He has also written for the Sporting News, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. The latter three all participated in the recent IIHF World Junior Championship. The Daily: Dominating performance for Red Wings pick Kasper in Rogle win; Horvat to Islanders? He got only half the game Friday, with Detroit opting to split the net between Cossa and free-agent invitee Andrew Oke, but it was the best Ive seen Cossa in person. Source link. The team consists of 24 recent draft picks, free agent signees and tryouts who will battle against prospect teams from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs. Now its a different story. He is a versatile, experienced forward who can play both the left and right side. n.loaded = !0; He has already logged 141 games in the Swedish League and has established himself as a two-way defenseman with a heads-up playing style. But its also real. Few benefited more than the Phantoms. Russo, Jan. 18, As the #mnwild keep winning, Matt Dumba knows his days in Minnesota could be nearing an end, Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) January 18, 2023, Word is that teams keep poking around on Boeser and are exploring it in a more realistic manner trying to see how they could make it work. The Wild have started to get calls (the Oilers and Senators have reportedly shown interest), but Guerin has been candid in the fact that hed only trade Dumba if he can get another defenseman in return or in a coinciding trade. Yeah, we should be able to move forward and take advantage of that.. Before the season, the Flyers dealt unhappy defenseman Pitknen (who had quietly asked for a trade) to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for winger Joffrey Lupul and veteran defenseman Jason Smith. It's still going to be another two years before there's any chance that Detroit Red Wings fans will be seeing forward Dmitry Buchelnikov on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Theres $6.5 million in dead-cap money on the Panthers books this season from buyouts for Keith Yandle ($5.4 million) and Scott Darling ($1.1 million). At 3:23 of the second period, Forsberg scored to knot the game at 2-2. Voit muuttaa valintojasi milloin tahansa siirtymll yksityisyydenhallinta-asetuksiisi. The energy is similar.. Esche got the nod for the postseason. His mission in Traverse City is to be himself, to play his game, and to learn all he can about playing at the NHL level. The Flyers seemed to have one of the deepest attacks in the NHL at this point, and both Kapanen and Amonte supplemented the speed brought by Gagne (limited by injury this season to 49 games). What else are we hearing? However, after collecting 4-5-9 numbers in three games, SKA official were reaching a decision to promote the 5-foot-9, 150-pound left-winger to SKA-Neva St. Petersburg of the VHL, Russias Second Division. Finally, Roenick scored on a beautiful shot to end the series. Before long, the rest of the 2006-07 season became a mission to root out the players who didnt want or didnt deserve to stay with the team. They are high on his potential. Up to that point, hed never worked for another NHL organization. If you want to point to an example of why I have resolve, if you look at the game in Colorado (on Jan. 10) where we were up, we gave back the lead, and it ends up 4-4 and all of a sudden, we come back and find a way to win (5-4). Another rugged young forward, Josh Gratton, had a few cups of coffee in the NHL. Theres no doubt in my mind that Klingberg on a contender would begin to look like his old self again, but still, that just seems like too high a price. 6 pick will be the biggest draw of the event, with fans wanting to get a glimpse of the towering Swedish blueliners first appearance in a Red Wings uniform. Yeah, you dont know, Zito said. I think hes done a great job, Zito said of Maurice. Jul 14, 2022 The Wild have talked to Vancouver about it, and Boeser returning to his home state would be a good story, but it doesnt sound like Minnesota feels it can make it work cap-wise unless the Canucks eat a significant portion of the contract. The 19-year-old blueliner also helped Team Sweden to a bronze medal at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, averaging 22:27 time on ice and recording two points (1-1-2) in six games for Sweden. Delaney Rimer writes about the Detroit Red Wings for THW who brings a new perspective to the hockey scene as a young female in the industry. Analysis is from The Athletics Eric Duhatschek, Pierre LeBrun and Michael Russo. After the season, the Flyers signed Biron to a two-year contract extension. The series was now tied at 2-2, but the Penguins had the look of a beaten team. Edvinsson might be the best all-around prospect at this tournament, so expectations are high. If he continues to produce in the new year, he could move up our board because hes a guy who gets to the net and knows