From Controversy To Contribution

When I heard about the interest the Philadelphia Flyers had in the former Ottawa Senators goaltender and trouble maker Ray Emery, only one thing came to mind, isn’t this the same guy who fought his coaches and teammates and was literally chased out of the league? All I recall was hoping one of two things was going on. One, the Flyers interest in him wasn’t as much as everyone made it out to be, or two, Ray Emery was a changed person after spending a season in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. Before we knew it on June 10th 2009, Paul Holmgren was set to make a major announcement. Ray Emery was the newest Flyer with a one-year 1.5 million dollar contract.

Going into this announcement, I was more interested in the attitude of Emery more than the details of the contract. After Homer announced the deal and shook hands the questions flowed. “How did you like Russia?” “What can you do for this team?” “Is it True you fought a trainer?” Then the best question he could have been asked was proposed to the controversial goaltender. “With the history of your aggression and emotion, what makes you think you wont relive the Ottawa situation in a much more emotional and passionate fan base of the Philadelphia Flyers?” And without missing a beat, or a twitch of annoyance, Ray Emery made an impression on me and everyone watching. Because I cant quote exactly what he said, all I can say is that the composure and the maturity that the same man who fought a personal trainer for suggesting a hat be worn outside, made me fee like we were in the best hands. There was never a doubt about the skill level that Emery brought to the team, after all he brought Ottawa to the Stanley Cup Finals, but the mental capacity had to be questioned. For me and most out there, that day he proved he is ready to be an elite goaltender on an elite team.

In the 2006-2007 season, Emery recorded a 33-16-6 record while piling up a 2.47 GAA and a .917 save percentage with the Ottawa Senators. After the solid numbers in the regular season, along with the controversy of fighting a few teammates physically and verbally, combined with his constant tardiness, Emery’s stats were just as good if not better during the playoffs. In 20 games, he recorded a 13-7 record along with 2.26 GAA and a .907 save percentage taking the Senators all the way to the cup finals. The very next year Emery suffered a wrist injury early in the off season which caused him to miss quite a few games for the Sens in both the preseason and the early regular season. After return from injury, slouching numbers and the better play of Martin Gerber leadOttawa decided to cut him loose. Now a free agent, Emery struggled to find any teams interested in his services. Sure his numbers were pretty solid, but at what cost to the chemistry of the team? Most GM’s and coaches will tell you the worst player is one that causes trouble inside the locker room. It’s bad for all the players who have to hear the drama and problems and it’s bad for the coaches and trainers to have to expect a breakout every now and again. Once Emery realized that no teams in the National Hockey League had any interest in him, he packed up for Russia.

On July 9th, 2008, Emery signed with Atlant Moscow Oblast of Russia’s newly formed Kontinental Hockey League. The contract, one-year 2 million doallar deal, was a win win for Emery. This gave him a chance to prove he can still play on the ice while he tried to mend his attitude off the ice, and left him committed for just one year. After a little bit of a struggle at the beginning of the season, Emery really stepped his game up, posting an impressive record of 22-8-0, and an unbelievable GAA of 1.86 with an equally amazing save percentage of .926. Also only having one penalty against him, a minor 2 minutes for shooting the puck over the glass. Not one fight, not one problem, not one critic left about his play. If there was any chance that Emery was to make a return to the NHL, he boosted those with his play in the KHL. Once the season was over and the Philadelphia news got wind of the ridiculous asking price of starter Martin Biron, and the hip troubles continued for back-up Antero Niittymaki, rumors flew. After too long rumors turned into a new goaltending tandem in Philadelphia.

With the July 1st, 2009 signing of Brian Boucher, pictured right, to a two-year deal, he was now the back-up to Ray Emery. Boucher was drafted to Philadelphia back in the 1995 Entry Draft in the 1st round, 22nd overall. With a young skilled goalie leading the charge in Emery, the Flyers are given the opportunity to test some of their prospect goaltenders if they choose the option. In my last post about the Winter Classic, we found out the Flyers were the team in demand. That day, Ray Emery found out that he was the guy getting the start for the historic outdoor game in Fenway Park. Emery had this to say; “I’m definitely excited to have a chance to be playing in the Winter Classic. This is the best League in the world and I realized how much I missed it when I was gone, so I definitely wanted to come back. Getting a chance to play for a team that’s an obvious contender, has a host of star players and only got better in the off-season was a great opportunity and that’s even more exciting.” Without a doubt the Flyers are raring and ready to go in the goal-tending aspect of their game. Enjoy the day and LETS GO FLYERS!!