The Flyers extended three players: Adam Ginning, Egor Zamula, and Bobby Brink. The three should find roles on the team shortly. While opinions vary on the ceiling of these players and where they fit in the organization’s plan, the players will get an opportunity to prove themselves over the length of their two-year deals.
Flyers have solidified depth and are moving in the right direction
Of each two-year extension, Ginning’s scenario is probably the most under the radar. On one hand, it looks like he could just be a depth signing for the Flyers as the 24-year-old defenseman was coming off a solid but unspectacular season with Lehigh Valley. In nine games with the Flyers, Ginning acquitted himself well, but only played third pairing minutes. Ginning is a reliable defender who skates well, can win along the boards, and has the size to outmuscle opponent’s forwards. His solid stay-at-home presence might be a good fit for players like York, Sanheim, or Drysdale who have more offensive-minded games. Ginning is a dark horse for a roster spot at the moment, but the Flyers need a solid defender on the blue line. If he can manufacture some chemistry with one of the Flyers' top defenders, Ginning could sneak in and grab a roster spot. His usage in camp will be something to watch.
Zamula has deserved a chance to break into the lineup for the last two seasons, and last year John Tortorella had seen enough to give Zamula his opportunity. He took the chance by the throat and never let it go. He saw his game improve as his ice time increased. The big left-handed shot even started to get time on the Flyers' powerplay. While not an unqualified success, Zamula was no worse than any other of the power-play quarterbacks the Flyers trotted out. A two-year contract may help Zamula continue to gain confidence, but he is not a lock to stay in the line-up. I expect that Tortorella will keep the pressure on him and ask more of the 24-year-old on and off the ice. So far Zamula has risen to every challenge presented to him. While I expect the Flyers to take a step back this season, Zamula may turn into a 22-minute-a-night solid second-pair player. If he can elevate to that role, the Flyers have plugged a giant gap on defense and will have taken a big step forward in their rebuild.
While Ginning may get to sneak into the lineup and Zamula looks to start his ascent, Bobby Brink is in a much different position. While the buy-out of Cam Atkinson would seem to open the door for Brink to be a regular in the lineup, the arrival of Oscar Eklind and Rodrigo Abols will make getting playing time more challenging for Brink. Eklind and Abols are six-foot-four grinders who have a little bit of offense in their bag. They are the type of player who can contribute by taking the body if they are not scoring. Brink is 5 feet 8 inches tall and is not the physical presence that Eklind and Abols are. Brink will need to provide offense and very good defense if he expects to find his way into the lineup. This would be a tall order alone, but there is one more hurdle for Brink. Matvei Michkov is coming to North America.
I like Brink a lot, and in a perfect world, I would love to see him on a line with Michkov. But I can’t see Tortorella doing that. It seems to me that Michkov will get the first chance in every situation and Brink will be an afterthought. Just by Michkov’s presence, Brink will not be joining the team’s top talent on the ice, he will be getting Michkov’s leftovers. Brink may be the type of player who needs top talent that he can feed to bring his best game. Setting up Garnet Hathaway may not be as fruitful as setting up Travis Konecny.
Brink was swallowed up in the Frost and Atkinson benchings last season even though his game appeared to be on an upward trajectory. It is a valid fear that Brink may be overlooked this season with all the new forwards. He will have to bring out his niftiest tricks to cement a spot on the roster. Look for Brink to be in and out of the line if not in the AHL for long stretches this season.
While the players will be trying to stake their claim to a roster spot, the Flyers have added organizational depth. It is a net positive for the team, as each of these players potentially struggles to make the roster, it will indicate an upgrade in talent throughout the organization. Briere has the Flyers moving in the right direction.