Retro Post - Philadelphia Flyers: What If Ed Snider Hadn't Taken a Risk?

This retro feature is being re-posted due to the upcoming start of the new hockey season...

Ed Snider traveled to see a sporting event with a friend nearly 50 years ago. That New York Rangers hockey game made such a positive impression on him that he later took a business risk. In so doing, the Philadelphia Flyers were born.

Risk and reward

Rewards aren't guaranteed in business, or in life. Snider used his free will when he decided to invest in a National Hockey League expansion franchise in the late 1960s, with no guarantee of success. 

If his team would have flopped, it might have gone the way of the Cleveland Barons. A hardcore reference that has been noted for all hockey aficionado's. 

Brains and talent

As the Flyers built their 1970s reputation and won back-to-back Stanley Cups against the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres, arenas around the League were filled to capacity along the way. Everyone wanted to see one of the world's greatest shows. 

Yes, the team hasn't won the Cup since then. But, it has gone to the last round six times since those fabled 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons.

So, what if?

If Snider hadn't taken the risk, hockey may not have started in Philadelphia as soon as it did. Where's the evidence that any other person, who may have founded the franchise at any other point in time, would have made a go of it?

The sheer amount of media members that cover the team's home games indicate that there is more than a small, hardcore, contingent of Flyers fans in the region, as has been suggested over the years. It's likely a broader group, as evidenced by the amount of street and inline hockey programs that exploded in the 1980s and ice hockey programs that have been created at high schools across the surrounding region during the past two decades.

In other words, the base has grown since the fall of 1967.

Also, the Reading Royals wouldn't exist if it weren't for the Flyers. And that ECHL hockey team, located in a small town over an hour from Philadelphia, attracts almost four thousand fans per game.

Loyalty counts

Don't forget that Snider built the CoreStates Center in 1996 (now known as the Wells Fargo Center) with almost total private funding. All sports facilities could be built without making the public become a partner through forced, back door, taxation.

There is no sense of entitlement within the Flyers organization. They have earned their way through Snider's example. His straightforward business approach is simply this: Work hard, don't be afraid to spend money and try to win every single season.

Flyers' fans are smart and have always recognized that their team consistently tries to succeed. And with that, loyalty will continue to reign.

(I hold all copyrights to this article which originally appeared on Yahoo's platform in 2011. Photo credit: cdn1.vox-cdn.)

Behind the NHL scenes: Philadelphia Flyers verses Ottawa Senators

(The Zamboni prepares the ice at the Wells Fargo Center approximately an hour before game time.)

Introductions

Most preseason predictions didn't have the Philadelphia Flyers making the playoffs this season. Rookie head coach Dave Hakstol was an unknown factor, having left the college ranks in North Dakota to work in a high-profile East Coast hockey town. His impressive collegiate career and demeanor convinced the Flyers' brass that he deserved a shot.

There's no way to know how a Craig Berube-coached team would have performed this year. Would the addition of Shayne Gostisbehere in the early part of the season and the increased masked differential that Michal Neuvirth offered, verses Ray Emery, have resulted in a similar playoff push reality this April? It's debatable. However, the very unusual move of removing 'Chief', while retaining his entire staff, to assist Hakstol's National Hockey League transition, can't be overlooked.

General manager Ron Hextall, who worked through his first year last season, evaluated everything and made a gutsy decision. An organization that has been known and harshly criticized for its loyalty, changed direction, replacing a Flyer with an outsider. Hextall's patient approach defies the on-ice demeanor that he exhibited when he embodied number 27 in and around the crease during a 13-year hockey career.

Philadelphia's short-term future may include a playoff appearance this spring, but even if it doesn't, depth within the lower levels is real. Similar to the 1980's teams, continued infusions of youth will repopulate the roster for cascading future seasons. And with that, it appears that the Flyers are building toward perpetual contention and therefore, a realistic chance at the ever-elusive third Stanley Cup ring.

First period

Steve Mason started in goal, again. Andrew Hammond led the Senators, who were recently eliminated from playoff contention, as were all of the Canadian teams. That rare seasonal distinction, among non-United States teams, was last realized during the 1969-70 campaign.

This period wasn't flat, but the teams basically took turns appearing in each other's end of the ice, with little sustained high-percentage opportunities. Each goalie made a few decent saves, but the shot total (Flyers 10 - Senators 9) reflected an even frame and produced a double goose egg on the scoreboard.

Second period

Wayne Simmonds tipped Jake Voracek's intentionally aimed blue line shot past Hammond at 1:30 into the period. It was his twenty-seventh of the season. The power play goal gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead.

