QUICK HITS: MAY 3, 2017
1) Featuring five roster players from the Philadelphia Flyers, Team Canada defeated Switzerland, 4-1, in a pre-tournament exhibition game before the 2017 IIHF World Championships. Three of the four Canada goals weer scored by Flyers players, as Sean Couturier, Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds tallied. Additionally, Simmonds earned an assist on the Couturier goal and Giroux collected an apple on Simmonds' goal.
The Couturier goal was scored on a give-and-go sequence with Simmonds, with Couturier chipping the puck upstairs to finish off the play. Giroux's goal was a backhander off a rebound. Simmonds scored on the power play at the end of a nice puck movement sequence from Giroux to Jeff Skinner to the goal scorer.
Lineup-wise, Giroux centered an even strength trio flanked by Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene. Couturier centered Alex Killorn and Simmonds. Brayden Schenn played left wing on a unit with Brayden Point and Mitch Marner. Travis Konency, who is unlikely to see much playing time, is also on Team Canada's roster.
Canada plays its first tournament game on Friday, opposing the Czech Republic. There are two Flyers -- Jakub Voracek and Radko Gudas -- on the Czech side. Game time is 2:15 p.m. EDT.
2) It will be interesting to see whether the contract extension the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Nikita Zaitsev to yesterday is any barometer for restricted free agent Shayne Gostisbehere's next deal with the Flyers. The Leafs signed Zaitsev to a seven-year deal at a $4.5 million cap hit.
If the Flyers sign Gostisbehere to a "bridge contract" (i.e., one in which he will he still be a restricted free agent at the end), it would likely carry a lower cap hit but cost significantly more on his subsequent deal if he performs up to expectations. If the deal pre-empts potential unrestricted free agent seasons, the cap hit will be noticeably higher immediately but potentially less expensive in the long term if he plays well over the next few seasons. Ultimately, it will depend on how much risk tolerance there is on both sides.
I suspect a bridge contract is the more likely short-term course of action this offseason, with Gostisbehere having the opportunity to earn a bigger extension down the line.
3) On the Flyers' official site, I took a look at how owning the second overall pick in the 2017 Draft can be a
game-changer for the organization. Also of note is the fact that the Flyers once again own a slew of draft picks this year. They own their own pick in every round plus an extra 3rd round pick (Boston's from the Zac Rinaldo trade), two extra fourth-round picks (Tampa Bay's from the Mark Streit trade and the Islanders') and a pair of conditional picks in the seventh round.
4) Flyers general manager Ron Hextall is confirmed for call-in appearances today on NHL Network (TV) at 3:30 p.m. and NHL Network Radio at 4:35 p.m. EDT. Hextall also celebrates his 53rd birthday today. Other Flyers Alumni with May 3 birthdays: Jeff Chychrun (1966), the late Bob "the Count" Dailey (1953-2016), Robbie Moore (1954) and R.J. Umberger (1982).
5) Flyers goaltending prospect Matej Tomek has barely played any hockey in the last two seasons. He didn't play a single game for Frozen Four champion University of North Dakota in 2015-16 after a preseason injury and the emergence of Cam Johnson. This, Tomek appeared briefly and ineffectively in two games for UND and was the backup goaltender for Slovakia at the World Junior Championships.
With Johnson still entrenched as the UND starter entering his senior year, the 19-year-old Tomek has elected to leave the university and take a temporary step backwards to the USHL where he will join the Waterloo Black Hawks. He can then re-enter the collegiate hockey ranks in 2018-19 without forfeiting a year of NCAA eligibility.
The Flyers selected Tomek in the third round (90th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft.
6) Andy Miele will not be returning to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the 2017-18 season. The 29-year-old forward, who posted 57 points in 65 regular season games and three points (one goal, two assists) in the Phantoms' five-game loss to the Hershey Bears in the Calder Cup playoffs, will play in Sweden next season. He has signed a contract with the Malmö Redhawks.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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