FLYERS TRADE TALBOT FOR DOWNIE (1:30 PM)
The Flyers have traded Max Talbot to the Colorado Avalanche and re-acquired former 2005 first-round pick Steve Downie. An unrestricted free agent after this season, Downie carries a $2.65 million cap hit this season.
Early last season, Downie tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on a hit in the corner against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Davis Drewiske. He missed the rest of the season. He returned this year to get a Gordie Howe Hat Trick in his first game of the regular season. He had one goal, seven points and 36 penalty minutes for the Avs prior to today's trade.
Downie, who was getting some top-line time in Colorado, may play his off-wing here with Claude Giroux and Vincent Lecavalier. Downie also got scoring line time in Tampa Bay during his career-best 22-goal, 46 point season with the Lightning while playing under head coach Rick Tocchet.
Talbot, one of the Flyers top penalty killers (averaging 3:35 of shorthanded ice time per game this season), had one goal and two points in 11 games this season. He missed the latter part of last season with a leg fracture but fully recovered over the summer. Talbot was an important piece of a penalty kill that has ranked near the top of the NHL during his stint with the club and is currently ranked 6th in the league.
Flyers GM Paul Holmgren discusses the trade
The on-ice dynamic of this trade is a bit like when Flyers traded Shjon Podein to Avs for Keith Jones. It is not a perfect comparison but it's the general ballpark of what the Flyers hope to get out of this trade and what they are trading in return.
Tocchet, now a CSN Philly analyst, spoke to the assembled media at the Skate Zone via conference call. He said that he doesn't "think there is much of a risk" for the Flyers in this trade. He said that the team has other players capable of stepping up to handle the defensive responsibilities and penalty killing minutes that Talbot handled.
As long as Downie stays reasonably disciplined -- and Tocchet admits there were a few times in Tampa where he "had to read him the riot act" but there were also times of smooth sailing -- his former Bolts coach believes he will be a positive momentum changer for the team. Tocchet also pointed out that Downie is in a contract year, so he'll have plenty of motivation to prove the Flyers right on the deal.
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POST-PRACTICE UPDATE (12:15 PM)
After a day off yesterday, the Flyers went through an intensive hour-long practice at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. In between line rushes and the latter part of practice (long-range passing and one-timers), head coach Craig Berube had the players skating numerous goal line to goal line sprints.
The defense pairings were changed again, with Erik Gustafsson (a healthy scratch on Tuesday) working with Kimmo Timonen and Andrej Meszaros working with eighth defenseman Hal Gill. After practice, Berube said he still has not made up his mind about whether Gustafsson or Meszaros would be in the lineup tomorrow.
Berube denied that the conditioning skating done today had anything to do with the team's standstill play in their third period collapse against Anaheim. He said that he does not see a lack of compete or effort in third periods but believes, apart from the game in Long Island on Saturday, it has become a mental issue for the team to worry about closing out games.
Jay Rosehill took all of the line rushes on the fourth line, along with Max Talbot and Zac Rinaldo. Adam Hall, a healthy scratch the last couple games, appears likely to remain out of the lineup against Washington tomorrow night.
Today's line combinations and defense pairs:
Raffl - Giroux - Lecavalier
Hartnell - B. Schenn - Voracek
Read - Couturier - Simmonds
Rosehill - Talbot - Rinaldo
Hall
Timonen - Gusta
Grossmann - Coburn
Streit - L. Schenn
Meszaros - Gill
While the Flyers were on the ice, it was confirmed by CSN Washington writer (and longtime Flyers beat writer) Chuck Gormley that Alexander Ovechkin will not be in the lineup for the Caps tomorrow night. Berube said that it changes nothing in his mind in terms of preparation or anything else. Steve Mason will get the start tomorrow night and Berube said he'll "see how it goes tomorrow" in deciding whether Ray Emery will get the start in New Jersey on Saturday.
Scott Hartnell discusses his scoring drought and the play of his line
Steve Mason discusses adversity in Columbus helping confidence and focus now
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THURSDAY QUICK HITS
* As the Flyers prepare for tomorrow's home game against Washington, I will have Flyers updates later today after the team practices at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. Practice starts at 10:30 a.m. Caps superstar Alexander Ovechkin is questionable to play tomorrow night.
* Samuel Morin has made the Team QMJHL roster for the Quebec portion of the annual Subway Super Series between the Russian national U20 team and teams representing each of the three CHL leagues. The OHL and WHL rosters have not yet been officially announced. Scott Laughton is a shoo-in for Team OHL, however. Anthony Stolarz (OHL) and Taylor Leier (WHL) also have a shot. Valeri Vasiliev would be a strong candidate for Team Russia, but there are always some odd selections made on the Russian side plus Vasiliev is a regular starter on KHL team Spartak, so it is not a certainty he'll be named to the Super Series roster.
* The Adirondack Phantoms claimed a 2-1 win last night over the Springfield Falcons. Cal Heeter turned back 27 of 28 shots while Kris Newbury and Chris VandeVelde supplied just enough goaltending support to win. It was also a strong game for defenseman Mark Alt, who registered four shots on goal and assisted on VandeVelde's game winning power play goal in the second period.
* Halloween hockey: The Flyers are idle tonight, and have not played a Halloween night game since a 6-1 win over Carolina four years ago. The team has a history of playing rather odd, high-scoring and/or fight filled games on Halloween. There have been seven Halloween games in team history where at least one team has scored six or more goals, including a pair of games where the winning side scored nine goals. The Flyers have been on the winning end of 9-1 (1976 vs Minnesota North Stars) and 9-6 (1993 at Chicago) scores on this date and have also been on the wrong end of 8-4 (1981 vs Canucks) and 7-4 (1987 at Hartford) scores on Halloween night.
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