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Quick Hits: June 21, 2024
1) Following yesterday's pre-Draft press conference by Danny Briere, the Flyers general manager sat down with Jason Myrtetus for a 24-minute "Flyers Daily" interview. This interview went beyond the topics Briere discussed during his general media availability. Briere discussed topics ranging from the Flyers' managerial philosophies, scouting and drafting, setting ambitious but realistic expectations, navigating each stage of a rebuild and where he feels the Flyers are presently in that process, taking the next steps on the player development, how Briere defines buzzword such as franchise synergy and much more.
2) During his earlier press conference, Briere was engaging but (like most every general manager) not about to tip his hand about the direction the Flyers will go in the upcoming Draft. He reiterated the standard "we'll take the best available player" mantra while admitting centers typically get prioritized a little higher than comparable wingers and made no pretense that the current farm system is paper thin at center. Meanwhile, with the top half of the 2024 first-round potentially shaping up to be defenseman-heavy in terms of positional distribution of the top 16 picks, there's statistically a significant chance that a defenseman could be best available player on the Flyers' internal rankings when the 12th overall pick comes up.
For a five-point synopsis of Briere's press conference -- which also addressed the volume of trade-related calls Briere has received/made in the last few days, discussed the team's two recent signings of older European hopefuls, the status (quo) of Matvei Michkov and more -- see PhiladelphiaFlyers.com today. I will add the direct link to the blog when available.
To watch the press conference in its entirety, click below.
3) With the annual Flyers Alumni Golf Invitational coming up on Monday, more than 50 Flyers Alumni from various generations of franchise history are in town for "Alumni Weekend": a series of get-togethers and Alumni-only events. I was honored to be invited to attend the Alumni dinner at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday and will also attend the golf event on Monday.
Shortly before the start of Monday's golf tournament at Dupont Country Club in Wilmington, the Alumni will present the latest fully customized adaptive bicycle donation to a special needs younger from the Delaware Valley. The donation is part of the Alumni's signature "Every Child Deserves a Bike" program.
Adaptive bicycles can be quality of life changing devices for children dealing with conditions such as cerebral palsy and progressive muscular degeneration disorders. Unfortunately, the bicycles have to be custom-built, often cost upwards of $7,500 and are not typically covered by insurance despite their therapeutic benefits. The ECDAB program, which is funded by Flyers fans and private sector sponsors builds and donates adaptive bikes to local children. The program operates in partnership with Help Hope Live and won a Business Journal of Philadelphia award in 2023.
The Alumni Golf Invitational is the Flyers Alumni Association's single biggest and most important fundraising event of each year. It enables the Flyers to make large donations to Snider Hockey and other charities as well as providing a nest egg toward the ongoing operation of ECDAB, the 12 Days of Christmas holiday giving program and the development of other Alumni fundraising events and community programs.
The first multi-day summertime Alumni weekend was held in 2019. After brief interruption by the pandemic, it returned. It's a great way for Alumni to get together with old teammates who may no longer live in close geographical proximity and also to meet Alumni from other eras, all while helping to raise money for worthy causes.
4) Today in Flyers History: June 21
1988: The Flyers reacquire well-liked and rugged defenseman Mike Stothers from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for veteran defenseman Bill Root. Back on December 4, 1987, the Flyers traded Stothers to Toronto in a future considerations (cash) transaction.
Philly brough the blueliner back seven months later with 29-year-old Toronto native Root going to the Maple Leafs (one of his previous teams). With the Flyers blueline riddled with injuries in 1987-88, the Flyers acquired Root from the St. Louis Blues via waiver claim. He dressed in 24 regular season games and two playoff matches for Philadelphia.
2002: Shortly before the 2002 NHL Draft, the Flyers acquired the fourth overall pick of the first round from the Tampa Bay Lightning. In return, the Flyers sent winger Ruslan Fedotenko and a pair of 2002 second-round selections (Tobias Stephan and Dan Spang). The Flyers selected Finnish defenseman Joni Pitkänen with the pick acquired from Tampa.
2019: During the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in Dallas, the Flyers traded the 11th overall pick to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for the 14th overall pick and a second-round selection (45th overall). The Coyotes used the 11th pick on Swedish defenseman Victor Söderström. The Flyers used the 14th pick on USNTDP defenseman Cam York.
The next day, the Flyers traded the 45th overall pick and a third-round selection (65th overall) to the Nashville Predators in order to move up in the second round. Now possessing the 34th overall pick (third pick within Round 2), the Flyers selected USHL/USNTDP winger Bobby Brink. The Predators used the 45th pick on Egor Afanasyev and the 65th pick on BCHL winger Alexander Campbell.
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