September 4, 2025 • 38 mins
An RNJ Media Sports Presentation
EPS: 202 - Lyle Richardson joins The Hockey Writers Ink!
The press box is closed, but the mic is just getting warmed up!
The show where the writer is fresh off the presses and the ink is not dry!
Welcome to the Hockey Writers Ink, join your host Ron Mont and special guests for each show as we bring you all the latest on the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms!
This week's talking points:
1. INTRO and THANKS
2. Start off, the Rick Tocchet hire!
3. John Snowden Hire for the Phantoms
4. Recent FA signings (Zeagras, Dvorak, Vladar)
5. This team is getting better but not there yet
6. Phantoms going to have a better team as well
7. Your thoughts on the season outlook
8. Wrap up
Get all of Lyle's great stuff here:
Web - www.spectorshockey.com
X - @SpectorsHockey
BIG THANKS to our friends Lower Case Blues for the awesome tunes:
Web: lowercaseblues.net
FaceBook: www.facebook.com/lowercaseblues/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lower_case_blues?utm_medium=copy_link
Get all your Hockey Writers Ink information at
https://www.rnjmediasports.com/hockeywritersink/
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs5gTIpBqPsoG-B_cPMLey0J68hxSouAN
https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-hockey-writers-ink
Also catch us at Sports Spyder - https://sportspyder.com/
Follow the show on X @HckyWritersInk
Follow Ron on X @RNJ_Media
Please hit the "Like" and "Subscribe"
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-hockey-writers-ink--4748032/support.
EPS: 202 - Lyle Richardson joins The Hockey Writers Ink!
The press box is closed, but the mic is just getting warmed up!
The show where the writer is fresh off the presses and the ink is not dry!
Welcome to the Hockey Writers Ink, join your host Ron Mont and special guests for each show as we bring you all the latest on the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms!
This week's talking points:
1. INTRO and THANKS
2. Start off, the Rick Tocchet hire!
3. John Snowden Hire for the Phantoms
4. Recent FA signings (Zeagras, Dvorak, Vladar)
5. This team is getting better but not there yet
6. Phantoms going to have a better team as well
7. Your thoughts on the season outlook
8. Wrap up
Get all of Lyle's great stuff here:
Web - www.spectorshockey.com
X - @SpectorsHockey
BIG THANKS to our friends Lower Case Blues for the awesome tunes:
Web: lowercaseblues.net
FaceBook: www.facebook.com/lowercaseblues/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lower_case_blues?utm_medium=copy_link
Get all your Hockey Writers Ink information at
https://www.rnjmediasports.com/hockeywritersink/
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs5gTIpBqPsoG-B_cPMLey0J68hxSouAN
https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-hockey-writers-ink
Also catch us at Sports Spyder - https://sportspyder.com/
Follow the show on X @HckyWritersInk
Follow Ron on X @RNJ_Media
Please hit the "Like" and "Subscribe"
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-hockey-writers-ink--4748032/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Press boxes closed, but the mic is just getting warmed up.
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Inc. Join your host Ron
as we will talk all things Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh
Valley fans, Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the next episode
(00:32):
of The Hockey Writers Inc. With your host Ron. Hey,
how are you guys doing today? Man, We've got a
special special show lined up for you today, folks. That's right,
Episode number two oh two The Hockey Writers Inc. Welcome
is the great, the one and only Lyle Richardson.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
How you doing lot, I'm great, Ron, Thanks for having
me on.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Oh man, oh man. We can't wait to talk all
kind of things. Woo how about that? Folks. First of all,
would like to say thank you all very much for
hitting the like button and the subscribe button if you
like what we do, really appreciate that. Also, thank you
folks out there for helping to make The Hockey Writers Inc.
A top ten Philadelphia Flyers centric podcast. Thank you all
(01:19):
very much for that for five years in a row.
That's right, folks, All right, thank you all very much.
All you have to do is go to your favorite
podcasting platform tipe in The Hockey Writers Inc. Find us
give us a five star rating. That'll help us keep
us rolling. How you doing, all right, We're gonna get
rolling here. We got a lot of things to get
to here and a short time to get there, and
(01:41):
we got the great Lyle to get us there. So
let's talk about the elephant in the room, shall we
when it comes to the Philadelphia Flyers, and that is
Rick Tuckett hired as the coach Lyle. Look, we talked
about this on our Around the League show with the
great Ombie Puck guys a couple of weeks ago here,
(02:02):
and but I just kind of wanted to get your
in depth take, a little bit more deeper about what
your take is on the Philadelphia Flyers. So we briefly
touched on it when we were on the show, but
I want to get your full take on the whole
Rick tacket being brought back into Philadelphia. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Well, well, Ron, I mean, first of all, you know,
as I had mentioned on the show for talk at
this is coming home, we we know that he spent
considerable amounts of time as an NHL player as a
flyer back in the day, he was a beloved Flyer.
So you know, he's even said himself that This is
going to be very familiar feeling coming back, even though
(02:46):
you know the organization obviously it's changed and and everything's
different from back in his playing days. But he's he
knows what this team's you know, what this team is
now and what role they're doing, what his role will
be within it. And he brings con considerable experience. Obviously,
Jack Adams Award winner with the Vancouver Canucks in twenty
twenty three twenty four guided into one of their best
(03:09):
regular seasons ever. You know, you think back into you know,
back in the late the late twenty teams, if you will,
in twenty sixteen, twenty seventeen with the with with your flyers,
nemesis the Penguins, but you know, hey, back to back
to back.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Stanley Cupps there as an assistant coach.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
He was known as the as the as the Phil
kessel Whisperer because he was able to get to bring
out the bat. He was the one coach who could
bring out the absolute best in Phil Kessel. So and
of course he had he had considerable experience before that
as well. You know, he's been through it with rebuilding teams.
He did it before with place like Tampa Bay and
(03:49):
with Arizona. So he knows what he's getting into here.
He knows what his job is going to be here
is to work with the young players especially, and to
try and build this team up because they are rebuilding,
and you know, it's going to be a different style
obviously from what they had with John Tortorella. I mean Torts,
(04:09):
you know, yeah, see he you know, in twenty twenty three,
twenty four, he had that Flyers team played over.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Their heads obviously clearly.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Yeah, they they nobody expected him to make the playoffs
and the fact that they came oh so close to
doing so before they just collapsed down the stret They
just finally ran out of gas. Because Torts plays a
very demanding system, he got a lot out of them.
They tried to kind of, you know, to do the
same style again. The problem is for demanding coaches like Torts,
(04:39):
they have a short shelf life and after a while,
players get tired mentally and physically drained. And I did
not consider it a surprise that after Tortorella was relieved
of his coaching duties in mid March, that all of
a sudden the Flyers started playing better.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
And yeah, yeah, and you.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Felt like, you know, the weight was it off, like
the you know, like, oh my gosh, you know, we
don't have to worry about Tortorella's standing there, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
And yeah, at.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
The time, I thought Tortorella was the perfect coach to
come in and help right the ship because there was
a lot of turmoil between the past regime and the
new regime and the whole you know, interim coaches and
you know, interim gms and blah blah blah blah blah blah,
(05:31):
and it was a lot of turmoil there, I think
for a little bit of time there, and and flyered
him and now coming out on the other side of
it now, right, So now Danny Brears got his guy right,
because Tortorella wasn't his guy, even though he was part
of that conglomeration where.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
He was a.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Consultant at the time, you know. But now this is
Danny Briers team now, truly. Right, He's got his hockey operations,
he's got his uh, you know coach now and everything
else like that. So I think we are gonna see
(06:14):
a different Flyers team based off of just what Rick
Tocket's gonna bring. And I also think this too. I
think the first say fifteen games, we're gonna see a
very open style where you're just gonna see guys just
flying around. And the reason why I say that is
(06:35):
because I think I think Tockett is gonna try to
see what he has so that he can then start
to rein it in because there's a lot of moving parts,
a lot of new faces.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
You know.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
That's another thing that I want to kind of get
in here too as well, to a little bit but
a lot of moving parts here with this Flyers team.
So I think you're gonna see a little bit of that.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Well you will, but you know, and obviously he's he's
going to be a se them. But I think what
you're going to see too is you're not going to
see players trying to be forced to play a style
that they're not either used to playing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Or that are comfortable playing.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I mean, obviously you're gonna need to be defensively responsible.
