Quick Hits: August 4, 2023
1) Flyers Daily: In Friday's edition of the Flyers Daily podcast, Jason Myrtetus looks at his top 10 question marks about the 2023-24 Flyers as training camp slowly draws closer. I'm sure Jason and I will discuss the list in detail in upcoming Mondays with Meltzer episodes of the podcast. See if you agree with Jason's list. My top 10, in no particular order, is nearly identical to his. To go through Jason's list, check out the 18-minute episode here.
Also, in case you missed it: In the post-Draft, pre-training camp edition of the Prospect Pipeline podcast on the Flyers Broadcast Network, Brian Smith and I talk about the major summertime junior tournaments -- the Hlinka Gretzky tourney in Czechia and Slovakia and the World Junior Summer Showcase -- that have been taking place this week. We also talk about Samu Tuomaala returning to North America this season, Alex Bump's performance at Development Camp and his decision to enter the NCAA transfer protocol, the development of Hunter McDonald, the signing of Alexis Gendron and the vital importance of finding future NHL contributors beyond the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. To listen to the 26-minute program, click here.
2) 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase: The 2023 WJSS concludes today at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, with games pitting USA Blue against Team Sweden and USA White against Team Finland. Both games are rematches of the tourney openers that were held this past Saturday. However, there are some tweaks in terms of several Team USA players continuing to be moved from White to Blue or vice versa.
From a Flyers standpoint, what's most notable is that Cutter Gauthier (3g, 1a in the three games played to date), Devin Kaplan (0g, 1a) and Cole Knuble (2g, 0a) will all be playing on the same side (USA White) on Friday for the first time at the exhibition tourney.
3) Today in Flyers History: August 4
2005: In order to make room under the newly created NHL salary cap to accommodate recently signed unrestricted free agent center Peter Forsberg, the Flyers had to move out veteran Jeremy Roenick. On Aug. 4, 2005, the Flyers traded Roenick and Nashville's previously acquired 2006 third-round draft pick to the LA Kings for future considerations.
2006: The Flyers made an ill-fated trade on Aug. 4, 2006, sending two-way center Michal Handzus to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Kyle Calder. Calder was coming off a 25-goal, 59-point season for the Blackhawks the previous year but struggled both on and off the ice during a 59-game stint with the Flyers in 2006-07. On Feb. 26, 2007, the Flyers dealt Calder back to Chicago in exchange for defenseman Lasse Kukkonen and a 2007 third-round pick (Garrett Klotz). The Hawks then flipped Calder to Detroit for Jason Williams to complete a three-team trade.
4) In addition to the Flyers history items mentioned in yesterday's blog, it was also the 57th anniversary of the team officially being named "the Flyers" by the original Philadelphia Hockey, Inc., ownership group. The name was actually suggested by Ed Snider's sister, Phyllis, and pre-selected by management. However, to publicize the name, the organization sponsored a "name the team" contest with a grand prize of season tickets and a color television set. The winner was selected from among entries that nominated "Flyers" or "Fliers" as the team name. Nine-year-old Alec Stockard was named the winner of the contest. For the full story, click here.
54 years ago today, Philadelphia Hockey Team, Inc., announced that the new NHL franchise had adopted the name "Flyers". Nine-year-old Alec Stockard is chosen as the winner of the name-the-team contest.https://t.co/BLlLNUqjbw pic.twitter.com/fForY7uhSz
— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) August 3, 2020