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2019 Free Agency Season Opens; Flyers Canada Day Special Feature |
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2019 Free Agency Season Opens
At noon eastern time on Monday, the new fiscal year in the National Hockey League will bring about the official start of unrestricted free agency. While it is possible that the Flyers will make a signing or two during free agent season, general manager Chuck Fletcher said twice within the last two weeks that his main focus at this point is on getting the team's own restricted free agents (led by Ivan Provorov, Travis Konecny and the arbitration-eligible Scott Laughton) under contract.
Entering July 1, the Flyers have roughly $15.67 in available cap space under the NHL's $81.5 million ceiling for the 2019-20 season. On Sunday, the Flyers bought out the final year of veteran defenseman David Schlemko's contract. The move reduces his cap hit to $900K in 2019-20 (from $2.1M) but adds a $600K hit against the team's 2020-21 cap.
Mike Russo reported on Sunday that the Flyers are the front-runner to sign veteran Wild defenseman Nate Prosser, an impending unrestricted free agent, to a two-year, two-way contract. With eight defensemen currently on the NHL roster, if the Flyers signed Prosser, it would appear that his role would be to go the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms and be available as a callup option.
Most of the Flyers primary outside acquisitions this offseason have already been made. The team acquired the negotiating rights to center Kevin Hayes and preempted his unrestricted free agency by agreeing to a seven-year contract carrying a $7 million can hit. The team traded veteran defenseman Radko Gudas to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Matt Niskanen and retained one-third of Gudas' 2019-20 salary in the deal. Additionally, the Flyers traded a 2012 second-round and 2020 third-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for veteran defenseman Justin Braun. Finally, the Flyers traded Ryan Hartman to the Dallas Stars for winger Tyler Pitlick.
Fletcher did not rule out the possibility of additional trades this offseason or the possibility of free agent signings but has said the internal RFAs are now his main focus. The Flyers still have a need for a top-nine caliber winger and an impending numbers game on the NHL blueline.
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Canada Day: Flyers Special
In hono(u)r of Canada Day, here's a special look at some of the places and people from our neighbors to the north who have made contributions to shaping the Flyers’ history and identity.
ONTARIO
More Flyers players and coaches were born, raised, and/or played junior hockey in Ontario than
any other province in Canada. Among the scores of Flyers players to hail from the large
province: Hall of Fame left winger Bill Barber, Hall of Fame center Eric Lindros, Flyers Hall of
Fame center Rick MacLeish, Flyers Hall of Fame center Dave Poulin, Hall of Fame defenseman
Chris Pronger, former team captains Keith Primeau and Rick Tocchet, 1980s stalwart
defenseman Brad Marsh, 1990s and 2000s defenseman Chris Therien, Jennings Trophy winning
1980s goaltender Bob Froese, Wayne Simmonds and current Flyers captain Claude Giroux (hailing from Hearst, a predominantly French-speaking town).
Past Flyers head coaches Pat Quinn, Bob McCammon, Mike Keenan, Terry Simpson, Wayne
Cashman, Roger Neilson, Craig Ramsay and Barber were all Ontario natives as well.
The small northwestern Ontario city of Kenora only has 15,300 residents. However, former
Flyers captain Mike Richards, early 1980s goaltender Rick St. Croix and former Flyers coach
and general manager McCammon were all native sons of Kenora.
Did you know: The Flyers have drafted more players from the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa
Generals than from any other team in the Canadian Hockey League? The Flyers have selected 10 players from the Generals, including Scott Laughton, Gord Murphy, John Stevens, Rick St.
Croix and Bob “the Hound” Kelly.
Off-the-beaten path: Based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, the defunct Niagara Falls Flyers (a Boston
Bruins-owned junior team that pre-dated the creation of the Philadelphia Flyers) produced a slew of players who later went on to have notable NHL careers with the Philadelphia. The ranks
include the likes of Bernie Parent, Doug Favell, Gary Dornhoefer, Terry Crisp and Phil Myre.
Currently closed but likely to be eventually reopened in a future capacity, the former Niagara
Falls Memorial Arena at 5145 Centre Street was re-purposed into a gallery in the 2000s.
