Quick Hits: August 31, 2023
1) Congratulations go out to Brian Boucher. Boosh, who has become an accomplished hockey broadcast analyst since his retirement as a player, has been hired as a lead national broadcast analyst for TNT. He will replace Keith Jones, who stepped down from his broadcasting role to assume President of Hockey Operations duties for the Flyers.
2) The Flyers will appear in 12 nationally televised or streamed (via ESPN+/Hulu) broadcasts during the 2023-24 season. Six games will "stream only" (non-televised) broadcasts. The schedule and networks are as follows:
Thurs., Oct. 19 vs Edmonton 7:30 p.m. ESPN+/Hulu
Tue., Oct. 24 @ Vegas 11 p.m. ESPN, ESPN+
Thurs., Oct. 26 vs. Minnesota 7:30 p.m. ESPN+/Hulu
Wed., Nov. 1 vs. Buffalo 7 p.m. TNT
Wed., Nov. 15 @ Carolina 7:30 p.m. TNT
Tue., Nov. 28 vs. Carolina 7:30 p.m. ESPN+/Hulu
Sat., Feb. 10 vs. Seattle 7 p.m. ESPN+/Hulu
Sat., Feb. 17 @ New Jersey 8 p.m. ABC, ESPN+ (Stadium Series, MetLife Stadium)
Wed., Feb. 21 @ Chicago 7:30 p.m. TNT
Sat., Feb. 24 vs. NY Rangers 3 p.m. ESPN+/Hulu
Sun., Feb. 25 @ Pittsburgh 3:30 p.m. TNT
Mon., March 4 vs. St. Louis 7:30 p.m. ESPN+/Hulu
3) On Sunday, Jason Myrtetus and I will record the next installment of "Mondays with Meltzer"
for the Flyers Daily podcast on the Flyers Broadcast Network. The topic: Most underrated players in Flyers history. I'm looking forward to hearing Jason's list and discussing mine. Should make for some fun hockey talk for the first Monday in September. Thereafter, we'll FINALLY be able to turn our attention to training camp. It's been a long offseason!
I've debated whether to reveal my list ahead of the podcast recording. I decided to go ahead and post it here, because the fun part is in the discussion/debate more than the list itself.
G: Pete Peeters
D: Jimmy Watson
D: Bob Dailey
LW: Ross Lonsberry
C: Pelle Eklund
RW: Ilkka Sinisalo
On the most recent edition of Flyers Daily, Jason talks about what would constitute "progress" in the 2023-24 season compared to last season. To listen to the 12-minute program,
click here.
4) Today in Flyers History: August 31
* 1978: Flyers Hall of Fame defenseman Joe Watson's playing career in Philadelphia comes to an end. After signing Watson to a contract extension with a small raise for the 1978-79 season, the Flyers sold the player's contract to the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 31, 1978. This was not a surprise to Watson. General manager Keith Allen gave the veteran player a choice between staying on as the No. 7 defenseman or being moved to a team where he could see more playing time.
Watson, who was 35 years old at the time, said he preferred playing regularly to being a part-time player. Allen asked Watson where he'd like to go. Watson said his first choice was the Colorado Rockies (maximum playing time, the potential of being a mentor to a young team and, off the ice, the opportunity for skier to hit the slopes regularly). His second choice was the Pittsburgh Penguins (several former Flyers teammates, leadership opportunities). However, Watson left the decision up to Allen, saying that if the organization preferred that he finish up his career as a depth option with the Flyers, he'd do so with no complaints.
A few weeks later, Watson's contract was sold to the Rockies, for whom he served as team captain before suffering a career-ending leg injury in the 16th game of the 1978-79 season. After a lengthy hospitalization (Watson's leg had more than a dozen fractures), Watson returned to work for the Flyers. Between 1979 and his retirement in 2021, Watson variously served as an advanced scout, a part-time assistant coach and training camp instructor, and then a longtime ticket sales and advertising sales executive.
Watson, an original Flyer who suited up for the team from 1967-68 to 1977-78, was a two-time NHL All-Star Game selection (1973-74, 1976-77) and won two Stanley Cups during his playing career with the Flyers. Only Chris Therien suited up in more games for the Flyers among all defensemen who played for the team.
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