Zzeke

Yes and yes - - half-way there.

On another slow Hockey day - Something to consider - Does size matter? On NHL teams' defense it does! Tall! Defensive reach, poke-check, shot deflecting, etc. Think about this Flyers team's defense potentially in the near future from a size standpoint: Provorov 6-1 Sanheim 6-4 Myers 6-5 Zamula 6-3 Morin 6-7 Braun 6-2 Hagg 6-2 And, Flyers' 6'-8" goalie Ivan Fedotov backing-up Carter Hart! Yes, it takes much more to be a good/excellent NHL defenceman, but, size does matter. Agree?

Podein25 - FYI - Reported today by Meltzer - There is wider involvement among the Flyers Alumni Association membership base in identifying worthy charities and people in need. Among the Alumni who brought donation candidates to the attention of Association president Brad Marsh and the board of directors were the likes of Kerry Huffman, Orest Kindrachuk, Shjon Podein, Garry Peters, Joe Watson (via wife Jamie) and Alumni board member Bob Kelly. The number one priority, of course, is to identify the recipients to whom the Alumni Association can bring the most-needed assistance. Secondarily, this is a way to bring the generations of Flyers Alumni closer together with the Association to unite for good causes. Podein, who played for the Flyers in the mid-1990s, lives in Minnesota. Podein suggested the Alumni help out Community Food Response; the food bank in his native Rochester, Minn. This charity was selected by Marsh and the Alumni Association board among this year's recipients. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused alarming levels of food assistance needs in communities across the United States. The Flyers Alumni Association put a little extra emphasis this year on prioritizing 12 Days recipients who meet this need in their communities including the CFR in Rochester. Good work by Podein and the Flyers Alumni Association. Can anyone identify these 4 Flyers alumni? Podein25?

Bill Meltzer reports today (12/11/20) - On Thursday, Hockey Canada announced seven cuts from its World Junior Championships selection camp roster. Among the cuts were Flyers 2020 first-round pick Tyson Foerster - - Foerster was not expected to make the WJC final roster this year. Come next year, when he is 19, he should stand a better chance of earning a spot. He will now await the belated start of the 2020-21 Ontario Hockey League season with his Barrie Colts team. Earlier this week, Hockey Canada sent home Flyers 2019 fourth-round pick Mason Millman for Covid-related reasons. The 19-year-old Saginaw Spirit (OHL) defenseman was himself considered a longshot for the final WJC roster from the outset. [Flyers' defenceman Cam York and RW Bobby Brink are expected to make the Team USA. Flyers' 6'8" goalie Ivan Fedotov made Team Russia as one of their 3 goaltenders. Flyers' defenceman Emil Andrae has a chance to make Team Sweden.] It will be fun for us Flyers fans to watch our valued prospects play in the World Junior Championships on TV (NHL Network) starting on Dec 25.

Return-to-Play Leaks More details, of the return to play, are leaking out via twitter. - the goal is to finalize the planning and bring it to a Governors' vote about a week before Christmas, around the end of next week. - Covid-19 testing for players would begin on Dec. 26 - training-camp start on Jan. 3 - season start on Jan. 13 - no exhibition games, the league wants to get started with games that count as soon as possible - main rosters will be expanded from 23 to 26 players - 4 additional players kept nearby on the taxi squad (if the coronavirus makes its way into a dressing room, it can take out a significant chunk of a roster in a very short period of time. Postponements could end up coming into play.) - a taxi squad would allow teams to keep its top-four projected recalls in Philadelphia to train and practice, collect their AHL salaries and NHL benefits. That will keep longer-term NHL prospects with the Phantoms to play an AHL season projected to start Feb. 5 - the league is once again looking at including an opt-out option for players and personnel who, for whatever reason, don't feel comfortable dealing with the risk of Covid-19. Salary would be paid but not count against the salary cap, like an LTIR situation. None of this is official yet pending the NHL Board of Governers' Vote. Trades - Trades - Trades Once the return-to-play plan is ratified, expect the wheeling and dealing to begin in earnest around the league. We may not have the usual holiday trade freeze this year, with so much needing to be done in such a short period of time.

Good stuff OR. Thx. (LW Noah Cates has already worn the Orange and Black )

GARY BETTMANCOM, NHL The NHL and the NHLPA have agreed to keep the CBA's economic framework, allowing the league to return to action in mid-January according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.ca. The NHL is expected to return to action on January 13 according to reports and that there will be a 56-game schedule. Teams that did not make the post-season will be allowed to practice starting on December 28 with the remaining teams beginning training camp on January 1. There will unlikely be any pre-season games. The players were willing to budge on escrow as per the owner's request but wanted some concessions in return, something the NHL was unwilling to do. Stay tuned as there are still plenty of things to work out, including the divisions, schedule and what to do in cities like Montreal, San Jose and Winnipeg where there are restrictions in place due to more outbreaks of the coronavirus. SOURCE: Sportsnet.ca Dec 8, 2020, 8:42 AM ET

Good stuff its. Thx.

Huh? Where are our Flyers??? ESPN published this 2020-21 Realignment Plan today: Then DEADSPIN takes a shot at us: Well, who knew that the perpetually and terminally backward NHL would be the first North American sports league to side with the rest of the world and simply boot a team out of its borders for ineffectiveness… at least according to ESPN. Yep, the Philadelphia Flyers have been relegated from the NHL, to parts… well, who really gives a sh!t? They’re gone! It’s been a long time coming for the Flyers, who really haven’t been relevant since the early 90’s to anyone outside of the section of the population that thinks vomiting up a gas station sandwich is worthy of knighthood. And even then it’s debatable. Their two Final appearances in the past 30 years have seen them go 2-8. There’s been a couple other conference finals appearances, but no one remembers them. Also, Bobby Clarke is an idiot. That’s the thing about the Flyers, and why they’ve earned this relegation.

GARY BETTMAN COM, NHL The NHL and NHLPA are reportedly discussing the possibility of extending the rosters to 26 players for the upcoming season. That would give teams a bit of an extra buffer in case some players are unavailable due to injury or COVID. Keep in mind, it could be harder to move players between the AHL and NHL in the upcoming season because of travel restrictions, especially if calling a player up would involve them crossing a border. Nothing is finalized, but this change for 2020-21 would make a lot of sense. SOURCE: Bruce Garrioch on Twitter Dec 8, 2020, 2:49 PM ET Interesting. From 23 to 26 (still dress 20 for game day). What 4 Flyers organization players would we add, assuming this starting point of 22 ? - Lindblom-Couturier-Voracek Farabee-Hayes-Konecny Giroux-Patrick-Sandin (G will settle P and S) Laughton-Bunnaman-Aube Kubel (ideal AV 4th line) #13-Raffl JVR out If Patrick not healthy, then Frost at 3C. Provorov - Gustafsson Sanheim - Myers (RH) (don't break them up) Hagg - Braun (RH) #7 - Friedman (RH) Ghost - traded Hart Elliott

DAVID KASERW, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS Philadelphia has loaned David Kase to the Czech National Team for the Channel One Cup. The tournament runs from December 14-20. Kase had been on loan with HC Karlovy Vary of the Czech Extraliga where he had four goals and 13 points in 16 contests. SOURCE: Philadelphia Flyers on Twitter Dec 9, 2020, 1:53 PM ET

This is interesting - - posted today on Hockey Buzz: Who will win the Vezina in 2021? December 9, 2020, 1:27 PM ET HockeyBuzz Hotstove In this edition of the hotstove, we share our picks to win the Vezina Trophy in 2021. Writer Sean Maloughney: Carter Hart. Any goalie can have a hot season and the young Carter Hart at 22 years old is already well on his way to having a successful starter career. Last season the Flyers were already one of the top 10 best teams for limiting goals against and it isn't unreasonable to suggest Hart will only continue to improve; and especially in a shortened season he should be well rested while handling a bulk of the games. Fun fact if Hart did win the Vezina, he would actually end up being the youngest player in NHL history to win the award, beating out when Bobrovsky did so in 2013 at the age of 24.

Another way of viewing Laughton is in the light of 'role'. In talking about a 4th line important role, points are not primary, although a bonus. Many teams, and certainly our Flyers, form the 4th line to fit a specific role - - all out super-energy for about a 45 second shift. It serves to give the top-9 a breather, and has a very important job as defined by AV's 4th line profile. Average game ice time in the NHL: 1st Line 19:20 2nd Line 16:22 3rd Line 13:28 4th Line 12:35 AV's 4th line profile/requirement is hard skating, hard forechecking, pin the other team in their own end, fast/strong backchecking, defensive work, PK duty. These attributes don't lend themselves to 'stats'. But, they are very important to a team's success. Bunnaman fits that role well. NAK fits that role well. And, Laughton fits that role well. They all skate very well, have intensity, have defensive and checking skills, and go 'all-out'. That is why projecting JVR or Frost on the 4th line is way off. JVR's skating and quickness is below average at this stage of his career. He will be age 32 this season and he has played 812 NHL games. And, he is in decline. Not a 4th line candidate. Frost, age 21, is a high-skill center who needs to play with skilled wingers to maximize his points output - - not on the 4th line. As we all know, in his last 2 seasons in Jrs he had 112 points (67 games) and 117 points (63 games). He is adjusting to playing pro at the AHL level. As we have been discussing, he is the primary candidate to be the Flyers 3C if Patrick's health does not hold-up. Therefore, Laughton, in the 4th line defined role (with Bunnaman and NAK), is a valuable contributor to our Flyers success. And, as 'points are not primary, although a bonus', Laughton is 4th line most qualified to get the occasional goal. All IMHO. Also, OR, you make some good points about GM Fletcher's challenges heading into the 2021-22 season - - RFAs Sanheim, Patrick and Hart, UFA Gustafsson, and a #2 Goaltender (and the Expansion Draft). Cap Management wise, UFA Laughton could be a casualty.

Agree with you, mostly. JVR or Voracek. No need to move Laughton, as he is a valuable 4th liner. He fits AV's 4th line profile/requirement of hard skating, hard forechecking, pin the other team in their own end, fast/strong backchecking, defensive work, PK duty. And, as you said in another post (I think it was you), Laughton can be plugged-in short-term anywhere on the forward lines in case of injury/illness and be a responsible 3-zone player.

Ben Shelley, an Anaheim Ducks writer wrote this yesterday - If there’s one clear area where the Anaheim Ducks are lacking talent, it’s the top of their forward group. Essentially, the team has no true top-line forwards and I’d also say that with Ryan Getzlaf in the midst of a decline, Rickard Rakell is potentially the only player who would be a top-six forward on just about any other team. We know what the Ducks have at this point in veteran forwards Adam Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg and considering their age, there’s likely minimal room for them in terms of development. I see five forwards who need to take a step next season for the Ducks to have success and those are: Max Comtois, Danton Heinen, Sonny Milano, Sam Steel, Troy Terry. You could also potentially include Max Jones in there, though his offensive ceiling is likely lower than those mentioned. These are forwards where we really don’t know how high they could play in the lineup and while we can’t expect that all (or even most) of these players will develop into legitimate top-six forwards, a couple of them taking a big step next season would significantly help the Ducks. If a couple of Anaheim’s forwards can show signs that they could become legitimate top-six forwards, the Ducks really aren’t all that far off from being a playoff team. However, if none can develop past the range of a middle-six forward, it’s going to be very difficult for Anaheim to bounce back next season. Can our Flyers help them with a win-win trade? Can we trade an experienced forward to Anaheim for a valuable draft pick, and at the same time gain some Cap Space, and also open-up a slot for a young forward???

In today's Philadelphia Inquirer 'On The Fly' newsletter - Quote: >> Myers played on the second pairing last season with Travis Sanheim, and they worked extremely well together, though they struggled against the relentless New York Islanders in the playoffs. Since Myers is righthanded, it seems natural that he would be promoted to fill Niskanen’s spot and become Provorov’s partner. << IMO, do not break-up the in-sync, and successful, pair of Sanheim/Myers. We won't be surprised to see AV keep the advantage of having twin towers Sanheim and Myers continued to be paired. They played together with the Phantoms and the Flyers. Knowing your partner well in traits/tendancies/abilities is a big plus. Work in the defensive zone puck retrieval and break-out becomes automatic and efficient. The LH Gustafsson indicated that, because he's played mostly on the right side of his defense pairings at the NHL level, he feels more comfortable at right defense. >> “I think I played on the left side a couple games with Calgary, but it didn’t feel right,” said Gustafsson, who was traded from Chicago to the Flames late in the season. “Right now, I’m used to playing on the right side, but at the same time, the left side is more easy for me because I’m left-handed. I feel more confidence on the right side. Whatever the coaches' want me to do, I’ll play there.” << In reading all the transcripts of Fletcher/Flahr/AV media conferences of the last few months, it seems like they are thinking of a more up-pace defensive corp that is competent in the D-zone but also has speed/quickness/smarts in quickly exiting the D-zone and joining the rush. >> Erik Gustafsson wasn't signed to replace Matt Niskanen, but the Philadelphia Flyers feel the 28-year-old defenseman can give them something they were lacking. "[Gustafsson] has tremendous deception with the puck, tremendous poise," general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "We don't have a defenseman that sees the ice like he does, he can play on the power play. It's a different type of skill set than Matt ... there wasn't going to be that ability to replace Matt per se with the same style." << >> "We think his (Gustafsson) skill set meshes really well with what we need," Fletcher said. "We think we have a lot of strong defenders on our team and we're very structured defensively as a group. His skill set, his ability to go back on pucks and make good decisions and transition the puck up the ice, we thought was a very important element to add to our group." << The 'new era NHL' approach to the defence corps - - multiple defencemen who are very mobile, fast/quick, puck-moving out of the D-zone, join-the-rush, and can put up solid offensive numbers (in addition to being competent defensively). We now have 4 of these. Maybe it will work. Provorov - Gustafsson (LH - plays exclusively Right Side) Sanheim - Myers (RH) Hagg - Braun (RH) #7 - Friedman (RH) Ghost traded Instead of looking at losing an excellent defenceman in Niskanen, who complements/protects Provorov, and saying 'Gustafsson doesn't replace Niskenen' - - - can we say that actually now 'Provorov replaces Niskanen and the skilled Gustafsson replaces Provorov' in role for that pair?

