[eleven24]

source: Ed Moran, Philly.com

The time to make a decision on Mike Rathje might be now for the Flyers.

A day after playing in pain and giving away the game-winner on an errant pass in a 3-2 loss to Nashville on Wednesday night, Rathje was taken out of the Flyers lineup indefinitely.

The Flyers are paying Rathje $3.5 million a year and with the team in need of a veteran, puck-moving defenseman who can keep up with the pace of the game, it could be time to start thinking about replacing him.

Tomorrow the Flyers will sit down with Rathje and discuss his future, general manager Paul Holmgren said before tonight game at the Islanders.

"First of all, we're talking about Mike's career and before we make those kinds of assessments, if that's what we do, then we need to talk to [Rathje]," Holmgren said.

"He's physically in pain, that is obvious. How much pain he's in only [Rathje] knows. I talked at length with [Rathje] today and I'm going to sit down with him [tomorrow] and talk about some things. We'll formulate a game plan and try to move forward."

No treatment Rathje has undergone for the pain that runs from his lower back to his hamstring has worked and he is again in search of a new doctor who can help.

"Physically, he is not able to play and we're investigating bringing him to another doctor to get a fresh set of eyes and fresh evaluation on it," trainer Jim McCrossin said. "He's still having that sciatic pain."

[Flatline]

woohooooooooo

[dutch74]

wow, better if he stops playing before he permanently damages himself... if he hasn't already

[Hextall_Fan88]

yeah, I really do believe his back is mostly to blame for his very poor play this year, but hey, I wish him luck in whatever he chooses to do.

Are we still going to be paying his salary if he retires?

[tmcc]

Don't like to hear that any player is in pain. I wish him the best. I honestly just don't think he can play the game anymore due to many obvious issues, including his back pain.

[Scrooge]

Obviously, I don't wish pain, and injury on people, but this is something we REALLY need.

Sure, Mike's a nice guy off the ice, but we need some hockey players.

[Jlg-28]

if he is in that much pain and it is affecting his pain he should do whats best for himself, seems like he is trying to help the team but at the same time he is costing them, as far as paying his salary if he retires I believe it would be the flyers would get a break on the cap , since the same thing had to be done when primeau retired.

[Ryan20]

It's a shame it has to come to something like this. Obviously, it's not fair for anybody to have to leave the game under those kind of circumstances. If he decides to retire, I wish him the best of luck.

However, this is something that is needed, badly.

[eleven24]

Originally Posted by Hextall_Fan88

yeah, I really do believe his back is mostly to blame for his very poor play this year, but hey, I wish him luck in whatever he chooses to do.

Are we still going to be paying his salary if he retires?

If Rathje accepts Medical Retirement, the Flyers are completely off the hook for his pro-rated $3.5M contract this season. Since Rathje played 20-something games that means the Flyers would have about $900k count towards the cap & the other $2.6M is wiped out. They'll owe nothing for the remainder of his contract.

If he just announces retirement I believe the Flyers are on the hook for 1/2 of his salary this year AND the next 2 years (he was given a 4-year deal).

It's much better for the Flyers that he accept medical retirement.

[sekkes85]

I thought since hes not 35, once he retires we only have to pay for the games played this year, so the 900k, after that it should be nothing.

[sekkes85]

I feel bad for booing him the other night now...

[tmcc]

Originally Posted by sekkes85

I feel bad for booing him the other night now...

And you should!

[sekkes85]

That was the first time I haver ever booed at a game before. At least at something that didn't involve the refs.I was so furious and still am at Rathje, if he was in that much pain he should not of been playing. As much as I would love to have his $3.5 million off the cap, I truly do hope he finds a solution to his problems and can fix it and make a comeback. Guy is only 32, he should have some good years left in him

[Drew]

He's done. Feel bad for him, but he's gotta realize he's detrimental to the team playing injured and sucking that bad.

[dutch74]

Jeese, I'm 32... makes me feel old lol

[Hextall_Fan88]

lol, 32? not old at all man.. Rathje has some old man genes in him, that's all