Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

After the various deadlines Phoenix captain Shane Doan gave the Coyotes to clear up the management situation, one would assume he would do whatever it takes to stay in the desert.

Maybe not.

According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Shane Doan has moved on.

                          Doan, who understandably wants this to be the last move he makes, is believed to have narrowed his sights on Manhattan, Pittsburgh, and Vancouver. It’s unclear if Rangers general manager Glen Sather willing to go four years, but if he does, Doan is more likely than not to become a Blueshirt.

With rivals such as the Rangers and Penguins on that list,  this is not exactly positive news for Flyers fans.

Remember, Doan wants four year, $30 million if he signs outside of Phoenix. The Rangers still have a lot under the cap, which possibly makes them the favorite to land the coveted free agent winger. After already bringing in Rick Nash, New York could possibly make another splash this off-season.

So, would a veteran guy like Shane Doan fit on the Philadelphia Flyers? Absolutely. He is the type of player that fans of the Orange and Black adore. He is a physical player, who stands up for his teammates, and is a total class act. He would also be another veteran leaders to assist some of the younger guys.

However, if in fact Doan is not interested in the Flyers, then watch out. Pittsburgh and New York already have very powerful offenses. Adding a guy like Shane Doan to the mix will create many problems for the Flyers.

But if you think things are bad for the Flyers, what about Phoenix?

This team is still trying to remain relevant in the NHL, and possibly losing the face of the franchise will not help.

The Doan Dilemma, if you will, has been lingering for weeks now. An ending could be in sight, however, an unhappy one for the Flyers.

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March 26, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Rick Nash (61) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 7-2 clinching a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

While the Rick Nash saga has certainly gone quiet in the last few weeks, Columbus Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson remains firm in his high asking price for the former first round pick.

While initially it was believed Howson would want a combination of defenseman and forwards for Nash, he’s been more vocal in the past few weeks on what he wants.

According to a report on NHL.com, Scott Howson is looking for established forwards who can immidiately jump in and fill the void left by Nash.

If you have been following the Rick Nash saga at all, you would know by now that the New York Rangers are believed to be the “front runners” for Rick’s services. The Bruins, Flyers, Penguins, Sharks, and Red Wings are all in the mix as well, as they are all believed to be on Rick Nash’s list of “approved” teams he’d be willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to.

While New York certainly has the assets to acquire Rick Nash, that doesn’t mean they’d be willing to part with the pieces to bring him aboard. Names like Derek Stepan and Chris Krieder have come up in trade discussions for Nash, while it’s been reported that Columbus is more interested in guys like Tim Erixon and Ryan McDonagh. The Rangers appear hesitant to move McDonagh and Kreider, they could consider moving other pieces, such as Brandon Dubinsky.

If it’s forwards Scott Howson is looking for, he should look no further than Philadelphia. The Flyers have more offensive depth than the Rangers, and may have some leverage in trade talks with the Blue Jackets because of that. Trading one or two forwards and a pick to acquire Rick Nash would not set the Flyers back very much, and it gives the Flyers the power forward they were looking for when they drafted James van Riemsdyk.

With the loss of Matt Carle to Tampa Bay, the Flyers can ill-afford trading another defenseman, and they wouldn’t have to if Howson just wants forwards in return.

The only problem with a potential trade to Philadelphia is that Columbus would likely command Brayden Schenn or Sean Couturier in any deal for Nash, something that the Flyers simply won’t do at this point. That makes guys like Matt Read, Jake Voracek, and Eric Wellwood would be the more “expendable” players in a potential trade.

Nothing appears imminent at this time, but once we see a conclusion to the Doan and Semin sagas, the trade market will heat up and guys like Nash, Ryan, and Yandle will once again be the center of all the rumor speculation.

Follow Me On Twitter @ManayunkMike

Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

Well it’s official, Ian Laperriere has  retired from the sport of ice hockey. As posted a few weeks ago, Lappy was getting ready to announce his retirement after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final. Now that the LA Kings have won the cup, Lappy has done just that.

Unfortunately his career was cut short due to injuries his sustained while playing as a Philadelphia Flyer. If it was not for this injury Lappy probably had a few more years of playing on the ice left in his career, and he would most likely still be suiting up in a black and orange sweater. It is no surprise why Flyers fans support Lappy. He showed determination, grit and toughness that we like to see in our players.  He was a big enforcer, which is how he got that injury in the first place by blocking a shot with his face, which really earned him the support from the fans.  So we are glad to see him retiring as a Flyer, even though he was only a player on the team for a season.

But this is not where Lappy began his career with the NHL. He has been in the league for a total of 19 years and was initially drafted in 1992 by the St. Louis Blues. He played for juniors and minors for a bit and didn’t really get the chance to play for the Blues until ’93. He ended his term with the Blues when he got traded for a season to the Rangers in ’95. Then he played for the La Kings for 9 consecutive seasons. In 2005 he went to play in Colorado for the Avalanche and finally for the Flyers in 2009 to end out his career.

Lappy is a seasoned player and it is clear that he had a good run while still in the NHL, but don’t think that this is the last we will hear from him. Over the past two years, Lappy has still remained active with the Flyers organization through scouting and some broadcasting spots, so it is clear that he not going to leave the game completely. He just won’t be on the ice any longer.

Thanks for reading!

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