Very impressive turnout at Skate Zone today on 2 fronts:
First, a lot of fans showed up to see the player scrimmages.
Second, a lot of players are in those scrimmages, including goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
I chatted with Johan Backlund today. He had the look of concern on his face. He tells me he still has pain in his left hip and groin area from the surgery on June 25.
Tomorrow marks 11 full weeks since the surgery. Backlund said several times to me that he is anxious to get back on the ice and start stopping pucks.
He began light skating 3 weeks ago. This week, goalie coach Jeff Reese shots some pucks at him ... albeit, Backlund was in a STANDING position. He has not had to make any movements that would really test the hip or groin.
Backlund plans to do the full testing on MONDAY when the rookies hit the ice. Keep in mind, the Flyers said they expect him to start camp with the vets on Sept. 17. Although players hit the ice on the 18th and not the 17th.
So, Backlund still has more than a week to play with before you can say he's not healthy ... He is very much aware of the "pressure" he is facing in this camp w/Michael Leighton, Brian Boucher and Bobrovsky.
The scouts think Bobrovsky could be the guy in camp who surprises all ... The Flyers hope he will be NHL-ready sometime this season.
But at least one scout tells me that the Russian could win a spot on the Flyers' roster this fall. BTW: Bobrovsky is taking English lessons.
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Chris Pronger was walking with a limp today. GM Paul Holmgren told me that Pronger had an adverse reaction to a drug given to his right knee in rehab and that's why he was limping. Holmgren said it wasn't serious.
Since Pronger is not expected on the ice in camp, it's a moot point right now whether he is limping for not.
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Bill Guerin is in the player scrimmages but has not bites on a contract. Holmgren is allowing him to scrimmage with the players since they are entirely on their own.
Here's my story on CSNPhilly.com:
click here 
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