Photo Credit: Our very own Katelynn Reiss
The final roster is finally taking shape, and hopefully Flyers fans can see some instant chemistry tonight. Here are how the lines and pairings are shaping up to be for tonight’s pre-season finale against the Washington Capitals:
Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
Farabee-Brassard-Atkinson
Lindblom-Laughton-JvR
Cates-Thompson-NAK
(Garett Wilson)
Provorov-Ellis
Sanheim-Ristolainen
Yandle-Braun
(Seeler-York)
“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?
Scott Laughton
“That’s Scotty Laughton’s life, I guess,” Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher said yesterday. “He handles it well. You got to give him credit. One day he’s second line left wing. Next day, he’s fourth line left wing and then he’s third line center. He gives AV that flexibility where you trust him in any situation. You can move him around and it doesn’t impact his play. He’s never pouts and always has a smile on his face. I think he knows that eventually he’ll get the minutes that he traditionally gets.”
The well, versatile Laughton, does everything the coaching staff asks of him, and does it well. If Alain Vigneault wants him to play Wing no problem, he wants him to play Center no problem. He does it without asking questions, and now Laughton is back as the third line center since Morgan Frost was sent packing back to Lehigh Valley.
One thing every NHL team needs for success are solid bottom 9 and 12 lines. Even though, Laughton may not pot 20-25 goals, he is still very useful, and really makes the bottom 9 and 12 lines thrive. It just makes this young Flyers team that much more difficult to matchup with, and It makes their opponents think twice, as to what defensemen to put on the ice for matchup purposes.
Travis Konecny
The young rising star in Konecny does a little bit of everything. He will chip in on the power play, lay a big hit, block shots, and most of all do anything to help the team win. He had a bit of a down year, but fortunately Konecny played much better in the latter parts of the season as he blasted 11 goals, and chipped in 23 assists for a total of 34 points in 50 games played. Moreover, Konecny has issued out 55 hits and blocked 16 shots. Now he is a dad and embarking on a new chapter in his life.
The coaching staff and Fletcher couldn’t be more thrilled with Konecny, “I think with Jake not being here, that may allow players like Konecny and Farabee to play a bigger role,” Fletcher said. “Certainly, they’re young players that should as they mature become good power play players in my opinion. I think we have the pieces there. Time will tell. Guys came in great shape. I know we’ve spoken about that. Players like Konecny, Sanheim, Morgan Frost and Aube-Kubel, these guys came in great shape and much better than last year.”
Konecny is primed for a big rebound season, and he looks in great shape. He’s skating well, and seems determined with playing with Giroux and Couturier.
Nick Seeler
Seeler is vying for that seventh defenseman spot. Seeler blocked a shot with his face last week against the New York Islanders, so he gets another crack in the lineup tonight.
A journeyman in Seeler has put forth a great training camp, and he blocked at least three shots this past Monday. Expect Seeler to give his all tonight.
Cam York
York surprisingly is getting an extra look at camp. 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 even though he has had some struggles in the pre-season he still believes in his self, “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.”
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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 really look to right the ship this pre-season. He hasn’t been terrible, but he hasn’t been great either as he dons a 2.79 GAA for the pre-season. 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.
Flyers injuries:
Fletcher hopes to get Kevin Hayes back at the six week mark, as opposed to eight.
Per Fletcher on Wade Allison, “I don’t believe he’ll need surgery. High ankle sprain is a tough injury. My experience with that is they’re very difficult to predict. Every player that’s had it that I’ve been around. Again, the rehab sometimes it’s going great and then you feel a tweak when you get back skating. It’s a tough injury. It’s really disappointing and I certainly don’t think it’ll be a quick return to play for Wade.”