I mean, you know, and the case of the point
perfect example will be you know, Mattvee Mitschkov. Again, you
know you've got a superstar scorer there, you know, but
even he acknowledged that, you know, yes, his defensive game
could have improved, could be better.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
He knows it, he acknowledges it.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
So yes, I mean, you're still gonna need to be
responsible in your own end, but you're not going to
get you know, nailed to the bench if if you
miss in the checking assignment, okay, or if you make
a mistake and the puck ends up in the back
of your back of your net, you're not.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Going to get screamed at. Yay.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
That that's not really Tacket style. He's not Tortorella light.
I mean, you do have to be responsible at both
ends the rink. But you know, he's gonna want to
have guys playing to their strengths as well, and that's
kind of what he's going to be doing, is trying
to identify that with somebody like Mitch Cough.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
That's easy.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
You know what his strength is, Okay, His strength is
scoring goals, setting up goals.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
It's goals, you know, you.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Know, right, yeah, yeah, But you know you're not gonna
want to try and turn him into into, uh, try
and make him a sulky candidate. Okay, You're not going
to try and turn him into you know, if their
killing penalties, that's not his strength. You know, yeah, obviously
that's what he's going to be trying to do. It's
it's just, yes, everybody's going to be responsible, you know,
(08:34):
at both ends of the ice. But we're not going
to try and fit square pegs into round holes here either.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
So you know, that's exactly what happened. What they tried
to do with Drew. They try to do it with Lawton,
They've tried to do it with Katurier. They've they've tried
to do it, you know, with all you know, the
laundry list of guys where they've tried to either make
them a winger or make them a center, or you know,
whatever the case is. Why can't y'all just have the
guy and just playing their national position novel concept, you know? Hey?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Well, and also I mean as well, they're they're rebuilding,
and everybody knows the rebuilding. So patience is allowed here,
Mistakes are allowed to be made, okay. I mean, and
I'll point to one of your Eastern Conference rivals, which
happens to be you know, my favorite team, which is
the Montreal Canadians. You know, for three years it was
(09:25):
you know, yeah, kind of grim, but everybody knew they
were rebuilding. Everybody knew mistakes are going to happen, you know,
but you learn from them and you carry on. But
what happened for them was that they had the right
coach there and they still don't found San Luis all day.
And I think that that's what you're kind of that
you're kind of looking at here. We're talking talk obviously
far more experiences san Luis, but he's going to be
(09:46):
more of a player's coach. Okay, so yeah, I think
that you're going to see you know that, Yeah, mistakes
are going to be allowed to happen, you know, just
learn from them, carry on, you know, if you keep
making this same mistakes, okay, we may have to crack
the whip here. But the bottom line is, don't don't
be afraid to take a chance. Don't be afraid that
(10:09):
if you make a mistake it'll end up in your.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Net key phrase right there. Don't be afraid to do
it because the coach is not going to be there
to crack the whip and and send you into the
doghouse and make you sit on the bench and watch
the you know, for two and a half periods, you
know what I mean? So okay, speaking of new coaches.
The Phantoms did the same exact thing. They said, hey,
(10:34):
and we appreciate what you did for us, buddy, here's
a cushy little front office job. But we're going to
bring in John Snowden. And uh, I'm pleasantly surprised at
who they brought in because they brought in a guy
who not only was an assistant coach under Laperier, so
(10:56):
that means he already knows everybody, yeah, you know, and
he was responsible for different sections of the team. So
plus he's got some pedigree. Oh, he's one at Maine.
He's one in the past.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
You know.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
He was with Prier when they were both at Maine. Yeah, right,
he was the assistant general manager or something.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
And and you know, also he would he won to
the Kelly Cupp in the ECHL with the Newfoundland Growlers, uh,
you know, and had two solid seasons with with them.
I mean, and he's been around, I mean he was
as a player. He went through the minor league ranks. Yeah,
he's he's coached and different things at all different levels,
(11:37):
mostly the minor leagues. So they're bringing in a guy
with all that experience and he knows what his job
is coming in there. His job is to help mold,
you know, the the young promising young players that are
going to be coming in those that are already there.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
And I'm thinking of somebody like, you know, like.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Bank Oliver Bonk is one, but that's you know, that's
just one for examle, just because I'm kind of high
on on that kid, and I think he's he's going
to be a stellar defenseman for the Flyers in the
in the very near future. But of course other kids
that are going to be coming through, you know. I mean,
you know, you could even look at like, you know,
Porter Martone, you know, I mean, that's going to be
(12:12):
coming in your your high draft pick from this year.
I mean, obviously he's going to be he's going you know,
he's going to be in the junior ranks again then
this year. But i mean at some point he could
end up, you know, with the Fandoms and uh yeah,
that's where it's going to be a perfect place, kind
of a good testing ground, a good place for him
to be able to transition from playing junior slash college hockey.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Whichever way he goes. He's going to college, that's right.
He is going to Penn State.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
That, Yeah, he's going to be joining Gavin McKenna. Interesting, Yes,
that's right. It's been a long summer. Oh yeah, yeay,
but yeah, no, but exactly, but at some point they're
going to need to make that transition over. Now some now,
he may be able to make that transition directly over,
may not even have to.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
To go to Lehigh Valley.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
But in case he does, you've got somebody there who's
approven minor league, a guy who's used to that, to you,
used to coaching these guys, and we'll be able to
help in that development, to get these guys.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Ready for the next step when they transition to the Flyers.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
I agree. And by the way, correction, I believe it's
Michigan State that is going to Yeah, Michigan State. Correction
on that one. So sorry about that. Like you said,
it's been a long summer, you know what I mean,
a lot of stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Going on, right, Okay, well not yeah, not a lot
of player activity lately. But yeah, all the all the
junior stuff and the college stuff was was over a
month ago.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
And that's yeah, exactly. Vacations that's my excuse, what's yours anyway?
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Yeah, I don't have one really just that there's a
lot of stuff going on and so.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
But it's very interesting though too Ron that again, this
is just part of again, as you would say, though
the coaching change with the Fantoms, it's just all part
of again of brierre you know, getting the people in
that he feels is going to be to be a
good fit. It's going to be able to to to
make his vision for this team. And there did the
rebuild come come through.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
And and the fact that Snowden and Tocket are going
to work together to create the same system for both
the Big Club and and and the Farm Club is
another thing that I think is another huge step in
the right direction. You look at a lot of some
(14:26):
of the successful teams you know out West, like LA's
and Colorado's, and look at how they're doing it, and
they're doing it exactly that way. You know, you've got
to be able to build for success, and I think
that that's what the Flyers are doing. And you said
it right there as well to Patients. We don't think
(14:47):
that the Flyers are necessarily going to make the playoffs
this year. It's one of those fingers crossed, but it's
not going to hurt him if they don't.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
No, as long as as long as you can see
the development, you can at least see the improvement is
coming like that, you know. And again I'm kind of speaking,
you know, as a Habs fan here, but you know,
but but seriously, I mean, you know, we knew the
team wasn't going to make the playoffs over those that
three year period that I'm talking to, you know, I'm
referring to, but we could see the individual improvement. We
(15:18):
could see some extra wins, some extra points, you know,
and the standings at the end of each season, and
so that made like last year, yeah, they weren't expected
to make it, but they did. They exceeded expectations and
made it. But you know, if you by looking back though,
you could see where the growth was coming that, you know,
if you're not seeing them significantly at least making some
(15:39):
improvement and moving up in the standings each year, it's
time to be concerned. If they're then then you worried
that they're spinning their wheels. But as long as you
can see development, and on an individual level too, you know,
especially with kids like Mitchkoff, you know, and and if
you can get improvement as well from a couple of
the additions that you know they made in the off season,
(16:00):
in which we'll be getting to, I know, Mac, Yeah,
that could also help them make significant strides.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
You know, perfect segue though, Let's talk about some of
those you know, additions that they've made, with one of
them being a huge addition being Trevor Zegras now being
brought into the fold. Look, there's been talk about this
Trevor Zegres thing now for what two years now to
(16:29):
come into the Flyers. So now let's go full circle. Now,
what two years ago they said, hey, let's bring in
Jamie Drysdale. All right, So we traded and got Jamie
Drysdale and so, and then we drafted Cam York and
we had Cam York on the team, and so Cam
York and Jamie Drysdale. Hey, all right, California guys, all right? Cool? Yeah, friends,
(16:50):
all right, cool? Now we got Zegres thrown in. Now,
now all three of these guys, right, are all friends
all you know, have all blah blah blah blah nine yards.
