Emery taunts; I guess we should be afraid or something
by Dominik on Sep 4, 2009 11:42 AM EDT
in This, That & What-Not
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PrintQ: Do you think you're a better goaltender than Marty Biron?
A: "I can't tell you that, but on any given night if we play them this year, we're going to win."
>>Ray Emery Q&A at CSNPhilly
Oh, Ray-ray. It's going to be fun having you in the division, you reformed KHLer you.
Honestly, though, that was one throw-away kicker at the end of what was a pretty interesting interview. Far more substantive stuff was covered regarding Emery's tastes and past in Ottawa. But naturally, that was the money quote used as a headline bullet on XM's NHL Home Ice 90-second, around-the-league wrap this a.m. Don't you just love manufactured outrage? (And don't you love me taking the bait while pretending not to take the bait?)
Frankly, his answer was rooted in truth: He's quite possibly weaker than the former Islanders-killer Biron (thus the hedged "I can't tell you that"), but he is on a better team (hence the bravado): The Islanders went 0-4-2 against the Flyers last year.
Now they have Chris Pronger. The Isles (presumably) have health and John Tavares. Will Biron's skill and motivation against the team that couldn't squeeze his contract wishes under the cap steal the Islanders a win or two? Will Emery's head flare up and cost them a game or soap opera -- or both?
First bout is Nov. 25 at Nassau Coliseum.
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Genius! Lets give the guy already playing for a bigger contract next year more motivation against the team that thought it could do better without him.
I think this is going to be a bad year for the Flyers, and Emery is going to be the most hated man in Philly pretty quickly.
I think this is going to be a bad year for the Flyers, and Emery is going to be the most hated man in Philly pretty quickly.
Sure hope you’re right. Especially on the first part of that statement. As for the latter, he may have some competition with Vick depending on how that whole charade goes.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Yeah, I fear the addition of Pronger means a whole, whole lot. But I’ve got hope Emery creates a major distraction somewhere along the way.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
I don’t doubt Pronger will be effective in the eyes of Philly expectations, but I do wonder if what they gave up for him will actually pay off for the club. I mean, a first round pick in 09 and 10, a guy like Lupul who, to the best of my knowledge, had a healthy following in Philly, and a conditional pick in 2010 or 11 (not all THAT special but still…). I honestly think the only way Philly can justify a move like this is to win it all in three or four years. God help us all. Otherwise they single-handedly shot down some first round prospects that could have developed in the system.
Just my two cents. I could go on, but there’s a time and place.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Haha, oh yeah — I LOVE that they gave up so much for him. If he stays Pronger-level for most of his contract, it might work out.
It seems they’re always re-mortgaging, which is what forces them into scenarios like betting the farm that Ray Emery keeps it together. But I guess you can credit the Pens for forcing them to do something drastic :)
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
A lot of people at the draft were asking me, “Do you think they made that move with the Pens in mind?” Yes and no.
Yes, because what better way to try and make a statement then by hording up the defense to try and counter the explosive offense that bounced Philly from the playoffs two years in a row?
No, because Crosby/Malkin aren’t the only lethal weapons in the East. Someone needs to lock down Ovechkin, E. Staal, Parise, etc. and Pronger just might be the guy to do it.
Besides, you can’t really say defense was the Flyers’ strong point last season. Pronger’s a strong boost for them, no doubt.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
I live outside of Philly, and they made the move for Salary Cap reasons. Little did they know that Biron would sign for hardly anymore then Emery. But at the time Biron was looking for 4 Mill or so.
I think he was referring to the Pronger move rather than the Biron oops.
On that note, though, I agree the Flyers no doubt thought Pronger would help them stop the flashy forwards who have eaten them.
So which happens first: Tavares reaches 10 goals, or Pronger gets his first suspension?
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Playoffs?!?
Yes, because what better way to try and make a statement then by hording up the defense to try and counter the explosive offense that bounced Philly from the playoffs two years in a row?
Now now Frank. You could definitely say that about 2008, but not so much this past year, save for the second half of game 6. The series this year came down to goaltending more than anything else. While Biron didn’t lose the series for us, Fleury won it for you guys.
Besides, you can’t really say defense was the Flyers’ strong point last season. Pronger’s a strong boost for them, no doubt.
That we can agree on. Our defense was pretty awful at times last year. Now that we have two top-level guys in Pronger and Timonen, guys like Coburn, Carle, and Parent who are only going to improve, and Randy Fracking Jones who will have contract-year-itis, we should be much better back there this season.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
a guy like Lupul who, to the best of my knowledge, had a healthy following in Philly
Not exactly. Flyers fans are more upset about losing Sbisa than Lupul. Lupes has talent out the wazoo but is lazy. His style / approach did not suit him well here. In many ways, he was a fitting representative of the whole club last year – very talented but maddeningly inconsistent. Much like the rest of the club, Lupes had all of the tools to win but didn’t use them. He’s been replaced by guys like Pronger and Lappy who know what it takes to win and will do anything to win.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Fun with statistics!
Yeah, I fear the addition of Pronger means a whole, whole lot.
The last two times Pronger was traded, his new team made the Stanley Cup Finals. Edmonton lost in seven thanks to their goalie getting totalled by his own D, and Anaheim won handily in five.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)
Hmmm...
Genius! Lets give the guy already playing for a bigger contract next year more motivation against the team that thought it could do better without him.
