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Quick Hits: Konecny, TIFH |
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Quick Hits: August 15, 2024
1) As part of NHL Network's "Top 20 Right Now" series, Flyers forward Travis Konency was selected as number 20 on the wingers list. No distinction is made between left or right wing for purposes of this list, as quite a few players see time on either wing over the course of a season.
The top 20 wingers list on the network was as follows:
1. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
3. Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche
4. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
5. Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
6. Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
7. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild
8. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
9. Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
10. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
11. Zach Hyman, Edmonton Oilers
12. Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
13. Steven Stamkos, Nashville Predators
14. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
15. Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
16. Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
17. Clayton Keller, Utah Hockey Club
18. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
19. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
20. Travis Konecny, Flyers
No Flyers centers, defensemen, or goaltenders are likely to rank on the Best of the NHL Countdown series this year.
2) Today in Flyers History: August 15
1972: The Flyers sign undrafted rookie free agent Orest Kindrachuk to an NHL contract. Kindrachuk, who was a junior standout for the Saskatoon Blades, had initially planned to pursue a medical career as a doctor of optometry and enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan. As a result he went undrafted.
After posting 149 points in 61 games for Saskatoon, he stayed with hockey and parlayed a strong minor league season for the San Diego Gulls into an NHL offer from the Flyers. A life as "Dr. Kindrachuk" was put aside and he went on post 379 points in 507 NHL regular season games as an underrated third-line center. Kindrachuk won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Flyers in 1973-74 and 1974-75. Slotted behind Bobby Clarke and Rick MacLeish in the depth chart, Kindrachuk quietly posted a career-high 75 points in 76 games during the 1975-76 season.
Kindrachuk was unofficially the "most nicknamed player" in Flyers history. Primarily called "O" or "Little O", he also went by the Sesame Street inspired "Ernie" (for his shock of dark hair) or "Grouch" (for his reputation for griping about little annoyances), "Chuck" or "Chuckles" (from the Ukrainian -chuk suffix in his last name), "Chico" for his passing rememblance at the time to actor Freddie Prinze of Chico and the Man, or sometimes even "Russ" (short for "Walrus" for his thick mustache).
2012: In one of best bang-for-the-buck contracts in Flyers history, the Flyers sign Wayne Simmonds to a six-year extension at a $4 million cap hit. During the life of the contract, Simmonds goes on to have four straight seasons of 28-plus goals (including back-to-back years of 32 and 31 talles). Simmonds wins the Bobby Clarke Trophy as Flyers MVP in 2016-17.
As a Flyer, Simmonds posts 204 goals, 378 points and 784 penalty minutes in 584 games during the regular season. His biggest playoff highlight came in 2014 when he racked up a hat trick in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal against the Rangers. Simmonds' clutch performance forced a seventh and deciding game. Overall, he had five goals and 15 points in 30 playoff matches as a Flyer.
3. August 15 Flyers Alumni birthdays: Martin Biron (1977), Jim Cunningham (1956-2011), Oskar Lindblom (1996), Craig MacTavish (1958), Jakub Vorack (1989).
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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