Claude Giroux
There is a new man in charge behind the Flyers bench, Alain Vigneault, and his presence was felt early in training camp. Drills were run at a great pace. It was something that left GM Chuck Fletcher amazed.
The first day of Flyers training camp did not come without some bad news. Chuck Fletcher said that there is still a way to go on a new contract with Travis Konecny and that forward Nolan Patrick will be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
As training camp begins bright and early on Friday for the Flyers and continues into the weekend with three on-ice sessions each day, here are five things to watch during training camp.
Recently NHL Network listed their Top 20 centers entering the 2019-20 season. Couturier’s name was absent, and it drew the ire of Flyers fans. Take the lack of inclusion for what it’s worth, but Couturier’s value to his own team can’t be understated.
For every team that made a big signing as free agency opened, it is a calculated risk. The New York Rangers landed prize forward Artemi Panarin and are waging their success on him. The Flyers made their bet before free agency began on Kevin Hayes, Matt Niskanen and Justin Braun.
One of the Flyers development camp invites was Carson Briere, son of Danny Briere. For father and son, it is a special week for a kid who grew up with the Flyers in Haddonfield, NJ.
An interesting possibility stemmed from a tweet from former NHL scout Roger Dicklund, could Wayne Simmonds return to the Flyers on a cap-friendly deal?
Early in Vigneault’s introductory press conference on Thursday, it became apparent why Fletcher felt he had found the right person for the job. Vigneault talked at length about the approach he will bring to the Flyers, one that involves approaching the game with the right mindset.
The word going around is that the Flyers are going to be “aggressive” this offseason in the free agent and trade market, looking at all the ways they can upgrade the team. Quite frankly, they have no choice. All you have to do is look across the street for a reminder of just how relevant they are right now.
The Flyers, who have lost four straight games since their playoff hopes were officially dashed a week ago, and have lost six of the last seven games and nine of the last 12 games, close out the 2018-19 season at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.
