The Flyers add a scorer to their offense with Zherdev.


According to Dmitry Chesnokov , reports in Russia indicate that the Philadelphia Flyers have signed free agent right winger Nikolai Zherdev to a contract, but the financial terms have yet to be release. In fact, there has been no confirmation by the Flyers.

Zherdev played in Russia last season with Atlant Moscow Oblast of the KHL after the New York Rangers let him walk following arbitration in which he was rewarded $3.9 million from the arbitrator. The 25-year-old scored 13 goals and 26 assists in 52 games.

The former No. 4 overall pick immediately becomes the top ranked right winger on the Flyers roster, but will need an attitude adjustment to reach his full potential. Zherdev is unreliable in his own zone, takes shifts off, very inconsistent and can be very selfish.

On the bright side, Zherdev is one of the most offensively gifted individuals with blazing speed, and can do pretty much whatever he wants with the puck. He’s very dangerous in one-on-one situations, and will put points on the scoresheet.

By signing Zherdev, it’s almost set in stone that Simon Gagne will be traded to create cap space, however it makes a little more sense with Zherdev in the fold. It also increases the chances of the Flyers letting Daniel Carcillo walk after his arbitration hearing more likely.
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James Van Riemsdyk is out to make room for Carcillo.



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Dan Carcillo should make a big impact in Game Two.


According to several Flyers beat writers, forward Danny Carcillo will be inserted back into the lineup for Game Two of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks Monday night at the United Center.

Carcillo has been a healthy scratch since Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals when Peter Laviolette took him out of the lineup for the return of Jeff Carter.

The decision to remove Carcillo from the lineup was one that I never understood because he’s an important piece to the puzzle with the energy he brings each night. But even forget his physical side -- he’s still a damn good hockey player.

When the Flyers traded away fan favorite Scottie Upshall along with a second round draft pick for Carcillo, it was immediately called a salary dump as Carcillo was another goon leading the NHL in penalty minutes.

Carcillo continued his bad rap by taking stupid penalty after stupid penalty, and running around looking for fights. He was a glorified Riley Cote.

Yet I kept hearing that he had some good hands along with some good hockey skills, but I couldn't believe it because every time I looked for him, he was sitting in the penalty box.

That is until he took a turn for the better in his first full season with the Flyers.

Carcillo has learned to play with an edge, but not to cross the line like he did way too often last year. He learned when to drop his gloves, and when to walk away. He learned how to get under the skin of others to draw a penalty.

And Carcillo showed to the city of Brotherly Love that he can do more than just fight and throw hits, that he has pretty good hands and can create scoring chances with a good forecheck.

Carcillo scored 10 goals playing mostly on the fourth line before getting first line minutes playing alongside Mike Richards and Simon Gagne late in the season.

He had chemistry with Richards and Gagne, and he stayed on their wing for the first two rounds of the playoffs. Carcillo has six points in 15 playoffs games this postseason, including an overtime winner against the Devils.

Scratching Carcillo was a tough decision for Laviolette, but he knows what buttons to push. It was a move that was doubted by many, but no one really said that Lavvy didn't know what he was doing.

When Carter and Ian Laperriere were returning from injury, the Flyers were playing well on all cylinders. You knew it was a tough move to take someone out of the lineup, Carcillo just happened to be the guy.

You can bet that Carcillo is going to come out on a mission Monday night as he wants to be a difference maker, he wants to contribute. Expect a very energized Carbomb against Chicago.

While Carcillo enters the lineup, no one knows who will be exit as a couple reporters have heard difference names. Anthony SanFilippo heard it's Ryan Parent while John Boruk hears it's Darroll Powe.

Do the Flyers scratch Parent, and go with 13 forwards against the Blackhawks or do they replace a forward with Carcillo? And if it's the latter, who do you take out of the lineup?

I think the Flyers have to get Parent out of the lineup whether you dress 13 forwards or you replace him with Oskars Bartulis or Danny Syvret. All I know is that he cannot play another game in the Finals.

Parent played 41 seconds in Game One, and was responsible for Chicago's first goal. He didn't take another shift after the Troy Brouwer tally.

In other news, the Flyers will start Michael Leighton for Game Two against the Blackhawks after allowing five goals on 20 shots in Game One.
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