Yesterday, the Flyers signed Rodrigo Abols to a one-year, two-way $775,000 contract. Just who Abols? Can he crack the main roster next season?
Abols is 28, and he recorded 26 points (14g-12a) in 50 games with the Rögle BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) last season. He provides much needed size down the middle for the Flyers, as Abols stands at 6’3 and weighs 205 pounds. He’s stocky and he loves to hit. Just exactly what the doctor ordered for the orange and black.
This Centerman is a nice depth piece for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to start, but we shall see if he cracks the big club. If he were to crack the main roster he could play within the bottom 6, like Tanner Laczynski. The difference between the two are night and day. Abols is gifted offensively, and he could jump start the lackluster power play by standing or camping out in front of the net. This is one main area that the Flyers have struggled with since James van Riemsdyk departed.
Speaking of Laczynski, the writing is on the wall for his departure following this signing. Laczynski was sent back to Lehigh last season and was not recalled, even after Noah Cates broke his foot and missed about six weeks of action. He is an Unrestricted Free Agent, and I’m sure the Flyers top brass knew of his wishes well beforehand.
Abols was originally drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2016. He likes to board battle, and Abols is a good puck handler. His bread and butter is carrying the puck into the zone, and it’s tough to get the puck away from him. Abols has acute vision of the ice, and seems to always make the right play.
This is not a bad signing by any means means after a strong SHL season, so let’s see if he could get an injury call-up in the future to the big club.
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