Quick Hits: December 5, 2020
1) Until there is an announcement of a 2020-21 training camp and season schedule, no NHL teams are actively discussing trades and signing. This is not surprising in light of the ongoing uncertainty over the NHLPA agreeing to adjust deferred salary and/or escrow with the NHL as well as many teams having limited space against the flat cap ceiling.
As far as any potential Flyers trade that would send Travis Sanheim (or Phil Myers) to Toronto for William Nylander, Philadelphia lost Matt Niskanen and his 21:49 of all-situations ice time to early retirement this offseason. They aren't in a position to lose another 20-minute a night defenseman who is capable of 8 to 10 goals and 30-plus points over a full season. Sanheim averaged 1:55 on the penalty kill last season. The only NHL-geared off-season addition the Flyers made to the blueline was Erik Gustafsson, who does not kill penalties.
Additionally, the Flyers are not currently in position, salary cap wise, to take on Nylander's $6.96 million contract especially since it has four seasons to run. Lastly, the Flyers' larger roster need -- depending on the health of Nolan Patrick and the development of Morgan Frost -- is at third line center rather than on wing.
There just isn't a fit here right now from a Flyers' standpoint. From a Toronto standpoint, Kyle Dubas would likely want an additional asset included. Additionally their bigger need is for a right handed, right side defenseman.
That's really all there is to say about the rumor that Eklund has posted about several times this week. Never say never, but it's an unlikely trade from either organization's standpoint.
2) NCAA: Denver dropped its third game in four nights -- all by one-goal margins -- as they fell to St. Cloud State, 4-3, at Baxter Arena in Omaha, Nebraska, on Saturday. Bobby Brink got on the scoresheet with 4:54 remaining in the third period as he passed to Brett Stapley near the net for a tap-in goal. The tally got the Pioneers back within a goal, but they couldn't find an equalizer.
3) QMJHL: Egor Serdyuk did not record a point but the Victoriaville Tigres skated to a 4-1 home win on Saturday over the Gatineau Olympiques.Serdyuk has recorded just three points (1g, 2a) in 10 games played so far this season.
4) Today in Flyers History: December 6
1979: At the Spectrum, the Flyers found their 22-game unbeaten in jeopardy. The team trailed the visiting Los Angeles Kings by a 3-0 score. Thereafter, the team buckled down to lay a thrashing on their opponent, exploding for six goals in the second period and three in the third en route to what turned out to be a 9-4 blowout victory. Reggie Leach led the Philadelphia assault with a hat trick while Ken Linseman had a pair of goal. A line brawl erupted at 14:01 of the third period with Philadelphia leading 9-3. Paul Holmgren led the game's penalty minute parade with 25 PIM: an elbowing minor, unsportsmanlike conduct minor, double roughing minor, fighting major, game misconduct. The win gave the Flyers a 23-game unbeaten streak (17-0-6) on their way to a record 35-game streak.
1981: Bill Barber's two goals and an assist and Bobby Clarke's goal and two assists paced the Flyers in an 8-2 home rout of the St. Louis Blues. The game even saw low-scoring tough guy defenseman Glen Cochrane get into the scoring act, while dipsy-doodling forward Ron Flockhart notched two goals. 1985: The Flyers sold the contract of forward Len Hachborn to the Los Angeles Kings. 1996: The Legion of Doom was too much for the Dallas Stars to handle as a pair of third period goals by Mikael Renberg and a second period tally by John LeClair keyed a 6-3 road win. The Flyers also got three goals from members of their second line as Rod Brind'Amour, Dale Hawerchuk and Trent Klatt all scored goals as well. 2002: The Flyers traded defenseman Dan McGillis to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Marcus Ragnarsson. The Swedish defenseman went on to play two seasons for the Flyers, recording 24 points (9G-15A) and 90 penalty minutes in 113 regular season games while providing solid defensive play. 2005: Antero Niittymaki earned in first career NHL shutout in duel against countryman Miikka Kiprusoff that saw the home Flyers and Calgary Flames play to a scoreless tie through 60 minutes of regulation and five minute of overtime. Niittymaki, who made 28 regulation and overtime saves, then stopped all three Calgary shooters in the ensuing shootout. Kiprusoff, who made 37 saves in regulation and overtime yielded only a Mike Richards shootout goal. 2008: Jeff Carter's overtime goal caps a 2-1 road win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Mike Richards scored a shorthanded goal in the first period, while Antero Niittymaki turned back 35 of 36 shots.
2014: Steve Mason stole a 2- 1 road win over the LA Kings. Mason finished with 37 saves on 38 shots as the Flyers hung on for a 2-1 win. The Flyers got outshot 38-16 for the game. Claude Giroux opened the scoring at 4:35 of the first period, tallying his eighth overall goal of the season but just his second even-strength goal. On a rush up the ice, Giroux made a nifty behind-the-back pass to Mark Streit, who then made a return pass to the Flyers captain. From between the circles, Giroux's quick release beat Jonathan Quick (14 saves) to give the Flyers an early 1-0 lead. Wayne Simmonds added to the Flyers' lead early in the second period. Mason did the rest, although Justin Williams got the Kings back within a goal early in the final frame.
2016: Two regulation goals (one power play, one even strength) by Wayne Simmonds, an overtime winner by Jakub Voracek and 42 saves by Steve Mason elevated the Flyers to a 3-2 home overtime win against the Florida Panthers. Florida dominated the third period, outshooting the Flyers by a 17-4 margin, but Mason nursed the game to OT before Voracek took a pass from Claude Giroux and won the game in the final 9 seconds of sudden death.
2018: Twenty-four saves by Brian Elliott and one goal apiece from Jordan Weal, Dale Weise, Michael Raffl and Wayne Simmonds (empty net) were sufficient for the Flyers to skate away with a 4-2 road win over Edmonton after the Flyers yielded a Leon Draisaitl shorthanded goal and trailed nearly midway through the game.