In this edition of “Potential Future Flyers” we take a look at one of the organizations energizers in Carsen Twarynski. By energizer, I mean a player who can provide that extra spark or fire to the game when it is so dearly needed. Twarynski is clearly one of those players. Twarynski can get under the skin of the other team with the best of them and I for one love it and am sure many others do as well; since that never back down mentality is engrained into both Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey. That mentality is easy to see in Twarysnki’s game, as he uses his 6’2″ frame to help fend others off the puck, and avoid opposing big hits while deliver some crushing checks of his own. He is also effective on the forecheck, along the boards, while still improving each year. Twarynski himself said in his post draft interview, “My best asset is my physicality.” If people watched him in Phantoms games in his first two Pro season’s they can clearly see that. In just 15 games with the big club this season, he showed some rawness, and that Twarynski needed to grow at the NHL level. It was clear to see Twarynski was an ample depth fourth liner, and the Flyers needed his high energy and physical play in a big way. In those 15 games, Twarynski had one goal for a total of one point, and registered a minus two rating. He had some good moments and just like the other youngsters some moments where he showed he still needed to grow.
Twarynsk, just like Connor Bunnaman and Mark Friedman who were the first two “Potential Future Flyers” articles had a hot final ten game stretch in the AHL before the stoppage, and then eventual cancellation of the AHL season. Twarynski had five points in his last ten games played. Also, another similarity between Bunnaman, Friedman, Morgan Frost, David Kase, and Twarynski are they all are in clear consideration for the expanded playoff roster. Even though, Twarynski’s skills still needed some fine tuning when he was up with the Flyers. He has put in the work since being sent back down to the Phantoms to allow his hand to grow. That hard work paid off with better play in the tail end of the AHL season, especially with a solid showing, as mentioned before, in his final 10 games to bring his overall points total up to 12 points in 31 total games played with the Phantoms. In 2018-19, Twarynski had 24 points in 69 games played, so it is clear that he has some offense, mixed into his physical game. Even though, he is more of a bottom six forward, who is there first and foremost to play some good developing defense, not one that can bring the energy and physicality on both ends of the ice. Take a look at this video, as he sacrifices his body to block a blast:
The young prospect in Twarynski loves going to the dirty areas of the ice, and does so very effectively which is what mainly leads to his goals and assists totals. On top of that, Twarynski setting up in front of the net is a nightmare for the Goaltender, and a joy for any Flyers player shooting the puck, as he creates havoc with his pesky and gritty play legally jawing and battling others in front of the net. He’s effective in blocking the line of site to create scoring chances for his teammates, if not himself. He is a player who in the NHL projects in my opinion, as a bottom six physical forward, who shows some streaks of offense. Twarynski showed with his first NHL goal, as well as, 45 goals in his final year of Junior hockey with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, that he has a sneaky shot on top of being a developing net front presence. His first NHL goal can be seen below where as Keith Jones says, “That was a well placed shot.” He picked his spot, and perfectly executed the play for the goal. Twarynski is one of those bottom six players, whom because of his high energy and always wanting to insert himself into the forecheck, with other gritty areas usually rarely goes unnoticed even in games where he struggles.
Twarynski as far as I’m concerned is a perfect future forth liner for the Flyers. Due to the Flyers organizational depth at forward he is likely to stay slated on the forth line, unless called upon for more due to injuries. The reason he is a perfect forth liner is because he can effectively get to all the dirty areas on the ice. Twarynski is an above average checker, a good and further developing skater, he has that sneaky shot, and the ability to wreak havoc in front of the net as he grows and progresses in the league. He is another good 3rd round pick by Hextall and his staff, who did a very good job during their tenure and sifting out later round talent. Guess what folks there more still to come.
