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Alberts on Alberts

October 13, 2008, 2:12 PM ET [ Comments]
Tim Panaccio
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Andrew Alberts met with the media, in person this time, between periods since he is not dressed for tonight's game against MOntreal.

Naturally, I had to ask him whether he and Scott Hartnell had exchanged pleasantries before the game, given it was Hartnell's hit that severely injured Alberts (post-concussion syndrome) last season.

“I saw him in the hallway, we joked around a bit,” Alberts replied. “That’s part of hockey. I told him I’d get him back in practice. We laughed about it.”

I also asked Alberts what he learned from playing alongside Zdeno Chara in 2006-07before he was moved off to another pairing.

"The simplest way is the easiest way," Alberts said. "Don't try to be the extra guy making a pass. If the pass is there, make it. You look at the way Z plays and he's a good example. He taught me a lot the last couple of years."

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Absolutely shocking death to the Rangers' top draft pick of 2007, Alexei Cherepanov, who died in Russia today playing for Omsk. Former Flyers assistant coach Wayne Fleming coaching Cherepanov over in Russia.

Such a young talent, and just 19 years old. The Flyers had interest in him that draft but as many of you recall, because of the NHL transfer agreement with the Russian teams, there was widespread fear from clubs about signing him. Hence, Cherepanov dropped to 17th with the Rangers taking a chance.

I asked Flyers' coach John Stevens for his reaction.

"I just heard it minutes ago - shocking," Stevens said. "It doesn't mean who he is or what pick he is, a young player in that organization, to lose him is absolutely shocking. It's tragic. You feel bad for the kid and his family. For the Rangers organization, our thoughts are with him."

The Flyers are no strangers to these kind of things. Remember promising, young defenseman Dmitri Tertyshny? He was killed in the off-season (1999) in a freak boat accident, in British Columbia. A number of Flyer prospects were on hand for a summer rookie camp.


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Andrew Alberts arrived late from Boston and is going to take warm-up. He may play tonight but it's not a guarantee.

"We don't have plans to put him in now, it might be a bit much to ask," Stevens said of Alberts. "HE doesn't have a lot of experience but he does have experience. He's a bit older. We played against him in the lockout year in the playoffs [versus the Phantoms]. He's a big guy with mobility and he gives us some size ... He helps the depth on our back end.

"If you look in the East, there's a lot of big teams here. Washington is a big team. Rangers have a big team. Montreal has some big, strong forwards. I think size and a guy with mobility like that can be a very valuable resource to have. I don't he will ever be an offensive guy, but he can get the puck and make that first pass and be a good defender."



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Say hello to Andrew Alberts, former Bruin, now a Flyer ... more later ... but this is the Flyers' release:

Look for the Flyers to announce later that Bill Barber is rejoining the organization in a consultant capacity.

Here's my Alberts' story running on Comcast SportsNet.com:

Click here






BTW: same Alberts who Scott Hartnell concussed last season ...





The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have acquired 6’5”, 220-pound defenseman Andrew Alberts from the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward Ned Lukacevic and a conditional pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, according to club General Manager Paul Holmgren.



"Andrew is a big, competitive defenseman and he skates well,” said Holmgren in making the announcement. “He will bring experience and depth to our team."



Alberts, 27, appeared in 35 regular season games for the Bruins last season, recording two assists and 39 penalty minutes. He was also scoreless in two playoff games for Boston. He missed 47 games due to injury with post-concussion symptoms following a hit in the game at Philadelphia on November 26.



Over parts of three NHL seasons (2005-06 through 2007-08), Alberts has registered one goal and 18 assists for 19 points and 231 penalty minutes in 184 regular season games. He led the Bruins in penalty minutes during the 2006-07 season with 124.



A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Alberts played four seasons (2001-02 through 2004-05) for the Boston College Eagles of the Hockey East Conference, recording 16 goals and 50 assists for 66 points and 243 penalty minutes in 149 games. He was named to NCAA East First All-American Team twice (2003-04 and 2004-05), the Hockey East First All-Conference Team following the 2004-05 season and shared Hockey East’s Best Defensive Defenseman Award for the 2003-04 season.



He was originally drafted by Boston in the sixth round (179th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.



Lukacevic, 22, registered 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points and 52 penalty minutes in 61 regular season games for the Reading Royals (ECHL) last season. He was acquired by the Flyers, along with Patrik Hersley, from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for defenseman Denis Gauthier and a second round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft on July 1, 2008.
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