Then, on a another man-advantage, Sean Couturier poked in a puck that Brayden Schenn initially attempted to push past Ottawa's goal line. Assists went to Schenn and Simmonds. It was Coot's eleventh of the season.

Chris Neil was assessed with a 10-minute misconduct penalty (17:35) just prior to Mike Zibanejad blowing a shot past Mason's left pad, at close range, with 2:12 left in frame. His nineteenth goal was assisted by Mike Hoffman and Cody Ceci.

The Flyers headed into the final period of their last game of this season against the Senators with the thinnest of leads. The two-period result wasn't surprising, as these Eastern Conference occupants split their first two games earlier in the hockey year, both of which were played at the Canadian Tire Centre north of the border.

Third period

Simmonds scored his second power play goal of the game (and twenty-eighth overall) at 7:15, with assists to Voracek and Schenn. This important tally gave the Flyers breathing room, putting them up by two over the Sens. Ceci's earlier penalty enabled his team to fall into this 3-1 hole. Will Simmer break the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career? With five games to go, it's surely possible that he reaches that impressive mark.

Radko Gudas earned two-minute minor penalties (11:34) for interference and slashing during a scrum that saw Neil tagged with two minutes of roughing time. Hoffman subsequently scored his twenty-eighth of the season 12:28 on the ensuing power play, with assists to Erik Karlsson and Bobby Ryan. However, it wasn't enough as the Flyers held on to win 3-2. Ottawa's 36-35 shot advantage underscored the evenness of the battled that ensued.

The win pushed the Flyers (91) to within two points of the New York Islanders (93), who were shutout by the Pittsburgh Penguins (98 points). Philadelphia, the eighth-ranked team in the Eastern Conference, and New York (seventh-ranked) have five games remaining on their schedules. These longtime rivals play each other at the Wells Fargo Center in the last game of the season on April 10, which is a makeup of an earlier snowed-out contest.

After the horn sounded

Hakstol was his normal disciplined self in the post-game presser. With his daughter and a member of the Flyers' PR staff, Joe Seville, standing off to the side, the first-year head coach reviewed the game with the preciseness of a grizzled bench boss. Hextall's man clearly has implemented a team-wide style that plays shift-by-shift, period-by-period and game-by-game. A playoff berth is in the offing with ten possible points to gain. Detroit, ninth in the Conference, sits just outside Wild Card position, with 89 points and four games showing on its 2015-16 docket, and Boston, who lags just behind the Red Wings as of today.

When asked by the media about defending a one-goal lead late in a game, Hakstol said, “Mentality and the ability to stay aggressive and stay on your toes. That’s exactly what that shift says. We kept it in the offensive zone, we kept the clock winding without a whole lot of whistles as we went down the stretch. Because of that we were able to stay on our toes and stay aggressive and that’s exactly what Belley’s line did on that shift.”

Mason's play has been key to the Flyers' surge. After the game he said, “A lot of what I’m doing has to do with the guys in front. I think overall we’re playing real solid hockey and in turns makes my job a lot easier. We’re scoring goals at probably our best clip of the year too, so that also helps. We’re still in tight games, but we’re having the confidence for guys that they’re going to find the back of the net and that’s a nice thing for a goaltender to have, knowing that the guys are going to come through for you and more than anything like I said earlier it’s fun coming to the rink and expecting to play.”

Speaking about the playoff push, Giroux said, “I think we’ve been doing a good job. We were maybe what eight points off maybe two months ago. We told ourselves to focus on our game, how we play, and we’ve been doing that so I’m not too sure what the game was with Pittsburgh and the Islanders, but at the end of the day it doesn’t matter to us, so we just have to be ready for next game.”

Philadelphia's relentless push since February has earned the organization kudos across the League. Their opportunity to play post-season hockey isn't an accident. No, Hextall, Hakstol, his coaching staff and the orange iced boys have earned a chance to shine. Next up is tomorrow's game against the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

Let's connect on Twitter @SeanyOB, through Facebook, or on LinkedIn. 

Behind the hockey scenes: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Today's behind-the-scenes report will be different than past efforts. Instead of providing total game details, I want to blend the past, present and future together.

Introductions

After the standard security check-in, similar to what paying fans experience at the gate, early press arrivals head to the Balcony Level, where the media's workspace exists. After setting up, lunch down at the Event Floor level with Philadelphia Flyers' staff takes place. The TV and radio announcers along with former National Hockey League faces, scouts, etc., can also be seen eating a nice lunch before game time. Then, back up the elevator shaft to finish preparations for the early-afternoon game.

