R. Black
A childhood hockey player who never grew up to be big and strong, so ended up a writer.
Author's Posts
Flyers' Playoff Path Is Narrow
February 7th, 2019 Just two weeks ago, the Philadelphia Flyers had less than a one percent chance to make the playoffs. One long winning streak--eight games and counting--later, and that’s up to over three percent or even six percent in various simulations. But since the NHL switched to the new divisional playoff format before the 2013-14 season,...
Flyers Ice-Time Winners Under New Coach
January 31st, 2019 Any coaching switch is going to result in on-ice changes. After 31 unsatisfying games, the Philadelphia Flyers fired head coach Dave Hakstol and replaced him with interim coach Scott Gordon, formerly of the team’s AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms and, before that, of the New York Islanders. Gordon’s had the team for 19 games, just long...
Lessons From the Flyers 2007 Rebuild
January 25th, 2019 A superstar-led Philadelphia Flyers team enters a season with expectations of returning to the playoffs and building on the previous season's first-round exit. The team comes out of the gate flat, the general manager and coach are fired and nothing changes. A rotating cast of role players and goaltenders fill the ranks as the...
Timeline of Paul Holmgren, Bob Clarke and the Flyers
January 21st, 2019 The pro sports world is inherently exclusive and insular, but there may not be many pro sports franchises out there as insular as the Philadelphia Flyers. The team is now in its 52nd year. The two men who currently hold the reins behind its hockey operations have been part of its history, whether as players, coaches or executives, for...
