Quick Hits: Aug. 20, 2021
1) Back on July 19, the
Flyers hired Darryl Williams as an assistant coach, filling the vacancy left when Ian Laperriere transferred from being a Flyers assistant to the head coach of the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Williams and Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault have a lengthy history of working together. In fact, the Flyers will be the third NHL organization for whom they've collaborated. Williams served as an assistant coach and video coach for the Vancouver Canucks from 2008-09 to 2012-13. After Vigneault's departure from the Canucks, Williams remained with the Canucks for one additional season as the video coach under head coach John Tortorella. Thereafter, he rejoined Vigneault with the New York Rangers as an assistant coach for the duration of AV's New York term through the end of the 2017-18 season.
In the Friday edition of Flyers Daily, Williams talks about his working relationship with Vigneault. The 53-year-old, who has extensive head and assistant coaching experience at various levels after an 11-season professional playing career, also discusses the changes in the game over the years and the ways that today's players are similar and different than from when he played and first started coaching.
To listen,
click here.
2) Today is the opening day of the Flyers Alumni's annual Fantasy Camp; one of the organization's signature fundraising events. As has been the case every year of its existence, the camp is sold out. Originally held in Atlantic City, 2021 is the second year that the camp will take place in and around the Class of 1923 Arena at the University of Pennsylvania. Today is gear drop-off and registration day. In the evening, there will be a welcome party at the Trophy Room inside the Fitler Club on S. 24th St, followed by an afterparty at the Drafting Room located on the second floor of The Study. Games begin on the ice at Class of 1923 Arena tomorrow. There will be four team practices (45 minutes apiece), followed by the first two games of the Flyers Alumni Fantasy Cup tournament.
3) Today in Flyers History: Three major trades in Flyers history happened on Aug 20, spread across a span of 19 years.
* Aug. 20, 1982: The Flyers acquired defenseman Mark Howe from the Hartford Whalers in exchange for Ken Linseman and Greg Adams. There were also draft picks exchanged in the blockbuster deal with the Flyers sending 1983 first-round (David Jensen) and third-round (Leif Karlsson) selections to the Whalers and receiving a 1983 third-round (Derrick Smith) puck. The Whalers immediately flipped Linseman to the Edmonton Oilers for Risto Siltanen and prospect Brent Loney.
* Aug. 20, 1997: The financially strapped Tampa Bay Lightning declined to match the Flyers' offer sheet on restricted free agent center Chris Gratton (five years, $16.5 million with $9 million front-loaded into the first year). In return, the Lightning received the Flyers' first round picks in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 first-round picks as compensation. The draft picks were then immediately returned to the Flyers in a trade for Mikael Renberg and Karl Dykhuis.
* Aug. 20, 2001: After sitting out the 2000-01 season as an unsigned restricted agent while demanding a trade, Eric Lindros was traded to the New York Rangers. In return, the Flyers received defenseman Kim Johnsson, winger Jan Hlavac, prospect Pavel Brendl and a 2003 third-round pick (Stefan Ruzicka).
4) Aug. 20 Flyers Alumni birthdays: Shawn Cronin (1963), Pat Murray (1969).
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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