Broad Street Buzz
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A Swiftie’s guide to the 2023-24 Philadelphia Flyers season

By Jonathan Bailey

Taylor Swift performs on The Eras Tour at Lincoln Financial Field, not far from the Flyers' Wells Fargo Center. (Photo by Lisa Lake/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
Taylor Swift performs on The Eras Tour at Lincoln Financial Field, not far from the Flyers' Wells Fargo Center. (Photo by Lisa Lake/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management) /
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Cam Atkinson finally returns to action for the Flyers. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Cam Atkinson finally returns to action for the Flyers. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

#6. Atkinson finally returns to the Flyers’ lineup

"“Losing him was blue like I’d never known,” – Taylor Swift, “Red (Taylor’s Version)” – 2021"

The Flyers and their fans probably weren’t ready for the pronounced impact of missing Cam Atkinson for the entirety of the 2022-23 season, just like how Taylor Swift wasn’t prepared for the impact of losing a lover in her hit song “Red”. Fortunately, Atkinson was officially activated from injured reserve on Sept. 20 – he’s back.

Atkinson’s specialty is lighting the Red lamp – he did so 41 times under Tortorella in the 2018-19 season – but at age 34 and following a neck surgery, it’s fair to wonder if he can still play at that level. The former Columbus Blue Jacket now has added competition for minutes in the forms of Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, and Bobby Brink, and Joel Farabee is older and wiser since Atkinson last played.

The 13-year vet is signed through the end of next season, so this campaign is extremely important in determining his future in NHL. Moving on from him is impossible with his $5.875 million cap hit and modified no-trade clause, so he’ll have to make it happen in this upcoming season and the next.

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