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Quick Hits: July 16, 2019
1) Of all the pro sports leagues in North America, none have more complicated rules about the duration of holding drafted players' rights, having them participate in off-season development camps and/or preseason training camps, and their eligibility to play for farm teams (if applicable) than does the National Hockey League. This is especially true for NCAA and NCAA-track players.
Over on the Flyers' official website, I authored a 411 series article that, hopefully, explains in plain English how an array of NCAA rules and the NHL-NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement pertain to various current Flyers prospects. Topics covered include:
* Duration of NHL rights: 4-year players vs. 5-year players
* The NCAA transfer protocol: Jay O'Brien
* NHL Development Camp attendance rules: Tanner Laczynski
* AHL eligibility: The "20-year-old" requirement does not apply
* Slide-rule eligibility: Joel Farabee
Also within the article, I provided a mini version of the annual "prospect directory" that I do for HockeyBuzz; which players are in which leagues (5 in CHL, 6 in Sweden, 11 in NCAA or NCAA track). Lastly, I briefly go over the differences in NHL rights duration for CHL players, players in Europe (which varies based on the governing hockey federation of the player's European team) and the NCAA kids.
2) Speaking of collegiate prospects, or former ones in this case, recently graduated Michigan forward Brendan Warren has signed with the ECHL's Indy Fuel. The rights to Warren, who was not in the Flyers' entry-level contract signing plan, were acquired in 2017 in the deal that sent Nick Cousins and goaltending prospect to the Arizona Coyotes. The Flyers also obtained a 2018 fifth-round pick (defenseman Wyatte Wylie) in the deal.
3) My article for the Flyers' website that looks at Paul Holmgren's career as a Flyers player, coach, general manager and team president -- as well as Holmgren as a person -- is now online: Click here.
4) Later today, I am scheduled to speak to new Flyers assistant coaches Mike Yeo and Michel Therrien for two new articles for the Flyers site. One looks at the forwards and offensive systems and power play (Therrien's purview) and the other looks at team defense and PK (Yeo's areas) they envision for the team in conjunction with new head coach Alain Vigneault.
5) Congratulations to the Philadelphia Flyers PowerPlay, the power wheelchair hockey team sponsored by the Flyers organization, for capturing their second major North American championship in as many years. Last year, the team won the Powerhockey Cup over teams from across the U.S. and Canada. This year, the team traveled to Canada and won the PowerHockey Canada Cup, defeating the Toronto Toros in the finals. The Flyers Alumni Association, which donated to help offset some of the costs associated with the trip, has developed an especially close bond with the Flyers PowerPlay and the Flyers Warriors.
6) Another Flyers-affiliated hockey team, the Philadelphia Flyers Warrior hockey club -- a team consisting of injured or disabled U.S. military veterans -- is preparing to play its first season. Brad Marsh, the Flyers director of community development and Flyers Alumni Association president, is involved the on-ice process at team practices. The Warrior team was officially launched during the Stadium Series week, with financial support from Flyers Charities and the NHL as well as the Flyers organization adopting the team as an officially endorsed affiliate).
In order to raise additional funding -- which is still needed -- the Warrior Hockey team has created a donation raffle in conjunction with the Flyers. The raffle drawing, for which a pair of full-season lower-level Flyers tickets (section 122) is the grand prize, will be held on Sept. 16. One raffle ticket entry costs $20, three entries are $50. For more information and a full list of prizes, see below:
— Philadelphia Flyers Warrior Hockey (@FlyersWarrior) July 15, 2019
7) Sadly, the last few days marked the in memoriam anniversaries of two Flyers-associated names. Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the passing of three-stint Flyers goaltender Ray Emery in a drowning accident in Hamilton, Ontario. He was 35 years old. July 14 was the 20-year anniversary of the passing of legendary broadcaster Gene Hart at the age of 68.
8) July 16 Flyers Alumni birthday: Jay Rosehill (1985).
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