The BRHL2 Season 3 will start on Friday.

Flyers looking ahead to the 2008-09 season

Rex Leak, GM of the Flyers was tracked down earlier today by a member of the local press-core and was asked about his off-season; specifically the recent acquisition of several new parts to his roster. We go now to our local reporter on the beat, Bobby Clarke.

Bobby Clarke: We catch up now with Flyers GM Rex Leak and assistant GM Tim Newton, who were gracious enough to offer me some of their time this afternoon. Rex, Tim how do you consider the state of the team as it stands now?

Tim Newton: I’d just like to say, it’s an honour to have you asking us questions Bobby, you’ve meant so much to the franchise over the years as a player and manager, and we were happy to have you accept this position in our organization as a writer for our BRHL2 webpage. We’re happy to keep you in the family!

Rex Leak: Yeah, not to mention the promotional benefits to our team that come with a Legend such as yourself being the voice of the fans through your diligence in covering out franchise over the upcoming season.

BC: Well, I don’t know what to say, gentlemen, I really only took this position to get the image out of our fans heads that they have of me as a terrible GM and an even worse PR guy.

TN: Totally understand buddy, they are currently going through something like what our franchise went through with you on both squads in New York. Booyah!

RL: Oh Yeah! Never gets old bringing the heat on our division rivals 

BC: Speaking of the division, where do you see yourselves in terms of competing for a division title, and the prospects of the division as a whole?

TN: To be completely honest with you Bobby, we feel the reason we have not had to go out and spend lots of money on a shot at top-tier free-agents, or retreads from other teams, is because we see ourselves with a window of opportunity here in the Atlantic Division for at least 2 years to outright win the division…. and due to some decisions made by other GMs, we feel we have that percentage of error to work with by keeping the team young and cheap.

RL: Bottom line: If we felt we were gonna be in tough this year for competition in our division, we would have already made the move to get some of these very young, promising players out of here for proven winners. But in reality, the cushion is there for this young team to develop AND succeed, which will be a key for our team this year.

BC: Since you brought up the young guys, why don’t I post your depth chart below these comments, to which ill ask a few questions or you can make a few remarks.

RL and TN: Lets do it!

D. Sedin = H. Sedin – Ra. Whitney

M. Koivu – T. Plekanec – D. Penner
E. Moreau – J. Stoll – M. Lucic

C. Neil – P. Gaustad – E. Belanger

R. Nilsson - K. Brodziak – Z. Stortini


S. Neidermayer – F. Kuba

R. Regehr – Ry. Whitney

T. Gilbert – L. Smid

D. Grebeshkov

Luongo

Montoya



TN: Don’t forget we also have the 12th pick in the entry draft this season! With Foligno producing in a top-6 role in NHL, therefore next season being a big piece for us!

RL: Summing up our team, I would say this: Great where it counts, up the middle on forward, at D, and especially in net. With our youth at forward, we can expect to see great improvement from our forwards at the NHL level this season, which is very exciting for us as a club.

BC: Ok, I do agree that having a very young offensive team translates sometimes to success on the NHL ice surface; will it also translate to success in the BRHL2?

RL: That’s where the heart of the internal debate we’ve been having about where we are in terms of the organization, against others in the playoffs, is centered. And to be honest with you Bob, I honestly don’t have that answer. However, if you wanted to know, Id say in the Eastern Conference, the worst we could possibly achieve is a 4th or 5th place finish. Although, without any stacked challengers from within the division, I may be willing to say the same as last season: Heads will roll if we don’t win the division this year; guaranteeing us at least a 3rd place finish in the East.





BC: Heres a list of the deals you’ve made so far:

To Philly: Nichol

To Calgary: Hordichuk

RL: Deal helped us grab an asset we needed to complete a different deal. We never had any interest in Nichol.

BC: To Philly: Bos 1st (#12 OV), Kuba, Sj 2nd, Colo 3rd, Fla 4th

To Pittsburgh: Fla 1st (#9 OV), lepisto

RL: Hurt to have to let go of lepisto, who we see getting good minutes in Washington next season in NHL, but to pick up some picks for other deals and to pick up a good UFA dman like Kuba to step right in and compete for the Lowe tag next season with Moreau was important enough to also drop down 3 spots in the entry draft, where we feel we will still get the player we are targeting.

BC: To Philly: R. Nilsson

To Ottawa: S. Nichol, T. White

RL: This was a great relief to me to go and get an asset I regretted having to move at the deadline last season. Robert is a huge piece of our club in the future, and as of right now, along with a guy we brought back from Atlanta, (Kyle Brodziak) are probably the two most unattainable assets for clubs coming to me for trades. We value them very, very highly, and our GM is able to personally scout them on the NHL level in Edmonton.

BC: And now of course, the trade of all trades this off-season (admittedly 2 or 3 smaller deals, combined to make it look like 1 mega-deal)

To Philly: K. Brodziak, E. Belanger, D. Grebeshkov, L. Smid, C. Neil, M. Lucic

To Atlanta: J. Hejda, S. Montador, F. Pisani, M. Carle, C. Sarich, M. Garon, R. Omarra, SJ 2nd, Col 3rd, 500k

RL: Although we got back the lesser rated assets, by getting younger everywhere, dropping salary and getting specific assets that round out our pro roster (and don’t think for a second neil and lucic aren’t playing the broad street bullies role with Stortini this year) we felt we came out OK in this deal.

BC: The only other question that I would have for the both of you is: what do you see yourselves doing in the future regarding the roster, specifically this season?

TN: We are open to discussing anything, and have been fielding several offers from GMs interested in our players already. We have had very good discussions with everyone that is new to the league, as well as extended discussions with more veteran GMs. All have been cordial, and deals are on the bubbler right now with some big names involved!

RL: Shut up Tim. Bobby this interview is over. We aren’t on to speculate about what we don’t have, and you should know that more than anyone. Goodbye.

BC: Does this mean Luongo or Neidermayer will be moved? Can you comment?

RL: Boom – outta here!