Quick Hits: June 26, 2021
1) Ahead of the Flyers Alumni weekend activities, I spent several hours yesterday with Flyers Hall of Fame member Joe Watson, assisting on his work-in-progress autobiography project. He told me a contract negotiation story that I want to share now with NHL free agency season about a month away.
In 1966, Watson was a rookie with the Boston Bruins. At the advice of Harry Sinden, Watson asked general manager Happ Emms for a $600 raise for the season from what he made the previous year as an all-star defenseman on the CPHL champion Oklahoma City Blazers.
Emms' response: He kicked Watson out of the room and told him to go home.
Crestfallen, Watson went to Sinden.
"Joe, don't worry," Sinden said. "I'll help you take care of it."
The next day, the Bruins offered Watson a $300 raise. He signed a one-year, $7,500 contract. In 2021 dollars, that'd be the equivalent of making $62,314 for the season.
Subsequently, Alan Eagleson approached Watson and offered to represent him in his next contract negotiation. Eagleson got the player a $1,500 raise on what general manager Bud Poile offered but then took a $1,500 commission for himself, meaning that Watson received exactly what the Flyers had offered in the first place. However, Joe did see the $1,500 difference in the second year of his two-year contract.
2) Below is the schedule for Sunday's Flyers Alumni vs. Flyers Warriors Showcase game at IceWorks in Aston, PA.
4 p.m. – Ceremonial First Puck Drop after Lauren Hart sings the anthem, accompanied by the Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band. 4:15 p.m. – Flyers Alumni vs. Flyers Warriors Tier III (one 20-min period) 4:45 p.m. – Flyers Alumni vs. Flyers Warriors Tier II (one 20-min period) 5:45 p.m. – Flyers Alumni vs. Flyers Warrior Tier I (one 20-min period)
There will also be a 50/50 raffle and Flyers Alumni jersey auction with proceeds benefiting the Flyers Warriors program. Fans in attendance with have the chance to purchase Flyers Warriors merchandise.
All VIP tickets, which include a postgame reception with the Flyers Alumni and a private viewing area during the game, sold out within a few days of going on sale including an added number of spots due to overflow demand. General admission tickets ($20) remain available. If you cannot attend the game in person, the game will be streamed live ($20 charge) at SFBNPPV.com.
3) Today in Flyers History: On June 26, 2009, the Flyers acquired Chris Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for winger Joffrey Lupul, young defenseman Luca Sbisa, a 2009 first-round pick (John Moore) and a 2010 first-round pick (Emerson Etem).
4) Today in Flyers History: On June 26, 2015, amid the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft, the Flyers trade up from the 29th to the 24th overall spot. The Flyers selected Ottawa 67s center/winger Travis Konecny. In return, the Flyers sent the first-round pick they'd acquired from Tampa Bay in the Braydon Coburn deal (which Toronto used on the selection of Gabriel Carlsson) plus the 61st overall pick, originally belonging to Chicago and traded to the Flyers in the Kimmo Timonen deal. Toronto used the latter pick on Jeremy Bracco.
5) June 26 Flyers Alum birthday: Brad Jones (1965).