The orange and the black have just gotten a little bit more orange as of the Town Hall Meeting where groups of individuals got to sit down with some of the ones who make the organization tick; Holmgren, Stevens, and Luukko. The team decided that since the players liked them and the fans loved them the orange jerseys would be back for all home games this postseason. That’s not the only thing that was made very clear at the gathering. The following will include inside information on: top prospects James van Riemsdyk and Luca Sbisa, the future of Marty Biron and Antero Niittymaki, Mike Knuble’s contract situation, next season’s salary cap watch, who is also as frustrated with the reffing as the fans are, the fate of the Spectrum and much, much more. On top of this, at the very end there is a nice surprise for those who have been patient enough to read this entire thing. This is the mother-load of inside information and analysis brought to you by Phinally Philly.
Tire Tied To Stick – If anyone was wondering where Scott Hartnell’s career season was coming from you should look no further than head coach John Stevens. Hartnell, though seemingly claims veteran status, is still very young. He was a first round selection of the Nashville Predators back in 2000, but since joining the ranks of the NHL his career high for goals was 25 back in 05-06 with his career high in points (48) coming that same season. As he’s gotten older he’s been considered a 25 (G) – 25 (A) guy good for about 50 points while bringing a boatload of intangibles. Suddenly this season he’s on pace for over 60 points and what many hope will be over 30 goals. In 72 games played he’s already gotten a career high in goals with 27 and a career high in assists with 29 leading to a new career high in points with 56. If his pace keeps up he’s scheduled for 64 points and 31 goals. So what caused this awesome leap in production? Well, earlier this season Coach Stevens tied a tire to Hartnell’s stick in practice in order to force everyone’s favorite pest to keep his stick on the ice. Around the net having a stick ready to deflect or tip that one timer by opposing keepers is the most important thing to remember, especially for a guy like Hartnell who, like Knuble, will get the bulk of his goals coming from inside 10 feet.
Want The Seats Where Fans Once Watched The Flyers Win The Cup? – The boys running the show expect the Spectrum to be torn down around this time next year. Many expected it to be this summer, but maybe not. They still aren’t 100% sure. What everyone is sure of is that the seats will soon be put on sale after the final event which will be one gigantic concert.
Sbisa – The Flyers’ two latest first round selections are even closer to becoming full time Flyers. Sbisa, since being dropped back to the Canadian Juniors due to Ryan Parent and Randy Jones returning from injuries has done well with his former squad in the WHL, the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Luca will finish up with them through the WHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup run should his team make the tournament. Afterwards he is scheduled to come back and rejoin the organization either through the Philadelphia Phantoms or the Flyers. 
Many remember his incredible play during the preseason that earned him a call up to the big squad due to injuries to Jones and Parent, but those same people remember his play slip a little as the season went on. There’s no need to worry though. This kid is a star in the making with his crushing checks and his smooth skating. The NHL game will wear on anyone under 20 so it’s good to see that he will be rejoining the organization likely for good. His potential is through the roof, and his entry level contract may make other players that are paid more for their services that much more expendable. With the Flyers so close to the cap and unlikely to get real relief any time soon Sbisa getting into rhythm is the hope of all Flyers fans. Unfortunately, despite many hoping for him to play with the Flyers when he returns Stevens also mentioned that he hates skating 7 defensemen in the playoffs. He feels that they become stale while sitting on the bench. With Timonen, Parent, Coburn, Carle, Jones, and Alberts basically slated as the top six Sbisa is going to have a tough sell. What Stevens does seem intent on doing is not only keeping Riley Cote with the club for the playoffs, but also keeping another forward in the lineup as a 13th. Does that mean Jonathan Kalinski, who played so well for a rookie before getting injured, will be getting the nod? Maybe Andreas Nodl in order to bring a little bit of scoring? Luca did play forward for a stint this season, but it’s doutbful he would be the 13th man. All bets are off as to who the last little additions to the roster will be come the end of that final against the Rangers.
JVR – Currently the Flyers top prospect, James van Riemsdyk has been carrying his team into the NCAA ice hockey playoffs. It’s a tough road to the Frozen Four especially when JVR’s back must be sore from carrying the University of New 
Hampshire all season, but he seems confident. The biggest news involving him is that the organization feels he is now mature enough and mentally ready to go pro. On top of that those in charge of hockey operations for the club believe that it is very unlikely that this former 2nd overall selection returns to college for another season. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised either way JVR decides to go, and besides the organization doesn’t exactly need him right now. Still him at least joining the Phantoms is good news where he can get more games in a season, play with better teammates, and will be a phone call away from wearing a Flyers jersey. While the Phantoms may not be the Phantoms next season (nobody seems to know what’s going on while they keep their options open) he will have some help in the minors from prospects like Patrick Maroon, Andreas Nodl, Danny Syvret, and others. We all want to see him full time with the Flyers, but as I say every time I discuss van Riemsdyk, it’s very important that we demonstrate patience. A power forward is a great thing to have and a terrible thing to ruin especially if you’re talking about a 2nd overall selection.
