Quick Hits: September 22, 2020
1) Over the weekend, a German-language hockey site published a report that Flyers left wing Michael Raffl is
is considering a temporary return home to play in Austria until NHL training camps eventually open.
According to the report, Raffl is weighing the possibility of playing in ICEHL for EC Red Bull Salzburg until the NHL has a definitive timeline for training camps and the start of the 2020-21 season. Thomas Raffl, Michael's older brother, plays for Salzburg as does their cousin, Alexander Rauchenwald.
I have doubts about the viability of such a plan. While there are quite a few NHL-contracted prospects currently on loan to European teams, including multiple Flyers prospects, this is a different situation that would involve a contracted NHL veteran. It's also a different situation from past NHL labor stoppages, which were related to the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. In this situation, Raffl would need the Flyers' permission to play in Europe during the current offseason, and I do not think it would be in the Flyers' best interests to grant it nor in Raffl's best interests to go.
Raffl is entering the final season of his Flyers contract. He will turn 32 years old on Dec. 1. He is coming off a solid but injury-affected 2019-20 season that included an initial lower-body injury that he suffered in the first game of the round robin and then aggravated later in the playoffs. Over two spells of missed time in the postseason, he was only able to dress in nine of the Flyers' 16 playoff games.
When he was in the lineup, though, Raffl was one of the Flyers' best playoff performers. He notched four goals in the nine games and was the only Flyers player who scored at least one goal in the round-robin, the Montreal series and the New York Islanders series. He is also remains one of the Flyers' most versatile players, who can be plugged on at either wing (or even play center for short stretches) and temporarily move up in the lineup from his more-accustomed fourth-line role.
Although it's not a front-and-center decision, the Flyers will have another decision to make with Raffl over the next season. He's come up on free agency before and drawn interest from other teams as a rental but the Flyers have always decided to keep him because his in-house value has always exceeded whatever modest draft-pick compensation that was floated Philadelphia's way to
let him play as a rental elsewhere. The passage of the trade deadline has sometimes come as a big relief to Raffl, because he'd rather stay put and has played his entire seven-year NHL career in Philadelphia.
Raffl proved his value to the Flyers again in the Bubble. But there are younger and cheaper (Raffl's contract AAV isn't a cap-budget killer at $1.6 million, but every $500K or so that can saved among bottom six forwards in a flat-cap reality for several seasons has to be at least considered). I do not think Raffl will be traded this offseason and, if the team is doing well again near the trade deadline and is pushing for a top spot in the Metro, the best option may be to have him complete an eighth season in Philadelphia and then re-evaluate.
Raffl is still a viable NHL player and probably will remain so for a couple more years, unless he decides he'd rather finish out his career back in Europe. I could see where a chance to play with his brother and cousin could be tempting. I just don't think now is the right time. The risks of a short-term playing stint overseas (injury potential, his approaching final contract year, likelihood of frequent b2b and 3-in-4 games in the coming NHL season, etc.) outweigh the sentimental benefits to the player or any benefit to the Flyers.
You never know what can happen, but I'd chalk this one up more to the Silly Season effect than a
realistic scenario. I would be surprised if It's something Raffl is seriously contemplating or the Flyers would be on board with even if he was eager to do it.
2) Today in Flyers History (Part I): On Sept. 22, 1991, the Flyers traded team captain Ron Sutter and defenseman Murray Baron to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forwards Rod Brind'Amour and Dan Quinn. The deal turned out to be one of the best trades made during the Russ Farwell era.
3) Today in Flyers History (Part II): On Sept. 22, 1994, the Flyers re-acquired goaltender Ron Hextall and a 1995 sixth-round pick (Dmitri Tertyshny) from the New York Islanders in exchange for goaltender Tommy Söderström. The trade by newly rehired general manager Bob Clarke was part of the large-scale makeover that the team had during the lockout-shortened season.
After the lockout, Hextall and an what by the end of the year was almost an entirely remade blueline corps from the previous season -- Eric Desjardins, Kevin Haller, Petr Svoboda, NHL All-Rookie Team honoree Chris Therien and Karl Dykhuis all made their Flyers debuts in 1995 -- formed the goaltending and defense portions of a team that went from missing the playoffs five straight years to winning the Atlantic Division and coming within two wins of reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
4) Sept. 22 Flyers Alumni Birthdays: Two of the more hyped but ultimately disappointing trade acquisitions in Flyers history celebrate birthdays today. Winger Pat Falloon was born in this day in 1972. The late Rick Foley was born on this day in 1945.
Additionally, left winger Carl Mokosak, who suited up in one game for the team in 1985-86 and dropped the gloves with New York Rangers defenseman Tony Feltrin in a 3-1 Flyers loss at Madison Square Garden, celebrates his 58th birthday today. Mokosak played a total of 83 NHL games between 1981-82 and 1988-89 for the Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins.
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