Quick Hits: June 13, 2024
1) In the newest installment of the "Offseason Spotlight" series on the PhiladelphiaFlyers.com, we
look at Cam York's 2023-24 season and the keys to him taking the next step in his development in the NHL. York won the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial award this past season as the Flyers most improved player (as selected by his teammates).
In the interest of full disclosure, I am a big believer in York. I cast my vote for him in this year's Barry Ashbee Trophy balloting for the Flyers' top defenseman. Over the first half the season, I felt that Travis Sanheim was Philadelphia's top blueliner. For the season as a whole, though, I felt that York narrowly edged out Sanheim. I voted Sanheim for second place, and Nick Seeler for third.
Sanheim ended up winning the Ashbee, and it was a justifiable choice. Even so, by the time the season ended, I felt that York was the team's most consistently reliable blueliner on a game-in and game-out basis.
2) Regarding the availability of Patrik Laine in the trade market this summer: I would be leery of whether the Finnish forward would co-exist with Flyers head coach John Tortorella
significantly better than they did in Columbus.
That said, Laine has seen some time at center during his career (although he's primarily been a winger). The Flyers clearly need to add a goal-scoring forward, preferably down the middle. Laine, at 26, is at a crossroads in his career and definitely needs a change of scenery.
This past season, Laine had a concussion and a collarbone injury. He was also a healthy scratch for the first time in his NHL career (he was benched in-game by Tortorella in Columbus, but not scratched). In late January, Laine entered the NHL's Player Assistance program to deal with personal issues. He did not play again the rest of the season, finishing with 18 games played (six goals, three assists).
Back in 2017-18, Laine scored 44 goals as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. Seasons such as those were expected to be the norm for the second overall pick of the 2016 Entry Draft. He dropped the next season to a still-solid 30 goals but has not reached the 30-goal mark thus far in the 2020s. Injuries have been hindrance.
Laine has been something of a divisive player for a number of years. Critics say he's too one-dimensional (specifically in terms of being suspect off the puck and fitting within team systems). On the flip side, the 6-foot-5 forward is demonstrably one of the best pure shooters in the NHL and he knows how to get to his shooting sweet spots.
I would not be shocked if Laine, who has two seasons remaining on his $8.7 million AAV contract before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency, has a big bounceback campaign for another team either in 2024-25 or 2025-26. However, I don't Philadelphia is the ideal place for him. It's not just about Tortorella. I think Laine's best fit is with a contending team that already has some established top-end scorers he could supplement. I'm thinking about clubs like Colorado or Vegas as places where Laine could thrive once again (especially when he reaches a contract-drive season next year).
3) June 13 Flyers Alumni birthdays: Vyacheslav Butsayev (1970), Doug Crossman (1960), Dale Kushner (1966), Danny Syvret (1985).
4) Today in Flyers History: June 13
1971: The Flyers trade defenseman Larry Hillman to the Buffalo Sabres for forward Larry Mickey.
1979: After the merger of the NHL with the WHA, the Flyers lose rugged winger Dave Hoyda to the Winnipeg Jets in the Expansion Draft. Philly also loses minor leaguer Bernie Johnston to the Hartford Whalers.
1987: The Flyers acquire backup goaltender Mark "Trees" Laforest from the Detroit Red Wings in exhange for a 1987 second-round Draft pick (Bob Wilkie).
1995: The New Jersey Devils close out the Eastern Conference Final with a 4-2 home win over the Flyers in Game 6. An early goal by Jim Montgomery does not hold up for the Flyers. They trail 2-1 after the first period and 3-1 after the second period. Claude Lemieux puts a 4-1 stranglehold on the game midway through the third period. Mikael Renberg gives the Flyers a sliver of hope, assisted by Eric Lindros and John LeClair, with a power play goal at 16:29 but Martin Brodeur and company slam the door the rest of the way. New Jersey goes on to sweep the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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