how to pot goals. There have been few more disappointing NHL teams than the Panthers in the first half of the 2022-23 season. In light of the recent #Flames trade board we dropped earlier this week, I collaborated with @charlieo_conn on a deep dive. Fraser Minten, a 2022 second-round pick for the Maple Leafs, could be a name to look for in this tournament. They edged out rookie Fedotenko, who made the most of a late October recall from the AHLs Philadelphia Phantoms. The 2007-08 season started off red hot for the Flyers. He was +7 in helping Canada win the gold medal. Seven defensemen will be hitting the ice in Traverse City with Simon Edvinsson leading the list. Case in point: After Horvat previously had been connected with the defending champion and preseason favorite Avalanche, this week in conversations with executives and agents around the league, The Athletic heard about the potential for the Canucks captain to head to either one of the top two teams in the 2022-23 league standings: the 34-5-4 Bruins or the 27-9-8 Hurricanes. Camp was a disappointment, and the player was assigned to the Phantoms. Required fields are marked *. It might have been seven players if injuries had not limited Briere to just 29 games (11 goals, 25 points). I really do.. The Flyers took first place in the Atlantic DIvision during the 2001-02 regular season, but suffered a nightmarish five-game exit at the hands of the Ottawa Senators. But this tournament is a good opportunity for the Red Wings to see Hanas against some players who will be older and more experienced than he is. He has a lot to prove during this tournament as he is heading into his first season with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL). Fourteen of the 24 players on the roster are former Red Wings draft picks, with the two first-round picks in addition to two second-round picks, three third-round selections, two fourth-round picks, two fifth-round choices, two sixth-round picks and a seventh-round pick. Little appeared in 26 regular season games and two playoff contests. Piercey is 20, so his first year of draft eligibility was back in 2019-20, when he had 34 points in 62 games. Formerly, she wrote for Octopus Thrower- a Detroit Red Wings fan blog. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. With Tom Poti in the penalty box for tripping, a Briere shot was blocked back to Timonen at the point. Offensively, he is more of a playmaker than a goalscorer but still has the confidence and skill to tally points for himself while being a consistent presence on the ice. From Sept. 15-19, a handful of prospects will be taking the ice in Traverse City to show hockey . However, historically, NHL teams send 19-year-old goalies back to junior hockey. Detroit had a stacked roster coming into the 2022-23 season, but these three may be in Detroit sooner than later, especially if they finish the tournament and training camp strong. Playing for SKA in the preseason Sochi Tournament, Buchelnikov was earning honors as the top forward in the event. We can turn this thing around. Thus, the veteran leader remained with the team. He skates well and has a powerful slap shot in addition to being able to work the puck through a crowded offensive zone. Its a tightrope for the reigning Presidents Trophy winners, though. Hes a goaltender who is both skilled in his technique but also his natural reactions, which paired with his athleticism means he can follow the puck around his crease and make those crucial saves. Kapanen was knocked woozy by a crushing hit from Torontos Darcy Tucker. Phantoms goaltender Antero Niittymki, an All-Star game participant during the regular season, captured the Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP after he outdueled countryman Kari Lehtonen (then considered a future NHL franchise goalie) in each of the four games. LeBrun, Jan. 3, The key with Meier is the structure of his contract. On special teams, Richards scored eight power play goals. Its also leading all U20 players in the VHL. It was a celebratory skate, moments after the Red Wings had taken a decisive 5-2 lead with 5:16 left in their opening game of the 2022 NHL Prospect Tournament. Not even his team-leading 16 points (9g, 7a) in 18 postseason games did justice to what a force Primeau was in the 2004 playoffs. All Rights Reserved. They dont need to be instant, but if both can pop quickly, its a good sign for Edvinsson. So would his first-quarter play entice teams with playoff aspirations in desperate need of a center? I dont blame the Ducks at all for trying. Action will be officially underway Friday, Sept. 16 as the Red Wings face off against the Blue Jackets, which will be their first of three games. He pledged to bring stronger structure and defensive commitment back to the Flyers. You might have ideally liked to see the defenseman take charge a bit more with the puck, especially early, but Edvinsson