Happy Saturday, Flyers fans! It's time for another edition of Between the Pipes, where we take a look at some of the top headlines circulating this past week.
Paul Holmgren named assistant general manager of Team USA for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey [Tim Panaccio – Comcast Sportsnet] [Kevin Durso – Flyerdelphia]
Hopkins Take: As noted, Holmgren is no stranger to USA Hockey, having served on the Men's National Team Advisory Group since 2009. Holmgren has been an integral part of the USA brass for many international events including the most recent winter Olympics in Sochi as well the the 1996 World Cup, the latter in which he was an assistant coach under Ron Wilson. Los Angeles general manager Dean Lombardi was named general manager and has worked with Holmgren in the advisory group as well as in the Flyers organization as a scout. Their meticulous work ethic and successful track records will be a benefit when selecting the squad that will represent the United States in the tournament which will be held in Toronto in the fall of 2016.
Ed Snider Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Global Sports Summit [Jared Clinton – The Hockey News] [Rob Riches – Flyerdelphia]
Hopkins Take: This achievement award is both fitting and deserving for Ed Snider. You can't think about hockey in Philadelphia without thinking about the Flyers long-time owner. In a day and age where sports teams hit the market left and right, Snider has remained in charge of the team since its inception in 1967. Aside from growing the game and the sports scene in South Philadelphia, Snider has dedicated himself and the organization to give back to the community through the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. The foundation focuses on education, both in the classroom and on the ice. Snider is a passionate owner, a trait that is contagious among Flyers fans. This award is the latest well-deserved honor for the 82-year-old who is also a member of the US Hockey Hall of Fame, the Flyers Hall of Fame, and the Hockey Hall of Fame. Hopefully soon, the Flyers can add a third Stanley Cup to his list of accolades.
Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek form a lethal, long-term combination [Jeff Neiburg – Daily News]
Hopkins Take: The Flyers made sure to get both of their star players locked up long-term through at least 2022 with a combined annual cap hit of over $16.5 million. The duo has combined for 396 points over the past three seasons, second only to Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. While they have found the score sheet more than most, there is still one thing that other high profile tandems have that they do not – a Stanley Cup Championship. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have three while Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have one, just like Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. While Giroux and Voracek are showing no signs of slowing down, the team is continuing to grow around them. Highly regarded prospects – both offensively and defensively – will allow for the team to put almost 23 percent of their cap dollars into Giroux and Voracek each season. If the top-line duo continue to dominate the league, they along with the imminent 'new blood' will give the Flyers as good a shot as ever to bring home the Stanley Cup.
That's all for this time. Check back on Tuesday for another edition of Between the Pipes.
Zach Hopkins is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @healedbyhockey.
