Hatcher & Rathje Press conference transcript

[swflyers25]

http://images.comcast-spectacor.com/flyers/story//13167.JPG

New Flyers defensemen Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje were introduced to the Philadelphia media at a press conference at the Sovereign Bank Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J. on Tuesday. Below is a transcript of that press conference.

Bob Clarke: ?I think, first and foremost, it gives us really solid defensive play with some size. We had to replace guys like Malakhov, Timander and Ragnarsson, who were pretty big players on our club. Our defense was awfully small. Both of these guys are premier defensive defensemen. [Hatcher] has probably got a little more offense and I know [Ken] Hitchcock has used him on the power play before.?


On how the new rules changes will affect big defensemen:

BC: ?I think each team is going to have to look at how the game is going to be played now with the tag-up offsides and no red line. We don?t think the offsides and long passes are going to be a big factor. The tag up offsides is going to make more end zone play. Hopefully it will be in the other team?s instead of ours, but to play end zone play you?ve got to have some size.?

On how having no red line will affect his game:

Derian Hatcher: ?I think most of the players in the league at one point or another have played without the red line. I?m not worried about it. When you go over and play in the Olympics or World Championships, there?s no red line and I really don?t think that it effects the game that much.?

Mike Rathje: ?They are adjusting the blue lines too, so there won?t be much of a difference. It will be better for speed, and more offense. Playing out on the west coast, that is what everything is based on is speed.?


On the league cutting down on obstruction and how that will effect defensemen:

DH: ?I always get asked these questions every time there is a rule change. No. Either you can handle it or you can?t handle it. Personally, I?m not worried about it. I think for 10 years now the league has been saying they are going to cut down on obstruction. I hope they do. They?ve been saying it for a long time, and I hope they do.?

On his relationship with Ken Hitchcock:

DH: ?I was five years with Hitch, and I guess some players have problems with him and I guess in five years I had a few problems with him, but we always seem to hammer them out. To me, the bottom line is that everywhere Hitch goes, he has that tendency to win. I think if you can keep that as the focus, then like it or not the guy knows what he?s talking about. To me, that?s the bottom line.?

On Peter Forsberg:

DH: ?This is an easy question. I think he?s the best forward in the game, if not the best player in the game. I had a lot of good battles with him, and I have the utmost respect for the guy. Not only can he do things with the puck that most players in the league can?t, but you have to know when he?s on the ice or he?ll hit you and make you pay the price as well. I think he?s a great player. I vote for him every year in the players? balloting, so that?s what I think of him. I?m looking forward to playing with him.?

On all of the time off he has had:

DH: ?Right now I?m not worried about it. I feel like I?m going to be fine. Until you go on the ice and start playing you never know, but I?m not anticipating any problems.?

On the Flyers? roster:

DH: ?On paper, this team looks great. It?s exciting going into the season, but until you go out there and put it out there and win a lot of hockey games and reach the ultimate goal, it doesn?t really matter a whole lot.?

Tuesday, August 09, 2005


TSN (http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/pressbox/archive/2090.asp)

[charlio lemieux]

Philly is looking very strong this year. Weakest point is Goaltending.
Should be Easern Conf. reg. season leader.

[swflyers25]

Weakest point is not our goaltending. We are solid with Esche and Niitymaki. How many times do I have to say it?

[KB in Kelowna]

Weakest point is not our goaltending. We are solid with Esche and Niitymaki. How many times do I have to say it?

Until you can convince yourself it is true? :wave:

[Madferret]

Weakest point is not our goaltending. We are solid with Esche and Niitymaki. How many times do I have to say it?

Niitymaki has played 3 NHL games Sue. Think about that.

[swflyers25]

Niitymaki has played 3 NHL games Sue. Think about that.

Including the playoffs Niity played 143 games the last two seasons. So he can handle the load if called upon.

I remember that Niity started turning it on around January 1, 2004. He "took it up a level" as the cliche goes. So I ran his stats from January 2004 through the rest of that season and the playoffs (including his Flyers games) and combined them with this past year's regular season and playoffs.

He played the equivalent of 123 games during that time span. The results were:

Goals Against Average: 1.89

Save Percentage: .930

Shutouts: 16

Not hailing as the next Parent but the kid is damn good. I don't need convincing, I've seen him play.

[Newfie John]

Did they kiss Clarke? If not, they should of for giving them those deals.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

Niittymaki has put up better stats than Kari Lehtonen and isn't Lehtonen being touted as a Calder trophy guy.

[Madferret]

Including the playoffs Niity played 143 games the last two seasons. So he can handle the load if called upon.

