Another cut day is looming, and that will transpire next week after a back to back exhibition games on Monday and Tuesday. These pre-season games are very important:
“When you’re playing against one another, it’s one thing, but when you’re playing against an opposition, there’s real physicality. Games are more important. That’s where we are going to be basing most of our evaluation on.” – Alain Vigneault
So who should Flyers fans pay attention to tonight?
Morgan Frost
“He looks bigger, he looks stronger, and even playing in his battles out there, he did. And all credit to him, he went back home and put the work in and it’s paying off right now. I told him already, I want him to make the Flyers. I hope he does. I hope I don’t see him. I’ll be honest, I hope I don’t see any of those kids, I hope they make the NHL.” – Ian Laperrière
Now Frost can make good on Laperrière’s vote of confidence as he heads to training camp, which starts tomorrow at 8:30am sharp. Unfortunately, Kevin Hayes will miss 6-8 weeks as he recovers from abdominal surgery that he had yesterday, but what it does is open a spot possibly for the highly touted Flyers prospect in Frost.
Morgan Frost had some great moments for the Flyers, but he had some unfortunate luck last season as a shoulder injury sidelined him after playing in just two games for the Flyers. Frost really improved tremendously on the defensive side of the puck as he got more chances with the big club in 2019-20. The Flyers top brass took notice and Frost was able to make the team out of training camp in 2020-21, and he weighs around 190 pounds now, “I feel really good,” Frost said at developmental camp. “I kind of got through the rehab part of my shoulder and then it was more just about strengthening it a little bit. I think I’m very close. I feel ready. I’m confident.”
This young 22-year-old in Frost continued, “I feel confident that I can go into battles, take hits, and play physical with it. I’m fully confident. I think I just have a little bit more rehab to go to make sure that it’s fully 100% for the future.”
Frost does well in camps, now it’s time to prove yet once again his value during an exhibition game. Look for a bog game tonight from him
Tyson Foerster
At only 19-years-old, Tyson Foerster is starting to show maturity at such a young age on the ice. Tyson is a strong playmaker and has a shoot first mentality. Foerster was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers following the 2020 NHL Draft, as he was a first round selection, #23 overall.
After participating in Developmental Camp, and as he continues to progress through Rookie Camp. One thing has become clear. He is showing physical maturity, as a looks a bit leaner but stronger (Muscle wise), “This summer was a big summer for me,” Foerster said. “I lost some fat and I feel great coming in, I feel a lot faster than I was last year. I’m ready to go for camp.”
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He is comfortable when he is in the face-off circle on the left side, and that was made evident yesterday. Foerster netted two goals in the rookie game: one on the power play and one at even strength, and I think it’s time to coin him a sniper.
Tyson feeds players extremely well and is always looking for where his target is. Foerster can bring qualities to the ice that the Flyers are lacking, but he needs his time with the Phantoms to not slow down his development. He took advantage of playing in the AHL with uncertainty surrounding the OHL last season. Tyson gained valuable professional experience, and tutelage from some veteran players like Cal O’Reilly and Garrett Wilson, whom he speaks of very highly of for helping him as he has stated to us at developmental camp a few weeks ago, but he is uncertain on where he will play, “Nothing has been made clear yet but hopefully I can stay with the Flyers,” Foerster said. “But if not, hopefully Lehigh Valley. Nothing has been made clear to me yet.”
His skating had vastly improved, and that should be noted from the first exhibition game.
Nick Seeler/Adam Clendening
Both Seeler and Clendening will be vying for that seventh defenseman spot. Seeler blocked a shot with his face this past Tuesday again at the Islanders, so he gets another crack in the lineup tonight.
Clendening appeared to be in the lead for the seventh defensive spot, but Seeler put forth a great game, in which he blocked at least three shots. Expect both players to give their all tonight.
German Rubtsov
The once forgotten prospect in Rubtsov seems to nail camps, and this one is no different. He is having a great camp, and Rubtsov is now in the pecking order of making this team outright possibly once again as the 13th Forward.
Connor Bunnaman did not play well against the Islanders, and this opens the door even more for Rubtsov. Some did not think Rubtsov would come back and play in North America, while playing in Russia for HC Sochi in the KHL on a loan last season, while tallying three goals and eight assists in 46 games played.
Cam York
York is making his Flyers pre-season debut. He is one of the Flyers top prospects for good reason, and he is typically as decisive as they come. He had a great Developmental Camp as expected, and it’s clear he’s trying to make the Flyers in the fall even with the logjam at defense, “I still believe in myself,” Cam York said. “I think I can make a team still, but it’s a long year. It’s 82 games and the schedule is really tight. There’s going to be a lot of guys coming in and out of the lineup. If you block a shot wrong, you’re out eight games. That’s eight games that people need to fill. I didn’t look at it like ‘Dang, there goes my spot.’ I’m still confident. I still believe in myself.”
He is confident, skating well, and appears to be a confident blueliner. One of the best qualities he possesses on the offensive side of the game is his shot accuracy. He hits the net nine times out of ten, and he showed that while quarterbacking the top Power Play unit at times this past season. He was great with cycling the puck, and holding the pucks in at the blue line thus extending zone play for the Flyers.
Martin Jones/Felix Sandström
Jones is making his Flyers debut tonight. The Sharks would not have made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2016 without Jones. Jones kicked butt that entire playoffs, and that’s what he brings to the young Carter Hart…a winning pedigree as he has been through the ringer.
A happy Hart would go a long way for his development, and Jones sure brings tutelage and mentorship for the young 22-year-old netminder. Jones has not had his best years the past few years, as he posted a 3.28 GAA, and a .896 Save Percentage in 34 games played this past season for starters. These numbers would not fly with Flyers fans that’s for sure, but he owns a 2.60 GAA, and a .906 Save Percentage in the playoffs for his career.
The young 24-year-old netminder in Sandström hoped to build off last season, and he has done such. Do not give up on this promising netminder Flyers fans. Every prospect is different in terms of how they grow, and netminders usually take a bit more time to develop than Forwards or Defensemen. Let’s have patience, and see how it goes.
Sandström was primed and ready for his journey with the Flyers organization the moment he signed an Entry-Level-Contract a few years ago. Sandström can move laterally from post to post well, and most times when a person thinks he is out of play somehow he finds a way to make a highlight reel save.
He plays better with more playing time, and Sandström is vying for the starting position with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season.
To call this a huge game for Rubtsov is an understatement. Whatever happens next we shall see, but this will be a fun, test game for the Flyers and their proud fans.
Another Flyers Prospect is Hurt
Flyers injuries:
Morin, Allison, Zamula, Hayes, Laczynski, Hogberg, Fitzgerald, Zech
