Alain Vigneault
Preparations continued for the start of the Flyers season in a matter of four days. An intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday will be treated like a game day and it gives the coaching staff a chance to really evaluate the players in game conditions.
One of the subjects that was discussed a lot during the playoff run over the summer was the lack of success for the Flyers power play. That was an area of focus during training camp on Friday, as the team returned to the ice after an off day on Thursday.
In these unknown times, one thing has not changed for the Flyers. There are expectations this year, higher than they have been in quite some time. After making a playoff run this summer that came one win short of a conference final appearance, there is no turning back for the franchise. The goal is not just about playoffs, it is about making another run.
Shayne Gostisbehere admitted he hasn’t been healthy in quite some time and that even returning during the summer showed he wasn’t where he wanted to be. In a pre-camp conversation with Vigneault, he simply wanted to express that he was healthy and wanted to help the Flyers win.
The transition to playing left wing will be a work in progress for Sam Morin, who is trying his best to learn on the fly. He continues to watch film of Matt Martin, and took some advice from Danny Briere during practice as well as talking to other teammates about the position as well.
On the first day of Flyers training camp, it didn’t take long to notice the two players whose presence stood out the most. Nolan Patrick was back on the ice as a regular member of the rotation, as was Oskar Lindblom.
It’s been over 650 days since Nolan Patrick played in a game. With Chuck Fletcher, Alain Vigneault and Flyers teammates all sounding hopeful to get Patrick back for this season, his condition will still require careful monitoring and expectations for his on-ice performance should be curbed.
Claude Giroux has been captain of the Flyers for eight seasons, his ninth set to begin on Jan. 13, the day after his 33rd birthday. Giroux’s career has had its peaks and valleys from a production standpoint, but he’s remained durable, very rarely missing action, and is respected as a leader by his teammates. To him, the age he will reach one day before the season opener is nothing but a number.
As 2020 draws to a close, here are some of the topics discussed in the State of the Flyers, a short playing year with a lot of progress made.
Shortly after the NHL released the schedule, Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher spoke to the media, covering a range of topics surrounding the 2020-21 roster and how the Flyers will manage things in a shortened season.
