Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Provorov, Niskanen, Giroux, PK, Alumni and More

Good stuff as usual. Hoping this team plays its best hockey and makes it to Edmonton

Bill,

Just a couple of questions...

1. are the players allowed to attend the other games? you would think since they are already in the bubble, that they would at least open up the arena to them to watch. I noticed the seats were all covered during the exhibition game, so maybe not..

2. just as a matter of interest, I love seeing Briere and Hartnell participating in the Flyers Alumni events. they both were such a big part of the Flyers during thier playing days, but I'm curious as to whether they also participate in events held by their other former teams.

Bill,

Just a couple of questions...

1. are the players allowed to attend the other games? you would think since they are already in the bubble, that they would at least open up the arena to them to watch. I noticed the seats were all covered during the exhibition game, so maybe not..

2. just as a matter of interest, I love seeing Briere and Hartnell participating in the Flyers Alumni events. they both were such a big part of the Flyers during thier playing days, but I'm curious as to whether they also participate in events held by their other former teams.
- sleepy_floyd

1) Yes, as far as I know, players who aren't in the lineup are allowed to be in the building. Have to wear masks, etc.

2) Danny still lives in this area, so most of his Alumni activities are with the Flyers Alumni. I think he does a few Sabres Alumni events, as well, but primarily the Flyers Alumni Association. Hartnell has moved back to this area within the last year or two, so he's getting more and more active. I know he's done a few things with the NHL Alumni Association. I don't think the Predators or Blue Jackets have a formal Alumni Assn as of yet, but I could be wrong. Pronger doesn't do much with the Flyers Alumni because he doesn't live here anymore, but he may do more in the future. Looked like he had a good time last night.

Bill...

Obviously as a Flyers fan, I'm biased and more into Flyers specific coverage... but can you speak to the "loyalty" factor of former players to the organization and Ed Snider specifically. I have always been amazed at the level of commitment Flyers Alum have to coming back and participating in events...again...especially the ones with Ed's name attached. I know other teams do it too and are successful, I've always just felt the Flyers have just been a step above... would you agree?? And if so... any thoughts on what "it" is that puts them over the top?

Thanks Bill! I really liked Provy’s response about his ranking. He didn’t sound arrogant or anything, just matter of fact! He realizes in the big picture that being on someone’s “list” who probably never played the game doesn’t matter. As for the game, I liked how the boys played for the most part. The PK was solid, the breakouts looked mostly clean and the overall competition level seemed to be solid as well. I’m curious to see how the physical play will be as the games move along without the fans being able to help jack up the intensity! Let’s Go Flyers!

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Provorov, Niskanen, Giroux, PK, Alumni and More
- bmeltzer

Does anyone know how the round Robin personal stats for players will show up on their resume? Are they regular season stats? Are the playoff stats?

Does anyone know how the round Robin personal stats for players will show up on their resume? Are they regular season stats? Are the playoff stats?
- SuperSchennBros

Would think they won’t show up anywhere, it’s not the regular season and it’s not the playoffs. Maybe they have another line in their hockey DB for 2020 round robin but I highly doubt it counts towards anything.

Bill,

Just a couple of questions...

1. are the players allowed to attend the other games? you would think since they are already in the bubble, that they would at least open up the arena to them to watch. I noticed the seats were all covered during the exhibition game, so maybe not..

2. just as a matter of interest, I love seeing Briere and Hartnell participating in the Flyers Alumni events. they both were such a big part of the Flyers during thier playing days, but I'm curious as to whether they also participate in events held by their other former teams.
- sleepy_floyd

I think you were asking about Flyers attending other teams games.
Here is excerpt from Zamula's interview to Russian media site about the bubble:

