Southern Hockey on the Skids: Stop Macon Sense

By Bob H
Posted on 05/15/2013 at 2:00 pm

The first in a biweekly series this offseason where I let it all hang out. I will invite readers of Flyers Faithful to take a break from the maddening crush of rumors, draft picks, trades and free agents this Summer to read on and find out how I got here, and why I think, feel and write the way I do about the game hockey, the vagaries of the business and culture after almost 15 years navigating rough waters in sports media. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away before massive internet proliferation made actual human contact …

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2013 NHL Entry Draft: Mock Draft Two

By Jared Abbott
Posted on 05/09/2013 at 8:00 am

Breakdown by League: QMJHL – 8 OHL – 8 WHL – 7 USHL – 2 SM-liiga – 2 SEL – 2 KHL – 1 1. COL – Seth Jones, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL) Jones is one of the most complete and exciting prospects we’ve seen in years. His combination of size, smarts, mobility, and puck-handling skills are unmatched by any player in this draft and previous drafts. He is a generational talent with the ability to anchor the blue line at an All-Star level for a decade. Jones is the closest thing to a sure bet as a prospect …

Future Flyers Report: Konan/Akeson finish season with Flyers, three prospects in 2013 IIHF World Championship, Titans finished, Canadian junior updates

By Craig F
Posted on 04/29/2013 at 9:00 am

Another pair of Philadelphia Flyers’ prospects made their NHL debut this week, as both Matthew Konan and Jason Akeson appeared in contests for the Orange and Black. Konan made his debut in the Flyers’ 2-1 win on Thursday against the New York Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center. He had two hits and a blocked shot in 13:09 of ice time. In Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators, both Konan and Akeson suited up for the Flyers. Konan had four shots on net, three hits, and one blocked shot in 18:42 TOI during his first NHL appearance. As for …

2013 Draft Eligibles: Valentin Zykov, a Russian-born player for the Flyers in Round One?

By Jared Abbott
Posted on 04/23/2013 at 11:00 am

Whenever a 17-year old makes the coveted Team Russia roster for the Subway Super Series, eyebrows raise and brows furrow. “Who is this kid? I thought he had 11 points in 52 games last season and now he is skating on a line with Anton Zlobin (PIT 173rd overall ’12) and Mikhail Grigorenko (BUF 12th overall ’12).” Instead of stumbling playing on a line with such highly touted NHL prospects 2013 draft-eligible forward Valentin Zykov dazzled onlookers, forcing their attention back to the program momentarily to identify the big Russian. In the first game of the series Zykov scored a …

Future Flyers Report: Alt signs entry-level deal, Cousins and Alderson debut with Phantoms, Oshawa on the brink of elimination, Zolnierczyk traded

By Craig F
Posted on 04/08/2013 at 9:00 am

Mark Alt joined the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization just before the beginning of this shortened NHL season began back in the middle of January. In a deal that also brought Brian Boucher back to Philly, the Orange and Black also acquired Alt from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Luke Pither.Alt spent this season with the University of Minnesota, a squad that was upset by the Yale Bulldogs in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Over his three years with the Golden Gophers, Alt totaled seven goals, 32 assists, and 85 PIMs with a plus-39 rating in 117 games. The …

A New Frontier: the CHL in Oklahoma

By ecnewman
Posted on 03/29/2013 at 3:00 pm

I’m fortunate enough to work at a school that gets two weeks off for Spring Break. Yes, two weeks. It works out really nicely because for one of those weeks, I’m feverishly catching up on grading and prep work and the second week can actually be a break. This year, I traveled. A friend of mine moved from Northern IL to Oklahoma last summer to take a position as professor at a small college. So me and a friend of mine (still in IL) drove down there to have some serious girl hang-out time. This professor friend of mine took …

Should the Flyers trade up for Jonathan Drouin?

By Jared Abbott
Posted on 03/26/2013 at 11:00 am

If your answer to the question above was “no”, perhaps this may change your mind.. If your response was “yes”, then you may be aware of the Halifax Mooseheads’ superstar forward Jonathan Drouin. The “Halifax Houdini” has hands spun of silk that he puts on display each night as he scripts new tapestry. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound weapon dangles around top QMJHL defensemen as if they are parking cones. The Moosehead winger can stickhandle inside a phone booth and come out of traffic with the puck seemingly glued to his blade. However, the most brilliant aspect of Drouin’s offensive repertoire is …

Six CHL free agents the Flyers should target

By Tom Zulewski
Posted on 03/19/2013 at 11:00 am

With the Ottawa Senators signing of Portland Winterhawks defensemen Troy Rutkowski the other day, and the Vancouver Canucks signing of Lake Superior State forward Kellan Lain, it got us here at Flyers Faithful thinking about who are some the top NCAA and junior hockey free agents available. Yesterday, Jared Abbott highlighted four NCAA free agents that could be a good fit for the Flyers. Today I’m taking a look at six Canadian Hockey League free agents that could be helpful for the Flyers and other NHL squads. I have profiled a forward and defenseman from both the Ontario Hockey League …

Flyers should consider Troy Rutkowski: A Poor Man’s Justin Schultz

By Jared Abbott
Posted on 02/12/2013 at 1:00 pm

It is hard to go unnoticed when you stand 6-foot-1 and weigh 207 pounds. It is even harder when your team is largely considered the most potent threat in all of Canadian juniors. However, that’s exactly been the case for Portland Winterhawks defenseman Troy Rutkowski. Last night in Vancouver the Winterhawks’ captain played in his 225th consecutive game, extending his franchise record Iron Man streak. The victory over the Giants added one more to Rutkowski’s franchise record 336 career games. Rutkowski passed current Boston Bruin defenseman, Andrew Ference, on February 6 on home ice at the Rose Garden. The Garden …

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Draft Eligibles: Ryan Pulock (WHL)

By Tom Zulewski
Posted on 02/05/2013 at 1:00 pm

Although it may be cold outside and the NHL has just begun it’s never too early to take a look at upcoming draft eligible players for the 2013 draft, which will be held up the turnpike in Newark. This week I’m taking a look at defenseman Ryan Pulock of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings. In 43 games played thus far for Brandon, Pulock has 10 goals, 27 assists good for 37 points. He is also a plus 2 on the season. Pulock did miss two weeks in early January this year with bone chips in his wrist. That injury should …

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