Theres always a need for a tenacious penalty killer in hockey.
Combine that skill with a proficiency at winning defensive faceoffs, and theres a chance that player will find a job in the National Hockey League.
Hence, Blair Betts is now a Montreal Canadien, having been claimed off waivers on Wednesday for a little over 3,000.
Meanwhile, two other Flyers cleared as the opening day roster was set to be handed in at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
Matt Walker is headed back onto the Flyers roster where is expected to be on the right side Thursday night in Boston with partner Braydon Coburn.
Oskars Bartulis? He appears headed to the Phantoms. No decision there yet.
The loss of Betts was tempered by the fact the Flyers have younger bodies to replace him. Yet theres no denying the 31-year-old center was a calming influence in the room.
NHL
Hes a professional in every sense of the word, said coach Peter Laviolette. Hes done a lot for the organization, so I was happy to see he got picked up and gets an opportunity.
The trickle-down effect from losing Betts saw Max Talbot slotted as the fourth line center between Andreas Nodl and Zac Rinaldo. This was based on practice.
Rookie Sean Couturier advanced between Scott Hartnell and Matt Read.
The top line remains Claude Giroux centering James van Riemsdyk and Jaromir Jagr. The second line features Danny Briere between Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds.
Hence, the roster that likely gets turned in today has 23 players totaling 64.23 million against the salary cap. It wouldnt include Brayden Schenn (Phantoms) or Bartulis. That leaves the Flyers with 65,794 in cap space, according to capgeek.com.
And until Schenn is physically ready to play with the Flyers, theres no need to place Ian Laperriere (post-concussion syndrome) on long-term injury. So, he likely sticks around on the roster until cap space is needed.
The bad? Because of Shelleys five-game suspension, the Flyers are carrying 14 forwards but the two extra playersShelley and Laperrierecant play. So, for five games, the Flyers have no margin for error at forward.
No one was happier about clearing waivers than Walker, who goes from the waiver wire to the opening day lineup against the Bruins.
Business side of things I guess, Walker said. Nothings really changed on my part. I tried to play well and I think I did. Its kind of goofy all the money and cap situations the teams are in.
Walker said general manager Paul Holmgren explained what was involved and why. Still, just being out there was odd given how good a camp Walker had.
That part was surprising a bit but on the other hand, I kinda see how things are and after what happened last year with injuries, I knew I wouldnt be in a perfect situation for the start of this year.
Walker rehabbed very intently over the summer from dual hip surgeries with a positive outlook. He was also in terrific shape.
From what Ive heardIm good to go against Boston, he said.
The Flyers now have 49 players under contract in the organization with losing Betts. If Couturier is kept around past 10 games, he will be the 50th and final contract, barring a roster move.
Here's the 23-man roster the Flyers turned in at the deadline:
Forwards: Jakub Voracek, Danny Briere, Wayne Simmonds, JVR, Claude Giroux, Jaromir Jagr, Andreas Nodl, Matt Read, Scott Hartnell, Zac Rinaldo, Max Talbot, Jody Shelley, Sean Couturier and Ian Laperriere.
Defense: Kimmo Timonen, Matt Walker, Andrej Meszaros, Braydon Coburn, Andreas Lilja, Matt Carle, Chris Pronger.
Goalies: Sergei Bobrovsky and Ilya Bryzgalov.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net