Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Memorial Cup, Gamble & Lindbergh

That London team is STACKED. But hopefully the good that comes from this is the tempering of peoples expectations of Provorov making the Flyers next year and have a season like Ghost. If he makes the club, he'll be 2 years younger than Ghost from last year. Just Sayin'...

Bill - another great article. Both Lindbergh and Gamble are tragic figures in Flyers history. I am too young to remember Gamble having to retire... but I remember the time of Pelle's passing vividly. Hard to believe it was more than 30 years ago now.

I'll never forget hearing the awful news that Sunday morning. I was lucky enough to attend the next game vs Edmonton. I thought it was a beautiful gesture by the Flyers management not to rip the tickets that night (Pelle's pic was on the ticket), instead they drew a small X on it and handed it back.

Would they have won the Cup that year if the accident never happened? Maybe. If history held true, and they reached the finals, they would have played Calgary. I have to think if they were able to stay reasonably healthy, they would have beat the Flames.

Sadly, we'll never know. RIP Gumper, you are truly missed.

Bill - another great article. Both Lindbergh and Gamble are tragic figures in Flyers history. I am too young to remember Gamble having to retire... but I remember the time of Pelle's passing vividly. Hard to believe it was more than 30 years ago now.
- copelal

I was pretty young but I remember my dad telling me that Gamble had to retire because of his heart. Honestly though, I don't really remember him much as a goalie.

Did Gamble collapse on the ice in that game, or was that a different incident?

Edit: According to Wikipedia - A run of solid performances by Gamble ended after he suffered a heart attack during a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on February 8, 1972. Although he fell at one point during the game,[1] he did not complain of problems until afterward, and traveled with the team to Oakland on February 9 in preparation for a game that evening against the California Golden Seals. As his chest pains continued, Gamble was admitted to an Oakland hospital where it was found that he had had a heart attack.[2] Gamble did not play in the NHL again.

Pretty happy I ended up missing most of last nights game. It sounded brutal.

Kind of difficult to judge the performance of Irovorov, considering how bad the team as a whole has played.

Oh well, lets go huskies!!!

I'll never forget hearing the awful news that Sunday morning. I was lucky enough to attend the next game vs Edmonton. I thought it was a beautiful gesture by the Flyers management not to rip the tickets that night (Pelle's pic was on the ticket), instead they drew a small X on it and handed it back.

Would they have won the Cup that year if the accident never happened? Maybe. If history held true, and they reached the finals, they would have played Calgary. I have to think if they were able to stay reasonably healthy, they would have beat the Flames.

Sadly, we'll never know. RIP Gumper, you are truly missed.
- BiggE

I was at the game before and was looking forward to seeing him in person, was bummed to see him as a back up that night. Never got the chance after...

Talent wasted is a shame.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Memorial Cup, Gamble & Lindbergh
- bmeltzer

Bill: If Pelle hadn't died, do you think they would have won a Cup, or gotten to Game 7 of the SCF, in 1987?

Tis a sad article, Bill

Bill: If Pelle hadn't died, do you think they would have won a Cup, or gotten to Game 7 of the SCF, in 1987?
- jmatchett383

Hard to say Pelle -- or anyone -- would have outplayed Hexy in 1987. OTOH, I do think the Flyers would have won the Cup in '86. I also think it should be said that at as great as Hexy was his rookie year, he never really approached that level again whereas Pelle's pedigree over his career suggested he could have stayed at his peak level for quite a few years.

We'll never know.

Did Gamble collapse on the ice in that game, or was that a different incident?

Edit: According to Wikipedia - A run of solid performances by Gamble ended after he suffered a heart attack during a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on February 8, 1972. Although he fell at one point during the game,
- Scoob[1] he did not complain of problems until afterward, and traveled with the team to Oakland on February 9 in preparation for a game that evening against the California Golden Seals. As his chest pains continued, Gamble was admitted to an Oakland hospital where it was found that he had had a heart attack.[2] Gamble did not play in the NHL again.