Line Combinations – Some were skeptical when Coach Stevens announced his brilliant scheme to boost the Flyers offense with Briere finally healthy. I can tell you one thing for sure, after 3 goals in 3 games for Briere nobody is questioning whether or not he is ready to once again be the most offensively gifted player on this roster. While Hartnell, Carter, and Briere hit it off instantly with plenty of sparks this weekend, Gagne, Giroux, and Knuble have taken a little more time to get in sync. But of course, when Giroux made a brilliant couple of passes for Gagne’s 30th goal of the season while faking out everyone on the Devils, including guaranteed hall of famer Martin Brodeur, it was a sign that Giroux’s Forsberg-esque vision and Richards-esque patience was ready to play with a true sniper in Gagne (video). As for Carcillo, Richards, and Lupul it’s only a matter of time. Richards and Lupul played incredibly as a pair last season, and Joffrey, who had seemed almost lethargic at times this season, was energetic on the ice when reunited with the Flyers’ captain. Stevens’ certainly likes his lines based on complimentary pairings and certainly likes his players. He has nothing but praise for his hard workers on the ice, and likes his recent lines as a way to bring out their full potentials.
Salary Cap – GM Paul Holmgren says the salary cap will likely go down a bit, but says he is preparing his options. While it is not good news that the cap will be declining it means even more issues for the Penguins who will have almost no money for wingers due to raises to Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal totaling around $6.5m. The Flyers on the other hand are well positioned to play around with their lineup. It’s very possible that Matt Carle or Randy Jones could lose their job to the cheaper Luca Sbisa who has more upside than either of them.
League Reffing – While many coaches, players, and general managers are forced to keep a tight lip on their opinions about the league’s affairs such as reffing by hefty fines, Paul Holmgren did manage to speak a few words on the subject. If you thought us, the fans, were alone in this war against reputation calls against the Flyers don’t think the organization doesn’t see what’s happening. Holmgren mentioned as an example Briere’s situation. As a product of the new NHL where rules are meant to enhance scoring, Briere has done well for himself in the league since the lockout. Originally he thrived with the Buffalo Sabres and hardly got flagged on those iffy calls or when he was doing nothing at all. Now wearing the orange and black he feels as though he is subject to a verity of implications that don’t involve him at all. He was never a broad street bully in reality or in game play. He has always been the small guy who will weave his way in and out of defenses. Now though the reffing is making him look like a cheater and a goon. Danny has in fact noticed the huge difference in the way things are called against him now that he wears a Flyers symbol in the front of his jersey. Paul Holmgren is also the first to call the league and let them know about his frustrations when the refs get out of control. While he doesn’t call every day he mentioned that he almost wants to with the way things go game to game. Stevens earlier in the season held a special mini-camp during practice with it’s focus to cut down on dumb penalties. While it worked for a couple of games the league just tightened the reigns on the Flyers’ ability to keep momentum. Make up calls seem to always go against the other team in the 3rd period and not for the Flyers when they are losing. Make up calls shouldn’t even be a part of the game, but when teams such as the Penguins are down against the Flyers late in the game it almost goes without saying that the Flyers are going to end up in the box. It nearly happened again this Sunday with the late power play goal in the 3rd period against Pittsburgh on national TV resulted in the lead being cut in half. Since the Flyers cannot control the league’s bias the organization has taken matters into it’s own hands through special teams. Stevens has treated the penalty kill as a way to be aggressive and score points, and each powerplay as a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way it has to be. If you were wondering why the Flyers have scored 7 power play goals in the last 3 games or why they lead the league in shorthanded goals, there is your answer.
The bigger problem facing the Flyers seems to be non-calls. Simon Gagne has had his head nearly taken off twice this season, the most discussed occurrence being elbowed by high profile Montreal Canadien Alexei Kovalev in a meeting earlier in the year (video). It’s no secret that Gagne missed all of last season due to a concussion and almost as soon as he takes the ice this year the shots at his begin. The hit is clearly dirty in two different ways: 1) Kovalev’s elbow is clearly high. 2) The puck had already left Gagne’s stick. This is the type of hit that ends careers. Immediately after the game Simon Gagne talked to Paul Holmgren, and he advised his forward to contact the league. Gagne was determined not to go the way of famed Flyer powerforward Eric Lindros. The NHL of course sat on their hands. Even after the second hit on Gagne by a different player later in the season the league did nothing. A couple of games later Claude Giroux was taken out by an elbow from Anaheim Duck Corey Perry (video). The result was a minor concussion that kept Giroux out of the lineup for a while and held his breakout until later in the season. The league did crack down on this suspending Perry for 4 games proving that the suspensions are coming based on result instead of action. It’s scary to think that because the league refuses to treat it’s high profile players the same as every player in the league some of the league’s most talented athletes have their careers in trouble. Holmgren does admit that the league is starting to handle these things in a better way, but even though he thinks the league is getting serious he still has players that are taking cheap shots from players on teams that have a cleaner history than the Flyers. While the Flyers have had a few question reactions this season they have always been only in self-defense, they have always been generally safe, and they have stayed well over 99% clean. It’s a puck at the bottom of the Delaware river compared to what gets missed when a Flyer finds himself on the ice.
Welcoming Back The Orange – The Flyers will now not only be wearing the 3rd jerseys for the rest of their home games in the playoffs, but next season the Flyers will also be orange. That’s right, the Flyers who have been wearing black for home games for a number of years will finally be back to orange once again. For those that are going to miss the black jerseys I offer you one picture:
EDIT: Since so many people have contacted me asking about the orange jerseys next season understand that while this is something we all want, it was just hinted, not explained. Don’t get overly excited yet. I’m confident the Flyers organization is working out a method to insure that it’s fans are happy with the decisions they make and so far it goes without saying that the orange thirds have been a gigantic success. Even if it doesn’t turn out how we all hope and the roles of the black and orange jerseys are reversed do make sure you understand that the Flyers will at least be wearing the orange more often next season. The league regulates when teams wear their third jerseys by forcing each organization to request certain days. It’s very understandable with the recent success of the jersey that should the Flyers not go to them full time the team would obviously schedule more games wearing the orange thirds that we all love.
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