I for one love this. I've always kind of hoped we'd let this guy have a shot, dating back to about 3-4 years ago. I'm excited he gets a chance to prove himself.

The best part is, if somehow he does make it, he's playing for a really low amount of money.

???

We dont need him IMO. If we do take him, someone will have to go.

I don't know about this. Do we have the cap space.... No. Someone's gotta go. I just don't know what to think about it.
Good move or bad move? Is this like a Jimmy Dowd thing like last season...

If this guy turns out to be one of those guys who just needed a change of scenery, it could be a huge steal. I'd be willing to trade Vaan or Eminger if this guy pans out.

Not feeling this at all but if he turns outstanding, let 'em play with us.

Bryan Berard? Link? More info?

lol -98 in his career woww but he has put up some pretty good numbers over years

Why not give him a chance? Sure we don't have cap space but if he puts up numbers like he did a few years ago I'm sure Homer can find room for him.

I still feel bad for him though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdyHVGPdwT4

Yes. Here ya go:
http://www.delcotimes.com/site/news.cfm?ne...18170&rfi=6

I like Berard, he's only 31 and he can still play some good hockey.

He was later fitted with a contact lens that allowed him to meet the league's minimum vision requirement of 20/400.

I dont know how well he can see out of an eye thats 20/400 --- seems kinda sketchy to me....

But, the feel-good story turned sour in 2006 when it was revealed that Berard had tested positive for an anabolic steroid known as 19-norandrosterone in a drug test he had taken in November 2005.

He was the first NHL player to ever test positive for steroids.


I dont like steroid junkies!

Thank you.

Positive Steroid Test?

Stop with all the negativity. He might help. Like we have a grade A defense core anyway.

--Bill Meltzer

The already overcrowded Flyers blueline will have another player competing for a spot at camp: Bryan Berard.

While Berard's career for numerous reasons -- most notably a severe injury to his right eye that led to permanent vision impairment and a positive steroid test in 2006 -- has not quite lived up to the billing he received as the top overall pick of the 1995 draft, he remains a mobile and offensively skilled player. He's played 10 NHL seasons, most recently 54 games with the Islanders last year.

An unrestricted free agent, the 31-year-old Berard has not been able to catch on with another NHL team this offseason. That surprised me, because while he's never been stellar in his own end of the ice, Berard still has natural gifts with the puck that few other players possess. Even if he were to play a sixth defenseman role at even strength and get powerplay time, I think he can still contribute somewhere.

The opportunity to bring in Berard apparently came up suddenly, and was NOT initiated by the Flyers. But the club is certainly willing to give him a shot at a job.

The Flyers, who already plan to place Derian Hatcher on long-term injured reserve to get below the NHL salary cap, will have at least 10 defensemen at camp: Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, Randy Jones, Steve Eminger, Ossi Väänänen, Lasse Kukkonen, Ryan Parent, Nate Guenin and Berard. As of now, unsigned Russian prospect Denis Bodrov also intends to attend camp, although the KHL regular season will already be underway.

I like it. It's not like the Flyers have to pay him, I say let him decide if he's ready to be on the team by how he plays during training camp

I'd love to see him step in

We have too many D-men already. Berard just isn't that good. Signing him now is like signing a really old Paul Coffey.



Oh, wait...

"20/400" means that if a person with normal vision can just barely read a line of text at a distance of 400 feet, (something like, say, a billboard), Berard would have to stand 20 feet from the thing to be able to read it. To put it in scientific terminology, the guy can't see worth sh**.

hope the best for him
was one of my favourite leafs at the time. was watching the game when he got high sticked, was pretty ******
would love to see him beat the odds and have a great year

hey i'm all for him coming here

Sounds good

I like this, defense is where we need the most help. He is a veteran who can help tuter all these young guys we got.

This can't hurt. He's a great skater and the fact that he got through last season without any back problems is promising. He'd be a good addition to the organization. I played with him for a little bit at NTDP and he seemed like a pretty good guy, and a fierce competitor (of course that was years ago).

I have mixed feelings. The guy had a lot of promise but he's been kicking around for quite a while and seems like excess baggage. On the other hand, we have nothing to lose. I think he'll do better with some talented forwards, at least as far as the PP goes, which he didn't really have much of on Long Island.

How could this possibly be bad? We didn't sign him, just invited him to TC. I don't see the harm, AT ALL!!!

i for one like this move alot,should he make the team,his salery will be next to rock bottom and WILL get one of our young d-men sent down for more developing which will not hurt,if he stays away from the injury bug than he should be at least decent,which is what i believe he will be and not to mention more options at D!

