Dawn Of A New Era, Flyers New Faces Set Stage At Training Camp
Out with the old, in with the new? That motto seems to be something taken very seriously with the 2019-2020 Philadelphia Flyers. With new management, new coaching staff, and some new players, the 2019-20 season is officially underway. But, will things change? That question will be answered with some tough battles in camp.
Going into the offseason, the biggest question was what will be the big move? With big name RFAs available, Flyers fans had their eyes set on scoring wingers or in general goal-scoring. However, the Flyers went in a different direction. Before the official end of last season, the Flyers acquired the rights to UFA center, Kevin Hayes.
With the addition of Hayes, many thought why? The Flyers already had Sean Couturier & Nolan Patrick as their top two centers, why add another top center? Well, with Hayes, the Flyers are one of the deepest teams in the Metro division at center. Hayes’s addition added more value to improve the top 9 rather than adding just to the top 6.
“Personally, my first couple of years I was the third centermen. You still get to play with good guys every night and still get to play 15-20 minutes a night.” Hayes said about his past experiences with a deep center core. “If you are not the #1 center, you know you will be going against the opposing teams 2nd/3rd d-pair and it gives you confidence. I think its a springboard to get the best out of your own personal game.”
An even bigger point to the Hayes addition is the ability to have injuries. The Flyers called on veteran, Claude Giroux, multiple times last season to return to center due to injuries. However, Giroux’s days as a full-time center are long gone. Claude has found a new home as the Flyers top winger. With a camp injury to Nolan Patrick, who GM Chuck Fletcher said was “week-to-week”, the addition of Hayes allows the Flyers to keep Giroux at wing and still have depth at center.
The bigger battles in camp will come with who wins the 3rd line RW spot and 13th forward position. Camp absence due to no contract, Travis Konecny, is losing valuable time according to his new head coach Alain Vigneault. Which a very clear message was sent when rookie winger, Joel Farabee, was put in Konecny’s normal 1st line wing place on day 1 of training camp.
“I’m very disappointed that T.K. is not here,” Alain Vigneault said after his first practice leading the Flyers. “It’s the start of a new era, a new group, I felt that it was very important for everybody to be here. With my time in the NHL, my experience, anybody that falls behind — whether it’s injury or in T.K.’s situation not coming to camp — usually it takes them a little bit of time to get back at it, especially at this time with a new coaching staff and new way of doing things.”
Konecny’s absence may also be a blessing in disguise though. Without Konecny in camp, Farabee is getting the chance to play with the “big boys”. Farabee joked after day 1 saying he thought it was a typo when he saw his name next to Claude Giroux & Sean Couturier. Out of the rookies battling for the 3RW spot, Farabee is at the top of the list. Being allowed time to play with NHL veterans like Giroux & Couturier is something Farabee isn’t passing up on to as a learning experience.
“Day 1 I was a little nervous,” Farabee said about being on a line with Giroux & Couturier. “Today, I was a little more comfortable. Its obvious how hard they come in every day. They come in like they have never played in the NHL before everyday. Those are two guys I look up to and its awesome being on their line.”
Whether a learning experience or a possible full-time job, Farabee and the other Flyers rookies need to just remember to relax. Former rookie camp standout, Oskar Lindblom, went through some very interesting and tough times during his first few camps. Lindblom, a former 5th round pick, shined in the SHL for a couple of seasons before transitioning to the Flyers.
“Just be yourself, be relaxed,” Lindblom said is the best advice he was given. “I was a little stressed when I got over here. Maybe trying to show a little too much too fast. But after a while, I got a little more mature, played the game a little better, all the small stuff. Just take the good out of it and work hard.”
Speaking of being relaxed. 21-year-old starting goalie, Carter Hart, is relaxed as an 10-year NHL veteran. So relaxed that Hart jokingly called for an icing during a 5v5 scrimmage drill and it was granted by head coach Alain Vigneault. Hart, who bursted onto the scene midseason last year, will more than likely take the brunt of the starting duties this season. Hart’s stall mate from last season, Brian Elliott, was brought back to be his backup.
With Elliott in the fold, the Flyers chose familiarity and comfortability when in relation to Hart’s backup. However, if Hart struggles or needs advice, the 12-year veteran will be right there to step in and help.
“We made a lot of changes and he was able to be the steady ship back there.” Elliott said about Hart’s ability to start as a 20-year-old last season. “You want to be a professional every time you come to the rink, you want to practice hard and leave it all on the ice and have some fun while doing it. You have to have fun with your teammates and joke around sometimes and have a break from all the seriousness.”
However, Hart wasn’t the only one who got a veteran to rely on. The Flyers young defensemen got two new veteran faces to learn from. An offseason of changes saw Radko Gudas & Andrew MacDonald moved out and Justin Braun & Matt Niskanen brought in. Both Justin & Matt will most likely be paired with two of the more well-known and promising young Flyers defensemen, Shayne Gostisbehere & Ivan Provorov.
The change wasn’t a jab that the young defensemen needed to get better. Far from it. The changing of veteran leadership was to promote growth and leadership. Two things that both Braun & Niskanen have done well throughout their careers and the Flyers hope will rub off onto the young defense core.
“There is alot of talent here,” Niskanen said about his fellow defense mates. “The younger defense is very mobile, smart, move the puck well, good instincts. Hopefully we can help them out and become better players.”
Overall, the Flyers should and will be a totally different team than they were last season. Training camp is a time for storylines and battles. All of which will have their ups and downs before you see the final product. A final product that will hopefully return the Flyers back to the playoffs.