CAM YORK D, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS The Philadelphia Flyers have high expectations for Cam York this season and in the future. The 19-year-old is an under-sized defenseman (5-foot-11, 175 pounds), but he's a dynamic offensive talent. York has already picked up two goals and five assists in eight games with the University of Michigan this season. He managed to collect 16 points in 30 NCAA games last year, so he's on pace to make a significant improvement in that category. "He always plays the same, plays with a ton of confidence," Flyers assistant GM Brent Flahr said. "Terrific skater, terrific outlet passer. He's got an offensive dimension, but he's one of those guys that controls the game from the back end. He's a guy that's really put in the time off the ice here during the break. ... We expect big things from him [this season] for sure." SOURCE: NHL.com Dec 7, 2020, 9:02 PM ET

How do you build a winning NHL Team? Primarily through good drafting, and a few wise UFA signings and trades. We can thank former GM Hextall and Assistant GM Pryor for sustaining this important drafting approach in spite of criticism and eventual firing. The Flyers prospect pool grew to be one of the best in the NHL. They managed 5 Drafts - 2014 through 2018. Already we have seen quality young drafted players emerge - - Lindblom, Farabee, Patrick, Frost, Konecny, NAK, Provorov, Sanheim, and Hart. And, this is one of the reasons that our Flyers have a bright future - - the current highly rated prospect group that will be maturing and coming to the NHL in the next few seasons. Today, NHLdotcom highlighted our Flyers - - written by the highly respected Adam Kimelman. Not all were drafted by Hextall/Pryor, many have already graduated, but the philosophy holds true. Top prospects for Philadelphia Flyers by Adam Kimelman NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor December 7, 2020 NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 31 teams from Nov. 16-Dec. 16. Today, the top five prospects for the Philadelphia Flyers, according to NHL.com. 1. Morgan Frost, F (2017 Draft) Projected NHL arrival: This season 2020-21 2. Egor Zamula, D (Signed as undrafted free agent Sept. 20, 2018) Projected NHL arrival: Next season 2021-22 3. Cameron York, D (2019 Draft) Projected NHL arrival: Next season 2021-22 (Wow! More likely 1 season Phantoms?) 4. Bobby Brink, F (2019 NHL Draft) Projected NHL arrival: 2022-23 5. Tyson Foerster, F (2020 NHL Draft) Projected NHL arrival: 2022-23 Full article with details on each player: https://www.nhl.com/news/philadelphia-flyers-prospect-watch/c-319748892?tid=290471364 Other Flyers prospects the Organization has high expectations: - Linus Sandin RW (Free Agent signing) - Wade Allison RWPF (2016 Draft) - Tanner Laczynski C (2016 Draft) - Mark Friedman D (2014 Draft) - Wyatte Wylie D (2018 Draft) - Kirill Ustimenko G (2017 Draft) Who did I miss?

Yesterday, The Hockey News published their experts' rankings of the NHL goaltenders. Where is Carter Hart? Do we agree? If goaltending is the most important position in sports, then that makes this the most important ranking in sports. Not that we're bragging or anything. Here’s how the NHL’s 31 projected starting netminders stack up for the 2020-21 season: 1. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning 2. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens 3. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets 4. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins 5. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks 6. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars 7. Carter Hart, Philadelphia Flyers 8. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes 9. Robin Lehner, Vegas Golden Knights 10. Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues 11. Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames 12. New York Islanders: Semyon Varlamov 13. Philipp Grubauer, Colorado Avalanche 14. Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets 15. Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs 16. Matt Murray, Ottawa Senators 17. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers 18. Cam Talbot, Minnesota Wild 19. Thomas Greiss, Detroit Red Wings 20. Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers 21. Ilya Samsonov, Washington Capitals 22. Mackenzie Blackwood, New Jersey Devils 23. Mikko Koskinen, Edmonton Oilers 24. Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks 25. Petr Mrazek, Carolina Hurricanes 26. Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins 27. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings 28. Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators 29. Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks 30. Linus Ullmark, Buffalo Sabres 31. Collin Delia, Chicago Blackhawks

Ahh. I missed Flyers' goalie Ivan Fedotov. It looks like he made Team Russia as one of their 3 goaltenders. As OR reported, the 6'-8" goaltender is having an excellent season with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL. Hopefully we can see Fedotov play on TV (NHL Network) starting Dec 25. It would be cool to see our Flyers Cam York, Bobby Brink, and Tyson Foerster facing Fedotov when Team USA and Team Canada play Team Russia.

