http://www.yardbarker.com/users/jrich570 Recent Yardbarker Articles: jrich570 en-us As the Flyers cleaned out their lockers at the team's practice facility Wednesday, a number of questions regarding various aspects of the offseason were addressed. Perhaps the most important of which was hammering out a contract with center Jeff Carter, a restricted free agent who scored 24 goals and recorded 29 assists this season. Both Carter and general manager Paul Holmgren expressed interest in getting the deal done quickly. "Obviously, I don't want to go anywhere. I love playing in Philadelphia, and I want to be here for a long time," Carter said. "We've just got to sit down with my agent and everybody, and hopefully we can get something done as soon as possible." "I don't have a gut feeling," Holmgren said Tuesday. "Our job is to do what we can to make our team better. Is Jeff Carter part of that equation? Yes, I have no doubts about that." New leadership Following a season during which he dealt with persistent shoulder injuries, team captain Jason Smith, the consummate leader, is still not talking about the pain he endured. Smith, 35, played with two separated shoulders in the playoffs. "It wasn't the best feeling, but you just enjoy playing," Smith said. "You grow up playing the game as a kid and I've had a great opportunity to have success with this game and you're going to do whatever you can to help the team do well. If you're hurt a little bit, it's all part of it." When asked about the severity of the pain and whether he was taking pain killers every day, Smith said: "We don't really speak about those kinds of things." An unrestricted free agent, Smith likely will not return to the Flyers next season. Holmgren said Tuesday the team needed an injection of youth on the defensive front, meaning veteran Derian Hatcher is also unlikely to return. "We'll see how it all goes. Hopefully things work out," Smith said. "I haven't taken much time to think about [where I'll be next year]. I'll talk with my family and my wife and make some decisions going forward." Richards a captain? If Smith is not re-signed, the Flyers will have to select a new captain for the fourth time in as many seasons. Center Mike Richards appears to be next in line and could be a long-term option. But Richards – at least for now – believes differently. "I'm still learning so much from everybody . . . I don't feel I'm ready right now," Richards said. "I like the position I'm in as a little bit of a leader [as alternate captain], but there's so many leaders in our dressing room, that I don't think it's the right time." Gagne's Status Injured left winger Simon Gagne, who hasn't played since Feb. 10 because of a concussion, said he was happy with his recovery process. The longest tenured Flyer said he finally feels like he's "100 percent free of the symptoms." "I'm feeling very good right now," Gagne said. "If you look, it's been almost three months since the last injury, and from this point on I'm very happy the way things are going. "I have the whole summer to get back into shape first and another four months before I play a game." Fri, 23 May 2008 10:39:39 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/270173 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/270173 NEW YORK – Maurice Cheeks coached some 76ers games this season wearing only one shoe. Cheeks couldn't fit a shoe over his swollen left foot because he was suffering from gout. "It's very uncomfortable to coach with one shoe one," Cheeks said Thursday. Now Cheeks wants to help people with gout and those at risk of suffering the condition. Cheeks was in New York to take part in "Time Out For Gout," which promoted the second annual Gout Awareness Day. Gout is an intensely painful form of arthritis caused by accumulation of sodium urate crystals in the joints and other tissues. Common symptoms include swollen or stiff joints, and long-term damage can be inflicted on joints and kidneys if it is not managed properly. Gout affects 3 million to 5 million Americans. The gout symptoms affecting Cheeks' joints in his big toe were so severe that he coached several games in February wearing only one shoe. "Anyone who has gout, they know how painful it can be just to be touched by a sock, a sheet or anything," Cheeks said. "The adrenaline of the game took that away. As the game continued, the feeling of gout was replaced by the game. After the game, it went back to feeling as painful as it can be." Cheeks' contract expires at the end of next season. Team president Ed Stefanski said at the end of the season he wanted to discuss an extension, but Cheeks said no discussions have been held. "We'll sit down and talk at some point," Cheeks said. "We just haven't gotten to it yet." Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Fri, 23 May 2008 10:27:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/270168 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/270168 Defenseive End Mondre Dickerson was signed to the active roster Thu, 22 May 2008 13:37:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269737 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269737