According to the Delco Times, Flyers’ General Manager Paul Holmgren granted veteran defenseman Bryan Berard an opportunity to make the team, by allowing him to attend Flyers’ training camp and battle for a position.
The 31-year old, 11-year vet is best known for an atrocious eye injury he suffered in 2000, which was close to career threatening. But after seven eye surgeries, Berard met the league minimum sight requirement and continued his career as a shell of his former self.
Berard was good for the Islanders last season, scoring five goals and adding 17 assists.
With the Flyers’ ranks chock full of fringe defenseman, Berard was likely given the chance to try out as a spare veteran defenseman, much like the maligned Rory Fitzpatrick was last season. Holmgren also could have been doing Berard and his agent a favor. Either way, unless Berard has an incredible camp, it doesn’t seem like he is in the Flyers’ plans for the future.
Phila.Bright 