Hockey Post: Flyers Clean Up

The Boys Clean Out Their Lockers for a Fresh Start Next Season

Next year is brilliant with possibility for the next season; with an influx of fresh Flyers blood, the return of long-injured Simon Gagne, and a near-impossible recovery from worst to third-round hockey, the Flyers are looking forward to a bring future, and perhaps a Stanley Cup.

“The overall season was pretty good, but not good enough. I’m here like everybody else; to win the Stanley Cup and we didn’t do that. Hopefully we can do that next year,” said Kimmo Timonen. Timonen's foot is slowly gaining back feeling; I'm hoping a long summer of relaxation and recovery will do it good, so Timmo can return as the brilliant D-Man we've known all along.

“I think when it’s all said and done, from where we were last year to where we are this year, mostly a lot of positive things came out of it,” added Derian Hatcher. “Being a part of it last year, I am proud of these guys. I think this team has a bright, bright future.”

Richards is equally excited about the next season, his shinny new 12-year contract with Philadelphia proof of his fantastic season. “I think expectations are good for a team, and goals are better for a team,” he said. “I think coming into this year we might not have set our goals as high, and as the year went on, obviously we changed them. We expect more [next year] than I think we did coming into this year. I don’t think too many people gave us much of a [chance] this year." And no wonder, with a record-breakingly BAD season last year. Richards, along with some of the new players on the team, such as Briere, Biron, and Parent, have spiced up the team's roster, returning the "Bully" mentality to what had been a lackluster team.

Richards: "With the players that we have here and how young we are, and really a good, hard-working team, you can’t help but be excited for the future.”

However, he gets a little wary when someone mentions the phrase "future captain" to him. “I’m still learning so much from everybody. [Jason Smith] is the best captain…I’ve not been around too many, but just the way he carries himself, the things he does for his teammates…he would do anything for a teammate,” he said. “Then there’s Hatcher, and Kimmo, and Danny. I don’t feel I’m ready right now. I feel like I’m learning so much from different people. I like the position I’m in as a little bit of a leader [as alternate captain], but there’s so many leaders in our dressing room, that I don’t think it’s the right time.”

You hear such things as "lots of fun," and "a great team to play for" more out of Flyers then any other team in the league, so it's no wonder that most players are hoping to continue to play for the Flyers. “Obviously, I don’t want to go anywhere," Carter said, when asked about his future in the NHL. "I love playing in Philadelphia, and I want to be here for a long time. We have to sit down with my agent and everybody, and hopefully we can get something done as soon as possible.”

Briere also has high hopes for the future, as he looks forward with a long road on the Flyers. The already 30-year-old has quite a contract, and feels secure in his place on the team. “I feel like we’re just starting to reach where we can go,” said Danny. “We’re climbing, and just starting to get noticed. Everybody knows the commitment of this organization, so it’s very positive.”

So how is Simon feeling anyway? “I’m feeling very good right now," he says, having only played 25 games this year because of bad sife-effects from a head injury. "If you look it’s been almost three months since the last injury, and from this point on I’m very happy the way things are going. Symptom-wise, I think I’m 100 percent."

After a long summer of training (and hopefully better conditioning), the Flyers should start the season with a kind of confidence that hasn't been felt in their Philly dressing room in a long time. "I think it’s encouraging to see the point that we have gotten to," John Stevens added, "but I think it’s also important to realize there is still a lot of work to be done to close the gap on the teams that are ahead of us.”

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Last Hockey Post: May 20, 2008

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