Flyers lose Thoreson to Europe

When the Flyers signed Arron Asham earlier this week, my first hunch was it meant that Patrick Thoreson would not be a Flyer next year, and I was proven correct today. Thoreson, a restricted free agent, refused a contract offered by the Flyers and accepted a deal to play in Europe next season. The Flyers apparently only offered him a 2-way deal, one that meant he would likely split time between the NHL and AHL and Thoreson would only sign a 1-way deal that would ensure he would spend the entire season with the big club.

I am surprised that the Flyers weren't willing to offer Thoreson a 1-way deal considering how well he played down the stretch. I thought Thoreson did enough to earn a spot on the fourth line for next year but the Flyers apparently didn't agree. Losing Thoreson isn't a major blow to the Flyers although it will hurt their depth. The Flyers likely signed Asham with the idea that he would replace Thoreson although each one brings different things to the table.

Here is the lasting memory we will all have of Thoreson. He made the ultimate sacrifice for the team:


Flyers lines:
Here are the likely Flyer forward lines for next year updated with the latest transactions:

Gagne/Briere/Hartnell
Lupul/Richards/Giroux
Upshall/Carter/Knuble
Asham/Metropolit/Downie

Extras: Cote, Kane

Knuble and Giroux are interchangeable on the second and third lines. I put Giroux higher because he will need to play with more skill players. I put Asham ahead of Cote simply because he has more experience and the Flyers gave him a bigger contract.

Thoreson gets to keep 'em both

Phew. Patrick Thoreson, who blocked a shot with his groin in yesterday's game, learned today that he won't need surgery to remove one of his testicles. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren reported yesterday that there was a chance that Thoreson would need one removed, but after being taken to the hospital and going through tests, Thoreson's groin is sore and swollen, but not severely damaged. Thoreson considers himself lucky, saying that the "puck could have hit me worse in that midsection area or hit me in the face." I think I would much rather take a puck to the face than down there.

There is still a chance Thoreson suits up for Game 2 against the Capitals. As long as the swelling goes down and he can skate without pain, he feels like he will be able to play. Hopefully Thoreson doesn't rush back to the ice, considering the Capitals will likely target that area with their sticks any time he's on the ice.

Hockey players are insanely tough. In any other sport, if a player got this type of injury, they would be out for weeks. Just the fact that Thoreson is considering playing tomorrow tells you just how resilient he is. Let's just hope he wears a cup.

Flyers forward Patrick Thoreson may require surgery in a very sensitive area

On a controversial play in Game One yesterday, the Capitals were on the power play and Flyers' forward Patrick Thoreson was injured after a puck hit him in the groin area after he went down to block a shot. Thoreson laid in pain on the ice as the referees allowed play to continue, and the Capitals subsequently took advantage of the 5 on 3 opportunity to score a crucial goal that tied the game. While many Flyers fans are furious that the refs allowed play to continue, it's uncommon for them to stop play when a team has the puck in the offensive zone and a defender is hurt on the ice. If they stopped the game every time that happened, defenders would be constantly falling down and faking injuries. The entire play didn't bother me because I have seen it many times before, but the news about Thoreson's injury is very disturbing indeed.

Apparently the shot hit Thoreson directly in the testicles. According to general manager Paul Holmgren, Thoreson is being evaluated for surgery, and he may require the removal of one of his testicles. Yikes. Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but any time someone speculates needing surgery in that area, it can't be a good thing. Thoreson would likely miss at least the next game, but I would expect him back before the end of the series. You can only imagine how badly his opponents will trash talk and taunt him. Hopefully Thoreson doesn't take his ball and go home.

Here is a video replay of the shot to the, um, testicles and the subsequent goal: