Quick Hits: August 23, 2021
1) Flyers Daily: On today's edition of the podcast on the Flyers Broadcast Network, Jason Myrtetus and I discuss the Flyers upcoming Development Camp and why this year's edition, due mainly to its late summer timing rather than being an early summer event, may have a little different vibe to it ahead of regular training camp. Jason and I also talk about the two-year contract signed by Travis Sanheim, Connor Bunnaman's new contract, the roster numbers game and the Flyers being tight to the salary cap ceiling even if they carry 13 forwards (and over the ceiling if they carry 14 forwards), and the Hall of Fame career of the now-retired Henrik Lundqvist and why it was impossible not to greatly respect him even if you rooted against his New York Rangers teams. We also do an abbreviated version of the "Ask Billy" segment.
To listen, click here.
2) My two-part, player-by-player preview of the Flyers Development Camp is complete. The articles will run later this week on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com. Part 1 looks at the 17 forwards in camp. Part 2 discusses the 10 defensemen and two goalies.
3) Today is the final day of the seventh annual Flyers Alumni Fantasy Camp. The Fantasy Cup championship and consolation games will be held today at the Class of 1923 Arena on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.
Flyers Alumni Fantasy Camp Day 3. Photos by @heatherbimages pic.twitter.com/8A2xfIkg9F
— Flyers Alumni (@FlyersAlumni) August 22, 2021
3) Aug. 23 Flyers Alum birthday: Dave Gardner
Well-traveled NHL forward Dave Gardner was born on August 23, 1952 in Toronto. In his early days, Gardner was a highly touted first-round pick by the Montreal Canadiens (taken eighth overall in the 1972 NHL Draft), he was part of a prolific junior line on the Toronto Marlboros with Steve Shutt and Billy Harris. The Marlies top line was rivaled by the Kitchener Rangers' top trio of Bill Barber, Jerry Byers and Al Blanchard. All six players were taken within the top 12 picks of the 1972 NHL Draft.
The New York Islanders, selecting first overall, took Harris. The Habs, owning the fourth and eighth picks, took future NHL All-Star regular Shutt with the fourth pick. The Flyers grabbed future Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Barber with the seventh pick. The Canadiens took Gardner eighth. Blanchard, who never played in the NHL, went 10th overall to the New York Rangers. Byers, who played just 45 NHL games, was taken 12th overall by the Minnesota North Stars.
Gardner was part of a multi-generation hockey family. His father, Cal Gardner, was a star NHL center of the 1940s and 1950s whose best years came with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The elder Gardner was a two-time NHL All-Star and a two-time winner of the Cup over a 696-game NHL career. Dave's younger brother, Paul Gardner, enjoyed four 30-goal seasons in the NHL; two apiece with the Rockies and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Coming out of junior hockey, Dave Gardner's pure offensive skill was compared by some to Guy Lafleur. However, once Gardner reached the NHL level, he was destined to become a journeyman player. Injuries set him back several times.
Gardner lasted 350 games in the NHL, tallying 75 goals and 189 points. His best point-producing seasons were with the lowly California Seals and Cleveland Barons. Gardner played for the Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Oakland/Cleveland and then bounced around the minor leagues before signing with the Flyers as a free agent in the summer of 1979. Flyers general manager Keith Allen and head coach Pat Quinn viewed Gardner as an organizational depth player by this point in his career.
Gardner was a robust scorer at the AHL level for the Maine Mariners, producing 55 regular season points (20 goals, 35 assists) in just 37 regular season games in 1979-80. He was called up to the Flyers for two games in March -- scoring a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win at the Spectrum against the Colorado Rockies in his Flyers debut -- before being returned to the Mariners. Gardner dressed in 12 Calder Cup playoff games for Mariners, chipping in seven points.
Following his stint with the Flyers and Maine, Gardner went to Europe to play in Switzerland for Ambri-Piotta. He played five seasons in the Swiss National League before retiring.