Philadelphia Flyers
3-on-3 Tourney Will End Flyers’ Dev. Camp; Ronnie Attard Making Strides
Defenseman Ronnie Attard will be among the promising prospects on display as the Philadelphia Flyers’ development camp ends Friday with a three-on-three tournament in Voorhees.
It’s free and open to the public, and runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Attard had a 15-game stint with the Flyers late last season, collecting four points (two goals, two assists) and a minus-2 rating.
“I think those 15 games helped me tremendously with my confidence and learning from those guys there,” said Attard, a former Western Michigan standout, after a session Thursday at the Flyers Training Center. “As each game went on, I felt more comfortable.”
He was minus-9 in his first six games, plus-7 in his last nine contests.
“The last five games there, I think I settled in real well, I was starting to understand when to jump (into the play), and when not to,” he said.
The right-handed Attard figures to start the season with the AHL’s Phantoms, especially since the Flyers added righties Tony DeAngelo (trade) and Justin Braun (free agency).
Seasoning needed
Attard’s time as an NHL regular will come, but he needs more pro experience, more seasoning.
This is just Attard’s second development camp because of the COVID outbreak two years ago and an early college schedule in 2021.
“My last development camp, I was a shy little kid, a lot smaller then,” he said. “I was just taking it all in Now it’s great to be able to be here with these guys, make them feel welcome and share some of my knowledge and experience with them.”
Attard, 23, has gotten stronger through off-season workouts.
“So far, I feel I’m right on track,” he said. “I’ve continued to gain strength, and now it’s just the speed aspect of it. I feel really good and really strong. I’m excited for the next couple months here.”
In late April, the Flyers signed Attard to a two-year, entry level deal ($883,750 annual cap hit) that began last season.
That was after a terrific career at Western Michigan, one in which he had 72 points (27 goals, 45 assists) in 94 games. In his final season, he ranked third in the nation in points (36) by an NCAA defenseman.
Attard, a Michigan native, was drafted by the Flyers in the third round (72nd overall) in 2019. He was part of an impressive draft class that included defenseman Cam York (first round) and right winger Bobby Brink (second round).
York is expected to be a regular this season. Attard may be only a year behind.
Breakaways
Elliot Desnoyers, 20, a relentless left winger, is coming off an 88-point season (42-46) in 61 games in the QMJHL. He said his hip, surgically repaired last year, feels better than ever. Desnoyers tries to model his game after Patrice Bergeron and Sean Couturier. “Really complete players. Really good defensively as well,” he said. … Earlier Friday, defensemen will be on the ice from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; forwards will have a session from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Why is all of this on Flecher? Has he made some big mistakes, absolutely. But, let’s look at what he inherited when he took over. That would be “cap hell”. He did not sign an underachiving JVR to a too long, too expensive contract. He did not draft all these players who have not panned out as above average NHL players. No, those things were done by Hextall who never gets nearly enough blame for the mess the team is currently in. Getting back to Fletcher I would blame him for not recognizing the fact that Niskie was going to retire. He should have found a way to be aware of that BEFORE it happened. Also letting Pitlick get out of here for nothing. That guy was one of the few bringing energy that year. His hire of AV was well received. Who expected that guy to fall flat on his face so fast, and Thieren to be so bad at handling special teams? Fletcher, I would imagine took a look at why Hextall was fired(too controlling, non-collaborative) and likely decided he would seek collaboration w/”the powers that be” in order to survive in the job. I think all of the caution we see in his moves(or indecisiveness)is the result of that. I suspect one of the reasons that Giroux was sent packing was the team’s record of underachieving in the playoffs during his time here. I think Claude was a bit too comfy here and that attitude trickled down to the rest of the team. I think Fletcher knows this team in reality needs a complete rebuild, but to say it out loud would bring even more grief then he is already getting. This is not meant in any way to absolve him of all of the team’s current problems. He should never have called the current direction of the team an “aggressive retool” unless he was prepared to back it up. I suspect that some of the deals he expected to make fell apart at the last minute at the time of the beginning of free agency. My point here, is that I wonder if any GM could have made a difference quickly given the circumstances of this organization. Never forget that this team was so used to spending their way out of things that now that there is a hard cap in the NHL they just have never adjusted. Couple that with the fact that Ed Snider has passed away and you are left with an organization that has, as we can all see, lost it’s way.