"Bill Guerin's final preseason audition for a roster spot didn't go exactly as planned. Guerin wrapped up his tryout with a team-worst minus-4 performance in the Flyers' 9-3 shellacking at HSBC Arena last night.

"I think in the end, maybe I didn't have the best of preseasons," Guerin said. "I did what I could. But I feel that they know what I can do and what I can bring."

The Flyers' coaching staff is keen on Guerin's well-documented leadership contributions. But in the end, it may be hard for the team to justify a contract for Guerin, 39, since he wasn't head and shoulders better than younger players like Andreas Nodl. He posted one goal in five preseason contests - and played up and down the Flyers lineup. Guerin, a two-time Cup winner, posted 21 goals and 24 assists last year with Pittsburgh.

"At some point we've got to say 'yea or nay,' " general manager Paul Holmgren said last Thursday, "and a) roll the dice and hope that he helps us; or b) not roll the dice and do something else.""