Quick Hits: December 9, 2020
1) With the NHL and NHLPA aiming to start a 56-game regular season on January 13 -- a very ambitious timeline but feasible if everything goes to plan in terms of pandemic policies and procedures, with a two-week training camp starting after the holidays and no exhibition games -- look for more and more Flyers players to return to Voorhees and put in their required quarantine time to be ready to go when camp starts.
The Flyers/Phantoms still have a number of players on loan to European teams, including Michael Raffl (Austria), German Rubtsov (KHL), David Kase (Czech Extraliga), Linus Sandin (SHL), Linus Högberg (Allsvenskan), Maksim Sushko (KHL), Kirill Ustimenko (Belarus) and Felix Sandström (Allsvenskan). When the NHL formally announces plans and schedules for training camps and the regular season, look for contracted players on loan to European teams to start to return.
Earlier today, the Flyers announced that they have loaned (i.e., given permission to) Kase to join the Czech national team for the Channel One Cup tournament from December 14 to 20, 2020.
As part of the NHL's one-year divisional realignment to work around the pandemic and the ongoing closure of the United States/ Canada border, the Flyers will likely play in the Eastern Division along with the Bruins, Capitals, Islanders, Devils, Penguins and Sabres. When ESPN posted an infographic of the likely divisional alignments, they accidentally omitted the Flyers altogether.
2) Upon the expiration of Philippe Myers' new three-year contract after the 2022-23 season, he will be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent, one season away from unrestricted free agency rights. It's preferable for both sides to do it this way. From a Flyers standpoint, it avoids a contract that walks Myers directly to becoming an unrestricted free agent. From Myers standpoint, it's a bet on himself that his play will earn a multi-year extension and a significant pay raise over what he'd have made in year four as part of an agreement to forego UFA rights come the summer of 2024. Of course, that's still a long way off. For now, it's a cap-friendly deal for the Flyers and three years of locked-in salary security for Myers.
3) On Tuesday, Hockey Canada announced that Flyers 2019 third-round pick Mason Millman was one of five players being sent home from its 2020-21 World Junior Championship selection camp due to coronavirus/ qualification for return-to-play issues. Ridly Greig (Ottawa Senators) was also one of the players, along with Matthew Robertson (New York Rangers), Daemon Hunt (Minnesota Wild) and Xavier Simoneau (undrafted 19-year-old Drummondville Voltigeurs forward).
Saginaw Spirit defenseman Millman was considered a longshot for Team Canada even before camp. In the long term, he could benefit simply from his participation in a camp among the top junior players in the CHL, especially at a time when the Ontario Hockey League has yet to return to play. Unfortunately, at age 19, this was Millman's last shot at WJC eligibility.
Flyers 2020 first-round pick Tyson Foerster remains with Team Canada but is also considered a longshot for this year's roster barring further injury/coronavirus attrition on the roster opening a spot for him. Even if he doesn't make it this year, Foerster has a pretty good shot at making the 2021-22 WJC roster for Canada.
Flyers 2019 first-round pick Cam York and 2019 second-round pick Bobby Brink have taken leave from their respective NCAA clubs to join Team USA and both are virtual shoo-ins to make the team for the second straight year barring injury/illness. Flyers 2020 second-round pick Emil Andrae is expected to make Team Sweden. The Junior Crowns have been having issues with players being diagnosed Covid-positive but so far so good with Andrae.
4) Goalie Week: Below are quick-access links to all related content available to date on Flyers Daily and on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com.
* Flyers Daily: Brian Boucher interview. * PhiladelphiaFlyers.com: A Special Bond: Plante, Parent, and Pelle. * Flyers Daily: Robert Esche interview. * PhiladelphiaFlyers.com: Top 5 Underrated Flyers Goalie Seasons. * Flyers Daily: Michael Leighton interview. * Flyers Daily: Martin Biron interview.
Upcoming content: A look inside Carter Hart's franchise record-setting 2019-20 season on home ice (PhiladelphiaFlyers.com, posting on Thursday or Friday), Bobby Taylor interview (Flyers Daily, Friday edition), memorable Flyers goalie masks through the years (PhiladelphiaFlyers.com, posting over the weekend or on Monday/ Tuesday), Carter Hart interview (Flyers Daily, posting on Monday).
5) The Flyers Alumni Association and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation (with an assist from various notable Flyers Alumni) are separately doing their own second annual holiday season giving programs. The Flyers Alumni Association's 12 Days of Giving launch on Friday of this week. Full details will follow on a day-by-day basis with a different recipient each day. The Snider Hockey program, which raises funds for their organization, is a five-day program, currently underway. Today's featured All-Star alum is Kimmo Timonen. Danny Briere kicked things off yesterday, offering matching contributions. It's Timonen's turn today.
Today we have a 5x @NHL All-Star, Olympian and Barry Ashbee Award winner joining our lineup - it's #44 Kimmo Timonen! @kime4kids! (1/2) pic.twitter.com/1RRTQnVHr0
— Snider Hockey (@SniderHockey) December 9, 2020