Bill, We Hardly Knew Ya: Flyers Release Veteran Forward Bill Guerin

Bill, We Hardly Knew Ya: Flyers Release Veteran Forward Bill Guerin

Donald Wood Jr.

www.wolfgangsports.com

On Monday, October 4, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren announced that the team was cutting ties with veteran, American-born goal scorer Bill Guerin. 

Guerin signed a tryout contract with the team on September 13 and had only scored one goal in five preseason games with the team.

“It just got to the point where it didn’t look like it was going to work for us,” said Holmgren at a Monday press conference.

I thought Guerin brought a lot to the table in terms of experience. With the loss of Simon Gagne, I saw Guerin being the veteran forward the young guns could lean on.  Guerin had 12 seasons with 20+ goals and 429 career goals, but the number that meant the most to Holmgren seems to be Guerin’s age—39.

Guerin's release came in the latest flurry of roster moves, including moving seven players to AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms.  The organization is trimming the roster to get ready for the season opener Thursday in Pittsburgh.

The most notable move, and most exciting to me, is the waiving of goaltender Johan Backlund.  This means, at the least, “The Iron Curtain” Sergei Bobrovsky gets a chance with the big club in the beginning of the season.  Even if it’s just a taste, that might be all it takes to bring out his killer instinct and maybe even outplay Brian Boucher and secure himself a long-term roster spot.

*Writers Note- “The Iron Curtain” Sergei Bobrovsky was my nickname for him and if he gets it painted on his mask, I want royalties!