Quick Hits: June 23, 2020
1) Later today on the Flyers official website, there will be a feature story on Nicolas Aube-Kubel's 2019-20 season: his path to his first extended NHL recall, his strong performances and learning experiences, and his outlook for using the league's return-to-play plan as a springboard to cementing his starting role in the Flyers' lineup when he comes up again on restricted free agency in the offseason.
2) In case you missed yesterday's edition of Flyers Daily, host Jason Myrtetus did an in-depth interview with veteran Flyers defenseman Matt Niskanen. The player discussed his bounceback 2019-20 campaign with the Flyers after a tough second half of last regular season in Washington, what he did during the quarantine phase of the NHL's pandemic-related pause to the season and his return-to-play outlook. To listen to the podcast on demand, click here or link and subscribe via the main Flyers Broadcast Network homepage.
3) Congratulations go out to Flyers senior advisor Paul Holmgren and wife Doreen on the recent birth of their 9th grandchild, two-week-old Emma. She's the third child born to daughter Greta and son-in-law Kiel Costella.
4) Today in Flyers History: Today is the 9th anniversary of the dual 2011 Draft Day Eve trades that sent Mike Richards to the LA Kings and Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Flyers received Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn from LA and got Jakub Voracek and the 8th overall pick of the 2011 first-round (Sean Couturier) as the primary components that came back from the deals.
Two summers ago, I spent roughly 30 minutes on the phone with Paul Holmgren, who recounted in detail exactly how the two trades went down and how the organization came to select Couturier in the Draft. To revisit the article, click here.
5) The Flyers announced that their annual Caravan tour will get underway on July 7 and continue over the summer. This year's tour will be a little different, as it will be "a socially distant mobile pep rally". It will feature members of the Flyers Alumni Association (Brad Marsh and Bob Kelly plus others), Gritty, in-arena host Andrea Helfrich, the Flyers Ice Team and DJ Reed Streets.
In a press release from the organization, Flyers senior president of marketing Mark Zarthar said, "Due to the ongoing pandemic, we’ve adapted the format of the Caravan to create a safe and engaging event series that our fans will enjoy. With postseason hockey to occur at neutral locations, we are eager to use the Caravan to bring playoff excitement into our local communities this summer.…
The Caravan's first mobile pep rally will held on July 7 (5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET) in North Wildwood, NJ. Two days later (same time), it will be in Ocean City.