Hockey Writers Ink welcomes Lenny Redkoles the offical Photographer of the Flyers!

SteelFlyers All Sports Network presents
Brought to you by steelflyers.com
The Hockey Writers Ink Eps. 182 "Lenny Redkoles: Flyers Photographer joins us on Hockey Writers Ink!!"


Relax the keyboard is off, the press box is closed, and the mic is just getting warmed up as the Guardian of the Blue paint turned writer is about to enlighten us!


The show where the writer is fresh off the presses and the ink is not dry.
Welcome to the Hockey Writers Ink, join Lance Green and Ron "SteelFlyers" as we bring you all the latest on the Philadelphia Flyers!


THE ARTICLE:
https://steelflyers.com/the-flyers-should-claim-kasperi-kapanen-off-waivers-and-heres-why/


This week's talking points:
1. HWI Welcomes Lenny Redkoles
2. Winning Streak over
3. Injuries are mounting up
4. Helge's First 
5. Frost out, other changes 
6. Lance's Latest 
7. Russian Tandem in net 
8. Phantoms Section 
9. Wrap up 

BIG THANKS to our friends Lower Case Blues for the awesome tunes
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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the Hockey Writers, Inc.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
The show where the writer is fresh off the presses
and the ink is not dry, relaxed, the keyboard is
off and the press boxes closed, with the mic is
just getting warmed up. Join your host Lance Green, the
guardian of the blue paint turned writer, and your co
host Ron Steel Flyers as we bring you all the
latest on the Philadelphia Flyers. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to

(00:38):
the next edition of The Hockey Writers, Inc.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
With your host It's Green.

Speaker 3 (00:44):
All right, guys. Here we are again another edition of
the Hockey Writers Inc. At Flyers Centric Podcast and Steve,
we have a fellow Flyers fan and employee, mind you
of the team with us tonight.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
Oh man, we got a very very special guest, ladies
and gentlemen, the official photographer for the Philadelphia Flyers, mister
Lenny red Cooles. Lenny, how are you, sir? And thank
you very much for joining us.

Speaker 4 (01:15):
Good good, don't good tonight, guys. Good to be with
you again.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yeah, man, we can't wait. I've been looking forward to
this for quite a while. I just want to kind
of catch up and see how everybody's doing, how the
family's doing, how everybody's going on over there. Are you
doing all right?

Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yep, everything's fine, guys.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
All right, good deal. The first thing I got to
say to you right off the bat is we get
to see you now more and more with the games.
Now when they go to Ashland, we get to see
you on camera now, you know. So, is that that's
a favorite spot for you, guys, or is that a
regular spot where you get I normally.

Speaker 4 (01:51):
Go there second and third periods because that's where the
Flyers attack twice. If there's no broadcaster between the benches,
I go. That's where I like to shoot the first
period because that way I can get some reaction off
of both player benches, the visiting team and the home team.
And so that's available, that's where I hang in the
first and then second and third I'll go to that.

(02:13):
It's worthy flyers attacks. It's section one oh five. It's
it's a handicapped platform we work out of you know,
NBC Sports Philly uses it for the live TV hits.
It that it's it's also one of the photo locations
for the NHL.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
Okay, nice, well, hey, we get to see you during
the game. So it's all good, right, it's good so
last you got one for him.

Speaker 3 (02:41):
Yeah. So I was wondering while you're while you were
talking about, you know, being along the glass there and
everything like that. We've all seen those small camera windows
you know that you guys have to work through sometimes,
and I was just kind of wondering, who's the most

(03:02):
elusive flyer to kind of catch through there over the
years to in your in your memory, one.

Speaker 4 (03:10):
Of the toughest ones. Yeah, I tell you, the guys
that skate the fastest, right, you know, like Connectne or
those guys. You know, it's it's because the thing of
it is when they come closer to that window. There's
actually if you notice there's like a little window because
we have to shut that window shut when the play
becomes within ten feet there because it's for player safety, right.

(03:30):
But it's it's like a balancing act because it's you
can shoot once to play ten feet out from that hole,
that cut out hole. So it's just you know, it's
like I said, it's it's a give or take, you know,
who's the most elusive. But it's usually the guys that
are speechsters to come in. Mischkov's tough. He's he's tough,

(03:51):
he's new he comes in, he'll sit at the post
and he'll come deep in the corner and it'll go
back on the post again, you know, coming deep, you know,
looking for the past. And but it's it's you know,
it's like I said, it's just a work in progress
between your lens and the closing the door and the
play comes close.

Speaker 1 (04:09):
So nice. Nice.

Speaker 3 (04:10):
Have you ever been have you ever been caught off
guard by a play and not shut it in time?

Speaker 4 (04:16):
Guard? Now, okay, very, they're very very I mean, you're
I mean, there's a lot of times you even pull
back a little earlier just to shut that door because
the leg is very they're very on top of it
because it's all concerns about player safety and they don't
want someone's hand or arm getting through the air and
getting twisted on a hot play. Then the player gets hurt.

(04:37):
So you've got to maintain that sliding door closed when
the play gets inclosed project like I said, within ten
feet of the of the opening.

Speaker 3 (04:46):
It makes sense.

Speaker 1 (04:47):
Yeah wow, okay, yeah, so and there's sticklers for that though.

Speaker 4 (04:51):
Right, yeah, yeah, the leg is they're they're tough.

Speaker 1 (04:54):
You okay, all right, I'm gonna I'm gonna throw a
photography question out here for Okay, now, it's just for
some of our young viewers out there and those those
aspiring to be the next Lenny right, can can you
explain to our viewers the rule of three?

Speaker 4 (05:13):
The wou of three?

Speaker 1 (05:14):
The rule are U l e? Rule of three?

Speaker 4 (05:18):
The rule of three? Yes, be honest. I don't have
a clue what that is. Is that a steel rule?

Speaker 1 (05:28):
No? No, no, no, no, no no, no, it's a it's
a I guess it's how pictures are framed out, like
when you're taking a picture, and I guess they say
there's a rule of three. I don't know. It was
something that I saw and I thought, hey, maybe I
could ask him what a rule of three is. I
don't know. It's just something that I read.

Speaker 4 (05:50):
Okay, Okay, you could have read something narrow online about it.

Speaker 1 (05:53):
But yeah, that's I was just hey, I was just
asking you something I read. I just was curious. So
I'm sorry.

Speaker 4 (06:00):
That's all right.

Speaker 1 (06:01):
Okay, So how how do you get how many pictures
do you take per game? And then maybe how many
do you delete it?

Speaker 4 (06:12):
I don't delete hardly anything unless it's like it's a
it's a misfire because I still shoot Strobe. I don't
shoot available lights. I'm shooting the Strobe light and I
shoot depending on the game of what happens pregame, I
shoot anywhere from about seven hundred to almost a thousand,
depends it all. It all depends on average. I say

(06:33):
around seven hundred to night show. The other night we
had Eric Johnson's pregame. You know thing an that's available lights.
I shoot a little heavy on that, and then we
all the league likes is to get player arrivals if
we're there early enough so we're outside getting them coming in.
But on average, I say it's around seven hundred. Out

(06:55):
of that, we'll tag maybe five hundred good ones and
then we'll go the second editor of two hundred really
good ones and that's what'll upload to Getty for the
NHL game night. I haven't editor that works at me
in whole pool, maybe twenty five to thirty. The most important,
you know, what happens that evening. You know, whether it's

(07:16):
a pregame ceremony or the most important aspects of the game.
You know, just to tell the storyline of the game
for the league and for all their affiliates that could
pull them down off of Getty.

Speaker 1 (07:25):
Okay, okay, wow, that's cool. I didn't realize that there
would be that many pictures.

