Bill Meltzer: Umberger Eager to Erase Thoughts of Injury-Marred 2014-15 Season

As terrible as it sounds, it's good to have this information now. Vinnie & RJ were both 4.5 million dollar albatrosses around this team's Salary capped necks. A team can carry one of those and still be successful, but not two. The idea that one, or both, of these players might regain some of their former form is as important as guys like B. Schenn and Coots taking the next step. The 2015-16 Flyers will go as far as their questionable players will take them. And they have a lot of questionable players. Though it sounds like they have a lot of motivated questionable players too. If something or someone can tap into that, that is a recipe for a championship team.

Personally, I'm just happy for the Umberger family that RJ is feeling better. That alone is worth quite a lot to this Philly fan.

man desean wouldn't have dropped that pass

Gotta tip the cap to Umberger for taking a beating from all the fans, coaches, and media on his poor play without making an excuse. Hopefully he can come back and contribute. Would love him and Vinny to both battle each other for proving themselves to keep each other on their toes and motivated.

Hammy would have dropped him 5 yds from the line of scrimmage

I really do like how motivated some of our players are coming into camp/season. Matt Read is coming back from injury and knows it's a year to forget, Gagner will be playing for a contract for his future as well as his goal to make playoffs, Umberger is healthy and ready to play in comfort for first time in while, and then we also have Vinny who hired conditioning coach earlier in the summer than he usually does. could have some nice depth if all these guys show up; and could help Schenn and Couts. As well as G and Jake getting less attention

I really do like how motivated some of our players are coming into camp/season. Matt Read is coming back from injury and knows it's a year to forget, Gagner will be playing for a contract for his future as well as his goal to make playoffs, Umberger is healthy and ready to play in comfort for first time in while, and then we also have Vinny who hired conditioning coach earlier in the summer than he usually does. could have some nice depth if all these guys show up; and could help Schenn and Couts. As well as G and Jake getting less attention
- arichardson22

Therefore there is no excuses for anyone! I am expecting at least 20 goals from Read. Umberger says he is healthy therefore he should have at least 15 goals and not look like a corpse out there. Staying healthy is key but I just want to see a competitive team on a nightly basis that can produce secondary scoring and give their goalie a legit chance.

man desean wouldn't have dropped that pass
- 2Real

Reggie White would have gotten da birds some more pressure on the QB.

Therefore there is no excuses for anyone! I am expecting at least 20 goals from Read. Umberger says he is healthy therefore he should have at least 15 goals and not look like a corpse out there. Staying healthy is key but I just want to see a competitive team on a nightly basis that can produce secondary scoring and give their goalie a legit chance.
- 3flyerkids

I don't know how much Umberger will produce offensively, but I just want him to play the style we've seen before. He says guys have said he looks faster, so that's a good sign. If he can get up and down the ice well, be strong in the corners and play solid 2-way hockey while chipping in some offense on the bottom-6 (say, 12 goals and 25 points), I'll be happy.

Hi Bill,

I asked yesterday, but I think it was too late: Why isn't Nick Cousins at Rookie Camp?

Thanks.

Hi Bill,

I asked yesterday, but I think it was too late: Why isn't Nick Cousins at Rookie Camp?

Thanks.
- ritns028

I'm not Bill, but I'd guess he's no longer considered a "rookie." With the exception of the NCAA players on AHL deals without a season of pro play (Parks and Lukko) they're all players who were drafted 2012 or later.

I don't know how much Umberger will produce offensively, but I just want him to play the style we've seen before. He says guys have said he looks faster, so that's a good sign. If he can get up and down the ice well, be strong in the corners and play solid 2-way hockey while chipping in some offense on the bottom-6 (say, 12 goals and 25 points), I'll be happy.
- jmatchett383

I hear you.. But I want more from him at 4.6 M.
The pain of Vinny and his 4.5 wasting away. is enough

I don't know how much Umberger will produce offensively, but I just want him to play the style we've seen before. He says guys have said he looks faster, so that's a good sign. If he can get up and down the ice well, be strong in the corners and play solid 2-way hockey while chipping in some offense on the bottom-6 (say, 12 goals and 25 points), I'll be happy.

-- jmatchett383

I would be elated if he could produce 13-18 goals, and 15-20 assists, but I think more realistically it's 8-13 goals and 10-15 assists, as you basically stated. I would still be happy with those numbers, especially if he can provide solid 2-way play.

He's big, strong and smart, so, it's not far fetched to think he will bounce back, even if he's lost a step.

I hear you.. But I want more from him at 4.6 M.
The pain of Vinny and his 4.5 wasting away. is enough
- 3flyerkids

If you're looking for second line numbers from him, prepare to be disappointed. It's very unlikely that he'll live up to his contract, but if he can be a good 2-way player who helps to provide some secondary (even tretiary) scoring, it's a vast improvement.

