Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers Set Opening-Night Roster; Four Rookies Earn Spots
The Philadelphia Flyers got down to 23 players for their season-opening roster Monday by placing defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen on the injured-reserve list.
Philly will carry 23 players: seven defensemen, 13 forwards, and three goaltenders.
The roster includes rookies Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, Emil Andrae, and Sam Ersson.
Ristolainen, who turns 29 on Oct. 27, missed Thursday’s preseason finale against the New York Islanders but practiced Saturday. Coach John Tortorella said his injury was minor, so it’s surprising he will not start the season with the team.
Here is the roster:
Forwards (13): Cam Atkinson, Brink, Noah Cates, Sean Couturier, Nick Deslauriers, Joel Farabee, Foerster, Morgan Frost, Garnet Hathaway, Travis Konecny, Scott Laughton, Ryan Poehling, and Owen Tippett.
Defensemen (7): Andrae, Travis Sanheim, Nick Seeler, Marc Staal, Sean Walker, Cam York, and Egor Zamula.
Goaltenders (3): Ersson, Carter Hart, Felix Sandstrom.
PHN: For Flyers’ Versatile Winger Owen Tippett, Left is All Right
Besides Ristolainen, defensemen Ryan Ellis was placed on IR, and his career has likely ended. Forward J.R. Avon is on injured non-roster list.
Of the 23 players on the roster, 14 were drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers, six were signed as free agents, and three were acquired via trades.
The Flyers open their season Thursday in Columbus. They will practice Tuesday and Wednesday in Voorhees at 11 a.m. both days.
Glad to see both Brink and Foerster made the team. Now both need to play good minutes in the upper part of the forward group. Also good to see both Zamula and Andrae on the roster. I will be interested to see how Tortorella constructs the lines. Here’s what I would like to see:
Owen Tippett – Sean Couturier – Bobby Brink
Tyson Foerster – Noah Cates – Travis Konecny
Joel Farabee – Morgan Frost – Cam Atkinson
Scott Laughton – Ryan Poehling – Garnet Hathaway
Nic Deslauriers – extra
Wade Allison – first call-up
York/Sanheim
Andrae/Risto
Seeler/Zamula
Rotate Staal and Walker for Andrae/Seeler/Zamula/Risto at various times.
Good post. I agree with all, except maybe Foerster on the 3rd line and if playing well, move up to the 2nd line. For now, I think Farabee deserves 2nd line duty.
I like both of your posts and the fact that the kids are getting opportunities in your proposed lineup. Well said.