Welcome to another edition of Between the Pipes! As we patiently await the start of the 2015-16 NHL season, let's take a look at some news circulating this week.
Dave Hakstol flew to the Czech Republic to see Jake Voracek [Dhiren Mahiban – Pro Hockey Talk]
Hopkins Take: First-year coach Dave Hakstol is certainly hitting the ground running. He felt it important to meet with each player in preparation for the upcoming campaign and nothing, including the Atlantic Ocean, was going to stand in his way. The meeting is telling of Hakstol's character in that he was willing to fly over 4,000 miles for one sit-down dinner with his top line winger to go over strategy and expectations. If I was Jake Voracek, or any Flyers player for that matter, I would be pumped up to play for a coach who is willing to go to that type of extreme to get ready for the season. If the coach wants dedication and respect, he is certainly leading by example.
New Jersey Devils waive veteran Dainius Zubrus [Tom Gulitti – Northjersey.com] [Associated Press – Comcast Sportsnet]
Hopkins Take: In an effort to get younger, General Manager Ray Shero decided to part ways with the 37-year-old Zubrus by unconditionally waiving him. The 1996 first round pick of the Flyers only managed 10 points last season and has very clearly been on the decline. Set to enter the final year of his deal, Zubrus may in fact end up retiring based upon what interest may be out there for him. In all, Zubrus has played in over 1,200 NHL games and has scored over 580 points while playing for five clubs. Zubrus debuted as a 18-year-old rookie and chipped in nine points during the Flyers run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996-97. If this is the end of the road for Zubrus, it was a job well done.
Flyers power play unit ranked fourth overall for 2015-16 season [Steve Macfarlane – Bleacher Report]
Hopkins Take: The Flyers power play was ranked fourth overall in preparation of the 2015-16 season. That is some serious love for the likes of Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Voracek. The club tallied 60 power play goals last season – with a success rate of 23.4% – and is poised to roll out two, energetic, puck-moving units this season. With Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek, Brayden Schenn and Mark Streit leading the top unit, guys like Sean Couturier, Sam Gagner and Michael Del Zotto will likely be a part of the second unit. If disciplined, the Flyers could have one of the top power play units in the league. Part of their recent success has been the ability to find open lanes while cycling. If they can continue to use their speed and shiftiness to their advantage, they will sure make some fans happy by winning the McDonald's Power Play Payoff, and a case of Tastykake.
That's all for now. Catch another edition of Between the Pipes on Saturday for a recap of the week's news.
Zach Hopkins is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @healedbyhockey.