I remember that Niity started turning it on around January 1, 2004. He "took it up a level" as the cliche goes. So I ran his stats from January 2004 through the rest of that season and the playoffs (including his Flyers games) and combined them with this past year's regular season and playoffs.

He played the equivalent of 123 games during that time span. The results were:

Goals Against Average: 1.89

Save Percentage: .930

Shutouts: 16


Sue, the NHL & the AHL are WORLDS apart. You can't assume that or use his AHL numbers (+3 NHL games) to prove your point. Emery for instance, was touted as the next major golaie of the NHL. I still wouldn't bet a loonie on him.

[Newfie John]

Niittymaki has put up better stats than Kari Lehtonen and isn't Lehtonen being touted as a Calder trophy guy.

Lehtonen has been doing it since he was 8 years old in Finland though. :laughing:

[Madferret]

Niittymaki has put up better stats than Kari Lehtonen and isn't Lehtonen being touted as a Calder trophy guy.

Do me a favour and tell me how many Calder winning goalies there has been over the last 20 years.
Also, if Niitymaki does win the Calder, then something serious would have had happened to Esche, as you need to play at least 57 games to be eligible. So if that's the case, good luck with Niitymaki in the playoffs. Worked good for Raycroft last year didn't it.

[swflyers25]

Sue, the NHL & the AHL are WORLDS apart. You can't assume that or use his AHL numbers (+3 NHL games) to prove your point.

Blah blah blah. This kid is going to be a good goalie.

Emery for instance, was touted as the next major golaie of the NHL. I still wouldn't bet a loonie on him.

By who? You? Only thing I heard was that he was a half decent goalie but his play has gone downhill. Never heard of Emery being touted as the next great goalie.

Lehtonen has been doing it since he was 8 years old in Finland though.

Niity did good in Finland as well, he has done great here as well.

Worked good for Raycroft last year didn't it.

You are blaming the B's loss on Raycroft? Don't blame it on their captain and all their trade deadline acquistions. Yeah, Ferret, you know what you are talking about. :rolleyes:


Do me a favour and tell me how many Calder winning goalies there has been over the last 20 years.
Also, if Niitymaki does win the Calder, then something serious would have had happened to Esche, as you need to play at least 57 games to be eligible.

I almost thought Niity might be too old to be in the running for the Calder. He just makes the cut. I don't even think Niity will that many games unless something happens to Esche or Niity simply outplays him.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

Do me a favour and tell me how many Calder winning goalies there has been over the last 20 years.
Also, if Niitymaki does win the Calder, then something serious would have had happened to Esche, as you need to play at least 57 games to be eligible. So if that's the case, good luck with Niitymaki in the playoffs. Worked good for Raycroft last year didn't it.

I'm sorry did I say that Niittymaki will win the Calder, cause if I reread my post I don't think it says that. I believe it says that Niittymaki has put up better stats than Lehtonen, who has been touted as a Calder trophy guy. I don't expect Niittymaki to win it because of Esche. I just think a lot of people overlook Niittymaki.

[Madferret]

I'm sorry did I say that Niittymaki will win the Calder, cause if I reread my post I don't think it says that. I believe it says that Niittymaki has put up better stats than Lehtonen, who has been touted as a Calder trophy guy. I don't expect Niittymaki to win it because of Esche. I just think a lot of people overlook Niittymaki.

If you're going to bring up the word 'Calder' when talking about Niitymaki, then so will I. You have your opinions, I have mine, agreed?

[Madferret]

Blah blah blah. This kid is going to be a good goalie.
Very substancial, you win.
:shrug:
By who? You? Only thing I heard was that he was a half decent goalie but his play has gone downhill. Never heard of Emery being touted as the next great goalie.
Ray Emery (http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospect/ray_emery)
I've seen you use this site before, so don't call foul on that one please.
You are blaming the B's loss on Raycroft? Don't blame it on their captain and all their trade deadline acquistions. Yeah, Ferret, you know what you are talking about. :rolleyes:
Again..:shrug:
I know how this works with you Flyer fans, and it's a circle I don't feel like spending my day running around in and continually proving you guys wrong. So that's the last bit you'll get from me, so chew on it.

Have a good day

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

If you're going to bring up the word 'Calder' when talking about Niitymaki, then so will I. You have your opinions, I have mine, agreed?

I brought up the word "Calder" when I mentioned Lehtonen. I think that they are very comparable and you assumed that I thought Niitymaki would win it. I realize that Esche is our starter and something serious would have to happen to him for Niitymaki to start enough games to be in contention for the Calder.

[swflyers25]

I've seen you use this site before, so don't call foul on that one please.

