Coming into this season for the Flyers everybody knew it was going to be a difficult time. Ever since the 2020 bubble playoff run the Flyers have been a team lost in the wild, wondering around with no direction. The team has finally enter the worst word in all of sports a rebuild. With a new regime at the helm with GM Danny Briere and President Keith Jones, the organization is ready to build a more competitive team. One small problem, it will not happen overnight.
These moves were seen early in the season when Wade Allison was sent down to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms coming out of training camp. The forward played 60 games for the Flyers last season scoring nine goals in the process. Allison looked like he could be a part of the future for the organization. But he got passed up in training camp by players like Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster.
Early in the season head coach John Tortorella was putting together a different lineup every night. He was able to due this by carrying three healthy scratches, one for every position. Some early injuries to Sean Couturier, Carter Hart, and Marc Staal just about stopped that practice. One thing Tortorella has not forgotten is beaching under preforming players. This includes Morgan Frost who sat for seven games, including six in a row. While Bobby Brink who started the season very hot has also sat two games.
At the same time several players have returned to form such as Travis Sanheim, Travis Konecny, and Joel Farabee, the top three points producing players on the team. While it is also great to see Cam Atkinson and Sean Couturier return to the ice after both missed all of last season with injures. Atkinson already has a dozen points, while Couturier has ten. While players like Scott Laughton and Cam York have struggled out of the gate. One major question mark for the rest of the season will be Carter Hart. The 25 year old goalie is in a contract year, and has been one of the best players for the orange and black this season even though he is once again missing time with an injury. Hart will either be the backbone of this team for years to come, or he could be traded for future capital. Several teams around the league are struggling in the goalie department, and the Flyers do have depth at the position. It is something that many in Philadelphia may not want to see but it is a possibility for the team moving forward.
Yong Kim / Staff Photographer Philadelphia Inquirer