QUEBEC
Right from the being of Flyers history, there have been special connections between the
Philadelphia hockey organization and la belle province of Quebec. The Flyers’ first American
Hockey League affiliate was the Quebec Aces, of which the Flyers purchased ownership on May
8, 1967.
The Aces, based out of Quebec City and playing their home games at the famed Coliseum,
served as the Flyers’ primary farm team until after ownership assets were sold in 1969 and the
Flyers relocated their farm team to Richmond, Virginia in 1971 as the Richmond Robins. The
Flyers also owned the Quebec Junior Aces during the same period.
A host of Quebec natives played for the Aces and later for the Flyers. The ranks included highly
skilled center Andre Lacroix (a fan favorite both in Quebec City and Philadelphia), Simon Nolet,
Jean-Guy Gendron, offensively skilled 1967 first-round pick Serge Bernier, Dick Sarrazin,
Rosaire “Rosie” Paiement, Claude Laforge and the late Jean Gauthier.
After a portion of the Spectrum’s roof was damaged on March 1, 1968, the Flyers played all but
two of their remaining regular season home games of the 1967-68 season at the Coliseum in
Quebec City. There was also one “home” game apiece played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto
and Madison Square Garden in New York.
Even in the years following the relocation of the Aces, players from Quebec played vital roles in
shaping Flyers history, none more so than Hall of Fame goaltender and Philadelphia icon Bernie
Parent. Other standouts include Eric Desjardins, Simon Gagne, Andre “Moose” Dupont, Bill
Clement, Ian Laperriere and Steve Duchesne.
Two of the more notable power forwards in Flyers history, Scott Mellanby and former team
captain Kevin Dineen, were both born in the province of Quebec although raised in Ontario. So
was standout early-to-mid 1990s defenseman Garry Galley. Three Flyers head coaches -- Bill
Dineen, Terry Murray and new head coach Alain Vigneault -- were also born in Quebec, as was Montreal native early Flyers tough guy defenseman Larry “the Rock” Zeidel.
While neither Giroux nor current Flyers center Sean Couturier were born or raised in Quebec,
both were among the dozens of future Flyers who entered the scouting radar for the NHL Draft
while playing for teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Giroux did so with the
Gatineau Olympiques while Couturier, the son of Quebec native former NHL player Sylvain
Couturier, was a member of the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
Additionally, a valuable figure in the early scouting and player personnel direction of the Flyers
during the early post-expansion and Stanley Cup championship era was Drummondville native
Marcel Pelletier. At age 88, Pelletier is still an honored guest at many Flyers games.
Did you know? Simon Gagne’s late father, Pierre Gagne, played for the Quebec Junior Aces and
was a tryout player for the Flyers/Aces at the Flyers’ first training camp, which was held in
Quebec City in September 1967.
Off the beaten path: Located in the center-east portion of Montreal, the borough of
Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie is where Bernie Parent was born and raised. Today, there are many
lovely parks, buildings, cozy cafes and shops in this portion of Montreal.
MANITOBA
Two-thirds of the Flyers’ legendary LCB Line – franchise icon Bob Clarke and high scoring
Reggie Leach – as well as Flyers Hall of Fame goaltender and former general manager Ron
Hextall are Manitoba natives. So, too, was the most famous coach in franchise history, Fred
Shero.
Hailing from the small mining town of Flin Flon, Hockey Hall of Famer Clarke went on to
become one of the most vitally important and inseparable figures in the identity and history of
the Philadelphia Flyers, perhaps even on par with the late Ed Snider (albeit in different contexts).
Hextall, the grandson, son and nephew of notable NHL players (his late grandfather, Bryan
Hextall Sr., was a Hall of Famer) was born and raised in Brandon, Manitoba. Later, he played his
junior hockey for the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Legendary Flyers head coach Shero was a Winnipeg native. His Russian-speaking parents
emigrated to Canada to escape religious persecution. Likewise, 1974-75 Stanley Cup
championship defenseman Ted Harris (a member of five different Stanley Cup winning teams in
his career and later an NHL head coach) was also from Winnipeg.