Yeh, good stuff. I think we are looking at this: 2020-21 Season Provorov - Gustafsson Sanheim - Myers (RH) (don't break them up) Hagg - Braun (RH) #7 - Friedman (RH) Ghost - traded soon - before we get too close to the June Expansion Draft And, yes you are correct - - at least 2 high-quality prospect defencemen are 2 and 3 seasons away. Zamula and York: Egor Zamula (D) What I liked about his game was he could see the ice very well, he had a long, active stick,” Chynoweth said. “Being a 6-foot-4 guy anyways and with a long stick, he was good at getting pucks away from opposing players, he could slow the game down. For a big man, he could thread the pass like a needle in a haystack. He could do things that not many players can. He had a bomb from the point. He was almost a point-a-game player last year, you look at the numbers he put up last year as an 18-year-old, and then he just continued right into this year, point-a-game player and unfortunately got hurt at the world juniors. But he was having a great season, he had a great world juniors, named one of the top three players for Russia at the world juniors. I mean, the sky was the limit. Zamula’s season came to an end at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship where he went down swinging. He helped lead Russia to a silver medal with five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games, playing through the injured back. "He's been playing in pain for a while and playing remarkably well, but not at 100 percent," Fletcher said two weeks ago. “Just to tell you, to speak about his pain threshold, we never once heard about it when he was here. He played and it just got worse as he got more in the last little bit. It just got to a point where they had to have something to do about it. He’s going to have surgery, he’s going to be out three to four months but he should be ready for the start of development camp for the Flyers after the draft.” Zamula will most likely open the 2020-21 season with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, but you never know. With the Feb. 24 trade deadline and a whole offseason ahead before next training camp, things can change. Zamula will continue to change as he recovers and gears up for pro hockey. Gaining more strength will be a focus during the offseason. Zamula was listed at 6-foot-3, 160 pounds to start the 2018-19 season. This season, he was 6-foot-4, 170. The things he does well, you can’t teach. Most guys put on weight as they get older and get stronger. Obviously now being with the Flyers in Philadelphia for the surgery, he’ll be there under their watchful eye through the rehab process. And I’m sure that once he’s cleared to start working out, they’ll do a great job.” “The Flyers have a good one there. … I think the sky’s the limit for Egor.” Cam York (D) SCOUTING REPORT An excellent skater with a very smooth stride, he is adept at joining the rush and putting up points. He also displays very good hockey sense, and he defends his position rather well. Lacks size and strength, so he needs to add more bulk and get physically stronger for the highest level. His quickness and hockey savvy make him a constant threat in transition. Long Range Potential: Swift-skating, talented defenseman with upside.

Looking around Twitter for anything Flyers related - - - instead found this - - -

The wise Bill Meltzer posted this on HockeyBuzz this morning (below) - This is sure to get him in trouble with his Hockey Buzz boss Eklund. As far as any potential Flyers trade that would send Travis Sanheim (or Phil Myers) to Toronto for Michael Nylander, Philadelphia lost Matt Niskanen and his 21:49 of all-situations ice time to early retirement this offseason. They aren't in a position to lose another 20-minute a night defenseman who is capable of 8 to 10 goals and 30-plus points over a full season. Sanheim averaged 1:55 on the penalty kill last season. The only NHL-geared off-season addition the Flyers made to the blueline was Erik Gustafsson, who does not kill penalties. Additionally, the Flyers are not currently in position, salary cap wise, to take on Nylander's $6.96 million contract especially since it has four seasons to run. Lastly, the Flyers' larger roster need -- depending on the health of Nolan Patrick and the development of Morgan Frost -- is at third line center rather than on wing. There just isn't a fit here right now from a Flyers' standpoint. From a Toronto standpoint, Kyle Dubas would likely want an additional asset included. Additionally their bigger need is for a right handed, right side defenseman. That's really all there is to say about the rumor that Eklund has posted about several times this week. Never say never, but it's an unlikely trade from either organization's standpoint.

Damn. CX is fast on the trigger - - and good! Next Saturday's Flyers Photo Puzzler - - - a tough one - - - CX will be challenged.