Sure they have the cap space. If Hatcher goes on LTIR as planned, they do. No one needs to go.

I don't have a problem with giving him a shot, just because he's not under a contract yet. But Berard has never known how to be a solid defenseman, and he's not getting any younger. I'd rather have one of the younger guys on the roster playing and learning to be a better player. Berard isn't going to learn how to be a solid defenseman all of a sudden at this point in his career. All he'd be is a power play asset on the blueline. Everywhere else, he's just a liability. So, with that said, I don't believe this is another Jim Dowd thing, simply because Dowd played better defense than Berard is capable of.

I see a lot of you talking about his eye. I have no problem with his eyesight. I do have a problem with the back problems he's had in the recent past though. As well as his groin and conditioning. I'd be surprised if he's offered a contract.

I agree with that. I mentioned above that he didn't have back problems last year (as far as I know) so he has the potential of getting through a season. I also think that since we've lost at least 2 of our defensive d-men, Berard would probably be more damaging than good on the roster. If he was paired with a Smith or Hatcher, I wouldn't have as much trepidation about him taking up a spot. But, like I said up there, it can't hurt to have him competing in training camp. This may be a chess move by Holmgren.

I don't see why people are saying this is a bad thing... if he doesn't look good at camp then we don't sign him, if he does we sign him and give on younger prospects more time to mature. they should have space if Hatch goes on LTIR so I don't see the negative side.

It would be kinda sweet to see him paired with someone like Parent, because both are such good skaters.

ya know what. before i read pat's statement, i was eh on the situation. but now i like it. we're losing 2 huge veteran presences on the blue line with Hatch and Smith, and they're looking to replace it. and what an inspiring story. they dude is almost blind in one eye and can still get the puck on the net.

If he's ready to play for free, then why not. I don't see that happening, so someone would have to go and I'm not sure if I want that.

I really like this, but if he made the team, I would want him paired with someone who is good defensively...Like timmonen or coburn.

yeah i don't mind the guy trying out. i think it adds some heat for training camp. maybe some guys will step up harder knowing that he can steal a spot. in all honestythough i hope he doesn't make the team. i like the move for training camp and all, but i don't see him being our defense solver. anyone know more about his roid use? maybe he was taking something for his eye or vision in hopes that it would help? anyway i would hate to see a younger guy like parent be with the phantoms all season just because we are giving a vet another chance to prove himself.

Anybody seen him play in his own end? Um yea. Lol i hope he makes the team so that most of you have another scapegoat to blame.....Again.

QFT

Anabolic steroids are no eye medicine. There is no excuse for that.

Parent could be with the Phantoms all season anyway, though.

Maybe he accidently took steroids instead of eye medicine?

*with his sight..*

this makes me think holmgren isnt thrilled w/ the new guys.

Why are people overreacting about this? He's not signed and if he doesn't chock everyone he wont be either.

Any way he would take a 2-way contract with the Phantoms?

I say.....Why not!? What is the worst that could happen?

I like this. I've always been a Berard fan. I hope he catches on here. He has a potent shot IMO. I can't wait for camp to get under way now.

Off Eklund -
On Berard...I love this move by the Flyers. I am a big fan of Bryan and I believe this could truly be the perfect fit for him. I also saw enough Islanders games last year to be impressed with his ability to still move the puck and be a Power Play specialist. I predict that he will make this team and be a major contributor. Berard is primed for comeback player of the year. Remember that I said this. This move just feels right and getting Berard on a team where he doesn't have to carry too much load but can just accentuate an already solid team is really strong. I also respect Holmgren for giving him a shot here.

I didn't read any of the previous stuff, but I kinda hope he finds a place here. I always thought he was solid, and like Dowd last year, he's a tryout guy so more than likely the best he can do is be a great surprise and the worst he can do is get cut.

Yea, and Boulerice was a try-out also.

Just hope he doesn't mistake "crazy glue" for eyedrops either. EYE was BLINDSIDED by this one, Didn't SEE it coming. But hindSIGHT being 20/400 er I mean 20/20 I'll have to trust in Homer. After all he is a man of VISION!!!

It's a tryout! Flyers seem to always be willing to give players another chance. Sometimes it works out. Worst that can happen here is he pushes the young defensive players to play better in camp. If he outplays one, that guy could probably use more seasoning in the minors anyway. It looks like Hatcher and Rathje are going to be long term injured and we could use another pressure tested player back there.