How does Philadelphia live in this bubble - an isolated space in Toronto?
- The team arrived at the airport in Philadelphia, where we were tested. We took off at 10 am, arrived to Toronto, got on the bus. We were taken to the hotel. We had lunch, had rest, had dinner with the whole team.
The next day was practice. The hotel is arranged as follows: three floors for "Philadelphia", three floors for "Boston", three floors for "Washington", three floors for "Pittsburgh". The hotel has 29 floors. No one is in contact with anyone, everyone has a different schedule. A maximum of four people can ride the elevator. But there are eight elevators.
When you enter the hotel, you need to answer a few questions. "How do you feel? Can you smell? Do you have fever? " The form is being filled in, and a bar code is scanned into a phone. We have been tested every day, actually every 12 hours either at the hotel or in the arena - they take a swab from your nose.
- Where do you eat?
- Breakfast and lunch are served in our rooms. Our chefs are provided by the hotel. Other teams do the same. And we have dinner in the lobby in a large restaurant, which is divided into four sections, and even there you do not contact the players from the other team.
- Do you have any entertainment?
- Four large tennis courts. Mini basketball, regular basketball. Billiards, table tennis, golf. There is a “rapid shot” machine and, a large gym. All conditions for us not just to be lazy in the hotel, but to be able to move around, spin the exercise bike.
So I saw that Crosby played tennis all day before our game. It turns out that this was a warm-up for him. Vanya Provorov and I were shooting hoops.
- Could you have played tennis with Crosby?
- We were told not to contact others, because the team will be fined. We can say hello to our rivals, if we know them, but we walk in our groups, we must keep it safe.
- What are the arrangements in the hotel?
- Everyone lives in a room alone. Nice rooms with great views. Very nice hotel. There are greenery and flowers everywhere, there are places to relax or to take a walk. The NHL has created great conditions for us. Just a few minutes ago we were sitting with the guys on the 29th floor, there is an open air theater there with a large TV. We just talked and watched Montreal – Toronto game.
I posted the full translation on Flyers HFB

I think you were asking about Flyers attending other teams games.
Here is excerpt from Zamula's interview to Russian media site about the bubble:

How does Philadelphia live in this bubble - an isolated space in Toronto?
- The team arrived at the airport in Philadelphia, where we were tested. We took off at 10 am, arrived to Toronto, got on the bus. We were taken to the hotel. We had lunch, had rest, had dinner with the whole team.
The next day was practice. The hotel is arranged as follows: three floors for "Philadelphia", three floors for "Boston", three floors for "Washington", three floors for "Pittsburgh". The hotel has 29 floors. No one is in contact with anyone, everyone has a different schedule. A maximum of four people can ride the elevator. But there are eight elevators.
When you enter the hotel, you need to answer a few questions. "How do you feel? Can you smell? Do you have fever? " The form is being filled in, and a bar code is scanned into a phone. We have been tested every day, actually every 12 hours either at the hotel or in the arena - they take a swab from your nose.
- Where do you eat?
- Breakfast and lunch are served in our rooms. Our chefs are provided by the hotel. Other teams do the same. And we have dinner in the lobby in a large restaurant, which is divided into four sections, and even there you do not contact the players from the other team.
- Do you have any entertainment?
- Four large tennis courts. Mini basketball, regular basketball. Billiards, table tennis, golf. There is a “rapid shot” machine and, a large gym. All conditions for us not just to be lazy in the hotel, but to be able to move around, spin the exercise bike.
So I saw that Crosby played tennis all day before our game. It turns out that this was a warm-up for him. Vanya Provorov and I were shooting hoops.
- Could you have played tennis with Crosby?
- We were told not to contact others, because the team will be fined. We can say hello to our rivals, if we know them, but we walk in our groups, we must keep it safe.
- What are the arrangements in the hotel?
- Everyone lives in a room alone. Nice rooms with great views. Very nice hotel. There are greenery and flowers everywhere, there are places to relax or to take a walk. The NHL has created great conditions for us. Just a few minutes ago we were sitting with the guys on the 29th floor, there is an open air theater there with a large TV. We just talked and watched Montreal – Toronto game.
I posted the full translation on Flyers HFB
- missingmike

Extremely informative, thank you.

