MUSINGS AND QUICK HITS: JUNE 26, 2018
1). In recent weeks, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall has said that, while he will seek upgrades for the current roster, he is not interested in pursuing any long-term contracts. The Flyers are not among the teams reported to be in serious pursuit of John Tavares, nor was there any indication that they were going to pursue John Carlson before he re-signed with the Capitals.
However, while the Flyers have their long-term cap situation to consider as key players such as Ivan Provorov and Travis Konency move on from their entry-level contracts to likely long-term extensions that would kick in for the 2019-20 season, there may be a need to reconsider the aversion to long-term deals for outside UFAs of interest. Not even the middle-tier group is likely to accept something in the range of a two-year contract even if the yearly salary is a bit higher for a couple years with a chance to cash in again as a UFA when it expires. There are usually a few good bargains to be had after the initial early July buying frenzy subsides, but these are usually players coming off and injury, down season or are aging but still potentially useful role players hoping to stay in the league.
Likewise, while the Flyers' preference seems to be to negotiate a contract extension with Wayne Simmonds before he becomes a UFA next summer, he and agent Eustace King are not likely to be agreeable to more than a modest "hometown discount" after the Flyers alternate captain proved to be one of the NHL's biggest bargains over the life of most of his current contract. From a Flyers standpoint, it is the term as much as -- or more than -- the cap hit that is concerning for a power forward who will turn 30 before the start of training camp.
In short, I do not expect a rapid resolution for Simmonds' situation, especially with him coming off such an injury plagued season and undergoing an offseason surgery that often (although not always) takes half to three-quarters of a season from which to fully return to form. It would not be a surprise if this goes into next season unresolved.
Seeing it from Simmonds' side, he will want to be rewarded for the performance and intangibles (something Hextall himself values) he's brought. Additionally, there is no imminent replacement in the organization. Over the long term, perhaps Wade Allison could evolve into a similar role but he's a year away from even playing his first pro season much less taking on the expectations of scoring in the mid-20s to low 30s plus playing a central role in the locker room.
Now that the NHL Draft is done and free agency season is fast approaching, is going to interesting summer. Later today, Chris Therien and I will record the next installment of "The Real Deal with Bundy and Bill" podcast on the
Flyers Alumni's Talkshoe channel. We'll discuss the Flyers offseason, wrap up the NHL Draft and talk about the upcoming Toyota Flyers Charity Classic. Chris is captaining his own team, which is open to the public to join. The team is called
Bundy's Chariot of Flyers.
2). Development Camp comes early this year: The on-ice portion of the Flyers' annual Development Camp gets underway on Thursday, June 28, and runs through Monday, July 2. The Trial on the Isle in Stone Harbor, NJ, is tomorrow. For a rundown of the schedule and this year's attendee roster,
click here.
3). Today in Flyers History: On June 26, 2009, the Flyers made one of the biggest trades in contemporary team history. They acquired Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger and minor league forward Ryan Dingle from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, the Flyers' 2009 first-round pick (John Moore) and 2010 first-round pick (Emerson Etem) plus future considerations.
4) Today in Flyers History: On June 26, 2015, the Flyers selected Ivan Provorov with the seventh overall pick of the 2015 Draft. Later that evening, the Flyers traded the 2015 first-round pick they received from Tampa in the Braydon Coburn trade plus the 2015 second-round pick they obtained from Chicago in the Kimmo Timonen trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the 24th overall pick of 2015 Draft. The Flyers used the pick in order to select Ottawa 67's forward Travis Konecny.
5). June 26 Flyers Alumni Birthday: Brad Jones (1965).
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2018 Toyota Flyers Charity Classic
The 2nd annual
Flyers Charity Classic will take place on July 15, 2015. There have been some changes this year -- new bike routes, staggered start times, the creation of a Flyers Alumni Team, more entertainment and Fanfest activities, etc. -- but the basic setup is the same. As with last year, the event is sponsored by Toyota.
The Charity Classic is a city-wide event incorporating a 5k walk/run through the Philadelphia Navy Yard, a 10-mile family bike ride through the Navy Yard and FDR Park, and two bike rides – a 50K and a 100K – spanning the sights and sounds of Broad Street, through historic Valley Forge Park leading back through MLK Drive to the Wells Fargo Center Complex.
In addition to the Classic, families of participants and fans alike will have all-day access to the Flyers Fan Fest: family-friendly outdoor games, inflatables, street hockey, food and more. After-party live entertainment will be provided by
Chico's Vibe.
The biggest participating team last year, both in terms of number of participants and funds raised, was
the Ides of Marsh, captained by Brad Marsh. An avid long-distance cyclist, Brad and members of his family will be doing the 100k bike ride again this year. However, there will be team members taking part in all of the different events and everyone will be together later in the day for the after-party.
Last year, I did the 5k walk/run as an Ides of Marsh member and, thanks to the generosity of my HockeyBuzz readers, family members and friends, raised $425. I also lost weight over the summer getting ready for it. This year, my wife is also planning to take part with me in the family 5k, and our goal is raise money than last year as well as to lower my 5k finish time from last year (although the events are strictly for enjoyment, not a competition).
The
Flyers Alumni Team, as with the Ides of Marsh, is open to the public to join and there will be able opportunity for fans to interact with their favorite Alumni during the day, even if they participate in a different event.
The confirmed participating Flyers Alumni Team members are as follows: Danny Briere (family 5k walk/run), Terry Carkner (family 10-mile bike ride), Bob Clarke (5k walk/run), Bill Clement (5k walk/run), Doug Crossman (5k walk/run), Paul Holmgren (100 k bike ride), Kerry Huffman (5k walk/run), Joe Kadlec (5k walk/run), Bob "the Hound" Kelly (5k walk/run), Ian Laperriere (100k bike ride), Neil Little (family 10-mile bike ride), Jim McCrossin (100k bike ride), Bernie Parent (family 10-mile bike ride), Ryan Parent (100k bike ride), Dave "the Hammer" Schultz (5k walk/run) and Joe Watson (family 10-mile bike ride).
Chris Therien (5k) is organizing a team within the Alumni Team called Bundy's Chariot of Flyers.
Fans can also sign up for a team captained by Flyers Hall of Fame inductee Brian Propp. Brian's group is called
Team Guffaw.
All proceeds raised from registrations and team fundraising benefit Flyers Charities and the Flyers Alumni Association and the various non-profit organizations they support throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. The Flyers Alumni component will be donated toward the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation's goal to build a new rink in the Delaware Valley for use by the Snider Hockey kids.
In terms of individual fundraising, there is an escalating scale of rewards offered:
$50 – Flyers ball cap.
$200 – pair of upper of level tickets to a Philadelphia Flyers hockey game for the 2018/19 season + Flyers ball cap.
$400 – pair of lower level tickets to a Philadelphia Flyers hockey game for the 2018/19 season + Flyers ball cap.
$1,000 – pair of Flyers tickets in the Alumni Party Suite, a Flyers jersey autographed by the Flyers Alumni + Flyers Ball Cap.
The game tickets will be for a mutually agreed upon Philadelphia Flyers home game in October of the 2018/19 season.
There is also a team fundraising incentive component, with Flyers Charities offering donations to a charity of the participating team's choice. More information is available
here.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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