Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers announced the firing of head coach Dave Hakstol on Monday.

The team's executive vice president and general manager, Chuck Fletcher, released the following statement:

"After meeting this morning with Dave Hakstol and thoughtful consideration, I have decided to relieve him of his duties as head coach. As I continue to assess the team, I feel that this is the best course of action for our group moving forward. I'd like to thank Dave for his service to the team and the organization. Scott Gordon will serve as head coach on an interim basis."

Dave Isaac of USA Today reported that assistant coach Kris Knoblauch was running the team's practice on Monday.

The Flyers have dramatically underachieved to open the 2018-19 season, starting 12-15-4 with just 28 points, fewest in the Eastern Conference. Only the Chicago Blackhawks (26) and Los Angeles Kings (25) have fewer points than the Flyers last season.

In Hakstol's three-plus years as head coach, the Flyers reached the postseason twice, though they failed to advance past the first round. There is time to reverse course for the Flyers, however, as the team is eight points back of the third Metropolitan Division playoff position and 10 points back in the Wild Card chase.

The Flyers have been busy reshaping their leadership this season amidst the poor start, as Fletcher replaced former general manager Ron Hextall in early December. And Isaac has reported that Joel Quenneville has been offered the position and will accept the job, a move that was contemplated by the team as early as November:

"After announcing the firing of Hextall as general manager, [Flyers governor Dave] Scott told reporters from the Courier Post, Associated Press, Delaware County Daily Times and Allentown Morning Call that Quenneville's name came up immediately when he was fired by the Blackhawks on Nov. 7. The idea of hiring him was broached with Hextall, but 'Ron was saying, 'Let's stay the course,'' Scott said."

For the time being, however, Gordon—the head coach of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms—will hold the position. 

The Philadelphia Flyers announced the firing of general manager Ron Hextall on Monday after three-plus seasons.

Team president Paul Holmgren issued a statement:

"The Flyers organization has decided to relieve Ron Hextall of his duties as executive vice president and general manager. We thank Ron for his many significant contributions, but it has become clear that we no longer share the same philosophical approach concerning the direction of the team. In light of these differences, we feel it's in the organization's best interests to make a change, effective immediately. I have already begun a process to identify and select our next general manager, which we hope to complete as soon as possible."

Philadelphia is 13th in the Eastern Conference and seventh in the Metropolitan Division, having lost of five of their past six games. The two-time Stanley Cup champions also have the second-worst goal differential in the East.

The Flyers made the playoffs in two of Hextall's first three seasons as GM but were eliminated in the first round each time. The franchise has missed the postseason only four times since 1994-95.

Coach Dave Hakstol voiced his opinion to the media on Hextall's firing:

"It's a tough morning, a tough morning for all of us. Certainly for me, personally. Ron brought me here to do a job, and I'm going to continue to focus and work at doing that job to the best of my abilities. That's what I told the players. We've got a job to do today. Let's go out and do it to the best of our abilities. We're not where we want to be. We have a better hockey team than we're at record-wise. We all got to own that."

Players seemed to be taking the news hard as well.

"I don't know what's going to be the next step, but we can tell that nobody is safe, and it's all about winning," forward Jake Voracek told the media.

In September, the Philadelphia Flyers introduced Gritty, their new mascot. Gritty has gone viral for his antics on social media and around the Philadelphia area.

Watch the video above for more on the newest mascot sensation.

        

Bleacher Report is your No. 1 stop for what's trending in sports. You can count on B/R for all the hottest stories. From wild sports to the next big thing, don't miss out.

Download the free Bleacher Report app to catch all the moments that matter in one place. Get the app to get the game.

Former Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Scott Hartnell announced his retirement from the NHL after 17 seasons Monday morning:

pic.twitter.com/Cn6Arbd4zi

— Scott Hartnell (@Hartsy43) October 1, 2018

Hartnell, 36, was a 2012 All-Star and appeared in the postseason 11 times. For his career, he scored 327 goals and registered 380 assists.

Hartnell's prime came with the Flyers (2007-14), where he posted five seasons with at least 20 or more goals and twice exceeded 30 goals. With Hartnell, Philly reached the postseason in five straight seasons between 2007-12 and six times overall, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in the 2009-10 season.