I think you were asking about Flyers attending other teams games.
Here is excerpt from Zamula's interview to Russian media site about the bubble:

How does Philadelphia live in this bubble - an isolated space in Toronto?
- The team arrived at the airport in Philadelphia, where we were tested. We took off at 10 am, arrived to Toronto, got on the bus. We were taken to the hotel. We had lunch, had rest, had dinner with the whole team.
The next day was practice. The hotel is arranged as follows: three floors for "Philadelphia", three floors for "Boston", three floors for "Washington", three floors for "Pittsburgh". The hotel has 29 floors. No one is in contact with anyone, everyone has a different schedule. A maximum of four people can ride the elevator. But there are eight elevators.
When you enter the hotel, you need to answer a few questions. "How do you feel? Can you smell? Do you have fever? " The form is being filled in, and a bar code is scanned into a phone. We have been tested every day, actually every 12 hours either at the hotel or in the arena - they take a swab from your nose.
- Where do you eat?
- Breakfast and lunch are served in our rooms. Our chefs are provided by the hotel. Other teams do the same. And we have dinner in the lobby in a large restaurant, which is divided into four sections, and even there you do not contact the players from the other team.
- Do you have any entertainment?
- Four large tennis courts. Mini basketball, regular basketball. Billiards, table tennis, golf. There is a “rapid shot” machine and, a large gym. All conditions for us not just to be lazy in the hotel, but to be able to move around, spin the exercise bike.
So I saw that Crosby played tennis all day before our game. It turns out that this was a warm-up for him. Vanya Provorov and I were shooting hoops.
- Could you have played tennis with Crosby?
- We were told not to contact others, because the team will be fined. We can say hello to our rivals, if we know them, but we walk in our groups, we must keep it safe.
- What are the arrangements in the hotel?
- Everyone lives in a room alone. Nice rooms with great views. Very nice hotel. There are greenery and flowers everywhere, there are places to relax or to take a walk. The NHL has created great conditions for us. Just a few minutes ago we were sitting with the guys on the 29th floor, there is an open air theater there with a large TV. We just talked and watched Montreal – Toronto game.
I posted the full translation on Flyers HFB
- missingmike

Thank you!

Does anyone know how the round Robin personal stats for players will show up on their resume? Are they regular season stats? Are the playoff stats?
- SuperSchennBros

Round-robin stats will show up as playoff stats.

Does anyone know how the round Robin personal stats for players will show up on their resume? Are they regular season stats? Are the playoff stats?
- SuperSchennBros

The NHL declared the regular season to be over. All player and individual stats,including play-in and round-robin, will count towards 2020 " post-season" stats.

Would think they won’t show up anywhere, it’s not the regular season and it’s not the playoffs. Maybe they have another line in their hockey DB for 2020 round robin but I highly doubt it counts towards anything.
- ClaudeFather

See above. Will count within playoff stats. Officially, the round-robin is considered tantamount to the best-of-fives for conference quarterfinal qualification, even though it's "only" 1-4 seeding at stake and there are different rules (regular season-style OT and shootout) in the RR than in the best-of-fives.

See above. Will count within playoff stats. Officially, the round-robin is considered tantamount to the best-of-fives for conference quarterfinal qualification, even though it's "only" 1-4 seeding at stake and there are different rules (regular season-style OT and shootout) in the RR than in the best-of-fives.
- bmeltzer

So hypothetically there could be the most playoffs game ever played for the cup champion this year

The regular season stats are final. not sure how these will be documented

The regular season stats are final. not sure how these will be documented
- KINGKENZO

https://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-41095158-4

Bill...

Obviously as a Flyers fan, I'm biased and more into Flyers specific coverage... but can you speak to the "loyalty" factor of former players to the organization and Ed Snider specifically. I have always been amazed at the level of commitment Flyers Alum have to coming back and participating in events...again...especially the ones with Ed's name attached. I know other teams do it too and are successful, I've always just felt the Flyers have just been a step above... would you agree?? And if so... any thoughts on what "it" is that puts them over the top?
- wcrogers78

I have asked that various Alumni and they all have stories to share.

