Photo Credit: Sportsnet.ca
This has become a common theme this week evidently. The Flyers pluck…and the Flyers plucked…This time the Flyers plucked Zack MacEwen off waivers yesterday from the Vancouver Canucks, and inadvertently placed Kevin Hayes on LTIR as expected. So just who is MacEwen?
A native of Charlottetown, PE, CAN, MacEwen stands at 6’3 and weighs 205 pounds. He is physical, and MacEwen has NHL experience. MacEwen played 34 games with the Canucks last season, and of course he registered six fights. The guy can throw down the mitts with the best of them, in that may be the reason why Fletcher scooped him up. When you think of the metropolitan division you have the likes of Jared MCann, Ryan Reaves, and Tom Wilson. Now enter MacEwen, the Flyers had to match the toughness of the division.
MacEwen, 25, registered one goal and one assist last season, and only has tallied six goals for his career in the NHL. He is known for his hitting, grit, and just being a hard-nosed player to play against. MacEwen appeared to be loved by Canucks fans.
Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher continues to revamp the team with physicality. MacEwen will slide in as the 12th Forward at times against the more physical teams, and at times he will be the 13th Forward. He takes over a role that when healthy Samuel Morin would be utilized for. To make room for MacEwen, Kevin Hayes was placed on LTIR leaving the Flyers with approximately $136 in cap space after adding MacEwen to the roster.
This native of Canada in MacEwen is not afraid to stick up for his teammates. That is what separates him from a lot of players. He can lay a big hit, and provides much needed energy when he is on the ice. MacEwen apparently does not take a shift off, and will do what is necessary to win the hockey game.
Some people may have not have heard about MacEwen, but once he puts on that orange and black sweater all things will change. Apparently he is a fan favorite. He will start his Flyers career on a line with Nate Thompson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel when he makes his Flyers debut.
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