The Philadelphia Flyers seem to have most of their forward group figured out heading into the final stretch of the preseason, but there is still one spot that doesn't look completely settled. The fourth line is where things get interesting, with Sean Couturier and Noel Acciari looking like two of the three players who will be there, while Denver Barkey and Nikita Grebenkin are fighting for the last spot.
This is a pretty interesting decision for the Flyers because both young forwards bring something different. Barkey looks like he is going to earn the spot, and there is a pretty good argument that he deserves to be with the NHL team. At the same time, playing fourth-line minutes isn’t necessarily the best thing for his development right now, especially after he proved he could play at the NHL level last season when he was called up.
However, Barkey is only 21 years old and still needs to play a lot of hockey. If he's going to be playing limited minutes on the fourth line, there is a question of whether he would be better off playing a bigger role in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he could get top-line minutes, and when the time is right, call him back up to the NHL.
Flyers may benefit from carrying both Grenbenkin and Barkey
Grebenkin's style of play probably fits the fourth line a little better right now. He brings some size, plays with an edge, and isn't afraid to get involved physically, which could work well alongside Couturier and Acciari. If Philadelphia wants a fourth line that can bring some energy and make things difficult for opponents, Grebenkin makes a lot of sense.
But that doesn't mean the Flyers should automatically send Barkey down. If he is good enough to make the team, Philadelphia should give him a chance to show what he can do. The easiest way to figure this out might be to keep both players around for the first few games of the season and see how it actually plays out.
The Flyers could give Barkey and Grebenkin both some reps on the fourth line over the first three to five games. That would give Barkey a chance to show that he can handle NHL minutes, while also giving Grebenkin an opportunity to show why his style could be useful in that role.
If Barkey struggles, then Philadelphia can send him down to the AHL and let him play bigger minutes. There is nothing wrong with that, especially at his age. Getting a lot of ice time and being one of the better players in the AHL could be much better for his development than sitting on the fourth line and barely seeing the ice.
If Barkey looks good, though, the Flyers should keep him. Grebenkin could become the team's 13th forward and rotate into the lineup when Philadelphia wants a little more size and physicality. There could even be some opportunities to put Grebenkin alongside his longtime friend Matvei Michkov, which would be interesting to see if it could spark the Flyers’ young forward.
Regardless, Barkey may end up winning the job, and if he does, that's great. The Flyers just need to make sure they are thinking about what is best for him long-term and not simply putting him on the fourth line because he had a good training camp. Giving both Barkey and Grebenkin a chance to play early in the season could make the decision a lot easier.
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