This is kind of what I was thinking about Lindros when I read it. The father question had me thinking immediately, "oh that was a good zinger."

I have the same opinion on Gratton and still hate him to this day because they traded Renberg to get him.
- MBFlyerfan

Renberg was/is definitely one of my all-time favorite Flyers, so I did not enjoy any aspect of the Gratton deal.

Why scratch Rosehill? Only hold talented players accountable.

Sorry, that stuff irks me. Rosehill & Rinaldo get a lot more rope than more skilled guys to be stupid
- Jsaquella

He's on the verge of breaking out, just needs another game or 2 at 3 minutes per and he's going to light it up!

Wow, did anyone read the Stewie blog yet? He really lets Lindros have it.
- MBFlyerfan

Can u link it here please

Can u link it here please
- Daceroni

It's on the front page of Hockeybuzz, in the upper corner under Panaccio's

Wow, did anyone read the Stewie blog yet? He really lets Lindros have it.
- MBFlyerfan

I posted this in his blog but it bothered me that he posted that he did show preference in his calls, not sure if anyone else caught that or not...

I did NOT go out of my way to "invent" penalties on Lindros -- or any player -- but I wasn't going to give that guy a break on anything borderline that I might have let slide with a player who had gained acceptability with me.

"And I think this pretty much sums up most fans’ distaste for officials. The fact that you cannot emotionally detach yourself from calls is what leads to refs being the "third team" on the field. The fact that you openly admit it is even astounding. I am by no means saying it is easy to detach yourself from a positive or negative interaction/feeling you have with each player, but as a PAID employee, you are required to have an unbiased view when calling the games."

Renberg was/is definitely one of my all-time favorite Flyers, so I did not enjoy any aspect of the Gratton deal.
- johndewar

Spot on...I remember commenting when we got him how "soft" he was...massive underachiever...

I posted this in his blog but it bothered me that he posted the he did show preference in his calls, not sure if anyone else caught that or not...




"And I think this pretty much sums up most fans’ distaste for officials. The fact that you cannot emotionally detach yourself from calls is what leads to refs being the "third team" on the field. The fact that you openly admit it is even astounding. I am by no means saying it is easy to detach yourself from a positive or negative interaction/feeling you have with each player, but as a PAID employee, you are required to have an unbiased view when calling the games."
- JW98FlyerFan

Yeah, I caught it, and have zero issue with it.

He wasn't calling phantom penalties on the guy, he was simply not giving him any room, because he hadn't earned it.

I know that I've been on teams with guys who yap at the refs, and they don't get any room for nonsense. Nor should they. Refs know when they had a bad call, and generally try to even things up.

My favorite part was .... I can sit you on the bench, in the penalty box, or in the locker room. Your choice...

My favorite part was .... I can sit you on the bench, in the penalty box, or in the locker room. Your choice...

- FlyersGrace

I remember some of the battles between Big Kjell and Theo Fleury...Samuelsson had a full foot on Theo, but that little bastard never backed down an inch.

I have the same opinion on Gratton and still hate him to this day because they traded Renberg to get him.
- MBFlyerfan

Naw, they traded Renberg to get back the 4 1st-round picks they lost for offer-sheeting Gratton, not for Gratton himself... eventually, Gratton got traded to get Renberg back, lol... you can't make that stuff up. Gratton was also traded for Danny B... talk about a former-Flyer bonanza.

I was also a big Renberg fan but I can be objective in saying the acquisition of Gratton was ill-advised from day one. The team already had Lindros, Brind'Amour (who very grudgingly moved to a wing) and Joel Otto as the top three centers and the real need was on defense and in goal, not for another big center. Additionally, Dainius Zubrus was not ready for a first-line role.

Naw, they traded Renberg to get back the 4 1st-round picks they lost for offer-sheeting Gratton, not for Gratton himself... eventually, Gratton got traded to get Renberg back, lol... you can't make that stuff up. Gratton was also traded for Danny B... talk about a former-Flyer bonanza.
- Tomahawk

You are just making things worse.

