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Photo Credit: Our very own Rob Windfelder
If Flyers fans have been watching closely at Flyers Training Camp over the course of the past few days. John Tortorella said his lineup is “Wide open”. He said come to work and look to earn a spot, as the lineup is not filled out yet. Tortorella also indicated that the Flyers would have a young backend. Could that mean that one or two of Adam Ginning, Emil Andrae, Egor Zamula, Helge Grans, or Ronnie Attard make the club on the opening night? Things will get interesting as camp and the pre-season wears on, but here are some things to watch for tonight in the Flyers first pre-season game.
Lines, Pairings, and the backup goaltending role
The lines may not shuffle from here on out as Tortorella works to find chemistry. Morgan Frost as the second line center to start camp. More than likely this will filter into a pre-season game or two. Joel Farabee looks to redeem himself from last year, and honestly has come to camp in great shape. Today he was really good, and showed us why he potted 20 goals over a season ago. He stayed within the area primarily during the Summer once again, and it is paying off with his particular training regimen.
Farabee-Couturier-Brink
Lycksell-Frost-Atkinson
Brown-Barkey-Foerster
Furry-Desnoyers-Tuomaala
Brendan Furry is filling in for the at least for the absent Travis Konecny. Furry is under contract with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and this is a testament for just how good he has been at camp. These are similar lines that John Tortorella has been rolling with at camp with the exception for the fourth line and some players intermixed on lines 1-3. The great thing is both Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson will play in their first scheduled game in a period of time. For Couturier, this could be his first organized game played since December 18, 2021, a span of 686 days. And for Atkinson, this is his first organized game played since April 12, 2022, a span of 531 days. Hopefully all goes well for these two important players.
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Defensively, the Flyers will be in influx throughout the season. To start tonight Cam York will be paired with Sean Walker, and the other defenseman that will play are as follows: Oliver Bonk, Nick Seeler, Emil Andrae, Helge Grans
Let’s see how Emil Andrae fares, as well as, Helge Grans. Andrae has had a stellar camp thus far, but exhibition games are important. Grans has had a strong camp too, as well as, Oliver Bonk. This coluld be the last time we see Denver Barkey and Bonk for a period of time, as both are expected to join their respective London Knights club, as early as tomorrow (Cut day since it’s a day off).
Back up goalies
Cal Petersen and Felix Sandström will play tonight. Phantoms Head Coach Ian Laperrière has confirmed that Petersen will play the first two periods tonight, While Sandström will play the third period. Petersen has had a strong camp thus far, and made some really nice saves on Friday. Let’s see what transpires as both are vying for the backup goaltending spot to Carter Hart.
Physicality
Torts camps are a lot different from other coaches camps. There is lots of physicality, as he tries to replicate game action. He also filters in lots of scrimmages to keep the players on their toes. Nic Deslauriers has hit everything that moves after a fierce scrimmage this past Saturday. Garnet Hathaway has also hit everything that moves, as he continues to one up rookie Cal Sotheran.
Tyson Foerster drilled Travis Konecny early in the scrimmage this past Saturday, whereas Garnet Hathaway drilled rookie Cal Sotheran with a clean open ice hit to greet him into his first Flyers camp. Maybe that is what injured Konecny, as he will be out with a “Body injury” as Tortorella calls it.
All players are trying to make good lasting impressions on Torts, well that is one way to do it.
Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson
“I’m excited for him. I’m really happy, he put in all the work and now it’s all coming together,” Tortorella said of Couturier on day two of camp
Coots missed a large part of last season, which turned out to be a season ending injury. He underwent successful back surgery and wound up missing the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign. Couturier was sidelined from December 18, 2021 (As stated above), and has yet to play a meaningful hockey game since. It was labeled as an ‘Upper-body” injury by the Flyers, but Couturier ended up having surgery to not further delay his possible return. Accountability is a missing element from Couturier on and off the ice. This was a strong word that was used for the Flyers before the 2022-23 season began. Couturier is no stranger to holding himself accountable, and that rubs off on his teammates, as well. Even while rehabbing he took the time to mentor Noah Cates on faceoffs at practices, as he continues to groom the youth, while wanting to return to game action, “He plays a mature game,” Couturier spoke of Cates. “He’s really reliable defensively, and I think he has some undercover really good offensive skills, also. I think if you give him maybe a little more opportunity offensively – power play and stuff – I think he can maybe produce a little more. He’s just one of those guys that you can throw out in any situation, and he’ll find a way to succeed. It’s like I said, he’s one of those guys that that you need to make runs and win.”
Couturier struggled mentally at times, I’m sure, throughout the injury process. Some people who are in his corner helped him get through that with just taking his mind off of rehab or the game for a bit of time, “Definitely, my wife, my daughter, my parents were always there to talk to me. Like you said there was always ups and downs throughout this process, to kind of come home without thinking about the rehab or hockey aspect, it was nice. It puts things in perspective, that’s for sure.”
Sometimes we as people forget the human element of these athletes. After suffering injury after injury, one can only imagine how much it weighs on that particular player mentally. Sometimes that’s even worse than the actual injury itself, so it’s good that Couturier’s parents, wife, and kids were there for him during this time of need.
“Definitely, my wife, my daughter, my parents were always there to talk to me.” – Sean Couturier said of his parents, wife, and kids throughout his injury process
With Couturier healthy and ready to go. He did tell us he specifically talked to to Flyers management, and expressed his interest in playing in as many pre-season games as possible. Couturier did admit that games are different from just practicing.
Now Cam Atkinson is in the same boat as Couturier. During the Summer months many players like to attend summer leagues or develop their own type of scrimmages to train, stay fresh, and hit the ice. Atkinson took to the ice in Columbus at Battery Hockey Camp. Anytime Atkinson hit the ice, it was a huge plus, “I’m excited to get going, and prove some people wrong.”
Atkinson remains a pillar in the Columbus community, as he has his eyes on Flyers training camp in preparation for the 2023-24 season. He hopes to right the ship from last season, so Atkinson is happy to get back to work, “I’m ready to get back to work.”
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One thing Atkinson is very appreciative of is his wife. He calls her a “Rockstar”. Atkinson appreciates all his wife does so he can keep fulfilling his dream of playing in the NHL. At times some forget the human side of the sport, someone has to watch and maintain the kids. They were instrumental for him throughout his injury process, just taking time away from thinking about the nature of his injury, “My wife she’s a rockstar, the kids.”
“My wife she’s a rockstar.” – Cam Atkinson
“I got to spend time with my family more than I ever have this season. Got the surgery, and my wife gave birth as you know,” Atkinson said. “As my wife would say, first she’s a rockstar. She’s a rockstar, the kids, she allows me to follow my dreams. But, I’m ready to get back to work.”
Cam is back in full force, and ready to go. He’s ready to start the 2023-24 season. Atkinson did say he wants to play in at least four pre-season games to get his timing and rhythm back. Whatever the case may be, everyone is happy he’s back 100% healthy.
