The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they will host the Washington Capitals in a preseason “Rookie Game” scrimmage, presented by Smoothie King, on Thursday, September 15. The game will take place at the Wells Fargo Center at 5 PM.

I keep hearing and reading about “pressure” when Ilya Bryzgalov’s name comes up and I disagree that he will have more pressure on him. I understand that places like Phoenix and Anaheim aren’t media hotbeds but when a top-notch Russian goalie makes it to the NHL they don’t do it with little fanfare, they are constantly under a microscope in the Russian newspapers and when they play internationally in big time tournaments and in some cases the 2002 Olympics where he earned a bronze medal.

One of the most innocuous signings the Flyers had this season occurred on May 17th. I remember we all talked about it because Niko Hovinen was 6-7 and since he was a Finnish goalie I asked my friend Risto Pakarinen about him. The Wild had passed on him not offering him a deal since he was drafted in 2006. Why? Well I got that answer today.

For hockey fans, July 1 is considered a day of renewal and opportunity. It’s a day when their team has the chance to reinvent themselves. With a whoosh of negotiation, paperwork, and signatures from player to general manager to owner, teams move one step closer to the ultimate prize: the Stanley Cup.

Vorhees -- Flyers sniper Danny Briere talks about facing Tim Thomas and the Boston Bruins Saturday at 3PM et.
http://www.soundboard.com/sb/Sportsology.aspx