the_thinker,_rodin

A collection of your opinions

In recent days, I have had some very insightful hockey conversations with people and have read many others online as well. I would like to share some of those thoughts and include a few of my own here. Paul Holmgren has been a successful general manager in many ways but his biggest failure has been assembling solid clubs at the AHL and ECHL levels. In order to develop good prospects, the Flyers need good affiliate teams. Good prospects are less likely to reach their potential without a solid supporting cast. Take the Columbus Blue Jackets, for example. Granted, CBJ is …

Image courtesy of Peter Casolino

Four intriguing NCAA free agents who fit the Flyers’ mold

The Flyers have had recent success fishing the NCAA talent pool for late-bloomers and overlooked players. Matt Read and Harry Zolnierczyk are two of the current Flyers that took the academic route, playing four seasons each of NCAA hockey. Read is a small forward from Bemidji State University who came out of school at 24 years old. The Calgary native was named the CHA Rookie of the Year in 2007-08 and the CHA Player of the Year in 2009-10. As a senior captain in 2010-11, Read was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team. Read led all NHL rookies last season …