Peering down at the Wells Fargo Center arena (as the lead photo to this feature shows), ghosts of the Spectrum are evoked prior to the start of an unexpectedly crucial mid-March game. Playoff implications were in play for both Eastern Conference teams today. Ron Hextall, the hero of 1987, was watching aside of the press level location where I was stationed. He, more than any current player, appears to be demonstrating the ability to create extended shots at Stanley Cup III. If Philadelphia had defeated the greatest offensive team of all-time, the Edmonton Oilers, in the spring of 1987, would Hextall be the Flyers' general manager today? An unknowable answer that will be revisited later.

Organizational loyalty, faulted by many for the team's inability to hoist Lord Stanley's prize, is never noted when Gene Hart's daughter, Lauren, looks to the skies. And, with the National Anthem sung to perfection once more, the players, the officials, and the fans became the focus this Saturday afternoon on the last day of winter 2016.

The big pre-game news involved Jake Voracek's return to action, as he'd been missing since last month due to injury. Steve Mason, who started in place of expected starter Michal Neuvirth, looked from one crease across the Philly pond at Marc-Andre Fleury as the opening face-off ensued.

First period

The Pens outshot the Flyers 11-4. Some penalty kills proved to be the only 'highlight's' of the frame.

The enduring passion of the fans has underscored the true success of this franchise. Seven appearances in the Cup Final since the last moment of glory in 1975, and yet sellouts, or mostly filled buildings, have been seen ever since. This blueprint (correction, orange print) shows how every business should honor its customers.

Second period

Radko Gudas scored his fourth goal of the season to break the double shutout at 1:58 into the period. Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds assisted. But, the lead only lasted slightly over a minute, as Trevor Daley scored his fifth goal of the year (at 2:59), as assisted by Nick Bonino and Eric Fehr.

Carl Hagelin scored his ninth goal of the season at 16:56, assisted by Bonino, to give the Pens a 2-1 lead. Then, with 1:35 remaining in the frame, Chris Kunitz scored his fifteenth, with assists credited to Sidney Crosby and Patric Hornqvist. Pittsburgh was thoroughly dominating, posting 25 shots, to Philadelphia’s eight, at that point in the game.

The 25-9 shot split, which showed on the scoreboard, belied a tough challenge heading into the third. To this point, it seemed that the Flyers' recent playoff push had an energy zapping effect. More importantly, the Pens were up to today's task.

Third period

An apparent late Pens' goal took place with 1:38 remaining and a Masonless net. However, the play was reviewed. Kris Letang received credit for the tally (his fourteenth of the season), with assists to Kunitz and Crosby. And, the game ended in a 4-1 victory for the Flyers' cross-state rival.

Pittsburgh stymied Philadelphia's offensive attempts, as the Flyers had minimal opportunity in the center zone from the defensive blue line through to the opposing net. Philadelphia's solid shot totals in recent weeks allowed their goal differential to be cut to -4 (185 goals allowed, 181 goals scored) before today's game. That mark probably must be pushed to double-digits (on the positive side) if even the eighth playoff space is able to be colored orange by April 10, which is the last scheduled game of the regular season.

The Penguins now have 86 points (11 games remaining) and currently hold a Metropolitan Divisional spot. The Flyers stay at the 80 point mark (12 games remaining) and are one point behind the Detroit Red Wings, who play the Florida Panthers tonight. 

Takeaways

Down the media-packed freight elevator after the final horn. We meander our way toward the locker room and then to the post-game presser with Hakstol. His workman like demeanor, seen in full view after games, is what this developing group needs. Hextall's choice of the former North Dakota coach is proving to be sound. Hakstol appears to maintain a balanced view of present circumstances and future goals.

He advised that Voracek's first game back was what he expected. His 9:46 TOI reflected the first reconditioning segment. Future games will allow him to regain skating legs and endurance after suffering an ankle injury in February. Neuvirth's situation wasn't defined as being connected to a recent team flu bug, or to injury. His status will be further defined by Monday, at the latest.

The head coach began his presser by saying, “Well, I think they played a good hockey game. It was a day where we couldn’t find any energy and we just couldn’t get ourselves going in the right direction. Obviously, it comes at a bad time and against the wrong team, but that’s what it is. We looked like we had spent a lot of energy, maybe a lot of emotional energy, on the back to backs with Detroit and Chicago. We just couldn’t find that same energy tonight, so we got to put it behind us real quick and get back at it.”

Claude Giroux, speaking about the Flyers' effort said, "...maybe it looked like the effort wasn’t there, but it was there. The last month and a half I think we have been playing some really good hockey. You are going to have games like tonight where it is not going your way. A lot of frustration on our part. You are going to have games like that. Like I have said before, we aren’t going to win every game for the rest of the season. It is going to be how we are going to respond to this. This year, well the last two months, we have been doing a good job when we get a tough loss we always bounce back."

