With playoffs on the horizon, which Flyers prospects could join the team for the cup run?
The Flyers have clinched a playoff spot as at least the fourth seed in the East. They could move up during round robin, but they are in no matter what.
That means they will be able to carry some extra skaters in case of emergency. That is where the Black Aces come in. They are a group of skaters that can practice with the team, but only play in extreme emergencies. So essentially, they are players getting to experience the playoffs without actually playing.
It appears likely that teams will be able to carry 28 players in the playoffs. That gives the Flyers five more players they can add. They can have as many goaltenders as they want, so we know that Alex Lyon is almost certainly a lock.
But what about the other players who have played a game with the Flyers before? That group is more than five players so decisions will have to be made.
The players who have appeared in a game this season are Connor Bunnaman, Carsen Twarynski, Morgan Frost, German Rubtsov, Mark Friedman, David Kase, Mikhail Vorobyev, and Andy Andreoff. Chris Stewart is also another possibility, but doubtful he would be included on this list.
So the Flyers will have to work down that potential list to five players if the the 28-limit stands. With only one defensemen on that list, it’s possible they could have other options as well.
For now, we will use that list as a basis for players being considered. The players with the most experience in the NHL include Frost, Twarynski, Bunnaman and Andreoff.
It is almost a guarantee that Frost will be one of the players joining the team. In fact, he was seemingly told to stay ready for whenever the season resumes.
Holding onto another defensemen is also likely. That would add Friedman to the list. That would leave three spots for six other players listed above.
Bunnaman had been called up at the end of the season when Nate Thompson went down. He was expected to be in the lineup before the pause. With Thompson healthy, would the Flyers still bring Bunnaman along for the ride? He looked better during his second stint in the NHL.
Something to keep in mind, however, is Nolan Patrick. Nothing has been updated about his status, but there’s always a chance he could be ready to re-join the team. With a few weeks of training camp and some exhibition games, he could be brought up to speed before the playoffs.
It’s not a guarantee of course, but that could affect things as well. If he was to return, he would likely replace someone in the current lineup. That is, if the Flyers think he’s ready to jump in.
Of course, all of this is subject to change if the league decides to allow more or less players. The availability and location of these players could also be a factor.
Professional athletes were named essential workers recently, a decision that simply will allow them to cross borders if necessary.
There is no rush on this decision as training camps may not take place until mid-June. So the Flyers have time to decide who to bring along for the playoffs. This is likely a good short list of who they may have available to them.