Quick Hits: August 21, 2016
1) Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol was a guest at the Philadelphia Eagles' practice at the NFL team's South Philadelphia facility on Friday. Among others, the former North Dakota head coach conversed with rookie Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (who attended North Dakota State).
I chuckled to myself imagining Hak being interviewed afterwards about his chat with Wentz, and answering every question in coach-speak. It could go something like this:
Q: We saw you were out there speaking with Carson Wentz. What was your assessment of how it went?
A: It went very well, in my opinion. We discussed a variety of topics. I don't want to get into specifics, but I would say it was a multi-faceted conversation with a lot of nouns, verbs and even some adjectives exchanged. Carson is obviously a tremendous young athlete with clear-cut speech capabilities. He was impressive, for sure.
Q: Did you discuss your connections to college athletics in the state of North Dakota?
A: As I said, I don't want to get into the specifics but, clearly, we have a mutual background of having been in the state of North Dakota in a collegiate context. I don't think there's any doubt about that.
Q: Do you plan on having future conversations with Carson, such as small talk after he attends a Flyers game?
A: Well, that's speculation, and I don't do a lot of speculating. Hypothetically, is it possible? Yes, it is possible. But there's a wide array of conversational possibilities or non-possibilities.
Q: Such as what? Text messages? Email? Perhaps a lunch meeting if you're in the same place?
A: Those are several forms of communication, yes. There's a wide array of verbal and written communication forms that are available to human beings -- not just us, but to everyone in the developed world. I will consider a variety of those options moving forward.
Q [Tim Panaccio]: So it will be mental telepathy then?
A: I didn't say that.
Q: You implied it.
A: If that's how you interpret it, that's up to you.
Q: Did you offer Carson any advice?
A: He is a professional athlete. I think a lot of those things can just be left unsaid. I will say that there was a lot of preparation and hard work involved for him to reach this level, and he obviously has done so. He's doing well, no doubt, and he will continue to do so in the future.
Q: Does the fact that you are involved in different sports professionally have anything to do with it?
A: There are actually a lot of commonalities between different forms of athletics at various levels. I am not going to get into the technicalities but there's actually quite a few things that get shared among participants in so-called different sports.
Q: On another note, what did you think of the training facilities here?
A: Absolutely first-rate. The Eagles clearly have a professional football franchise that has been around for a long time and has adapted various elements over the years. The training facilities are definitely a part of that.
Q: Thanks, Dave.
A: Thank you, guys.
2) Over on the Flyers' website, Steve Coates interviewed Flyers defense prospect Mark Friedman. The 2014 third-round pick is set to enter his junior season at Bowling Green University.
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3) Today in Flyers History: August 21
1968: The Flyers acquire the contract of veteran center Bob Rivard from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for future considerations. The trade is eventually completed via cash transaction. Rivard spends the 1968-69 season with the AHL's Quebec Aces.
1969: The Flyers sign Gerry Meehan and Serge Bernier to contracts.
1980: The 10-season Flyers career of Bob "the Hound" Kelly comes to an end. The team trades him to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 1982 third-round draft pick (Bill Campbell).
1991: The Flyers sign diminutive but feisty forward Al Conroy as a free agent.
1992: The Flyers sign goaltending prospect Scott Lagrand, their fourth-round (77th overall) pick in the 1988 NHL Draft, to a pro contract after three seasons at Boston College.