Speaker 4 (07:32):
I shoot a lot. Some guys don't shoot as much.
It depends on the photographer.

Speaker 1 (07:37):
Okay. And you say you don't throw anything away, right,
so you must have a lot of storage space. There's
a lot of hard.

Speaker 4 (07:43):
Drive stored around the place. I still got DVDs and
stuff like that from a number of years ago. And
then basement I still have all the film. Oh wow,
okay in the early eighties, right right.

Speaker 3 (07:57):
All right, Well, while we talk about different photographers and
all that as well, is there a pecking order of
sorts to say, I want to shoot here versus another
spot at different times or is it like a set
you know, you go here, you go here kind of thing.

Speaker 4 (08:17):
It's really set by the NHL. They have a pecking order,
like you said, Lance, and it goes to, you know,
to the NHL. I team photographer, which I am in
the Philly market, I get first choice over everything. Then
Getty Image they have sent a photographers every home game also,
and they're number two because they're they're league partners. And

(08:37):
then they have league affiliates like Associated Press. There are
usually three USA Today's for and then Icon wire Service
is the last wire service. But that's it. The league
is very tight on the wire services, those four right there,
and then you have your local papers like the Inquired,
Deally News come in and a few others in the area.

(09:00):
And then the rest of it is just bloggers, blog
Internet bloggers that the team gives them credentials. They come
in and work for their various blogs and they're down further.
But it's the league affiliates to get like I said,
for myself, to Getty the ap down down the line.
Now when Upper Deck has the trading card company has

(09:20):
a big deal with the NHL, so they only come
in for a handful of regular season games. And when
they come in, they're like pretty high up, maybe just
below Associated Press. We have to, you know, give them
a good location.

Speaker 3 (09:35):
Okay, makes sense? Makes sense?

Speaker 1 (09:37):
Okay, all right? Wow, So what kind of work goes
into like media day, Like how much work is out
for you, like for media may.

Speaker 4 (09:50):
Be honest, it's kind of easy. But for the flyers
behind the scenes, it's huge because they have a huge
their own social media group. They have a couple of
guys that are filmmakers that they do all their cutaways
and stuff. It's huge for the team. It's actually like
a closed media day because I know, like what I've
seen the seventy six ers, and I think the Eagles

(10:12):
opening up to all members of the media and they
come into their dead were the Flyers that they kind
of close it just for their in house work. Right,
I'm there that day. I just do all the official
headshots for the Hockey League. So that guy's always telling
me on the easiest stop of the day because I
come there to griff and grimb around four or five
seconds and they move on where they're really well, they're

(10:33):
really tied up because they turn the entire Wells Fargo
Center into like a big movie set. It's pretty cool. Wow,
it looks like something out of Star Wars almost, you know,
it has that feel and look to it, and they
have the Flyers flip players doing different skate aways and
different spotlighting. It's it's it's a fun day, but it's
a long day, but it's it's mainly for an in

(10:55):
house work for all their knees. They try to get
everything done that day so they don't have to bothered
throughout the season.

Speaker 1 (11:03):
And another favorite is the uh, you know, the team photo.
Now that's more for you, right.

Speaker 4 (11:11):
Yeah, that I enjoy actually want to become one of
my more favorite opportunities of the year, you know, because
I started doing the official team photo in the O
six seven season, and prior to that, I mean I've
done it from there to the present. And prior to that.
Bernie Moser was the original Flyer photographer that mister Snyder

(11:33):
hired in sixty seven, and he did the actual team
photo from sixty seven up until the early two thousands
at the you know, the Wells Fargo Wow and he
did all those classic team photos. Then Bruce Bennett picked
it up for a few years to about O six,
and I've picked it up ever since then about oh
excuse me, you know, from about six o seven to

(11:55):
the present. But wow, it's a cool opportunity because you
get the opportunity to action each one of those team
photos to document the history of the team.

Speaker 1 (12:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (12:04):
Because one of my favorites is the fiftieth anniversary team.
I was fortunate there and it was a great shot,
you know.

Speaker 1 (12:13):
So that was a really good that was very memorable.
I have I still have a lot of those pictures
of yours saved from that time period that I still
love to have displayed on my computer that I roll
in a you know what I mean, my background roles
and a lot of your pictures, Lenny. So I'd just

(12:33):
like to say thank you for filling up a lot
of my heart drive space too.

Speaker 4 (12:39):
But yeah, but the team photos, it's it's a cool
it's a cool event that day. But there's some I
don't say nerves, but there's a lot that goes on,
you know, to get everyone ready, and you got fifty
people in that stage, you know, and the building has
to come in and build a stage and but it's
it's fun. Everyone enjoys it. It's a good day, good deal.

Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yeah. I like some of the most recent ones too
that you've done as well too, so that they've turned
out really well. And thank you for doing that man.
So anymore for you.

Speaker 3 (13:09):
Lance, Yeah, I got one. So I don't know, I
would think it would be like I don't know a
guitarist that has a bazillion different guitars in a sense,
but could you tell me like a go to camera
of yours and a lens combo that maybe from a
certain spot you want to pick and just say, you know,

(13:29):
what is your current setup.

Speaker 4 (13:32):
I currently now use a Canon twenty eight to three
hundred millimeter, but I'm using a new mirrorless your five
Excuse me because it's a huge file. It's a forty
five meg file. And like I was saying earlier, i
still shoot with strobes in the building, so I'm able
to sync that at around five hundred a second electronics

(13:54):
shutter speed along with the strobes that fired at over
the flash duration of the lights about five thousands of
a second, so that just like MI image is, the
guys kind of look frozen. And if you see someone
else that shoots available light, I mean it's kind of
a cooler, you know pastel look. It's a it's a cooler,

(14:15):
flatter look. I mean, you know, it doesn't have as
much pop, but you know, the strobe just has that
quick flash of light and gives it just a pop.
So I mean not saying that the others aren't nice,
because the development of cameras today, the available light has
come light years. You know, It's it's a very nice MSS. Also,
it's just a different way of shooting, and there's not

(14:36):
that many of us really a shoot strobe anymore, you know.
I mean I think that eighteen of us in entire
NHL still shoots drobe. A lot of the guys are
going to available light. I know Jesse from the seventy
six ers, he still uses strobes. It's it's a more
creative way, and it's, like I said, it gives you
more a dramatic look.

Speaker 1 (14:56):
Okay. And just to just to get more of a
clarific cation, strobe, is that the lights in the building
or is that the flash that you're using?

Speaker 4 (15:05):
That's the flash? You have a series of flash heads
and parapets that are parapats that are on the catwalk itself,
and I have about eight of them I use, and
they all go off simultaneously. They're all hardwired, and I
have them synced in with an RF radio slave that
goes onto my camera and they just go off simultaneously.

(15:26):
And they it's hard to see it because today with
the LEDs and the arena, the arena is very bright.
Years ago spectrum, you would see it go off and
it were like whoa, you know, yeah, right when you
had those old dim buildings and arena. But today in
this arena's it's very hard to pick up that strobe anymore.
But I use that with a twenty eight the three

(15:48):
hundred millimeter, and like I said, I shoot on the
R five a crop factor of one six, So it
gives me a focal length of about a forty four
to four hundred and eighty milimeter, which I found since
they came out with this new mirrorless camera, I find
it the best focal length I've ever covered hockey with.

Speaker 1 (16:06):
Wow.

Speaker 4 (16:07):
So when I sit in that corner where you see me,
like when NBC Sports does their hits, Yeah, that's what
I'm using, is that at twenty eight to three hundred
at a one point six crop factor. Like I said,
I'm covering the entire rink at that corner with that
one on camera.

