It's Aug. 15, the dog days of summer and hockey is still a few weeks away.
But Jakub Voracek turns 29 years old today and this summer, the winger has already played a big part in helping push the Flyers' process into its next stage by helping recruit James van Riemsdyk back to town (see story).
Voracek is coming off a career-best season at 28 years old, posting 85 points in 82 games in 2017-18. He finished fourth in the NHL with 65 assists and ninth with 35 power-play points.
All of this came after a somewhat disappointing 2016-17 season - 61 points in 82 games, not particularly bad numbers but also not the production you'd like from a player with an $8.25 million cap hit and in Year 1 of an eight-year, $66 million extension.
Last season, though, Voracek proved that he can still very much produce at a top level. Since joining the Flyers in 2011-12, Voracek is third among all wingers with 303 assists and fifth in points with 439. Since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, he's eighth among all skaters with 272 assists and 15th in points with 390.
With today being Voracek's birthday, let's take a look back at some of the best from his time as a Flyer because Voracek is one of the most personable players around.
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Some plays
Jan. 27, 2016: Voracek scored the game-winner 38 seconds into overtime. It was an important goal in a big game as the Flyers were in the middle of a wild-card chase (see story).
Oct. 14, 2017: The Flyers put a pounding on the Capitals in an 8-2 win at the Wells Fargo Center. Voracek had three assists. This one was one of them. Poor Madison Bowey.
Madison Bowey still has no idea where Voracek is.
What a move. pic.twitter.com/hUVSwoCZ7n— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) October 15, 2017
Jan. 13, 2018: Voracek has also torched other teams than the Capitals. Here is a kick pass to Giroux against the Devils in North Jersey.
Now THAT'S why he's an All-Star.
Giroux gets the power play goal tying the game. pic.twitter.com/Qqd7Lrh4PU— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 14, 2018
Some fights
Voracek is not exactly a fighter. According to hockeyfights.com, he has four official fights during the regular season and all have come with the Flyers.
There was the time he dropped the gloves with Gabriel Landeskog for about 30 seconds in Colorado and then said, "I don't think I picked the right city to fight in."
Then there was the time when he roughed up Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi.
Some singing
Sportswriters aren't the only ones who like Bruce Springsteen. Yes, Voracek is also a fan.
Oh my pic.twitter.com/B0MVgtdkxz— Jakub Voracek (@jachobe) August 31, 2016
A little charity
On Feb. 28, 2017, against the Avalanche, Voracek was eventually credited with a goal many Flyers fans believed was Wayne Simmonds' hat trick. In fact, 396 hats came pouring down to the ice.
As a gesture for taking a hat trick away from Simmonds, Voracek purchased 396 new Flyers hats and donated them to local hospitals for children battling cancer (see story).
