NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT KONECNY
Now that the Flyers' 10-game winning streak is over and the team is 1-2-1 over its last four games while hitting an offensive mini-slump, there have been some Flyers fans messaging me on social media with expressions of concern over the recent production of rookie forward Travis Konecny.
There's no need to worry. Just as there no cause for panic over Ivan Provorov's struggles in October, Konecny will also be just fine. Anyone who thought there would be no growing pains for either player this season (or for the next couple years) was delusional.
Besides, Konecny has not even been playing poorly. Sometimes, you have to look beneath the surface of a player's offensive stats.
Yes, points have been hard to come by for Konecny of late (no points in the last four games, no goals and six assists in the last 21 games), but it's not like he has not created chances. Konecny has had some miserable puck luck that will even out, but that's only a small part of what has gone on in recent weeks.
The truth of the matter in today's NHL is that it is tough for a player who is not part of the primary power play unit or the first option in 4-on-4 and 3-on-3 situations -- especially for a rookie -- to avoid some point droughts during the course of the season. With most rookies,even ones as talented as Konecny, there is almost an inevitable slow down in points as the season nears the midway point.
In Konecny's case, he has not hit the dreaded "rookie wall" nearly to the extent that his raw points would suggest. The Flyers have played a lot of hockey in a short period of time and he's handled it pretty well. Points notwithstanding, Konecny's overall game has continued to progress, and he has not lost aggressiveness when he has the puck on his stick. The rookie has also shown that he's not shy about mixing it up despite his lack of size.
It is easy sometimes to get caught up in the short term, but player development -- even at the NHL level -- is all about the big picture. Konecny has been handling his first pro-level adversity well but, more importantly, there is every reason to believe that he will continue to improve across the board. The points will come again, too.
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PHANTOMS AT CHRISTMAS BREAK
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms surged into the American Hockey League's holiday break with a five-game winning streak and a stellar 20-7-1 overall record. They are tied with the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins atop the Atlantic Division standings with 41 points apiece. However, the Penguins are in first place by virtue of having played one fewer game than the Phantoms.
The Phantoms, who entered the break coming off consecutive wins against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Hershey Bears and Providence Bruins in a four-night span, hold a three-point edge on Hershey, four points (and a game in hand) on Providence and nine points on Bridgeport.
The Phantoms return to action on Monday, hosting Hershey.
Coming tomorrow: A look at Flyers prospects on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms through the Christmas break: Samuel Morin, Travis Sanheim, Robert Hà¤gg, Reece Willcox, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Radel Fazleev and goaltender Alex Lyon.
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WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
The preliminary round of the World Junior Championships gets underway on Monday with four games. Eight of the nine Flyers prospects participating in the tournament could see action in the opening games.
Sweden (Felix Sandström, David Bernhardt) vs. Denmark USA (Tanner Laczynski) vs. Latvia Czech Republic (David Kase) vs Finland Canada (Carter Hart, Philippe Myers) vs. Russia (German Rubtsov, Mikhail Vorobyov)
Slovakia is idle until Tuesday, when they take on Canada. Flyers goaltending prospect Matej Tomek will be the backup goalie for the Slovaks.
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FLYERS NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 1984