He began his career with the Predators (2000-07) before finishing it with the organization this year. He scored 13 goals and added 11 assists in 62 games this season. After his run with the Flyers, he also spent three seasons in Columbus (2014-17).

In his prime, Hartnell was a solid scorer who wasn't afraid to play physically or drop the gloves. He was also one of the game's better personalities:

Former Flyer Scott Hartnell has announced his retirement from NHL

He made it fun. He was a pleasure to deal with. Was great with fans

Now there are only 4 players left in NHL that were on the Flyers 2010 Stanley Cup Final team. Can you name them?#HartnellDown pic.twitter.com/TVp7oRmw8m

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 1, 2018

Scott Hartnell calls it a career. He was such an effective player throughout his career and was one of the best interviews in the league. Always gracious with his time and thoughtful with his comments. Happy retirement! https://t.co/kbnsqKb5R8

— Robby Stanley (@RStanleyNHL) October 1, 2018

After not being an everyday player for the Predators this past season, however, Hartnell indicated in June he was ready for retirement if the right offer didn't come along over the summer.

"There's no secret I'm at the twilight of my career," he said, per Adam Vingan of the Tennessean. "If my career was over this past season, I've got so much to look forward to. I've got no complaints [about] the way my career has [gone]."

He added: "If there's a call in July and it's the right opportunity and the right fit for me and my family, I think we'll take that if I am comfortable with the role I want to play. But if it doesn't come to that and it doesn't turn into anything, I'm ready to move on, too. I have lots to look [forward to] here in my after-hockey-playing years."

Philadelphia Flyers forward Jori Lehtera has reportedly been questioned by police in Finland regarding allegations he was involved in a cocaine ring.

According to Frank Seravalli of TSN, Finnish news service MTV.fi reported that Lehtera has denied any wrongdoing.

Police reportedly raided his cottage in Tampere, Finland, over the summer, but no charges have been filed.

The 30-year-old Lehtera is set to enter his fifth NHL season.

Last season was his first with the Flyers after he spent his first three campaigns as a member of the St. Louis Blues. In 2017-18, Lehtera registered three goals and five assists for eight points in 62 games.

Philly acquired Lehtera and two first-round picks from the Blues in exchange for forward Brayden Schenn in June 2017.

In 280 career regular-season games, Lehtera has 33 goals and 75 assists for 108 points.

Lehtera will enter the final year of his contract in 2018-19 on a salary of $5 million if he makes the Flyers' roster, according to NHL Numbers.

Philadelphia will open its regular-season schedule on Oct. 4 with a road game against the reigning Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights.

On the heels of one of his best NHL seasons, winger James van Riemsdyk is returning to where it all began, as he reportedly agreed to a free-agent deal with the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. 

According to ESPN's John Buccigross, Van Riemsdyk is set to sign a five-year, $35 million contract with the team that originally drafted him.

In 2017-18, JVR netted a career-high 36 goals to go along with 18 assists for 54 points with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 29-year-old forward also added three goals and one assist in seven playoff games, as Toronto fell to the Boston Bruins in the first round.

Van Riemsdyk entered the league with plenty of hype after the Flyers selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft.

Although he showed flashes of brilliance, the American lasted only three seasons with the Flyers before they traded him to Toronto in 2012 for defenseman Luke Schenn.

JVR found his stride as a goal scorer in Toronto, and he has struck at least 27 goals in each of his past four full seasons.

From an all-around perspective, it can be argued the 2016-17 campaign was Van Riemsdyk's best, as he finished with 29 goals and 33 assists for a career-high 62 points.

While much of the focus was on youngsters such as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, JVR's skill helped tie everything together.

Van Riemsdyk is the ideal power forward for the current NHL, as he is listed at 6'3" and 217 pounds, but he also has quick hands that allow him to pull off some impressive feats in high-percentage areas on the ice.

Although JVR hasn't quite lived up to his full potential and put up numbers becoming of a No. 2 overall draft pick, he is a consistent scorer, and he has appeared in at least 80 games in four of the past five seasons.

