Flyers invite D Berard to camp

Aug 26, 2008 - 12:05 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Flyers on Monday expressed interest in veteran defenseman Bryan Berard.

The 31-year-old blue-liner will attempt to make the NHL club on a tryout contract.

"Bryan has been around a number of years now. He has been a good defenseman for quite some time," Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren said. "I'm excited about Bryan's willingness to come here on a tryout. It will certainly pick up the competition level of what is going to take place in training camp anytime you can add a player like him.

"This is kind of an out-of-the-blue thing. It just kind of popped up over the last week to 10 days. We are looking forward to seeing how he does."

Holmgren's not the only one who is excited.

"Basically, my agent, Tommy Laidlaw, talked to Paul Holmgren and thought that this was something that we felt would be a good situation for me to show what I have," Berard said.

"I thank the Flyers for giving me this opportunity to try out. I am really looking forward to this. I have been around for a while. Training camps are nothing new for me. I like to come in and compete at a high level. I want to show them that I can play and hopefully make the team and to be able to contribute and help out in any way I can."

Berard had five goals and 17 assists in 54 games with the New York Islanders last season.

Selected first overall in the 1995 draft, Berard recorded 76 tallies and 247 assists in 619 career contests with the Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.