Now they're all on.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
The same team.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Yes, is Ziegress gonna be that much of a difference
maker on this team?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
He can be. He can be.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
I think for him, it's it's just a matter of
I think he really needed a change. Yeah, give him
the situation that he was having out there in Anaheim.
If you recall him me, and he came in and
had he listened. He had a terrific rookie season. I mean,
for heaven's sake, he wound up getting invited to the
All Star Game for their trick Shop competition. But I mean, hey,
(17:33):
it was enough that it garnered attention for his for
his puck handling skills, and he if memory serves, he
was a finalist for the Calder Trophy that year.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
And the you know, he had a sixty point season. Second,
you know, his sophomore season, Yeah, he was sixty points
over sixty points again, but the development was not what
the Ducks were hoping for. And then the injury just happened.
You had the contract which started with the contract holdout.
I shouldn't say hold it, but it was a standoff, uh,
and then he missed all the training camp they got
(18:05):
it signed, uh, and then he wound up getting hurt.
And then it just became one thing after another, and
the Ducks have also you know, they're a rebuilding team
as well. But there they were kind of in the
you know, just the stage of we don't know what
we're gonna be. They wound up changing management, then they
wound up going through different coaches, and excuse me, that
(18:27):
kind of has an effect on a player if you're
seeing different coaches every second year and they're trying to
change your system around your style of play.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Yeah, And and we know with Zegres, the Zegres prefers
playing center, but he's played mostly on the wing. Yeah,
so now he's probably gonna get a good opportunity here
to go back and and and play at the center position.
And you know, again, Tackett's gonna Tackett isn't gonna be
the type of coaches I said, that's gonna try that's
gonna coach to this kid's strengths here, okay, to try
(18:56):
and help him get his game back and forth. He's
back on the East Coast as well, because you got
to remember he's you know, he's I believe he's a
New York kid. So you know, he's back in the
East Coast. It's gonna that's gonna help as well. And
you know, maybe this is one of these things where
you know, having to change his scenery will do him
a world of good. Excuse me, under a different head coach,
(19:16):
where there's also a little bit more stability there now
as well. I'm just going to exactly and some familiar faces.
Jamie Drysdale specifically is their former teammates. So he's gonna
be an interesting one to watch. It's gonna be interesting
to see how well he meshes, you know, because you
know that they're gonna put him in a top six role.
(19:37):
They're not going to have him down on the checking
lines because quite frankly, that's a waste of his skills exactly.
So yeah, yeah, how well he meshes on those top
six forwards. Could he end up maybe even end up
centering mitchkoffin connecty you know, connect me excuse me, on
the same line on the top line, or could there
(19:58):
be something else that they have on the go there.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
But no problem with that. I'd be okay with that
all that long.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Well, hey, and if he does if he does mesh
well with those with those two guys, if they are
on the same line, or even if it's he's on
a line with Mitchkoff or on a line with connect
me and they're playing well. That will significantly help the
Flyers improve this year. Again, not to be a playoff
contender per se, but to at least show that positive improvement.
(20:29):
And they give you something to hope for and to
build on.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Exactly exactly with that addition, also Christian de Vorak being
added and then Dan Vladar in goal, and that's the
other kind of big, huge, giant question mark for the
Philadelphia Flyers this year. Look, all they need to do
is get a power play to like the mid twenties.
(20:54):
They just need to get their defense to like the
mid twenties, their goals against average into like the mid twenties.
And what I mean by mid twenties is like in
the league rankings, it you know, if you can get
to like twenty one, twenty two, but I mean that's
ten places better than what you were last year. Yeah,
that's probably five or six more wins. That's you know,
(21:17):
how many more points.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
And that power play, you know, to your point, I
mean that power play should improve. I mean, you've got
a decent you know.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
I was pulling it. Pull them up.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Now what their roster, you know, breakdown looks like you've
got a decent top six there. Okay, if you got
Meechkaw Couturion, connect me on your top line with Ziegris
and Tippet and Forrester on your second line, that should.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Be worth something.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
And don't forget you've also got Bobby Brink there as well,
so yeah, he can kind of go up and down
on on that wing there as well. Yep, So yeah,
it'll be interesting to see there. At least that should
help with your power play Dvorak. Yeah, I mean, you know,
as long as he's a steady he should be a
good guy for face off wins, help you kill some penalties.
(21:59):
He's not gonna he's not gonna score you a lot
of a lot of points, but that's not what you
brought him in for.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
He's there at the center, mostly center your fourth line.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
He can go and center your third line if need be,
but when he was in Montreal it was mostly fourth
line duty by the time he got to the towards
the final stage. But again, solid for face offs, which
you'll need in the penalty kill or you get have
him out there on a power play tour. Exactly, you know, yeah,
Dareth later, Yes, exactly, But I mean, it's gonna be
(22:30):
interesting to see the goaltending is gonna be interesting to
watch that because Erison, you know, he's got but I mean,
at least he was the most reliable, if you will,
of your Golders.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
But you want to call it that, okay, call it that.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
But he got overused. They had to, they had no choice.
He didn't have a did not have a good backup,
as you guys know. Uh so you know, bringing in
later that should help. And this is a guy he's
twenty eight, you know, and he's has been kind of
like you know, well, no, I don't really see myself
as a backup. I see myself as a starter. So
(23:06):
if these two guys can kind of push themselves, that
could also perhaps help maybe yeah, reduce that goals against
beverage and improve that say percentage. So again there's maybe
some wins stolen there if if that can improve and.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
If what you say as well too, because you're exactly right,
in the last two years, Erison has been completely and
utterly overused. And if he doesn't have to play as
many games. Look, we don't have that March hand brod
or goaltender anymore that's going to play sixty games. Nobody.
You don't have that in the league anymore.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Well in Connor hellibuck, but that's he's now a special case. Yeah,
to your point, most stories now they spread it out
now r Yeah, Okay, they've learned stop beaten the snot
out of your goalies.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Keep You want to.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Have that, well, you want to make sure they're fresh
if when you do make the playoffs. You know, I
mean part of the reason, I mean just kind of
side a little bit, but I think part of the
reason why Connor Helipek isn't so good in the playoffs
is because they got him playing over sixty games in
the regular season.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. By the time he gets to
the playoffs, he's like, man, all right, I'm kind of tired. Guys.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
That's the only thing I can figure. Because I don't
buy that he can't handle pressure. I think he I
don't think pressure is the problem. I just think that
he's overworked. But anyway, but yeah, if you spread out
your playing time, I think you'll see Arson will have
his stats will improve. And again if he and Valadara
can kind of you know, get that good good push,
they push each other in a good you know a
(24:37):
good friendly rivalry way. Yeah, that that will help the
Flyers win, win, steal some games, win some games, put
some extra points you know in the standings, and yeah,
you know, maybe get them within striking distance of the
playoff spot.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
But we both agree, though, and I think the consensuses
is that we're still gonna have to be patient for
this year.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Yeah, this season.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
Out though, And I'm with you and I've been talking
about this ad nauseum for the last five years. This
team needs to just improve in some of those key areas.
The power play has to be even ten places better
than what it was, right, The defense has to be
a little better. Their goals against average needs to be
(25:21):
a little better. If you do those things than what
you talked about, those extra you know, couple wins, ten
wins might come and that just gets you that much
closer to the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Yeah, and even if you don't make it again, if
you can actually see actual improvement, it's something then that
you can build on, you know, so that you can
depending on what happens in the offseason next year, depending
on how things shake out for you in the draft,
depending on the development of your prospects, you could be
in a much better position at the end of twenty
(25:54):
twenty six, twenty seven, and.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
I can honestly tell you that the twenty sixth draft
is shaping up to be uh whoo. I mean, I
don't think we're gonna see a twenty six draft like
we've that's gonna be a once in a lifetime draft.
(26:18):
I think we're gonna be coming up on here.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Well, it's gonna be it's it's gonna be.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Well, I mean, McKenna obviously, Gavin McKenna is the prize,
you know, so you're gonna start hearing a lot of
you know, tanking, tanking for McKenna talk, and maybe some
Flyers fans would want that from this team this year.
I don't think though, bringing in somebody like Rick talktt.
I don't think that that's what you're gonna see. No,
(26:43):
you know, so, yeah, they they may end up actually,
you know, seeing improvement to the point where they don't.
