A day after wrapping up the 2022-2023 NHL Preseason with a record of 1-4-1, more cuts were incoming.
The Philadelphia Flyers cut ten players following last night’s overtime loss to the New York Islanders. In the 4-3 loss, the Flyers didn’t seem passive. They responded well in the face of adversity as a team. Individually, some players made a lasting impression. Others, clear by today’s list of cuts, required a little more improvement.
Who will not be on the Philadelphia roster on opening night? Here’s a look at the cuts following the conclusion of the 2022-2023 NHL Preseason:
- Cam York
- Tyson Foerster
- Olle Lycksell
- Adam Ginning
- Adam Karashik
- Pat Nagle
- Adam Brooks
- Max Willman
- Louie Belpedio
- JR Avon
Cam York
Far and away, this one is the most shocking.
“With a new coaching staff coming in, it’s a part of the process for him with us in trying to get him to be the player we think he can be in the NHL.”
John Tortorella; 10/5/2022
It sounds like a short-term plan to start York in the AHL. Sending York to the AHL sends a message that Tortorella expects more. He praises York for his talent but hasn’t been able to unlock it during training camp and the preseason. Physically, York is there, but Tortorella believes it is a mental block.
“It’s not the physical skills; I think it’s the mental skills. I think it’s him learning, first of all, wanting to be a guy that’s going to make a difference, and then being the player to make a difference.”
John Tortorella; 10/5/2022
Earlier in training camp, Tortorella mentioned that York gets in his own way. Everybody sees that he is talented on the ice. Tortorella could sense overthinking, and not playing freely. He is only 21 years old, remaining a critical cog in the future plans. As he matures, and Tortorella thinks highly of carrying yourself like a pro, York could flip back to the Flyers lineup.
“I’ve talked about, since I’ve been here, about how you present yourself as a player. Your attitude on the ice, the mental toughness of it, and I haven’t seen that. It doesn’t surprise me. These are young men we’re talking about, and some mature quicker than others. This is why he goes down and plays a ton of minutes.”
John Tortorella; 10/5/2022
York is a big deal. This is the mayhem to the madness of Tortorella, and when York does get another opportunity, you’ll see the smoke leaving his skates on that ice. “Hopefully, we’ll see him soon,” Tortorella said.
Tyson Foerster
Outright, Tortorella said Foerster had a strong camp.
“I really like him. We need skill; he can score goals. My message to him in our meeting today when we talked with him: ‘it’s our job as coaches to teach him play away from the puck, but I don’t want to get in his way with his offensive part.”
John Tortorella; 10/5/2022
Foerster has a cannon of a shot. His best play in the preseason did not feature him shooting the puck. Behind the net, on a powerplay, he and Morgan Frost set up a backdoor feed to Tony DeAngelo. With the puck, Foerster can create. The assessment Tortorella provided in the meeting with Foerster matched what the prospect was aiming to work on since the 2022 Flyers Rookie Camp:
“I feel like I’m a big player. I need to use the body a lot more, and that’s what I’m going to start doing.”
Tyson Foerster; 9/15/2022
Simply put, he doesn’t fit the bottom of the lineup in Philadelphia. Foerster will play many minutes with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Those would be meaningful instead of the in-and-out of lineup conundrum Foerster would face at the NHL level. Mid-season, Foerster might be a likely recall, dependent on his AHL performance.
Olle Lycksell
A solid two-way forward, Lycksell was at his best on the penalty kill. He was consistent enough in the neutral and defensive zone.
It was the offensive zone that lacked consistency.
In the 2022 Flyers Rookie Camp, Lycksell developed a hot hand. His scoring touch disappeared, but not from a lack of effort. He was on the receiving end of scoring chances, especially with Kevin Hayes. Just like Foerster, Tortorella sent Lycksell down to the AHL to further develop his game.
(Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)
