Philadelphia Wings General Manager Lindsay Sanderson has announced that goalie Rob Blasdell will receive the team’s franchise player tag for the 2009 season.  As the franchise player, Blasdell is no longer eligible for free agency, ensuring he will be with the Wings for the 2009 season , and he is guaranteed to receive the league's veteran maximum salary, plus an additional 25 percent for being declared a franchise player.

Blasdell, who was acquired from Arizona Sting in the first round of this year’s dispersal draft, posted 13.93 goals against average and 73.94 save percentage in 2008. In his 11 year career, he has played 6,401minutes, made 3,956 saves, along with a 12.30 goals against average.