Laperriere wins the Masterton Award

Ian Laperriere was the lone Flyer to win an award for the 2010-11 season and he didn't even play in a single game. Lappy, who last played in the 2010 Stanley Cup run, has won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, an award given for perseverance and sportsmanship. It's pretty fair to call it a lifetime achievement award for Lappy, who has been the ultimate team guy throughout his entire career. The other finalists for the award were former Flyers Ray Emery and Daymond Langkow.

Despite the award, I wouldn't count on Lappy returning to the Flyers or even playing hockey ever again. Already 37 and still not fully recovered from taking a slapshot to the face, it might take a miracle to get him back on the ice.

No other Flyer was even a finalist for any other NHL award. Future (hopefully) Flyer Ilya Bryzgalov finished 6th in the voting for the Vezina award.

Flyers lose Leighton, Laperriere to injury

It must be hockey season because the Flyers have problems in net! In a conference call today, Paul Holmgren announced that Flyers starting goaltender Michael Leighton will miss about a month of the season with a bulging disc in his back. In his absence, the Flyers will likely go with Brian Boucher as the starter and either Johan Backlund or preseason sensation Sergei Bobrovsky as the backup.

In even worse news, the Flyers also announced that Ian Laperriere will be out indefinitely due to post-concussion issues that are still bothering him from the playoffs last season. There was no announced timetable for a return for Lappy, but given that he's still hurting from an injury from last season, expect him to be placed on the long-term injured reserve and miss a significant chunk of the season. With Lappy out, a roster spot is all but guaranteed for training camp invite Bill Guerin. While Guerin won't replace Lappy's toughness, he will certainly provide more offensive punch.

With the season just over a week away, this wasn't exactly the news we all were hoping to hear. Then again, it wouldn't be Flyers hockey without a goalie issue.