Goodbye Lupul & Sbisa, Hello Pronger

So, on draft day, the Flyers made a pretty blockbuster-type deal. Flyers traded pretty boys Lupul and Sbisa (and some future picks) to the Ducks for Chris "don't mess with me" Pronger. This deal takes the team's hotness level down a notch, but will help with veteran leadership and defense. I expected one of the following to be traded: Briere (yeah, someone would take that contract), Gagne, Hartnell or Lupul. I think the best candidate from that list was picked. I will miss the young Sbisa, who I think could develop into a #1 or #2 d-man. I will also miss those picks. In keeping with the past couple of years, the Flyers are giving those things out like Happy Meal toys. Make a random trade and get a free pick (or 7) in the draft! Hopefully they can sign Pronger to a 3-4 year, cap friendly contract and this will not be a one year rental.

Were You Shocked???!?

Were you surprised by the Emery signing announcement? I was. I did not expect that after the special CSN did on it last week or insane amount of internet chatter about it. I will withhold judgment, except to say that I hope he has cleaned up his act and won't go around punching anybody in the lockerroom (unless it's someone I don't like. Then feel free.)

This also means that one of the nicest, funnest and all around great guys will probably not be here next year. No, not Briere, (like any team would take on his salary and NMC ... bahaha) Biron! I will miss you. Hopefully you will find a niche somewhere, and Emery will not cause the team to implode. And maybe he will help us to have a shorter offseason next year.

T-Shirts: Who Approved These?

So I went to Champs Sports (the store, not the bar) the other night, and as is my custom in any sports apparel store, I checked out the Flyers stuff. They had a lot of orange jerseys (all Briere), and some really cool orange t-shirts, with the player names and numbers "cut out" of the shirt and overlaid with different (jersey-type) fabric. It was cooler than it sounds, because it's hard to explain. Anyway, I almost bought one. The problem? Well, let's just say it had to deal with whose name was on the shirt. Prospal. Yes, you read that right. The shirts (which were marked at the full price of $25, by the way) were all emblazoned with Prospal's name. A player that hasn't been on the team for almost a year. Which lead me to ask, were these left-overs? Did someone make a mistake in ordering or making them? I hope that no one pays full price for one of those. I'd be bargaining them down to $10. You know, if I liked Prospal.