Bill Meltzer: Flyers Camp Schedule and Preview

Thanks for the write-up on Orest Kindrachuk, Bill. Good stuff!

I'm not old enough to remember seeing the Flyers Cup winners play, and that includes Orest Kindrachuk. However, right after the Phillies won the WS in 2008, I read an article in which the author likened Shane Victorino's contribution to the Phils to O's contribution to those Flyers teams. Do the readers agree / disagree?

I'm not old enough to remember seeing the Flyers Cup winners play, and that includes Orest Kindrachuk. However, right after the Phillies won the WS in 2008, I read an article in which the author likened Shane Victorino's contribution to the Phils to O's contribution to those Flyers teams. Do the readers agree / disagree?
- copelal

I can see that. Maybe not a central focus player but a very important mainstay on the roster.

Nice story on Orest Kindrachuk. It's nice for some of us older fans to be reminded of who and what our former players were like.

Orest Kindrachuck was one of my favorite Flyers growing up. In fact this 1977 player card is one of my all time favorites!



I was bummed when he was traded to Pittsburgh, not sure why the Flyers did that.

Kindrachuck centering Schultz and Saleski. They don’t make NHL lines like that anymore. Man that was a fun team to watch.

Orest Kindrachuck was one of my favorite Flyers growing up. In fact this 1977 player card is one of my all time favorites!



I was bummed when he was traded to Pittsburgh, not sure why the Flyers did that.
- jd250

Short answer: With Fred Shero departing for the Rangers, Keith Allen wanted to remake the roster to some degree. The NHL Amateur Draft was on June 15, 1978. One day earlier, the Penguins offered the Flyers the 6th overall pick of the draft in exchange for Kindrachuk, Bladon and the aging Ross Lonsberry. The Flyers had already obtained the 7th overall pick from the Rangers as compensation to settle a pending tampering complaint filed with the NHL over New York hiring Shero as their coach and GM without permission from the Flyers while Shero still had a year to go on his Flyers contract.

The Flyers took Behn Wilson and Ken Linseman with the two picks. Remember that the Flyers were deep down the middle -- Clarke, MacLeish, Bridgman -- even without Kindrachuk and they were trying secretly to get the Stastny brothers to defect and join the Flyers. Wilson was NHL ready off the bat to join the Flyers' defense corps.

That same offseason, Keith Allen offered Joe Watson the choice of staying put as a depth defenseman playing an estimated 25 to 35 games or being traded to a team of his choosing if something could be worked out. He chose the Colorado Rockies, because he'd have a chance to still be a regular.

Flyers goal song should be.........

The opening riff from Freedom by RATM.

If they can afford it, it is straight adrenaline.

Did th GM have anything to say about the "young" players beating out the vets?

Short answer: With Fred Shero departing for the Rangers, Keith Allen wanted to remake the roster to some degree. The NHL Amateur Draft was on June 15, 1978. One day earlier, the Penguins offered the Flyers the 6th overall pick of the draft in exchange for Kindrachuk, Bladon and the aging Ross Lonsberry. The Flyers had already obtained the 7th overall pick from the Rangers as compensation to settle a pending tampering complaint filed with the NHL over New York hiring Shero as their coach and GM without permission from the Flyers while Shero still had a year to go on his Flyers contract.

The Flyers took Behn Wilson and Ken Linseman with the two picks. Remember that the Flyers were deep down the middle -- Clarke, MacLeish, Bridgman -- even without Kindrachuk and they were trying secretly to get the Stastny brothers to defect and join the Flyers. Wilson was NHL ready off the bat to join the Flyers' defense corps.

That same offseason, Keith Allen offered Joe Watson the choice of staying put as a depth defenseman playing an estimated 25 to 35 games or being traded to a team of his choosing if something could be worked out. He chose the Colorado Rockies, because he'd have a chance to still be a regular.
-BMeltzer

Wow, thanks Bill! I didn't realize or know the Flyers were tying to get the Stastny brothers, Peter would have been such a nice transition from Clarke as number 1 center. Here is a nice story of how they ended up in Quebec, I guess the Nordiques wanted them a lot more than other teams. Bummer :-(

https://www.thecanadianen.../article/stastny-brothers

Bozak at $750k...

Bozak at $750k...
- Tomahawk

Not as good as brassard or even Thompson🤷‍♂️

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Camp Schedule and Preview
- bmeltzer

The end of my life started at the beginning...

Did th GM have anything to say about the "young" players beating out the vets?
- hello it's me 2050

Too late, you’ve already blown this alt. Time for the next one.

…Of a new journey.

Not as good as brassard or even Thompson🤷‍♂️
- Stayin alive

What?

Wow, thanks Bill! I didn't realize or know the Flyers were tying to get the Stastny brothers, Peter would have been such a nice transition from Clarke as number 1 center. Here is a nice story of how they ended up in Quebec, I guess the Nordiques wanted them a lot more than other teams. Bummer :-(

https://www.thecanadianen.../article/stastny-brothers
- jd250

The Flyers drafted Anton in the 1978 Amateur Draft and hired a Czechoslovakian expat agent named Louis Katona (who had previously arranged the defection of Rudy Tajcnar) to help Peter, Marian and Anton defect and deliver all three to the Flyers. Katona took his advance and kept it but didn't see through on the rest.

The NHL voided the draft pick because Anton did not meet the minimum Draft age requirement at the time.

A year later, the Nordiques drafted Anton (now of Draft age) and eventually got all three brothers over.