Since the Leafs have to worry about locking up their young stars to long-term deals in the near future and also signed John Tavares away from the New York Islanders, re-signing van Riemsdyk was something they couldn't afford to do.

Toronto's loss is Philadelphia's gain, as JVR has developed into a strong supporting-cast player capable of playing an important role in the top six.

The Flyers already have a strong forward group that includes the likes of Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Sean Couturier, Wayne Simmonds and Nolan Patrick, and it can be argued that JVR's return gives them one of the NHL's best offensive attacks.

The Philadelphia Flyers haven't advanced beyond the first round of the NHL playoffs since the 2011-12 season. General manager Ron Hextall is tasked with upgrading the roster with more depth beyond its star power, led by Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek.

Philly would benefit from improving the left side of its defense behind Ivan Provorov and could still use a little more firepower up front for its top six. Fortifying both areas this summer should make the team tougher to play against in the postseason.

So let's check out some trade rumors involving the Flyers with the 2018 NHL draft now in the rear-view mirror and free agency on the horizon.

            

Wayne Simmonds On The Block?

Simmonds is coming off a season where his goal (24) and point (46) totals reached five-year lows. While those are still respectable numbers and his presence on the power play is consistently valuable, the drop off combined with the fact he's entering the final year of his contract makes him a trade candidate.

Michael Russo of The Athletic reported the Flyers are "gearing to potentially trade" the 29-year-old Canadian winger before possibly losing him to free agency next summer.

Simmonds does possess a modified no-trade clause that allows him to provide a list of 12 teams to which he can reject a trade, per Steven Loung of Sportsnet.

Last week, Hextall told Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada that "we're going to try and sign him" amid speculation about a potential trade.

If the sides can't come to an agreement, then a trade comes into play, especially because Philadelphia possesses solid depth on the right side with Voracek and Travis Konecny.

The best option is likely moving Simmonds for a defensive upgrade without taking on much, if any, additional salary. That would allow the front office to retain some financial flexibility while trading from a position of strength to address an area of need.

           

Flyers Among Ryan O'Reilly Suitors

If Philly can achieve that Simmonds deal, it would leave the door open to acquire O'Reilly, who would instantly fill the team's void as a top-line center.

The rebuilding Buffalo Sabres have their future top-six centermen in Jack Eichel and Casey Mittelstadt, creating a logjam down the middle. Trading ROR, who carries a $7.5 million cap hit through the 2022-23 season, makes the most sense to improve a roster that lacks speed and youth on the wings.

It's a situation that makes the sides ideal trade partners.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported Buffalo likes Philly's "very deep pool of young players throughout their organization" and O'Reilly "would fit the type of guy that organization wants," making the Flyers one of the top candidates to land the two-way stalwart.

The 27-year-old veteran scored 61 points (24 goals and 37 assists) in 81 games for a Sabres team that ranked last in the NHL in goals per game last season. Putting him between Giroux and Voracek would have the potential to create monster results.

All told, trading Simmonds and acquiring O'Reilly in separate deals—Buffalo isn't likely to want a player at the back end of his prime on a short-term contract—could reshape the Flyers' roster enough to help them make a deeper playoff run next season.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Couturier battled through a significant injury for his team during Games 5 and 6 of its first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

According to Adam Gretz of NBC Sports, Couturier revealed he tallied a hat trick in Sunday's 8-5 loss—which gave Pittsburgh the 4-2 series win—all while playing with a torn MCL. John Boruk of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported the injury would have kept Couturier out for at least four weeks had it been the regular season.

Gretz noted Couturier missed Philadelphia's 5-0 loss in Game 4 with the injury after he collided with teammate Radko Gudas during practice.

Couturier also had two assists in Sunday's loss, meaning he was a direct factor in each of Philadelphia's five goals after he tallied the winning goal in the third period of Game 5.

During the regular season, the NHL named Couturier as one of the three finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, which is given to the forward who is best on the defensive side of the ice. Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins and Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings were also finalists.

Couturier was durable throughout the season and played all 82 games. He tallied career-best marks nearly across the board with 76 points on 31 goals and 45 assists and was also a plus-34, per ESPN.com.

