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Quick Hits: Flyers $200 Challenge, Stanley Cup in Bucks County, TIFH

August 7, 2019, 2:53 PM ET [41 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Quick Hits: Aug. 7, 2019

1) In the midst of the dog days of summer, Sean McIndoe (AKA, "Down Goes Brown") posted an article on The Athletic presenting a "$200 challenge" to build a starting lineup -- any three forwards, any two defensemen, and one goaltender -- who played on an NHL team of your choice at some point of the players' careers. It's a fun little exercise for a weekday in August.

The rules are as follows:

* You have a maximum "salary cap" of $200 to build your entire starting lineup. Each player costs $1 of salary per regular-season game played for the team. For example, if you select a player who dressed in all 82 games of one season and then departed, it uses up $82 of cap space.


* You must pick three forwards, two defenseman and one goalie. It doesn't matter what forward position (LW, C, or RW) or which side of a defense pairing (LD or RD) he played.

* Once you select a player, you get credit for his entire NHL career, and not just the time with your team.

Keeping those rules in mind, here is my $200 Flyers roster...

F: Al MacAdam ($5)- Adam Oates ($14) - Jaromir Jagr ($73)
D: Paul Coffey ($94) - Vladimir Malakhov ($6)
G: Cam Talbot ($4)

Three of my five starting position players (Jagr, Oates and Coffey) are Hall of Famers or, in Jagr's case, a Hall of Fame shoo-in. MacAdam started his career in Philly before going to the Oakland Seals in the trade that brought Reggie Leach to the Flyers. While he wasn't a superstar, MacAdam's NHL resume included a 42-goal, 93-point season (1979-80), two seasons of 32+ goals, and six seasons of 20-plus goals. Hard to find a better bargain than that at $5, especially since his selection enabled me to afford Jagr at $73. Oates' brief late career stint with the Flyers was a disappointment but, since you get credit for the player's entire career, it's a fantastic bargain at $14.

Coffey is the most expensive player on the team but his 1,531 points and 1,409 NHL career games makes it worthwhile. Malakhov was a rather inconsistent player during his career, but at times played at a very high level (including during his lone playoff run with the Flyers).

Unfortunately, Coffey's $94 contract in combo with Jagr's $73 pretty much ruined my goalie budget. As a result, not only could I not afford Sergei Bobrovsky ($83), I also could not even fit the likes of Chico Resch ($22) under the cap. With a maximum of $8 to spend, my best available choices were Talbot at $4 or Gary "Inch" Inness at $8.

If re-done with the goalie as my number one priority, here is a sample way that it could be arranged:

F: MacAdam ($5) - Oates ($14) - Jagr ($73)
D: Johnny Oduya ($1) - Rob Ramage ($15)
G: Bobrovsky ($83)

There are some other bargains and moderate price options to be had, depending on how you arrange your lineup. For example, Alexei Zhamnov is a great value at $20. Hall of Fame defenseman Allan Stanley, who finished his career with the Flyers, would cost $64. Patrick Sharp, who found stardom in Chicago after starting his career in Philly, would cost $66.

2) Craig Berube, who still makes his off-season residence in Bucks County, will be bringing the Stanley Cup to his adopted home community this week. Berube will take the Cup trophy along during a procession along S. Main Street in New Hope on Thursday (Aug. 8), starting at 10:45 a.m. ET. Subsequently, from noon to 2 p.m. ET. Subsequently, hockey's ultimate prize will be at Triumph Brewing Company (400 Union Square Drive) with photo opportunities available on a first-come, first-saved basis.

3) Today in Flyers History: On Aug. 7,, 1991, the Flyers signed prospect wingers Kimbi Daniels and Jamie Cooke to NHL contracts.
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