????????????????????????????????????
The Flyers have re-invented themselves in a matter of a season. They finally have a second-line center in Kevin Hayes, third line Center hopefully (Crossing fingers) Nolan Patrick, and a fourth line Center in Scott Laughton at least on paper. Also, Chuck Fletcher added a player that excels on the Power Play in Erik Gustafsson. Unfortunately, the Flyers lost a bulldog in Matt Niskanen to retirement, but the Flyers did add some much needed physicality, grit, and sandpaper with converting Samuel Morin from the defensive position to the left wing position.
There is no secret that the orange and black are stockpiled with some bull-dog prospects that are chomping at the bit to make the big club. Some proud prospects will finally see some time with the big club this season. Finally, Flyers training camp is upon us, and the proud orange-clad fans are pumped. They are ready for training camp to get underway.
Lots of positional battles will ensue at this year’s Training Camp, to include defense, third line Center (Possibly), fourth line Center (Possibly), and goaltending.
Key Positional Battles:
Potential Third & Fourth Line Centers- Nolan Patrick, Tanner Laczynski, Connor Bunnaman, Scott Laughton, Claude Giroux, Morgan Frost
The question will remain until Sunday at some point after physicals have concluded. Is Nolan Patrick indeed cleared for contact? This is the biggest question in my mind surrounding this year’s Flyers training camp. If Patrick is healthy, then he will more than likely will slide into the third line center role as Chuck Fletcher indicated last week, “I guess we’ll have to wait and see how things going with Patty and how he feels,” Chuck Fletcher said last week, “I don’t know that you take it slowly. If anything, everybody’s basically on the same page right now. Nobody’s in mid-season shape. In some ways, this might be the right time to re-introduce players back in. I know he hasn’t played in a while, but at the same time there’s seven teams that haven’t played games since last March. It’s going to be a different start for a lot of players and a lot of teams. Clearly, everybody will be in better form by mid-season than what they are at the beginning. It’s going to be relative even that way. It might be a good opportunity for everybody to get going on the same page.”
Defense- Robert Hagg, Justin Braun, Shayne Gostisbehere, Mark Friedman, Erik Gustafsson, Philippe Myers, Travis Sanheim
The lone name left off the list is Ivan Provorov. Travis Sanheim and presumably Philippe Myers will battle for the top pairing spot with Ivan Provorov. However, do not forget about the likes of Gostisbehere and Gustafsson as both want to impress and will battle for all spots accordingly. Braun and Hagg will most likely battle with Friedman for the last pairing spots. This one will be an interesting one to watch, all pairings that is. These are good depth problems to have for the Flyers, as many teams are not afforded this type of defensive luxury.
Goaltending: Alex Lyon, Felix Sandström, Roddy Ross
Lyon appeared to be a lock for the Taxi Squad roster. However, due to the injury to Kirill Ustimenko that might not be the case anymore depending on how this will work cap wise and what not. Either way the Flyers are short one goalie whether that be the Taxi Squad roster or with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. No goalie or no signing appears to be imminent.
Ustimenko and Sandström were going to compete head to head for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms starting job, leaving Lyon on the Taxi Squad roster, as the Flyers have to carry three goalies combined on their roster at all times, either on their 23 man roster or Taxi Squad roster.
Ross, a 20-year-old goaltending prospect will enter camp not just to be an extra goalie for scrimmage purposes, but he might get a look to grab a spot since Ustimenko is out for the entire year. Apparently Ross has been in Voorhees as he took a picture of the Flyers Skate Zone earlier in the week. This one will be an interesting one to watch.
Battle for the Taxi Squad:
Samuel Morin (Possibly), Tanner Laczynski, Yegor Zamula, Wade Allison, Connor Bunnaman, Morgan Frost, Carsen Twarynski, Mark Friedman (Possibly), Wyatte Wylie, Linus Sandin, Alex Lyon, Roddy Ross
The Taxi Squad roster will be interesting throughout the NHL. Teams can have four to six players on this roster, and the players who make this roster will travel, practice, and be a part of the team. Any player who makes this roster has to go through the waiver process, just like they would if they were sent to the AHL. Fortunately, the Flyers do not have to worry about this for the most part, as most are waiver exempt (Exceptions Lyon and Morin)
With the uncertainty to the AHL who do not have a clear start date yet set in stone (Not 100% it starts on February 5) the Flyers may use Frost, Laczynski, Allison, Wylie, and Zamula at first. However, when the AHL season starts it’s imperative for these young prospects to play, so this roster could change to more AHL depth players. Either way this battle will be fun, and one of the best to watch at camp.
Schedule:
Mon- 11am with scrimmages
Tues- 11am with scrimmages
Wed- 11am with scrimmages
Thur- Off-ice day
Fri- 11am with scrimmages
Sat- Group 1: 11am-12, Group 2:
Sun- Group 1: 1030am, Group 2: 1130am, IntraSquad scrimmage at 7pm
Fans:
Unfortunately, due to the recent surge in Coronavirus cases no fans will be allowed in attendance for training camp.
Click here to shop at our store for Flyers Nitty Gritty
Here’s the Full training camp roster:
David Kaše, Linus Högberg, German Rubtsov and Maksim Sushko will stay in Europe at least until there is more clarity with the AHL season.
