The Flyers have entered training camp. John Tortorella has been putting the guys through the rope and skate drills. Now, the players are starting to work on their line pairings. While nothing is finalized, Tortorella is looking to see who works well together and who doesn't.
One of the biggest questions heading into camp is who would play alongside Russian phenom Matvei Michkov. Will he be paired with some veterans or younger, faster guys? During rookie camp, he was developing some chemistry with Jett Luchanko, the Flyers' first-round pick from this recent draft.
On the second day of camp, Tortorella answered those questions. With the first pairings of camp, Michkov hit the ice with Owen Tippett and Morgan Frost. Tippett has been improving by leaps and bounds since joining the Flyers, scoring 55 goals in his first two full seasons in Philly. While Tippett has played a lot with Travis Konency, he seems a natural partner in crime for a savvy player like Frost.
Frost and Michkov could be a force on the ice
Frost has had his ups and downs in Philly. However, he was also the team's leader in points after January 1st last season. He has a high hockey IQ. We've long speculated here that he and Michkov could be a solid duo. Yesterday in camp, they showed what that could look like.
Looks like Matvei Michkov’s extra effort here creates a turnover to keep the puck in the zone and then Morgan Frost finishes with a nasty shot.
— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 20, 2024
Frost looks real strong, winning puck battles along boards. pic.twitter.com/qQ5PYfOCJj
Ok ok. I know it is just training camp. Can't get too excited....but it is hard not to get too excited! That is a nasty goal. One thing this team has been missing are those garbage goals that you grind for by creating traffic in front of the net, keeping up the pressure, and firing off a well-placed shot. The confusion for the defense and goalie is too much. Winning those battles in front of the net is key to scoring goals.
So far, Frost and Michkov are gelling well. Tippett, a man who could easily break the 30-goal mark this year, is just the icing on the cake. This could also be the year that Frost finally breaks the 20-goal mark. The three could debut as the Flyers head to Washington for their first preseason game. This could be a fun line to watch as we go through training camp.