Let's just say, their odds of winning the draft lottery
will be much.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Like pretty slim, Pretty slim.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Yeah, I mean happy with what you be happy with
what you got this year. In last year, you know,
I mean, hey, it's not only you didn't get nothing.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Right, right, that's true, that's true, you know.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
I mean Meechkov, yeah, meech Goff. You've got yourself a superstar. Yeah,
all the future superstars. So you know, just you know,
just start building around him, and yeah, you get the
best that you can out of the draft.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
The twenty twenty six draft is suposed well, it's going
to be deeper than this year's draft. Was no offense
to the kids who were selected this year. There may
be some really good players that come out of it.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
We don't know.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
I mean time, time will tell, but by most consensus
this this year's draft was not not particularly deep, and
the twenty twenty sixth one is supposed to be, with
McKenna being you know, the cream of the crop. So
the franchise the again another generational plip funny we're seeing,
you know, another generational player. We got one in uh
Celebrini two years in the twenty twenty four draft, and
(27:55):
Badard in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
So yeah, now, so maybe it's generational players. Hey, that's great.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I hope I hope they are, because that'll make the
league a lot more fun if you got a lot,
you know, a lot more really good young players.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
Exactly know back going to be the top dog.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Yeah, I mean, and I gotta tell you something, man,
I'm looking for San Jose in Chicago to take huge
jumps this year in just what they've done over the
last two seasons. I mean, they're I think they're that
step or two ahead of Philadelphia and they're rebuild.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Well, I mean, you look at what they got though,
I mean, yeah, there's a lot of well they really
burned it down to the ground though the Flyers Briaron
Company did not did not tear it down to the
studs like and San Jose did, because if they did,
connect me wouldn't be here anymore. Tip, it probably wouldn't
be there anymore. Couturier wouldn't be here anymore. You know,
(28:48):
they would have ditched those guys a long time ago.
So this is still you know, they've got what they've got.
It's a rebuild, but not a full fledged one. You
don't want to it's not a re tool. It's it's
kind of more of a transitional thing.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
I guess though.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
What you're transitioning, what you're transitioning from is from the
the freak show you had before with Fletcher to Yo
and Hextall and just yea commenting everything. Now you're hoping
that you've got stability and management, which and now stability
behind the bench. So going forward with what you've got,
(29:26):
and you know, you've got Connecting for a while, and
Couturier is still for a while for as long as
it back holds out and I'm not saying that to
be facetious, just literally for as long as back holds
out tip It.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
You know, you've got for a while as well.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
So these are still guys that you know, if you
can make, if you can get there within three years,
those those guys, especially Connecting tip it should still be
able to be productive for you.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
And what And within that three years, you're going to
see the Porter Martines, the jet Lichenkos, the you know,
you're going to see those draft pick the nez bits
and and all that stuff potentially you know, getting to
the point where they're going to be able to make
the team, you know what I.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Mean as well?
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Yeah, yeah, right, and and the Bark's and the bunks
and you know we've got quite a huge collection of
B players Bark Bonk brink.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
A brochette of B players.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Yeah, I mean the killer Bees. Right, Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
Boy, are we throw Yeah we are.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
We are making deep cuts here now, folks, we're going
back forty years.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
W w w w w killer.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Oh my gosh. Anyway, so uh back to the Flyers anyway,
off we go. Yeah, yeah, but no, it's it's yeah,
I'm excited for this year, but a little grain of salt.
It's going to be needed, you know, because it's going
to be It's still part of that rebuild, retool kind
of thing. And if they make the playoffs, okay, but
I'm really okay if they don't.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
And that's kind of where I was again, and refer
back to myself as a Habs fan. If they're one
thing that I can honestly say that was actually a
bit refreshing because being a Habs fan. And again I'm
going to date myself here. I've been a Montreal Canadians
fan since nineteen seventy one, when eight year old me
saw Ken Dryden basically stop Bobby Orr in The Big
(31:18):
Bad Bruins, and that at that point I had been
a Bobby orr fan. After seeing that series and seeing him,
I became a Montreal fan. Yeah, yeah, And I was
just fortunate that little did I know that at the time,
I was cheering for a team that was a dynasty.
But anyway, who who knew? I didn't.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
I was eight.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
I didn't know my hockey history though. But anyway, but
the one thing throughout most of my time as a
Montreal fan is every year was always the emotional roller coaster.
Is like, God, damn it, you guys are supposed to
be going for the cup cart. You know, it was
so much easier back in the dynasty years, but in
you know, since ninety three, been kind of a lot
(32:01):
of roller coaster up and down. But going through that
rebuild when they were when they tore it right down
and then started to rebuild, we were all on side
with it. And the one big thing ron I can
tell you is a lot of stress was gone because
your expectations were realistic. Now your expectations were realistic.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Perfect.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
That's the perfect way to say it, and that's the
way you have it. Yeah, that's perfect. And you know,
with the hiring of Saint Louis as coach, I think
that was a huge coup for the Montreal Canadians.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
And honestly, I was against it when it happened. At
the time I know, I thought it was Oh I did.
I thought, like, you know, what the heck is this? Like,
what are you trying to do?
Speaker 3 (32:47):
What are you trying to do?
Speaker 2 (32:48):
This guy has no experience coaching at any level other
than at his kids level. For heaven's sake, he coached
his kids games. It's like, what are you doing? Well,
just goes to show those of us who like to
think of ourselves as kind of want a thing or
two about a thing or two when it comes to
the NHL, sometimes you don't know everything.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
No, no, no, everything, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
That's what everything you thought?
Speaker 3 (33:09):
I thought you thought, But you're right.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
I mean, it turned out to be just you know,
it was you talk about outside the box hirings. Holy cow,
was that ever outside the box? But it worked well
for them.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
Yes, it did very much so, and that's an opportunity got.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
But that's why though.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
But regardless, you know, you could say, well, hiring talk,
it wasn't outside the box.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
They should have done that. But I disagree.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
And then in this instance, just because when I look
at the makeup of this team and look at what
they had before as a coach, I think you're better
off having having a guy like talk it, come in
there and and handle that in that situation. Yeah, because
Montreal situation back then for you was completely different from
what the Flyers are going through right now.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
Yeah, okay, I'll tell you what though, I'm really liking
the direction that the Flyers are going in. I'm really
like where Danny Brayer is putting this team. And I
like the fact that he has come out with a
plan and let everybody know what the plan is.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
It's stability. It's stability run in a nutshell. This is stability.
This is something that had been missing before he came in. Because,
honest to god, I mean after twenty twenty when you know,
I mean they had such a terrific season. I mean
you think back five years ago, I mean during that
COVID shortened season. But regardless, they made the play they had,
(34:30):
They looked really good, they made the playoffs. They were
really good that they upset Montreal.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
You know that. And Carrie Press was a hard fought
series though, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
But it was very entertaining.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
It was not one where I was like, oh yo,
Flyers are being a bunch of cheaps. No, no, no, no, no, no,
There was none of that. It was just as you said,
just a hard fought series between two teams I thought
were pretty evenly matched. Agree, But then after that, like
the wheels just fell off and it was just like
it was like a sense.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
Of panic just permeated everything. Yeah, and everything.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
And I mean to me that the straw, and I
think the straw that broke everybody's back was the whole
James van Riemsdyke thing at the trade deadline. Yeah, where
it looked like they had a trade. They traded him,
they were going to trade him at the last minute.
He was going to Detroit and then it fell there.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
But it was like what are you doing? What were
you doing? Why did you sit on this? And what
are you doing?
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Like that was everybody was puzzled, and that was it.
We all knew then there is big changes coming because
that was just embarrassing.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
You notice you don't see Chuck Fletcher as a general
manager anywhere.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
There's a reason for that, right.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
I saw him one time doing like an analyst thing
on one of the NHL Network shows. I saw him
like maybe a year or two ago, and that was it.
I just saw him on that one show and then
that was it. I've never seen him since or doing
anything else since then. So anyway, but we went way
off on a tangent on that one. So let's bring
(36:06):
it back on the fly or earth here. Like we said,
we think there's good meat on the bone here and
they're headed in the right direction. But don't be surprised
they don't make the playoffs. Cloud tell us where we
can find all of your great stuff, man, where we
can read all your great articles and get a hold
of you, my man.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
Well, the first place, of course is my website Specter's Hockey,
which I of course I update daily mainly you know,
you know the day's headlines and the room of trade
and free agent rumors, and I offer up my take
on all of them. You can also find my stuff
at the Hockey News, where I do a room a
round up for them. You can find me a Bleacher
report if you If you read German, you can read
(36:48):
my weekly column for Ice Hockey News in Germany. I
don't write German, but they take my work and they translate.