Speaker 3 (16:24):
All right, Okay, who fits the bill for that? Do
you have to foot the bill for that? Or the Flyers?

Speaker 4 (16:30):
Well, no, it's my own business. The NHL pays the team,
and the team pays it. Kind of money comes from the
league because the league owns all my rights. I mean,
the team can also use my images for wherever they want,
but the NHL owns the exclusive rights to every team photographer,
and so they I mean, we get paid from the NHL,

(16:50):
to the Flyers, to myself. Okay, just a business expense,
you know, you buy me, write it off, depreciate it
over time, and like anything else.

Speaker 1 (16:59):
Right Okay, okay, so you're almost so you're almost kind
of like a contractor basically.

Speaker 4 (17:03):
Yes, it's actually it's what I am. It's the way
that the contract is set up from the NHL. You're
either a game night employee or a contractor. Okay, it is,
You're not an actual, say, fly Er employee, right right.
That's the way that the league sets it up that way.

Speaker 1 (17:20):
Okay, that's my.

Speaker 4 (17:22):
Whole program is really driven by the NHL. I mean,
not mine, but all thirty two team photographers. It's run
by then and then they filter it down to each team.

Speaker 1 (17:34):
So you get like marching orders from them.

Speaker 4 (17:37):
Yeah, they give us every night, they give us, you
know a number of their request and then I'll get
you know, heads up from the team about certain things
they want to and then we just go from there.

Speaker 1 (17:48):
Oh wow, okay, So like do you do you like
meet with the folks from the.

Speaker 4 (17:53):
Team to each because we set up in the same
work area and we see each other, you know, pregame,
So we just kind of something happens, Hey, get this
or be aware of this or this, keep this on
your radar. But we interact together all evening. So so
the only thing I get like marching orders, like you said,

(18:14):
is the NHL will send us an email around early afternoon.

Speaker 1 (18:20):
With their list of things that day.

Speaker 4 (18:23):
There's things that they're requesting for the evil okay, and
then me being like the home team, sometimes I get
to go and get called in to go to the
visiting locker room. Like two years ago when Boston got there,
what was it sixty three? What was it sixty two
or sixty three wins? You can correct me post. It
was the last home game I think in Philly where

(18:44):
Pasta got his he I forgot how many goals did
he get that? You're over sixty goals.

Speaker 3 (18:49):
Too, Yeah, a ton because I went.

Speaker 4 (18:52):
In and got his his his goal, his last goal
with went that season. They wanted it documented like a
milestone picture in the Bruins locker room. And I'll get
called in from time to time to do.

Speaker 1 (19:02):
That, Okay, throughout when they when they hold up the
little puck that has exactly like because the visiting teams
sometimes they don't have bring someone with them and I say, hey,
can you pop in the locker room.

Speaker 4 (19:14):
I've done a handful of them throughout the years for
visiting teams also, so you've got to kind of cover
both ends of it for the league.

Speaker 1 (19:20):
And you know, okay, all right, well, I mean, since
the Flyers kind of are your home team, you know
you're rooting for them, right right?

Speaker 4 (19:32):
Oh?

Speaker 1 (19:33):
Absolutely, okay, So now what is a great picture to you?

Speaker 4 (19:41):
To me, it's just a capture and the the the
the emotion of the event more than then to me
than just you know, whether it's I don't know, winning
goal or I always look for emotion in the images,
you know, players emotions you know, win lose, or or
an image away from the you know, play or you know,

(20:04):
something behind the scenes. I've kind of always liked that.

Speaker 1 (20:08):
Okay, So that's what that's what I'm all right. I
like that. I mean, it's it's funny because you can
see that it comes through in your pictures.

Speaker 4 (20:18):
I mean, because I like the newspaper guys are always
there trying to get that split second, you know, for
instant gratification for their publication. But I I'm there to
do that also. But I kind of expand over that,
and you like with the remote photography, I like to
get a different perspective, you know, like the other night

(20:39):
over the player's bench when pickets I mean tippet score,
I had one right over top of the player's bench
where he comes by and gives a fly by. It's
a different perspective that you don't normally see from the
day in and day out, you know.

Speaker 1 (20:53):
Right, photographer, exactly how do you get those? Is that
like a remote camera.

Speaker 4 (20:59):
Or that's remote. It's a camera that's fixed into the catwalk,
you know, it's tied in there, fixed in there, it's
all tied in safety with safeties and everything. And then
you just have RF radios, little RF radios that are
plugged into the camera. And I simply at certain points
at a time a watch like if they score a
goal and they're skating to the bench, I'll kind of

(21:21):
focus on that and I'll just fire the remote from
that little section that you see me sitting there on TV.
But sometimes I'm shooting the camera, but I'm firing the remote,
so I'm still taking images, but I'm not using the
one I use all the time looking through that hole.
That's the same thing like when you shoot a net
cam or you know, an overhead over the bench. It's
it's just you get there's a feel to it, you.

Speaker 3 (21:43):
Know, I mean busy guy for sure, you're.

Speaker 1 (21:49):
One of the best I think as far as I'm concerned.
And what is some of the newest technology that you're using.
I know you talked about one of the cameras being
what mirrorless is.

Speaker 4 (21:59):
Theyror list and then they had the new auto focusing
it which is really cool because you may have seen
some of this when they first came out, where they'd
have like the eye focusing and a lot of it
deals with when they show the example like hummingbirds. Well,
a lot of us don't shoot hummingbirds and that eye
focusing doesn't work. You're not teller. Yeah, I still use

(22:20):
for the most part, I moved the focusing point around
with my thumb. I'll center it, expand it a little bit.
But like with a remote camera like the one that
had over the bench or over the goal or even
the back of the net. With the new mirrorless, I'll
stick it on instead of like eye focusing. They have
one that tracks vehicles like cars, bicycles, and that's kind

(22:40):
of what the guys are right, And so that's what
I use, like in the remotes, and that works well.
I mean the focusing is just I mean for not
holding the camera in your hand and it's two hundred
feet in the air or right in the back of
a net and you're just pushing a little RF button
to trigger it. It's phenomenal.

Speaker 1 (23:00):
Wow. And is that something that you set up yourself?
Is that something that you worked out yourself or is
that was that a mandate to you or is that
just something that.

Speaker 4 (23:10):
I just set it up? You know when the new
cameras kick, because years ago we used to pre focus
all this new auto fotus tech auto focused technology, you
would just pre focus. You look at the old lenses
that goes by feet, like from one foot to infinity,
because years ago you would focus or even take a
picture or expose it by how many feet you're away

(23:31):
from the subject if you were an old studio guy.

Speaker 1 (23:34):
Wow, okay, mean help you got any help setting all
this stuff up?

Speaker 4 (23:42):
You can't set all myself up.

Speaker 1 (23:44):
I enploy it.

Speaker 4 (23:46):
I'm very active at it, and I get there early
and I set things up. And like I said, I
do have an assistant to help. Wrong game nights that
helps me with the editing and gets the live images
up to getty for the for the NHL's purpose and
for the teams you know needs.

Speaker 3 (24:02):
Right, So what's an early night? You say early? What's
an early night to get there? Because I know when
I cover a game, I get there five o'clock or
something five thirty for uclock start.

Speaker 4 (24:13):
I normally get there around three. And yeah, because a
lot of times I need to get up on the
catwalk and that from three to four the building has
all the lights. One because if you lance like you
notice you go to the games before, it's usually dark. Yeah,
it's always dark. The lights are at and a lot
of times if it's a big event night, they'll have

(24:35):
their projection screens and they'll be the the arena vision
will be going through all their dry run throughs for
you know, the scoreboards, all the LEDs. So they need
the building dark. But from three to four on seven
o'clock start, they leave an hour window open where the
building is.