One of my favorite stories is this one: An Alum's dad, who never had much money and was a working man who didn't own a suit was invited by Mr. Snider to sit in his private suite at a game. The dad was too proud to accept either his son's or Mr. Snider's offer to buy him a suit (Mr. Snider offered to have it tailored, too). Mr. Snider said that he'd take no for an answer on one condition -- that the dad come to the game, anyway. Ed Snider wore casual clothes to the game that afternoon, so the guy's dad wouldn't feel embarrassed or out of place.


Many Flyers Alum talk about how the Sniders -- and this really started with Ed's first wife, Myrna -- treated their wives and children like part of the "Flyers family." There's a great photo of Ed Snider, at a team Christmas party, holding Don and Mary Anne Saleski's baby. Even smaller things, like knowing everyone's name, and their wife and kids names were not lost on the players' families.

Some Flyers have said that the team always went first-class on well-stocked training facilities relative to whatever era they played. Mark Howe, for example, said he couldn't believe the difference between the facilities the Flyers had versus what the Hartford Whalers players had to make suffice. The Flyers were also one of the first to have team-employed physical therapists, strength-and-conditioning coaches (Pat Croce was a key pioneer).

Things such as the way the Sniders treated the Alumni and current players if they needed tickets to a game -- the only question was "how many?".

The way that franchise icons basically had jobs for life in the organization after their careers was something very important to Ed Snider.

Again, little things: The Flyers Archives (when it was on-site) had thousands of photos of every player in franchise history, including scores of off-ice and family photos from team events. A player or Alum need only make an appointment and it was there for their perusal. No one with Flyers ties was ever charged for personal prints.

Above all else, though, the Alumni KNEW that Ed Snider was deeply invested emotionally in the team winning. He'd rage at referee's calls. He'd be up all night stewing over a tough loss. He'd come down to the room, as would Jay during his tenure as team chairman. The team would also try its damndest every year to put out a contending team.

Pre-Comcast, the Flyers were not the biggest contract spenders in the league, although the Sniders (and Tobins, and Joe Scott, Fitz Dixon, etc) would do what was needed if there was a chance to bring in a star/projected star. In fact, Clarkie held down other players' contracts because he never really cared whether he was one of the highest paid players in the league (and if a 3-time Hart Trophy winner didn't care, no one else was expected to quibble, either).

So it was really all those other personal touches -- plus the chance to be surrounded by great people ranging from the same devoted equipment/training staff guys, Joe Kadlec then Zack Hill or office staff like Celie Baker or worked there for years and years and always went the extra mile on their behalf -- that's why players loved it here.

Nowadays, since Mr. Snider's passing, things are much more corporate. But Chuck Fletcher understands some of those little touches -- such as sending flowers on behalf of the team to all the players' wives and girlfriends as a thank you for their sacrifices to allow the players to live in the Bubble; have a big collage of family photos, with every player included, on display in the Bubble for players to see -- that existed most of the team's history.

There are not many things that Ron Hextall would have done differently about his GM tenure; for better or for worse. But one thing he's said that he wished he could do over was what happened on the day/night of the 50th Anniversary Game.

The Flyers were in Boston that day. Even so, Hexy closed off the current team's locker room to the Alumni Team, which meant that the likes of Clarke, Barber, Leach, Howe, Kerr, Propp, Poulin, Lindros, LeClair, Renberg, Desjardins, Briere, Timonen and a host of others had to get dressed for the game in the side locker rooms that the post-game rec hockey teams use.

That was a very un-Flyers like decision. It caused resentment of Ron, along with other decisions (the end of the longstanding open-door policy for Alumni; who never got an invite to see the new training center in Voorhees, while the media, including me, got the grand tour at Comcast-Spectacor initiative to show off the results of their major renovation project).

I am happy to say, though, that the rift has largely been mended. Ron gladly took part in the first "Alumni Decades" show, which spotlighted the 1986-87 season, and I know they want him back for future Alumni events if he's available.

Families fight, sometimes heatedly. But they usually come back together eventually.

Hell, even Eric Lindros is employed as a Flyers ambassador now (a very well-compensated one, at that) and has played in various Alumni games.

