QUICK HITS: MAY 27, 2017
1) Forty-two years ago on this date, the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the host Buffalo Sabres, 2-0, to capture the Stanley Cup championship for the second straight season. Bob "the Hound" Kelly broke a scoreless tie on the first shift of the third period, stepping out from behind the net and sweeping a backhander past Sabres goalie Roger Crozier. Later, Bill Clement added an insurance goal as he was sprung on a breakaway by Orest Kindrachuk a split second before Kindrachuk received a bone-rattling hit from Jerry "King Kong" Korab. Winning his second straight Conn Smythe Trophy, Bernie Parent took care of the rest.
2) Typo correction: In a recent blog, I did not catch a typo that stated the Flyers have until June 15 to sign 2015 fourth-round pick Samuel Dove-McFalls before losing his rights. It should read that the team has until June 1. On Friday night, Dove-McFalls' Saint John Sea Dogs (2016-17 QMJHL champions) were eliminated from the Memorial Cup in a 6-3 loss to the OHL champion Erie Otters. In an all-OHL final, the Otters will play the tournament host Windsor Spitfires for the championship on Sunday. Dove-McFalls, who plays a checking-oriented role, finished the tourney without a point in four games but had 12 shots on goal and won 53.1 percent of his faceoffs (26-for-49) while taking two minor penalties.
3) It remains likely that the Flyers will sign 20-year-old Swedish forward Oskar Lindblom to an entry-level contract this summer and bring the winger (he can play either the left or right side but presumably would play left wing here given the organization's greater need for left wingers) over to North America to compete for an NHL job. He has reportedly already informed his Swedish team, Brynäs IF Gävle, that he plans to come over for next season. He has participated in the Flyers' annual Development Camp in July of each of the last two summers and he had a short but promising (two goals and seven points in eight games) stint with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the end of the 2015-16 season.
So why hasn't an entry-level contract been completed yet? I don't know the precise reason(s) but I can conjecture. I do know it's no cause for concern at this point.
Brynäs played in the Swedish Hockey League finals, going seven games before losing the deciding game in OT. Subsequently, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall was occupied by duties as the general manager of Team Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Championships.
There is also likely a bit of negotiation to do with the player's agent in terms of how much Lindblom will get paid in his base salary and signing bonus. He's not going to get paid like a "typical" fifth-round pick, but it's not as cut-and-dry as to where to slot him in signing bonus, performance incentive bonuses (if any) and establishing his base salary relative to the CBA-mandated entry-level maximum($925,000).
While it shouldn't be a super-tough signing, it's not cut-and-dry, either. It's in the best interests of both sides to get it done this summer. Lindblom has a bit of leverage coming off his very strong season in the SHL (second in goals, fourth in points and 15th in plus-minus in the regular season, then tied for third in playoff points). His leverage is that he could play one more season in Europe and then become a free agent for NHL purposes if still unsigned by the Flyers. However, exercising that leverage if there's an impasse with the Flyers would carry considerable risk on his part -- injury, stagnating in his development, etc.
Bottom line: the deal will get done with the Flyers. There are just details that need to be worked out on both sides.
4) Here's a story that would have been right down the alley of the late Flyers Hall of Famer Rick MacLeish. A few months ago, This Is Horse Racing ran a story about a three-year-old gelding named "Gostisbehere," owned by Delaware Valley resident Steve Wigmore. Not surprisingly, Wigmore is a big Flyers fan and named the race horse in honor of Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. In his first four races, the horse has had three place or show finishes although he has not yet finished first. Yes, the horse more commonly goes by the nickname "Ghost," ala his human counterpart. Wigmore said he first became a fan of the hockey player when he saw him play for 2013-14 Frozen Four champion Union College. For more,
click here.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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