He did fall to the ice but that apparently had nothing to do with the subsequent chest pains he experienced. Supposedly, his feet just got tangled and he fell. However, no video that I know of exists for that game.

He did fall to the ice but that apparently had nothing to do with the subsequent chest pains he experienced. Supposedly, his feet just got tangled and he fell. However, no video that I know of exists for that game.
- bmeltzer

Thanks.

Was he also the one who kept a barf bucket on the bench for use during stoppages?

Not to deviate from a great blog, but do you guys think if Tampa Bay wins tonight, it altars their thinking on the Stamkos deal. I know they want him back, but if you can get to the Stanley Cup without him, do they not offer as much money to him?

Or does it change Stamkos' thinking that maybe he should stay put as it's his best chance at getting a ring?

If I were Stamkos I would take the hometown discount to win championships. Personally If I had a choice between making 10 million a year and being a perennial loser, or making 7 million a year and have a chance to win for the foreseeable future, it would be no contest.

I am not saying those will be the numbers, but when you are talking about that kind of money, I would chose winning every time.

That being said, Tampa is deep, they could use that Stamkos money to stay deep, and get deeper.

Not to deviate from a great blog, but do you guys think if Tampa Bay wins tonight, it altars their thinking on the Stamkos deal. I know they want him back, but if you can get to the Stanley Cup without him, do they not offer as much money to him?

Or does it change Stamkos' thinking that maybe he should stay put as it's his best chance at getting a ring?
- Pelle31Forever

If anything, I think them winning tonight reinforces the decision to move on. I do, however, think he could be a possible Game 7 wild card.

If I were Stamkos I would take the hometown discount to win championships. Personally If I had a choice between making 10 million a year and being a perennial loser, or making 7 million a year and have a chance to win for the foreseeable future, it would be no contest.

I am not saying those will be the numbers, but when you are talking about that kind of money, I would chose winning every time.

That being said, Tampa is deep, they could use that Stamkos money to stay deep, and get deeper.
- MBFlyerfan

But keep in mind that his deal can be used as a comparable by other teams, so the PA will pressure him to take the money. Basically, if Stamkos is only getting $7/8M, how can a guy like, say, Andrew Ladd justify wanting $6M per?

But keep in mind that his deal can be used as a comparable by other teams, so the PA will pressure him to take the money. Basically, if Stamkos is only getting $7/8M, how can a guy like, say, Andrew Ladd justify wanting $6M per?
- jmatchett383

Because Andrew Ladd is a big, greedy jerk

Because Andrew Ladd is a big, greedy jerk
- YuenglingJagr

But keep in mind that his deal can be used as a comparable by other teams, so the PA will pressure him to take the money. Basically, if Stamkos is only getting $7/8M, how can a guy like, say, Andrew Ladd justify wanting $6M per?
- jmatchett383

I understand that. I was only speaking as if I were Stamkos. If they were pressuring me to take more money and stay a loser, Im telling them to go (frank) themselves. And laughing at Andrew Ladd.

Murray tonight.

Should be some fun second guessing if they lose tonight.

Murray tonight.

Should be some fun second guessing if they lose tonight.
- J35Bacher

It's a win win. Had they put Fleury in and they lose, chalk it up to Fleury being done. If Murray loses, chalk it up to should have put the more experienced Fleury in.

If they win with Murray then it starts the Fleury is done debates.

It's a win win. Had they put Fleury in and they lose, chalk it up to Fleury being done. If Murray loses, chalk it up to should have put the more experienced Fleury in.

If they win with Murray then it starts the Fleury is done debates.
- Streit2ThePoint

Fluery may be done as a Penguin anyway. Three years left on his deal (at a reasonable cap hit). Even if he has a no movement I can see him maybe wanting a change of scenery. There are more than a few teams who could use him for three seasons at 5.75 per.

The Penguins could use the cap space elsewhere.

I was listening to the game on radio when Gamble had his heart attack..... we went to see Elton John at the Spectrum that summer after the Pelle tragedy and Elton had a Flyers #31 jersey on and dedicated Your Song to Pelle and I think everybody was crying