It's oh really, I know enough German to get my
face slapped, So that's there.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
Ambition.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Yeah, anyway, anyway.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
But uh and uh.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
I also uh during the regulars, during during the the
the course of normal NHL season. I also write from
my hometown paper here in charlotteown The Guardian.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
There you go, So that's.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Where you can find me all through it there and
if you need to get in touch with me, Spector's Hockey.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
At gmail dot com.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Hear from fans if they got any any any anything
they want to talk about hockey wise. As long as
you're not gonna email me to tell me I suck.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
We'll have all his uh links and all that stuff
here in the description that you guys can go check
him out, Spector's Hockey Man. Be sure to check out
all the great stuff and the great articles and all
the great things that Lyle does. Man, you got to
be sure to check that out.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
Hey, everybody, be sure you check out the Hockey Writers too.
These guys do great. I've been following I've been following
that site and all you guys for a long time.
Y'all are doing good work there, so you know, thank
you well done.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
Keep keep it up, guys, Siah.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
Thank you, Thank you very much. The Hockey Writers, Inc.
A Philadelphia Flyer centric podcast, top ten ranked Philadelphia podcasts
in all the land, four or five years in a row.
Thank you all very much for tuning in and checking
us out. You can find all the great stuff at
the new website rnjmediasports dot com. Check that out r
(38:27):
andjmediasports dot com. You can also follow me on Twitter
or x at RJ Underscore Media. That's r and J
Underscore Media. We will catch you all on the next
episode of The Hockey Writers, Inc.
Press boxes closed, but the mic is just getting warmed up.
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Inc. Join your host Ron
as we will talk all things Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh
Valley fans, Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the next episode
(00:32):
of The Hockey Writers Inc. With your host Ron. Hey,
how are you guys doing today? Man, We've got a
special special show lined up for you today, folks. That's right,
Episode number two oh two The Hockey Writers Inc. Welcome
is the great, the one and only Lyle Richardson.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
How you doing lot, I'm great, Ron, Thanks for having
me on.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Oh man, oh man. We can't wait to talk all
kind of things. Woo how about that? Folks. First of all,
would like to say thank you all very much for
hitting the like button and the subscribe button if you
like what we do, really appreciate that. Also, thank you
folks out there for helping to make The Hockey Writers Inc.
A top ten Philadelphia Flyers centric podcast. Thank you all
(01:19):
very much for that for five years in a row.
That's right, folks, All right, thank you all very much.
All you have to do is go to your favorite
podcasting platform tipe in The Hockey Writers Inc. Find us
give us a five star rating. That'll help us keep
us rolling. How you doing, all right, We're gonna get
rolling here. We got a lot of things to get
to here and a short time to get there, and
(01:41):
we got the great Lyle to get us there. So
let's talk about the elephant in the room, shall we
when it comes to the Philadelphia Flyers, and that is
Rick Tuckett hired as the coach Lyle. Look, we talked
about this on our Around the League show with the
great Ombie Puck guys a couple of weeks ago here,
(02:02):
and but I just kind of wanted to get your
in depth take, a little bit more deeper about what
your take is on the Philadelphia Flyers. So we briefly
touched on it when we were on the show, but
I want to get your full take on the whole
Rick tacket being brought back into Philadelphia. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Well, well, Ron, I mean, first of all, you know,
as I had mentioned on the show for talk at
this is coming home, we we know that he spent
considerable amounts of time as an NHL player as a
flyer back in the day, he was a beloved Flyer.
So you know, he's even said himself that This is
going to be very familiar feeling coming back, even though
(02:46):
you know the organization obviously it's changed and and everything's
different from back in his playing days. But he's he
knows what this team's you know, what this team is
now and what role they're doing, what his role will
be within it. And he brings con considerable experience. Obviously,
Jack Adams Award winner with the Vancouver Canucks in twenty
twenty three twenty four guided into one of their best
(03:09):
regular seasons ever. You know, you think back into you know,
back in the late the late twenty teams, if you will,
in twenty sixteen, twenty seventeen with the with with your flyers,
nemesis the Penguins, but you know, hey, back to back
to back.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Stanley Cupps there as an assistant coach.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
He was known as the as the as the Phil
kessel Whisperer because he was able to get to bring
out the bat. He was the one coach who could
bring out the absolute best in Phil Kessel. So and
of course he had he had considerable experience before that
as well. You know, he's been through it with rebuilding teams.
He did it before with place like Tampa Bay and
(03:49):
with Arizona. So he knows what he's getting into here.
He knows what his job is going to be here
is to work with the young players especially, and to
try and build this team up because they are rebuilding,
and you know, it's going to be a different style
obviously from what they had with John Tortorella. I mean Torts,
(04:09):
you know, yeah, see he you know, in twenty twenty three,
twenty four, he had that Flyers team played over.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Their heads obviously clearly.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Yeah, they they nobody expected him to make the playoffs
and the fact that they came oh so close to
doing so before they just collapsed down the stret They
just finally ran out of gas. Because Torts plays a
very demanding system, he got a lot out of them.
They tried to kind of, you know, to do the
same style again. The problem is for demanding coaches like Torts,
(04:39):
they have a short shelf life and after a while,
players get tired mentally and physically drained. And I did
not consider it a surprise that after Tortorella was relieved
of his coaching duties in mid March, that all of
a sudden the Flyers started playing better.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
And yeah, yeah, and you.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Felt like, you know, the weight was it off, like
the you know, like, oh my gosh, you know, we
don't have to worry about Tortorella's standing there, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
And yeah, at.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
The time, I thought Tortorella was the perfect coach to
come in and help right the ship because there was
a lot of turmoil between the past regime and the
new regime and the whole you know, interim coaches and
you know, interim gms and blah blah blah blah blah blah,
(05:31):
and it was a lot of turmoil there, I think
for a little bit of time there, and and flyered
him and now coming out on the other side of
it now, right, So now Danny Brears got his guy right,
because Tortorella wasn't his guy, even though he was part
of that conglomeration where.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
He was a.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Consultant at the time, you know. But now this is
Danny Briers team now, truly. Right, He's got his hockey operations,
he's got his uh, you know coach now and everything
else like that. So I think we are gonna see
(06:14):
a different Flyers team based off of just what Rick
Tocket's gonna bring. And I also think this too. I
think the first say fifteen games, we're gonna see a
very open style where you're just gonna see guys just
flying around. And the reason why I say that is
(06:35):
because I think I think Tockett is gonna try to
see what he has so that he can then start
to rein it in because there's a lot of moving parts,
a lot of new faces.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
You know.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
That's another thing that I want to kind of get
in here too as well, to a little bit but
a lot of moving parts here with this Flyers team.
So I think you're gonna see a little bit of that.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Well you will, but you know, and obviously he's he's
going to be a se them. But I think what
you're going to see too is you're not going to
see players trying to be forced to play a style
that they're not either used to playing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Or that are comfortable playing.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I mean, obviously you're gonna need to be defensively responsible.
I mean, you know, and the case of the point
perfect example will be you know, Mattvee Mitschkov. Again, you
know you've got a superstar scorer there, you know, but
even he acknowledged that, you know, yes, his defensive game
could have improved, could be better.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
He knows it, he acknowledges it.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
So yes, I mean, you're still gonna need to be
responsible in your own end, but you're not going to
get you know, nailed to the bench if if you
miss in the checking assignment, okay, or if you make
a mistake and the puck ends up in the back
of your back of your net, you're not.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Going to get screamed at. Yay.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
That that's not really Tacket style. He's not Tortorella light.
I mean, you do have to be responsible at both
ends the rink. But you know, he's gonna want to
have guys playing to their strengths as well, and that's
kind of what he's going to be doing, is trying
to identify that with somebody like Mitch Cough.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
That's easy.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
You know what his strength is, Okay, His strength is
scoring goals, setting up goals.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
It's goals, you know, you.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Know, right, yeah, yeah, But you know you're not gonna
want to try and turn him into into, uh, try
and make him a sulky candidate. Okay, You're not going
to try and turn him into you know, if their
killing penalties, that's not his strength. You know, yeah, obviously
that's what he's going to be trying to do. It's
it's just, yes, everybody's going to be responsible, you know,
(08:34):
at both ends of the ice. But we're not going
to try and fit square pegs into round holes here either.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
So you know, that's exactly what happened. What they tried
to do with Drew. They try to do it with Lawton,
They've tried to do it with Katurier. They've they've tried
to do it, you know, with all you know, the
laundry list of guys where they've tried to either make
them a winger or make them a center, or you know,
whatever the case is. Why can't y'all just have the
guy and just playing their national position novel concept, you know? Hey?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Well, and also I mean as well, they're they're rebuilding,
and everybody knows the rebuilding. So patience is allowed here,
Mistakes are allowed to be made, okay. I mean, and
I'll point to one of your Eastern Conference rivals, which
happens to be you know, my favorite team, which is
the Montreal Canadians. You know, for three years it was
(09:25):
you know, yeah, kind of grim, but everybody knew they
were rebuilding. Everybody knew mistakes are going to happen, you know,
but you learn from them and you carry on. But
what happened for them was that they had the right
coach there and they still don't found San Luis all day.
