Sports are a game of opportunities. When a player is given a chance to show what they have, it's up to them to take it. The most unlikely heroes could be the ones no one saw coming. Take a look at any sport, and you can find numerous examples of players stepping in when someone is hurt or not playing well, and ultimately becoming a permanent part of the team.
That opportunity could be presented to Helge Grans this upcoming season. Rasmus Ristolainen underwent a second surgery on his tricep in March and will be out for six months. That would lead the Flyers into training camp, and potentially most of the preseason. A role on the blueline will be up for grabs.
Grans isn't the only player who will be fighting for a spot on the opening night roster. His biggest outside competition is likely to be Oliver Bonk, who will take another crack at showing the Flyers he is ready to make the jump from the junior level to the professional side. Bonk is the team's top defensive prospect and they will have a close eye on him.
Grans has had an up-and-down journey since the Kings took him during the 2020 NHL Draft. He was a highly rated prospect, showing an intriguing combination of skill and size. He was a regular in the SHL during his draft season, playing most of the season as an 18-year-old. And while he only had 12 points, Grans' ability to remain in the lineup for the majority of the Malmö Redhawks' season is a testament to his potential.
He came out of the gate running with the Ontario Reign the following season, posting seven goals and 24 points. It was the third time in his entire career that he had over 20 points in a season. And then things took a turn. Once thought to be a part of the Kings' future, Grans regressed the following year, collected nine points in 59 games, and was traded to Philadelphia in the three-team deal with the Blue Jackets.
Maybe a new chance in a new system would help Grans regain his confidence. Except that didn't happen. He struggled more, posting a single goal and eight points in 56 games. He was scratched toward the end of the Phantoms' postseason run. Still, he was only 22 and was playing in his third professional season.
And what a difference things have been for him since. When Grans was recalled to make his NHL debut with the Flyers in November, he wasn't doing anything that was jumping off the page. He was a dependable player on the backend who was showing more confidence in his game.
The Flyers were decimated with injuries and needed a body to fill a spot. Again, Grans didn't do anything otherworldly, but he was solidly impressive in a six-game stint, collecting his first NHL point. He didn't look too out of place for a player making the next jump. Sure, the Flyers didn't control all of the play with him on the ice. But his game didn't lead anyone to believe that he couldn't handle himself at this level.
Taking that back to the AHL, Grans continued to show the potential he possessed a few years ago. His defensive game was improving, and he was finding ways to contribute on the scoresheet. While he just missed the mark on a new career-high in points, he did top his goal total. He also scored his first career playoff goal to help the Phantoms sweep the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the first round of the playoffs.
For someone who was watching from up top at the end of last season, that was a huge improvement. All of that earned him a two-year contract extension. The deal will pay him a separate amount based on whether he is in the NHL or AHL this upcoming season. In the second year, he will be paid the same. That change in the second season may indicate where the Flyers hope he will be at that point.
The Flyers' defense is set at the top, with Travis Sanheim and Cam York holding the top two positions. Nick Seeler has cemented himself in the lineup, while Emil Andrae should be there as well. Egor Zamula's status could be in question. That could open up a spot for someone like Grans.
With a healthy Ristolainen, that is five spots taken up if you don't count Zamula as a permanent fixture. Grans has the step on Bonk as he has already debuted for the Flyers. But Philadelphia regards Bonk quite highly in the organization. It's possible both could make the final roster, knocking Zamula out of a spot.
That will be one of the battles to watch in a few months. It will be a fun one and up to Grans to show that his development is back on the right path.