Kevin Durso

The overall turnaround for the Flyers has earned Alain Vigneault a Jack Adams nomination as one of three finalists for the award given to the coach of the year. For Vigneault, this one is special for a specific reason.

Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault was named as one of the three finalists for the Jack Adams Award on Wednesday. The other finalists are Columbus head coach John Tortorella and Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy.

While a lot of NHL players are well aware of the sacrificing they are making for their families and that their families are making for them, the Flyers spoke about becoming a road family when they travel to the hub cities for what is hopefully a long stay and a deep playoff run.

From the beginning, Alain Vigneault brought in an authority and leadership that was lacking in the Flyers locker room. That leadership and guidance has given Vigneault a strong case for a Jack Adams Award nomination.

The Flyers were back on the ice for Day 1 of Phase 3 training camps as they prepare for the return to play and the 24-team playoff that is about to take place and the first practice was a test of conditioning to evaluate where each player is after a four-month pause.

The NHL has worked out a return-to-play plan, CBA extension and used very specific planning to get to the start of Phase 3. For them to complete the season, the next two weeks leading up to the travel to Phase 4 hub cities is critical.

As Phase 3 of the NHL’s return-to-play plan begin, the Flyers unveiled their roster for training camp on Monday morning.

The biggest uncertainty in completing the NHL season remains COVID-19, but after the NHL and NHLPA’s most collaborative labor efforts in decades, it would be a just reward if they can award the Stanley Cup.

The NHL Board of Governors and the NHLPA voted in approval to ratify a Memorandum of Understanding to the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the Return to Play protocols.

With the regular season officially over, the Flyers started to hand out team awards, usually reserved for the final home game of the regular season, throughout the course of the week.

Less than 24 hours after a tentative agreement was reached on return-to-play protocols for Phases 3 and 4, the NHL and NHLPA announced they have reached a tentative agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding that adds four more years to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

On Sunday night, TSN’s Bob McKenzie was first to report that a tentative agreement has been reached between the NHL and NHLPA on Phase 3 and Phase 4 protocols. However, there is not an agreement on a CBA extension just yet, which puts a full membership vote on hold for now.

According to a report from ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, the NHL and its players are closing in on a new CBA deal.

According to a report, forward Mikhail Vorobyev intends to sign with HC Ufa Salavat Yulaev of the KHL in Russia, his home country, on a three-year deal that will cut ties with the Flyers.

Oskar Lindblom, who exited the lineup after his diagnosis with Ewing’s sarcoma in December, was on the ice and skating during Phase 2 workouts in Voorhees on Tuesday.

Following the news of 11 positive tests for COVID-19 during Phase 2, a crucial week is ahead for the NHL in their efforts to return to play. This week could feature important updates on players testing positive and the selection of hub cities.

Among the players that are participating at Voorhees are Sean Couturier, Joel Farabee, Ivan Provorov, Mark Friedman and Sam Morin. For these players in particular, there is certainly an adjustment to trying to prepare for a stretch run and playoffs, especially with a lot of unknowns still out there.

Phase 3 of the NHL’s return-to-play plan is scheduled to begin on July 10, the earliest possible date based on previous updates. The league will only move to Phase 3 on this date provided that medical and safety conditions allow it.

Despite the ongoing pause due to the pandemic, voting is underway for NHL awards and the Flyers are sure to be represented with candidates in a handful of categories. 

On Monday, June 8, the NHL will officially transition to Phase 2 of the four-phase return plan, the league announced on Thursday night.

On Thursday, the NHL announced an agreement with the NHLPA on the remaining details of the return to play format.

Over at ESPN.com, Greg Wyshynski posed the biggest question for each of the 24 teams in the playoffs. The Flyers one is quite intriguing. Are these games following the pause, to be played in neutral hub cities, away games for Carter Hart?

The Flyers announced that they have signed defenseman Linus Hogberg to an entry-level deal.

As a fourth seed in the NHL’s 24-team playoff format in a return to play, the Flyers have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made a formal announcement on Tuesday afternoon to detail the rest of this four-phase plan and break down the playoff structure and draft lottery protocols as the NHL strives to make a return to play.

The NHL released a memo on Monday that detailed the steps of Phase 2 in a return to play. The 29-page memo states targeting an early-June date for a move to Phase 2, though no firm date has been announced.

The Flyers played their first home game in the Spectrum against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 19, 1967 and claimed a 1-0 victory. For the next 29 seasons, the Flyers called the Spectrum home, before the concept of a new state-of-the-art arena came to be and the then-named CoreStates Center was built in time for the 1996-97 season.

The NHLPA Executive Board had a call on Thursday to discuss the proposed 24-team playoff structure for the NHL’s return to play. On Friday, the NHLPA officially announced approval of the 24-team structure and authorized further negotiations with the NHL in pursuing the return to play.

One of the most prolific players in Flyers history is Eric Lindros. From his infamous arrival in 1992 to his rather unceremonious exit in 2000, Lindros’ career was always shadowed with controversy. Here is a look back at the trade saga that brought him to Philadelphia and his career.