Andreas Lilja

Another Flyer injured: Meszaros (left shoulder) will miss “about a month”

By Jason BroughJan 25, 2013, 2:34 PM EDT

Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros is expected to miss “about a month” with a left shoulder injury, according to general manager Paul Holmgren.

Per CSNPhilly.com, Meszaros suffered the injury in the second period of last night’s 2-1 win over the Rangers.

The loss of Meszaros is a considerable one for the Flyers. The 27-year-0ld is a key member of Philadelphia’s defensive corps, playing around 20 minutes a night in a two-way role.

Holmgren says the Flyers will call up defenseman Andreas Lilja from AHL Adirondack to fill the vacancy on the blue line. Philadelphia’s next game is Saturday in Florida.

The Meszaros injury news comes just one day after Holmgren announced forward Scott Hartnell would miss 4-8 weeks with a broken foot.

Flyers waive Boucher, Lilja

By Jason BroughJan 16, 2013, 3:34 PM EDT

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The Flyers have waived recently acquired goaltender Brian Boucher as well as veteran defenseman Andreas Lilja.

Per CSNPhilly.com, here’s why:

The move gives the team the option to send either player to the Adirondack Phantoms – something general manager Paul Holmgren said was in the plans for Boucher earlier this week. The Flyers acquired Boucher in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes Sunday, in exchange for minor-leaguer Luke Pither.

Unlike Boucher, Lilja has participated in training camp since it opened Sunday morning. Whether he’ll start the season in the NHL or AHL is up in the air, likely pending the health of Andrej Meszaros, who tore his Achilles tendon over the summer. If Meszaros is healthy enough to start the season, Lilja will most likely head straight to Glens Falls.

With Lilja, the Flyers have eight defensemen. They will carry seven on their roster once the season starts.

Boucher’s expected demotion leaves Philadelphia with a goalie tandem of Ilya Bryzgalov and Michael Leighton, the latter of which won’t leave Flyers fans feeling very comfortable should the former falter.

Flyers make it official, sign Foster to one-year, $950K deal

By Joe YerdonJan 13, 2013, 9:30 AM EDT

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Late last night we shared a report about the Flyers being likely to sign former Wild defenseman Kurtis Foster and this morning the team has confirmed they’ve done just that.

The team announced they signed the veteran blue liner to a one-year deal. CSNPhilly’s Tim Panaccio reports the deal is worth $950,000.

Since the Flyers aren’t going to have Chris Pronger this season (or perhaps ever again) and with Kimmo Timonen, Andrej Meszaros, and Andreas Lilja all coming back from injuries, having more veteran depth never hurts. Foster may not be fleet of foot at this point of his career, but he still has a heavy shot to use from the blue line.

Flyers’ Meszaros uncertain he’ll be ready to start season

By Mike HalfordJan 7, 2013, 12:13 PM EDT

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The Philadelphia blueline could be thin to start the season.

Already without the services of Chris Pronger, the Flyers aren’t certain they’ll have Andrej Meszaros available for the proposed Jan. 19 start date — he’s still dealing with the after effects of a torn Achilles, according to CSN Philadelphia’s Tim Panaccio.

“Sometimes I am really sore and I can’t push off,” Meszaros explained. “I’m still weak [in the heel area]. It’s a matter of time before I get my strength back.”

Meszaros tore his Achilles in August and resumed skating in November. Give it’s now January, that might seem like ample time to rehab an injury — but do keep in mind the timetable for recovery varies greatly.

New Jersey’s Travis Zajac tore his Achilles last August and returned to action on Dec. 16, a four month recovery period. But after playing in just eight games, he was shut down by team doctors for another two months.

All told, Zajac missed 67 regular season games (though he did play in all 24 of the Devils’ playoff games.)

Ex-Flyer Justin Williams tore his in Sept. 2008 while playing for Carolina. His return was borderline remarkable, getting back into game action on Dec. 4 — a three month recovery period.

Williams went on to play 44 games that year, though he struggled (just 14 points and a minus-8 rating.)

When asked, Meszaros was uncertain if he’d be able to open should the season start in two weeks’ time.

“I don’t know,” he said. “It’s tough to say.”

Without Meszaros, the Flyers defense is looking at a top-four of Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, Nicklas Grossmann and Luke Schenn, with Bruno Gervais, Andreas Lilja, Marc-Andre Bourdon, Erik Gustafsson and Brandon Manning battling for spots five and six.

How are those guys who got hurt before/during the lockout doing?

By Joe YerdonJan 6, 2013, 8:45 PM EDT

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There were a host of players who were either injured before or during the lockout and now that the season is set to begin in just under two weeks, let’s have a look at how those guys are faring now.

Ryan Kesler – Vancouver Canucks

Kesler is recovering from surgery to both his wrist and shoulder, but it’s looking like the Canucks will be waiting a bit longer for him to return. Initial estimates had him out until December if the season started on time, but now it looks like we could be well into the season before he makes a return to action.

Claude Giroux – Philadelphia Flyers

Giroux’s European jaunt was cut short thanks to a rather mysterious neck injury in November. Some speculated it was a concussion, but that’s neither here nor there because he’s since resumed skating and, according to Renaud Lavoie from RDS, will be ready to start training camp.

Most of their defensmen – Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have more than a few worries with their team and Andrej Meszaros’ status is key for them. He tore his right Achilles’ tendon and had the season started on time, he would’ve missed a lot of action. Instead, GM Paul Holmgren expects him to be ready to go at the start of the season.

Kimmo Timonen will be ready to start the season after some offseason issues and Andreas Lilja is healthy again. One guy who isn’t any better, and likely won’t play again, is captain Chris Pronger. While Pronger will be visiting the team at training camp, he won’t be skating or doing anything hockey-related. If nothing else, the lockout helped the Flyers immensely.

Marian Gaborik – New York Rangers

Gaborik’s rotator cuff injury admission at the end of the Rangers’ postseason run surprised many and when they found out it would knock him out of action until at least December, many worried how they’d score goals. Then the Rangers traded for Rick Nash and the lockout happened to allay those concerns. But how’s Gaborik doing? Good question.

There hasn’t been much to report on him since early September when he practiced with the team. Given his original prognosis, you have to think he’ll be ready to go, if not on Day one then soon after.

Marian Hossa – Chicago Blackhawks

The last we saw Marian Hossa, he was being carried off the ice after a brutal and illegal hit by Phoenix’s Raffi Torres that left him with a concussion. While Hossa had some difficulties over the summer, he’s since been cleared for action and is ready to go for Chicago. If the schedule makers are evil, they’ll make Torres’ first game back from his 20+ game suspension against the Blackhawks.

Nathan Horton – Boston Bruins

Much like Hossa, Nathan Horton too had concussion issues. The problem for Horton was that his came during the regular season last year and kept him out of the playoffs. Fortunately, Horton was cleared for action weeks ago and had to wait out the end of the lockout like the rest of us schlubs. He’ll be ready to go on the opening day of training camp.

Tuomo Ruutu – Carolina Hurricanes

The big Finnish forward won’t get a shot to play until maybe the playoffs this year, if the Hurricanes can get there. Ruutu underwent surgery on his hip and could have him out of action until May 1. With Carolina now boasting both Eric Staal and Jordan Staal as well as Alex Semin, not having Ruutu puts a crimp in their plans for a big season.

Adam Henrique – New Jersey Devils

The Devils’ young playoff superstar was one of many players who were fortunate enough to be able to play in the AHL during the lockout. Unfortunately for Henrique, he wound up breaking his thumb in November and he will likely miss the first few weeks of the season for New Jersey.