2008–09 Philadelphia Flyers | |
---|---|
Division | 3rd Atlantic |
Conference | 5th Eastern |
2008–09 record | 44–27–11 |
Home record | 24–13–4 |
Road record | 20–14–7 |
Goals for | 264 |
Goals against | 238 |
Team information | |
President | Peter Luukko |
General manager | Paul Holmgren |
Coach | John Stevens |
Captain | Mike Richards |
Alternate captains |
Simon Gagne Kimmo Timonen |
Arena | Wachovia Center |
Average attendance | 19,545 [1] |
Minor league affiliate(s) |
Philadelphia Phantoms Mississippi Sea Wolves |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Jeff Carter (46) |
Assists | Mike Richards (50) |
Points | Jeff Carter (84) |
Penalty minutes | Riley Cote (174) |
Plus/minus | Jeff Carter (+23) |
Wins | Martin Biron (29) |
Goals against average | Martin Biron (2.76) |
The 2008–09 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Flyers' 42nd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
The Flyers began the 2008–09 season by naming Mike Richards the 17th captain in Flyers history on September 17, with Jason Smith headed to the Ottawa Senators as a free agent. [2] The Flyers were looking to build on the success of the previous season, but instead got off to an 0–3–3 start which became indicative of the season ahead. Despite a solid December and January, and finishing with four points more than the year before, for the most part the 2008–09 Flyers were an inconsistent unit, playing at the top of their ability one night while subpar the next. Defenseman Derian Hatcher missed the entire regular season and playoffs with a knee injury, and Steve Downie was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Matt Carle. Two pleasant surprises were the emergence of rookie center Claude Giroux and defenseman Luca Sbisa, who was drafted by the Flyers in June with the 19th overall pick acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for R. J. Umberger, the victim of a salary cap crunch. Scottie Upshall also found himself the victim of such a crunch, traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for Daniel Carcillo at the trade deadline.
Despite holding on to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference for much of the season, due to a 4–5–1 finish to the season, highlighted by a home loss to the New York Rangers on the last day of the regular season, the Flyers slipped to the fifth seed and lost home-ice advantage in their first round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Flyers finished the regular season having scored the most shorthanded goals in the NHL, with 16, and having allowed the fewest shorthanded goals, with just one. [3]
GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 51 | 27 | 4 | 244 | 209 | 106 |
2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 45 | 28 | 9 | 264 | 239 | 99 |
3 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 264 | 238 | 99 |
4 | New York Rangers | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 210 | 218 | 95 |
5 | New York Islanders | 82 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 201 | 279 | 61 |
R | Div | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | z – Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 53 | 19 | 10 | 274 | 196 | 116 | ||
2 | y – Washington Capitals | SE | 82 | 50 | 24 | 8 | 272 | 245 | 108 | ||
3 | y – New Jersey Devils | AT | 82 | 51 | 27 | 4 | 244 | 209 | 106 | ||
4 | Pittsburgh Penguins | AT | 82 | 45 | 28 | 9 | 264 | 239 | 99 | ||
5 | Philadelphia Flyers | AT | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 264 | 238 | 99 | ||
6 | Carolina Hurricanes | SE | 82 | 45 | 30 | 7 | 239 | 226 | 97 | ||
7 | New York Rangers | AT | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 210 | 218 | 95 | ||
8 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 249 | 247 | 93 | ||
8.5 | |||||||||||
9 | Florida Panthers | SE | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 234 | 231 | 93 | ||
10 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 41 | 32 | 9 | 250 | 234 | 91 | ||
11 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 36 | 35 | 11 | 217 | 237 | 83 | ||
12 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NE | 82 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 250 | 293 | 81 | ||
13 | Atlanta Thrashers | SE | 82 | 35 | 41 | 6 | 257 | 280 | 76 | ||
14 | Tampa Bay Lightning | SE | 82 | 24 | 40 | 18 | 210 | 279 | 66 | ||
15 | New York Islanders | AT | 82 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 201 | 279 | 61 |
bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)
AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division
Pittsburgh dominated the Flyers in Game 1, and despite a better effort by the Flyers in Game 2, Pittsburgh came to Philadelphia with a 2–0 series lead. The Flyers were the better team in Games 3 and 4, but Pittsburgh gained a split in Philadelphia and took a 3–1 series lead. After a decisive 3–0 win in Game 5, the Flyers jumped out to a 3–0 lead in Game 6, but promptly fell victim to the inconsistencies that plagued the team all season and gave up five unanswered goals in a season-ending 5–3 loss.