Thanks Bill. Good information about Umberger. I think some of what he went through was a fear of being replaced, or dumped if he was out for any length of time. But, as he found out, the older that you get, the longer it takes to recover from injuries. I hope that he is good to go this season, and will get some preseason playing time to figure out where he stands physically.
VL is another player that I hope can figure out his game. I really don't know where he would fit in with the team, and be effective. I am still surprised that he, and the Flyers haven't come to some sort of arrangement for him to leave the team, and try to fit in somewhere else.
If Read can regain his previous form, that would be a big plus for the team. It was mentioned that he was dealing with injuries as well. So, preseason might be a good place for him to gauge where he is at physically, and mentally. If he can play an aggressive, and attacking game, he can be an effective two-way player.
I am also curious to see how Neuvirth adapts to play in Philly. With Washington he was inconsistent, and then he bounced around a little with some trades. With the two year contract, it might help him to settle down, and focus on his game. I know that he has the skills to be an effective goalie, but I want to see how the mental part of his game is. With Washington, he was an emotional player. However, I realize that it may have been a maturity issue.

I just don't get this "warrior attitude" stuff sometimes. If you can't skate you can't play. I don't care how tough a guy is if he can't produce. A veteran, like Umbereger, shouldn't be afraid to admit he's hurt. If players arent going to admit to injuries then isnt it up to the training staff to be more proactive? Everyone who saw Umberger play could see there was something wrong with him. Can't a trainer test a players strength and see he can't push off? Don't you order tests at that point? Get an MRI? If they see he's trying to gut it out thru an injury and is playing poorly, why not get it fix right then?

I just don't get this "warrior attitude" stuff sometimes. If you can't skate you can't play. I don't care how tough a guy is if he can't produce. A veteran, like Umbereger, shouldn't be afraid to admit he's hurt. If players arent going to admit to injuries then isnt it up to the training staff to be more proactive? Everyone who saw Umberger play could see there was something wrong with him. Can't a trainer test a players strength and see he can't push off? Don't you order tests at that point? Get an MRI? If they see he's trying to gut it out thru an injury and is playing poorly, why not get it fix right then?
- Dkos

It's different for every player. A guy like Kimmo Timonen could sustain tons of damage and still get out there and produce. If you can play to a high level with injuries, then you play (remember Bergeron playing with multiple broken ribs and a collapsed lung???) but, if you can't help the team, then it's on the team to shut you down.

Well... kind of a sad story. Being in so much pain not even being able to play,with his kids. I'm pulling for rj this year. If he can get 10g20a or vice versa, I'd consider it a successful season for him

It's different for every player. A guy like Kimmo Timonen could sustain tons of damage and still get out there and produce. If you can play to a high level with injuries, then you play (remember Bergeron playing with multiple broken ribs and a collapsed lung???) but, if you can't help the team, then it's on the team to shut you down.
- jmatchett383

What I don't understand is how the coaches and trainers, who interacted with him on a DAILY basis, couldn't see that his skating was labored and that his play was CLEARY suffering. It was obvious to all of us for crissakes!!

He should have been scratched and shut down much earlier than he was, keeping him in the lineup was inexcusable.

What I don't understand is how the coaches and trainers, who interacted with him on a DAILY basis, couldn't see that his skating was labored and that his play was CLEARY suffering. It was obvious to all of us for crissakes!!

He should have been scratched and shut down much earlier than he was, keeping him in the lineup was inexcusable.
- BiggE

The only thing that I can think of is that the team thought that a well below-average Umberger was better than any other options (Cousins, Laughton, Straka, etc.). Also, not sure how LTIR works, not sure if he would qualify since it wasn't a new injury, more of a lingering one.

man desean wouldn't have dropped that pass
- 2Real

He wouldn't have been over the middle because that wasn't much his thing, but technically, I guess you're right.

A healthy, hungry, productive Umberger is quite an addition to the Flyers. Add in Gagner, Read, (maybe VLC?) and this could be a real solid core of forwards playing for pride, contracts, and a spot in the playoffs.

Can't wait til the season starts.

Well... kind of a sad story. Being in so much pain not even being able to play,with his kids. I'm pulling for rj this year. If he can get 10g20a or vice versa, I'd consider it a successful season for him
- benjichronic

The guy has been a pretty good citizen since his previous stint on the Flyers, so I'm cool with giving him the benefit of the doubt. I think he's considered a bit of a sunk cost anyway, so anything they can get from him is gravy.

A healthy, hungry, productive Umberger is quite an addition to the Flyers. Add in Gagner, Read, (maybe VLC?) and this could be a real solid core of forwards playing for pride, contracts, and a spot in the playoffs.

Can't wait til the season starts.
- wolfhounds

Can't come soon enough.

He wouldn't have been over the middle because that wasn't much his thing, but technically, I guess you're right.
- johndewar

Man, Jerry Rice would have caught that. Calvin Johnson would have, as well.

Unlike Desean, they wouldn't have alligator-armed it, and aren't (weren't) terrified of going across the middle.