I posted this in his blog but it bothered me that he posted that he did show preference in his calls, not sure if anyone else caught that or not...




"And I think this pretty much sums up most fans’ distaste for officials. The fact that you cannot emotionally detach yourself from calls is what leads to refs being the "third team" on the field. The fact that you openly admit it is even astounding. I am by no means saying it is easy to detach yourself from a positive or negative interaction/feeling you have with each player, but as a PAID employee, you are required to have an unbiased view when calling the games."
- JW98FlyerFan

When stewart and fraser were calling games I felt like they weren't a "third team" I couldn't say I felt that way about any other officials.

You are just making things worse.

- MBFlyerfan

Well, if it helps, two of those 1st rounders became Simon Gagne and Justin Williams

You are just making things worse.

- MBFlyerfan

Take solace in the fact that if they didn't get those picks back, they would have missed out on Gagne and Williams (missing Ouellet and Woywitka wouldn't have been so bad, lol)... well worth the price of Renberg + Dykhuis.

Edit: Laught.

You are just making things worse.

- MBFlyerfan

I was at a game earlier this season and I actually saw someone wearing a "55" Gratton jersey.

I wasn't sure if he was wearing it ironically or because he couldn't afford another jersey.

I mean, he could have used hockey tape over the name plate and wrote "Markov" with a sharpie on it, and it would have been better.

I was also a big Renberg fan but I can be objective in saying the acquisition of Gratton was ill-advised from day one. The team already had Lindros, Brind'Amour (who very grudgingly moved to a wing) and Joel Otto as the top three centers and the real need was on defense and in goal, not for another big center. Additionally, Dainius Zubrus was not ready for a first-line role.
- bmeltzer

I always kind of thought acquiring Gratton was a negotiating hedge against the Lindros'. Wasn't Eric's original contract up when they went out and got Gratton?

I was also a big Renberg fan but I can be objective in saying the acquisition of Gratton was ill-advised from day one. The team already had Lindros, Brind'Amour (who very grudgingly moved to a wing) and Joel Otto as the top three centers and the real need was on defense and in goal, not for another big center. Additionally, Dainius Zubrus was not ready for a first-line role.
- bmeltzer

And never was.

When stewart and fraser were calling games I felt like they weren't a "third team" I couldn't say I felt that way about any other officials.
- twotoekenn

I couldnt stand Dovorsky, Magoo, van Massenhoven, and especially Shick.

I always kind of thought acquiring Gratton was a negotiating hedge against the Lindros'. Wasn't Eric's original contract up when they went out and got Gratton?
- johndewar

Funny thing is, if not for arbitrators stepping in, neither Lindros nor Gratton would have ever been Flyers. Lindros would have been a Ranger, and Gratton a 'Hawk.

I was at a game earlier this season and I actually saw someone wearing a "55" Gratton jersey.

I wasn't sure if he was wearing it ironically or because he couldn't afford another jersey.

I mean, he could have used hockey tape over the name plate and wrote "Markov" with a sharpie on it, and it would have been better.
- johndewar

I had one because it cost me $10. I immediately cut off the name plate. So now I just have a nameless 55 sweater.

Yes, exactly. Was going to do it in the section below the game preview but figured I'd just wait instead for the next off-day blog, especially since I can't be there for practice with the team (and myself until New Years) out of town.
- bmeltzer

As a fan, I'm feeling a little guilty about the fact that I'm looking forward to the next NON Flyers game day so I can read Bill's thoughts on these subjects.

Funny thing is, if not for arbitrators stepping in, neither Lindros nor Gratton would have ever been Flyers. Lindros would have been a Ranger, and Gratton a 'Hawk.
- Tomahawk

i know this, but reading it boggles my mind.

And never was.
- youarewrong

Yeah, probably.

But Zubie's played over 1100 NHL games and has over 500-some points.

I think he's made himself a decent career for a guy who never played Major Junior.

And never was.
- youarewrong

He didn't exactly hold OV and Semin back when he was the Cap's #1 C.