While Flyers Hall of Fame left winger Brian Propp and the late Brad McCrimmon were born and
raised in Saskatchewan, those rose to junior hockey prominence on a powerhouse Brandon
Wheat Kings roster. Propp’s former high-scoring Wheat Kings linemate and subsequent Flyers
player Ray Allison was a native of British Columbia by birth, but raised in Brandon.
Another Wheat Kings alum is (Saskatchewan native) former Flyer Brayden Schenn. Ivan Provorov hails from Russia but relocated in early adolescence to play hockey and attend school in North America, eventually landing in Brandon to play in the Western Hockey League. Nolan Patrick is a Manitoba native who played for the Wheat Kings.
Other Flyers of note to hail from Manitoba: player, assistant coach and assistant general manager John “Too Tall” Paddock, Pat Falloon, John Paddock, Ken Wregget, Jim Johnson, Marty
Murray, Arron Asham, Terry Ball, Dave Richter and Daryl Stanley.
Did you know? Founded by Icelandic immigrants in 1911, the Winnipeg Falcons amateur team
later comprised the entire roster of Team Canada, winning the gold medal at the 1920 Olympics.
Off the beaten path: Opened in 1958, the venerable Whitney Forum in Flin Flon, Manitoba, was
the home rink of Bob Clarke, Reggie Leach and other Flyers who played for the Flin Flon Bombers. Periodically renovated, the 2,000-seat venue with a 187’X 80’ ice surface remains the
home of Bombers to this day.
SASKATCHEWAN
Many past and present National Hockey League players trace their origins to Saskatchewan,
especially to the province’s farmlands. The phrase “Saskatchewan tough” is a source of pride
and there is also considerable nature beauty and outdoor splendor to be found in its expanses.
In terms of its Flyers-related hockey history, the province has given rise to dozens of familiar
Flyers names. At the top of the list would be five-time NHL All-Star and Flyers Hall of Fame member Brian Propp along with fellow Flyers Hall of Famer and former team captain Ed Van Impe.
A crucial figure in Flyers’ history, legendary Hockey Hall of Fame general manager and
inaugural head coach Keith Allen, was also a Saskatchewan native. He hailed from Saskatoon
and played for long defunct Saskatoon Elks in a career path that later led to an American Hockey League and National Hockey League (Detroit Red Wings) playing career before he found his true calling in coaching and team management.
These three illustrious names may be where the list starts, but it hardly ends there. In fact, an
entire team roster’s worth of skill, two-way awareness, physical play and rawhide-like toughness could be assembled just among Saskatchewan-native Flyers.
Among other Saskatchewan natives: brothers Brayden and Luke Schenn, fan favorite power
forward Scott Hartnell, Broad Street Bullies era forwards Orest Kindrachuk (born in Alberta to
Ukrainian immigrant parents but raised in Saskatchewan), Don “Big Bird” Saleski and Ross
Lonsberrry, “Crazy Eights Line” right winger Brent Fedyk, the late high-end shutdown
defenseman Brad McCrimmon, mid-1980s scoring phenom Todd Bergen, 1970s forward Drew
Callander, current Flyers development coach and former player Nick Schultz, original Flyer center Garry Peters, longtime role-playing winger Lindsay Carson, longtime Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn (born in Alberta, raised in Saskatchewan), checking forward and future NHL coach Dave Tippett and goaltenders Glenn “Chico” Resch and the memorably mustachioed Jerome Mrazek.
Last but certainly not least, two of the top Flyers tough guys in franchise history – Dave “the
Hammer” Schultz and Dave Brown – hail respectively from Waldheim and Saskatoon. So, too,
does “Dan Line” member, Scott Daniels, a native of Prince Albert.
Did you know? Flyers Hall of Fame defenseman Joe Watson played junior hockey for the old
Estevan Bruins, where his teammates included Terry Simpson (the Flyers’ head coach during the 1993-94 season). In later years, Humbolt, Saskatchewan native Ross Lonsberry also played for Estevan.
