By Michael Rushton
I'm going to share a little secret with you: I'm pretty sure I would be a lousy general manager.
See, I'm a very loyal person and I know I would have trouble cutting ties with long-tenured veterans who are on the down side of their careers. Which, of course, brings me to John LeClair.
LeClair was waived by the Penguins, cleared waivers, and was later assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL.
My first thought with the Flyers possibly bringing back LeClair was, 'No sir'. Perhaps his lack of productivity towards the end of his Flyers career had helped me shed my loyalty issues.
My LeClair bobble heads and action figures have already been put away with their Roman Checkmanek and Mark Recchi counterparts.
But as the days went by I started to think about it.
He's in the last year of his contract; has played and was successful in Philly; would be a calming influence to a roster full of young players.
Now I want big John back.
Put him on a line with Mike Richards or R.J. Umberger and let him help these second-year players on and off the ice. Let him park his aging butt in front of the net again and try to open things up for the other guys.
LeClair probably wouldn't make it past third-line duties with Philly after playing on Pittsburgh's fourth line right before being waived. He has only two goals and five assists in 21 games.
But darn it, I miss having LeClair around.
Obviously, the Flyers weren't interested the first time around, but could take a shot at LeClair if and when he hits re-entry waivers.
So let's bust our No. 10 jerseys out of the closet, shall we?
Michael Rushton can be reached at rushpac@comcast.net
6 comments:
Yeah, lets bring Lindros and Renberg back to you moron. Bringing LeClair back would be the dumbest move ever.
The Flyers are in a rebuilding mode and adding LeClair and his bad back sends the wrong message to the young players and the team.
The younger players need to see the ice and take their lumps.
Go play with your bobbleheads you ass.
This writer has no clue and plays with toys
Why not bring back Leclair? We brought back Bobby Clark... and hell, while we're at it... do you think Ron Hextall is still available?
He's just longing for the old days...It's kind of like wanting to go back to high school: It's a romantic idea, but in reality would be awkward and unsatisfying.
Who let the fantasy guy out of his cage?
Come on people lets get loyal here..we all love toys...I say lets suit up He-Man, stick him on the fourth line and let the man wreak some havoc..and, get some old GI Joe's and let them man the blue line...cant be any worse then Rathje...signing out from Broad Street..Barney.
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