With the final preseason game of the year on Saturday, the Philadelphia Flyers still have some tough cuts to make.
There have been plenty of roster battles going on this preseason, but none more notable than at the third center position. The Philadelphia Flyers have given plenty of players the chance to earn this spot since training camp began.
Scott Laughton and Jori Lehtera didn’t blow anyone away with their play at the center spot, so far as to moving Laughton to the left wing position. Jordan Weal has looked solid with his play in the defensive and neutral zone, but his offensive production has been inconsistent throughout the preseason. One player who has consistently rose to the occasion is 2015 4th round pick Mikhail Vorobyev.
Vorobyev has shined throughout training camp and preseason. He had yet another strong showing in the Flyers 4-2 loss against the New York Rangers. Vorobyev picked up two assists in the game, and now has five points (Two Goals, Three Assists) in six games. It is just preseason, but scoring at a near point-per-game pace is impressive in any league.
Vorobyev was also solid for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last year. He scored 29 points (Nine Goals, 20 Assists) in 58 regular season games and netted two points (one Goal, one Assist) in nine Calder Cup Playoff games with the Phantoms. Are those stats overly impressive? No, but for being just 21 years-old Vorobyev showed he can keep with AHL level play.
I also think that a full season in the AHL really helped Vorobyev develop more. He shows more confidence when shooting and passing the puck, something that can go a long way for a player. Mikhail has impressed so much through training camp and preseason that General Manager Ron Hextall said he has “knocked the door down” when referring to his play in an interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia.
One major flaw in Vorobyev’s game early on in the preseason was his face-off percentage (FO%). He had a 21 FO% in the Flyers 2nd preseason game against the New York Islanders and a 27 FO% in their fourth against the Rangers. Those aren’t ideal in any way, but Vorobyev did bounce back. Mikhail posted a 75 and 50 FO% in the following games against the Boston Bruins and Rangers, per NHL.com. Little improvements are definitely something you want to see out of a young player, especially one who hasn’t seen real NHL ice-time yet.
Vorobyev will without a doubt have his ups-and-downs this season, but that should be expected because he’ll be a rookie. You like to see a player correct their mistakes while their young, since it obviously will only make them better in the future. Mikhail has already showed the ability to correct his mistakes when needed, and at only 21 years of age that’s something within itself.
Final cuts will more than likely take place Sunday after the Bruins game and if Vorobyev is sent down, the Flyers have made a huge mistake.