Down Kitty

Shout out to my boy Eric Superfan on facebook for the title. But that's probably somewhere in the neighborhood of what the players and coaches were thinking in that third period. Our first period was absolutely spectacular, when you hold a team to 5 shots you know you're doing a good job. And how about Versteeg getting his first point as a Flyer? As much as I resent the guy for winning the cup last year, he really is a good player. Nice soft hands, good hockey smarts, and the type of grit that all of us Flyers fans love. Carle and Coburn had silently good nights, and Noodle finally got that elusive 10th goal of the season. And I'm nominating him for the Veznia Trophy for that series of saves he made behind Bob. 

Speaking of Bob, jumpin Jesus was he spectacular last night. He looks more and more like the Bob of the beginning of the season every start he makes. It does help that in his rookie season, he has one of the best if not the best defense corps in the league but this kid definitely has what it takes to be a difference maker in this league. In other news, The Redemption Line wasn't complete today, with Villie being out with some sort of mysterious lower body injury. Which brings me to what's really getting on my nerves...

Dan Carcillo and Jody Shelley both got the call today while, once again, Nik Zherdev was banished to the press box. I could understand if it was a real physical team, like Boston/Shittsburgh/NY or something like that. But as far as I know (and I really don't pay attention to the Panthers so I could easily be mistaken) they aren't a real physical team and don't have a bonified enforcer, so really neither Carcillo or Shelley was necessary let alone both of them. What I do know about Florida though is that they have what it takes to beat almost any team in the league, including shutting us out right before the Christmas break. They have a great goalie and a few potent scorers, so I would personally think we would need more offense, not someone who's gonna log 4 minutes of ice time and possibly take a stupid penalty. Yes, we know Z doesn't play D, yes, we know he can get lazy. But with the defense and other players on his line, is it really THAT necessary that he's a back checking genius? I don't think so. If you look at Z's stats from back when he was on the Jackets and the Rags, you'll see that this year is actually the first year in his career that he's been a + player. He has definitely changed up his game a little bit and it seems to have gone unnoticed. I like the kind of game he plays and I feel sorry for him that his come back year is getting cut short. This is essentially his try out for a contract for another team next year, and he doesn't even get to play. Hopefully they either knock this shit off and they sit someone that deserves to be sat *cough* Carcillo *cough* or they just trade him so he can actually play somewhere else. With his skill set and his measly $2 million cap hit, many a team that needs a creative winger would be interested in him, he would fetch a draft pick or 2. It's painfully clear that he will not be back next year, and it's equally clear that they don't want him to play so I see Zherdev out of Philly before the deadline. 

What are your thoughts? Should they keep him, trade him? What will he fetch?