Speaker 1 (24:54):
Lit.

Speaker 4 (24:54):
And that reason is the NHL all fights officials or
the hockey ops got guy who control the replays and
the nets on the blue lines. They have to calibrate
all their cameras and they need the lights one so
they need an hour in the afternoon. So that's the
time that the building designates it. And that's when I
normally get there. You know, Once I get up there

(25:16):
and get my stuff done, and I'll take a little break,
and you know, when it gets close to the game time,
you know, I'll get something to eat. Then gets closer
to the game time, I'll start to work. But I
kind of beat the traffic. There's no rush. You get there,
there's no crowds. You get a good parking spot, and.

Speaker 1 (25:30):
I mean, you know, take a lesson from the man.
Oh my, well, I'll tell you what. What has been
your most favorite shot over the last say three seasons?

Speaker 4 (25:49):
Last three seasons. I like the outdoor games. I mean
as an event. I mean, I don't have one particular shot.
You know, years ago, I showed you that one years
ago I did with Mario and and Gretzky at the
All Star Game. Yeah, it's it's more of something like
I said, behind the scenes. I mean, I mean, like

(26:11):
last night I took I thought a really cool one
to cause it off in the tunnel. They had smoke
coming there and all the orange lights and it was
just an environmental type image that had nothing to do
with the winning goal or the winning save or not,
but it was just a cool Yeah. There are things
that I kind of always like shooting outside of the
game stuff because they kind of stand out.

Speaker 3 (26:33):
Yeah, I think it is pretty neat with that that
you know, stretch down there. How it's not just you know,
concrete walls or something down there like it used to be.
I know, it's got all kinds of different stuff down
there and all kinds of different lighting. And I like
how you tried to get guys focus before or after

(26:54):
a game, you know, coming standing there and they're not
even maybe know you're there necessary because they're so focused
on what they're going to do in that game, and
it leads for good shots down there, I think.

Speaker 4 (27:07):
But I always kind of like the environmental kind of
creative behind the scenes imaging like that. And now what
they started doing last year, which is cool. When they win,
they turn on the lights and they spot like the players.
They have the whole buildings kind of lit in dark orange,
and then the player comes out to say the first
start of the game, ohst salute the crowd, and they spot.

(27:27):
It's a cool effect and nice nice looking image, you know,
to get.

Speaker 1 (27:35):
I'm always very much uh love to see your special
either pregame or postgame pictures that are just like what
Lance was saying in the tunnel and everything else like that.
And and so I mean, like I said, Man, you
fill up a lot of my hard drove space.

Speaker 4 (27:50):
Man.

Speaker 1 (27:52):
So yeah, all right, what do you think of the
team so far this year?

Speaker 4 (27:57):
I mean, they got off a little slow start, but
they're pick it up. I mean, they're going to be there,
I think, you know. I mean they battled to the
last game last year, just about made the playoffs, and
I think that's what it'll be this year come seasons end.
To hope, you know, get get in the playoffs would
be really nice.

Speaker 3 (28:13):
Get a little healthier, Yeah, everybody's on the back end
seems to be a little beaten up and bruised right now.
So hopefully we get a little bit healthier on the
back end the defense and goaltending there with Arison out
and hopefully we'll be able to battle.

Speaker 1 (28:29):
Yeah, for sure, for sure.

Speaker 4 (28:31):
Man.

Speaker 1 (28:31):
Well, I'll tell you what, this has been an honor
and privilege to have you on Lenny. We we always
love getting caught up with you. And and and talking
shop basically with you, you know what I mean. So
it's it's it's fascinating for me and I really appreciate it.
So thank you very much for being on here. Man,
We really do appreciate it.

Speaker 4 (28:51):
Thank you. Thanks for chatting with me too. It's it's
it's it everyone that follows my work, it yeah, it's
it's it's nice to see the and and what I
everyone of the comments, everyone leaves, So it's everyone enjoys
it as much as I do. It's something like it's
been a passion of mine for a lot of years,
and social media has been able to get a lot

(29:11):
of myself out there now. Years ago, you never had.

Speaker 1 (29:14):
This exactly exactly, and so that's kind of one of
the reasons why I wanted to kind of, you know,
give you this platform a little bit, you know what
I mean, and just kind of get it out there
a little bit about what exactly it is that you
do a little bit of behind the scenes from one
of them as far as one of the greats, as
far as what I'm concerned on you, You're one of
the great ones as far as I'm concerned. So thank

(29:36):
I always want to know what's going on back here,
what's what's working in the gears? You know what I mean.
So this is one of the reasons why we love
having you on.

Speaker 4 (29:44):
Okay, thank you, Thank you, Stele.

Speaker 1 (29:47):
Appreciate it. Appreciate it. Lance. You have anything else with
this man.

Speaker 3 (29:51):
No, Man, we'll let him go. I know he's been
under the weather a little bit, so we won't keep
him too long. We appreciate the time that you do
get of us, and it's always good hearing from you.

Speaker 4 (30:02):
All right, Lance, nice chatting with you too. All right, guys,
thank you very much. Man.

Speaker 1 (30:07):
We will talk to you soon, sir. Thank you.

Speaker 4 (30:09):
Maybe I'll see you again sometime too, hopefully.

Speaker 1 (30:12):
Man, we're trying. You come up trying, buddy, We're trying.

Speaker 4 (30:17):
Okay, guys, have a good night now.

Speaker 1 (30:19):
Thanks Lenny. Well Lance. I gotta tell you, man, that
was great having Lenny on. Man, what do you.

Speaker 3 (30:25):
Think I mean? Yeah, the guy is amazing, Uh, you know,
a legend in his field, and you know, just timeless,
I would say, you know, from from the time he
started and all the technology that has come through, and
he's been able to just persevere all through it and

(30:46):
be a be a leader using most of this. Now.
I don't know how he does it in all these
cameras positioned all over the rink as he was talking about,
and somehow managing to keep track of all of it.
I think I would screw something up pretty pretty well.
But you know, better him than me, for sure in
that sense. For sure.

Speaker 1 (31:06):
Oh man, I gotta tell you what an honor and
a privilege it was to speak to the legend himself,
the official photographer of the Philadelphia Flyers. You get the
hockey writers in salute being on the show. Thank you
very much, money, We really appreciate you being on here.
So what do you think, Lance, should we talk a
little Philadelphia Flyers?

Speaker 3 (31:26):
I think we can do that.

Speaker 1 (31:27):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, let's let's talk a little bit of
Flyers here. So they had a little bit of a winning.

Speaker 3 (31:35):
Streak, right yeah, I mean before they play the playoff
team like the Avalanche. But sure they had a little
bit of a winning streak going there between the you know,
the San Jose Sharks, the Senators and the Sabers.

Speaker 1 (31:53):
All right, okay, so so make it be even more
tinier than I'm making it, okay, you know, thanks?

Speaker 3 (31:58):
Yeah, yeah, I mean the Sabers are halfway decent team,
but they were Thompson, So uh, you know, yeah, right,
I get it. Yeah, I'm trying to jack.

Speaker 1 (32:12):
It up a little bit here, okay, because let's face it,
you know, three teams.

Speaker 3 (32:17):
That are going to be there come springtime.

Speaker 1 (32:18):
But whatever, I mean, let's face it, three zero to
one in the last well actually now it's it's three
to one and one in the last five games here.
You know, when once the Avalanche came into town, and
that was pretty much the end of that point streak
and uh, going into overtime and you know, whenever you
want to call it. But uh, you know, but I

(32:40):
have to say this though, I wasn't that terribly disappointed
per se in the Colorado game, No, right, because okay,
let's face it, they were you know, they're they're what
two years removed from winning the Cup, right, so and

(33:01):
they were they made it to the playoffs last year.

