1) Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere finished as the first runner-up in the Professional Hockey Writers' Association ballot for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin was announced as the winner as Wednesday's NHL Awards show in Las Vegas.
As expected, Gostisbehere won a spot on the NHL All-Rookie team as selected by the PHWA. The other selections were Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko and forwards Panarin, Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) and Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres).
Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings) finished fifth in the Calder balloting and did not earn an All-Rookie Team selection. The hype surrounding and 11 additional points recorded by Eichel garnered him more votes for both honors than for Larkin. In my opinion, Larkin is the more well-rounded player of the two at this stage of their respective careers.
Gotisbehere finished tied for 17th in the Norris Trophy balloting for the best defenseman in the NHL. He received one fourth-place vote.
Flyers center Sean Couturier finished eighth in the Selke Trophy balloting for the best defensive forward in the NHL. Head coach Dave Hakstol did not place in the Jack Adams Trophy balloting as NHL coach of the year.
Former Flyers forward Jaromir Jagr won the Masterton Trophy, which recognizes perseverance and dedication to the sport of hockey. It is much deserved but I cannot help but think back to 2012 when some in the national and out-of-town media ridiculed the Philadelphia chapter of the PHWA's nomination of Jagr as the Flyers candidate.
He wasn't nominated for coming back to the NHL at age 39 after three years in the KHL. He was nominated for his fanatical dedication to conditioning, the way he took younger teammates under his wing, the respect he garnered among veterans and young players alike and the joy he brought to coming to the rink.
Four years later, these were the same reasons he won the Masterton.
2) The NHL spelled out the expansion draft rules for the addition of the new Las Vegas franchise for the 2017-18 season. Here is how all existing NHL teams will be affected:
Protected Lists
* Clubs will have two options for players they wish to protect in the Expansion Draft:
a) Seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender
b) Eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goaltender
* All players who have currently effective and continuing "No Movement" clauses at the time of the Expansion Draft (and who to decline to waive such clauses) must be protected (and will be counted toward their club's applicable protection limits).
* All first- and second-year professionals, as well as all unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection (and will not be counted toward their club's applicable protection limits).
Player Exposure Requirements
* All Clubs must meet the following minimum requirements regarding players exposed for selection in the Expansion Draft:
i) One defenseman who is a) under contract in 2017-18 and b) played in 40 or more NHL games the prior season OR played in 70 or more NHL games in the prior two seasons.
ii) Two forwards who are a) under contract in 2017-18 and b) played in 40 or more NHL games the prior season OR played in 70 or more NHL games in the prior two seasons.
iii) One goaltender who is under contract in 2017-18 or will be a restricted free agent at the expiration of his current contract immediately prior to 2017-18. If the club elects to make a restricted free agent goaltender available in order to meet this requirement, that goaltender must have received his qualifying offer prior to the submission of the club's protected list.
* Players with potential career-ending injuries who have missed more than the previous 60 consecutive games (or who otherwise have been confirmed to have a career-threatening injury) may not be used to satisfy a club's player exposure requirements, unless approval is received from the NHL. Such players also may be deemed exempt from selection by the League.
Regulations Relating to Expansion Franchise
* The Las Vegas franchise must select one player from each presently existing club for a total of 30 players (not including additional players who may be acquired as the result of violations of the Expansion Draft rules).
* The Las Vegas franchise must select the following number of players at each position: 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders.
* The Las Vegas franchise must select a minimum of 20 players who are under contract for the 2017-18 season.
* The Las Vegas franchise must select players with an aggregate Expansion Draft value that is between 60-100% of the prior season's upper limit for the salary cap.
* The Las Vegas franchise may not buy out any of the players selected in the Expansion Draft earlier than the summer following its first season.
The 30 NHL Clubs must submit their Protection List by 5:00 P.M. ET on Saturday, June 17, 2017. The Las Vegas team must submit their Expansion Draft Selections by 5:00 P.M. ET on June 20 and the announcement of their selections will be released on made on June 21.
After the NHL Draft and the initial wave of free agency, I will blog in more detail about the potential impact of the expansion draft on the Flyers.
3) The designated Flyers Heritage Nights during their 50th Anniversary Season will be as follows: Hall of Fame Night (Oct. 27 vs. Arizona), Tough Guys Night (Nov. 17 vs. Winnipeg) , Goalies Night (Dec 8 vs. Edmonton), Playoff Heroes Night (January 12 vs. Vancouver) and Captains Night (Feb. 2 vs. Montreal).
4) Today in Flyers history: June 23, 2011 -- The Flyers trade Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Jakub Voracek and 2011 first-round (Sean Couturier) and third-round (Nick Cousins) draft picks. The team also traded Mike Richards to the LA Kings for Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn and a 2012 second-round pick (flipped during the latter part of the 2011-12 season to the Dallas Stars in the deal that sent Nicklas Grossmann to the Flyers).
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Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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