The Flyers’ decision to take a chance on Nikolai Zherdev is a lot more justifiable now that it has been learned that the deal is just for one season and will pay him $2 million. In addition to its potential immediate impact on the lineup, the one-year deal also gives the club the opportunity to evaluate both Zherdev and Ville Leino (who will become an unrestricted free agent after the season) an…

With nothing new to talk about on the Nikolai Zherdev or trade fronts, I will devote today’s blog to discussing the top defense prospects in the Flyers’ system. The organization has done a poor job over the years at developing homegrown defensemen who become long-term NHL contributors in Philadelphia.

It is very telling that the entire projected starting defense next season will be comprised o…

I asked the Flyers if they were not going to announce the Zherdev signing until a Gagne trade had been made, and their official response was “Nothing to Report re: any transactions…

stay tuned…

Simon Gagne said yesterday that he has not waived his no-trade clause. That does not, however, mean that the Flyers have not spoken with Gagne about getting the go-ahead to seek trade possibilities or gotten his imput on teams to which he’d accept a trade.

****

News that Nikolai Zherdev had decided to play for the Philadelphia Flyers first broke in Russia yesterday, appearing on the Sport…

According to reports from Tim Panaccio and other and sources with whom I’ve spoken today, the Flyers are poised to re-sign goaltender Michael Leighton and have him compete for the starting job next season. From what I heard today, the club would still prefer not to go into the season with Leighton, Brian Boucher and Johan Backlund as their sole options and, as such, is considering bringing in ot…

There are few NHL stars who simply hit the ground running upon their arrival in the league and emerged steadily as dominant players in the world’s top league. Most players go through ups and downs in their early seasons and then reach a jump-off point from which their careers take off.

In the case of Claude Giroux, we will start to find out next season if his outstanding run during the Stanle…

The acquisition of Dan Hamhuis to the Flyers’ defense corps gives the Flyers the best 1-to-5 group that I ever remember the team assembling. From what I understand, Hamhuis’ addition will not affect the club’s efforts to resign restricted free agent Braydon Coburn (who made $1.3 million last season), nor will the club actively shop Matt Carle (who has two seasons left at a $3.4 million cap hit)….