MELTZER'S MUSINGS: SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
1) Rugged forward Jay Rosehill will remain with the American Hockey League's Lehigh Valley Phantoms next season. Yesterday, the 30-year-old Rosehill signed a one-year AHL contract with the Flyers' farm team.
Rosehill dressed in a total of 45 NHL games for the Flyers in 2012-13 and 2013-14 after coming over from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Harry Zolnierczyk at the 2013 trade deadline. He compiled 154 penalty minutes and chipped in three goals.
Last year, as most NHL organizations have done by now, the Flyers decided not to carry a traditional enforcer on their NHL roster. Rosehill spent the 2014-15 season in the AHL with the Phantoms. It has become increasingly tough for a player in his role to get a NHL two-way deal as a free agent, so had to settle for an AHL-only contract.
Understanding that the old-school enforcer role has become largely obsolete in the NHL and is being reduced even in the AHL, Rosehill diversified his game a bit under then-coach Terry Murray last season. He still racked up 219 penalty minutes and a three-game AHL suspension (for an illegal check to the head) but he did more than just fight. Rosehill also killed penalties and played on both the third and fourth lines as needed.
Rosehill also emerged as part of the Phantoms' extended leadership group in the dressing room; an upbeat and positive veteran presence who keeps things loose with a good sense of humor. With much of last season's veteran group gone -- players such as Andrew Gordon, Zack Stortini, goalie Rob Zepp and Flyers NHL roster hopeful defenseman Brandon Manning -- Rosehill figures to be part of a newly formed leadership group.
During his NHL time with the Flyers, the most memorable of Rosehill's three goals by far was the one he scored at home against the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 9, 2013. At the time, the Flyers had scored just 22 goals through the first 15 games of the season. The Flyers were buried in the standings and in deep trouble if they did not start turning things around immediately. Rosehill's first period goal opened the scoring in that game and also opened the floodgates for the Flyers.
One of the two most memorable fights Rosehill had as a Flyers happened when he dropped the gloves with New York Islanders' Eric Boulton on Oct. 26, 2013. Neither player realized it at the moment but, with the Flyers staked to an early two-goal lead, the Islanders had a 2-on-1 rush brewing when the combatants squared off behind the play. Play was blown dead by the officials. The Flyers went on to win the road game, 5-2, behind a Vincent Lecavalier hat trick and a 26-save performance by Steve Mason.
Rosehill's best Flyers fight was probably the one he had against Paul Bissonnette in Phoenix on Jan. 4, 2014. With a faceoff just outside the Flyers' zone and Philly trailing 3-1 with 11:10 remaining in the second period, Rosehill jostled with and challenged Bissonnette to drop the gloves. Bissonnette looked back at Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, basically asking permission to fight with his team ahead by two goals midway through the game.
Rosehill and Bissonette proceeded to have a lengthy and entertaining bout. More important, the spirited fight turned out to provide an emotional spark for the herefore listless Flyers (who had all of 10 shots on goal to that point). Brayden Schenn scored late in the second period to reduce the gap to one goal and the Flyers went on to score three more unanswered goals in the final period to win the game, 5-3.
3) The hockey world has produced its fair share of players with unique-sounding names and colorful personalities over the years. Currently, the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats -- for whom former Flyers player and assistant coach John Paddock is the general manager and coach -- have a 16-year-old prospect forward by the name of Trygve Many Guns. A member of the Siksika Nation of southern Alberta, Many Guns draws attention not only for his name but for his sheer size. The teenager has a 6-foot-3, 252-pound frame.
TODAY IN FLYERS HISTORY FROM FlyersAlumni.org: SEPTEMBER 1
1967: The first-year expansion Flyers purchase the contract of 37-year-old goaltender Al Millar from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The goalie is acquired to play for the AHL's Quebec Aces and to serve as an emergency callup if either Bernie Parent or Doug Favell go down with a long-term injury. Millar, who served as a backup goaltender for the Boston Bruins in the late 1950s and otherwise spends his entire 20-plus year pro playing career in various minor leagues, starts 33 games in his second career tour of duty with the Aces.
1968: The Flyers sign young goaltender Bobby Taylor as a free agent.
1972: The Flyers sign rugged young defenseman Jack McIlhargey as a free agent.
1977: The Flyers sign tough guy forward Jim Cunningham as a free agent after he ends his collegiate stint at Michigan State.
1988: The Flyers trade backup goaltender Wendell Young to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 1990 third-round draft choice. Two years later, Philadelphia uses the pick to select defenseman Chris Therien.
1997: The Flyers sign veteran defenseman Chris Joseph as a free agent. In training camp, he is beaten out for a starting role by rookie defenseman Dmitri Tertyshny. Joseph settles for a seventh-defenseman role on the Flyers.
2014: The Flyers agree to terms with Zac Rinaldo on a two-year contract extension. The deal is officially announced on Sept. 2.