Here we sit with the fourth day of Philadelphia Flyers Training Camp in the books. The players are trying to outwit their tiredness and the feelings that their feet are falling off from skating. This is all part of the job, and all the players seem to be embracing the idea of the youth infusion.
No one could have predicted how this day at training camp would go. The Flyers of course suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to the the rival New York Islanders in their first pre-season tilt of the year. In addition, the players that were left behind went through drill session after drill session on day three of camp. It turned out to be a really good day for the veterans on day four. Some just seem primed and ready to go with the song of Jerry Lee Lewis in their heads, “Goodness gracious great balls of fire.” Without further delay here are my three takeaways from day four of training camp.
Claude Giroux
Giroux has a lot of pressure on his shoulders heading into this coming season. Of course, we all know he is the engine that runs the Flyers. As Giroux goes, so does the orange and black. He had a phenomenal day at camp centering a line of Oskar Lindblom and Jakub Voracek. Talk about speed and grit.
At age 29, Giroux appears to finally be 100% healthy at camp. On Saturday Giroux stated to me, “I feel good.” You can see the full interview later this week. Moreover, this top Group 1 line was all over the ice potting some pretty nice goals. The Flyers need a solid top line that produces on a nightly basis. With the way Giroux has looked at camp. A rebound season isn’t too far off.
Jakub Voracek
A young playmaker in Voracek had to have a solid camp to give the Flyers top line some hope. Well Flyers fans, he has done just that thus far. He was really solid with his skating today and it made the top line of Giroux and Lindblom look very cohesive as a unit. Head coach Dave Hakstol is pulling all his strings to have a great top line night after night.
At age 28, Voracek enters a Flyers season that is unlike any others in the past. The youth filled movement may have inspired Jake as he stated to me on Saturday, “It’s a breath of fresh air having them in here.” Whatever the reason may be the grit and determination to succeed is greater than ever from Voracek.
Philippe Myers
What more can be said about this young stud? Myers has had a phenomenal camp thus far. He is just flat out awesome in one-on-one drills. Myers suffocates players, as it’s very hard to maneuver around him.
Myers had a wicked slap shot today at the Flyers Skate Zone. He is really making it difficult for the Flyers top brass not to select him on the roster this fall. One player that has grown the most this training camp has been Myers himself. Good luck in choosing Robert Hagg, Travis Sanheim, Samuel Morin, Mark Friedman, or Myers on the roster this fall. All of these defensive prospects have performed well this camp.
Flyers Notes:
Before camp started today the Flyers trimmed their roster to 53. Forward Anthony Salinitri and Defenseman Frank Hora were both cut. Salinitri was sent back to his junior team of the Sarnia Sting, and Hora was sent back to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Stay with us for the most in-depth Flyers training camp coverage.
Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
