RIMOUSKI ELIMINATED FROM MEMORIAL CUP
The QMJHL champion Rimouski Oceanic were eliminated from the 2015 Memorial Cup on Thursday after dropping a 5-2 decision to the tournament host and QMJHL runner-up Quebec Remparts.
In what was most likely the final game of his junior hockey career, Flyers 2013 first-round pick
Samuel Morin scored a power play goal early in the second period to tie the game at 1-1. Morin's slap shot through from the top of the right circle found the upper long side corner. For the game, Morin was minus-two at even strength (plus-one, minus-three) and had three shots on goal along with one credited hit.
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FLYERS SIGN FAZLEEV TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
The Flyers have signed 2014 sixth-round pick
Radel Fazleev to an entry-level contract. The 19-year-old Russian forward has spent the last two seasons in the Western Hockey League and is likely to play one additional season of junior hockey in 2015-16 before making the jump to the professional level.
Fazleev is an interesting prospect because he is a versatile forward. He can play wing or center and, at least at the junior level, has shown an ability to adapt to more of a defensive or offensive role as needed. His most likely pro role at this point would be as a bottom six forward --possibly as a fourth-line forward who gets a decent number of minutes at even strength and also kills penalties.
However, Fazleev's offensive development has also been steady and may have further upward potential before it levels off. A year ago, the forward was regarded as a much better passer than shooter. He worked hard on improving his shooting over the past year and scored 18 goals among his 51 points in 71 regular season games. Fazleev also showed aptitude in shootouts and breakaways. During the WHL playoffs, he had an outstanding first-round series en route to four goals and 14 points in 17 games.
Fazleev played on the Russian team at last August's WJC prep camps in Canada and Lake Placid, primarily in a fourth-line center role. However, he was omitted from the Subway Series roster and did not play in the World Junior Champions. That is a possibility for next season.
One of the things the Flyers organization likes best about Fazleev is his attitude.
"He exudes enthusiasm," Flyers scouting director Chris Pryor said in April. "Radel brings a very positive energy to everything he does. He's always got a smile on his face. He loves to come to the rink and he wants to learn. He's a responsible player without the puck -- and he's pretty good with it, too. He works hard to improve every aspect of his game, and we are happy with his progress."
A good case in point of what a quick study Fazleev is. When he first arrived in North America in the summer of 2013, he knew only a few words of English. Last September, attendees at the Flyers' rookie camp in September were amazed to learn that Fazleev had not been speaking English for most of his life: he was fluent and comfortable in English to a degree that is more commonly associated with young players from Sweden or Finland.
Fazleev, a native of Kazan, was originally a product of the Ak Bars development system. However, even before the collapse of the Russian economy severely reduced the "signability" question mark about whether Russian players (even ones in CHL leagues) would opt for the KHL over a potentially arduous road to the NHL via AHL development, Fazleev was adamant that he prefers the North American style of hockey. The Flyers were equally comfortable in drafting him.
One year later, Fazleev appears to be a pro track that could even lead to an NHL role at some point. His ability to play different positions and the potential to be a bottom-six mainstay or a perhaps even nice complementary piece in the right top-six combination (somewhat akin to
Michael Raffl) gives him more of a chance of making it than a more one-dimensional prospect who may have higher junior scoring numbers.
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WILL FLYERS HIRE MURRAY AS AN ASSISTANT COACH?
According to a Twitter post by CSN Philly/ HockeyBuzz writer Tim Panaccio, it appears that
Terry Murray has the inside track to be added to the assistant coaching staff of new Flyers head coach
Dake Hakstol. However, the Flyers have not officially confirmed this as of yet.
Apart from his spending the last three seasons as the head coach of the Adirondack/ Lehigh Valley Phantoms (for whom his contract is expired), Murray has extensive NHL head coaching and assistant coaching experience. In an assistant coaching capacity, he was of invaluable assistance as a mentor to former Flyers head coach
John Stevens after Stevens took over for
Ken Hitchcock.
At all levels of the game, and in either an assistant coaching or head coaching capacity, Murray is universally regarded within hockey circles as a premier "teaching coaching" with a knack for instilling structure and emphasizing reproducible results. In an assistant's capacity, he is not one to usurp the head coach or angle to take his job, which is sometimes the case with former head coaches who see an assistant's role as a temporary detour to another lead role. Murray practices what he preaches in terms of being professional and team-oriented.
As such, it would not be a surprise at all if Hakstol and Hextall handpick Murray to be the new head coach's right hand man as the longtime University of North Dakota coach acclimates himself to the NHL. The fact that Murray has been working the last few years with prospects in the Flyers pipeline also bolsters his candidacy.
At age 64 (Murray turns 65 in July), "Murph's" opportunities for one final kick at the can as an NHL head coach may be dwindling. But he still has a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer and there are few coaches who are his peer when it comes to being a teacher in practice settings and game preparation. The salt-and-pepper hair may be almost all salt these days but Murray could still teach a lot of younger hot shot coaches a thing or two.
The only things potentially lacking from Murray's candidacy -- but these are not deal-breakers -- are that he's not an ideal "good cop" type ala the late
E.J. McGuire to soothe players after a tongue-lashing from the head coach and he's not a former forward. Murray is generally soft-spoken but he's a very demanding type who stays a bit personally detached from his players (although many realize later on how much he truly cares and pulls for their success even after he's longer coaching them).
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FLYERS ALUMNI FANTASY HOCKEY CAMP
The Flyers Alumni will host a fantasy hockey camp from August 21-24 in Atlantic City, open to anyone age 21 and older. Instructors and Alumni participants will include
Bernie Parent,
Brian Propp,
Ian Laperriere,
Todd Fedoruk,
Andre "Moose" Dupont,
Dave "the Hammer" Schultz,
Joe Watson and
Bob "the Hound" Kelly.
The registration deadline is June 1. Participation costs $3,000 apiece but it is free to
register a spot online. Over on the Flyers' Alumni website, there is
more information on camp-related activities and on-ice schedules.
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