FLYERS DAILY CLIPS

LECLAIR ONE OF TWO TO GO AS FLYERS SIGN DOWD, LOSE SCRIMMAGE

PHILADELPHIA,PA- The Flyers had a real busy weekend.

Flyers Lose 3-1 to Team USA in first annual match-up.

In honor of Herb Brooks, the Flyers played their first annual Brooks Classic as they matched up against the 1980 Gold Medal winning USA team. Team USA took the FLyers 3-1. Eric Strobel scored the lone first period goal as USA outshot the Flyers 11-6. Slava Kozlov got the Flyers on the board 10:12 of the 2nd & the teams went into the dressing room knotted at 1 with USA holding an 18-15 shot advantage. Buzz Schneider broke the tie at 4:27, and the Flyers were pushing hard but the wind was taken out of their sail's when Rozsival took a penalty & Rob McClanahan took advantage at 15:23. Dave Christian assisted on all 3 USA goals. Jim Craig stopped 8/9 GR's and JS Giguere stopped 6/8. USA outshot the Flyers 29-27.

Stuffed In The Free Agent Market

Rookie GM Jack Santos was schooled by other owners in the free agency pool. Basing his offers on past numbers, he way underbidded on the top FA's. Mike Commodore signed a record breaking FA deal for 16.63 withe Montreal, so it's not surprising that he laughed at the Flyers 2.5 offer. Flyers also went after Tom Poti & Karel Rachunek in hopes of signing at least two of those three.

Dowd Signs With Flyers

After being shutout, Santos made a call to Jim Dowd (who lives in the same hometown as Santos). The two set up a meeting at Dowd's sister Kim's bar The Ark. So after nibbling on cajun shark bites & frosty mugs of Miller Lite & watching the Mets bullpen blow a series to the Phillies (both are Met fans), Dowd walked away with a contract, signing for 750,000. He'll be bringing in his PK experience to the Flyers & should be a 4th line center.

LeClair & Ellison Released

The Flyers released John LeClair & Matt Ellison. LeClair came into camp bothered by nagging injuries & wasn't showing any signs of the scoring touch that he once possesed. LeClair said that it is not a surprise, "Jack & I discussed this a few weeks ago & we agreed going in that if I wasn't pulling my weight in camp, he would let me explore other options in the waiver period."

Matt Ellison's release also came as no surprise given the fact that he would be ineligible to play this season & is not expected to be in the Flyers plans for the future.

Two More Games Slated For Preseason

The Flyers will play at least two more games before wrapping up camp. They will host the New Jersey Devils & New York Rangers.