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QUICK HITS: JULY 4, 2018
1) Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said on Tuesday that he will continue to monitor the unrestricted free agent defenseman market for depth options but is unlikely to add a third-line center at that point. He did not rule out a trade as an option.
In terms of UFA defensemen to fill a 3rd pairing or 7th D role, I could see ex-Flyer Luca Sbisa or Dan Hamhuis (who is no longer in position to handpick a team) being of potential interest on a one-year contract. However, adding a second righthanded defenseman to the top seven mix is preferable until Philippe Myers is deemed NHL ready.
2) On the new edition of the "Real Deal Hockey with Bundy and Bill" podcast, Chris Therien and I were joined by Flyers left winger James van Riemsdyk. JVR expanded upon some of the topics he addressed at his post-signing conference call, answered questions on other topics (including his experiences playing under Mike Babcock, fit in Dave Hakstol's system, preferred role on the power play and more) and looked back a bit at his first stint with the Flyers. Chris and I wrap it up with our assessment of the Flyers forward corps depth and the remaining issues to be addressed heading into next season.
In the next week or two, there will also be a new edition of the FlyerBuzz podcast on Flyers Radio 24/7 with Brian Smith and me. Apart from discussing the JVR signing, the remaining UFA market and what went on at Development Camp, we'll talk about which Flyers prospects have a shot at the World Junior Championships next season.
3) In conjunction with Independence Day in the U.S., the Flyers website today will have a feature on the five American draftees among the Flyers' eight selections (the other three are Swedes) in the 2018 NHL Draft, the Americans on the current NHL roster and the Phantoms and some of the all-time most prominent Flyers from the USA.
4) There is a bit of friendly competition among the organizers and participants in the upcoming 2018 Toyota Flyers Charity Classic: Will there be more bike riders (as there was last year) or more runners/walkers? So far this year, registrations for runners/walkers are ahead of riders.
In response, avid cyclist Brad Marsh, captain of the Ides of Marsh team, tweeted out a "calling all riders" bulletin. In so doing, it led to a pretty prominent recruit: Floyd Landis, the retired longtime international pro cyclist and Lancaster County native.
It was Riley Cote -- who, like Landis, is active in Athletes for CARE -- who reached out to Landis about Marsh looking for more riders and then got the two men in contact with each other. Landis, who nowadays runs a CDC products company out of Colorado, will ride the 100k bike course as a member of the Ides of Marsh.
On Monday morning, Marsh put me in contact with Landis. I interviewed him about how his involvement in the Charity Classic came about. The article will run tomorrow morning on the Flyers Alumni website.
5) On Monday afternoon, I interviewed Bernie Parent about his upcoming In-Shore Fishing Challenge in Cape May, NJ, on July 20 to raise money for Snider Hockey. Parent also arranged the opportunity for numerous Snider Hockey kids to go out on the boats and go fishing -- first-time activities for almost all of the kids who will be participating.
The In-Shore Fishing Challenge is a BYOB (bring your own boat) event but rentals and charters are available and the cost can be deducted from the participation donation for Snider Hockey. Unlimited anglers are permitted per entry -- as many as can safely be aboard each boat. There are spots remaining for up to 15 anglers on the Snider Hockey pontoon for a $150 donation per person.
Additionally, for those who are not interesting in the boating/fishing aspect of the event but would like to celebrate after the tournament with Bernie, the Snider Hockey contingent and the participating anglers, there are tickets available to the poolside BBQ celebration, weigh-in of the day's catches and prize ceremony at the Canyon Club in Cape May (event starts at 4:30).
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