And I think that that's what you're kind of that
you're kind of looking at here. We're talking talk obviously
far more experiences san Luis, but he's going to be
(09:46):
more of a player's coach. Okay, so yeah, I think
that you're going to see you know that, Yeah, mistakes
are going to be allowed to happen, you know, just
learn from them, carry on, you know, if you keep
making this same mistakes, okay, we may have to crack
the whip here. But the bottom line is, don't don't
be afraid to take a chance. Don't be afraid that
(10:09):
if you make a mistake it'll end up in your.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Net key phrase right there. Don't be afraid to do
it because the coach is not going to be there
to crack the whip and and send you into the
doghouse and make you sit on the bench and watch
the you know, for two and a half periods, you
know what I mean? So okay, speaking of new coaches.
The Phantoms did the same exact thing. They said, hey,
(10:34):
and we appreciate what you did for us, buddy, here's
a cushy little front office job. But we're going to
bring in John Snowden. And uh, I'm pleasantly surprised at
who they brought in because they brought in a guy
who not only was an assistant coach under Laperier, so
(10:56):
that means he already knows everybody, yeah, you know, and
he was responsible for different sections of the team. So
plus he's got some pedigree. Oh, he's one at Maine.
He's one in the past.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
You know.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
He was with Prier when they were both at Maine. Yeah, right,
he was the assistant general manager or something.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
And and you know, also he would he won to
the Kelly Cupp in the ECHL with the Newfoundland Growlers, uh,
you know, and had two solid seasons with with them.
I mean, and he's been around, I mean he was
as a player. He went through the minor league ranks. Yeah,
he's he's coached and different things at all different levels,
(11:37):
mostly the minor leagues. So they're bringing in a guy
with all that experience and he knows what his job
is coming in there. His job is to help mold,
you know, the the young promising young players that are
going to be coming in those that are already there.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
And I'm thinking of somebody like, you know, like.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Bank Oliver Bonk is one, but that's you know, that's
just one for examle, just because I'm kind of high
on on that kid, and I think he's he's going
to be a stellar defenseman for the Flyers in the
in the very near future. But of course other kids
that are going to be coming through, you know. I mean,
you know, you could even look at like, you know,
Porter Martone, you know, I mean, that's going to be
(12:12):
coming in your your high draft pick from this year.
I mean, obviously he's going to be he's going you know,
he's going to be in the junior ranks again then
this year. But i mean at some point he could
end up, you know, with the Fandoms and uh yeah,
that's where it's going to be a perfect place, kind
of a good testing ground, a good place for him
to be able to transition from playing junior slash college hockey.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Whichever way he goes. He's going to college, that's right.
He is going to Penn State.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
That, Yeah, he's going to be joining Gavin McKenna. Interesting, Yes,
that's right. It's been a long summer. Oh yeah, yeay,
but yeah, no, but exactly, but at some point they're
going to need to make that transition over. Now some now,
he may be able to make that transition directly over,
may not even have to.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
To go to Lehigh Valley.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
But in case he does, you've got somebody there who's
approven minor league, a guy who's used to that, to you,
used to coaching these guys, and we'll be able to
help in that development, to get these guys.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Ready for the next step when they transition to the Flyers.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
I agree. And by the way, correction, I believe it's
Michigan State that is going to Yeah, Michigan State. Correction
on that one. So sorry about that. Like you said,
it's been a long summer, you know what I mean,
a lot of stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Going on, right, Okay, well not yeah, not a lot
of player activity lately. But yeah, all the all the
junior stuff and the college stuff was was over a
month ago.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
And that's yeah, exactly. Vacations that's my excuse, what's yours anyway?
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Yeah, I don't have one really just that there's a
lot of stuff going on and so.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
But it's very interesting though too Ron that again, this
is just part of again, as you would say, though
the coaching change with the Fantoms, it's just all part
of again of brierre you know, getting the people in
that he feels is going to be to be a
good fit. It's going to be able to to to
make his vision for this team. And there did the
rebuild come come through.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
And and the fact that Snowden and Tocket are going
to work together to create the same system for both
the Big Club and and and the Farm Club is
another thing that I think is another huge step in
the right direction. You look at a lot of some
(14:26):
of the successful teams you know out West, like LA's
and Colorado's, and look at how they're doing it, and
they're doing it exactly that way. You know, you've got
to be able to build for success, and I think
that that's what the Flyers are doing. And you said
it right there as well to Patients. We don't think
(14:47):
that the Flyers are necessarily going to make the playoffs
this year. It's one of those fingers crossed, but it's
not going to hurt him if they don't.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
No, as long as as long as you can see
the development, you can at least see the improvement is
coming like that, you know. And again I'm kind of speaking,
you know, as a Habs fan here, but you know,
but but seriously, I mean, you know, we knew the
team wasn't going to make the playoffs over those that
three year period that I'm talking to, you know, I'm
referring to, but we could see the individual improvement. We
(15:18):
could see some extra wins, some extra points, you know,
and the standings at the end of each season, and
so that made like last year, yeah, they weren't expected
to make it, but they did. They exceeded expectations and
made it. But you know, if you by looking back though,
you could see where the growth was coming that, you know,
if you're not seeing them significantly at least making some
(15:39):
improvement and moving up in the standings each year, it's
time to be concerned. If they're then then you worried
that they're spinning their wheels. But as long as you
can see development, and on an individual level too, you know,
especially with kids like Mitchkoff, you know, and and if
you can get improvement as well from a couple of
the additions that you know they made in the off season,
(16:00):
in which we'll be getting to, I know, Mac, Yeah,
that could also help them make significant strides.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
You know, perfect segue though, Let's talk about some of
those you know, additions that they've made, with one of
them being a huge addition being Trevor Zegras now being
brought into the fold. Look, there's been talk about this
Trevor Zegres thing now for what two years now to
(16:29):
come into the Flyers. So now let's go full circle. Now,
what two years ago they said, hey, let's bring in
Jamie Drysdale. All right, So we traded and got Jamie
Drysdale and so, and then we drafted Cam York and
we had Cam York on the team, and so Cam
York and Jamie Drysdale. Hey, all right, California guys, all right? Cool? Yeah, friends,
(16:50):
all right, cool? Now we got Zegres thrown in. Now,
now all three of these guys, right, are all friends
all you know, have all blah blah blah blah nine yards.
Now they're all on.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
The same team.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Yes, is Ziegress gonna be that much of a difference
maker on this team?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
He can be. He can be.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
I think for him, it's it's just a matter of
I think he really needed a change. Yeah, give him
the situation that he was having out there in Anaheim.
If you recall him me, and he came in and
had he listened. He had a terrific rookie season. I mean,
for heaven's sake, he wound up getting invited to the
All Star Game for their trick Shop competition. But I mean, hey,
(17:33):
it was enough that it garnered attention for his for
his puck handling skills, and he if memory serves, he
was a finalist for the Calder Trophy that year.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
And the you know, he had a sixty point season. Second,
you know, his sophomore season, Yeah, he was sixty points
over sixty points again, but the development was not what
the Ducks were hoping for. And then the injury just happened.
You had the contract which started with the contract holdout.
I shouldn't say hold it, but it was a standoff, uh,
and then he missed all the training camp they got
(18:05):
it signed, uh, and then he wound up getting hurt.
And then it just became one thing after another, and
the Ducks have also you know, they're a rebuilding team
as well. But there they were kind of in the
you know, just the stage of we don't know what
we're gonna be. They wound up changing management, then they
wound up going through different coaches, and excuse me, that
(18:27):
kind of has an effect on a player if you're
seeing different coaches every second year and they're trying to
change your system around your style of play.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Yeah, And and we know with Zegres, the Zegres prefers
playing center, but he's played mostly on the wing. Yeah,
so now he's probably gonna get a good opportunity here
to go back and and and play at the center position.
