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Post by el_duderino on Aug 26, 2008 23:03:33 GMT -5
Any opinions on having him tryout with the team for now? Yes/no/indifferent? Any price preference if you're good with having him? Too late for me to think/analyze this (even though the news is a couple days old...) - will post opinions later.
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Post by Dr Dan Stantz on Aug 28, 2008 13:26:52 GMT -5
I'm quite happy with the move. At best, he comes in and plays well enough to earn a spot, and that will certainly help the PP. Berard is a good puck mover. He has some injury history, but if he's not up to snuff, you just don't sign him at the end of camp. At worst, he comes in, he makes some kids realize they gotta play harder to make the team, they do that, and you don't sign Berard.
What I think this means though is one of two things, as I think he will make the team, either Parent is going to start the year on the Phantoms, or Kukkonen is gonna get traded. I'd probably like Parent to start with the Phantoms. I really like him, and I want him on this team, but I also don't see the point in rushing him. He's going to be one of our best defenseman within the next 3-5 years, I say we just let it happen naturally.
That said, here is how I think the lines are going to shake out now:
Timonen-Coburn Jones-Eminger Vaananen-Berard Kukkonen
Hatcher (LTIR)
Timonen will be on the 1st PP unit with Richards on the point as well, with Berard and Coburn on the 2nd PP unit. I can also see us trying to fit Jones and Eminger in on some PP time as well, which might see Richards move back up front for the PP. He had started to do that in the playoffs anyway, and he and Briere were just nasty on the PP together. So many times Richards hit Briere with that pass to the far side of the net without even being able to see him. I really hope they try these 2 out on a line together in preseason for a bit and see if it works.
But yea, also very interesting to note, the Flyers did not initiate contact with Berard. Berard and his agent came to the Flyers with this proposal.
I expect if he does make the team that he will be signed at a very low number, $1 million or under.
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