Biron will give you guys some reasons to cheer, no doubt. Overall I liked the guy. However, you’ll also have quite a few games where you’ll realize why we let him walk. There will be a game or two where Biron will do something stupid and blow it. And then you will realize that Biron is a decent goalie, but he’ll never win the Cup for you.
I think this is going to be a bad year for the Flyers, and Emery is going to be the most hated man in Philly pretty quickly.
You’ll be right about the Flyers having a bad year if everyone gets hurt. And you’d have more of a chance of being right about Emery if the Flyers had gotten him before this past season instead of now.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
First, I love that signature.
There will be a game or two where Biron will do something stupid and blow it. And then you will realize that Biron is a decent goalie, but he’ll never win the Cup for you.
This sounds a lot like every goalie the Flyers have had since Hextall, v. 1.0, no?
I agree Biron has his inconsistencies, like most goalies. But he’s a massive upgrade for us compared to what we watched last season, and the extra motivation of contract shame should serve him well. Speaking of…
And you’d have more of a chance of being right about Emery if the Flyers had gotten him before this past season instead of now.
This is dependent on him being reformed rather than simply being Emery, though. I’m not saying it won’t happen; I’m not saying it wasn’t a decent gamble by the Flyers considering their cap situation (i.e. Gamble on an upside goalie who should have learned by now, and has ample reason to prove he has). But it’s a dicey game betting that a person was an idiot before, yet has now somehow seen the light.
Either way, it should be fun to watch.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Thanks!
This sounds a lot like every goalie the Flyers have had since Hextall, v. 1.0, no?
Sadly, yes. Until Hextall 1.0 expired, goaltending was quite possibly the organization’s strongest point. Ever since then, fuh-gettaboutit.
Biron will be a massive upgrade for you guys, definitely. He’s going to win a couple games for you, and I hope he does well. But down the road when the Isles are in contention again, Biron won’t be part of the equation.
But it’s a dicey game betting that a person was an idiot before, yet has now somehow seen the light… Either way, it should be fun to watch.
People can always change. Emery wouldn’t be the first athlete who turned himself around after screwing up. Besides, his back is to the wall this year. If he screws up, he won’t be back in the NHL and he knows it.
Any number of things could happen to the Flyers this year. They could be fantastic or horrible, but I guess one could say the same thing about many teams. If Emery plays his game and behaves himself, and if the team stays relatively healthy, the Flyers could be dangerous. If not, look out below.
But getting back to the hot seat for a moment, John Stevens is on it more so than Emery I think. If the team falters, then Stevens is definitely out.
Happy Labor Day, everyone. Drop the puck already!
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
back to the hot seat for a moment, John Stevens is on it more so than Emery I think.
Wow, I hadn’t even thought of that. He seems steady and solid to me (from the outside, general impression), but I haven’t paid too much attention to his tactics and complaints about him.
Happy Labor Day, and cheers — opening faceoffs are almost here!
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Stevens
John Stevens is one of the best-prepared coaches in the league I think. He takes a calm, measured, even-tempered approach to things, and he understands the game very well. There is a lot to like about John Stevens. Two problems however:
1. His “too traditional” system; and
2. His too “hands-off” approach.
Paul Holmgren met several times with Stevens and insisted that he instill more of an active, uptempo, man-to-man strong-on-the-puck style of play. The Flyers, while not the fastest team in the league, definitely have the legs and the skills to do that. Again, if it works and the Flyers stay healthy, they could be much improved.
Stevens was inconsistent in disciplining his players. He was better about it early in the year. When we played you on Veterans’ Day last season, Stevens ripped into Scott Hartnell between the second and third periods for playing lazily. Hartnell did not play one shift in the third period. He got the message and upped his game significantly. Stevens took that approach with a number of players early in the season when the team struggled. It really paid off from mid-November through December when the team caught fire.
However, Stevens did not do this during February when the players were starting to develop bad habits again, and he let too much slide. The result was inconsistent play down the stretch… and Frank D can tell you the rest.
To his credit, Stevens does not overreact to “just one loss.” However, it was felt that he was too lenient in this regard as the season wore on, and the team took on his personality – not overreacting to things, but not being urgent enough either.
So if you were still wondering WHY the Flyers went out and got intense leaders like Pronger and Lappy, and intensely competitive guys like Emery, now you know. Since Stevens is a coach who lets his captain and his veterans lead for the most part, he now has the right tools to match his style. If the team falls flat, he’s going to bear the brunt of it.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Thanks for all that. I remember hearing a bit about the disciplinary stuff. Hopefully the guy has a chance to evolve and grow; coaches are treated too much as disposable as it is.
And Pronger, oh Pronger: He should identify quite well with the rambunctious youngsters, given how he made a mistake or 10 in his youth. Much better now though. Think you guys will love him and Lappy.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Ha! Maybe we can bring hats to games for him.
While there is surely more context to that incident, the fact he actually pursues the trainer down the hall is just … I mean come on, kid. Be a pro. Enjoy Philly.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
hmm emery
he is such an a**hole. Biron helped the Flyers get where they did the past 2 seasons. So i say to Emery, “Shut and Put Up, let’s see what you got you washed out jerk.” I hope the Islanders come out swinging this season. They deserve some HAPPINESS!!
We certainly think so. :)
I’m not even dreaming of Cups in 5 years, I’m just dreaming of being in the equation soon.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
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