Great Information! thanks for sharing this..

I think you were asking about Flyers attending other teams games.
Here is excerpt from Zamula's interview to Russian media site about the bubble:

How does Philadelphia live in this bubble - an isolated space in Toronto?
- The team arrived at the airport in Philadelphia, where we were tested. We took off at 10 am, arrived to Toronto, got on the bus. We were taken to the hotel. We had lunch, had rest, had dinner with the whole team.
The next day was practice. The hotel is arranged as follows: three floors for "Philadelphia", three floors for "Boston", three floors for "Washington", three floors for "Pittsburgh". The hotel has 29 floors. No one is in contact with anyone, everyone has a different schedule. A maximum of four people can ride the elevator. But there are eight elevators.
When you enter the hotel, you need to answer a few questions. "How do you feel? Can you smell? Do you have fever? " The form is being filled in, and a bar code is scanned into a phone. We have been tested every day, actually every 12 hours either at the hotel or in the arena - they take a swab from your nose.
- Where do you eat?
- Breakfast and lunch are served in our rooms. Our chefs are provided by the hotel. Other teams do the same. And we have dinner in the lobby in a large restaurant, which is divided into four sections, and even there you do not contact the players from the other team.
- Do you have any entertainment?
- Four large tennis courts. Mini basketball, regular basketball. Billiards, table tennis, golf. There is a “rapid shot” machine and, a large gym. All conditions for us not just to be lazy in the hotel, but to be able to move around, spin the exercise bike.
So I saw that Crosby played tennis all day before our game. It turns out that this was a warm-up for him. Vanya Provorov and I were shooting hoops.
- Could you have played tennis with Crosby?
- We were told not to contact others, because the team will be fined. We can say hello to our rivals, if we know them, but we walk in our groups, we must keep it safe.
- What are the arrangements in the hotel?
- Everyone lives in a room alone. Nice rooms with great views. Very nice hotel. There are greenery and flowers everywhere, there are places to relax or to take a walk. The NHL has created great conditions for us. Just a few minutes ago we were sitting with the guys on the 29th floor, there is an open air theater there with a large TV. We just talked and watched Montreal – Toronto game.
I posted the full translation on Flyers HFB
- missingmike

I have asked that various Alumni and they all have stories to share.

One of my favorite stories is this one: An Alum's dad, who never had much money and was a working man who didn't own a suit was invited by Mr. Snider to sit in his private suite at a game. The dad was too proud to accept either his son's or Mr. Snider's offer to buy him a suit (Mr. Snider offered to have it tailored, too). Mr. Snider said that he'd take no for an answer on one condition -- that the dad come to the game, anyway. Ed Snider wore casual clothes to the game that afternoon, so the guy's dad wouldn't feel embarrassed or out of place.


Many Flyers Alum talk about how the Sniders -- and this really started with Ed's first wife, Myrna -- treated their wives and children like part of the "Flyers family." There's a great photo of Ed Snider, at a team Christmas party, holding Don and Mary Anne Saleski's baby. Even smaller things, like knowing everyone's name, and their wife and kids names were not lost on the players' families.

Some Flyers have said that the team always went first-class on well-stocked training facilities relative to whatever era they played. Mark Howe, for example, said he couldn't believe the difference between the facilities the Flyers had versus what the Hartford Whalers players had to make suffice. The Flyers were also one of the first to have team-employed physical therapists, strength-and-conditioning coaches (Pat Croce was a key pioneer).

Things such as the way the Sniders treated the Alumni and current players if they needed tickets to a game -- the only question was "how many?".

The way that franchise icons basically had jobs for life in the organization after their careers was something very important to Ed Snider.

Again, little things: The Flyers Archives (when it was on-site) had thousands of photos of every player in franchise history, including scores of off-ice and family photos from team events. A player or Alum need only make an appointment and it was there for their perusal. No one with Flyers ties was ever charged for personal prints.

