PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the end of the 2011-12 season.
Holmgren led a remarkable turnaround in his first full season as general manager, helping the team with the worst record in the league in 2006-07 become a Stanley Cup contender before falling in the Eastern Conference finals to the Pittsburgh Penguins this past season.
PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Flyers agreed to multi-year deals with defenceman Randy Jones and forward Riley Cote on Wednesday, keeping two key players who helped them reach the Eastern Conference finals.
Jones agreed to a two-year contract, and Cote signed a three-year deal.
“Randy is a young player and key component of our defensive core, and can play in any type of situation,” Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. “Riley has developed tremendously over the course of last season and will continue to be an important part of this team moving forward.”
TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired defenseman Janne Niskala (YAH-nee NIHS-kah-lah) from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a sixth-round choice in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, it was announced by owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie.
Niskala, 26, was acquired by Philadelphia last week from Nashville for forward Triston Grant and a seventh-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot, 200-pound native of Vasteras, Sweden recorded 19 goals, 44 points and 81 penalty minutes in 80 regular season games for the Predators’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, this past season. He led Admirals defensemen in goals (19, second among AHL defensemen) and points (44, tied for 11th among AHL defensemen). Though born in Sweden, Niskala is a Finnish citizen and was the leading scorer among defensemen for bronze medal-winning Team Finland at the 2008 IIHF World Championships.
Syracuse, NY (June 21, 2008) - The Syracuse Crunch announced that the Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired center R.J. Umberger and a fourth round pick (118th overall) in the 2008 Entry Draft from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a first round pick (19th overall) and a third round pick (67th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Umberger, 26, is a three-year NHL veteran who has appeared in 228 career games, registering 49 goals 67 assists and 78 penalty minutes with the Flyers. He collected 50 points (13g, 37a) with 19 penalty minutes in 74 games in 2007-08, setting career highs in assists and points. He added 16 points (11g, 5a) and 12 penalty minutes in 22 playoff games, helping the Flyers reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
EDMONTON - The Edmonton Oilers traded defenceman Danny Syvret to the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday for forward Ryan Potulny.
Syvret, a 22-year-old native of Millgrove, Ont., has recorded one assist and 12 penalty minutes in 26 NHL games over two seasons. He had 20 points (2-18) and 43 penalty minutes in 63 regular-season games for the Springfield Falcons and Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League last season.
“Danny is a puck-moving defenceman that sees the ice well and will improve our depth,” Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. “He had some success playing with (Flyers) Jeff Carter and Mike Richards at the 2005 world junior championship as a member of Team Canada.”
VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) -Kimmo Timonen’s return from injury suddenly seems much closer than that of Philadelphia Flyers defense partner Braydon Coburn.
The All-Star was all but ruled out for the season a week ago, on the eve of the Eastern Conference finals, when it was revealed he had a blood clot in his left ankle. But after a visit to his doctor Thursday, just hours before the Flyers extended their season with a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the prognosis got a whole lot better.
VOORHEES, N.J. - Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Brandon Coburn was ruled out Thursday for a second straight game after his swollen left eye didn’t show enough improvement.
Coburn was struck in the face by a puck in the opening minutes of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final last Sunday and sat out Tuesday when the Flyers lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins to fall into an 0-3 hole. Coburn didn’t break any bones, but severe swelling forced his left eye to close. He was able to practise Wednesday and hoped to play in Game 4.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -Putting two goals into the Flyers’ net in less than five minutes was hardly exceptional for Evgeni Malkin. When he put them on their backsides, well, that was embarrassing for a team with a reputation for being bullies.
The Flyers are learning there are two sides to these fast-flying Penguins, either of which can take an opponent out of a game - something Pittsburgh has done consistently while winning nine of its first 10 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
PITTSBURGH - Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Braydon Coburn was struck in the face with a shot by Pittsburgh’s Hal Gill early in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Sunday night.
Gill took a shot from the left point that apparently deflected off Evgeni Malkin’s stick and struck Coburn near the left eye less than two minutes into the first period. Coburn dropped to the ice, bleeding, but soon got up without assistance and went to the dressing room with a towel held to his face.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn was struck in the face with a shot by Pittsburgh’s Hal Gill early in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Sunday night.
Gill took a shot from the left point that apparently deflected off Evgeni Malkin’s stick and struck Coburn near the left eye less than two minutes into the first period. Coburn dropped to the ice, bleeding, but soon got up without assistance and went to the dressing room with a towel held to his face.
