Going into the preseason training camps, some players are just locks. Sean Couturier isn't going anywhere. Neither are Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov, and Travis Sanheim. There are many others, too, like Noah Cates and Nick Seeler, who are fine. Barring some sort of freaky injury scare, you know that 90% of the team is pretty much a shoe-in.
That's part of what makes watching Flyers training camp so much fun. Which prospect has that desire this year to make it? Which "bubble player" is making a move? Who looks like they could be demoted or released?
There is always that one guy who is making headlines and becomes the camp darling. As far as the Flyers go, there is one name that keeps popping up in interviews, highlight reels, and stat lines. His name is Rodrigo Abols.
Abols Could Become a Fan Favorite
Abols is one of those guys that Flyers fans love. He is that gritty, underdog sort of player who hasn't had a lot of opportunities come their way. However, now that he has the opportunity, he's going to clamp down on it like a crocodile and not let go. A few years ago, it was Seeler's turn to do this. This year, it's Abols.
So far in five preseason games, Abols has registered two goals and three points. He has also played both center and wing, his versatility making him very useful and dependable in case an injury to someone were to happen. He's been battling it out in the corners, throwing his body around (he's 6'4" after all), and has been a tough player to crack through.
"We’re trying to find guys to lock out some positions. Plus, [Abols] can play center, and that helps if somebody’s out, you know, you can put him in at center. When a guy can play dual, he usually gets the extra games," Tocchet explained about why Abols has appeared in every game.
Is he going to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame? No. However, when you see a 29-year-old man trying to crack the NHL permanently and fighting off a youngster like Nikita Grebenkin, you have to give him some credit for giving it his all. Giving your all is something that Tocchet can respect, as it was the way he played. Hockey fans, especially Philly fans, love this sort of player. Think of a guy like Trent Klatt or Sami Kapanen. They had lots of fans because of their work ethic. Abols is doing everything he can to stay on this roster. That is something to be admired.
Perhaps that's the key thing here. Abols is not going to be a top-line guy. Then again, how many people really saw Cates as a major cog in the Flyers' future, too? Guys like this tend to surprise you. Abols is putting his heart and future out there on the ice every time he plays a shift. That will impress Tocchet. Having a team of guys out there with heart can surprise you. Those are the teams that end up finding a way to win because they don't want to let each other down.
Keep an eye on Abols. He's going to end up becoming this teams Swiss Army...err Latvian Army Knife.