Speaker 3 (33:06):
Still team, not a bad team at all, not a
bad team at all.

Speaker 1 (33:10):
And when you got McKinnon and mccarr on your team,
you got it going on.

Speaker 3 (33:15):
Yeah, I mean, ratt and and there's I mean, there's
a list of guys on that team that I would
gladly take I mean, you know, yeah, yeah, yeah, I
mean would gladly take. So, you know, especially with the
team dealing with so many injuries, and I think we're
going to get into that in a little bit, but yeah,
you know, kudos kudos to the Flyers to kind of,
you know, at least putting up a good fight there

(33:37):
last night.

Speaker 1 (33:37):
I mean, right, we'll take it, you know, I mean
getting points, that's kind of that's that's kind of got
to be the mantra here at the beginning of the
season is getting points.

Speaker 3 (33:49):
Yeah, and I mean getting points is good, especially when
you get the points that you're supposed to be getting.
That those wins against the Sharks and the Senators and
the same, you know, those are wins you should be winning. Now.
Would it have been nice to win against the Avalanche, Yes,
but you know, I'd rather beat some teams up in

(34:11):
the Eastern Conference and take those points and suffer a
loss to a team out west that doesn't really you know,
affect our understandings as much. You know, now a true
test is going to be coming shortly tomorrow against the Hurricanes,
and then you know, the Golden Knights come to town

(34:34):
and you got the Rangers come in to town all
and the Panthers again. So you know, those are the
tough games that the Flyers are going to need to
play up for. And you know there is some some
you know, teams sprinkled in there, like the Blackhawks and
everything that are winnable games. So you know it's not

(34:54):
going to be something whether so beaten down by you know,
these these playoff teams, they're it's sprinkled in there, but
you know, some true tests are going to be out
there for for sure within the next week or so.

Speaker 1 (35:08):
Here's the thing though, last year, when the Flyers were
playing against these kinds of teams, and we were all
doing exactly what we're doing now, cringing at the thought of,
oh my gosh, now we have to play against the
likes of Tampa Bay, the likes of Florida, the likes
of Carolina, and we're just cringing intoad thought because we
alread already know that it's not going to end well,

(35:29):
you know, right, But the team has last year. The
difference between last year and this year is the team
last year was in those games fighting hard. I'm not
quite seeing that just yet with this team. I'm not

(35:51):
seeing I mean I've seen the fact that they kind
of had to claw back against Ottawa. Do you know
what I mean that that that?

Speaker 3 (36:01):
Yeah, I mean I had.

Speaker 1 (36:02):
To claw back against that kind of a team. No,
you know, and you called back against the Florida you know,
or or somebody like that, or the Capitals or whatever.
But you should be taking care of business.

Speaker 3 (36:16):
Yeah you should. And like you said, last year's team
played every game. I think they were in every game.
They didn't get the butts spanked and you know whatever,
it wasn't close to every Yeah, they were. They were
in every game right down to the last minute. They
made it interesting despite not having a mish cough on

(36:38):
the you know, on the team. You know, some guys
really really stepped up and Owen Tippett and developed to
be a better player and you know, connect me as well.
Obviously he's been a staple of this franchise for a
while and you know, he he kind of took the
reins when other players went down with injury or you know,

(36:58):
there just wasn't a true suit superstar on the team.
Now we have one in the making, but he's young,
you know, and and there's gonna be some time. There's
gonna be some rough patches with him. Obviously, he sat
out a couple of games, was made to sit out
a couple of games. And you know, I think all

(37:18):
of us, you know, we're saying some words we didn't
once heard out loud under our breath when that happened.
But but you.

Speaker 1 (37:26):
Know what, though, Lance, You know what, Look at how
he responded, right, Look at what he did in the
next two games after getting benched. Right now. Look, everybody's
gonna say all the things that they're gonna say, but
in reality, unless you're there with Tortorella and Mitch Koll,

(37:50):
you have no clue what's going on. All you're doing
is speculating, right, So seriously, if if the rumor mill
says that he wasn't listening or he was doing something
wrong or whatever whatever, and and you need to do
that to a player. Look, he is nineteen, Okay, I

(38:11):
understand everybody's saying grown man all this other kind of stuff,
But seriously, how much of a grown man are you
at nineteen? And are we really to the point now
where we can't take a step back to learn a lesson?
I mean, are you ever too old to take a
step back to learn a lesson, you know what I mean?

Speaker 3 (38:35):
Yeah, I mean I hear that, but uh.

Speaker 1 (38:38):
Yeah, it sucks that he was out for two games.
But but but but.

Speaker 3 (38:42):
I want to see I want to see a called
her Trophy. I want to see a Rookie of the
Year candidate come out of Philly because uh wow, I
don't think there has has really been one.

Speaker 1 (38:53):
Not since uh I think uh Reid was considered at
one point. I know Ganie was.

Speaker 3 (39:01):
Considered, but I don't think there's there's ever been voting.
I don't think, right, I don't think there's ever been
a straight flyers. I mean, even with guys like Lindross
and stuff like that. You know, he didn't win one.
So it would just be nice to see. I mean,
it would also be nice to see a Stanley Cup.
So you know, if that, if that came first before that,

(39:23):
you know, and he he comes in second or third
in the running, I guess I'll take it. But I
just don't want to see missed opportunity. And and uh,
you know, I get the kid has you know, some
still stuff to lose, but as far as his defensive
play or whatever like that, there's a bunch of other
guys on this team that had a worse plus minus

(39:46):
rating than him. At least he was putting in a
point and a half game before he was sat down
and come back with a vengeance, especially the next you know,
next two games or so after being sat down. So
I mean he's doing his part offensive. He makes this
power play. You know what it is Now it's not
you know, among the league leaders, but it's also not

(40:07):
the league's worse like it was the right two prior seasons.
So there's a lot of pluses to Mishikoff and what
he's been able to bring to this team at such
a young age. But you know, it's only going to
get better from here. I think, you know, the team
is still is still building and still working towards you know,

(40:28):
being a playoff contender. And you know, we know the
Flyers have a ton of draft picks lined up for
this upcoming draft, so hopefully more just like him to come.

Speaker 1 (40:43):
You know, that wouldn't be a horrible thing. We'll take
a couple more of those guys. I mean, we know
there's there's gonna be some good players available when the
Flyers are gonna pick, And if the Flyers really wanted to,
they could potentially use some of that draft capital to
get into the running of the you know, first, second,
third round guy. If that's what they wanted to do,

(41:06):
they have the draft capital to do, so you know
what I mean. But here's the other thing that I
kind of wanted to touch on here real quick, and
that is that we're starting to see some of the
injuries mount up here as of late. We saw Sean
Coturier miss a game here there, We've now we see
now that Sam Errison is on on IR. We've been

(41:30):
missing Cam York now for how many weeks now, And
I understand that he's close to coming back.

Speaker 3 (41:39):
Yeah, he's a full participant in practice. He just still
remains on IR for some reason. So I mean, he's close,
I would say, to coming back. But then you got
Jamie Drysdale too.

Speaker 1 (41:50):
He was the other one I was going to mention
too now.

Speaker 3 (41:52):
On IR, yep, And I mean he's his name is
getting pretty familiar on that list year after year, and
that's kind of the reason he was, you know, a
piece that was traded here and Anaheim was willing to
part with him. He did gain a lot of weight
and a lot of muscle in the off season, which
was great, but apparently he's still a little injury prone,

(42:16):
so hopefully he'll be able to come back soon. He
is skating, he is a non contact jersey. Wearing a
non contact jersey the last time I checked. But you know,
now with those guys being down Cam York and Drysdale,
we had Ema Landre step up and play the last

(42:38):
ten or so games and look pretty darn sharp in
those outings.

