Photo Credit: Our very own Michael Reaves
While there hasn’t been an official announcement yet, until tomorrow on Wednesday, judging by the huddle with a celebration surrounding Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, and Rasmus Ristolainen at practice yesterday. It appears that these three players have made the Four Nation’s roster for their respective countries of Canada and Finland.
Travis Konecny is a leader on and off the ice. He’s been flat-out phenomenal since signing his new contract extension this past offseason. Even so-much-so, Konecny has netted 13 goals and has registered 17 assists for 30 points in 25 games played.
For his efforts, Konecny is moving up the All-Time leaderboard in Flyers history. He registered an assist this past Saturday night and that gives him 430 points for his career. This is good enough for 19th All-Time in scoring in Flyers history. Konecny has netted 187 goals and has registered 243 assists for his career. He’s just had a great career as a Flyer thus far.
With four nations around the corner. Konecny is more than deserving of making Team Canada. He’s tied for 14th in the league in points with 30, as Konecny continues to prove his naysayers wrong.
Konecny talks like a future Captain, “Every player, when you look at it, has to show up and do their job every night. I know I can improve, I know there’s some things I can improve at,” Konecny said before the game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
He has taken Matvei Michkov under his wing, and really has become an instrumental piece for Michkov’s early success in North America. One can sense the two having fun on the ice together, and they relish playing with one another during crucial stages of the game.
“You should (Pay attention to him),” John Tortorella said yesterday in his pre-game presser. “He makes plays, always on the scoresheet, all over it. I think he’s such a good player.”
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Travis Sanheim
The 28-year-old, 6’3 181 pound, Travis Sanheim was the Flyers most steadiest defenseman this past season, as he was thrusted into a top pairing role. Paired alongside Cam York for the majority of the season, the two played well together for the most part, as Sanheim was very consistent. Sanheim is more consistent, and that has been one flaw to his ever growing game, “We’re gonna miss each other. We love that group in there, we didn’t want this to end. Each day we came to the rink we loved it, we enjoyed it,” Sanheim said back at camp.
Sanheim continued, “I came in ready to prove a point and show what kind of player I was. The first quarter of the season was probably the best hockey I’ve played.”
Sanheim has finally evolved into a number one defenseman, paired alongside Cam York until his recent injury. For his efforts, Sanheim has started the season out strong. He may not be putting points up on the board, but he’s playing very well defensively. Sanheim there’s also skating very well, which is a great sign.
He logs big minutes, and especially right now with the recent injury rash on the blue line. Sanheim registered 30:23 of ice time this past Monday night against the San Jose Sharks. Of course, that led all skaters.
Sanheim came to camp in great shape. He looks well conditioned, calm, poised, and has not made many mistakes. Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere said that Sanheim came into camp in great shape, and was one of the most fittest players in that locker room.
Kudos to Sanheim to putting to rest all the naysayers that said he was a bad defenseman. Sanheim just seems like a different defenseman, and he isn’t being sheltered anymore. The difference is that Sanheim is confident in his game, in a sense, that he knows he can make the right plays. Sanheim has evolved into a number one Defenseman and a leader. It shows on the ice, the proof was in the pudding.
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“I’m here today. There’s a reason I signed here for eight years. I want to be in Philadelphia, I’m excited. I like the group that we have,” Sanheim said last season.
In the end, both Travis Sanheim and Travis Konecny have made Team Canada’s four nations roster, for good reason. Both are more than deserving of this honor.
Rasmus Ristolainen
“He’s our most improved player,” John Tortorella said of Rasmus Ristolainen last season before his injury.
That was then, and this is now. Ristolainen has played very well for the orange and black this season. He has refined his game, as he doesn’t look to crush his opponents in the boards on every play. Ristolainen has gotten rid of that first hit mentality, rather he suffocates his opponents with excellent gap.control and by taking the body.
“I wish I had him when I was 18 coming in the league,” Ristolainen said of Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella. “I feel like I’ve taken big steps under him.” Tortorella is the first coach to unlock his potential, and really show he is a serviceable 3 or 4 Defensemen in the NHL. Everyone has wondered what a playoff Ristolainen would look like, and with his he is playing that could very well happen this season.
“I wish I had him when I was 18 coming in the league. I feel like I’ve taken big steps under him.” – John Tortorella
Ristolainen, 30-years-old, is a Right-Handed Defenseman that can be physical and pot a goal as the Flyers found out right before the break. He entered the Christmas break on a three game point streak (1g,3a) last season, and Ristolainen had seven points in his last 10 games played at that point (2g,5a).