2008 preseason [4] [5] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preseason: 4–5–0 (home: 4–0–0; road: 0–5–0)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend:
Win Loss Overtime/shootout loss |
2008–09 regular season [15] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October: 4–3–3, 11 points (home: 2–2–1; road: 2–1–2)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November: 7–4–2, 16 points (home: 3–2–1; road: 4–2–1)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December: 9–3–2, 20 points (home: 7–0–1; road: 2–3–1)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January: 6–4–2, 14 points (home: 3–1–0; road: 3–3–2)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February: 7–3–1, 15 points (home: 3–3–1; road: 4–0–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March: 8–7–0, 16 points (home: 4–4–0; road: 4–3–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April: 3–3–1, 7 points (home: 2–1–0; road: 1–2–1)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend:
Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Overtime/shootout loss (1 point) |
2009 Stanley Cup playoffs [15] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – Penguins win 4–2
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend:
Win Loss |
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
17 | Jeff Carter | C | 82 | 46 | 38 | 84 | 23 | 68 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 8 |
18 | Mike Richards | C | 79 | 30 | 50 | 80 | 22 | 63 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −4 | 6 |
12 | Simon Gagne | LW | 79 | 34 | 40 | 74 | 21 | 42 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −4 | 2 |
19 | Scott Hartnell | LW | 82 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 14 | 143 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −2 | 23 |
15 | Joffrey Lupul | RW | 79 | 25 | 25 | 50 | 1 | 58 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
22 | Mike Knuble | RW | 82 | 27 | 20 | 47 | 5 | 62 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 2 |
44 | Kimmo Timonen | D | 77 | 3 | 40 | 43 | 19 | 54 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 12 |
5 | Braydon Coburn | D | 80 | 7 | 21 | 28 | 7 | 97 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
28 | Claude Giroux | RW | 42 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
48 | Danny Briere | C | 29 | 11 | 14 | 25 | −1 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 8 |
25 | Matt Carle† | D | 64 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 2 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
9 | Scottie Upshall‡ | RW | 55 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 5 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
45 | Arron Asham | RW | 78 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 0 | 155 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 6 |
13 | Glen Metropolit‡ | C | 55 | 4 | 10 | 14 | −1 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
41 | Andrew Alberts† | D | 79 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 6 | 61 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
36 | Darroll Powe | C | 60 | 6 | 5 | 11 | −8 | 35 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
23 | Ossi Vaananen‡ | D | 46 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | Randy Jones | D | 47 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
47 | Luca Sbisa | D | 39 | 0 | 7 | 7 | −6 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
13 | Daniel Carcillo† | LW | 20 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −2 | 80 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
77 | Ryan Parent | D | 31 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 6 |
14 | Andreas Nodl | RW | 38 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −15 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
32 | Riley Cote | LW | 63 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −7 | 174 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
43 | Martin Biron | G | 55 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
24 | Josh Gratton† | LW | 19 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −2 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
46 | Jon Kalinski | C | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
26 | Steve Eminger‡ | D | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | Lasse Kukkonen | D | 22 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −2 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
30 | Antero Niittymaki | G | 32 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
11 | Boyd Kane | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
26 | Danny Syvret | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
27 | Steve Downie‡ | RW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
29 | Nate Guenin | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
