Quick Hits: July 15, 2021
1) Jeremy Rutherford wrote an update to his initial Athletic article on Vladimir Tarasenko requesting a trade from the St. Louis Blues and general manager Doug Armstrong beginning the process of inquiring to potential trade partners. Tarasenko has a partial no-trade clause in his contract, in which he can name 10 teams to whom he'd accept a trade.
The Flyers are on the list of pre-approved destinations. So are the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. Not surprisingly, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning are Tarasenko's most preferred landing spot, according to Rutherford but the Bolts' cap situation makes such a deal unlikely.
Armstrong is not in a rush to get a trade done, per the article. He will work on it over the offseason and aims to get the situation resolved before start of the 2021-22 season.
2) During Chuck Fletcher and Brent Flahr's pre-Draft
media availability on Tuesday, Fletcher indicated that the organization has made multiple personnel changes within its hockey operations; likely encompassing not only the hiring of assistant coaches for new Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere's staff, but also adjustments within the player development coaching and scouting ranks. Fletcher said that official announcements would be forthcoming soon.
I do not know all the specifics yet, and I also think that's unfair to speculate about particular names who may be coming into or leaving the organization. What's already a matter of public knowledge is that Brett Hextall has already left the organization as a player development coach to join father Ron Hextall's staff with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the same capacity. Likewise, it's notable that the late Jack McIlhargey, who
passed away on July 19, 2020, is still
officially listed among the Flyers' amateur scouts, while Brett Hextall's name is also still on the staff list. Those will, of course, change after the next official staffing update.
It would not surprise me if there are additions or changes announced to the pro scouting side of hockey ops. Much of the staff was originally hired by Bob Clarke or Paul Holmgren during their GM tenures. Correspondingly, there some Philly scouts who are either at or nearing potential retirement age. Additionally, on the amateur scouting side, it's possible that there could be a change or two that becomes official after the Draft.
3) There are seven days left to bid on autographed game-worn Flyers Alumni jerseys from the recent Showcase Game against the Flyers Warriors. Proceeds benefit the Flyers Alumni Association's programs such as "Every Child Deserves a Bike" and "12 Days of Christmas Season Giving". There are still a couple of jerseys that have yet to receive a bid, so you could potentially get it for the minimum $200 bid. The most bid-upon jerseys so far are the ones worn and signed by John LeClair, Danny Briere, Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Howe, Brad Marsh, Joe Watson (in his likely final Alumni Game in a playing capacity) and tough-guy forwards Dave Brown and Jody Shelley. To check out the auction,
click here.
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