Tales from a Waiver Wire Nothing

Dear Glove -

Well, here we are again, back on the waiver wire. It's not really a surprise - this is where we expected to be - and there was nothing we could do. Such is life. I think we played well the one chance we got, but it wasn't going to make a difference. Just wasn't in the cards for us. So now we sit and wait. Wait to see what happens.

Part of me hopes we get claimed - San Jose and Florida could both use a rent-a-goalie. But that means that once the rent-a-goalie time is up, we'd probably be back on the waiver wire. I'm not really sure I'd like a repeat of 2006-2007. Then again - you never know - I could play my way onto one of those teams like Manny Legace did to me in 2009. Hmmmm.

Option number 2 - get sent to Adirondack and try to be king of the AHL again. Of course there's a logjam of goalies down there, too. Backlund and Bacashihua. Who knows what the plan is down there. The team looks better, so that's a plus. I could rack up my shutouts and claim the all-time shutout record in the AHL. I might even make the All Star team. Feel like I'm needed. That would be nice.

Option number 3 - I get loaned to Europe. Not sure how I feel about that. Was ready to do that in 2009 when the Flyers claimed me. We all know how that turned out. Pretty darn well all things considered. So maybe I can hope for that - just fall into some random luck again.

Whatever happens, I'm still getting paid - and paid well. That's a good thing. Don't know where my next contract might come from - if at all.

So for now - I guess the waiting is the hardest part.

Tick Tock Tick Tock,

Leights

Tales From A Pre-season Nothing

Hello Glove -

Long time no talk, eh? Guess what - we're starting tonight. No really, someone thought it would be a good idea to let us start. Third pre-season game of the season in London, Ontario. At least he has most of the regulars on defense to help me out - Timonen, Coburn, Carle, Meszaros - could be worse.

I'm not really sure what this means for me - they have Ilya Bryzgalov and Sergei Bobrovsky - the two goalies they are more than likely going with for the season. Of course there is a logjam for Adirondack with me, Johan Backlund and this Jason Bacashihua guy. Not sure why they signed Bacashilhua. Now the three of us have to battle it out for those two spots. Maybe Backs will head over to Europe - one can only hope.

The way I see it - tonight I have to be good. Of course, it's hard to have something to compare to - Bob gets a shutout in his first start (first time a Flyers goalie has done that since yours truly in May 2010 - I'm sure you remember). Then Bryz gives up 3, but you can't really blame him for all of them. Don't know if I can match Bob's shutout, though that sure would be nice. At this point, I'll settle for keeping it out of the five-hole.

Anyway, I'm sure it's just a matter of time before it's back to the waiver wire once again - then off to Adirondack. At least they love me up there. Nice to be wanted. Sigh. Another season riding the bus. And I might not even be the best guy down there because that Braden Holtby guy got stuck down there another season - just like me.

Wait, where was I - oh right - starting tonight. Legs closed. Don't f*ck up.

Positive Thoughts and Nervous Smiles,

Leights

Boosh's Secret Diary

(Editor's Note: Under the direction of PhillyGirl the DGS-SuperSpies managed to grab a hold of Brian Boucher's diary during the recent road trip...airport security just ain't that good)

January 3, 2011

Dear Diary –

Happy New Year! Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 34 years old – can you believe it? Seems like just yesterday I was carrying the Flyers in the 2000 playoffs and stabbing Bill Barber in the back after we had an epic collapse.

Lavvy gave me the start for my birthday against Detroit. Last time we won in Detroit, I was 14 years old. Amazing. So did we break that streak yesterday? You bet we did. Detroit was all over us in the first, but I held my ground and the team actually felt like scoring me some goals. I’ve got to find a way to keep this hot streak going because I think I nabbed the starting role from the Russian kid, finally. Do you know how much of a pain in the ass it is to be “mentor” to this kid? He doesn’t understand a word I say. He just says “Bob.”

Steals my dance moves too!

Speaking of nabbing the role – this whole three goalies thing was not working out. There’s not enough room at practice – the media is freaking out over Bob and his lost confidence and Leights is crying in the corner at practice because he can’t have a net. How am I supposed to concentrate? The good news is I think my chances of staying the number one are pretty good since Bob can’t stop a beach ball lately and Homer just gave Leights a one-way ticket to Adirondack (don't cry Leights, I hear the weather there is beautiful this time of year). Plus, I made it in and out of Vancouver without Ryan Parent coming anywhere near me.

Next up: back-to-back games with the Devils. I own them. Life is good.

Until next time.

XOXO,

Boosh

Riley Cote: Top 5 NHL Career Moments

Well, today Riley Cote announced his retirement and is now gonna take on an assistant coaching job with the AHL Phantoms, so we here at DGS have decided to look at the Top 5 career moments of Riley Cote. It's a short career, but we can come up with 10 memorable Cote moments, right?

5: Cote's first fight, March 30, 2007 at NJ Devils

4. The two for one special: starring Asham, Rupp and Leblond




3. Cote vs Rechlicz in a marathon bout

2. Cote vs Roy round 2 from March 6, 2008




But what made this moment classic:






and before the number 1 Riley Cote moment, we look at some honorable mentions...



Cote vs McGrattan




Cote vs Fritz









And now, the #1 Riley Cote moment....





1. Riley Cote vs Carey Price!

Uh-oh

Just got word from the Flyers, no Gagne, no Carter tomorrow night.

This spells trouble for the Flyers, look for Leino and one of the call-ups to be in the line up.

My picks for line combos:

Carcillo-Richards-Briere
Hartnell-Giroux-JVR
Leino-Powe-Asham
Laperriere-Betts-[Nodl/Kalinski/Laliberte]

the D will remain the same, and Boucher will be in net again.


Also: since both Gagne and Carter play the PP and PK, this is how those units should look

PP1

Up Front: Carcillo-Richards-Giroux
Blue-Line: Pronger-Timonen

PP2
Up Front: Hartnell-Briere-JVR
Blue-Line: Carle-Coburn [though expect Pronger to play the whole 2 minutes]

PK1
Up Front: Betts/Lappy
D-men: Pronger/Carle

PK2
Up Front: Richards/Hartnell
D-Men: Timonen/Coburn



My opinion here is that Homer's playing this one safe, losing in NJ isn't that important with Game 6 back in Philly.

Keep rocking the Orange


EDIT:
Gagne's out 3 weeks, Carter's out 6, this is NOT good. Hopefully the rest of the team can pick it up though. Flyers have depth, and that helps.