Around the Rink: Flyers News

According to Chuck Gormley of the Courier Post,

The Flyers will likely bring up Denis Gauthier if they make the playoffs. They cannot call him up before April 6th, however, because he will likely be picked up by another team through the waiver process.

"Denis is an NHL defenseman," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "He's a victim of the salary cap."

Denis Gauthier, if he doesn't commit the stupid penalties he did with the Flyers last year, would be an improvement of the third-line defensemen that the Flyers have put out thus far this year. When Randy Jones returns, he will replace Lasse Kukkonen in the line-up. Gauthier will compete with Modry and Parent for the final defensive pairing.

Currently, Claude Giroux's junior team, the Gatineau Olympiques is currently in the playoffs and holding 2-0 series lead in the first round. As long as the Olympiques keep winning, Giroux will remain with them, which could be until the end of May. Giroux already has 2 goals and 5 assists in those two games.

Lastly, Paul Holmgren has begun contract talks with Jeff Carter's agent, Rick Curran, but nothing is imminent. Carter becomes a restricted free-agent July 1st and there is a strong possibility that he may receive an offer sheet from another team. It'd be smart for the Flyers to try and lock him up long-term before another team sets his price.