60 | Nate Raduns | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
42 | Jared Ross | C | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
40 | David Sloane | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
51 | Jamie Fritsch | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Player | GP | GS | W | L | OT | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | GS | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
43 | Martin Biron | 55 | 53 | 29 | 19 | 5 | 1718 | 146 | 2.76 | .915 | 2 | 3,176:31 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 198 | 16 | 2.56 | .919 | 1 | 374:44 |
30 | Antero Niittymaki | 32 | 29 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 947 | 83 | 2.76 | .912 | 1 | 1,804:52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Type | Award/honor | Recipient | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
League (in-season) |
NHL 2nd Star of the Month | Jeff Carter (December) | [16] |
NHL 1st Star of the Week | Mike Richards (February 23) | [17] | |
NHL 2nd Star of the Week | Jeff Carter (December 22) | [18] | |
NHL 3rd Star of the Week | Simon Gagne (November 3) | [19] | |
NHL All-Star Game selection | Jeff Carter | [20] | |
Team | Barry Ashbee Trophy | Kimmo Timonen | [21] |
Bobby Clarke Trophy | Mike Richards | [21] | |
Gene Hart Memorial Award | Scott Hartnell | [21] | |
Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy | Darroll Powe | [21] | |
Toyota Cup | Jeff Carter | [21] | |
Yanick Dupre Memorial Class Guy Award | Danny Briere | [21] |
Among the team records set during the 2008–09 season was Simon Gagne tying the team record for most shorthanded goals in a single game on November 13. [22] On December 20, Scott Hartnell tied the team record with three goals scored in a single period. [23] On the season, Mike Richards tied the team record for most shorthanded goals (7) and Jeff Carter tied the mark for most game-winning goals (12). [24] [25] The one shorthanded goal allowed by the Flyers during the season is the fewest in franchise history. [26]
Milestone | Player | Date | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
25th shutout | Martin Biron | February 25, 2009 | [27] |
The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 5, 2008, the day after the deciding game of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 12, 2009, the day of the deciding game of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals. [28]
Date | Details | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|
June 6, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers Danny Syvret |
To
Edmonton Oilers Ryan Potulny |
[29] |
June 18, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers 7th-round pick (196th overall) in 2008 Conditional 4th-round pick in 2009 [a] |
To
Tampa Bay Lightning Rights to Vaclav Prospal |
[31] |
June 20, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers 1st-round pick (19th overall) in 2008 3rd-round pick (67th overall) in 2008 |
To
Columbus Blue Jackets R. J. Umberger 4th-round pick (118th overall) in 2008 |
[32] |
June 20, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers Steve Eminger 3rd-round pick (84th overall) in 2008 |
To
Washington Capitals 1st-round pick (27th overall) in 2008 |
[33] |
June 21, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers 7th-round pick in 2009 |
To
Anaheim Ducks 7th-round pick (208th overall) in 2008 |
[34] |
June 24, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers Janne Niskala |
To
Nashville Predators Triston Grant 7th-round pick in 2009 |
[35] |
June 30, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers Tim Ramholt |
To
Calgary Flames Kyle Greentree |
[36] |
June 30, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers 6th-round pick in 2009 |
To Tampa Bay Lightning Janne Niskala |
[37] |
July 1, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers Patrik Hersley Ned Lukacevic |
To
Los Angeles Kings Denis Gauthier 2nd-round pick in 2010 |
[38] |
October 13, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers Andrew Alberts |
To
Boston Bruins Ned Lukacevic Conditional 3rd- or 4th-round pick in 2009 [b] |
[40] |
October 30, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers Josh Gratton |
To Nashville Predators Tim Ramholt |
[41] |
November 7, 2008 | To Philadelphia Flyers Matt Carle 3rd-round pick in 2009 |
To Tampa Bay Lightning Steve Downie Steve Eminger 4th-round pick in 2009 |
[42] |
March 4, 2009 | To Philadelphia Flyers Daniel Carcillo |
To
Phoenix Coyotes Scottie Upshall 2nd-round pick in 2011 |
[43] |
March 4, 2009 [c] | To Philadelphia Flyers Kyle McLaren |
To
San Jose Sharks 6th-round pick in 2009 |
[43] |
Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 1, 2008 | Sean Curry | Providence Bruins ( AHL) | 2-year | Free agency | [45] |
Glen Metropolit | Boston Bruins | 2-year | Free agency | [45] | |
