Date Published: 10-24-2022
(Photo Credit: Zack Hill)
Here we are now, a week into the 2022-2023 NHL season. Let’s identify and examine some possibilities for the captaincy vacancy on this current team. John Tortorella has made it known that the captaincy is not a priority and he even went as far today as saying he probably won’t have one all year. But, if a leader does emerge from this team, there’s a possibility he could don the “C” for the orange and black before the season ends. Let’s identify some possibilities.
Cam Atkinson
Atkinson is the only Flyers with experience playing under John Tortorella other than Lukas Sedlak, a waiver acquisition from the Colorado Avalanche who was up and down with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2016-2019. In fact, Tortorella even wrote a letter to his players before this year’s training camp started telling them that if they had any questions about the camp to “ask Cam.” A lighthearted moment from the new boss for sure, but turning to Atkinson for answers was a common theme for the Flyers’ players this summer.
The leadership Atkinson showed this summer is evident as almost the entire team was back in Voorhees, NJ for “captain” skates that were organized by veterans such as Kevin Hayes and Sean Couturier. Everyone was ready for the most brutal camp of their careers. All of the players were required to come into camp with under 11% body fat, which everyone did. Atkinson’s leadership while the team was dispersed throughout the summer should be heavily considered. If his message was that clear in the team’s group chat, imagine how much clearer it will be when he returns to the ice.
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Not only is Atkinson a great leader for the team off the ice, but he is another one who does it all on the ice. Top powerplay? Check. Top penalty kill? Check. Final minute? Check. Produces during five-on-five? Check. Atkinson’s versatility is something his teammates can look up to. Before returning to the ice, he will need to build up a bit of conditioning and probably won’t be at full strength his first game back. Before long though, he will be back to doing it all on the ice for the head coach levied extremely hard for at the end of last season.
That says another thing about the organization’s trust in Atkinson. He levied for his guy, openly, to the media. A month later, Tortorella was hired by the Flyers.
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Atkinson’s opinion carries weight around the building. This was evidenced twice throughout the summer, after Atkinson had only been around the organization for a year. Maybe his voice is valued enough in the room to slap the “C” on his jersey?
