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Quick Hits: Manning, Charity Classic and More

July 15, 2018, 6:32 AM ET [110 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
QUICK HITS: JULY 15, 2018

1) Now a member of the Chicago Blackhawks after signing with Chicago as an unrestricted free agent, former Flyers defenseman Brandon Manning took a trip to Philly on Friday to donate to the Temple Burn Center two virtual reality systems designed to ease the pain experienced by burn patients during wound care. Over the course of his time with the Flyers, Manning (the son of a fire fighter) developed a strong relationship with the facility, its staff and patients.



Brandon's relationship with Temple Burn Center is a reflection of the quality human being that he is off the ice. On the ice, he has some limitations, but one thing that could never be said is that he gave the Flyers anything less than 100 percent dedication, that teammates ever had to wonder if "Man Dog" had their back or that he ever failed to compete or stop working tirelessly to improve. Among the media, he's always been forthright and accessible in bad times as well as good.

For all these reasons -- while I believe the Flyers made the right decision in not re-signing him so as to clear a path for younger defensemen on the NHL roster to take on bigger roles -- I will miss Manning and root for him to do well with his new team. The crest on the uniform is different now, but the person inside it is the same.

With Manning, I saw an undrafted player work his tail off from his first NHL camp and a serious injury that cost him much of his rookie pro year through year after year of working his way up from the AHL, to the margins of the NHL roster and then to find a role that made him a starter. I heard and saw firsthand how respected "Man Dog" was among teammates first with the Phantoms and then with the Flyers.

Even as I believed that his ideal NHL role should be that of a seventh defenseman who could fill in for stretches or periodically be inserted for certain matchups while playing about 15 minutes, I always greatly respected his mental and physical toughness. He has both in spades.

Manning is someone who never stopped working to improve his game and will come back that much harder after a rough shift or a bad game. He is far from infallible with or without the puck but he competes like hell.

Bottom line: Manning played in 200-plus NHL games with the Flyers before his 28th birthday (June 4), with more to come in Chicago, because he's worked and worked some more to get there. Nothing was ever simply handed to him, whether by Dave Hakstol or anyone else.

Did I prefer, as Hakstol came to, playing Manning as an everyday starter when healthy while first Travis Sanheim and then Robert Hägg sat out for long stretches? No, I did not.

I felt the combinations needed to be adjusted and did not think the tandem of Manning and Radko Gudas was effective enough to a long-running fixture as the third pair. But I also never thought fans should take it out on Manning. He's worthy of respect, even if there's someone else you'd prefer in the lineup.

Although I thought Gudas had a decent series against Pittsburgh until a near-fatal turnover late in Game 5 and then two turnovers in Game 6 that changed the complexion of the game, I actually thought Gudas was often the shakier half of the third pair down the stretch. Manning wasn't all that effective, either.

The real issue with that third pair being together was that its three strengths -- both are physically strong, both have heavy shots (with Manning's by far being the more accurate) and it was a left-right shooting duo -- did not make up for their lack of ability to balance off each other. Both halves lacked foot speed, puck-moving prowess except for completing short-range passes. Both were vulnerable to getting beaten off the rush and both had trouble getting over to cover the dangerous man if at all caught out of position.

Manning played 64 regular season games and all six playoff games. He was a coach's decision scratch seven times, mostly early in the season, and missed the games of Dec. 6 to 28 due to injury. He averaged nearly 18 minutes of ice time (17:57), which is roughly that of a No. 4 or No. 5 that is interchangeable with another D-man across the second and third pairings depending on the night and matchup.

The real problem is that Manning really isn't an ideal No. 5 (and certainly not a No. 4). He's serviceable as a No. 6 if the top five is stacked -- the current Flyers are not -- and he has the right partner to offset some of his limitations. In turn, he could offset some lack of poise or physical play from a highly mobile puck-moving partner. However, as a number seven who gets into about 40 to 45 games and his matchups are spotted, a team could much, much worse than Manning. He'll always be ready when called upon, and he'll give his teammates his all even on bad nights. That's the mark of a professional.

Brandon Manning is a pro on the ice, and a great guy off the ice. On the ice, he never takes a day in the NHL for granted because he had such an uphill climb to get there. Off the ice, he didn't forge his ties with Temple Burn Center for publicity's sake, but he deserves some recognition for it. He's moved on to another team and city, but those who got to know and/or cover him as a Flyer appreciate what he brought on a daily basis.

2) Today is the second annual Flyers Charity Classic. For a look at how the city-wide event was created and arranged click here.

3) Flyers goaltending prospect Carter Hart joined Chris Therien and me as the special guest on the newest edition of the "Real Deal Hockey with Bundy and Bill" podcast on the Flyers Alumni's Talkshoe channel. To download the 18-minute show, which was recorded on Friday afternoon, click here.

4) On Friday morning, Brian Smith and I recorded the new edition of the FlyerBuzz podcast on Flyers Radio 24/7. Topics discussed include the James van Riemsdyk and Christian Folin signings, possible open roster spots/ roles to be earned by opening night, the Flyers recent development camp, prospects potentially in the hunt for World Junior Championship roster spots as the summertime national team camps approach and more. The 30-minute program will air on Flyers Radio 24/7 beginning next week. When it is online, I will post a download link.
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