Connor Bunnaman and Carsen Twarynski are two players that Flyers fans have seen a lot of this season for the Flyers. Both had really good training camps to start the season, and were impressive in the pre-season. Apparently the coaching staff noticed, as both made the 11 forward, 7 defenseman roster to start the 2019-20 season.
Twarynski put up two goals out of the seven pre-season games, scoring against the New York Rangers, and the Boston Bruins. Bunnaman also scored a late one against Lausanne HC in Switzerland. Twarynski played 15 games this season for the Flyers, the last being on December 15th vs Winnipeg, where the Flyers got blown out, 7-3. Carsen played a 3rd/4th line role for the majority of his tenure this year, and really fit the mold for his playing style of a grinder/defensive role. Bunnaman was also in the same boat, guys that are able to play the little minutes and play good in their own zone.
Bunnaman has played in six more games this season with the big club than Twarynski, scoring his first NHL goal on January 13th in a wild 6-5 shootout win vs the Bruins. He had some really good games in the later stages of the season. In the most important stretch February, where the Flyers faced the Columbus Blue Jackets in a home-and-home, San Jose, Winnipeg, and the Rangers in a home-and-home.
The young 22-year-old in Bunnaman may have played on the 4th line with guys like Michael Raffl & Nicolas Aube-Kubel, but in that game vs Winnipeg he was fantastic! I remember that this line keeping the puck in the zone, just cycling the puck, killing the clock, and getting some really good scoring chances.
Some may have wondered why Carsen and Connor made this training camp roster, here’s what I think. I think that both these guys fit the mold to start off, guys you can use in all situations, Offense or Defense, Penalty Kill or Power Play, etc. They have played and practiced with the team a lot this season, are comfortable/familiar, and have chemistry with the other players. Simply put, these are two work-horses. They talk hockey at practice, even if it’s just a skills practice with skills coach Angelo Ricci, or just a regular practice where they stay after to work on skills and skating, “It’s been a dream of mine from a kid,” Carsen Twarynski said Sunday falling practice about the playoffs, “Everyone’s dream as a kid was to compete for the Stanley Cup and play in the playoffs. I’m here and try to make my stamp. Make sure I’m on that plane to Toronto. If they need an extra guy or need me to go in the lineup to help that team win, I am going to do everything in my will to do so. It’s been a lifetime goal of mine and everyone else that’s here. I’m going to do everything that I can to make that happen. If I’m fortunate enough to get in that situation, I’m going to do everything to help this team win.”
Both of these players (AKA the Bash Brothers) are very valuable to the team, and I’m happy that both are with the team because they will be used in many ways come playoff time, “Going on the ice and being defensively responsible will help me get more ice, knowing that Coach has the faith in me to put me out there in tough situations and I won’t get scored on. Through that 20 games we were kind of rolling there. When all the boys are rolling, it’s kind of easy to get out there and roll with them. I was plus 7 or 8, like you said.”
