Snap Shots: Roster cutdowns and preseason action
A few quick takes on the Philadelphia Flyers’ preseason performances and roster cutdowns.
It’s been a busy few days in Philadelphia Flyers-land. In addition to a full week of training camp, the Flyers played three preseason games (two of them split-squad) and cut 18 players from their training camp roster. Let’s just dive in with a couple quick hitters.
Myers, Friedman, Rubtsov among roster cuts
Philippe Myers, Mark Friedman, and German Rubtsov were the biggest names of the 18 Flyers who were sent packing this week, though none of them really come as a surprise. There was some hope that Myers would be able to turn this current youth takeover of the Flyers into a full-on coup by snatching a roster spot away from a less deserving veteran (*coughcoughMacDonaldcough*). But spending another year in the minors to develop probably isn’t the worst thing in the world for Myers. We’ve got enough rookies to get excited about as is.
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I talked up Mark Friedman in this week’s Sunday Number, but making the Flyers roster this year was always a long shot. By all accounts, he met or exceeded expectations in training camp, and should be in line for a big league opportunity next season.
Philadelphia Flyers
German Rubtsov wasn’t a shocking cut either, though it is notable that the Flyers will be sending him to the QMJHL instead of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Expect him to dominate juniors with a chance to make the Flyers next year with a strong camp showing.
Preseason results: could be better, could be worse
The Flyers went 1-2 in this week’s preseason slate. They won the more competitive half of the split-squad series against the Islanders, but lost their first full team preseason game against the Bruins yesterday, 3-2 in overtime.
While most of the veterans looked rusty, Brian Elliott and the young guns had an excellent showing against the Bruins. Elliott looked confident and stopped all 18 shots he faced, while Nolan Patrick, Samuel Morin, and Robert Hagg continued to impress. Travis Sanheim has also come on as of late, tallying a goal in the Bruins game and looking much more active and aggressive than he did just days ealier. Could he be the third rookie on the blue line?
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The Flyers’ next preseason game isn’t until Monday, Sept. 15. We’ll see if any other players can separate themselves from the pack until then.