Quick Hits: March 16, 2022
1) The Flyers will practice at 11 a.m. ET today at the FTC in Voorhees in preparation for Thursday's game against the Nashville Predators at the Wells Fargo Center. The game will be Claude Giroux's 1,00th of his NHL regular season career, and he will become just the second player (joining Bobby Clarke) to appear in 1,000 games in a Flyers uniform.
Will Thursday's game be Giroux's final one as a Flyer? That will depend in his decision whether to waive his no-movement clause in his contract or to work toward a contract extension with the Flyers rather than becoming an unrestricted free agent. Giroux will speak to the media after practice, with a focus on the celebration of his career that will take place before Thursday's game.
2) The Flyers announced the Giroux-related schedule of events for Thursday's game:
BEFORE THE GAME:
* The Flyers organization has published a special webpage to mark Giroux’s 1,000th game, featuring video tributes, Giroux highlights, and more at www.PhiladelphiaFlyers.com/Giroux1000. I have contributed three articles to the Giroux microsite: A reverse chronological list of 28 memorable moments in Giroux's NHL career, a look at the iconic impact> Giroux has had on the Flyers' organization, and a retrospective on the 2006 NHL Entry Draft with a focus on how Giroux came to be selected by the Flyers with the 22nd overall pick.
* Before the game, Flyers players will enter the Wells Fargo Center wearing custom t-shirts marking the occasion of Giroux’s 1000th game. The shirts will also be available for purchase for fans.
* During warmups, all Flyers players will wear jerseys with the number 28 and ‘Giroux’. The Flyers’ game jerseys will feature a custom patch to honor the team captain's 1,000th game.
PRE-GAME CEREMONY:
* Bob Clarke, the only other Flyers player to play 1,000 games with the franchise, will be on the ice to participate in the pre-game ceremony. Claude will be joined on the ice by his wife, Ryanne, and his sons, Gavin and Palmer.
* Giroux will receive various special gifts from the Flyers organization and the NHL.
* Ryanne will receive a special gift from the Flyers organization, as will Gavin and Palmer.
* Giroux will also be presented with a piece of custom artwork commemorating significant moments throughout his 1,000 games with the Flyers.
FOR THE FANS:
* All fans in attendance will receive a custom, limited-edition print marking Giroux’s 1,000th game designed by local artist Patrick Higgins, based on the piece Giroux will receive during the pre-game ceremony.
* Fans can purchase commemorative tickets marking the history event, with all proceeds benefiting Flyers Charities.
* Giroux’s favorite food – grilled cheese sandwiches – will be available on every level of the arena to help celebrate the event (locations: sections 107 and 221 along with the Center City Club and Press Row).
3) Based on Tuesday's practice line combinations, the Flyers' projected lineup for Thursday's game is as follows:
48 Morgan Frost - 28 Claude Giroux - 11 Travis Konecny 25 James van Riemsdyk - 19 Derick Brassard - 89 Can Atkinson 23 Oskar Lindblom - 13 Kevin Hayes - 86 Joel Farabee 20 Gerry Mayhew - 38 Patrick Brown - 17 Zack MacEwen
9 Ivan Provorov - 45 Cam York 6 Travis Sanheim - 70 Rasmus Ristolainen 3 Keith Yandle - 61 Justin Braun
79 Carter Hart 35 Martin Jones
Flyers interim head coach Mike Yeo said there is a simple message for the team going into Thursday's game. ""That's a real amazing accomplishment, to play 1,000 games with one organization, to play them the way that he did, to add what he's added to this organization. Let's celebrate that and let's celebrate it with a great game. Let's make it special for G."
4) During his post-practice media availability on Tuesday, Yeo said that he regretted certain things he said out of emotion following Sunday's collapse in an eventual overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens. At the time, Yeo said that he might have to start scratching veteran players to reiterate a message that players have a choice between playing however they want to play or playing how a winning team plays.
In hindsight, Yeo said that his comments were "a stupid thing to say without looking at the game." After calming down and watching video of the entire game, he said they though the club played well for two periods and then ran out of steam in the third period at the end of a stretch of three games in four nights.
Yeo also said that he'd spoken with Frost, who had a very good all-around game against Montreal during regulation and then committed a bad turnover in overtime that led to the winning goal by Cole Caufield. The head coach said that the message to Frost was to not let the mistake shake his confidence; that everyone makes mistakes. Yeo reiterated that there have been a lot of positives in the young player's game.
5) On Wednesday, the Flyers recalled Max Willman from the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
6) Jean Potvin, a defenseman with the Flyers for portions of the 1971-72 and 1972-73 seasons passed away on Tuesday at the age of 72. A few years ago, Potvin underwent a liver transplant that prolonged his life. For a retrospective on Potvin's life and career, click here.