Finally, finally, finally the day Flyers fans have been craving for the past four or so months has arrived. The sounds of pucks hitting the ice, pucks hitting the post, and sticks banging on the ice is back in full force, Flyers training camp has officially opened for business.
The youth infusion that the orange and black are currently undergoing this season has inspired so many people throughout the region. Gone are the days of overspending, as we don a new era of Flyers hockey. Some of these young great prospects in the farm system will make the team to travel and practice with the big club (Taxi Squad Roster). Will all of them work out? Maybe not, but some will. This has Flyers fans pumped for the most anticipated playoff season in recent memory. Without further delay here are some takeaways from the first day of camp.
Nolan Patrick and Oskar Lindblom
Nolan Patrick is back folks. He was flying all over the ice, as he cleared to practice after passing his physical on Sunday. Patrick is just so talented, he is so tough to move off the puck, and his defensive skills cannot be understated. He is one of the best offseason additions the team could have made, and Patrick is on a revenge tour this season.
Lindblom enters camp healthy and cancer free. It really has been an inspiring story for Lindblom and the fans of hockey. Flyers fans and fans throughout the entire sport have poured their outpouring of support for Lindblom, the Flyers, and his family and friends.
Truthfully, Lindblom is a beast along the boards, and that cannot be taken lightly. Lindblom is an excellent two-way player that just has a knack for the net through a tenacious forecheck. He was phenomenal today and even potted a goal in the scrimmage.
TOP LINE UNIT GROUPS A & B
With this being Alain Vigneault’s technically second camp with the Flyers. There was a lot of speculation on how Vigneault would utilize these groups through the first day of camp. Well, it looks like we may have an answer as the Top Unit for day one was…
Giroux, Hayes, Allison
TK, Patrick, Twarynski
Provorov, Braun
Ghost, Myers
Hagg, Gustafsson
Sanheim, Friedman
Both lines were very cohesive as units, and it looked like they all played with each other for years. Both lines were smoking fast, and my word flat-out good. Giroux didn’t miss a beat from the off-season and was blazing fast. Patrick was speedy, and not shying away from contact, and TK was a perfect compliment to Patrick. TK and Patrick really worked well together, and they could wreak a lot of havoc in the NHL together if they are paired together during the season. Giroux and TK both had good goals in the scrimmage.
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Samuel Morin was involved and really played well in Group B. Morin even potted a dirty rebound goal. Everyone likes a player that cleans up the trash.
Frost looked good today, well and composed. He was poised, motivated, and flying from the drop of the puck. Frost may be in the running for the Taxi Squad roster with Patrick appearing to be back.
Group B
JVR-Couturier-Foerster
Morin-Laughton-Sandin
Wotherspoon, Prosser
Bigras, Wylie
The moment we have all been waiting for the one and only “Coooots.” Couturier looked good, and got a little rough in the corner 30 minutes into the session believe it or not, as he lost an edge in his skates.
Alain Vigneault Presser:
“Nolan Patrick looked good today…he’s been cleared for contact.”
BATTLE FOR THE FINAL SPOTS (Taxi Squad Roster)
This is the key battle there. It’s like the Battle of Gettysburg, but at the Skate Zone. Andy Andreoff, Morgan Frost, Connor Bunnaman, Tanner Laczynski, Wade Allison, Mark Friedman, Alex Lyon, Roddy Ross, and Carsen Twarynski will do battle for the key Taxi Squad Roster positions. Allison is ready to show the Flyers top brass he’s finally healthy, and ready to compete. He seems poised to give it a go for the big show. What do the other young budding prospects give the Flyers? Key question, and as training camp progresses we shall see. Today they looked good, and it will come down to the final scrimmages to see who makes the big club.
Laczynski missed practice today while recovering from core muscle surgery in the offseason, and Zayde Wisdom did not practice today either. Wisdom is expected to practice tomorrow per Vigneault. Frost looked really good on opening day. Both of these players know what’s at stake, as the majority of them have been at the Skate Zone for over a week now working out, with Laczynski at the Skate Zone since at least October.
Robert Hagg, Justin Braun, Mark Friedman, and Shayne Gostisbehere
Ghost just wants to stay healthy. He looked solid today, and you can tell that training in the Summer has paid off in a big way. Ghost looked good on his skates, and looked ready to go. He is well aware this a log jam at the defensive position. Moreover, Friedman, Hagg and Braun look determined too, and Friedman looks in great shape. He looked pretty mobile, and one of the better defenseman skating wise. Braun looked good too, but it’s hard to determine everything on the first day of camp.
Check out our Flyers Training Camp video by our very own Yariv Wolok (@Ywolok):
Lindblom Presser:
“My goal is to play the first game.” Lindblom also believes he’s back to around his normal playing weight, and his goal is to play the first game.
Lindblom on him and Patrick:
“Everything’s very good. Can’t do much about the things in the past. We’re just trying to look forward and do our thing out there. Hopefully, we’re both playing in the season opener.”
Patrick Presser:
“See how camp goes, and go from there. Mentally tough whenever you are injured. But I feel good today, and I am excited to be out there. It was obviously great being out there, nice being back with the guys.”
“Yeah, it’s obviously mentally tough whenever you are injured watching. Obviously, you want to be out there. It’s a tough injury that affects you mentally more than others would, but I feel good and hopefully get back soon.”
All in all it was a great first day of camp. Let’s see how these positional battles, and last roster spots turn out in the end. Overall, everything was expected on the first day of camp, rust and rust.
Pictures:
