MELTZER'S MUSINGS: JULY 12, 2015
1) The Flyers 2015 Development Camp comes to an end on Sunday with a 3-on-3 scrimmage scheduled roughly from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. In the morning, there will be on-ice sessions for the goaltenders (7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.), forwards (9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.), defensemen (10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.).
2) Flyers 2015 fifth-round pick David Kase was recently selected by the Ontario Hockey League's Niagara IceDogs in the first round of the CHL Import Draft. The player, who has two years left on his contract with Pirati Chomutov (KLH Chumutov), seems to prefer to remain at home rather than playing overseas. The player, who is not confident yet in speaking English but does know a bit, said on Friday that he would like to honor his contract with his Czech club.
Kase was previously selected by the QMJHL's Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the 2014 CHL Import Draft and by Avtomobilist Yekaterinaburg in the third round of the 2014 KHL Draft. He said no to both teams and remained at home instead with Chomutov.
The fact that Kase attended the Flyers Development Camp this year shows that he eventually wants to give the NHL a shot. It is not clear if the Flyers have spoken yet to the player about where he will play next season, but they would probably prefer the CHL to the Extraliga even if the latter is a pro league. The quality of the Czech leagues (even the Extraliga level, where Chomutov will return next season) is not what it used to be.
Kase is listed at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds. He looks both smaller and lighter in person. but his puckhandling skills, as advertised, are very good.
3) Throughout his tenure as the Flyers general manager, Ron Hextall has been adamant about his belief that the only way to build -- and maintain -- a contending team in today's NHL is to do it through drafting and developing as much homegrown talent as possible and then filling in the gaps through trades and free agency. In the short-term especially, the GM has no interest in "quick fix" moves.
During his end-of-season press conference, Hextall said more bluntly than ever that he would not deviate from his long-term vision.
"We are not going to throw away our future to try to win the Stanley Cup next year. I can assure you of that. Are we going to try and win the Stanley Cup? Yes, we are. Along with the 29 other teams. But we are not going to trade top young players for 29-30 year olds to try to take a one-year run at the Cup. That is not going to happen," said Hextall.
Cap space is something else the Flyers don't have much of right now. When Michael Del Zotto is re-signed -- either via negotiated agreement or arbitration -- most of the remaining space will be gone.
Lastly, it should be noted that Hextall is a stickler for players to follow a strict training regimen through the offseason and to keep themselves in peak physical condition. That policy has not changed from last year, nor will it in the future.
Elsewhere on HockeyBuzz, there is a rumor that the Flyers covet Winnipeg Jets defenseman (and sometimes forward) Dustin Byfuglien, and may even be willing to deal from their collection of top blueline prospects to get it done. Summertime is called "silly season" for a good reason.
The 30-year-old Byfuglien is an unresticted free agent next summer and currently makes $5.2 million on the salary cap. While he's brought his weight down a bit and has always been deceptively athletic for such a big man -- even at his heftiest, Byfuglien could do things many other players cannot -- has never been the poster child for physical fitness. On the ice, he has never been a disciplined two-way player or someone who thrives with structure. That's just not his game. New Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol intends to install a highly structured system.
In other words, a Flyers trade for Byfuglien would be the direct antithesis of everything Hextall has done and has said he plans to continue doing. It would also be hard to work out under the cap.
4) Today marks 16 years since the passing of "Cowboy" Bill Flett. A member of the Flyers' first Stanley Cup winning team, Flett spent two-plus seasons with the Flyers after being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in a multi-player trade midway through the 1971-72 season. The deal also sent the late Ross Lonsberry, Jean Potvin and Ed Joyal to the Flyers, while Serge Bernier, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Lesuk went to LA.
Flett's best season with the Flyers came in 1972-73. Playing on a line with Hart Trophy winner Bobby Clarke and rookie star Bill Barber, Flett compiled 43 goals and 74 points in 69 points. By the standards of the time, Flett's 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame made him one of the bigger and stronger wingers in the NHL and he put it to good use.
In 1973-74, Flett's production dropped precipitously, and his role was significantly decreased by coach Fred Shero as the season moved along. He had 17 goals and 44 points in 67 regular season games, followed by six assists in 17 playoff games as the Flyers won the Stanley Cup. On May 27, 1974, the Flyers traded Flett to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Dave Fortier and Randy Osborn.
Best known for his bushy beard and thick hair, the Cowboy was a colorful and tough character who was well-liked by his teammates and popular with the fans. Unfortunately, Flett's drinking hurt his career. Even in an era where heavy drinking was part of hockey culture, Flett's alcohol consumption was excessive. Nevertheless, those who knew him said he was a generous, gentle and caring person at heart; the type of person who would give someone the shirt off his own back.
One time on a whim, the late Barry Ashbee pulled a prank on Flett by taking a cigarette lighter to Flett's beard as teammates and a reporter sat around. Flett quickly snuffed out the flame, dipped his beard in his mug of beer (apparently to cool off) and then downed the rest of the beer in one long gulp. Impressed that the Cowboy never even flinched, Ashbee announced the next round was on him.
Flett came by his nickname honestly. Away from the rink, he owned a cattle ranch in Alberta and was also a rodeo performer.
After leaving the Flyers, Flett played for the Maple Leafs, Atlanta Flames and the Edmonton Oilers (both in the WHA and NHL). Later, he became a popular figure at NHL alumni games, sporting a cowboy hat on his head and sometimes even spurs on his skates as he played.
Flett had serious health problems late in life, sustaining liver failure that ultimately took his life. Flett claimed to have been sober for the final four years of his life, but the damage had already been done. Bill Flett passed away in Edmonton on July 12, 1999. He was 55 years old.