Speaker 1 (42:42):
And now he's out now too for nick.

Speaker 3 (42:46):
Yep and for that you know, hard nos play that
he's been out there just you know, bumping and grinding
out there in along the boards and everything like he's
supposed to be. He's now banned up for a day
or so at least he's not on IR I guess, right.

Speaker 1 (43:03):
Right right, But we said he was one of those
players that was going to be making a difference because
they're going to be the first available for the call up,
you know what I mean. And and he's proven to
be that type of player where you know, I'll be
honest with you, man, I would like to see him stay.

Speaker 3 (43:21):
Yeah, I mean, he offers something you know, I I
think that others don't for sure. And you know, if
we're if we're talking, you know, players we hyped up
and spoke about. We also talked about Helgi Granz, who
came over in the deal with prover off from from

(43:44):
the King's organization. And you know, Mile May is a young,
talented defenseman. I had high regards for him when he
was drafted in the second round of the twenty twenty draft.
And you know, he's six foot for two hundred and
five pounds, a right hand shot, all good things that

(44:05):
teams look for. And he's just twenty two years old. Guys,
he's a young defenseman. He's played one game now with
the Flyers and even though they lost that game, he scored.
He had an assist in that game, and he was
a plus two. So I mean in his first you know,
goal or game with the Flyers and in the NHL.

(44:27):
He's never played an NHL game yet before this, he
played sixteen minutes plus and was able to be a
plus two. And I mean from this old goaltender. I
got to tell you, I'll take that from a goaltender
or from a defenseman, you know, yeah, a plus player
call up, Yeah, give me more of those, right.

Speaker 1 (44:51):
I mean that just goes to show you how important
it is to be a plus player and how much
of a negative it is to being a minus player.
Speaking of a minus player, not necessarily on the injury list.
But I have him seen Hidner hair of frost lately.

Speaker 3 (45:05):
Well I'm not too mad about that. You know, I'm
not his biggest fan, and while a lot of people
are for some reason still, I mean, he's been sick,
he's been scratched for a good reason, I would have
to say. And you know, he's played sixteen games this year.

(45:26):
He scored just one goal and five assists for six
points in those sixteen games played, and he's a minus ten.

Speaker 1 (45:36):
Not too good minus again.

Speaker 3 (45:38):
Yeah that minus right. The team kept promoting him as
being this great two way player, and you know he
was one of the only I have to give him credit.
I don't usually do this, but you know, he was
one of the only plus players last year. He finished
with a plus four. So for the first time in

(46:00):
his career, first time in his career, Yeah, first time
in his career. He's usually about this average of minus eleven,
minus twelve. Now he's a minus ten. You know, I
don't know when the when the Flyers are going to
get over him. And you know, maybe it's soon. There's
a lot of teams that are calling. As I wrote

(46:21):
in my article that I put out today, you know,
there's a lot of team calling about guys. Uh you know,
Frosty's one of them. Obviously. Teams see that he's not,
you know, so well liked with him, you know, being
being on the outside sometimes or in you know, towards
his doghouse. Farbe's Name's been brought up, Bobby brinks name

(46:45):
has been brought up in in certain trade urmers and
teams at least calling about them, and as well as
Ristall Linen as well.

Speaker 1 (46:53):
But uh good of course Scotty Lawton too.

Speaker 3 (46:56):
You know, Scotty Lawton's been there for the past couple
of seasons. Uh, you know, he's an interesting candidate there.
He's thirty years old. He's signed for a reasonable deal
for for his age, you know, yeah, for a couple
more years. And uh, you know he's he's a great
four checker, he's a great penalty killer. You know, we

(47:19):
we need some scoring centers and uh, you know, old
Morgan frost ain't doing it tier with his one goal
this season, so you know, and that's and that's why
he might be in the loop. You gotta remember, guys,
that this is a new uh management, you know, with
with Keith Jones and and Danny Brier running things and uh,

(47:42):
you know, some of these guys that have been long
term flyers for a while now maybe on the way
out because you got to make room for some of
their guys coming in that that they have drafted, and
they've drafted pretty well, I have to say, you know,
we've seen yeah, yep, so far, we've seen with the
likes Off and jet Lichenko and and some of the trades.

(48:03):
You know, he's made for guys like Helgi Granz to
be able to come in and replace some of those
AHL defenders that have kind of been stuck there for
a while and are now twenty four, twenty five, twenty
six and still in the minors and haven't made that
jump yet to the NHL. You know, he's got to

(48:23):
replace those guys at some point. And you know, just
you know, the AHL is great, and you can be
a veteran in the AHL and I would heck, I
would take that job, you know, being paid to be
a professional hockey player. But more so, it should be
viewed as a team that can build your developing talent

(48:46):
and you know, further help them grow. And you know,
a guy who's twenty two and Helgi Granz, you know,
and already making jumps to the NHL, in my mind,
deserves to be there more than a twenty six or
twenty seven year old defenseman that is a career maybe
call up guy for a game or two when they
get in a situation like they are this season.

Speaker 1 (49:09):
I don't know, SKay, Okay, I'm with you on it.
I'm with you on that. So we did touch a
little bit on your article there, and you did most
recently put an article out here about the Flyers potentially
getting a waiver wire player that unfortunately was claimed today.

(49:31):
But you did touch on some of the things that
we talked about as far as some of the names
on the trade block, you know what I mean. And look,
the reality of things is this, in a rebuilding team,
everything is subject to change because you're looking for that
combination of guys that's going to get you to where

(49:53):
you need to go. And and some of that might
even have to do with coaching staff, and some of
that might have to do with the players that are
out on the ice. You know, what I mean, but
maybe you know, look, I'm just trying to trying to
look through the you know, looking glass and kind of
see things on the positive side. If the Flyers do

(50:13):
make the playoffs, say in the next four years.

Speaker 3 (50:18):
Just oh god, I hope that's not that long.

Speaker 1 (50:20):
Well, if within the next four to five years, like
so from now till five years from now, say they
win a cup.

Speaker 3 (50:28):
Oh I mean, I'm okay with yeah, winning a Cup
in that short time pass right right, That's what I
mean that you're saying, just make the playoffs. Hopefully we
make the playoffs before then.

Speaker 1 (50:36):
Oh no, no, no, I'm talking about winning a cup here. Yeah,
say within the next five years. Okay, I mean not
all the guys that you see on the ice right
now are going to be on that team. You might
not even be the same coach. Yeah, you know what
I mean. So that that's kind of what i'm That's

(50:58):
that's what I'm trying to say here, is you have
to temper the expectations of this team until we get
the team that were actually going to be. Look, I'm
not trying to say that this team isn't isn't a
potential contender, but right now they're not showing me that,
you know what I mean, they're not playing to that level.
They're not showing me that level. You got a guy

(51:18):
Joel Ferbie who two years ago was leading the team
in goals and has only put up what three goals
this year?

Speaker 3 (51:26):
Yeah, not many at all for sure, you know, especially
for what he's being paid. The guys, you know, getting
paid five million dollars. I expect a little bit more
out of him, you know, And he's not playing up
to that twenty twenty five goal, you know, Plateau right
now that that you know, the team paid him to

(51:47):
do so, he elevated his game.

Speaker 1 (51:49):
He elevated his game and then got paid and now
he's not doing as much well.

