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Flyers' R.J. Umberger on poor season: 'I feel like I've let [Ron] Hextall down'
The Philadelphia Flyers still have two more years left on R.J. Umberger’s contract, with $9 million coming to him. That’s going to turn into a Vincent Lecavalier albatross situation if the forward doesn’t turn his fortunes around.
Umberger will be a healthy scratch Tuesday night when the Flyers host the Dallas Stars. Lecavalier will take his place in the lineup after sitting for three games.
Since being dealt over the summer for fan favorite Scott Hartnell, Umberger has struggled, scoring nine times and recording 15 points in 67 games. His last goal came Jan. 27 against Arizona.
Umberger has watched his overall ice time has drop by three minutes compared to last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Meanwhile, Hartnell has enjoyed his new surroundings, having posted 16 goals and 43 points in 60 games. So with one struggling and the other doing fine, the statisical comparisons were inevitable.
“The success he’s had and he’s done well in Columbus,” Umberger said via CSN Philly. “When things aren’t going well, you feel that. It’s added pressure.”
The summer deal was a surprise to many. Flyers captain Claude Giroux said of Hartnell: “He was almost the face” of the franchise. The now-Blue Jackets forward felt he was forced out of Philadelphia by new general manager Ron Hextall, who cited a vision for the future by making the trade.
The deal hasn’t gone the way Hextall envisioned it, and Umberger is feeling the heat.
"When things aren't going well, that's added pressure. You feel that," Umberger said, comparing himself to Hartnell. "I think the biggest thing that's bothered me is that I feel like I've let (general manager Ron) Hextall down. He believed in me bringing me here and I feel like I just haven't been the player for him that he needs.”
Umberger added that he’s still trying to find what’s been wrong with his game, but we’ve kind of all seen this coming.
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
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