Quick Hits: September 1, 2023
1) The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) regular season gets underway today with a game pitting CSKA Moscow at home against Ak Bars Kazan. Both the KHL and CSKA Moscow have vowed not to comply with a recent IIHF ruling that said the Philadelphia Flyers have an enforceable contract with goalie Ivan Fedotov for the 2023-24 season. Additionally, the IIHF imposed sanctions against both Fedotov (banned from the KHL and other domestic leagues until Jan. 1, 2024, and also banned from international tournaments during the same span) and CSKA (banned for one year from all international transfers including NHL to KHL).
There will be a press conference ahead of the game, reportedly stating that Fedotov will be in goal for CSKA today. The IIHF has said that it will implement proceedings for further disciplinary actions against CSKA, the player and possibly the KHL itself. It is not known what those sanctions for non-compliance might be or how they'd be enforced.
2) Speaking to Philly Hockey Now, Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones said that the team and Darren Ferris (Morgan Frost's agent) are getting close to an agreement on a new contract for the restricted free agent. Nothing is done but Jones said he expects something to get done before training camp.
"Not yet; [we're getting] close,” Jones told Chuck Bausman. “Morgan’s an important player for us in the future. That will work itself out.”
3) Broadcast analysts: Jones also confirmed to Bausman that the vacancies for both the Flyers' radio broadcast analyst spot (replacing the recently retired Steve Coates) and the primary television analyst role (replacing Jones himself after he accepted to POHO role) have not been officially filled. Both roles should be finalized in the near future with the regular season starting in October.
From what I have heard, there is a possibility that the radio side could, at least to start, have a rotation of analysts in similar fashion to what the Philadelphia Phillies have done the last couple years. That is just one of several possibilities. We shall see.
4) Flyers Daily: On Friday's edition of Flyers Daily, Jason Myretetus answers questions submitted by podcast listeners. Topics include Carter Hart's puckhandling, player deployment and how much focus should be placed on emphasizing game-to-game competitiveness (whether or not the team can increase last year's 75-point output) versus focusing more on continued stockpiling of Draft pick assets. To listen to the 18-minute podcast,
click here.
5) Today in Flyers History: September 1
* The Flyers sign former Jersey Devils goaltender Bobby Taylor as a free agent. "Chief" would subsequently go on to serve as Bernie Parent's backup goalie during the Stanley Cup winning 1973-74 (No. 2 on the depth chart) and 1974-74 (No. 3 goalie after being supplanted by Wayne Stephenson) seasons.
* 1988: The Flyers trade backup goalie Wendell Young and a 1990 seventh-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 1990 third-round pick. In the 1990 Entry Draft, the Flyers would select Providence defenseman Chris Therien. "Bundy" would go on to make the NHL All-Rookie team in 1994-85 and eventually play more games on the Philadelphia blueline than any defenseman in franchise history.
6) Speaking of Chris Therien, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 7:00 p.m. EDT to 8:30, Therien will be the guest speaker at West Chester University (Main Hall Auditorium) to discuss the topics of addiction, recovery and mental health. A recovering alcoholic who now operates Bundy Recovery (@BundyRecovery on Twitter), Therien's lecture in entitled "The Puck Stops Here: Addiction and the Road to Redemption". The event is free to attend.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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