Photo Credit: Our very own Katelynn Reiss
Chuck Fletcher and the Flyers entered into an offseason knowing that there were major changes in store for the team. After a debacle of the 2020-21 season and facing a difficult cap situation, the organization knew high priced fan favorites would have to be moved to address scoring and defensive depth. One of the top priorities for the team was to add a shoot first winger to play a top six forward. The Flyers pulled the trigger and traded Jakub Voracek for Cam Atkinson in a one for one deal.
The acquisition of Cam Atkinson highlighted some of the priorities that the Flyers had for their offseason most notably: Leadership, ability to play at 5-on-5, faster starts, and special teams. Before the two Covid shortened seasons, Atkinson averaged 20+ goals per season. His career high came in the 2018-2019 season when he scored 41 goals to go along with his 28 assists.
Atkinson has been just as advertised, shooting from everywhere. He has literally done everything, and provides much needed energy to the lineup. Another key area that Atkinson is helped in is getting the Flyers off to faster starts, and I wrote on that past week. For his efforts, the penalty kill hasn’t allowed a goal, as Atkinson took responsibility after game one for the lackluster penalty kill, a game in which the Flyers allowed two power play goals on four chances against the Vancouver Canucks. Accountability is a breath of fresh air for this organization, as it is very uncommon for players to openly take accountability.
It’s crazy to believe that the Flyers were one of the last teams to score a short-handed goal last season and their special teams often struggled. Atkinson can fill gaps in both the power play and penalty killing units. This will help take some of the pressure off of forwards such as Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier who are tasked with playing on both units, as well. Atkinson has been a prolific short-handed goal scorer in his career, amassing 16 goals in 10 years. Last season, he matched a career high with four short-handed tallies.
The former alternate Captain with the Blue Jackets in Atkinson has his line of Derick Brassard, and Joel Farabee rocking. This trio just seems to work well with one another, and they have accumulated 15 points combined in just three games played (7g,8a). It’s safe to say that they are off to a great start.
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Atkinson is also very involved in charity, having started the Force Network Fund which benefits military and first responders and the Battery Hockey Academy which helps children get on the ice to play hockey. Atkinson is already a fan favorite, and so is his Grandma Marge. She has been seen riding a Zamboni at one of the games, and the city has embraced the Atkinson family.
He gets it, as Atkinson has already established a personal connection with the fans of Philadelphia. Atkinson has been a hit thus far, and it’s just three games into his tenure as a member of the Flyers organization. It appears that Philly and Atkinson are a match made in heaven.