Voracek, commenting on his return, said, “No. I don’t want to say the percentage wise, but I was still favoring a little bit of the left leg. It didn’t eliminate me as much as my hands did today. I think  I coughed up a couple of pucks, which I expected it was going to happen and we have to find a way to help the team to win a game the next time.”

Mason, commenting on his unexpected call to start said, "That’s just the nature of the position sometimes. Sometimes you get called on short notice. That’s kind of why you prepare everyday as if you were going to play."

The Flyers travel to play the New York Islanders on Monday. Like the Pens, the Isles are also ahead of the Flyers in the standings and are in playoff position as of this weekend. Philadelphia's strong push from February through St. Patrick's Day week merely made a post-season spot possible. This team's work will remain hard through its last 12 games.

My own experience as a modest freelancer is always ready to be offered as proof of how generous this NHL organization is. It doesn't have to allow me, and my fellow freelance colleagues, access. Yet, it does. An initial interview I conducted with Bernie Parent opened the doors for me. That connection developed through a friend (Dan Morroni) and then, as he told me, I took it from there. Chances do present themselves in life. When they arise, taking them doesn't always result in lasting success. However, not making the effort back then would almost certainly have led nowhere.

A final glance from the inside

Up the elevator once again with various scribes. Passed Dave Brown, Flyers' Director of Player Personnel, after arriving at Press Level. Brown's hockey player presence disappeared with the mild-mannered well-wish he offered me as we passed. A fitting send-off to today's experience, as nearly five seasons behind-the-hockey scenes have allowed me to increasingly learn what the hockey world is all about. From the beginning, through today, I've enjoyed sharing these experiences with readers who live in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and elsewhere across the globe.

And, as I prepare to leave, the arena isn't empty. A final glance over my packed bag shows two local teams cutting the ice below.

Let's connect on Twitter @SeanyOB, through Facebook, or on LinkedIn. 

Inside Access: Boston Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers

It's a privilege to cover an NHL game. I've been fortunate to have worked professionally for nearly 25 years, with approximately half of that time (combining all FT, PT, and freelance efforts) spent in various sporting worlds. And such was the case today, January 10, 2015, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. 

Iced Pregame Tidbits

Bruins 21-15-6, 48 points (110 goals scored, 110 goals allowed)

Flyers 16-18-7, 39 points (111 goals scored, 123 goals allowed)

Through 120 games as the Flyers' head coach, Craig Berube has a 58-45-17 record (133 points, .554 winning percentage).

Into this twelfth NHL season as a head coach for the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and Bruins (since 2007-08), Claude Julien has a combined record of 450-266-10(ties)-94 through 818 games (1,004 points, .614 winning percentage). Julien's post-season accomplishments include leading the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup championship since 1971-72, when the B's defeated the Vancouver Canucks in seven games in 2010-11. The Bruins also were Eastern Conference champions in 2012-13.

Former Flyer Simon Gagne left the Bruins in early December. His indefinite leave of absence was due to his father's terminal illness (cancer). Pierre Gagne passed away the day after Christmas.

The Flyers have a small chance of making a legitimate playoff push unless a number of players who aren't named Jakub Voracek, Claude Giroux and Mark Streit begin scoring on more-regular basis.

Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier are having decent offensive seasons. But, each player needs to contribute to greater degrees. Whether those individual expectations are fair is a different question.

Patrice Bergeron (11 goals) and Brad Marchand (10 goals) rank as the only Bruins with double-digit goal totals.

Flyers' starting goalie: Steve Mason 8-12-6, .919 save percentage and a 2.48 GAA started in goal for the Flyers.

Bruins' starting goalie Tuukka Rask had a 16-10-6 record, .913 save percentage and a 2.52 GAA.

First Period

Early fight Adam McQuaid – Nick Schultz resulted in a 2-minute power play and a game misconduct for the Bruins' defenseman.

7:07 into game, Mason leaves after suffering some type of injury after making a save. Appeared to be a right-knee issue. Ray Emery (7-6-1, .893 save percentage, 3.19 GAA) relieved 'Mase'. Would 48-year-old goalie coach Jeff Reese sign a one-day contract during the game if needed in an emergency situation? All jests aside, an orange defender would surely stand between the pipes.

11:23 - 18-year-old David Pastrnak (#88 was the first round pick of the Bruins last summer) scored his first NHL goal in his seventh career game. Assists: Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara.