After a historically bad defeat on Wednesday, the Philadelphia Flyers evened their playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 5-1 victory in Game 2 at PPG Paints Arena. 

The Flyers' 7-0 shutout loss 48 hours earlier was the franchise's worst performance in any opening game of a playoff series. It also marked their fifth straight defeat against their in-state rivals this season. 

Five different Flyers scored in the win. Shayne Gostisbehere, who didn't have a goal in the past nine games, got them on the board in the first period. Travis Konecny and Nolan Patrick opened things up with two goals in the first five minutes of the third period. 

o say the Flyers weren't happy after their Game 1 effort would be an understatement. Team captain Claude Giroux didn't mince words about what happened on Wednesday night. 

"It's one of the worst games I've been a part of," he said, via NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Boruk. "We've got to play better and play with a little bit more attitude. We've got a day here to think about it. We're going to get out of this together, win the next game and go back home 1-1."

Philadelphia was able to accomplish that last goal thanks to things like Konecny not giving up when he found even a slight opening in the Penguins' defense:

Now this is just straight-up nasty, Travis.

3-0 Flyers 🤩 pic.twitter.com/9XrCOkIKrO

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 14, 2018

It also helped that Brian Elliott rebounded from a disastrous showing in Game 1—allowing five goals in 29 minutes—with an outstanding performance. The 10-year veteran stopped 34 of Pittsburgh's 35 attempts, and left Sidney Crosby flummoxed after denying him a goal in the second period.

U mad Sid??

Flyers still up 2-0 at the end of the second period 😎 pic.twitter.com/tAEA1WMBMF

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 14, 2018

Crosby was at the center of Pittsburgh's Game 1 destruction with three goals in just 16 minutes of ice time. The Flyers only allowed him to get two shots on goal in Game 2. 

The Athletic's Jesse Marshall summed up the story of this game in one line:

Brian Elliott is playing the game of his life. There's your recap so far.

— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) April 14, 2018

Elliott has been at the center of Philadelphia's struggles against the Penguins this season. He entered Friday with a 6.42 goals-against average and .835 save percentage in three games against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions this season.

This is the first time all season Pittsburgh hasn't scored at least five goals in a game against the Flyers with Elliott as the starting goalie. 

While the Penguins were constantly the aggressor with 35 shot attempts, the Flyers were much more methodical in their approach. They only took 19 shots but were able to beat Matt Murray four times. The fifth goal came in the final minute when Pittsburgh pulled the goalie to get an extra man on the ice. 

Per ESPN Stats & Info, this performance was the worst postseason game of Murray's career:

The 4 goals allowed by Matt Murray are the most he's given up in his 17 career home postseason games.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 14, 2018

The Flyers cleared their first hurdle on the path to knocking off the Penguins. They still have a lot of work to do if they will advance beyond this series, but Friday was a terrific first step just to prove they can beat this team. 

Philadelphia knew what was at stake with this game, played like the team that needed to win and will head back to the Wells Fargo Center for Game 3 on Sunday with a chance to put the Penguins' back up against the wall by following this blueprint to success. 

Radko Gudas will miss the next 10 games after the NHL announced a suspension for an illegal hit on Mathieu Perreault of the Winnipeg Jets. 

During Thursday's game, the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman slashed Perreault in the back of the head, earning a game misconduct in the process. The Jets went on to earn a 3-2 win.

Perreault picked up a high-sticking penalty for knocking off Gudas' helmet, although the response clearly was excessive.

The 27-year-old is in his third year with the Flyers after playing with the Tampa Bay Lightning in his first three seasons. He was a valuable two-way player last season, tallying a career-high 23 points with a plus-minus of eight.

However, he has been quiet offensively this season with just two assists and zero goals in 17 games.

Of course, his biggest issue has been staying on the ice after gaining a reputation as somewhat of a dirty player. He has two different seasons of more than 100 penalty minutes and currently ranks fourth in the NHL with 57 minutes in 2017-18. 

Per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, Gudas was also punished more harshly as a repeat offender. He was suspended for six games last year for interference during a preseason game.

With Andrew MacDonald and Samuel Morin already dealing with injuries, the Flyers could be thin at the blue line for the next few weeks.