Off-the-beaten path: The Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Swift Current (2001
Chaplin St. E). Among its honored members are Propp, McCrimmon, Simpson, and, naturally,
the late “Mr. Hockey” himself, Gordie Howe, whose American-born-and-raised son Mark
became a Hall of Fame defenseman for the Flyers. Ed van Impe was recently selected as part of the Saskatchewan HHOF's induction class of 2019.
ALBERTA
Renowned as cowboy and oil country, Albertans and the province of Alberta have had significant and sometimes surprising ties to the history of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Philly’s first general manager, the late Hockey Hall of Fame Builders Category inductee Norman
“Bud” Poile, had a 311-game NHL playing career. Although a native of Fort William, Ontario,
the sometimes irascible Poile’s coaching and managerial career took off during his eight years at the helm of the defunct minor league Edmonton Flyers in the late 1950s and 1960s.
It was during his two-championship tenure in Edmonton that Poile coached several players
whom he later brought over to the Philadelphia Flyers, including Forbes Kennedy and Larry “the
Rock” Zeidel, in playing capacities and Keith Allen, Vic Stasiuk, and Jerry Melnyk (initially
acquired by Philadelphia as a player but who retired due to injury and became one of the most
renowned scouts in Flyers history) in coaching and/or scouting roles.
Alberta also features several underrated players who served the Flyers well during their careers, such as former captain Ron Sutter, all-around standout Murray Craven, and offensive-minded defenseman Tom Bladon. Hailing from Viking, Alberta, Ron Sutter and twin brother Rich are members of the hockey world’s most prolific family of future NHL players and were Flyers
teammates in the mid-1980s. A fellow Albertan, defenseman Jason Smith, served as the Flyers
captain during their 2007-08 bounceback season.
Two-stint Flyers goaltender Pete Peeters played in two NHL All-Star games as a Flyer during his
first stint with the club and, as a rookie, helped the team attain a record 35-game unbeaten streak and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
A member of the Flyers’ first Stanley Cup winning team of 1973-74, the late “Cowboy” Bill
Flett notched a 43-goal season for the Flyers the previous year as a linemate of Clarke and
Barber. Another Flyer from that era, defenseman Tom Bladon was one of the first offensively
potent blueline threats for Philadelphia.
Not surprisingly, there is also abundant toughness among the ranks of Albertans to play for the
Flyers, including Craig “Chief” Berube, the late Dave Hoyda, Todd “Fridge” Fedoruk, Dan
Kordic, Phil Crowe and Jay Rosehill.
Other notable Alberta natives to play for the Flyers: Scottie Upshall, Kevin Haller, Rob DiMaio,
Blair Betts, Mike Rathje, Blake Wesley, Kris Versteeg, American Hockey League Hall of Famer
Tim Tookey, current Flyers western Canada scout Mark Greig, Ed Joyal, Jeff Finley, offensive
defenseman Greg Hawgood and the late Larry Mickey.
The Flyers also had two head coaches who were born and raised in Alberta: 2000s head coach
Ken Hitchcock and late 1960s to early 1970s bench boss Vic Stasiuk.
Did you know? A member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, Lethbridge native Vic Stasiuk is
the oldest living Flyers coach. He celebrated 90th birthday on May 23, 2019.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Quantitatively, the number of Flyers players from British Columbia is sparser than from other
parts of Canada. However, in terms of quality and importance of service to the organization, the Flyers of British Columbia take a back seat to no one.
Hailing from the small town of Smithers, BC, in the lovely mountainous sector of British
Columbia near the Alaska border, the Flyers Hall of Fame defenseman brother duo of Joe and
Jim Watson played in a combined seven NHL All-Star Games and were members of both
Stanley Cup winning Flyers teams.
Yet another Smithers native, dipsy doodling forward Ron Flockhart created a local sensation in
Philadelphia dubbed “Flockey Hockey” in the early 1980s. He scored 33 goals and racked up 72
points in 72 games as a Flyers rookie in 1981-82.
Although 1990s Flyers Hall of Fame center/ left wing Rod Brind’Amour and rugged late 1970s
to early 1980s team captain Mel Bridgman were born in Ontario, both were raised in British
Columbia. Both forwards were strong two-way players who brought heart-and-soul dedication to the Flyers teams of their respective eras.