Shots: Bruins 10, Flyers 8

Notes: Offensive pressure inconsistencies continue. Evident in shot total and of course, goose egg showing for Flyers during first period intermission.

Second Period

Notes: A few Flyers' power play chances went by the wayside. Through 45 minutes of play Philadelphia had only managed 13 shots. However, the Bruins also sported a meager 14.

When shot totals represent the lede after a period ends, the on-ice action was surely not compelling.

Total shots: Flyers 16, Bruins 14

Third Period

4:48 Pastrnak nets second goal of game/career. Assists: David Krejci and Adam McQuaid.

9:51 Chris Kelly's short-handed goal (1^st SHG of season/6^th of career, 10^th overall goal) seemingly cinches game for B's. Assists Loui Eriksson and Zdeno Chara. Boston's fourth short-handed goal of the season. Kelly, an original Ottawa Senator (2003-2011) is on pace to top seasonal career-high (20 in 2011-12, with the Bruins).

Despite numerous PP chances and late-third period shot total lead (20-18). Flyers can't sustain any pressure. Rebound shots anyone?

14:13 Claude Giroux scored his fourteenth goal (on a direct, non-rebound shot). Assists: Mark Streit and Jakub Voracek.

Emery pulled with less than two minutes to go in the game. 30-second timeout called. No goals resulted by the time the final horn blew.

Notes: Mounting pointless' games are leading to an inevitable non-playoff season, barring a Broad Street-based miracle from now through spring. Craig Berube didn't have much to offer postgame, at this press conference. But, at this point what can he really say?

Final score: Bruins 3, Flyers 1

Final shot totals: Flyers 25, Bruins 18

Final thoughts

While the Flyers didn't apply much pressure, Bruins' goalie Tuuka Rask deserves credit for defeating Philadelphia, as he only allowed one shot past the goal line.

All-Star game selections were set to be announced at 6pm ET on game day. As a result of existing rules and deservedly so, former Flyers' coach Peter Laviolette (Nashville Predators) was tapped to lead the Eastern Conference, while Darryl Sutter (Los Angeles Kings) will lead the Western Conference squad. The first NHL All-Star game in three seasons, due to the League lockout and subsequent Olympic Games, is set to take place on January 25.

Kimmo Timonen's approaching medical test results, related to his blood clot condition, will determine this veteran's immediate and apparently, most-likely, hockey future. Considering the life-threatening position he could put himself in, it seems ill-advised to even consider doing anything more than remaining on the scratched list during what could be the final season of his long and impressive career. But, risk is an individual assessment.

Mason's medical evaluation is now the more-pressing issue. As a side-note, he was the first player scheduled to address the media after the game. But, he didn't do so.

Next up: Tampa Bay. The Lightning serve as the Flyers' last opponent in the four-game homestand and currently sport an Eastern Conference-leading 58 points (27-12-4, 58 points). Tampa Bay has a fifteenth-ranked defense (110 goals allowed), but an NHL-leading 138 goals-scored.

*There are plenty of quality hockey resources available. Bill Meltzer's ever-great HockeyBuzz blog, David Strehle's always-insightful Twitter feed @DstrehleTFP and connected articles, and Charlie Flowe's WorldSportsShow.com are worth regular digital reads. 

Covering a Flyers Game Live (Inside Access) Part 5

TY to over ---920,000 readers--- of my Yahoo Sports, Interview and News articles since 2/1/11. http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/977720/sean_obrien.html

Flyers - (Inside access)

Continuing with my notes about what it's like to cover a Flyers game from the press level:

When the third period buzzer sounds all members of the press head to the Flyers locker room level. From there the "main stars of the game" are brought in to be questioned by the media. An excellent team PR staff coordinates all of this activity in a manner that is indicative of respect and recognition of the importance the resulting publicity means for their business.

While there are a lot of bodies in the room, it is an organized affair. Each player is asked a number of questions as the next man up comes into the room. The remainder of the team is not in the room at that time.

What can't be seen in the camera's eye is the sheer volume of media. It's interesting to see just how successful the risk Ed Snider's took has been. Had his idea flopped, the Spectrum would have never been a stepping stone to the building of the Wells Fargo Center.

Hockey players are a generally courteous bunch. In many cases, this is indicative of their Canadian and Eastern European roots. In effect, these workers are using their specialized skills in the United States to the benefit of tens of millions of people and for themselves.

All of the historical photos on the walls of the locker room are reminiscent of the old Spectrum days. This sense of history certainly is felt by the players who see them every day.

After our time with the players had finished we then went to a separate press room, where coach Laviolette came to have his post-game press conference.

That is where we will pick up next time.

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