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Meltzer's Musings: Hextall, Carle, Today in Flyers History

June 12, 2012, 8:54 AM ET [395 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Of all of the former Flyers associated with the Los Angeles Kings' first Stanley Cup in their 45-year franchise history, I'm happiest for assistant general manager Ron Hextall. The Flyers Hall of Fame inductee will be in high demand now for GM openings around the NHL and I think he can an excellent job at the helm.

Winning the Stanley Cup in a strictly off-ice capacity is not the same thing as winning it as a player or coach but it is still a special accomplishment nonetheless. Taking hand in assembling a team that wins the sport's ultimate prize is something for which Hextall should feel a sense of pride and satisfaction.

The second NHL game that I ever covered from the pressbox was Game 5 of the 2000 Eastern Conference Final between the Flyers and Devils. Arriving at the arena about three hours before the start of game, I rode up to the balcony of what was then known as the First Union Center. The only other person on the elevator was Hextall, who was in his first year of retirement after his playing career. He was working for the Flyers' as a pro scout.

Hextall politely said hello. Nervously, I asked him if it was tougher on such a night -- in which the Flyers would earn a trip to the Stanley Cup Final if they won -- it was tougher for him to be upstairs watching the game than it would be to be in the locker room preparing to play.

He didn't hesitate answering, "Up here is tougher. There's no control. Down there you feel like you have control over what happens."

Hextall may just have been the fiercest competitor I have ever seen play hockey. Although he is now 13 years removed from his retirement as a player, the competitive fires still burn deep inside him. I'm thrilled that he's finally gotten to savor what he has striven for his entire adult life.

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Dustin Leed of THG did a nice job in updating the status of the Matt Carle contract negotiations with the Flyers.

Paul Holmgren has expressed confidence several times that he and the Carle camp are on the same page for the basic framework of a new contract and a deal will be done. Now Carle and his agent, Kurt Overhardt, have spoken on the subject. Both men told Leed they feel there's common ground with the Flyers and are looking forward to getting a contract done.

According to Leed, the ballpark cap hit on a new contract would be about $4.25 million for at least a three-year contract. Personally, I think it will be more in the $4.75 to $4.9 million range, but we'll see what happens.

At any rate, now that both sides have made positive public statements about the progress of the negotiations, I think it's fairly safe to assume that the team will make a re-signing official on July 1 when the new salary cap takes effect.

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Ten years ago today, the Flyers traded goaltender Brian Boucher to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for center Michael Handzus and goaltender Robert Esche. The deal worked out well for Philadelphia, as Handzus went on to score 20-plus goals in each of the next two seasons while also playing strong two-way hockey. The fiery Esche ended up becoming the Flyers starting goaltender during the team's run to Game 7 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals.

Thirty nine years ago today, the Flyers signed rookie forward Orest Kindrachuk to a three-year contract. Originally an undrafted free agent signed on July 1, 1971, Kindrachuk earned a regular job on Fred Shero's club in the Stanley Cup winning season of 1973-74. Despite playing on the third line and working in the shadows of Bobby Clarke and Rick MacLeish, Kindrachuk proved to be a valuable two-way player who added both grit and underrated offensive ability. His best season came in 1975-76, when he tallied 26 goals and 75 points in 76 games.

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