looked characteristically smooth, poised and effective on the back end for Detroit. Tietosuojakytnnstmme ja evstekytnnstmme voit lukea listietoa siit, miten kytmme tietojasi. His second was a shot from the low circle, off a great pass from forward prospect Cross Hanas. Can Kirill Tyutyayev steal the show again? We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously, Welcome to your new home for Detroit Red Wings breaking news, analysis and opinion. The highlight for me recently was in Detroit (on Jan. 6), when we were just OK and he was really, really solid. The Detroit Red Wings have its second game in three days for the Prospects Tournament against St. Louis tonight at 7pm. In the third period, a Desjardins power play goal at 4:47, gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead theyd maintain for the rest of the game. Johnsson, meanwhile, proved to be a very valuable addition to the Flyers blueline with Desjardins, now 32 years old, dealing with injuries. Christian Kyrou is one of the most recent additions to the Dallas Stars organization from the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft. In the playoffs, before the searing disappointment of losing Games 5, 6, and 7 against the Devils, there were several moments that have gone down among the most memorable in the annals of franchise history. In this moment, it puts the Panthers in no mans land as they approach the March 3 trade deadline. The Flyers lost only one of their first 12 games in the season (9-1-2-0) on their way to a 107-point regular season (45-20-13-4) and yielded a mere 166 goals across the 82-game schedule. Dumba said Wild general manager Bill Guerin has been honest with him and his agents that he could be traded after years of outlasting trade rumors and surviving two expansion drafts. Injuries, especially in goal, further complicated the issues. 22) that was soon dubbed the Deuces Wild line. Hes a 6-foot-6 behemoth playing reasonable minutes (16:44 per night) and providing modest scoring numbers (18 in his first 43 games) for a thin Coyotes team. The wildly inconsistent Cechmanek recorded two shutouts, as the Flyers won Game 2 (2-0) and Game 4 (1-0). Veteran Jon Sim, an in-season acquisition, posted 35 goals and 61 points after coming over the Phantoms and then added 10 goals and 17 points in the playoffs. Kent Johnson puts Canada up late in the first with the Michigan! Frjestad won the SHL championship and he had played 19 postseason games with two goals and six assists. The other standout prospect at forward, for me, was 2020 second-rounder Hanas. You could just see him rounding into form. Primeau was the Flyer most likely to score it or set it up. But even in a somewhat limited. But its a real thing. Bertuzzi has seen limited action this year he broke one hand back on Oct. 15, missed 13 games, then shortly after returning to the lineup, broke the other hand. In his first season as a Flyer, JR led the team in points (67 points in 75 games) and assists (46). Derian Hatcher shrugged off a mounting history of knee injuries to dress in 77 games, while former San Jose Shark Mike Rathje dressed in 79 games in his only reasonably healthy season in Philadelphia. Now Im just here, he said, trying to make a good name for myself.. However, television replays during the second intermission showed that LeClairs goal actually wide of the post and somehow went through the outside of the netting. The Red Wings prospects will be playing in three games over the course of the tournament. Former Swedish pro: Kasper will be playing for Red Wings next season, Red Wings Have Will and Want, But Wins Have Yet to Follow, Red Wings Surrender Two Leads in 4-3 Loss to Arizona. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hes signed for another two years after this season. As a rental (from Columbus to Carolina last year), he produced modest results six points in 14 playoff games. However, on the whole, the 1999-2000 season was a successful one for the team. Yale alum Ben Stafford, who left pro hockey after the season to attend medical school and then a military career with the U.S. Marine Corps, dressed in all 80 regular season games and all 21 playoffs for Stevens team. Edvinsson recorded 19 points (2-17-19) in 44 games for Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League and led league rookies with an average of 19:46 time on ice en route to being named a finalist for the SHL's Rookie of the Year Award. A gritty forward with offensive potential, he has good hands in close and can score goals in a variety of ways. Longtime general manager Bob Clarke retired to an advisory role with assistant general manager Paul Holmgren stepping up as interim GM. Tarasenkos original trade request came more than a year ago; but now that his eight-year, $60 million contract is down to its final months, hell be easier to move. He has also written for the Sporting News, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He can use that speed to get back on defense or join the rush without hesitation. Its still going to be another two years before theres any chance that Detroit Red Wings fans will be seeing forward Dmitry Buchelnikov on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. The safe money is on a return to the WHL for Cossa, but you can bet after winning the league last season the ambitious netminder would love to make a case to play in Grand Rapids. Los Angeles projects to make the postseason, but its roster has one major hole left-shot defenseman. Simon Edvinsson begins his roster push. A midseason trade that brought ultra-reliable veteran defenseman Marcus Ragnarsson to the Flyers (in exchange for San Jose) was a boon to Philadelphias second pair.Averaging 20:40 a night of ice time, Ragnarsson became one of Hitchcocks most trusted players. The group that Detroit sent to the tournament look ready for the new season andlook quicker than ever. The series of brawls were a carryover from a game in February, when Recchi was slashed in the face by Ottawas Martin Havlat. He is more of a playmaker than the average defenseman may be and understands how to create chances down the ice. In net, veteran Jeff Hackett was brought in to split time with Esche but a severe bout with vertigo eventually took Hackett out of the picture. Johansson has played three pro seasons in Sweden, so he should be plenty comfortable against the competition, and his feet are some of the best in Detroits system. Aside from the recent hardships, hes a strong right-shot winger with strong skating and playmaking abilities. The biggest additions came at the tail end of the regular season and during the Calder Cup playoffs after the Flyers top two prospects centers Jeff Carter and Mike Richards finished their Ontario Hockey League regular seasons. And from that standpoint, he didnt necessarily kick the door down in Game 1. Additionally, Barbers beloved first wife, Jenny, passed away in Dec. 2001. If hes traded, it wouldnt be surprising if agent Ben Hankinson attempts to work out an extension soon after with the acquiring team. Spencer Knight is a bit better at .906 27th in the league. He went on to add 13 playoff points in 17 games. We dont yet know whether any of the players representing Detroit at this years tournament will be at Little Caesars Arena on October 14, but if any are going to pull a Lucas Raymond and force their way into the opening night lineup, this week could very well be when that process starts. If worse comes to worst, the team does have Alex Goligoski sitting nightly as a seventh defenseman. He can still skate, still score, still win big draws and, as we all know, is as competitive as heck. Injuries limited Lupul to 56 games but he notched 20 goals and 46 points. Montreal had a territorial edge in most of the games of the series prompting Habs coach Guy Carbonneau to repeatedly insist Montreal was the better team and no lineup or attacking adjustments were needed, right up until the Habs were on the losing end of the post-series handshake line after Game 5. The league returned to play last season, and Piercey put up 58 points in 59 games a good season, albeit not a world-beating one for a 19-year-old. Winger Riley Piercey has an all-around game that Red Wings fans will love. If the Canucks go forward with the major roster surgery promised by president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, one of the first casualties is likely to be their captain, Horvat, who remains among the NHLs goal-scoring leaders. Follow Max on Twitter @m_bultman. He could slot in the bottom six in Detroit, yet be offensively productive. In the third period, Forsberg set up Gagne to seal a 4-2 win. For others, it will just be about setting a tone for seasons in the AHL, or even junior hockey. Williams would record at least one point in four of his first five career NHL games. The big Finn posted 13 goals and 46 points he had especially strong chemistry in joining the attack to connect with Forsberg to win his first and only Barry Ashbee Trophy. His cap charge is a reasonable $2.2 million, and he has a limited no-trade clause. How will Elmer Sderblom and Albert Johansson begin their North American careers? Hatcher would spend the final season of his contract on LTIR throughout the 2008-09 season. Other roster notables include left wing Elmer Soderblom (159th overall, 2019), who at 6-foot-8, 249-pounds led Frolunda of the SHL with 21 goals in his first full season with the club and recorded 33 points (21-12-33) to lead all Under-21 SHL skaters; center Cross Hanas (55th overall, 2020), who averaged more than point-per-game to pace the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL with 86 points (26-60-86) in 63 games; defenseman Donovan Sebrango (63rd overall, 2020), who has already skated in 96 games for Grand Rapids as a 20-year-old and helped Team Canada win the gold medal as an alternate captain at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship; and blueliner Albert Johansson (60th overall, 2019), who posted a career-high 25 points (5-20-25) in 52 regular-season games and chipped in eight points (2-6-8) in 19 postseason appearances to help Farjestads claim the 2022 SHL Championship. 