Speaker 3 (51:54):
And and with that being said though steal I talked
about this in my article today too. Sense like with
misch Cough coming in, you know, you you got your guys,
you got your own tippets, you got your mich Coffs,
you got your connectingees, you got your Forester Tyson Forrester,
and you know those guys are going to be making
up those top two you know lines of wings and

(52:18):
how guys like Brink and Farrabee are going to be
further down the depth chart, you know, especially if they're
not able to produce when they're given the chances to
do so. And you know, so you gotta think, you know.
And and Bobby Brink's no longer on a rookie deal.

(52:38):
He's making a million and a half a year, which
is no chump change himself. So if a team is
going to be coming calling the Flyers, and the Flyers
find themselves in a situation as they are right now
and a little bit from now, I can see them
possibly taking that and saying, hey, you know, Bobby Brink

(52:59):
is a good player, but he's not a guy that
we would consider to be on a championship contending team.
So if he's not gonna be that for us, now,
why not try to get a first or a second
round probably a second or third round pick for you know,

(53:19):
you know, Fairbee, Mike Garner, you a first round pick,
you know, in that sense, come deadline, especially if a
team has got injuries or something like that and headed
into the playoffs. You know that guy can can step
up when he's consistent, you know. But Brink is a
guy that could could go for a second round pick.

(53:42):
And I think I would take that for him at
this point because you know, while he's still young and
could develop, I don't think he's gonna outmatch you know,
the mish Coffs of the world and fight for you know,
time against a guy like connect Me. Forrester's got a
much better shot, and he's you know.

Speaker 1 (54:02):
A little longer, little faster, Yeah.

Speaker 3 (54:05):
Longer faster, you know, you know, got a little bit
more size to him. So you know, those guys are
always going to get more playing time usually than that.
So you know, we're still rebuilding. Let's rebuild. Let's let's
take all the assets we can, like they have already
done and you know, acquired potentially three first and three

(54:29):
second round picks this summer. That is going to re
you know, vamp your your you know, covered or whatever
you know you want to call that your depth charts
and you know, possibly are you going to strike gold
every single time and get a mischi goff? Probably not,
But you know, right now, this is my most trusted

(54:52):
guy in the past fifteen years, I would say running
this team that I would be with to wager these
these kind of deals in order to get him the
ability to draft as many players as he can because
these guys that he's drafting are producing, especially in the

(55:12):
early rounds. You know, I like what I seen from
jet Lachenko. I I like what I seen from jet Lachenko.
He's he went back to the OHL and he seems
like he hasn't missed a step, even though he missed
camp and everything there and jumped in as the season's
already going, and you know, he's he's putting up some
some more goals. He's taking up, you know, definitely more

(55:35):
chances of his own instead of just passing it off
like he did prior. I think he's he's gained a
lot more you know, self respect and confidence in himself.
He's developing, and that little bit of time with the Flyers,
you know, shown that you know, he's going to be hungry,

(55:56):
you know this time next year, when you know camp
comes around again, he's not gonna want to be sent
back anywhere. He's not gonna want to be playing in
the HL. He's going to want to make a long
stay in the Flyers for the next ten years exactly.

Speaker 1 (56:11):
And we're kind of hoping that that we get to
see that, you know what I mean. And I don't
even have a problem with the fact that they sent
him back down. I mean, I was kind of hoping
he was gonna stick around, but you could definitely see
he was a little bit out of his element, you
know what I mean.

Speaker 3 (56:26):
Yeah, I mean at times he was one that looked
more of a rookie than you know, Mischkoff obviously did.
Mischkoff has been playing in the KHL, you know, a
professional league against men in Russia for a couple of years,
so it is what it is, you know. I think
he'll continue to develop and I and I want him

(56:48):
to get top line minutes. I want, you know, a
jet to get first power play minutes and stuff like
that so that this this time next year he's thriving.

Speaker 1 (57:01):
So I want to do this in a in a
bit of a compressed manner here. Now I know we
we we had the Lenny on the show here, so
I want to kind of just change gears. Look, the
Flyers are in a spot right now. They got some
tough games coming up, and I think it's it's something

(57:22):
to wear. The Russians in Net need to step up,
need to be able to I think Fidotov has looked
a lot better in Net over the last couple of games.
I think Boos said it the other night on one
of the broadcasts that the more playing time he gets,
the better he's gotten because obviously, because you play one

(57:43):
game and then you go seven or eight days before
you play the next game. Yeah, you know, so, I mean,
you gotta give the guy a little bit of rotation here.
So now with the injuries and everything to to Arison
and everything else like that, we're seeing both of the
Russian goalies in and I'm okay with that. I'm okay

(58:04):
with that. I think that's a good, healthy competition there,
you know what I mean.

Speaker 3 (58:09):
Yeah, I mean, it's something that needs to happen. You
are paying you know, Ivan the most money out of
all three goaltenders, so you know he's gonna need consistent
starts at some point to get him in there. He's
used to that, you know, he's used to being the workhorse.
He's used to being the guy in the KHL and
playing most of the games. So you know, I think

(58:32):
he'll settle in more. What I've liked to see, you know,
some more work with him in the offseason or whatever.
So he could have jumped in and been ready to
go out of the gate. Yes, it is what it is.
But you know, he's played six games now and he

(58:54):
has been able to drop his goals against average, you know,
considerably from the ridiculous like five goals a game average
or more that he was at the start of the season.
But you know, I still would like to see the
same percentage go up. You know, it is, it is

(59:14):
what it is. But well we'll see he's five hundred
goaltender right now with three wins and three losses, so
it'll it'll look better. Yeah, I think he's seeing through
the screens a lot better. You know, that's something that
is not so common in the KHL because they play

(59:36):
on the bigger Olympic style ice and you know, it's
more spread out and stuff like that, and and you know,
so it's it's gonna take a little bit of time,
and you know, I think it's starting the show through.

Speaker 1 (59:51):
Yeah, I'm with you on that. So speaking of shining
through here, let's switch gears here too, are illustrious we
high vali phantom section. Oh man, I'll tell you what. Now,
got to got to the privilege the other day of
seeing the game on on the NHL network. That was

(01:00:14):
that was a good win for for the Phantoms and that,
and they've won a couple of games, but they you know,
they're they're okay, six five and two, they're above five hundred, right,
six five and two with with you know, the amount
of games that they played so far, right, I'm getting
that same kind of field.

Speaker 3 (01:00:35):
Yeah, yeah, but I mean they did have to play
Hershey recently, and and all that good stuff, so.

Speaker 1 (01:00:39):
Right, and and and wilkes Bury twice they played already,
and they they played the Griffins. They were the number
one team at the time as well too. So they've
lost to some good teams, but they've beaten some good
teams too well too.

Speaker 3 (01:00:54):
You've got a factor in the that emil Andre has
been brought up, uh, you know, and has played ten
games with the Flyers, you know, he's only played one
game with the Phantoms before being called up, and uh,
you know, so that was that was you know, a
kick in the pants to their defensive unit. And and

(01:01:15):
you know, with that now and Helgi Granz, who was
you know, supposed to be one of the guys on
the defensive end, has been called up and I imagine
he'll go back, you know obviously as as guys become
you know, healthier. But you know, Anthony Richard has been
called up and been thriving. So the team is doing

(01:01:37):
what they're supposed to be doing. They're they're providing for
their their NHL club and uh, you know these guys
that they're providing with the with their richards being brought
in by Dan Frier. I mean, the kid can skate.
He seems determined not to be sent back down. He's

(01:02:00):
said he's tired of riding the bus. He wants to
he wants to be, you know, up with the big boys,
and I think I think he's deserved that so far.
But uh, you know, so we have to think that
they're they're doing the job essentially. I don't care if
yes would be nice to see them win a championship
like the Hershey Bears have done. Sure, but if they

(01:02:22):
can keep providing guys, fill in guys, and and you
know coach Ian Leperier down there, keeping these guys at
the ready for when they are needed for to be
called up, I'll take that, you know, I'll take that
any day. And you know as well with with Alexi
being called up, you know now with that as well,

(01:02:44):
So just you know, in a short amount of time
they have lost a ton of their players to the
through the flyers, just from from the injury bug alone.
But I would like to see both the guys lat
guy Rodrigo Bulas that we brought in and the Swede

(01:03:06):
Oscar ekln Uh start to produce a little bit more.
You know, they're getting used to the North American game
and such and the language and all that other stuff
like Mischikoff is. But I would like to see those guys.
I thought I would see a little bit more from them.
They are among the team's league leaders, well the team's leaders,

(01:03:29):
I should say, in points, but you know, I want
to see a little bit more from them as well.

