gripping his stick according to Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly.com.

There is no word if Gustafsson will play as of yet, but with the injuries to the defense, it wouldn't be a surprise.

Flyers Waive Zherdev
By Kevin K

The Flyers announced the waiving of Nikolay Zherdev, according to multiple sources. Zherdev has 15 goals and 4 assists on the season, but has been a healthy scratch as of late. The last game Zherdev played was on February 10th versus the Hurricanes.

This move clears cap space for the Flyers to sign a defense-man now that Sean O'Donnell and Oskars Bartulis are both out with injuries.

According to Frank Seravalli, "Zherdev bolted out the side door to avoid media and hopped in a limo and left with a smile on his face".

Leino Wants Cup
By Kevin K

During the All-Star break, CSN Philly reported that the Flyers and winger Ville Leino were close to a new contract. The report read, "Several sources tell CSNPhilly.com that the Flyers are offering a three and four-year contract worth between $9 million and $12 million, depending upon length. At least one prominent executive in the Flyers organization believes the 27-year-old right wing won’t get a better deal in unrestricted free agency this July than what the Flyers are offering."

So why was no such signing made since then? Enter Kris Versteeg. According to Frank Seravalli of the Daily News, Multiple team sources told the Daily News that Leino, believe it or not, was the biggest key to the Flyers bolstering their roster last week with forward Kris Versteeg.

Leino agreed to postpone his ongoing contract-extension negotiations, so that the Flyers could spend their remaining salary-cap and tagging space to acquire Versteeg from Toronto. Leino will become a sought-after unrestricted free agent on July 1.

He knew that the Flyers have a better chance to hoist the Stanley Cup with Versteeg, a talented scoring winger, than without him. And he was able to table an offer from the Flyers, putting his own personal security and gain aside, for the betterment of the team.

'Those conversations are between me and [Paul Holmgren],' Leino said yesterday. 'But obviously, we all want to win the Cup. That's my first priority here. And I think everyone else would feel the same way.'"

Leino has 13 goals and 27 assists this season and has become well known after his great playoff run last season (7 goals and 14 assists).


Read more from Frank Seravalli here: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20110222_Leino_sets_aside_salary_talks_so_Flyers_can_add_Versteeg.html?nlid=3519729#ixzz1EhbL2DIL
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Death of the Spectrum: Courtesy of CSNPhilly.com

Spectrum No More
By Kevin K

Months after the first Wrecking Ball struck the Spectrum, it finally went down. The place where many great Philly sports moments occurred is now no longer. The Spectrum is no longer physically there, but will always be there in our hearts.

Take in your memories and your favorite moments of the once great building and share them.

Once everything has been cleaned up from the rubble of the Spectrum, construction on Philly Live! will begin. Philly Live! will be an "ultimate dining, entertainment and shopping experience" in close proximity to the Wachovia Center.

Future Philly Phans will not know the Spectrum. The will see Philly Live! and the Spectrum will not even be a thought in their minds. But we who have been there and have our memories there will always Remember the Spectrum.

The Spectrum Lives ... in us.

Flyers Acquire Kris Versteeg
By Kevin K

Bob McKenzie of TSN reported that the Flyers have traded a first and third round draft pick to Toronto for Winger Kris Versteeg.

Versteeg has 14 goals and 21 assists on the season before being traded to the Flyers.

Flyers may have sent too much to Toronto for Versteeg, however, sources tell CSNPhilly.com that Toronto asked for JVR for Versteeg but took the first and third round pick instead.

With the versatile Versteeg now acquired by the Flyers, it proves that Lavy was right ... it's now Stanley Cup or Bust for the Flyers.

Matt Carle on the addition of Kris Versteeg, "The depth of our team is starting to show some resemblance to the Phillies starting rotation".

Versteeg played for the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks last season and was on a bad Toronto team this season before being acquired by the Flyers.He will wear number 32 for the Flyers and is expected to make his Flyers debut versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Leino Close to a New Contract
By Kevin K

CSN Philly is reporting that Ville Leino is close to re-signing with the Flyers.

According to Tim Panaccio's report, "Several sources tell CSNPhilly.com that the Flyers are offering a three and four-year contract worth between $9 million and $12 million, depending upon length.
 
At least one prominent executive in the Flyers organization believes the 27-year-old right wing won’t get a better deal in unrestricted free agency this July than what the Flyers are offering."