As hockey is one step closer to reconvening. Some questions still remain, and still has to be ironed out. One question that will catch most peoples’ attention is what the roster size will be for the tournament? With that being said, the unofficial number I’m hearing is 28, with unlimited Goaltenders. What does this mean for the Flyers, and can German Rubtsov realistically be a black ace?
The Flyers roster currently sits at 21 (With JVR being on Injured Reserve) with two of the roster spots being Goaltenders in Carter Hart and Brian Elliott. Realistically the Flyers could carry eight more Forwards and Defencemen, as teams are expected to have unlimited Goaltenders (JVR will be taken off IR). Some shoo-in candidates to fill the rest of the spots are Morgan Frost, Mark Friedman, Connor Bunnaman, and I’m hearing Yegor Zamula is a black ace (This would bring the roster size to 24, four spots left). That leaves the Flyers with dilemmas, does General Manager Chuck Fletcher and Head Coach Alain Vigneault turn to David Kase, Maksim Sushko, Andy Andreoff, Carsen Twarynski, or German Rubtsov. Please keep in mind if Nolan Patrick is healthy he would and should be a 3C.
Rubtsov’s career for the most part since reaching the Pro level has been filled with injury. A shoulder injury sidelined him in the 2018-19 season after just playing in 14 games, to which he tallied six goals, and four assists for ten points. Fast forward to the 2019 Training Camp, and Rubtsov was in the running to making the Flyers out of camp. He was one of the last cuts, and really opened some eyes to the fans. Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr was high on Rubtsov before camp began, as he told Bill Meltzer:
“Rubtsov’s a guy that you watch him in certain drills, defensively. Our coaches, they like a lot of things he can bring. Maybe won’t watch first glance, but he’s always above the puck. He’s always responsible. He’s always in position.”
“Ruby” had an up and down campaign in 2019-20. He was sidelined with a concussion with the Phantoms, and had to leave at one point back to Russia due to a family matter. Rubtsov really struggled to develop consistency, and missing time didn’t help those matters. He finished the year potting just two goals, and tallying 11 assists in 42 games played. Rubtsov also saw time with the Flyers while playing in four games with the big club on the Fourth line, and did not manage to register a point. However, Rubtsov brings versatility, he’s a forward that can play both Center and Wing.
Flahr told Meltzer in January, “German had a good camp and pretty good start to the season. The (shoulder) injury disrupted his season. He got a little too conservative at times but he’s gotten his offensive confidence back. He’s been Phantoms most complete player last 4-5 games.”
Moreover, Rubtsov plays a very good defensive game, thus playing a solid two-way game, and it’s for these reasons that the Flyers top brass thinks highly of Rubtsov. All German has to do is stay healthy, much like another Flyers prospect Pascal Laberge. Rubtsov has all the talent, and believe it or not is dedicated to the sport of hockey. He has been around the Flyers Skate Zone recently with other prospect Kirill Ustimenko. As a matter of fact German was seen in an instagram photo picking up other fellow Flyers prospect Yegor Zamula from the Skate Zone.
Whatever the case maybe, German can fly and shoot, and this time off from the pandemic could have only benefitted him to clear his head mentally. But, also get focused on making an impact for this young orange and black club for the playoff run. I highly doubt he would be around the area if he didn’t have intentions of being with the team for Phase 3 (Training Camp). He would fit in so well with Vigneault’s system, as Rubtsov plays a sound two-way game. With that being said, there is no doubt Rubtsov will be a black ace for the Flyers, even if Patrick is cleared to return.
We should forget about Nolan Patrick, because he will almost certainly never coming back! Let”s let him struggle in peace!