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Meltzer's Musings: Flyers AHL assignments, Phantoms, Arena Fever EBEL Game

September 14, 2012, 8:04 AM ET [157 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
At some point prior to the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement late tomorrow night, the Flyers are likely to announce that their players on entry-level contracts -- Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn, Erik Gustafsson, Zac Rinaldo and Eric Wellwood -- have been assigned to the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms.

Yesterday, the Flyers placed veteran defenseman Danny Syvret and veteran winger Matt Ford on waivers. This was a necessary step in order for both players to join the Phantoms this season. Both players will clear waivers at noon today and be assigned to the AHL.

Neither Marc-Andre Bourdon nor Tom Sestito were placed on waivers because both players (especially Bourdon) would be at risk of being claimed by another organization. The AHL ruled today that players on two-way contracts who were on the clear list last spring will be eligible to sign an AHL-only contract after Sept. 15.

That means Bourdon CAN play for the Phantoms on an AHL deal without being placed on waivers by the Flyers. Sestito cannot.

The Phantoms training camp gets underway in Voorhees on Sept. 28 and will run through Oct. 6.

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Last week, it was revealed that the Phantoms' new arena project in Allentown is delayed by a year and the Flyers will not be able to relocate their AHL farm team there until 2014. That has created an awkward situation in Glens Falls, which still intends to have an AHL tenant in the Civic Center beyond next season.

While the chances are that the Phantoms remain in Glens Falls for an additional season (2013-14), it is not set in stone. Glens Falls mayor Jack Diamond told The Chronicle that he has not yet heard from Phantoms owners Rob and Jim Brooks, and the city will consider other options -- including trying to bring in a new tenant for 2013-14 -- until it gets a commitment from the Phantoms.

Theoretically, the Flyers could wind up in a situation where they need to find a one-year location for their AHL farm team -- as they did in 1983-84 when the NHL club affiliated with the Springfield Indians for one year in between their affiliations with the Maine Mariners and Hershey Bears. However, this seems unlikely right now. The only way it would happen is if Glens Falls gets a long-term commitment from another franchise ahead of the Phantoms signing on for 2013-14.

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One of the most unique games in the history of professional ice hockey will take place today in Pula, Croatia. An EBEL regular season game will be held at the 2,000 year old Roman amphitheater; the edifice is one of the world's six largest surviving arenas (and 200 surviving amphitheaters) built during the time of the Roman Empire, and the only arena to remain fully preserved to this day.

Constructed between 27 BC and 68 AD, four side towers and three Roman architectural orders are all still preserved. Some sections were restored in the 1800s.

Today's game will pit the Zagreb Bears (KHL Medvescak Zagreb) against Olimpija Ljubljana. The game starts at 3 PM eastern US time. A free live webcast is available here.

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