Labor Day - The sign that the NHL Starts SOON!!

Well as I sit waiting for dinner today on Labor Day I am surfing around looking for hockey news. I don't know if it is just me, but I feel this was the quietest summer of free agency ever. I cannot wait for training camp to start. I want daily hockey news again! I look daily at TSN, Hockeybuzz, etc. for news and see nothing new.

Now to my real passion. The Flyers have reloaded this summer from within. The youth movement continues with the additions of Giroux and Parent. They have also added Eminger. This season the defense will be young and mobile all around. Gone are the warriors Hatcher and Smith. These two were vital cogs to the penalty killing last year, but still weak at even strength. It will be up to Parent, Jones, and Eminger to make up for their loss. I am also a big believer that Stevens should not pair Timonen and Coburn together. I would have it so that one of these two guys is on the ice 85% of the game. I would pair Timonen/Vanenen, Coburn/Parent, and Jones/Eminger as my six defensemen.

As for forward lines I would not put Giroux with Briere and Gagne. Giroux is a playmaker/scorer and I would put him with Carter and Upshall. Both of these guys will benefit from a great passer. That would leave Hartnell with Gagne and Briere. Provide toughness and a net presence with Gagne and Briere. That leaves Richards with Knuble and Lupul. The 4th line of Metropolit, Downie, Cote, Asham makes a quality 4th line.

Goaltending is set. Wow is that wierd or what?

Any comments?