More fun with copyright infringement

Another post, another win recap by our orange and black-clad heroes. Philly won 2-1 in a shootout over T.J. Oshie, B.J. Cambeen, and other weirdly-named members of the St. Louis Blues. Claude Giroux again impressed in the shootout, making Steve Mason look absolutely foolish with dekes straight out of The Mighty Ducks. This is not unlike how Giroux embarrassed also-stupidly-named Tuukka Rask of Boston back at the end of October in a shootout. Video here if you didn’t see it. It’s absolutely a must-watch.

Ray Emery looked solid, stopping 3/4 shootout attempts by St. Louis to go along with his 30 saves. Scott Hartnell scored the only goal in regulation for the Flyers, going all power-forward and crashing the net like it was a wedding. Miko Pyorala actually had the shootout tally that tipped the scales in the Flyers’ favor, but Giroux’s goal is the one worth taking note of. Seriously, go watch that video. There’s even music! I warn you though: It’s tricky.

And now, once again, we return you to your regularly-scheduled rip off of a once-popular concept. Today: Defensemen – or – The Chris and Kimmo Show!

That title needs work, guys. And no, Thr Pronger/Timonen Smile Time Variety Hour isn’t any better.

Still totally original, people.

Considering the title, the main focus of this section will be Kimmo Timonen and first-year Flyer Chris Pronger. Timonen makes $7M this year while Big Chris hauls in $6.25M. After trading for Pronger in the offseason, Philly locked the massive blueliner up with a seven-year contract extension. The good news about the contract? It’s front-loaded. That means if Pronger’s skills seem like they may be diminishing as he nears his forties (see Lidstrom, Nicklas), it’ll be much easier to unload his salary in the final two years of he deal, where it’s just over half a million.

This, of course, is a fantastic deal for the Flyers. Pronger is arguably the best defenseman in the NHL and is a presence that has been lacking on Broad Street since The Derian Hatcher/Mike Rathje Experien….damnit, even I can’t keep a straight face during that. Still a great bargain, though.

Despite his hefty price tag and large contract, there is light at the end of the Timonen Tunnel. Next year will be his last being paid as an elite defensemen. Following that it drops to $5M in 2011 and finally $3M in 2012 before he hits free agency. Or the world ends. That’s really up to Timonen and the Mayans to work out, isn’t it?

Philly is overpaying for Timonen’s services for the next year and a half. You’ll get no argument from me about that. But paying a great offensive defensemen and a solid blue line presence a combined $8M the final two years of his deal? Yeah. I can live with that. Especially with our franchise’s history of futile play in our own zone. Ugh.

Well, that about wraps it up for De…wait, there are OTHER defensemen on this team? What else haven’t you told me?!?!!?

Matt Carle ($3.5M in 2009 and 2010, $3.8M in 2011, UFA): Carle is the only Flyer defenseman not named Pronger or Timonen signed past this season. Given the way he’s played this season, that’s not necessarily terrible. He has 12 points and spend over 25 minutes a game on the ice, second in both categories only to Pronger. He seems to have upside, and while Carle may be a bit overpaid based on his limited history of success, playing alongside one of the Flyers’ Big Two can only help him improve his game.

Braydon Coburn ($1.4M in 2009, RFA): Thought to be a rising star on the blue line, Coburn suffered serious setbacks in his game last year. He’s still young enough that he could turn it around this year, but in no way will Braydon command the big-money deal he once would have been seeking following this season. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Flyers let Coburn walk following 2009. Which sucks, cause Braydon’s a fun name to say. Bray-don. Sounds classy.

Ryan Parent ($.765M in 2009, RFA): Parent’s play last year brought him some praise throughout the organization. It got to the point where he’d leap-frogged Coburn on the depth chart to play alongside Timonen down the stretch. That says a great deal about what 1940’s detective/Flyers head coach John Stevens thinks of Parent’s ability. He hasn’t gotten a chance to do much this season due to injury, but expect im to be signed to an extension if his play continues to improve upon his return.

Also-Rans (Danny Syvret, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Oskars Bartilus – All under $.6M for 2009, all RFAs): Syvret and OKT may have potential in the NHL, but at this point, it’s way too early to speculate what their level of worth could be. Get on the big-league ice and show me somethin, kids.

Mike Rathje ($3.5M in 2009, UFA):

What a fucking terrible move.

No, that’s not gonna do it.

Seriously. Bobby Clarke is a douchebag for making us STILL suffer through this contract.

Fin

Next Game: Thursday vs. Ottawa

Tags: Christian Ingram, Claude Gir-ewww, copyright infringement, Deal or No Deal, fuck Mike Rathje, Philadelphia Flyers