Quick Hits: June 14, 2021
1) On today's edition of Flyers Daily on the Flyers Broadcast Network, Jason Myrtetus and I dissect what went wrong with the Flyers' blueline this past season, going player-by-player and pairing-by-pairing. We also gave out grades for each Flyers defenseman. There were no B+ or A grades, and most fell in the C or D range for the season. We also discuss expectations for next season: Who has the best chances at a bounceback year? Who might be a trade candidate this summer?
To listen,
click here. On the next episode, we'll discuss the forwards.
2) On the Flyers official website, the next article in the offseason series will look at the transition that Ian Laperriere faces in going from an NHL assistant coach to an American League head coach; the first head coaching opportunity that has Laperriere has had in his career. For some coaches making the transition, such as Craig Berube, the process goes fine. For others, such as Wayne Cashman, it becomes evident that they are better suited to an assistant's role.
During his post-hiring media availability, Laperierre discussed what he's learned from Berube in navigating the transition.
"Chief was my first coach I coached with. I like the way he is. He never changed. I had him [as a player] as an assistant coach. I coached with him when he was the [Flyers] head coach," Laperriere said.
"Chief was Chief. Again, I talked about Chief. He is a guy that I respect a lot. I respected him a lot as a player. I had no choice or he would beat me up. As a coach, I liked because he never changed. He was himself. That's what I plan to be. I'll be myself but I'll be the head coach. I do have more power than I had before as an assistant coach. I will bring positive energy and positive feedback. I don't believe in putting people down deeper when they're down already."
3) The 2021 edition of the annual
Bernie Parent Fishing Challenge to benefit Snider Hockey will be held from July 22 to August 2. The kick-off event in Philadelphia on July 22 will focus on fishing instruction for Snider Hockey kids.
Online registration runs from July 26 to Aug 9 for a two-week fishing competition. Participants can fish from any location of their choosing. Freshwater, saltwater, in-shore, and off-shore are all options. Adults and children alike are encouraged to participate.
The signature event will be on Aug. 9 at Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, NJ. Participants have the option to fish aboard their own boat or purchase an individual ticket aboard the 125 ft "Atlantis" party boat with Snider Hockey students and other anglers. Participants and non-anglers ($50 fee) are invited to join into an evening poolside BBQ with Bernie himself.
For full details, visit
BernieParentFishing.com.
4) June 14 Flyers Alumni birthdays: Eric Desjardins (1969), Matt Read (1986), Sami Kapanen (1973), Yves Preston (1956).
5) Today in Flyers History: On June 14, 1978, the Flyers traded three players from their Stanley Cup years -- defenseman Tom Bladon and forwards Orest Kindrachuk and Ross Lonsberry -- to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for the sixth overall pick of the first round in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft. The Flyers used the pick to select hard-nosed and offensively skilled defenseman Behn Wilson.
Separately, the New York Rangers agreed to send their 1978 first-round pick (7th overall) to the Flyers in order to settle a tampering claim tied to the Rangers hiring Fred Shero as their coach and general manager while the Hall of Fame coach was still under contract to Philadelphia. The Rangers contacted and negotiated with Shero without permission from Flyers owner Ed Snider or general manager Keith Allen. The Flyers used the compensatory first-round pick to select feisty playmaking center Ken "the Rat" Linseman.
6) Today in Flyers History: On June 14, 2019, the Flyers swapped veteran defenseman Radko Gudas with the Washington Capitals in a one-on-one exchange for veteran defenseman Matt Niskanen. The addition of Niskanen proved to be an important one for Philadelphia's turnaround season in 2019-20. Niskanen's subsequent decision to retire after the season, with one year remaining on his contract, opened up a hole in the Flyers' blueline that the team is still aiming to fill entering the 2021 offseason.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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