I'm not. Not seeing anything I haven't seen before.

So if that's the case, good luck with Niitymaki in the playoffs. Worked good for Raycroft last year didn't it.

Your words. Translation as I read your quote: Raycroft lost in the playoffs so Niity will lose in the playoffs? Did you factor in the fact that the Bruins team basically gave up in that series? It had nothing to do with Raycroft.

Unlike Boston, Philly has a complete team in front of Antero or Esche, whoever is in net.

So I don't get the whole Raycroft mention, it was not his fault that the B's lost.

[Madferret]

It had nothing to do with Raycroft.Unlike Boston, Philly has a complete team in front of Antero or Esche, whoever is in net.
Click Here (http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000322004.html) Sue.Tell me again that Boston didn't have a complete team.

So I don't get the whole Raycroft mention, it was not his fault that the B's lost.

Here's Raycroft's stats for that playoff series.

GP MIN GA GAA W L SO Save %
5 300 12 2.40 2 3 0 0.918

So 12 goals allowed in 5 games with no shut-outs with a strong team in front of him, and it's not his fault? I'm not trying to pin the series on him as clearly it's a team effort, but Raycroft DID NOT have a good 1st playoff outing Sue.

[swflyers25]

Tell me again that Boston didn't have a complete team.

Sure, they had a complete team roster wise. They just didn't have enough skill on their team to stop the Habs from coming back from a 3-1 deficit. So, let me get this straight, it's Raycroft's fault?

From Game 3 vs. the Habs:
The crowd was electric as the game began, with fans chanting the name of Raycroft, who had allowed only one goal in the opening two matches, to try to put him off his game.

Michael Nylander had 3 goals in the entire 7 game series, Samsonov had 2. Murray and Knuble had 2. That's 9 goals, 4 others had 1. That shows to me that a team isn't giving the goalie any production in front of him. Good goalies can play good and still lose. Brodeur is the prime example. He could have a great game but if his team doesn't score, they lose. People that the Bruins have didn't really step up. Scoring 2 goals isn't going to help your team win. So if you are trying to tell me that it is all Andrew's fault, don't bother because it's bs and you know it. :rolleyes:

I'm not trying to pin the series on him as clearly it's a team effort, but Raycroft DID NOT have a good 1st playoff outing Sue.

Well, only letting 1 goal in 2 games says he did okay. Better than some of the normal goalies out there.

The Bruins collapse was a result of lack of production from key people, not the play of Raycroft.

[Madferret]

Sure, they had a complete team roster wise. They just didn't have enough skill on their team to stop the Habs from coming back from a 3-1 deficit. So, let me get this straight, it's Raycroft's fault?

Is Raycroft a part of the Boston Bruins and a part of the team that blew a 3-1 series lead?

So if you are trying to tell me that it is all Andrew's fault, don't bother because it's bs and you know it. :rolleyes:

Here, I'll quote myself for you...

I'm not trying to pin the series on him as clearly it's a team effort

Well, only letting 1 goal in 2 games says he did okay. Better than some of the normal goalies out there.

Sue, goalies win you games just as easily as they lose you games. Raycroft did not win the Bruins one key game since the B's went up 3-1 in that series. Get it?

[swflyers25]

You are telling that you aren't pinning it on him and that's exactly what you are doing. I'm done going back and forth. Bruins lost because the team fell apart.

[Madferret]

You are telling that you aren't pinning it on him and that's exactly what you are doing. I'm done going back and forth. Bruins lost because the team fell apart.

Exactly. The Bruins fell apart, and the last I checked, Raycroft is a Boston Bruin. So saying the Bruins fell apart includes Raycroft. That's the point I'm making and that's the point that you're failing to see. Fair enough?

[Newfie John]

You are telling that you aren't pinning it on him and that's exactly what you are doing. I'm done going back and forth. Bruins lost because the team fell apart.

So are you saying Raycroft had a belfour vs ottawa type series, but the team just fell apart in front of him?

[swflyers25]

So are you saying Raycroft had a belfour vs ottawa type series, but the team just fell apart in front of him?

Basically.

[Madferret]

So are you saying Raycroft had a belfour vs ottawa type series, but the team just fell apart in front of him?
Basically.

:eek:
Did you watch the Montreal / Boston series at all?

FTR, Belfour won at least 3 games for the Leafs, and earned what, two shut-outs? Belfour was outshot by a margin of almost 2-1 in that Leafs / Sens series, what was the shot comparision in the Mon / Bos series?
I do know what I'm talking about, I'm sorry you can't accept that. I'm not making this stuff up Sue.