Well, it’s been about six months since the Flyers have hit the ice. A lot has happened since then. The team hired John Tortorella to be their new coach. Because of salary cap issues, they missed out on Johnny Gaudreau and other high priced free agents, instead settling for Nic Deslauriers; their only significant free agent signing. They did, however, trade for Tony DeAngelo from the Hurricanes. All of this comes to this. So, what do we have? Whos on the roster and what does it mean?
The Forwards
This is a veteran group headed up by Cam Atkinson. Atkinson has kept it light during training camp, dealing with some injuries, but all indications are that he is ready to go. He will be one of the main keys to how this season turns out. If he is healthy and ready to play, he can light the lamp. If he is going to be out, the Flyers will miss his offensive capabilities. Also, because of his past relationship with the new coach, he will be a valuable asset to this team’s new administration.
James van Riemsdyk returns for what will probably be his final season in a Flyers uniform. Maybe he can catch a spark again. Maybe he can be flipped to a contender for some vital pieces for the future. Maybe he is one of the ones who ends up in Torts’ doghouse. We don’t know. He’s been an enigma here. He will go on a five game tear scoring seven goals and then not score again for eight weeks.
Speaking of either dog house or hero candidate; Travis Konecny. TK started off his career hot. Somewhere along the way, he and former coach Alain Vigneault didn’t get along and Konecny’s play suffered. After AV was let go, Konecny found his scoring touch again. For the Flyers to succeed, they need him to be a scoring monster again. He can’t pout because the coach is mad at him and called him out for it. If that is the case, this could be a long season for him.
Kevin Hayes is back and healthy. He could really be one of the main workhorses of this team. He should be one of the players that Torts relies on. The Flyers missed his leadership last year. If he can stay healthy, this team could stay competitive.
Noah Cates made the team after a blockbuster training camp. He is one of the young players this team can really rely on. If he carries over ANY of the promise he showed from camp, the Flyers will have a nice young gun to carry over into the future.
Another potential rising star is Owen Tippett. Tippett, as you may remember, came over in the trade for Claude Giroux. He was a much sought after prospect several years ago. He hasn’t done much to impress yet, but given a new season with a new coach, this could be his time to shine. A lot of how the Giroux trade is viewed in future years will depend on how well Tippett plays. If he can match up to the hype he once had, he, like Cates, can be a very important part of this team going forward.
Scott Laughton is like that old pair of sneakers you have. He’s not flashy. He doesn’t stand out, but he fits and feels good. He does all the little things right. For a team filled with young players, he is an important part of this team. He can help be an example of what someone who does all the fundamental stuff correctly can do. For that alone, he is a vital part of this team.