Nate Raduns | Worcester Sharks (AHL) | 1-year | Free agency | [45] | |
Ossi Vaananen | Djurgardens IF ( SHL) | 1-year | Free agency | [45] | |
July 7, 2008 | Arron Asham | New Jersey Devils | 2-year | Free agency | [46] |
September 18, 2008 | Jean-Sebastien Aubin | Anaheim Ducks | 1-year | Free agency | [47] |
March 26, 2009 | Johan Backlund | Timra IK (SHL) | 1-year | Free agency | [48] |
June 10, 2009 | Ray Emery | Atlant Moscow Oblast ( KHL) | 1-year | Free agency | [49] |
Date | Player | New team | Via [d] | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 3, 2008 | Rory Fitzpatrick | Florida Panthers | Free agency (III) | [52] |
Stefan Ruzicka | HC Spartak Moscow ( KHL) | Free agency (II) [e] | [54] | |
July 8, 2008 | Jason Smith | Ottawa Senators | Free agency (III) | [55] |
July 14, 2008 | Patrick Thoresen | HC Lugano ( NLA) | Free agency (II) [f] | [57] |
July 25, 2008 | Martin Grenier | Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) | Free agency (III) | [58] |
July 31, 2008 | Jaroslav Modry | HC Liberec ( ELH) | Free agency (III) | [59] |
August 21, 2008 | Rejean Beauchemin | Idaho Steelheads ( ECHL) | Free agency (UFA) | [60] |
August 28, 2008 | Darren Reid | Hershey Bears ( AHL) | Free agency (VI) | [61] |
October 8, 2008 | Jesse Boulerice | Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) | Free agency (III) | [62] |
October 22, 2008 | Martin Houle | Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) | Free agency (UFA) | [63] |
November 17, 2008 | Frederik Cabana | Release | [64] | |
February 27, 2009 | Glen Metropolit | Montreal Canadiens | Waivers | [65] |
Ossi Vaananen | Vancouver Canucks | Waivers | [65] | |
April 7, 2009 | Jim Dowd | Retirement (III) | [66] |
Date | Player | Term | Contract type | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 26, 2008 | Jeff Carter | 3-year | Re-signing | [67] |
June 29, 2008 | Steve Eminger | 1-year | Re-signing | [68] |
July 2, 2008 | Riley Cote | 3-year | Re-signing | [69] |
Randy Jones | 2-year | Re-signing | [69] | |
Danny Syvret | 1-year | Re-signing | ||
July 15, 2008 | Nate Guenin | 1-year | Re-signing | |
July 21, 2008 | Joffrey Lupul | 4-year | Extension | [70] |
July 22, 2008 | Kevin Marshall | 3-year | Entry-level | [71] |
August 7, 2008 | Chris Zarb | Entry-level | ||
N/A | Scott Munroe | 1-year | Re-signing | |
October 1, 2008 | Luca Sbisa | 3-year | Entry-level | [72] |
April 1, 2009 | James van Riemsdyk | 3-year | Entry-level | [73] |
Philadelphia's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario on June 20–21, 2008. [74] The Flyers traded their originally allotted second, third, fifth, and seventh-round picks in four separate trades. [75]
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Team (league) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 19 | Luca Sbisa | Defense | Switzerland | Lethbridge Hurricanes ( WHL) | [g] |
3 | 67 | Marc-Andre Bourdon | Defense | Canada | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies ( QMJHL) | [g] |
3 | 84 | Jacob DeSerres | Goaltender | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | [h] |
6 | 178 | Zac Rinaldo | Center | Canada | Mississauga St. Michael's Majors ( OHL) | |
7 | 196 | Joacim Eriksson | Goaltender | Sweden | Brynas IF ( Elitserien) | [i] |
The 2008–09 season was the Phantoms' last playing in the Wachovia Spectrum and means they will move following the season. Comcast Spectacor sold the Phantoms to the Brooks Group of Pittsburgh on February 4, 2009, and the new ownership has expressed interest in eventually moving the Phantoms to Allentown provided that a multi-purpose arena can be constructed there. Until a permanent new home is found for the club it will have to operate starting in 2009–10 in a temporary location. The site being given the most serious consideration for that is Glen Falls, the former home of the AHL Adirondack Red Wings from 1979 to 1999. [78] Comcast Spectacor continued to operate the team through the conclusion of the 2008–09 AHL season and playoffs.
With Craig Berube returning to his role as an assistant coach with the Flyers, John Paddock was named head coach of the Phantoms. [79] The Phantoms trailed the Binghamton Senators by as many as 12 points on March 14 for the final playoff spot in the East Division, but came back to overtake Binghamton and clinch the final playoff spot in the final regular season game at the Spectrum. The Phantoms final season in Philadelphia came to an end after being swept from the first round of the playoffs by the Hershey Bears.
Mississippi missed the ECHL playoffs and announced they would suspend operations for the 2009–10 season.
June 21, 2008: Acquired a seventh-round selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft from Philadelphia in exchange for Anaheim's seventh-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
The Flyers released forward Frederik Cabana from the organization