And you know, again, Tackett's gonna Tackett isn't gonna be
the type of coaches I said, that's gonna try that's
gonna coach to this kid's strengths here, okay, to try
(18:56):
and help him get his game back and forth. He's
back on the East Coast as well, because you got
to remember he's you know, he's I believe he's a
New York kid. So you know, he's back in the
East Coast. It's gonna that's gonna help as well. And
you know, maybe this is one of these things where
you know, having to change his scenery will do him
a world of good. Excuse me, under a different head coach,
(19:16):
where there's also a little bit more stability there now
as well. I'm just going to exactly and some familiar faces.
Jamie Drysdale specifically is their former teammates. So he's gonna
be an interesting one to watch. It's gonna be interesting
to see how well he meshes, you know, because you
know that they're gonna put him in a top six role.
(19:37):
They're not going to have him down on the checking
lines because quite frankly, that's a waste of his skills exactly.
So yeah, yeah, how well he meshes on those top
six forwards. Could he end up maybe even end up
centering mitchkoffin connecty you know, connect me excuse me, on
the same line on the top line, or could there
(19:58):
be something else that they have on the go there.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
But no problem with that. I'd be okay with that
all that long.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Well, hey, and if he does if he does mesh
well with those with those two guys, if they are
on the same line, or even if it's he's on
a line with Mitchkoff or on a line with connect
me and they're playing well. That will significantly help the
Flyers improve this year. Again, not to be a playoff
contender per se, but to at least show that positive improvement.
(20:29):
And they give you something to hope for and to
build on.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Exactly exactly with that addition, also Christian de Vorak being
added and then Dan Vladar in goal, and that's the
other kind of big, huge, giant question mark for the
Philadelphia Flyers this year. Look, all they need to do
is get a power play to like the mid twenties.
(20:54):
They just need to get their defense to like the
mid twenties, their goals against average into like the mid twenties.
And what I mean by mid twenties is like in
the league rankings, it you know, if you can get
to like twenty one, twenty two, but I mean that's
ten places better than what you were last year. Yeah,
that's probably five or six more wins. That's you know,
(21:17):
how many more points.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
And that power play, you know, to your point, I
mean that power play should improve. I mean, you've got
a decent you know.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
I was pulling it. Pull them up.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Now what their roster, you know, breakdown looks like you've
got a decent top six there. Okay, if you got
Meechkaw Couturion, connect me on your top line with Ziegris
and Tippet and Forrester on your second line, that should.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Be worth something.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
And don't forget you've also got Bobby Brink there as well,
so yeah, he can kind of go up and down
on on that wing there as well. Yep, So yeah,
it'll be interesting to see there. At least that should
help with your power play Dvorak. Yeah, I mean, you know,
as long as he's a steady he should be a
good guy for face off wins, help you kill some penalties.
(21:59):
He's not gonna he's not gonna score you a lot
of a lot of points, but that's not what you
brought him in for.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
He's there at the center, mostly center your fourth line.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
He can go and center your third line if need be,
but when he was in Montreal it was mostly fourth
line duty by the time he got to the towards
the final stage. But again, solid for face offs, which
you'll need in the penalty kill or you get have
him out there on a power play tour. Exactly, you know, yeah,
Dareth later, Yes, exactly, But I mean, it's gonna be
(22:30):
interesting to see the goaltending is gonna be interesting to
watch that because Erison, you know, he's got but I mean,
at least he was the most reliable, if you will,
of your Golders.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
But you want to call it that, okay, call it that.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
But he got overused. They had to, they had no choice.
He didn't have a did not have a good backup,
as you guys know. Uh so you know, bringing in
later that should help. And this is a guy he's
twenty eight, you know, and he's has been kind of
like you know, well, no, I don't really see myself
as a backup. I see myself as a starter. So
(23:06):
if these two guys can kind of push themselves, that
could also perhaps help maybe yeah, reduce that goals against
beverage and improve that say percentage. So again there's maybe
some wins stolen there if if that can improve and.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
If what you say as well too, because you're exactly right,
in the last two years, Erison has been completely and
utterly overused. And if he doesn't have to play as
many games. Look, we don't have that March hand brod
or goaltender anymore that's going to play sixty games. Nobody.
You don't have that in the league anymore.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Well in Connor hellibuck, but that's he's now a special case. Yeah,
to your point, most stories now they spread it out
now r Yeah, Okay, they've learned stop beaten the snot
out of your goalies.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Keep You want to.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Have that, well, you want to make sure they're fresh
if when you do make the playoffs. You know, I
mean part of the reason, I mean just kind of
side a little bit, but I think part of the
reason why Connor Helipek isn't so good in the playoffs
is because they got him playing over sixty games in
the regular season.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. By the time he gets to
the playoffs, he's like, man, all right, I'm kind of tired. Guys.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
That's the only thing I can figure. Because I don't
buy that he can't handle pressure. I think he I
don't think pressure is the problem. I just think that
he's overworked. But anyway, but yeah, if you spread out
your playing time, I think you'll see Arson will have
his stats will improve. And again if he and Valadara
can kind of you know, get that good good push,
they push each other in a good you know a
(24:37):
good friendly rivalry way. Yeah, that that will help the
Flyers win, win, steal some games, win some games, put
some extra points you know in the standings, and yeah,
you know, maybe get them within striking distance of the
playoff spot.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
But we both agree, though, and I think the consensuses
is that we're still gonna have to be patient for
this year.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Yeah, this season.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
Out though, And I'm with you and I've been talking
about this ad nauseum for the last five years. This
team needs to just improve in some of those key areas.
The power play has to be even ten places better
than what it was, right, The defense has to be
a little better. Their goals against average needs to be
(25:21):
a little better. If you do those things than what
you talked about, those extra you know, couple wins, ten
wins might come and that just gets you that much
closer to the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Yeah, and even if you don't make it again, if
you can actually see actual improvement, it's something then that
you can build on, you know, so that you can
depending on what happens in the offseason next year, depending
on how things shake out for you in the draft,
depending on the development of your prospects, you could be
in a much better position at the end of twenty
(25:54):
twenty six, twenty seven, and.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
I can honestly tell you that the twenty sixth draft
is shaping up to be uh whoo. I mean, I
don't think we're gonna see a twenty six draft like
we've that's gonna be a once in a lifetime draft.
(26:18):
I think we're gonna be coming up on here.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Well, it's gonna be it's it's gonna be.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Well, I mean, McKenna obviously, Gavin McKenna is the prize,
you know, so you're gonna start hearing a lot of
you know, tanking, tanking for McKenna talk, and maybe some
Flyers fans would want that from this team this year.
I don't think though, bringing in somebody like Rick talktt.
I don't think that that's what you're gonna see. No,
(26:43):
you know, so, yeah, they they may end up actually,
you know, seeing improvement to the point where they don't.
Let's just say, their odds of winning the draft lottery
will be much.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Like pretty slim, Pretty slim.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Yeah, I mean happy with what you be happy with
what you got this year. In last year, you know,
I mean, hey, it's not only you didn't get nothing.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Right, right, that's true, that's true, you know.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
I mean Meechkov, yeah, meech Goff. You've got yourself a superstar. Yeah,
all the future superstars. So you know, just you know,
just start building around him, and yeah, you get the
best that you can out of the draft.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
The twenty twenty six draft is suposed well, it's going
to be deeper than this year's draft. Was no offense
to the kids who were selected this year. There may
be some really good players that come out of it.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
We don't know.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
I mean time, time will tell, but by most consensus
this this year's draft was not not particularly deep, and
the twenty twenty sixth one is supposed to be, with
McKenna being you know, the cream of the crop. So
the franchise the again another generational plip funny we're seeing,
you know, another generational player. We got one in uh
Celebrini two years in the twenty twenty four draft, and
(27:55):
Badard in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
So yeah, now, so maybe it's generational players. Hey, that's great.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I hope I hope they are, because that'll make the
league a lot more fun if you got a lot,
you know, a lot more really good young players.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
Exactly know back going to be the top dog.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Yeah, I mean, and I gotta tell you something, man,
I'm looking for San Jose in Chicago to take huge
jumps this year in just what they've done over the
last two seasons. I mean, they're I think they're that
step or two ahead of Philadelphia and they're rebuild.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Well, I mean, you look at what they got though,
I mean, yeah, there's a lot of well they really
burned it down to the ground though the Flyers Briaron
Company did not did not tear it down to the
studs like and San Jose did, because if they did,
connect me wouldn't be here anymore. Tip, it probably wouldn't
be there anymore. Couturier wouldn't be here anymore. You know,
(28:48):
they would have ditched those guys a long time ago.