2 in the scoring race. Assistant coach John Stevens became the new head coach. Get the very best in Detroit Red Wings and NHL breaking news, analysis and opinion delivered straight to your inbox. They also flipped the 2007 first-round pick they obtained from Nashville back to the Predators in exchange for impending free agent defenseman Kimmo Timonen and left winger Scott Hartnell. Men at Union have played hockey in four distinct periods: club hockey from 1904-1911, varsity hockey from 1919-1949 (from 1943-1948 there was a hiatus from play due to WW II), NCAA Division III hockey . Through 68 regular-season games, he tallied 46 goals and 78 assists for a total of 124 points, but he wasnt done yet. Its wait-and-see for the next six weeks, depending on how the team plays. The normally low-key Gagne uncharacteristically exploded at one point over the level of nonchalance he saw from a few of his teammates after an ugly loss. His performance in the tournament was not necessarily impressive but that does not mean that he is a flop or anything of the sort bad stretches are typical for all goaltenders. But hes the sort of useful, all-situations, playoff-experienced utility forward who could help almost any team looking for a steady third-line contributor.

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Game 4 would go down as one of the most famous matches not only in Flyers history but throughout NHL Stanley Cup playoff history. But you can bet all parties would love to see a shutdown performance at the event, launching the netminder onto wherever the Red Wings decide to put him. Here are the six immediate importance players to watch in this NHL Prospects Tournament: Its been suggested Edvinsson looked tired at the recent World Junior Championships. His close friend, power forward Hartnell, notched 24 goals and 159 penalty minutes. Shortly after the conclusion of the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, won by Finland against Esche and Team USA, the NHL began the longest work stoppage in league history. When regular season play began, Buchelnikov, 19, was starting out back in the MHL. Does Ryan OReilly fit on the Maple Leafs, both in terms of scheme and cap space? Primeau enjoyed his best regular season as a Flyer in 2000-01, notching 34 goals and 73 points in 71 games. Russo, Jan. 18, Nyquist missed the entire 2020-21 season recovering from major shoulder surgery, but he played all 82 games last year and scored 53 points, and hes played all 35 games in 2022-23. Duhatschek, Jan. 18, (Editors note: This is not an exhaustive list of players who could be traded before the deadline. However, the team closed out the calendar year with four straight wins including a 6-0 trouncing of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 30. In all, Cossa owns a 71-16-7 record with a 2.12 goals against average and a 0.921 save percentage across three seasons for the Oil Kings. Note: This list will be a living document, with frequent updates to rankings and analysis, based on the latest rumblings and the markets ebbs and flows, so bookmark it and check back regularly. Moving into the right circle, Primeau fired off a perfect shot that beat Tugnutt just under the crossbar. 1 goalie, won the Bobby Clarke Trophy, earned a spot in the NHL All-Star Game, finished second in the Vezina Trophy balloting and even finished fourth in the Hart Trophy balloting. The Red Wings are joined by the prospects from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs. :https://t.co/bMOtVuk0Nw, Max Bultman (@m_bultman) January 17, 2023, The 25-year-old has two goals one an empty-netter and four assists this season and has been part of one of the teams best lines over the past few seasons, but he may have written his ticket out of town after being scratched recently for oversleeping and missing pregame meetings before a game. Back home in Russia, though, there's big buzz about Buchelnikov. Follow Max on Twitter @m_bultman. The sixth and deciding game of the second round series between the Flyers and Maple Leafs was a heart-pounding thriller. He missed the next 29 games. It was exactly what you wanted to see from the hulking goaltender. DETROIT The Detroit Red Wings released their 2022 NHL Prospect Tournament roster and a complete tournament schedule for the event at Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City from Sept. 15-19. Defensemen Dan McGillis and Luke Richardson earned the assists. Beaten on a Robert Straka goal on the first shot he faced, Boucher would go on to make 57 consecutive saves. Patrick Sharp (5g, 8 points) dressed in 22 games but was often in Hitchcocks doghouse and was ultimately traded to Chicago in an ill-fated trade for Matt Ellison.

