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Things are getting very weird in Philadelphia. Just about one week after announcing a stern warning from club chairman Ed Snider that the Flyers would have to lessen their payroll in the future, the Flyers on Monday signed free-agent defenseman Ulf Samuelsson to a two-year deal for about $4 million. That signing is expected to be the first in what promises to be a series of moves over the next few weeks, and perhaps the first of some major moves, which will reverberate through the organization the entire season.
Whatever their issues have been, neither Clarke nor Lindros would allow the situation to interfere with the team's preparation. However, the whole matter has produced a very unhealthy atmosphere. There is no public sniping, but as the saying goes, the silence between the front office and Lindros is deafening. The question now faced by the Flyers as an organization is whether they want to keep Lindros as their foundation. On the other hand, Lindros -- who has always maintained that he wants to play his entire career as a Flyer -- could be having second thoughts. The ideal "fix" would be a succession of power games from the Flyers, led by Lindros and the old Legion of Doom with linemates John LeClair and Mikael Renberg. Winning heals all wounds in the NHL, and the Flyers are in need of some quick healing in the form of victories. As for the signing of Samuelsson, what made the Flyers brass change their tune about spending money? How about a woeful start in which the club did not win its first game until a 5-2 victory against Buffalo on Sunday night. When Therien was benched Sunday against Buffalo, it was a good indication the Flyers wanted to upgrade their defense. They have tried repeatedly to get a team interested in Richardson, but his hefty paycheck makes him difficult to deal. Indeed, the Flyers could agree to pay some of his contract, but that idea would be filed under last week's dictum that the club has to be more fiscally responsible. For whatever reason, Therien has always been an easy target for coaches and fans in Philadelphia, and he would be an enticing name in a bigger trade after the Samuelsson deal. As for the coach, Snider on Monday dismissed a recent report that the coach was going to be fired within the week. As we saw with the change in heart over increasing the payroll, there can be a swift change of heart in Philadelphia. Several sources close to the organization indicated last week that Neilson was in real danger of losing his job. Maybe the last life saver the club sent to Neilson was the decision to acquire Jody Hull, who had been cast off by the Atlanta Thrashers. Hull has always been a favorite of Neilson, and the Flyers needed to upgrade their penalty killing with Rod Brind'Amour out of the lineup until January. Thus, they got the upgrade they needed, and they also gave Neilson one last weapon to turn things around. As if the heat needed to get turned up any higher, the Flyers have back-to-back dates this week with the Rangers. And that rivalry always gets things heated up another 100 degrees.
Yashin money could go to Juneau Already missing Norris Trophy winner Al MacInnis because of a broken left fibula, the St. Louis Blues now face a lengthy stretch without forward Geoff Courtnall -- who might be forced into retirement. Courtnall suffered his second Grade II concussion in less than a year on Saturday night when he collided with Toronto's Bryan Berard. It took Courtnall, 37, more than four months to recover from his last concussion, and many people in the organization are concerned for his long-term health if he tries to return, and they fear this will mark the end of his career. On the ice, the Blues will have to make alterations to their lineup. The Blues do not appear tempted by the free agent market, which still has Mark Tinordi available as a defensemen, and Pat Verbeek as a forward. Instead, the Blues are more likely to revamp their forward lines, and try to integrate some of their minor-league talent to get them through until MacInnis returns.
Three veterans sure to be followed by trade rumors It took a lot of money to get Theo Fleury to leave his rodeo roots of the wild West. But now that he's in New York, Fleury has made a couple of changes with the Rangers. For one, he's gone back to wearing a face shield, perhaps to protect him from the glare of Broadway -- or maybe he just got smart.
Rumblings and grumblings around the NHL
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