Sports Talk Philly: Philadelphia Sports News and Rumors

Flyers Sign G Kirill Ustimenko to Entry-Level Contract

Embed from Getty Images

The Flyers may have a solid future with Carter Hart between the pipes, but over the last few years, they have drafted and developed a number of goalies. One of those recent draft picks is a step closer to reaching the NHL.

Kirill Ustimenko, the Flyers third-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, signed an entry-level contract with the Flyers, the team announced on Wednesday. The news was first reported via Twitter by Ustimenko’s agent.

Around the NHL: 1st Round Stunners

Embed from Getty Images

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is complete and man, were there some shocking results and wild finishes to series.

Last week, it was already known that the President’s Trophy winners, the Tampa Bay Lightning, were eliminated, as were the Pittsburgh Penguins. Six other teams have joined, and many of them were near the top of the regular-season standings.

Here is a breakdown of the remaining six series and the second-round matchups.

Report: Flyers Remove Connection to Kate Smith Over 'Offensive Lyrics'

Embed from Getty Images

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It may be the end of a long-time Flyers tradition.

You can’t think of the 1974 Stanley Cup championship, the first in Flyers history, without thinking about Kate Smith and “God Bless America.” Smith performed the song live prior to the deciding Game 6, and the Flyers went on to defeat the Boston Bruins, 1-0.

Since it was first used in 1969, the song has served as a good luck charm for the Flyers. They have used the recording of Smith singing the song, Smith performed it live multiple times at the Spectrum and following her death in 1986, clips of the performance from the 1974 Stanley Cup Final have been used regularly, even being matched up with current anthem singer Lauren Hart to form a duet. In addition, a statue of Smith is along the walkway to Xfinity Live.

As of Friday morning, the Flyers are no longer using “God Bless America” and the statue has been covered. This comes on the heels of reports that Smith has a history of “potential racism” in lyrics to recorded songs.

Vigneault Vows to Bring New Mindset, Consistency to Flyers

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

A week before Chuck Fletcher made his first move of the offseason, hiring Alain Vigneault as the new head coach of the Flyers, he ran through a long list of bad habits that the team possessed in the previous four months of play. He talked about needing to find the right mindset, the right approach to games, and a method that allows them to play that game with consistency.

Early in Vigneault’s introductory press conference on Thursday, it became apparent why Fletcher felt he had found the right person for the job. Vigneault talked at length about the approach he will bring to the Flyers, one that involves approaching the game with the right mindset.

Around the NHL: Blue Jackets Upset Lightning, Islanders Moving On

Embed from Getty Images

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is well underway and already two teams have seen their seasons come to an end -- one the postseason favorite and the other a team with two Stanley Cups already this decade.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that tied an NHL record with 62 wins in the regular season, were swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in four games. The Pittsburgh Penguins, the Stanley Cup champions in 2016 and 2017, were also swept by the New York Islanders in four games.

Here is a breakdown of those two series and where the other six are after Wednesday night’s action.

Analyzing the Flyers Hiring of Alain Vigneault

Embed from Getty Images

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The decision has been made. Alain Vigneault has been hired to be the next head coach of the Flyers.

The next few months will prove to be important when it comes to determining where the Flyers are as they begin the 2019-20 season. For now, the million dollar question -- or five-year, $25 million question, the terms of Vigneault's contract -- is if Alain Vigneault is the right fit for the Flyers.

The hiring was met with mixed reviews among Flyers fans, some seeing this as a sign that the team will take on more of a winning attitude and makeup and with changes try to restore the level of success that had become customary in the past. Others focused on Vigneault’s downfall in New York two years ago instead of the career body of work.

There are many factors that go into determining why the Flyers went this direction. Here are a few of them.

With Vigneault as Head Coach, What's Next for Scott Gordon?

Embed from Getty Images

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

On Dec. 17, the Flyers fired Dave Hakstol and named Scott Gordon the interim head coach for what would be the remainder of the season, 51 games total.

With Gordon at the helm, the Flyers won three of his first four games as head coach. Following the holiday break, they lost eight straight games before embarking on a stretch of 24 games with an 18-4-2 record. 

It was around that time that the head coaching job appeared to be Gordon's to lose. The team has undergone a change. The results were changing. There was some excitement again.

But when the Flyers crumbled at the end of the season and missed the playoffs, Chuck Fletcher's message at exit interviews seemed to say that changes were needed in many ways. A new head coach could come in, implement a new system from the beginning of training camp and assemble a group of assistants that could improve the finer details of the game. New players in certain areas could bring out the best in the team. Continued development from young players was also a must. The writing appeared to be on the wall for Gordon, and sure enough, it was when the team announced Alain Vigneault as the next head coach of the Flyers.

So what's next for Scott Gordon, the interim head coach that is, for now, out of a job?

Fletcher Feels He Found Right Guy with Vigneault

Embed from Getty Images

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It was just a week ago that Chuck Fletcher talked about the importance of finding the right person to be the next head coach of the Flyers. On Monday afternoon, that person had been found. 

The Flyers hired Alain Vigneault to be the new head coach.

Fletcher noted that the process was short because it simply became apparent during conversations with Vigneault that he was the right person for the job.

Flyers Hire Alain Vigneault as Head Coach

Embed from Getty Images

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Just 10 days after the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, the Flyers have a new head coach. On Monday afternoon, the Flyers named Alain Vigneault as the 21st head coach in franchise history.

"We are extremely excited to have Alain join this franchise and lead our team behind the bench for many years to come," Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher said in a statement. "He brings a tremendous amount of success over an extended period of time that will prove valuable to our team to take the next steps in returning the winning culture to the Philadelphia Flyers organization."

"It is an honor to be selected as the next head coach of the Flyers," Vigneault said in a statement. "The history they have established and the passionate fan base has made this a first-class franchise. I am excited to work with Chuck, the talented group of players, and the prospects coming up through the system in order to return Philadelphia to the top of the NHL landscape."

What Coaching Options Remain for the Flyers?

Embed from Getty Images

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Chuck Fletcher opened his end-of-year press conference on Monday by saying a head coaching search was starting that day. That came hours after the people’s choice for Flyers head coach, Joel Quenneville, had signed on with the Florida Panthers, taking the big free agent coach off the board less than 48 hours into the offseason.

The Flyers are left to explore other options for their next head coach. Here are a few options that still remain for the Flyers.