Photo Credit: Matthew Slocumb/Associated Press
Chuck Fletcher and the Flyers entered an offseason knowing that there were major changes in store for the team. After a debacle of the 2020-21 season and facing a difficult cap situation, the organization knew high priced fan favorites would have to be moved to address scoring and defensive depth. One of the top priorities for the team was to add a shoot first winger to play a top six forward. The Flyers pulled the trigger and traded Jakub Voracek for Cam Atkinson in a one for one deal.
The acquisition of Cam Atkinson highlighted some of the priorities that the Flyers had for their offseason most notably: Leadership, ability to play at 5-on-5, faster starts, and special teams. Before the two Covid shortened seasons, Atkinson averaged 20+ goals per season. His career high came in the 2018-2019 season when he scored 41 goals to go along with his 28 assists.
Atkinson was billed just as advertised before season ending injury, shooting from everywhere, while netting 23 goals for his efforts. He provided much needed energy to the lineup, and he is still pissed at the way this season ended:
“It’s going to be a different year. It doesn’t matter who you are, how much you’ve made or where you’ve played. We’re going to play the right way. When I was with Columbus, maybe we didn’t have the big names, but we came to play.” – Cam Atkinson
Atkinson continued, “I don’t need a letter on my uniform. I’m going to try to lead by example, the way I practice, the way I play.”
Flyers fans are well accustomed to the word “Jam” as former Head Coach Peter Laviolette used to say the same thing. Maybe he was on to something, especially after these two horrible seasons back to back nonetheless. There are no excuses, Atkinson knows this, but that’s why the city embraces Cam, honesty goes a long way in Philadelphia.
Of course Philly loves Cam. Atkinson blocks shots, hits, and really wears heart on his sleeve. He takes responsibility after game one for the lackluster penalty kill. Accountability is a an breath of fresh air for this organization, as it is very uncommon for players to openly take accountability. All these factors go a long way with the fans relationship with the player., So hopefully John Tortorella can instill accountability into the locker room. The harder you work, the harder the city is going to root for you. Cam relished that this past season, in just his first season with the orange and black he gets it.
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“Winning,” changes the culture of the locker room Atkinson said yesterday. “Expecting to win, not hoping to win. Coming to play. Everyone knows you’re coming to play. It may not always be pretty. That’s what changing the culture and accountability are about. The fans will recognize it.”
“We’re going to play a lot harder in front of Carter, I’ll tell you that,” Atkinson said. Especially after a tiring camp, “Expect to be tired,” said Atkinson have to run feeling what a training camp would be like under Tortorella. “It’s a grind, it’s a way for us to build a comradery, build a brotherhood.”
Atkinson can fill gaps in both the power play and penalty killing units. He has been a prolific short-handed goal scorer in his career, amassing 17 goals in 10 years. Last season, he matched a career high with four short-handed tallies.
“As a player I want someone to push you to your limits,” Atkinson said of Tortorella. “We are not always going to see eye to eye, and it has resulted in screaming matches. That’s what he wants, to push you to your limits.”
Expect the unexpected this training camp under tortorella, which would be his first in Philadelphia. Atkinson unveiled a good portion of what a training camp would look like under Tortorella, but people have to see it first hand for it to ring true.
Way to go. Harder to play against and still not get over 75 points. Blow it up already