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Rathje Wants To Force Issue

September 11, 2007, 2:42 PM ET [ Comments]
Tim Panaccio
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Finally, back on the Flyers after the Tour de Phillies and Eagles (yesterday) ...

First off, as I stated before, it would take a major upset in rookie camp for any of these kids to make the Flyers' roster.

Which is why I spent most of today looking at the other sheet of ice
where the veterans were scrimmaging. I was watching Mike Rathje.

Rathje is going to attempt a comeback. This could throw the proverbial wrench into the Flyers' defensive plans.

There are 12 potential NHL defensemen in camp. That includes Rathje and Rory Fitzpatrick, who like forwards Jim Dowd and Jesse Boulerice, are being given a tryout.

Rathje told me today what he told Rob Parent and Chuck Gormley yesterday - that he feels good enough to try to get through this camp and see if the dual hernia surgery from over the summer has lessened the impact of what he suffers from: Piraformis syndrome in his back.

“I’ve got some soreness, but I feel pretty good,” Rathje said. “I still have some symptoms there. But it is not getting worse. I get sore, but I can rest after I skate and it usually goes away. I don’t know if it Piraformis though.”

GM Paul Holmgren reiterated what he has been saying all along. He would welcome a healthy Mike Rathje. A healthy Rathje who can play EFFECTIVELY and that may yet be the big issue here.

“He’s sore right now,” Holmgren said. “Is it a soreness most players gets this time of year from being on the ice? We’ll see. It’s too early to tell.”

I thought Rathje,even when healthy, had great difficulty adjusting to the "new" NHL - more so than Derian Hatcher.

Let's say Rathje were to make this roster. The Flyers salary cap number right now is $48.9 million - adjusted figure as I removed Jussi Timonen and have kept Dennis Gauthier and either Randy Jones or Alexandre Picard (but not both) on the roster.

Rathje's $3.5 million salary would push the Flyers over the $50.3 million cap.

I think what could happen here is that Flyers waive Rathje, if he insists he is healthy and they insist he can't make this team.

He has a no-trade clause. If the Flyers waive him, it may cause movement there if he went to the Phantoms.

All of this is weeks away from happening, but I don't see Rathje moving any of the following players: Kimmo Timonen, Jason Smith, Hatcher, Braydon Coburn, Lassse Kukkonen, Picard or Gauthier.

Gauthier looks to be in very good shape. He's toned up. "I have a job to win in this camp," he said. Gauthier could still end up being traded as the Flyers remain way deep in D-men.

I thought defensive prospects Kevin Marshall and Ryan Parent looked good in the rookie scrimmage.

Those of you coming to the scrimmage this afternoon between the Flyers and Washington Capitals rookies are reminded it was pushed back to 4 p.m.
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