Hockey Hall of Fame right winger Mark Recchi starred for the Flyers over two stints with the team. The Kamloops native’s 123-point season for the Flyers in 1992-93 still stands as the franchise’s all-time record for a single season.
A tough guy defenseman from the 1980s, Glen Cochrane formed an unlikely but highly
successful defense pairing with perennial Norris Trophy candidate Mark Howe in Howe’s early
years with the Flyers.
Among other British Columbia natives to serve the Flyers: players and scouts Al Hill and Ross
Fitzpatrick, solid defensemen Murray Baron, Larry Hale and the late Rick “Jumbo” Lapointe,
goalies Darren Jensen and the late Don “Smokey” McLeod, 1974 playoff callup Bruce Cowick,
Colin Forbes, Danny Lucas, Chris Joseph, former first-round pick Jason Bowen and current
Flyer Brandon Manning.
CANADIAN MARITIMES
The provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island (PEI) comprise the
Canadian Maritimes. The Flyers have had a handful of players from these locales over the years.
Original Flyers tough guy forward Forbes Kennedy is a living legend in Prince Edward Island,
where his parents relocated to Charlottetown after he was born in Dorchester, New Brunswick.
Although current Flyers two-way center Sean Couturier was born in Phoenix, Arizona while his
dad was playing pro hockey, he was primarily raised and played youth hockey in Bathurst, New
Brunswick where his father became the general manager of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
Former Flyers defenseman and head coach John Stevens was born in Campbellton, New
Brunswick. He was, however, primarily raised in Turkey Point, Ontario. Conversely, Manitoba-
born policeman forward Jody Shelley spent much of his childhood in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
A native of Charlottetown, PEI, Al MacAdam was drafted by the Flyers in the fourth round (55th
overall) of the 1972 NHL Draft. After playing briefly for the Flyers in the NHL, he was traded in
the deal that brought Reggie Leach to Philadelphia. MacAdam went on to have a successful NHL
career in his own right, including a 42-goal, 91-point season for the Minnesota North Stars in
1979-80.
Born and raised respectively in the Czech Republic and Latvia, current Flyers star right winger
Jakub Voracek (the Nova Scotia-based Halifax Mooseheads) and former Flyers defenseman
Oskars Bartulis (the New Brunswick Moncton Wildcats) played for QMJHL junior hockey for
teams based in the Maritimes before turning pro.
Other Flyers players with ties to the Maritime provinces include forward Jim Sim (New Glasgow, Nova Scotia), defenseman Randy Jones (Quispamsis, New Brunswick) and goaltender
Wendell Young (Halifax).
Did you know? The midget AAA team in Moncton, New Brunswick is nicknamed the Flyers.
Off the beaten path: Forbes Kennedy, better known to friends and teammates as “Forbie” was
inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame in 1968. Al MacAdam was inducted in 1990. The PEI
Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is located at Credit Union Place.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
There has also been a sprinkling of NHL players hailing from Newfoundland, including one who
suited up for the Flyers. Defenseman John Slaney, an American Hockey League Hall of Famer
who starred for the Philadelphia Phantoms and was a depth callup for the Flyers, was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Bordered to the south by British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, to the west by the Yukon and to the east by Nunavut, the Canadian Northwest Territories are home to roughly 43,000 people. One NHL player, ex-Flyer Geoff Sanderson (who later relocated in adolescence with his family to Calgary), was born in the Northwest Territories in the now defunct mining town of Pine Point.
Did you know? Despite the fact that the Flyers did not enter the NHL until 1967, the
Philadelphia Flyers are one of only two only National Hockey League teams to have had players born in each of Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the Northwest Territories all included within its all-time roster. The Edmonton Oilers are the other. The "trick" here is the Northwest Territories, because Sanderson is the only NHLer to date born there.
There has been two NHL players born in the Yukon: ex-Oiler defenseman Bryon Baltimore (which makes the Oilers the only NHL franchise to have had at least one player from every province, plus the Northwest Territories and Yukon) and forward Peter Sturgeon.
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