Quick Hits: August 28, 2023
1) Looking at the last 20 years of Flyers history, 2003 to 2023, who have your favorite Flyers players to watch? It doesn't necessarily have to be the BEST players during that time period but, rather, players who were particular favorites. That was the main topic for this week's edition of "Mondays with Meltzer" on the Flyers Daily podcast. Jason Myrtetus and I named some of our personal favorites to watch on the ice, as well as ones we especially enjoyed interviewing as reporters. In the latter category, Mike Knuble immediately comes to mind as someone who always had valuable insights to offer about the state of the team or within the game itself.
There are no wrong answers here. It'd be interesting to hear other people's lists. Next week, which will be the final "offseason" show before we get into training camp coverage and observations, we'll be doing an all-time underrated Flyers list. To listen to this week's 25-minute episode, click here.
2) The International Ice Hockey Federation's Disciplinary Committee has not yet made a decision on CSKA Moscow's appeal of the IIHF's initial ruling that the Philadelphia Flyers have an enforceable contract with goaltender Ivan Fedotov for 2023-24 and the imposition of sanctions both on Fedotov (suspended from IIHF-sanctioned international competitions and ineligible for the KHL or other domestic leagues outside of North America until Jan. 1,2024) and CSKA (banned from all international transfers, including NHL-to-KHL for one year).
CSKA has defied the ruling, saying Fedotov will play for their team regardless of the IIHF sanctions. Fedotov has continued to train with CSKA, appeared in preseason action, and is on their roster for the 2023-24 season. The regular season starts on Sept. 1.
Yesterday, KHL president Alexei Morozov reiterated the league's position that the Flyers' tolled contract with Fedotov is not legitimate. The league is backing CSKA's appeal. However, unless the IIHF reverses its decision, Fedotov would be ineligible to play in KHL game action until January 1, 2024. By that point, the player will have missed a season-and-a-half's worth of games.
3) Today in Flyers History: August 28
* 1989: The Flyers trade a 1991 seventh-round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the NHL rights to highly regarded young Czech offensive defenseman Jiri Latal. Latal showed promise in his first seasons with the Flyers, including 26 points in 50 games during the 1990-91 campaign, but he was derailed by injuries and inconsistency.
* 1990: The Flyers sign Czech prospect Martin Hostak (drafted by Philly in the third round, 67th overall, of the 1987 Draft) to an NHL contract. Hostak would go on to play two seasons with the Flyers and Hershey Bears, failing to make the hoped-for impact at the NHL level. He'd subsequently go back to Europe and enjoy significant success in the 1990s in Sweden (Modo, Luleà¥) and at home in Czechia (Sparta Prague).
* 2000: The Flyers make a depth signing in goal geared for the Phantoms, signing 25-year-old free agent netminder Brian Regan to a one-year contract. Regan spent most of the 2000-01 season backing up Neil Little.