Esche signed

[swflyers25]

Per local tv show in Philly, he should be on in a little while to confirm. Seidenberg is the only one left.

[swflyers25]

Flyers and Esche agree to contract terms
TSN.ca Staff

8/10/2005 6:28:34 PM

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that the team and goaltender Robert Esche have agreed to terms on a new two-year contract, according to General Manager Bob Clarke. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

"Robert Esche was a big part of the team that almost went to the Stanley Cup Finals two years ago (in 2004) and we expect him to be a big part of the team this season," said Clarke in making the announcement.

Esche, 27, posted a 21-11-7 record, 2.04 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and three shutouts in 40 games for the Flyers during the 2003-04 season. He was fifth in the NHL in goals-against average and his 21 wins and 40 games played were new career highs for a single season. Esche had an 11-7 record and a 2.32 GAA in 18 playoff games as the Flyers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. He was also a member of the U.S. National Team at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

In two seasons with the Flyers (2002-03 and 2003-04), Esche has compiled a 33-20-10 record and 2.11 GAA in 70 regular season games. He won the William Jennings Trophy, which goes to the goaltenders who played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it, for the 2002-03 season (shared with Roman Cechmanek and the New Jersey Devils' Martin Brodeur). He was acquired by the Flyers, along with Michal Handzus, from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Brian Boucher and Nashville's third round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft on June 12, 2002.

In six NHL seasons with Phoenix and the Flyers (1998-99 through 2003-04), Esche has registered a 51-44-16 record and 2.48 GAA in 128 regular season games. He was originally drafted by Phoenix in the sixth round (139th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

The Flyers also announced today that defenceman Dennis Seidenberg has accepted the club's qualifying offer. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Seidenberg, 24, recorded 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points and 47 penalty minutes in 79 regular season games for the Flyers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, this past season. He posted 10 points (2G,8A) in 18 playoff games as the Phantoms won the Calder Cup Championship. He was also a member of the German National Team at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

The 6'0", 200-pound defenseman split the 2003-04 season between the Flyers and the Phantoms. He was scoreless in five regular season games for the Flyers and registered seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points and 31 penalty minutes in 33 games for the Phantoms. He missed 25 games recovering from a broken left leg, which he injured in practice on January 15, 2004.

In two seasons with the Flyers (2002-03 and 2003-04), Seidenberg has recorded four goals and nine assists for 13 points and 22 penalty minutes in 63 career NHL games. He was originally drafted by the Flyers in the sixth round (172nd overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

TSN (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=133047)

[MadDevil]

He was acquired by the Flyers, along with Michal Handzus, from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Brian Boucher and Nashville's third round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft on June 12, 2002.

Great move by the Coyotes wasn't it?:doh: