Flyers file formal complaint and meet with NHL regarding unfair scheduling

Philadelphia Flyers insider Sam Carchidi made some headlines yesterday when he reported that the Philadelphia Flyers’ front office staff held a covert meeting with NHL brass to address what they feel is an unfair schedule for their team.

According to Carchidi, the issue has mostly to do with the fact that the Flyers play the most back-to-back games (17) of any team in the league this season. The Flyers would prefer to play fewer back-to-back games and are looking for “general improvements” to the team’s schedule moving forward.

“The Flyers will play the most back-to-back games (17 sets) in the league this season and, according to mathematician Micah Blake McCurdy, play more “tired” games (eight, based on back-to backs or three games in four nights) against rested opponents than any NHL team,” says Carchidi in his article for the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

Flyers chairman Dave Scott, GM Chuck Fletcher, and assistant general manager Barry Hanrahan were among the team’s executives who met with NHL schedule maker Steve Hatze Petros yesterday.

“We’ve got to get it right,” Scott said during an interview earlier this week. “One of the challenges with this building is that it has so much activity between the Flyers, the Sixers (Philadelphia 76ers), 59 or so concerts and Disney on Ice.”

For years now, the Flyers have essentially been kicked out of their own building following the holiday break, due to an long-term agreement between Wells Fargo Center and Disney on Ice. The Flyers are 3-15-4 over the past five seasons during their post-holiday road trips. They went 1-4-1 this season during the same road trip.

“It’s got to be Flyers first, whether its the family shows, the concerts and Sixers,” Scott said of the Wells Fargo Center scheduling and the Flyers' schedule in general. “I’m not sure exactly what we’re going to do, but I’m committed to do whatever we need to do to make it easier on hockey operations.”

While the league isn’t expected to make any immediate changes, don’t be surprised if and when the Flyers get a sweetheart schedule for 2020-21.

For the full article from Carchidi in the Inquirer, click below: