SATURDAY QUICK HITS
* In an article published yesterday in the Toronto Star, the agent for former two-stint Flyers forward Ruslan Fedotenko said that the Ukrainian forward hopes to return to the NHL next season.
Last season, Fedotenko served as the captain for KHL team HC Donbass Donetsk. Amidst the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the team’s arena was vandalized and set on fire
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RILEY BRINGS TWO DECADES OF DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE
While the Flyers have not been able to do much this off-season to bolster their NHL roster or achieve salary cap relief, they have made a few good additions on the coaching end. Gord Murphy was a nice addition as an NHL assistant coach to work with the Flyers defenseman. Back in June, the organization hired longtime USA Hockey director of Atlan
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REMEMBERING THE VOICE OF THE FLYERS
Last week marked the 15th anniversary of the passing of the “Voice of the Flyers,” Gene Hart at the age of 68. To a generation of Flyers’ fans, Hart’s voice will always be synonymous with the team.
As a child who grew up loving the Flyers, Hart’s calls were in many ways my first ticket to the game. Looking back, I feel extremely fortunate to have grown up
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PARKS BACK ON FLYERS PROSPECT RADAR SCREEN
After a difficult sophomore season at the University of North Dakota that was marred by a serious leg injury, forward Michael Parks enjoyed a bounceback junior campaign in 2013-14. The St. Louis native ranked second on UND in overall scoring, with 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists). Only Florida Panthers prospect Rocco Grimaldi (17 goals, 22 assists) out
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TUESDAY QUICK HITS
* Earlier today, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced several front office changes, including the firing of Dave Poulin as vice president of hockey operations (a post he held since 2009) and as general manager of the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies; a Calder Cup semifinalist in 2013-14. Hockey is a tough business and it is never pleasant to hear about someone you like a
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CRUCIAL SEASON UPCOMING FOR PHANTOMS’ STRAKA
The second pro season of Lehigh Valley Phantoms right winger Petr Straka will be a crucial one for his career fortunes; one that will go a long way toward determining whether he has an NHL future with the Flyers. As an AHL rookie last season in Glens Falls, the Czech forward produced nine goals and 27 points in 60 games. He ranked seventh in scoring
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WHO WILL BE THE NEXT FLYERS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE?
It has been five years since the last time the Flyers inducted someone into their team hall of fame. In fact, there have only been two inductees in the last decade: Ron Hextall (Feb. 2008) and Dave Schultz (Nov. 2009). Rumor has it that the Flyers Hall of Fame will finally welcome at least one new member during the 2014-15 season.
Who will
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* For the first time in quite a few years, the Flyers’ teamwide faceoff winning percentage in 2013-14 crept up to the 50 percent mark. On a leaguewide basis, the team ranked 16th. The previous year, Philly finished 23rd with a 48.5 percent winning percentage.
Overall faceoff percentage is a somewhat overrated statistic. Not all faceoffs are of equal important depending on zone and game situat
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Roenick, Mason and the Lazy Narrative
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: A hockey analyst says that the Philadelphia Flyers lack an upper-echelon goaltender who is capable of taking the team deep in the playoffs.
That’s what former Flyers’ forward Jeremy Roenick said yesterday on CSN Philadelphia’s Philly Sports Talk Live .
“I like Steve Mason,” Roenick said on Philly Sports Talk,
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* For the second straight summer, the Flyers’ final remaining restricted free agent is defenseman Brandon Manning. Last year, Manning inked a one-year, two way contract on Aug. 29; one week ahead of the start of rookie camp. He agreed to a one-year deal, paying $80,000 at the AHL level and $675,000 in the NHL. With the Flyers carrying eight defensemen last year and having a virtually injury-free
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