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5 Philadelphia Flyers training camp battles to watch

By Jonathan Bailey

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Bobby Brink #46 of the Philadelphia Flyers warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Wells Fargo Center on April 24, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Bobby Brink #46 of the Philadelphia Flyers warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Wells Fargo Center on April 24, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia Flyers’ full training camp will open up in two days, and that means all the veterans will be back in town. This year though, the spotlight belongs to the young guns vying for a spot in the big leagues – and that won’t be an easy feat. With a logjam at nearly every position, things are going to get heated in a pinch.

#5. Cal Petersen vs Felix Sandstrom vs Samuel Ersson

New Flyers netminder Cal Petersen defends his net against the Minnesota Wild in the third period of the game at Xcel Energy Center on October 15, 2022 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Kings defeated the Wild 7-6. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
New Flyers netminder Cal Petersen defends his crease against the Minnesota Wild. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

The Flyers’ goaltending position is an interesting one, in the sense that there is so much uncertainty that nearly everyone has a place to fight for. Aside from incumbent starter Carter Hart, Philadelphia’s depth chart is a complete anomaly.

Realistically, Cal Petersen will get one last shot to live up to his contract and prove he has a place in the NHL. The former Los Angeles King was banished to the AHL following multiple seasons’ worth of declining performances. The Flyers acquired him as a cap dump in the Ivan Provorov trade, and they could easily stick Petersen back on waivers to see if anyone would be foolish enough to take on that contract. Also, burying the veteran goaltender buys the Flyers a bit of cap space as well.

Felix Sandstrom was equally bad last year, but he doesn’t have an albatross contract tethering him to the NHL. The Swede will be a UFA at the end of the season, and is coming off of a year where he went 3-12-0 in 20 appearances to go with a 0.880 save percentage. While Petersen has one more year after this one, this could be Sandstrom’s final opportunity to make it in the show.

Then there’s Sam Ersson, who appears to be the favorite for a new full-time role after signing a two-year contract extension at the beginning of August. Ersson will turn 24 not too long after opening night, and he’s approaching the age where he’s developed enough to play regularly at a high level. Barring any changes, this Swede will have the inside track as we approach the start of camp.

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