if (!f._fbq) f._fbq = n; He signed a one-year, $3 million prove-it contract with the Blackhawks, where hes had a chance to play top-line minutes with Patrick Kane and has been a good fit overall, leading to suggestions the Blackhawks could even sign him to an extension rather than dangling him as trade bait. The . TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. There was Simon Edvinsson, all 6-foot-6 of him, skating through the middle of the ice, four fingers on his gloved hand raised to the crowd. Forsberg wasnt finished. The Phantoms playoff starter in 1998, Little served as Niittymkis backup in 2004-05. As an offensive forward he has been creative in the offensive zone, shown NHL speed, and rocketed one-timers from his off wing on the power play. Timonen put a shot on net, and Lupul put home the rebound to win the game and series for the Flyers. Previously an assistant coach hired by former general manager Russ Farwell during Paul Holmgrens head coaching tenure, Hitch was the Dallas Stars head coach when they won back-to-back Western Conference championships including the 1998-99 Stanley Cup. It feels as if Sebrango gained some fans when they watched him play effectively against players in his age group at the World Junior Championships. The Flyers were unable to close out the series in either Game 5 in Washington or Game 6 at home. Roenick led the Flyers with 27 goals and 59 points, while sharing the team assist lead with Recchi (32). An original six franchise, the Detroit Red Wings are on track to return to its glory days under the guidance of franchise great, Steve Yzerman. It was also the first all-Russian scoring play in Flyers history. What will it mean for Piercey in terms of earning an NHL contract? The Sabres were an offensive juggernaut, while the Flyers were treading water by this point. I believe in our team. The tally stood. How the Red Wings' prospects performed at the World Juniors and what it means for Detroit By Max Bultman Aug 22, 2022 After a thrilling championship game that featured some outstanding late. A free agent after the season, Johnsson suffered from recurring concussions and post-concussion symptoms for the remainder of his NHL career after departing from Philly. Game 7 was oddly flat for both teams, and the Flyers fell just short in a 2-1 loss. Hanas is a player who could play in Grand Rapids this season with a good showing here, and I liked the start he got off to in pursuit of that. five assists and 11 points the first, but not the last, time hed prove to be a playoff force for the Flyers. The Flyers bench and the home crowd, previously all but silent, became extremely energized. After heating up for the Phantoms in November, Giroux was called up to the NHL roster and never went back down. Archie recorded at least one point in every game of the series (three goals, five assists and eight points in total). Ultimately, though, Esche emerged as the Flyers No. Both players were installed near the top of the lineup. Injuries were a big factor. This being said, his consistency will be greatly valued on the defensive side throughout this tournament. The rest of the series was little but ever-increasing frustration. Please visit https://www.centreice.org for the latest details, or to purchase tickets for the Red Wings main training camp (Sept. 22-26). Knuble potted 34 goals amid a 65-point season. 21, centered a line with Gagne (No.12) and veteran power forward Mike Knuble (No. So lets see if those things even out in the second half. Its just a matter of whether hes traded in advance of the deadline or leaves on his own accord this summer as a free agent, as the Wild plan to move on either way. So the injury issue should be settled. The night had only just begun. Any team with a hole at the No. Later, Dopita had a four-goal, five-point game against the Atlanta Thrashers on Jan. 8. Max is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he covered Michigan football and men's basketball. This would be the final year in Philly for much of the veteran nucleus including LeClair. But they will be at training camp looking to make the Red Wings. He would add even greater depth to a team with virtually no holes. In return, the Flyers received speedy winger Scottie Upshall, defense prospect Ryan Parent and the Predators 2007 first-round pick. But keep it in perspective: He played well in a decisive victory, and he continues to look like one heck of a prospect for the Red Wings. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. In the playoffs, the Flyers drew a Buffalo Sabres team in the first round. Rookie forward Simon Gagne, converted early in the season from center to left wing, attained a 20-goal season in his first NHL campaign.