When you bleed Orange and Black

With the excitement on the ice for the 2024 NHL season ending Tuesday night after a series which made for an epic Stanley Cup Final, seeing major momentum swings for both teams, but Florida finding “Mighty Mo” back on their side just in time to win Lord Stanley’s Cup on Monday night, we come to the end of the official on-ice game action and this exciting season.

And the 2024-25 season doesn’t come until sometime in autumn.

So, we can all exhale, right?

Well, that depends on the state of your NHL fandom that you choose to live by.

The truth is, just as off-season is for the NFL, NBA, or MLB, in the world of the National Hockey League, to be a hard-core fan certainly involves following this off-season which has already started with a couple trades around the league, and closer to home the Flyers are still plotting their course (as of writing of this article) which I think many of us believe will begin to take shape at this weekend’s draft in Las Vegas, if not sooner.

So, of course there are so many trades, rumors, and various dimensions to the draft to analyze and follow league-wide. More importantly to most of you, it means staying in the loop with the Flyers, and seeing what Danny Briere, Keith Jones and their scouts and staff will do, and how it tracks toward the continued success of this rebuild.

And as John Tortorella will tell you, it is still in a degree of a rebuilding stage.

And I can assure you, based on my introduction to flyersnittygritty.com, everyone here is dedicated to covering any and every angle, via all of our platforms.

But, unlike so many of the recent hiccups  experienced by trying to Band-Aid the problems for the organization, over these last 10-ish years, I truly believe we have the building blocks in place that have formed a solid foundation.

And now, I believe, especially with Mattvay Mitchkov expected to be in the lineup when the new year begins, it is safe to assume that rebuild has been accelerated.

As for me, as I humbly introduce myself, yes, I am and have been, an objective journalist, but I am also a fan. 

A fan of all Philadelphia sports teams – it’s how I was raised, more on that below. But when I bleed, I bleed Orange and Black…

Allow me, if you will, to hop in my DeLorean turn on the Flux Capacitor, and go back in time.

Specifically, 1987.

Even more specifically, we’ve arrived at the Stanley Cup Finals. 

Game seven.

The Flyers, in game six, just tied the series at three games apiece, at the Spectrum on a seemingly GPS guided wrist shot from unheralded defenseman JJ Daigneault, which would send the series back to Edmonton for what would be (objectively speaking) an absolutely incredible display of a world-class hockey game.

So, we have the Flyers trying to avenge their loss in the Finals two years earlier to the same Wayne Gretzky – led Edmonton Oilers (who, of course as any hockey fan knows were by far the team of the 80s and “The Great One” showed why he truly deserved that name).

Our Flyers, despite being the second best team; both record and point-wise in the entire NHL, second to only (guess who) the juggernaut that was the Edmonton Oilers, would have beaten any other team in the NHL that year. 

I objectively truly believe that to this day.

But back then, I was just a pup. I was chanting/shouting “let’s go Flyers” In my home along with my Dad watching the game.

But more on the game in a moment. The point is, back then I remember to this day that feeling.

Perhaps many of you can sense the feeling which I speak of – that sense of a combination of butterflies in your stomach, mixed with adrenaline, excitement, and a certain sense of confidence.

I SWEAR – on…. John LeClair’s ability to cycle down low – that I was sure; I mean I was damn sure we would prevail.

How could we not?

I mean – as much as a 9 year-old can know ANYTHING – I just KNEW “we” would win the Stanley Cup in game 7.

And, yes, I said “we”.

For the rest of this piece, if you’ll forgive me, I’m going to take off my “journalism hat” (hence, “we”), because I need to take you back to that point in time to attempt to paint a picture which may at least partially, if I’m lucky, convey my fervor and the feelings of my deep connection to the team that Mr. Snyder built.

THE VERY EARLY DAYS

I was being raised (very thankfully and happily) as a crazy “4 for 4” Philly sports fan back then, by my father in single digits, and as best as I can remember, I was sitting anxiously on the floor with my back against the sofa, squirming around.

My Dad had already explained to me that unlike my friends we would not be watching the national ESPN broadcast, but instead would be watching the local broadcast.

You see, It wasn’t just about being a “homer”, but we NEEDED to hear Gene Hart and Bobby Taylor – call the crucial game seven, Between Wayne Gretzky’s Oilers and my Flyers.

Hearing Gene Hart cry out, “He shoots, he SCOOOOORES!” was all we were interested in hearing. After all, the late great Gene Hart, often referred to us – the fans during his telecasts – as, “My friends”. He was our guy. 

No one better back then.

It was the atmosphere. 

It was what I knew and had learned was all that was right in the world of hockey.

My father, growing up watching the Broad Street Bullies, and continuing to enjoy the great early 1980’s run, which included the tragic death of phenom goalie Pelle Lindbergh after losing those 1985 Finals, just two short years prior (I swear I vaguely remember seeing something about a headline in the Philadelphia Daily News as a child, that said something about the Swedish goalie being in a “coma” and showing a picture of a smashed up car) hurt bad.

I remember asking what a coma was, and not being able to comprehend the complexities of it and that he was on life-support, and truly would be taken from us far too soon.

I certainly cried. Looking back, I’m not even sure if I understood the reasoning why, but when you’re that young and you see these unbelievable athletes as your role models, you feel almost like they’re your “friends”, and I believed they were all indestructible.

Oh, how wrong I was then – and unfortunately – over the many years.

Anyway, we were back two years later, in the Finals – and once again facing our arch nemesis Edmonton Oilers lead once again by Gretzky.

But this time a brand new rookie goalie, by the name of Ron Hextall had stood on his head the entire playoffs.

He was my guy (still is my personal favorite Flyers Goalie). Above and beyond his ability, I loved that he used to fight – and demolish his opponents. I loved that time he skated way out of the crease like he was shot out of a cannon, to seek revenge for what was done to Brian Propp a year later, going headhunting with his stick after Chris Chelios (hey, what can I say?), But, like I said, that famous Chris Chellios incident would come later. Right now (a year earlier) he was here to close down the net in the decisive game 7, and I had every confidence that he would save the day, and do just that. I mean, coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the finals – that it was destiny and we would certainly win this game seven, right? We just HAD to do it.

After all, it was destiny. After the unheralded defenseman by the name of J. J. Daigneault, had just won game six, at the  Spectrum, with what appeared to be a GPS guided flip floated on net from the blue line and past the tremendous Oilers goalie, Grant Fuhr. 

I swear it was guided in by Devine Intervention.

That type of occurrence, as well as the fact that we had showed so much fight, fortitude, and refused to quit; pushing the Oilers to a decisive game seven in Edmonton, surely meant we had to win. We couldn’t NOT win. Right?

At that young age, that feeling that I couldn’t quite put a name to, I would later in life realize what I felt. I had felt a true sense of destiny for that team.

So, despite the Flyers playing their heart out for taskmaster coach Mike Keenan, it was simply not to be. Oddly, especially odd to my young mind, the Con Smythe Trophy was awarded to a warrior, in defeat, our goalie and my hero Ron Hextall.

I remember, like it was yesterday, thinking; “Wait. Should I be happy about this?”

I quickly realized my gut and inside told me, “Hell no!”

I remember my father telling me – or at least attempting to tell me in the midst of my absolute heartbreak – that the Edmonton Oilers of that era were just an absolutely unbelievable team and they had so much talent, and had and would win so many Cups, that I should be “proud” of the effort the Flyers put in and the fight they gave the Oilers (of course, was a few days later, after my pop quit being every bit as pissed as I was).

However, back then at my young age, there was no way to comprehend this, or ability to rationalize. It just hurt. It hurt bad.

So, why bring all this up?

Because the Flyers faithful; as I would continue to mature – and develop into an even more loyal Flyers fan – which included losing the Cup by way of a sweep in 1997 against the Detroit Red Wings (damn, we really should have won a Cup when Eric Lindros and the Legion of Doom were in their prime), all the way up to the 2010 lost to the Blackhawks, when Michael Leighton gave up the “Goal no one knew went in” which, of course, happened to be the goal that won the Stanley Cup for the Blackhawks, I learned perseverance.

And in a strange kind of way, it brings me to today’s Flyers. If you’ve been a fan as I have for around 40 years, and have seen the above incidents and many other disappointments, as well as the never give up attitude that accompanied them, then I believe my close connection with the Flyers is summed up by two words which they helped mold into my DNA: loyalty, and perseverance.

Is It Just Coincidence?

So, a couple of points to leave you with as I begin to bring this story to its end and, in fact try to bring things full circle, in a way. 

I truly as a long-term, time tested Flyers fan, often wonder, was it better all those years when the organization was fantastic yet ended those seasons in demoralizing defeat? 

Or was it just easier these last 10-ish years with all the fall starts and unsuccessful attempts to rebuild the roster and bring them to the relevance they so richly experienced and we as fans deserve once again?

Well, I’ll tell you this…

I found it oddly coincidental and a bit strange that these incredibly entertaining Cup Finals that just ended, resulted in the Edmonton Oilers (of all teams!) losing their own game seven, in gut-wrenching fashion after fighting back so hard from a 3-0 deficit, only to lose to the Panthers, in Florida, with Connor McDavid winning the Con Smythe Trophy; exactly as Ron Hextall did all those years ago in his losing effort against Conor McDavid’s very team.

Somewhere, in Edmonton, I suspect there’s a nine year-old Edmonton Oilers fan who is trying to figure out the oddity of that situation, much as I did some 37 years ago.

Ultimately, perhaps his father will assure him as mine did that “”Look, we have a fantastic team and are going to be around for a long time and will win many Stanley Cups. so, hang in there!”

And maybe, that bit of fatherly advice is right. My inkling, to be honest, is the Oilers will.

But, the overarching point here is, you never know. That’s just hockey.

OK, But What Does It All Mean?!?

Finally, this is why I truly do BELIEVE in this current “rebuild” (pick your word) that the Flyers are undergoing. I believe they have the right people, finally, in place and the right attitude and are able to avoid unnecessary short term gains – while instead opting for long-term success.

My life as a Philadelphia sports fan – and specifically we’re speaking of the Orange and Black here – has taught me that it is extremely unlikely in a sport like hockey with salary cap restraints, and what happens with the business end of things to make a one or two run for a title. 

More likely, is that, if they can get a run together built the right way, with the proper foundation for long-term success, then we have a chance at that earlier run of greatness. And it can be SUSTAINABLE.

Say what you want, but I’d choose taking multiple shots, a great team, and the chance each year for a title – over a Band-Aid semi halfhearted fix for a chance for one or maybe two years.

It’s funny, I spoke with my father recently about this (yes he still is a diehard fan too, it’s in the DNA, I guess), and he totally agreed with me. He said something to the effect of, “just give me good sustained entertaining hockey where they have a legitimate opportunity. Let’s not waste anymore time.”

Well, I couldn’t agree more – and I believe as of a few years ago with the new regime and Torts coaching his brand, trying to teach things the fundamental right way, this is by far looking to be the beginning of an awesome run.

I say, the Flyers will be competing (in a serious way) perhaps as early as this coming season. If not, the next – however I’m sure this season will be a further improvement.

But, We have to see what this important off-season will bring us.

All I really know, is that it’s in my blood. Maybe my DNA. so, I hope they do us right, and I have faith they will.

However, so many things can happen….

That’s just part of the beauty of hockey.