So this is still you know, they've got what they've got.
It's a rebuild, but not a full fledged one. You
don't want to it's not a re tool. It's it's
kind of more of a transitional thing.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
I guess though.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
What you're transitioning, what you're transitioning from is from the
the freak show you had before with Fletcher to Yo
and Hextall and just yea commenting everything. Now you're hoping
that you've got stability and management, which and now stability
behind the bench. So going forward with what you've got,
(29:26):
and you know, you've got Connecting for a while, and
Couturier is still for a while for as long as
it back holds out and I'm not saying that to
be facetious, just literally for as long as back holds
out tip It.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
You know, you've got for a while as well.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
So these are still guys that you know, if you
can make, if you can get there within three years,
those those guys, especially Connecting tip it should still be
able to be productive for you.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
And what And within that three years, you're going to
see the Porter Martines, the jet Lichenkos, the you know,
you're going to see those draft pick the nez bits
and and all that stuff potentially you know, getting to
the point where they're going to be able to make
the team, you know what I.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Mean as well?
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Yeah, yeah, right, and and the Bark's and the bunks
and you know we've got quite a huge collection of
B players Bark Bonk brink.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
A brochette of B players.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Yeah, I mean the killer Bees. Right, Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
Boy, are we throw Yeah we are.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
We are making deep cuts here now, folks, we're going
back forty years.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
W w w w w killer.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Oh my gosh. Anyway, so uh back to the Flyers anyway,
off we go. Yeah, yeah, but no, it's it's yeah,
I'm excited for this year, but a little grain of salt.
It's going to be needed, you know, because it's going
to be It's still part of that rebuild, retool kind
of thing. And if they make the playoffs, okay, but
I'm really okay if they don't.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
And that's kind of where I was again, and refer
back to myself as a Habs fan. If they're one
thing that I can honestly say that was actually a
bit refreshing because being a Habs fan. And again I'm
going to date myself here. I've been a Montreal Canadians
fan since nineteen seventy one, when eight year old me
saw Ken Dryden basically stop Bobby Orr in The Big
(31:18):
Bad Bruins, and that at that point I had been
a Bobby orr fan. After seeing that series and seeing him,
I became a Montreal fan. Yeah, yeah, And I was
just fortunate that little did I know that at the time,
I was cheering for a team that was a dynasty.
But anyway, who who knew? I didn't.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
I was eight.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
I didn't know my hockey history though. But anyway, but
the one thing throughout most of my time as a
Montreal fan is every year was always the emotional roller coaster.
Is like, God, damn it, you guys are supposed to
be going for the cup cart. You know, it was
so much easier back in the dynasty years, but in
you know, since ninety three, been kind of a lot
(32:01):
of roller coaster up and down. But going through that
rebuild when they were when they tore it right down
and then started to rebuild, we were all on side
with it. And the one big thing ron I can
tell you is a lot of stress was gone because
your expectations were realistic. Now your expectations were realistic.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Perfect.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
That's the perfect way to say it, and that's the
way you have it. Yeah, that's perfect. And you know,
with the hiring of Saint Louis as coach, I think
that was a huge coup for the Montreal Canadians.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
And honestly, I was against it when it happened. At
the time I know, I thought it was Oh I did.
I thought, like, you know, what the heck is this? Like,
what are you trying to do?
Speaker 3 (32:47):
What are you trying to do?
Speaker 2 (32:48):
This guy has no experience coaching at any level other
than at his kids level. For heaven's sake, he coached
his kids games. It's like, what are you doing? Well,
just goes to show those of us who like to
think of ourselves as kind of want a thing or
two about a thing or two when it comes to
the NHL, sometimes you don't know everything.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
No, no, no, everything, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
That's what everything you thought?
Speaker 3 (33:09):
I thought you thought, But you're right.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
I mean, it turned out to be just you know,
it was you talk about outside the box hirings. Holy cow,
was that ever outside the box? But it worked well
for them.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
Yes, it did very much so, and that's an opportunity got.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
But that's why though.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
But regardless, you know, you could say, well, hiring talk,
it wasn't outside the box.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
They should have done that. But I disagree.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
And then in this instance, just because when I look
at the makeup of this team and look at what
they had before as a coach, I think you're better
off having having a guy like talk it, come in
there and and handle that in that situation. Yeah, because
Montreal situation back then for you was completely different from
what the Flyers are going through right now.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
Yeah, okay, I'll tell you what though, I'm really liking
the direction that the Flyers are going in. I'm really
like where Danny Brayer is putting this team. And I
like the fact that he has come out with a
plan and let everybody know what the plan is.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
It's stability. It's stability run in a nutshell. This is stability.
This is something that had been missing before he came in. Because,
honest to god, I mean after twenty twenty when you know,
I mean they had such a terrific season. I mean
you think back five years ago, I mean during that
COVID shortened season. But regardless, they made the play they had,
(34:30):
They looked really good, they made the playoffs. They were
really good that they upset Montreal.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
You know that. And Carrie Press was a hard fought
series though, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
But it was very entertaining.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
It was not one where I was like, oh yo,
Flyers are being a bunch of cheaps. No, no, no, no, no, no,
There was none of that. It was just as you said,
just a hard fought series between two teams I thought
were pretty evenly matched. Agree, But then after that, like
the wheels just fell off and it was just like
it was like a sense.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
Of panic just permeated everything. Yeah, and everything.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
And I mean to me that the straw, and I
think the straw that broke everybody's back was the whole
James van Riemsdyke thing at the trade deadline. Yeah, where
it looked like they had a trade. They traded him,
they were going to trade him at the last minute.
He was going to Detroit and then it fell there.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
But it was like what are you doing? What were
you doing? Why did you sit on this? And what
are you doing?
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Like that was everybody was puzzled, and that was it.
We all knew then there is big changes coming because
that was just embarrassing.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
You notice you don't see Chuck Fletcher as a general
manager anywhere.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
There's a reason for that, right.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
I saw him one time doing like an analyst thing
on one of the NHL Network shows. I saw him
like maybe a year or two ago, and that was it.
I just saw him on that one show and then
that was it. I've never seen him since or doing
anything else since then. So anyway, but we went way
off on a tangent on that one. So let's bring
(36:06):
it back on the fly or earth here. Like we said,
we think there's good meat on the bone here and
they're headed in the right direction. But don't be surprised
they don't make the playoffs. Cloud tell us where we
can find all of your great stuff, man, where we
can read all your great articles and get a hold
of you, my man.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
Well, the first place, of course is my website Specter's Hockey,
which I of course I update daily mainly you know,
you know the day's headlines and the room of trade
and free agent rumors, and I offer up my take
on all of them. You can also find my stuff
at the Hockey News, where I do a room a
round up for them. You can find me a Bleacher
report if you If you read German, you can read
(36:48):
my weekly column for Ice Hockey News in Germany. I
don't write German, but they take my work and they translate.
It's oh really, I know enough German to get my
face slapped, So that's there.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
Ambition.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Yeah, anyway, anyway.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
But uh and uh.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
I also uh during the regulars, during during the the
the course of normal NHL season. I also write from
my hometown paper here in charlotteown The Guardian.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
There you go, So that's.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Where you can find me all through it there and
if you need to get in touch with me, Spector's Hockey.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
At gmail dot com.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Hear from fans if they got any any any anything
they want to talk about hockey wise. As long as
you're not gonna email me to tell me I suck.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
We'll have all his uh links and all that stuff
here in the description that you guys can go check
him out, Spector's Hockey Man. Be sure to check out
all the great stuff and the great articles and all
the great things that Lyle does. Man, you got to
be sure to check that out.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
Hey, everybody, be sure you check out the Hockey Writers too.
These guys do great. I've been following I've been following
that site and all you guys for a long time.
Y'all are doing good work there, so you know, thank
you well done.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
Keep keep it up, guys, Siah.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
Thank you, Thank you very much. The Hockey Writers, Inc.
A Philadelphia Flyer centric podcast, top ten ranked Philadelphia podcasts
in all the land, four or five years in a row.
Thank you all very much for tuning in and checking
us out. You can find all the great stuff at
the new website rnjmediasports dot com. Check that out r
(38:27):
andjmediasports dot com. You can also follow me on Twitter
or x at RJ Underscore Media. That's r and J
Underscore Media. We will catch you all on the next
episode of The Hockey Writers, Inc.
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