Speaker 1 (01:03:35):
Yeah, I'm with you on that. I'm with you on
that as well too. And the fans have you know,
kind of a tough road to climb as well too.
The same with the players. Their schedule doesn't get any easier,
you know what I mean. I'm with with Hershey, coming up,
a couple of games looked very you know, another rivalry

(01:03:56):
with with them, you know, and and and those are
teams that they need to be, you know what I mean,
because they need to be able to climb over them
teams to get to where they want to go if
they want to make it to the playoffs or whatever
the case is. Look, I get it. What I love
to see the Fantoms win Calder Cup. After Calder Cup, Yeah,
that would be great, But I'm kind of with you, Lance,

(01:04:17):
I would much rather put Stanley Cups in the building,
you know, and quite frankly, even if even if the
Fantoms don't play in the same building, I'm with you.
I would much rather than being there to provide the
call ups, being that junior team that they're supposed to be,

(01:04:39):
to help those players develop, you know, get those guys
in rhythm, get to guys that are supposed to be
playing top line minutes, give them top line minutes. They're
not going to be able to get that in the
NHL because there's there's too many guys ahead of them,
you know what I mean, That's what That's what I
believe the AHEL supposed to before.

Speaker 3 (01:05:01):
You know, I think's doing that. I think, yeah, that's
what I'm trying to get at.

Speaker 1 (01:05:06):
I think he's I think they're doing that. I think
with when Danny Breer came in and changed all the
you know, the the coaching staff and the development staff
and the scouting staff and all that other stuff. And
they're starting to see some of the fruits of that
labor because now you've got guys that can play in
the Fantoms and then oh, hey man, we need to

(01:05:28):
have a meal Andre, we need to have hellgi grounds
and they can come in and step in. Oh we
need to have your goaltender too, and they can step in.
And the Phantoms. Yeah, they're gonna lose some games, but
they're still winning.

Speaker 3 (01:05:39):
Yeah, the organization's winning. I mean with what hell they're doing.

Speaker 1 (01:05:44):
Yeah, yeah, you know, Look, it's gonna take a while.
It's called a rebuild for a reason. Okay, you don't
build Rome in a day. It takes a minute, you know.
And having the patients because we see the writing on
the wall, we see that there's a plan out there.

(01:06:05):
We see that everything's starting to come together. You're starting
to see that the Fantoms are now being more supportive
of the Flyers because they're able to supply them with
good quality you know, yeah, that they can call up
that can step in for a game two, six, ten

(01:06:28):
or twenty, you know what I mean. And then as
soon as the guy that's coming that they're replacing that
comes back healthy, they go back down and then they
light it up down there too, you know what I mean.
So I'm with you on that, and I think the
Fantoms they have some opportunities this year, but you know,
of course with the call ups, that makes it that

(01:06:48):
much tougher. But uh, you know, would like to do
a quick shout out for was it Luxel God is
one hundredth point right in the Ahl I believe a
couple of games ago. And I know this is a
little bit old here, but a big shout out to

(01:07:11):
Bob Roachruck for all the coverage that he does for
the Fantoms and for celebrating his one thousandth game, you know,
a couple of weeks ago. But congratulations on that, man,
and thank you for all that you do, mister Roadchruck.
We really appreciate all the coverage for the Fantoms. Well, LANs,

(01:07:31):
I think we got to go one here, what do
you think?

Speaker 3 (01:07:33):
I think? So, man, we covered a lot of different things.
We've had a special guest on with us tonight, and
you know, I think we fed these fans enough food
for thought on this for the week so we'll touch
back next week with another show.

Speaker 1 (01:07:50):
Yeah, I'm with you on that for sure. Speaking of
another show, this is episode number one eighty two and
the Hockey Writers z Inc welcomes Lenny red Coals and Man, Lance,
I gotta tell you that that was awesome having Lenny on.
What do you think?

Speaker 3 (01:08:08):
Yeah, I mean, just just a great guy, a great
person in general, and man, I always love hearing the
stories for sure. The guy's a legend in this field.

Speaker 1 (01:08:19):
So exactly well. We'd also like to say a big
shout out to all of the Facebook groups. Really appreciate
uh you guys allowing us to post out there on
on your groups, and appreciate you all the great feedback
that we've been getting, especially on Lanson's articles. Keep it coming.

(01:08:40):
We love it, we love it, Keep it coming. It
just goes to show you how smart the Philadelphia Flyers
fans truly are and how much they really do, truly
care about the team and the game, you know what
I mean. So also, man, folks, you gotta go to
Lowercase Blues dot Net. Check those boys out. They got

(01:09:03):
some of the greatest music. You're gonna want to listen
to us, especially if you're into some of that awesome music,
like you get to hear the beginning of this show, right,
those guys were the ones that made the music for
the show. Gotta go check them out Lowercaseblues dot Net.
Big thanks to Jake and all the boys. Man, we
really appreciate it. Can't wait to have you guys on

(01:09:25):
the show one of these days, so by all means, man,
hit us up, man. We'd love to have you on man,
just to talk and have fun and just talk flyers,
you know what I mean. So I think that would
be a fun show. We gotta have you guys on,
so really appreciate. Lowercase Blues go to lowercase blues dot
net check them out for sure for sure. Also a

(01:09:45):
big thanks to Speaker for all your help and getting
us to all the platforms the podcasting platforms out there,
from iHeart to Spotify, you name it. All you have
to do is type in Hockey Writers, Inc. And our
name will come up. Give us a live star rating.
By the way, if you like what we do, please
hit that like and subscribe and smash that thumbs up

(01:10:05):
button because man, that really helps us out and we
really appreciate if you guys would do that. Hey, Lance,
any anything in the works here, buddy, Buddy.

Speaker 3 (01:10:14):
Working on acquiring a couple of new interviews for prospect Watch,
our other podcast that has been getting some pretty good
players on if I do.

Speaker 1 (01:10:28):
Say so myself, Yes, you can say so yourself.

Speaker 3 (01:10:31):
Yep, yep. A lot of those guys might have the
chance to be Flyers with the amount of picks that
the Flyers have this year, So you know, tune into
those if you aren't aren't already watching, because you know
a lot of those guys might be in black and
orange one day.

Speaker 1 (01:10:49):
You know, wouldn't that be great too? So for sure,
for sure, please go to the steel Flyers All Sports
Network at steel Flyers dot com check out all the
great shows from prospect Watch to the Hockey Right Inc.
To The Nitney Report, and the steel Flyers All Sports
Network podcasts. Be sure to go to steel Flyers dot
com check that out. Also check us out on YouTube,

(01:11:10):
and also check us out on the Facebook groups as
well too. Thank you all for checking out Hockey Writers, Inc. Hey,
Philadelphia Flyers Centric podcast. I'm your co host Ron steel
Flyers and we will catch you all on the next episode.