Philadelphia Flyers
Carchidi: 5 Random Flyers Thoughts As Training Camp Nears
Random thoughts as rookie and veteran camps grow closer. Philadelphia Flyers rookies will have physicals Sept. 14 and their first on-ice session Sept. 15 .Vets will have physicals Sept. 21 and be on the ice Sept. 22.
All sessions are free and open to the public. The camps will be held at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees.
Here are some thoughts as we inch closer to the season:
1. Most of next year’s draft talk centers around Connor Bedard, the center who is widely viewed as the No. 1 overall pick. The Flyers figure to be in the draft lottery and have a chance to get the generational talent.
But getting the No. 2 or No. 3 overall picks would also net a generational player, scouts say. While Bedard should go No. 1, winger Matvei Michkov and center Adam Fantilli are also gifted and appear ready to crack an NHL lineup right away. McKeen’s Hockey has a great early rundown of the top 16 prospects in the 2023 draft.
2. I’m anxious to see how new assistant Rocky Thompson runs the power play, which clicked at a dreadful 12.6% last season. The Flyers were predictable and didn’t have much sustained pressure with their 2021-22 power play. They rarely had an action behind the goal line or net, and here’s hoping Thompson adds that behind-the-goal-line wrinkle to give opponents something else to defend against.
The list of @NHLFlyers veterans who are in Voorhees early continues growing. So far, it includes Travis Konecny, Cam Atkinson, Joel Farabee, Zack MacEwen, Nic Deslauriers, Travis Sanheim, Rasmus Ristolainen, JVR, Kevin Connauton, and Nick Seeler. Many prospects here, too.
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) September 3, 2022
3. Â The Flyers have been mum when executives have been asked how many season tickets have been sold. That’s not a good sign. But to the team’s credit, it is thinking outside the box as it tries to get fans into the Wells Fargo Center. They are offering a Flyers Pass — four games a month for a total of $99. That’s about $25 per game. That’s a good deal. The Philadelphia Flyers aren’t expected to be a playoff team, but watching some of the kids grow will be fun. Guys like Morgan Frost, Cam York, Owent Tippett, Noah Cates, Tanner Laczynski, and Wade Allison.
4. For all he’s done for the franchise in his 11 (11!) seasons here, unselfish center Sean Couturier, 29, deserves to succeed Claude Giroux as the Philadelphia Flyers’ captain.
5. New coach John Tortorella would like to establish himself early and get the Flyers off to a fast start. That will be tough. The Flyers’ eight-game October schedule isn’t a killer but isn’t easy, either. The Flyers have five games against teams that made the playoffs last season — Tampa Bay, Florida (twice), Nashville, and Carolina, and three against teams (New Jersey, Vancouver, and San Jose) that didn’t make the playoff cut.
Florida had the most points (122) in the NHL and looks strong again.
From here, it would be impressive if the Flyers somehow managed to go 4-3-1 in October.
Enjoy the long Labor Day weekend!
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#1 is why I’m so vexed with the state of the Flyers. They’re clearly not good enough to be cup contenders, and their vision (based on actions taken by Fletcher) is mired in contradictions. If they lack the talent to excel they should be focused on trying to develop a coherent strategy to get it, but they’re not doing that. They’re making an aggressive push for mediocrity—not good enough to win, and not wise enough to tank/rebuild.
If they pursue this…approach (can’t really call it a plan or strategy), then they risk missing out on talent that could actually help this team. It’s maddening and self-destructive.
You make good points!
2-4-2 is hopefully how October goes. They need to get one of the top 3 picks, period. Anything else is quicksand and mediocrity.
Why? How did their last couple “top 3” picks work out!
This also depends on who is doing the picking
I think the Flyers to a man instinctively knows that a Torts Training Camp is NOT going to be a cakewalk; with Torts philosophy of skate till you puke; and thats why you have so many players showing up early. I dont think it will hurt anything. Atkinson alluded to the fact the Flyers were soft last year. When i looked at a few of the games last year against Top Teams; the Flyers always looked a step behind; and in some games gassed by the 3rd Period. Just an observation.
I feel your pain Sam. Its not going to be easy to write about this team over the next 9 months. They’ll be left for dead by the time Thanksgiving rolls around. I am not excited about bringing young guys along. I am not excited for next years draft. The curse of Kate Smith ? This organization decided to kick her to the curb for faux political reasons. They sealed their fate and will be doomed to mediocrity until such time as Comcast sells the team. When dollars and politics are the drivers, success will never be the outcome. I have enjoyed your writing over the years, I wish you the best. The task ahead for you will not be easy. I say all of this as someone who attended every single home playoff game in the 80’s and 90’s. Many in the 70’s ( I was a bit young then) and even many until about 2012. Of course hundreds and hundreds of regular season games too.
Coots Hayes Laughton up the middle, Ellis Provy Sanheim on the back end, Hart between the pipes, Atkinson TKO Farabee and plenty of young supplemental depth….if they can stay healthy (not to mention Giroux’s brutal self absorbed toxic “leadership” thankfully on the other side if the border) this team is a lot better than in the lottery hunt. Once we see the product on the ice, critique away. Until then, shiw some faith and support the orange and black like a true fan
“plenty of young supplemental depth” – LOL you’ve been drinking to much management KoolAid.
they have been horrible drafters, at least as bad as the other 3 philly teams, which is hard to imagine. i want to see allison, ratcliff, lyzinski (;0), or forester, on top two lines, ie. couterier centering atkinson and allison, hayes centering konecny and tippett, or forrester, frost centering jvr and ratcliff, and laughton centering lyzinski and cates, and when they are healthy and back from rehab assingment, farrabe and brink back in, nothing to lose.
Sam, I’m going to disagree with you that “ They are offering a Flyers Pass — four games a month for a total of $99. That’s about $25 per game. That’s a good deal.”. Not to watch this inferior hockey team which has only gotten worse under the direction upper mis-management has taken the squad. I view it at a waste of money that will only prolong the inept bumbling of cap & player management.