Above all else, though, the Alumni KNEW that Ed Snider was deeply invested emotionally in the team winning. He'd rage at referee's calls. He'd be up all night stewing over a tough loss. He'd come down to the room, as would Jay during his tenure as team chairman. The team would also try its damndest every year to put out a contending team.

Pre-Comcast, the Flyers were not the biggest contract spenders in the league, although the Sniders (and Tobins, and Joe Scott, Fitz Dixon, etc) would do what was needed if there was a chance to bring in a star/projected star. In fact, Clarkie held down other players' contracts because he never really cared whether he was one of the highest paid players in the league (and if a 3-time Hart Trophy winner didn't care, no one else was expected to quibble, either).

So it was really all those other personal touches -- plus the chance to be surrounded by great people ranging from the same devoted equipment/training staff guys, Joe Kadlec then Zack Hill or office staff like Celie Baker or worked there for years and years and always went the extra mile on their behalf -- that's why players loved it here.

Nowadays, since Mr. Snider's passing, things are much more corporate. But Chuck Fletcher understands some of those little touches -- such as sending flowers on behalf of the team to all the players' wives and girlfriends as a thank you for their sacrifices to allow the players to live in the Bubble; have a big collage of family photos, with every player included, on display in the Bubble for players to see -- that existed most of the team's history.

There are not many things that Ron Hextall would have done differently about his GM tenure; for better or for worse. But one thing he's said that he wished he could do over was what happened on the day/night of the 50th Anniversary Game.

The Flyers were in Boston that day. Even so, Hexy closed off the current team's locker room to the Alumni Team, which meant that the likes of Clarke, Barber, Leach, Howe, Kerr, Propp, Poulin, Lindros, LeClair, Renberg, Desjardins, Briere, Timonen and a host of others had to get dressed for the game in the side locker rooms that the post-game rec hockey teams use.

That was a very un-Flyers like decision. It caused resentment of Ron, along with other decisions (the end of the longstanding open-door policy for Alumni; who never got an invite to see the new training center in Voorhees, while the media, including me, got the grand tour at Comcast-Spectacor initiative to show off the results of their major renovation project).

I am happy to say, though, that the rift has largely been mended. Ron gladly took part in the first "Alumni Decades" show, which spotlighted the 1986-87 season, and I know they want him back for future Alumni events if he's available.

Families fight, sometimes heatedly. But they usually come back together eventually.

Hell, even Eric Lindros is employed as a Flyers ambassador now (a very well-compensated one, at that) and has played in various Alumni games.
- bmeltzer

The "Family" setting is one of the reasons I loved the Flyers from the beginning. The last 5 years has seen some of that go away. That has been disappointing. Definitely a corporate vibe. Going to games became less interesting for me.

I hope after the pandemic that changes.

Bill,

I think you're skipping over the questions we all want answered... Where's Gritty? Is he in the bubble?? Does he have the covid? Can he attend games??? If he does, will he be wearing a mask?

Bill,

I think you're skipping over the questions we all want answered... Where's Gritty? Is he in the bubble?? Does he have the covid? Can he attend games??? If he does, will he be wearing a mask?
- leon neon

Not Bill, but..

https://www.nbcphiladelph...billboard-flyers/2483333/

Bill (or anyone),

Mentioning Lindros and mending fences got me thinking: what ever happened with Lindros' defamation of character lawsuit? That was like 5 years ago and I never heard how it ended. Just curious.

Not Bill, but..

https://www.nbcphiladelph...billboard-flyers/2483333/
- missingmike

"Hockey is back.
People still think I'm creepy.
I haven't blinked in 2 years.
Life is good."

The "Family" setting is one of the reasons I loved the Flyers from the beginning. The last 5 years has seen some of that go away. That has been disappointing. Definitely a corporate vibe. Going to games became less interesting for me.

I hope after the pandemic that changes.
- mickel25

Agree! Mr. Snider always got flak for hiring former Flyers and such. I always loved that about him! I believe the only outsider he hired for a major job was Farwell. We all knew that with his passing and Comcast taking over that all that family stuff he did would never be the same. It’s up to Homer, Clarke and those types to continue to keep that Flyer spirit alive!